Senior Life, December 2022

Santa Claus is coming to town …

During the past few years, Santa has arrived in Brevard County skydiving, surfing, golfing, by airboat, by motorcycle and in a ’62 Corvette. This year, he’s in a horse-drawn carriage.

In any case, here we are at Christmas and the year-end holidays. For many, this is a special time with family and friends. It is special because it is the first in two years without a pandemic. It also could be the busiest in years because more people will likely be traveling. There has already been a surge in travel since 2019.

Remember, travel could be delayed or cancelled because of the weather and other factors. Check out our story about holiday travel. It might give you some tips whether you’re traveling by air or taking a road trip.

If you are spending your holidays on the Space Coast, there are lots of events and activities around the county, which we will tell you all about.

The holidays bring all sorts of goodies to eat and drink. But you can do it right and not overdo it if you follow some simple steps of which we remind you of in a story in this edition.

We sometimes warn you about scams. Now, we remind you to be cautious of cybercrimes by those who want to steal your identity or get into your critical computer data, including passwords and other information.

Did you know about the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science, a gem in Cocoa that is worth saving? The City of Cocoa is now operating with free admission but negotiating with a nonprofit group to take over the operation. Take a visit. It is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

In our November edition, we told you about the 50th anniversary of the Brevard Public Library system. Now, we bring you in this edition, a story about the system’s mobile library and its programs for children.

Check out our Stripes section, which contains military veterans’ stories and profiles on outstanding veterans who live on the Space Coast. Sponsors helped AVET Project take more than 130 veterans’ families on a two-night Bahamas Veterans Educational Cruise.

There is a lot of what you come to expect from us in this edition of Senior Life

And as usual, we want to encourage you to continue to give us ideas for stories you want to read. We are listening. SL

R. Norman Moody norm@myseniorlife.com

Suntree Santa has again assembled his elaborate model train

BY NANETTE HEBDIGE

It’s taken Willard Davis more than 30 years to complete Santa’s Christmas village with his model electric trains whistling by and running at full steam.

Every structure has been built with meticulous detail and includes familiar sites like Home Depot, Starbucks, Coca Cola and Cracker Barrel, to name a few. Even the New York Times’ Times Square building is complete with the ball drop and there are museums, a fire station, a hospital, five Catholic churches and of course an eggnog and a chocolate factory.

“It takes about 30 days to get everything assembled in my living room. My daughter puts up the buildings with the Christmas trees and I add the trains.” Davis said. “It comes up Oct. 1st and we take it down in March, much to the relief of my wife who can have her dining area back.”

SCARECROW STROLL

Just like with any town, repairs and trimmings are always underway.

“We want to make some changes to the North Pole area,” Davis said, “and we’ll be adding Ebenezer Scrooge and Bob Cratchit’s residences to the Dickens village. I’ve read “Christmas Carol” to so many kids, I almost know it by memory”.

Davis retired from the Air Force in 2014. He, of course, had to include NASA’s rocket launch pad in his miniature township.

He’s been wearing St. Nick’s red suit in Suntree since 1997, looking very much like Santa on “The Miracle

on 34th Street,” complete with lush white whiskers. He listened to thousands of children’s Christmas wishes sitting on his lap and consumed many peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, which are his favorite.

“I was fascinated with Santa as a child and hope I’ve brought happiness to many children in my years as St. Nick,” said Davis, who is called Santa Will by his friends.

For more than 25 years, he’s made appearances at churches, hospitals, malls and private parties where he now sees second- and third-generation children from the kids that once sat on his lap. He’s got some wonderful

SANTA TRAIN

SENIOR

Nanette Hebdige

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Willard Davis Willard Davis has been Santa in Brevard County for more than 25 years.

Festival lights up December celebration for Jewish families

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

When Jamie Schmalenberger’s son Jude returned from his first day of kindergarten at Manatee Elementary School, he asked mom why he was the only kid in his class celebrating Hanukkah.

Jamie Schmalenberger, who had grown up in a much larger Jewish community in South Florida, realized it was very important to make certain Jude and his sister, Jemma, understood the

asked the kids if they had ever heard of Chanukah, or Hanukkah. These days, a lot more hands appear, and the kids look forward to the dreidels and accompanying gelt chocolate coins that are part of the traditional Hanukkah game.

Schmalenberger brings enough of the four-sided spinning tops, plus little sacks of coins, for all of Jude’s and Jemma’s classmates to take home. The kids love it.

She tells the children the history behind the eight-day holiday and how

Schmalenberger said.

This year, it starts in the evening of Dec. 18 and ends on the evening of the Dec. 26.

The menorah, the nine-branched candelabrum used in the Tabernacle and in the Temple in Jerusalem, plays an important part in Hanukkah. Every night during the eight days, families light one of the candles with the ninth candle lighting the others. A prayer is sung each evening.

Dr. Mike Slotkin, the board president of Temple Israel of Brevard, the Viera synagogue that the Schmalenbergers attend, remembers how important the lighting ceremony was when he was growing up in Miami.

“The kids really looked forward to lighting the candles,” he said.

The lighting ceremony was nice, but the presents were even nicer.

“The presents were a big deal,” Slotkin said.

per day, with the biggest gift saved for last. The family kicks off the holiday with a Hanukkah dinner, typically brisket, paired with kugel noodle. For dessert, it’s sufganiyot, or jelly donuts. Latkes, those addictive potato pancakes, are a huge favorite enjoyed that first meal and every day of Hanukkah.

“They go very fast in our family,” said Schmalenberger, who expects that when Jude and Jemma grow up, they will remember fondly those eight singular days known as Hanukkah. SL

significance of the Festival of Lights, as Hanukkah is known.

Although Hanukkah is not considered one of the High Holy Days of the Jewish faith, for this Viera family the holiday connects them with their faith.

Since Jude’s kindergarten days, Jamie Schmalenberger has visited her children’s classrooms each year to talk about Hanukkah. When she first started, only a couple of hands shot up when she

it commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem after Jews revolted against their Greek-Syrian oppressors.

Hanukkah, which means dedication in Hebrew, is celebrated in November or December, according to the Hebrew calendar. Most years, it falls within the Christmas season

“Twice that I remember, it has overlapped with Thanksgiving,”

In his neighborhood, one or two presents per Hanukkah were the norm.

“I don’t remember anyone getting more,” he said.

In the Schmalenberger household, however, fortunate Jude and Jemma receive a present

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Jamie Schmalenberger Jamie, left, Jemma, Jake and Jude Schmalenberger light menorahs to celebrate Hanukkah.

Take a deep breath and take off for the holidays

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

Travel guru Geraldine Blanchard has the perfect approach for avoiding holiday travel stress.

She stays home.

“As a rule, I like to stay close to home Christmas week,” she said.

However, as president of Global Tours and Travel in Melbourne, Blanchard helps clients who want to reconnect with loved ones or connect with new places, during the holidays, and can speak to the planning required for a successful trip.

First and foremost, start early.

“The later you wait, the more you will pay in fares,” said Blanchard, who notes that airline rates and schedules are published 10 months in advance.

Folks interested in vacation trips should consider a travel agent, since they will take care of the minutiae and provide help should snags occur.

“We tell our clients to ‘just show up,’” she said.

Accepting that travel invariably involves hiccups will also better prepare you to deal with the expected unexpected.

“Getting there can be tedious and you have to be on top of your game, but the power of the mind is phenomenal,” said Blanchard, who meditates while en route and attends church just before leaving on a trip.

Jean Paugh of All About You Travel Unlimited encourages travelers to make reservations early. If they have not, they can expect to

Holiday travel can be stressful, but early planning can make the journey a bit easier.

pay more.

“There is some last-minute stuff,” she said. “Your rates are going to be a little higher.”

Paugh advises that if taking a

flight to reserve parking off the airport and to get to the airport three hours or more before a domestic flight.

Check in online.

“Embrace technology,” she said. According to an AAA travel survey, a quarter of Floridians plan to take a trip during the holidays. Good luck to them if they plan to fly.

“Airline staffing shortages have resulted in fewer flights and higher prices,” said Debbie Haas, the vice president of travel for AAA — The Auto Club Group.

AAA recommends booking as early as possible for the best combination of availability and price.

If you can stomach it, book one of those predawn flights to avoid the delays and cancellations later flights often experience. Pad your schedule on both ends to give you wiggle room should delays occur, and give yourself a couple of hours between connections for a chance to catch the second flight should your first one be delayed.

The best day to leave for the holidays? That would be Christmas Day, typically the time when traveler numbers are down, as are the fares.

Accept the fact that tickets will cost you. Travel app Hopper is predicting record-high prices for flights, as well as for other transportation options.

Prepare for long TSA lines, hope for no weather delays and pray that COVID-19 doesn’t pop up, yet again.

Blanchard suggests three rules for travel, not just during the holidays, but throughout the year.

“First is stay calm,” she said.

“Second is stay calmer and third is stay the calmest possible.” SL

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Alura Senior Living

Aquatic Health and Rehab Autumn House

Bethesda on Turkey Creek

Brennity of Melbourne

Buena Vida Estates, CCRC

Chateau Madeleine Senior Living ClinCloud Research

Counseling Resource Services

Courtenay Springs Village

Discovery Village at Melbourne Estate Planning & Elder Law Center of Brevard

Dr. Edgardo A. Hernandez Pons, MD

Florida Health Care Plans

The Fountains of Melbourne

Inspiritas of West Melbourne

Market Street at Viera

Melbourne Terrace Rehabilitation Center

Merritt Island Medical Research

National Cremation Society

Oceans Realty Florida

Oceans Lending

Palm Cottages Assisted Living & Memory Care

Personal Hearing Solutions

Raymond James Financial Services, Inc, Reverse Mortgage Funding

Rhodes Law, PA - Ruth C. Rhodes, Esq.

Rockledge Health and Rehabilitation Center

Senior Living Guide

Senior Partner Care Services, In-Home Senior Care and Care Management

Senior Scene Magazine

Serenades Memory Care

Shell Harbor Retirement Community Sonata Viera

Sonata East

Szuba Guardian Care Solutions

TaxMasters of Brevard

Vascular & Interventional Physicians

Victoria Landing Assisted Living & Memory Care

Viera Health and Rehabilitation Center

Viera Insurance Professionals

VITAS Healthcare

William A. Johnson, P.A.

The Experts in Aging

PEOPLE PLAYGames

Tennis has remained popular for decades with local seniors

BY LINDA JUMP

Jake Potrizeebi, 82, and Lito Guerrero, 80, both of Melbourne, have played tennis more than 100 years combined. They try to play several times week to maintain balance, eye-hand coordination and strength.

“Tennis is such a wonderful sport and provides a social life with your friends. It keeps you nimble,” Guerrero said as the two recently played in a senior doubles open play match at the Norm Holmes Tennis Complex at the City of Melbourne’s Fee Avenue facility.

“I’m just impressed that I can still play,” Potrizeebi quipped. He plays six hours most weeks.

An estimated 21.6 million Americans play, nearly half women, with the average age of players rising to above 40. The non-contact fastpaced sport is played on a court with a single or two players on each side of a net using cord-strung rackets.

Players try to earn four points by getting a felt-covered bounceable ball into the opponent’s side of the court

so their opponent(s) cannot make a valid return of the ball. Players can also lose a point if the server commits a double fault if the ball doesn’t go over the net into the diagonal square, or is out of bounds twice in a row. The serve ball is thrown into the air and hit overhand.

In tennis scoring, love means nothing, and points are scored as 15, 30 and 40. When both teams earn 40 points, it’s called deuce and the winner must make two consecutive points, the first called the advantage point. The ball can be struck as a volley, in the air before it bounces, or after it bounces once.

Players compete in a single game, a set of generally six wins and a match, composed of the best of three or five sets. The victor must win by two games. The rules are complex and haven’t changed much in the two

centuries of play.

The game began in the 1800s in England as a lawn game. The Tennis Industry Association reported three million new players in 2020 alone, up 44 percent from 2019, reportedly because the game provides social distancing.

“Tennis is great for seniors because it keeps them going and it’s relatively

low impact on joints and knees,” said Chris Cymbolin, the senior recreation supervisor for tennis for the City of Melbourne. With 15 courts at the Fee Avenue complex, senior doubles are offered four mornings weekly.

Jim Slate, 74, of West Melbourne began playing tennis 15 years ago when he retired. “I enjoy the fellowship and good exercise.” SL

Organizations pass the legacy of chess to next generation

BY BETTY PORTER

The game of chess is popular in Brevard County, with more and more local residents of all ages learning to play it as well as participating in local tournaments.

The Space Coast Chess Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization, is one of the premier chess organizations in Florida. It supports scholastic and community chess programs locally by organizing and sponsoring chess events to foster the development of the game on the Space Coast.

Since August, the Foundation has sponsored three monthly tournaments. Many of the participants were young people.

The final monthly tournament for 2022 will be Dec. 3. It is open to all ages and will take place from 9:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Space Coast Health Foundation’s Center for Collaboration at 1100 Rockledge Blvd. For more information and pre-registration, visit spacecoastchessfoundation.org/p/ events.html

Next year’s monthly scholastic and open tournament dates for January through April will be announced following the next SCCF board meeting.

Another group, the Brevard Chess Club, offers twice-weekly tournaments in Cocoa Beach and Melbourne. The tournaments are open to any skill level. The Cocoa Beach tournaments are at 7 p.m.Tuesday at Bula Kava Bar and Coffee House at 124 N. Orlando Ave.

in Cocoa Beach. There is a buy-in of either $7 or $12 depending on what section the player participates. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the Brevard Chess Club hosts a tournament at Island Root Kava Bar in downtown Melbourne at 1900 Municipal Lane. There is a $10 buy-in.

Sean Malone runs the Brevard Chess Club and is also a vice president and secretary of the Space Coast Chess Foundation.

“While there are players of a wide range of skill levels, we keep the

events fun, social and inviting to all. We also try to match up players in sections based on skill level,” he said.

More information about the Brevard Chess Club tournaments is available at BrevardChess.org. In addition, Malone encourages those interested to join the Facebook page Brevard Chess Club at facebook.com/ groups/1161975724375706

“One thing I love about chess is that when I am playing, I am so intensely focused that everything else

in the world seems to melt away for the duration of that game. I admit it can be frustrating when I feel like I am in a losing position or I make a mistake that costs me the game, but the feeling of satisfaction I get when I play a great game, find a brilliant move, or edge my opponent out in a time scramble is very thrilling” Malone said. “I would have to say winning a

CHESS

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump Jim Slate, 74, of West Melbourne reaches to return a volley as he plays doubles tennis at the Norm Holmes Tennis Complex at the City of Melbourne’s Fee Avenue facility. He plays tennis weekly to stay fit.

The Free Boomer Guide features tennis locations and listings of other sports and games.

SENIOR LIFE Betty Porter

Owen Grant, right, has been a chess coach for 50 years. Across from him is Nicholas Warren of Rockledge and his 7-year-old son, Conrad, who has taken an interest in chess this year after playing it online.

NEIGHBORS

Brevard Mobile Library drives technology, art, reading activities

BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER

More than a display container for shelves of books, the Brevard Mobile Library has evolved as a source of STEAM.

“We provide programs on computer classes, and STEAM programs. That is STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) with the A since we include art,” said Laura Eastman Hawthorne, the Brevard County Mobile Library supervisor.

“We have computer classes and theme programs with summer camps and schools. A class of children and teens works on a coding program that helps them learn to color code as in programming computers and learning about technology. I have four workstations in the handicap access van so they can use tablets and iPads. During summer camps, I bring in groups of five to seven at a time to learn.

“I do the driving all over Brevard and have been to places (such) as Satellite Beach, Palm Bay, Cocoa Beach, just all over. It is an extension of the main Cocoa Library creative lab. There was a bookmobile a few years back. When COVID hit, the mobile was parked. Getting a new vehicle, we decided to have more technology than books.”

Hawthorne also has created family entertainment such as an escape room for families and their children.

“They must solve three puzzles to get the combination lock to get out of the mobile library.”

decided to bring his son, Conrad, along.

hard-fought chess game makes you feel proud of yourself for hanging in there, finding the right moves, and for all of the work you’ve put in over time to get to your current level of chess knowledge.”

Brevard County offers newcomers to chess a lot of opportunities to learn the game at no cost. Instructional, friendly games are available at a variety of venues including from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays at the Central Brevard Library at 308 Forrest Ave. in Cocoa.

Renowned chess coach Owen Grant, who has taught chess for 50 years in Brevard County, was asked by the Space Coast Chess Foundation to host the Sunday chess at the Library. He is at the Library on Sunday to teach and mentor folks interested in the game. A resident of Cape Canaveral, Grant said he does so because he loves the game and wants to pass along his knowledge and skills to the next generation.

In November, Grant mentored a father and his seven-year-old son who showed up at the Library.

Nicholas Warren of Rockledge said he had seen a flier about the chess lessons on Sunday at the Library and

“My son started taking an interest in chess this year online. He also likes it because his uncle plays chess very well.”

Conrad, who attends Lake Fern Elementary Montessori School in Titusville, was very attentive as Grant showed him some strategies on how to maneuver chess pieces into the best position early to gain traction on your opponent.

Grant said he was about Conrad’s age when he learned to play chess at the YMCA where he lived in Syracuse, N.Y.

Grant is famous for having won a chess match against grandmaster Bobby Fischer in 1964 at a tournament that took place in the Kodak Building in Rochester, N.Y.

“I was only 17 years old at the time and I must say I was a bit nervous and in awe of Bobby Fischer,” Grant said. But then I sat down with him and remembered what my father had always said to me ‘on a given day you can beat anybody.’”

Grant then became an even greater fan of Fischer, who became the World Chess championin 1972 by winning the title match against Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union. The match,

Aging Matters seniors are helped with their androids and smartphones through a program called Askatech, Hawthorne said. Another advantage of the mobile library is whenever Hawthorne is out with the mobile library she also finds herself regularly signing up residents for library cards.

Story walks in the parks are very popular and are scheduled usually a couple hours of time during the afternoons and many times in coordination with other youth events going on around the county sponsored by organizations or schools.

“The community events are on a

played in Reykjavik, Iceland, was billed as a cold war confrontation between the U.S. and the USSR.

weekend or at night at parks or at a school. A lot of times, I do my own program like story walks at the park and set up a schedule to do this.

“I put children’s book pages on signs and put the signs all around the park so while they are walking on a path they can read a book,” Hawthorne said. “At the end of the walk, they have a craft and activity sheet after reading the book.”

The Brevard Mobile Library schedules can be found on the library website on the Brevard County online site under libraries and on Facebook Brevard Libraries. SL

It attracted more worldwide attention and interest than any chess championship ever played. SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of the Brevard Library System

Laura Eastman Hawthorne, the Brevard County Mobile Library supervisor, drives her mobile van to teach STEAM courses (science, technology, engineering, art and math).

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Laura Eastman Hawthorne Children learn computer programming.

TECH KNOW TIDBITS

Avoid being a victim of cybercrime by being suspicious, alert

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

As CEO of Melbourne-based IT company Artemis, Travis Proctor has the bead on cyber-thieves bent on stealing valuable information.

“I am always thinking about cybersecurity, including when I am home,” he said.

Once, the issue of cybersecurity was of concern primarily to large corporations. Now, both small businesses and individuals are prime targets, and even data such as a specific visit to the doctor can be extremely profitable.

Cyber-burglars, armed with the knowledge that you recently visited a physician, can try to extract money by asking for credit card information and can gain access to even more personal details by asking recipients to click on a link.

Protection begins with passwords.

“We have unique passwords that change every 90 days for most all our accounts and use dual factor authentication for everything that supports it,” Proctor said.

He also depends on virtual private networks, or VPNs, to connect with important systems outside his house, and that is just the beginning.

“We have set up segmented virtual networks for guest WiFi access and for vendor-connected systems such as

AC, lights, etc.,” Proctor said.

A home firewall and router setup adds another layer of protection, along with anti-virus and antimalware software running the home computers. And, yes, there is more.

“To ensure the security of our personal data, we keep it backed up on separate systems not connected

to our home network to be able to restore from if something does happen to our in-home computers,” Proctor said.

Backing up data is not fun, but it can be a lifesaver should you become a victim of ransomware and not be able to retrieve your data.

Recapturing stolen data being held

at ransom was a headache for large corporations. It is now a headache for everyone.

“The bad actors have figured out that the data is very important and they will hold it for ransom, which is very profitable for them,” Proctor said.

How is the data mined?

“They use automated software,” said Joshua Adams, the CEO of Rock Paper Simple and a programmer since age 11.

Educating every family member on the critical importance of cyber vigilance can make the difference between being hacked or not.

“With a young son at home, we work to keep him educated on what to look for as possible attempts for people to gain access to our personal information and systems,” Proctor said.

Proctor not only informally discusses cybersecurity with his son, but he takes it a step further.

“We have him annually complete a cyber training program online to just make him aware of some of the potential risks to which he may be exposed online and how to both spot and avoid them,” he said.

Ultimately, a suspicious mind may well be your best ally against cybercrime. Every email is suspect until proven otherwise. SL

SANTA TRAIN

Continued from page 2

stories, and Davis proudly displays his Santa driver’s license that says, Nicholas S. Claus, Candy Cane Lane, North Pole. “Even Santa needs a proper ID.”

“My doctor said to cut down on the cookies,” Davis said with a jolly smile. “Am now 77, I feel great and I hope to continue my Santa journey for many years to come, keeping the magic and tradition of Christmas alive for young and old.”

Santa’s train can be viewed by appointment. Call 321-544-0169 SL

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

Cybercrime not only affects big companies, but it also affects individuals.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Willard Davis Willard Davis includes some intricate details in his Christmas village.

STRI PES

Brevard Veterans News

Veterans helping other veterans comes naturally to some

In Brevard County, those who have the financial means to do so won’t hesitate when they know the cause will benefit their fellow veterans. Some will chip in with services and others will volunteer their time.

Brandon Lape has been successful as a realtor and real estate investor since leaving active duty in the Air Force, which gave him the opportunity to help veterans.

Brandon Lape Group eXp Realty was one of the major sponsors of AVET Project’s Celebrating Veterans Cruise over Veterans Day weekend to the Bahamas.

He and other business owners are supporters of the work the organization does to help military members transition to civilian life and cope with other veteran-related issues.

The AVET took more than 100

veterans and family members on the weekend educational cruise. Participants learned about benefits and services available to them from experts in VA claims, legal matters, mental health and other issues. They also had the opportunity to relax and enjoy the camaraderie and family time. The cruise was free of charge to the veterans and their families through AVET Project fundraising and sponsorship from companies and

individuals who donated money and/or services. The organization, headed by Garren and Kim Cone, has advocated for veterans since about 2008.

Lape was a part of the Air Force on active duty for more than 12 years before transitioning to the Air Force Reserves. The active-duty military gave him a great sense of belonging. He said that his real estate business and focus on helping other veterans has filled some of the void left after ending active-duty.

“It’s a way to give back to the military community that has given so much to me,” he said. “Real estate has given me something bigger than myself.”

Other sponsors were equally enthusiastic about helping fellow veterans. And that comes as no surprise to me. After covering veterans’ issues

through the years, I have learned that it is a brotherhood and camaraderie that goes on long after they leave the military.

“If you are in the position to help, you should,” said Adrian Kellgren, a former Navy pilot who is the director of production for Kel-Tec, a gun manufacturer in Cocoa. “It’s something important for us to do.”

Erin Kelly, a Realtor with eXp Realty and one of the sponsors, said that her success has allowed her to help fellow veterans.

“I’ve been very blessed,” she said. “I want to give back.”

The veterans and some of the family members on the cruise participated in two sessions in which they listened to speakers and had the opportunity to get their questions answered, including a one-on-one with some presenters. SL

Veterans Hall of Fame inductee, family served proudly

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

Retired Lt. Col. Regina Hamilton grew up with parents who considered community service an honor, not an obligation.

“They were always doing something for the community and we would tag along,” she said.

Her father, retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Eugene C. Johnson, taught his children by example.

“He’s so dedicated,” his daughter said.

In 2017, Johnson became one of the handful of veterans inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, an honor earned through service.

Johnson is one of those rare beings, a 90-year-old Melbourne native and a 1950 graduate of Melbourne Vocational High School. In 1951, dissatisfied with his freshman year at Florida A&M University, he enlisted in the Air Force at the suggestion of friends.

“I had been in ROTC at FAMU, and I thought at the time that the military would be a better option than college,” said Johnson, who would later earn his bachelor’s degree from Rollins College.

The Air Force took him around the world and brought him back to Patrick Air Force Base in 1971. The family moved to Satellite Beach, where Eugene and his wife, Ionia, would raise their two children, Reginald and Regina. Ionia passed away three years ago, but Johnson remains in his wellloved family home.

After 31 years, Johnson retired from the Air Force, but that did not mean he left Patrick and his job with the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute.

“A month later, I was back at my desk in the same job, but as a GS-9,” he said.

He served as trainer, facilitator, curriculum coordinator and deputy director of academics before fully retiring in 1997, just in time for Gov. Lawton Chiles to appoint him to the board of Brevard Community College, now Eastern Florida State College.

Gov. Jeb Bush re-appointed Johnson to the job in 1999.

For 21 years, he was the veteran

coordinator for Piper-Gardner American Legion Post 191 in Melbourne and for 20 years he was in a similar role with the South Brevard Branch of the NAACP. As a lifelong Mason, he served the organization faithfully in top positions and is a pillar of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Melbourne. In 2011, Florida Tech awarded him the Julius C.

Montgomery Award for his exceptional service to the community.

When asked what his greatest achievement has been, he is quick to reply.

“The scholarships,” he said, referring to the Reginald E. Johnson

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of the Johnson family Retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Eugene C. Johnson is one of the few veterans inducted into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame. Service in the military is a family tradition for the Johnsons.

Cruise guides veterans to the help they need

BY R. NORMAN MOODY

Army Staff. Sgt. Raul Pacheco wants to know everything he can about his veteran’s benefits and services that will be available to him well before he retires from the military.

Pacheco and his wife Marisol, were among the more than 100 activeduty military members, veterans and their families who were part of AVET Project’s Celebrate Veterans Cruise to the Bahamas during Veterans Day weekend.

“I am approaching retirement,” he said. “When retirement comes, I don’t want to be rushing.”

Pacheco, who has served 18 years, said his main purpose for going on the cruise was to learn about his veteran’s benefits because many veterans don’t know what’s available to them.

Other veterans suffering from injuries or mental health issues listened through two informal educational sessions and were able to get questions answered during the cruise.

“Remember, there is always a higher purpose in whatever you are going through,” said John Lopez, as he encouraged his fellow veterans. “It’s OK to recognize that you are not OK. Recognize that you need help.”

Lopez of E&O Tactical, was one of the sponsors of the Celebrate Veterans Cruise.

Others spoke about suicide prevention.

Dr. Joseph Walden and Dr. Linsay Davy were among the presenters who were there to help those with questions about mental health issues.

Charisse Laverdiere, who lives in Menifee, California, wanted to learn more about mental health.

Laverdiere said that while on active duty between 1984 and 2003, her pelvis was shattered while serving in South Korea. She is getting help from the Department of Veterans Affairs for the physical injuries but not for the mental stress it causes.

“I haven’t gotten any help as far as mental health,” she said.

She was encouraged by some of the information she was able to gather during the cruise aboard Royal Caribbean Independence.

Leah Bucholz, whose company, Prestige Veterans Medical Consulting, helps those filing VA claims when medical evidence is needed.

“It’s very important that if someone helps you with a claim that they are legally accredited,” she said.

Others like Carmella George, answered questions about VA claims

SENIOR LIFE Elaine Moody

Brandon Lape, left, of eXp Realty and Adrian Kellgren of Kel-Tec speak to veterans during the AVET Project’s Celebrate Veterans Cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean Independence.

New Year’s resolutions: why they fail, how you can succeed

BY KIMBERLY BLAKER

“The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals.” — Melody Beattie

The New Year is a great time to take inventory, set goals, and take charge of your life. But if you’re like most, making resolutions is much easier than keeping them. Rather than focus on the idea of a new beginning, which can lead to disappointment at the first slip, keep in mind that self-improvement is an ongoing endeavor. Setbacks are not failures; they bring wisdom and insight for future success.

Before making a split decision on this year’s resolutions, make a list of goals and changes you’d like to make. Then review your list, and cross off any you don’t feel genuinely devoted to.

Maybe you want to resolve to spend more time with your family, quit smoking, or lose weight. You’re more likely to succeed if you feel a strong personal commitment rather than ‘I should.’

One reason people don’t keep resolutions they make is the resolutions are often made to silence the pestering of a loved one. If you decide to quit smoking to get your husband off your back, you’re less likely to succeed. If you choose to quit smoking to feel healthier and be able to enjoy physical activity without being winded, you’re more likely to experience success.

Choose one or perhaps two of the resolutions on your list that you feel most committed to. Then choose one or two

you feel confident you can do with ease. These last couple can be used as positive reinforcement for the more challenging first choices.

Next, make a clear plan for adhering to your resolutions. Put each resolution in writing, and write down the steps to achieve them. Let’s say your resolution requires a routine or schedule such as an exercise routine, a new diet, or steps toward completing your education.

Create a goal chart, a detailed plan, and a checklist to track your progress.

Also, post notes in strategic places such as the refrigerator, bathroom mirror, or steering wheel as reminders of your resolutions with tips on how to overcome temptation.

Make sure your family understands the importance of your resolutions. Family support and their positive reinforcement can be most helpful. If your resolution is something your family has been nagging you about, ask for their encouragement. But explain that pressure and pestering, particularly during setbacks, could undermine your resolve. Determine how each family member can help you to achieve your goal perhaps by taking on additional household chores or through affirmations of your continued success.

Adjust your environment to enable success. If eating healthier is your goal, don’t fill the cupboards with junk food for other family members. Find healthy snacks they’re willing to substitute. If you’re trying to quit smoking, avoid people, places, and things that remind or tempt you, at least until you have it well under control.

Did you meet your 2022 goals? Make clear plans for your resolutions for 2023.

Don’t go it alone. If you have a friend with a similar resolution, make a pact. Work together to create a plan, and then make a point to check in with each other regularly for encouragement, praise, and support. If you resolve to get more exercise, do it together. Having a commitment and someone to accompany you will go a long way in helping you succeed.

time machine

In December...

Dec. 1, 1955

Rosa Parks is arrested in Montgomery, Alabama for rejecting bus driver James F. Blake’s order to vacate a row of four seats in the colored section in favor of a white man. This incident leads to the birth of the American civil rights movement.

Dec. 7, 1941

The U.S. Naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is attacked just before 8 a.m. The base is attacked by 353 Imperial Japanese aircraft in a raid that lasts a little more than one hour and leaves nearly 3,000 Americans dead.

By USN - Official U.S. Navy photograph 80-G-182874, U.S. National Archives.

Dec. 8, 1980

Musician John Lennon, formerly of the Beatles, is shot and fatally wounded in the archway of the Dakota, his residence in New York City. Lennon is rushed to Roosevelt Hospital in a police car, where he is pronounced dead on arrival at 11:15 p.m.

Finally, reward yourself, not just once you’ve achieved your goal, but periodically for your success so far. Small, periodic rewards can be motivation enough to keep you strong when you’re ready to throw in the towel.

Remember, whatever New Year resolutions you choose, success awaits you if you resolve never to give up trying. SL

Dec. 19, 1998

After nearly 14 hours of debate, the House of Representatives impeaches President Bill Clinton, approving two out of four Articles of Impeachment, charging Clinton with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice. Clinton is the second American president to be impeached, the first being Andrew Johnson, who is

Dec. 28, 1832

John C. Calhoun resigns from the office of vice president after a series of political disagreements with President Jackson. He is the first American ever to resign the office of vice president. He serves under Presidents John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.

Dec. 30, 1803

The Stars and Stripes flag is raised above New Orleans as the United States takes formal possession of the territory of Louisiana, an area of 885,000 square miles, nearly doubling the size of the U.S. The territory is purchased from France for approximately $15 million.

Thure de Thulstrup, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

and attorney Jessica Lynn Silva shared information about wills and trusts with participants.

The three-night cruise was supposed to start Nov. 11 following a Veterans Day ceremony at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island. Because of Hurricane Nicole, the ship arrived at Port Canaveral a day late and the veterans’ cruise was cut short by one day.

The educational session aboard the ship went on as planned with a modified schedule.

Garren Cone said that from comments he has heard, the educational cruise, which is part of AVET’s Project Recuperation and Reintegration, was well received.

“We know we reached an audience of 130 people,” he said. “Everybody came away with more knowledge than they had before they got on the boat, plus everybody had fun.”

One important aspect is that the veterans were able to connect with each other and with experts who can help them. SL

HALL OF FAME

continued from page 10

Scholarship Program, named after his late son.

Reginald and sister Regina, both Merit Scholars at Satellite High, were the first brother and sister African Americans to attend West Point. Reginald tragically died during a

training accident just 21 days before graduating in 1980.

His parents channeled their grief into a scholarship program to assist Brevard high school graduates attain their dreams of higher education.

“We have been able to provide more than $4 million in scholarships every year, even during the pandemic,” Johnson said. SL

Let the spirit of unity and peace prevail in your life

For many seniors, this will be the first holiday in several years where families will gather after the restrictions of the COVID pandemic. Recently, I returned to Wisconsin for a family wedding and reunion. What surprises! Babies now were busy little people. Everyone seemed pleasant and cordial. A wedding environment added to the unity and peace.

Holiday events can be stressful. Regardless of previous conflicts and issues, it’s a great time to start anew. Among family and friends, we can heal divisions. We can carry the spirit of the season to our neighborhoods, villages, cities, states and nation. There is no need to be divided. Find common ground, similarities and likes. Build on them.

We can recognize the beauty of our diversity — the mixed cultures, the granddaughter with a ring in her nose, the grandson with lots of tattoos and gauges in his ears, the 30-something adult with pink hair, and the blondehaired grandmother in tight leather pants. It is a beautiful world after all.

When you are together, skip comments about appearances. Focus on good memories through the years. Avoid discussing politics. Consider the elections as being over. Ask the youth about their favorite subjects at school and what they are doing for fun? Want a lesson in technology, ask about the new features on their special super iPhone. Show that they are valued and loved. Be sure to move about and cover everyone.

Challenges of Living to Age 100

Ed Baranowski

End by responding with, “Thanks for sharing.”

Some armchair philosopher stated: “We are in the same boat.” Damcen Barr in From Woman up wrote: “We are not in the same boat. We are in the same storm. Some have yachts. Some have canoes and kayaks. Some are drowning. They can’t even float. Just be kind and help when you can.

Our challenge as seniors is to be part of the solution and not part of the problem. Help bring family, friends, neighbors and other community members together. Set an example with kind words, acts of kindness and renewed connections with others. Reconcile with family members who have been estranged. Reach out to the less fortunate in your community by volunteering, contributing and sharing.

Join with various community groups. Unite in efforts to provide food and gifts, and believe that unity and peace is possible. SL

Ed Baranowski is an award-winning writer, artist, speaker and seminar leader. He lives in Melbourne and can be contacted at fast75sr@gmail.com.

Happy Holidays

SENIOR LIFE Elaine Moody Raul and Marisol Pacheco want to be prepared for retirement from the Army.

SENIOR LIFE Elaine Moody Garren and Kim Cone head up AVET Project, a veteran advocacy organization.

Parades, events get in step ushering in holiday season

BY FLORA REIGADA

The bright lights, colorful decorations, parades and events signify the delights of the Christmas season. And, Dec. 3 is never too early to begin the celebration of the year-end holiday season.

This year, there is no shortage of parades and events in Brevard County to usher in the season.

Saturday, Dec. 3 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Winterfest 2022 will take place on the Minuteman Causeway in Cocoa Beach. The Christmas Parade starts at 2 p.m.

Saturday, Dec. 3 2 p.m.

The Bible on Parade starts from and returns to the Melbourne Auditorium at 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. For more information, call Jesus is the Key Ministries at 321-773-1489 or visit jitk. org/bible-parade-home-page.

Saturday, Dec. 3 6 p.m.

The Light Up Viera Holiday Parade starts from and finishes at Viera High School at 6103 Stadium Pkwy. in Melbourne and includes fireworks. For more information, visit LightUpViera. com or call 321-242-1200 ext. 4554 or email Events@Viera.com.

Saturday, Dec. 3 4 to 7 p.m.

Light Up Rockledge and Festival of Trees takes place at the Rockledge Civic Hub at 530 Barton Blvd. in Rockledge. For more information, call 321-2217540, ext. 160 or email kcharbonneau@ cityofrockledge.org.

Friday, Dec. 9 6 to 7:30 p.m.

The Cocoa Village Holiday Boat Parade launches at Valencia docks in Rockledge and ends at Intracoastal Waterway Park, the north side of SR5

20. For more information, call 321-6319075 or visit historiccocoavillage.com.

Saturday, Dec. 10 1 p.m.

The Cocoa/Rockledge Holiday Parade starts at Rockledge High School at 220 Rockledge Ave. and ends at Lee Wenner Park at approximately 2:30 p.m. For more information call 321-633-1874.

Saturday, Dec. 10 6 p.m.

The Titusville Christmas Parade starts at Titusville High School at 150 Terrier Trail and proceeds north on U.S. 1 to Downtown Titusville. For more information, call 321-267-7922, or visit titusvillechristmasparade.com.

Saturday, Dec. 10 6 p.m.

The Melbourne Light Parade starts at 1300 Martin Luther King Blvd. and

heads south to Hibiscus Blvd., then west to Gateway Drive. For more information, call 321-544-1777 or visit melbournelightparade.org.

Saturday, Dec. 17 11 a.m.

The Port St. John Christmas Parade starts at the corner of Waterloo Avenue and Faye Blvd. and proceeds to the corner of Carole Ave and Fay Blvd. For more information, call 321-633-7499 or visit happenings.net.

Saturday, Dec. 17 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Family Christmas Extravaganza takes place at Fred Poppe Regional Park; 1951 Malabar Road in Palm Bay. For more information, call 321-952-5725 or visit familychrsistmasextravaganza.com/.

Saturday, Dec. 17 5:30 to 10 p.m.

The Merritt Island Christmas Boat

Parade proceeds from the Sykes Creek Causeway Bridge and continues north through Sykes Creek, ending at the Seaway Drive Bridge and Barge Canal. For more information, call 321-2130478 or email kaleb@bluemarlinre. com.

Saturday, Dec. 17 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The Turkey Creek Christmas Boat Parade will start at Turkey Creek in front of Palm Bay Marina, heading east past Palm Bay Point to the Indian River, then turn around behind the Lazy Turtle Restaurant, back to Turkey Creek. For more information, call 321-536-4175.

Saturday, Dec. 24 8 a.m.

Surfing Santas begins in front of Coconuts at 2 Minutemen Causeway in Cocoa Beach. For more information, call 321-633-7499 or visit surfingsantas. org. SL

COMMUNITY HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS

Harmony Farms’ Blizzard at the Barn event is back

It’s been two years since Harmony Farms hosted Blizzard at the Barn, its annual family day and craft fair.

While the pandemic briefly prevented the opening of the barn doors to a wider community, the therapeutic riding program remained strong. And, the organization’s purpose of helping those in the community that can benefit from the healing power of horses never wavered.

Blizzard at the Barn

From 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 4, Harmony Farms will once again host Blizzard at the Barn at the farm at 2205 Pluckebaum Road in Cocoa.

The event includes hands-on equine activities, kids games, food and a holiday crafts and gift fair.

Admission to the event is free.

Proceeds from the event support the therapeutic riding program at Harmony Farms. The program provides equineassisted therapy and activities to disabled individuals of all ages to improve their physical, mental and

emotional wellbeing.

Learn more at harmonyfarmsinc. com/.

Ceremony of Carols’ concert welcomes the holiday season

Justin Walker and the 50 mixed voices of the Brevard Chorale will welcome the Christmas season with “A Ceremony of Carols” by renowned choral composer Benjamin Britten.

The program also includes a host

of holiday favorites, plus a crowd-pleasing sing along. Brevardians can experience the quintessential holiday concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5 at the Simpkins Fine Arts Auditorium at Eastern Florida State College at 1519 Clearlake Road in Cocoa.

Admission at the door is $10 for adults and seniors; $5 for students. Featured soloists include Connie Maltby, Sally Boyles, Pam Petersen and Robert Yost.

The Christmas music on the first half of “A Ceremony of Carols” provides listeners with a reverent musical experience, steeped in tradition.

The contrasting second set includes references to joyful cultural aspects of the season, such as watching Christmas movies, giving and receiving gifts, and of course, singing carols. Pianist Jean Black will accompany the chorale during the concert. For more information about the Brevard

Chorale or “A Ceremony of Carols,” visit BrevardChorale.org or call 321-794-7528.

Under the direction of new artistic director and conductor Justin Walker, the Brevard Chorale is an all-volunteer group of mixedvoice adults from Central and North Brevard who enjoy singing quality choral music. Walker thinks “A Ceremony of Carols” is a concert with the perfect combination of reverent and joyful music.

“Benjamin Britten’s “A Ceremony of Carols” is a glorious 20-minute masterwork by one of the greatest British composers of the 20th century,” Walker said. “And everyone will be in the holiday spirit after a second half full of Christmas favorites.”

The Chorale is one of two community choruses sponsored by the Department of Performing and Visual Arts at Eastern Florida State College. For membership information or concert schedules for the Brevard Chorale, visit BrevardChorale.org or call 321-7947528. SL

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

Hundreds of Santas participate in the annual Run Run Santa 1 Mile in Viera.

‘A

Behind the Beat

By Randal C. Hill

‘You’re So Vain’ — Carly Simon

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht

Your hat strategically dipped below one eye, your scarf it was apricot You had one eye in the mirror as you watched yourself gavotte

And all the girls dreamed that they’d be your partner, they’d be your partner

And you’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you Don’t you, don’t you?

Some lyrics of Carly Simon’s No. 1 hit often left many music fans scratching their heads in wonder. Let’s start with the little-known word gavotte. “A gavotte is a French dance,” Simon said. “I thought I would use a word that was slightly presumptuous. He’s gavotting because that’s what a pretentious, vain man would do.”

Then there is that mysterious line “There were clouds in my coffee.” That statement came about during a flight that Simon took with her piano player, Billy Merritt. She explained, “As I got my coffee, Billy said to me, ‘Look at the clouds in your coffee.’ There were clouds outside the window

of the airplane, and you could see the reflection in a cup of coffee.” (And we were supposed to figure this out?)

Sonata

But the question that most fans asked was: Who was Simon ridiculing in “You’re So Vain,” an Elektra Records tune that topped the Billboard singles chart for three weeks in the waning days of 1972? That hit, whose creation consumed nearly a year of Simon’s time, came from her third LP, No Secrets, a No.1 Billboard album for over a month.

Simon claims that “You’re So Vain” actually refers to a total of three famous, arrogant individuals. She has stated that ex-husband James Taylor and Rolling Stone Mick Jagger are definitely NOT the men she had in mind when she put pen to paper many years ago. Other possible candidates

— deep breath here — have included David Bowie, Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, David Cassidy and Jack Nicholson.

“I was brought up by a mother who was adamant that you didn’t even kiss a man until you were in love with him,” Simon has admitted. “So I was in love with a lot of men. I was besotted by the lads! I was definitely a romantic.”

Recently, Simon admitted that the second verse was about actor Warren Beatty—but only the second verse.

You had me several years ago, when I was still quite naïve

Well, you said that we made such a pretty pair and that you would never leave

But you gave away the things you loved, and one of them was me

I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee

In August 2003, she agreed to reveal the unknown names to the highest bidder of a Martha’s Vineyard charity auction. Dick Ebersole, the head of NBC Sports, won with a bid of $50,000, but he had to agree to never reveal what she told him.

And so, to this day, Carly Simon’s mystery men have remained a mystery. SL

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

Carly Simon’s “You’re So Vain” is still a mystery.

HISTORIC TITUSVILLE MAIN STREET

Enjoy holiday feast, but do it without overindulging HEALTH & WELLNESS

BY NANETE HEBDIGE

Navigating through the holidays feeling good about dietary restrictions is like pushing a boulder uphill, when food frenemies bombard us from every corner.

A clinical study published for the Clinical Research in Cardiology revealed cardiac issues peak during the holidays, so it’s important to entertain healthy eating during the holiday food extravaganza.

Tis the season for marathon overeating and we want to enjoy tempting foods that bring fond memories without a major guilt trip.

Eleanor Baker is the owner of Elevated Nutrition and Wellness and a registered medical nutritionist and dietitian.

“Common sense is the white elephant in the room and overindulging is easy. The binge started with Halloween candy, carried onto Thanksgiving feast, then Christmas and the last hurrah, New Year’s. It comes tied with a nice red bow that taxes the arteries and expands the waistline,” Baker said.

“I counsel my clients to practice these simple strategies to curb food

intake during the holidays and as a general wellness rule of thumb for healthy eating.”

Eat three daily meals — Skipping meals due to hectic schedules causes overeating at dinner, so eat regularly during the day

Use smaller plates — A smaller dish equates to smaller portions Outsmart the buffet — Be mindful and survey the lineup to avoid dishes on the naughty list

Slow eaters eat less — It takes about 20 minutes for our brain to

register that we’re full. By chewing your food well and eating slower, it will prevent going back for seconds

Outta sight, outta mind — Remove temptation by not buying it and having it at home

Don’t go out on an empty tank — Have a healthy snack beforehand, drink a large glass of water, as it will regulate cravings so you’re not so ravenous

Petite desserts are key — A small piece of pie is enough to curb that sweet tooth and provide flavor factor

Exercise — Include outdoor activities and add more exercise during the holidays

Focus less on the food — The holidays are all about family and food complements that. Focus less on eating and spend more time on laughter and cheer

Baker suggests not flooding the fridge with leftovers or bringing cookies home, no matter how tempting!

Go to elevatednutritionandwellness.com to learn more about nutritional wellness. SL

Project RELIEF volunteers offer respite to caregivers

BY JENNIFER H. MONAGHAN

Project RELIEF is a statesupported program that offers inhome respite for up to four hours. A volunteer comes into homes and provides companionship for loved ones.

It is free of guilt and free of charge.

“We are here to give caregivers a break; to give you the opportunity to be refreshed,” said Liesa Johnson, the director of Project RELIEF. “Caregivers have to look out for their own health, too.”

Volunteers are carefully selected and trained. Many of the volunteers are retired nurses, but more importantly, they are chosen for their compassion and their love for the

elderly and their patience.

The volunteers don’t do handson. However, given their experience, they are very observant and can spot different things and report to caregivers, Johnson said.

Theresa Flanagan, a retired nurse who worked in a variety of fields from home care to ICU and the operating room, has been a Project RELIEF

volunteer for three years. Her mother died from Alzheimer’s disease two years ago.

“Growing up, I always wanted to be a nurse to help people get better,” she said. “I did a lot of teaching, educating patients and their families. Interacting with them was priceless. I loved all my positions in nursing, but

homecare was the most rewarding.

“After I retired from nursing, I decided to give back. I hooked up with Project RELIEF after an informational session at Joe’s Club. It gives me a happy heart to get families out to do

PROJECT RELIEF

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

Food during the Christmas season can be enticing.

SENIOR LIFE Jennifer H. Monaghan

Theresa Flanagan is a volunteer for Project RELIEF.

“We are here to give caregivers a break; to give you the opportunity to be refreshed.”

—Liesa Johnson

Practicing proper foot care takes some effort

BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER

The average person takes approximately 10,000 steps per day, which can add up to more than three million steps per year.

Each step can place two to three times the force of your body weight on your feet. You rely on your feet and ankles, so it’s important to keep them healthy and pain free, according to the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS).

“In general, what seniors struggle with is reaching their feet,” said Dr. Martin Lenoci, an orthopedic surgery specialist at Steward Medical Group, Melbourne. “A lot of times what we see is seniors don’t realize they are having a mild or significant foot problem.

“Good daily habit for seniors is hygiene, to wash and dry their feet. Some people will want to let feet drip dry but this can lead to fungal infections. Dry between the toes, look for sores, skin changes and try to catch problems before they become bigger problems.”

Lenoci said that people who have arthritis, crooked toes or a fallen arch need more arch support and that the pain they might be having can be improved if they improve the shoes they are using.

“Some people need to get into a shoe with more room in it, arch support and may function, not in style but it is what functions for some people.

“Some people are blessed with good feet and can wear anything (shoe) and not have problems. People can live with hammertoes, only if causing some pain but are functional, with compromise it can be left alone. (No required surgery.)

“Individuals, particularly special

needs with diabetes and those with poor circulation, are at high risk because they develop problems and may lose a leg,” Lenoci said. “If you are a diabetic, there is no minor problem with the feet.”

Recommending exercise for feet, Lenoci said a lot of people try to walk for bad feet and that doesn’t work well. He recommends other exercises.

“Select low impact aerobics and they should also select exercises that preserve the joint. People need to incorporate these low impact exercises and switch over entirely. Swimming is easiest on the joints and allows people to move their joints and muscles and alleviates stress and strain on joints. Swimming and water aerobics are ways for good exercise.”

Foot exercises recommended by the AOFAS include walking on beach sand (massages feet and exercises toes). For hammertoes,

St. Bernard puppy lasts in the memory of Melbourne family

BY JEFF NAVIN

Christmas 1966 was a special holiday for the Dillon family of Norwalk, Connecticut. It was time to get their first dog.

The four boys ranging in age from 6 to 2 were a little older and less apt to step on a tail or a paw. Just in case, Gary and Susie Dillon had settled on the quintessential big, friendly wanna-be lap dog.

A female St. Bernard.

The original Dillon St. Bernard was named Heidi and she eventually followed the family down to Islamorada, where the family moved in 1974. The elder Dillon alternated between his regular job as a plumber and his dream job as a charter boat captain.

Fishing already was in his blood as his boat, appropriately named Heidi Baby, was a fixture in the waters of Montauk on Long Island Sound. Susie, whose given name is Mary, was nicknamed Susie for the popular 1957 hit song “Susie-Q” by Dale Hawkins.

“Gary and his mom lived above a veterinarian’s office when he was a child,’’ Susie Dillon said of her late husband, who died two years ago after a long illness. “There were Dachshunds, Great Danes and all

kinds of different dogs.’’

Heidi was purchased from a pet store in Norwalk, and Susie’s brother, Donald, brought Heidi to the house on Christmas Eve to give the boys a Christmas to remember.

“My youngest son, Robert, looked under the puppy Heidi and was wondering how we could wind her up like a toy,’’ Dillon recounted. “He had no idea that she was real.’’

Where to place a puppy for a nap

always is a work in progress for the first-time dog owner.

“I had an old fabric playpen,’’ Dillon said. “She just went in between it.’’

Since then, the Dillons have had Daiquiri, Chili, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Guava, Orange Blossom and Ginger.

All were short-hair St. Bernards except the last two — Orange Blossom and Ginger. Orange Blossom was 13 months old and

Guava was 3 years old when the Dillons moved to Melbourne in October 2010.

Now, Orange Blossom is 13 years old. She’s lived the longest of them all.

In 1969, when the Dillons traveled to Europe in the autumn, they visited the Great Saint Bernard Pass which links Switzerland and Italy. St. Bernards have a rich history dating back to at least 1670 at the hospice and congregation. More than 2,000 people have been rescued from blizzards by the dogs through the years.

Short-haired St. Bernards have always been preferred in the treacherous area. Long-haired dogs accumulate moisture and have frozen to death during rescues and avalanches.

“They’re great with kids,’’ Dillon said. “They were great with my children, my grandchildren and now my great grandchildren. They have a sweet temper, and they’re all cute. They’re wonderful for kids of all ages.’’

St. Bernards are as friendly as any breed, but they will protect their master.

ST. BERNARD

raise toe and point and curl toe. Hold for five seconds, repeat 10 times or pick up 20 marbles with toes and place all in a dish. SL

SENIOR LIFE Brenda Eggert Brader

This is a closeup view of hammertoe on the right foot.

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

Foot exercises can be as simple as walking on beach sand.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Steward Medical Group Dr. Martin Lenoci is a podiatrist with the Steward Medical Group.

SENIOR LIFE Jeff Navin

Susie Dillon pets her St. Bernards Orange Blossom and Ginger.

Conventional septic systems were designed to remove pathogens from onsite waste

maintained, do a pretty good

They were not designed to reduce nitrogen pollution from seeping through porous soils into waters. And, Brevard County’s 80,000 septic systems are leaking nitrogen into the Indian River Lagoon and St. Johns River today.

The crazy thing is that taxpayers are paying millions to get rid of old conventional systems, while the county is allowing construction of around 1,000 new ones every year.

We can do better!

The 54,000 septics leaking into the Indian River Lagoon watershed contribute some 400,000 pounds per year (almost 20%) of the nitrogen pollution in the IRL feeding algal blooms.

Fortunately, in 2018 the County’s Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) plan created an overlay of areas near the IRL and its tributaries and prohibited any new conventional systems. New homes must be connected to sewer lines or use new high-performing systems that remove at least 65% of the nitrogen. It also established a fund to help residents pay for the removal (or connection) of old systems. This fund has now been expanded to high-impact properties across the county. (brevardfl.gov/ SaveOurLagoon/SepticUpgrades)

Lagoon Straight Talk

From the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition

Ironically though, during the 2020-21 fiscal year, the county approved some 900 new conventional systems that may have to be upgraded or removed in coming years. Many observers think the county should extend the overlay requirements to the whole county. No new conventional systems.

Also, there is a state law that requires septic owners near sewage treatment lines to hook up within one year of notice that the lines are available. Many owners have not been notified or have not complied, so the pollution continues.

It can be expensive to hook up, so the current SOIRL funds can be important, and they may have to be replenished once the county, hopefully, begins working toward compliance, like Vero Beach, Sarasota and other communities are doing.

Conventional septics did an important job 100 years ago to protect health; today, we must protect our Indian River Lagoon too. We can do better!

For more and to help, visit HelpTheLagoon.org, facebook.com/ BIRLC/ and twitter.com/HelpTheLagoon SL

PROJECT RELIEF

things they enjoy, like bowling, lunch with a friend or a movie. Distracting the client with music, coloring, telling jokes, going for walks is very rewarding. Each one’s personality is different. I like them all.”

Project RELIEF is a program run by the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation in Melbourne, whose goal is to keep families together for as long as possible. The organization is fully

focused on serving both the client and the caregiver.

The relief program offers family members and loved ones a muchneeded break. Respite care can increase a caregiver’s ability to attend to a home-bound elder without becoming ill themselves. This program is supported by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.

For more information, go to brevardalz.org or call 321-253-4430. SL

Brevard Commission on Aging

BCOA meetings are open to the public and are held the second Thursday of each month at the government center in Viera. For information, contact Cindy Short at 321-6332076, FAX 321-633-2170, cindy.short@brevardfl.gov, brevardf l.gov/HumanServices/CommissionOnAging or at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, B-106, Viera, FL 32940.

Depression in seniors can heighten during holidays

Holidays can be the backbone of our relationships — highlights in the histories of our lives. They are traditions that serve as the foundations for many families. But because of these ties, mental health professionals note an increase in depression for seniors during the holidays.

Roughly one in four seniors (age 65 or older) suffers from depression. More than 70% of older Americans feel isolated and lonely. And nearly one-third of all non-institutionalized older Americans live alone. Source: Florida Department of Elder Affairs, 2022.

Common signs of senior depression include:

• Lack of appetite

• Extreme fatigue — excessive sleeping. The body shuts down to escape from the outside world

• Problems concentrating

• Anti-social — may stop doing everyday things such as going to church

• Older adults may not express sadness (unlike kids with depression)

• Abuse of drugs or alcohol

• Being angry, sarcastic and criticizes others’ joy of the season

Tips to beat depression include: Encourage seniors to exercise — various studies reveal that staying physically active makes people feel

good and has the same effect on mood and brain chemistry as antidepressants.

Keep alcohol use to a minimum — alcohol is a known depressant. Caregivers can create festive drinks such as eggnog or flavored hot chocolate to help seniors cheerfully toast to the season.

Don’t feel obligated to buy lots of gifts — giving can make you feel good but in times of financial despair, giving gifts can create a lot of stress. Instead, caregivers can help seniors write and send personalized cards to family and friends.

Stay connected socially — volunteer at a soup kitchen (or other organization) with a caregiver — giving back improves people’s moods and increases their sense of self-worth. Caregivers can also teach seniors how to use computers or cell phones to connect socially with family and friends. They can take seniors to a local coffee shop or look at Christmas lights for holiday cheer outside the home.

Be a good listener — Sometimes, all it takes to help a senior with the holiday blues is simply listening. Through conversation, caregivers can help seniors live in the present (instead of dwelling on the good old days) and keep holiday expectations realistic.

Encourage them to talk with their healthcare provider

The holidays can cause people to

feel anxious and depressed. But for some, holiday tensions can lead to full-blown clinical depression. Often, older adults don’t realize they are depressed. If you suspect depression in someone you know, you may need to bring it up more than once. Let the person know that depression is a treatable medical illness and not something to be ashamed of.

Everyone feels sad on occasion. The holidays may stir feelings of separation; however, many individuals will recover as the holidays pass.

Depression is different because it causes individuals to be unable to continue to function in their everyday lives.

Put yourself in the other person’s shoes to understand how they feel

Some of the common symptoms of depression in older individuals include persistent sadness, withdrawal from social activities, slowed thinking, lack of energy, lack of interest in things that were once pleasurable, excessive worry, frequent tearfulness, feelings of worthlessness or helplessness, weight changes, changes in sleep patterns and concentration problems.

Depression is a medical condition. Depression prevents older adults from enjoying life as it could be and takes a heavy toll on their health. If you believe you or a loved one suffers from depression, you should consult a mental health care provider, or consider going with them and speaking to their primary care physician about these concerns. SL

Solution, Puzzle page 30

NORTH BREVARD

News for Titusville, Mims & Port St. John

Brevard Museum offers glimpse of 10,000 years of life here

BY LINDA JUMP

The Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science in Cocoa shows visitors glimpses of life on the Space Coast from the Ice Age through the Space Age for free.

“We exhibit ‘The People of Windover’ with artifacts found during excavation near Titusville in the mid1980s,” said Ben Rader, a part-time facility attendant. The Windover burial site unearthed 168 nearly-intact skeletons buried over a 1,200-year period, more than 7,000 years ago. Some archeologists claim they’re the oldest remains found in the U.S.

The Asian-appearing natives wrapped their dead in a cloth of woven palm leaves, put corpses into a ritualistic fetal position on their left side, buried under water held down with stakes. The bodies were preserved for millenia in the black bog.

In addition to the Windover exhibit, the 15,000 square-foot museum has a hands-on learning center for children, Florida’s Ice Age with recreations of skeletons of a wooly mammoth, mastodon, saber-tooth cat and giant ground sloth, and Grace Taylor’s collection from local life in the early 1900s.

Now the city is looking to turn over operations to The Brevard Museum and Sciences Center (BMSC) that was incorporated as a nonprofit in June 2021.

“We want the museum to stay active, but the city doesn’t operate museums. We submitted a contract, but haven’t heard back from them (BMSC),” said Samantha Senger, the public information officer for the city.

Gregg Stoll of the BMSC said the group had negotiated with the city to provide four to six exhibits and programs at the museum annually.

“When the city contract came back, it was completely different with us taking all the responsibility and liability for the property,” he said.

Jeremy and Tammy Bullock of Rockledge walked Tux, their lab-pit mix on a trail recently.

“The trails are great — paved, sand or boardwalk. We’ve come three times in the past month,” Tammy Bullock said. Her husband said the museum was closed when he’d previously driven by. “I noticed people there recently and finally went in. The history of the early Florida settlement was interesting,” Jeremy Bullock said.

The museum is open free from 10

a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. SL

Become a model train conductor

BY LINDA JUMP

Model sections of the Florida East Coast Railway system will be displayed at the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science this month as part of a Christmas program.

Saturdays in December from noon until 4, children and adults can conduct a train. The last free admission is at 3 p.m.

The diary of Mims pioneer Selina Roberts, whose husband worked in the local turpentine fields, inspired a recreation of earlier days. Delaware North loaned its Hubble Space Telescope and Orbiter display formerly in the IMAX building at Kennedy Space Center.

He said the group is planning a counter-offer to the city, but couldn’t give specifics.

Bob Mink of Titusville has volunteered as a docent for six years, after retirement as a geologist. Anna and Robert Halbweis, visiting the area from Vienna, Austria, praised him for teaching them about the Windover prehistoric people.

“Bob was so informative and we learned so much,” Anna Halbweis said.

Robert Halbweis had been a high school exchange student locally, and wanted to return to the warm climate to surf.

The museum at 2201 Michigan Ave. was built in 1973 on 22 acres with trails through several Florida ecosystems, and a butterfly garden. The site was built and operated for 45 years by the Brevard Museum, Inc., then transferred to the Florida Historical Society in 2014. Their agreement with the City of Cocoa terminated March 1, 2021, and after losing money the financial operation and assets were passed to the City of Cocoa.

“The FEC played a prominent role in shaping Florida’s past with Brightline already shaping Florida’s future. All but the line from Miami to Key West is still in operation today and will soon serve as a portion of the Brightline connection between Miami and the Orlando Airport and beyond,” said Gregg Stoll, the coordinator of FecNtrak.

He said the display will be at N scale, meaning a locomotive would be about 5 inches long.

One inch equals 116 inches. The 220-foot display will include modules from Cocoa, as well as Jacksonville and Miami.

Wireless hand-held throttles will be used to control each train.

“It’s high-tech and we’ll let kids run the trains,” he said.

Inside the museum, a permanent display is set up to show Cocoa and Rockledge train rails and buildings by the Space Coast Model Train Club.

“It even has a model of the Indian River Hotel, the Brevard Hotel and the concrete business and citrus farms,” said Ben Rader, a facility attendant.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Bob Mink, a volunteer docent from Titusville, shows the head of a Windover woman, using forensic reconstruction of a female skeleton found in the Windover archeological site in the 1980s.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

A replica of a mammoth skeleton is in the Ice Age section.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

A Hubble Space Telescope and Orbiter is displayed.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Robert and Anna Halbweis of Vienna, Austria enjoy learning about Florida history and the people who lived here.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Jeremy and Tammy Bullock of Rockledge walk Tux, their lab mix, on the trails.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Ben Rader, a facility attendant, holds a scavenger hunt card available to young visitors.

North Brevard Art League back in full swing

BY FLORA REIGADA

Put on hold during the pandemic, the North Brevard Art League is up and running with meetings, classes and workshops, all open to the community.

Monthly meetings take place at 6 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month. However, because of the holidays, the December meeting will be held the second week, at 6 p.m. Dec. 14.

Meetings are theme-based and an artist of the month is announced at each. December’s theme will highlight the holidays.

“Our holiday party will be held at the December meeting,” said Diane Winrich, a board member who is the league’s media liaison. “Those who want to take part in the gift exchange are encouraged to bring a gift.”

The league encompasses many art media, such as acrylic, watercolor, oil, photography and pottery. A kiln is available on the premises.

Winrich’s media are watercolor and pottery.

North Brevard Art League member Renee Stewart’s focus is mixed media, or two-dimensional art, such as collage.

She broadens her artistic skills at art league classes and workshops.

“A watercolor workshop helped develop my skills and gave me excellent tips and pointers,” she said.

Classes include pottery, youth art, mixed media and drawing with pen, ink and pastel.

An open studio from 6 to 8 p.m. each Tuesday helps to encourage creativity.

“Open studios offer the opportunity to sit down, relax and express your creativity any way you want,” Winrich said. The fee is $5.

The North Brevard Art League is open to membership. Although there is a cost, membership options are

available on a per case basis to those struggling financially. Classes and workshops also involve a fee.

In January, there will be a beading class, in February a traditional portrait class and in March an abstract portrait workshop.

The community is invited to the league’s annual art show, March 30 through April 2, at the Titusville Holiday Inn at 4715 Helen Hauser Blvd.

“We have an amazing group of people, learning and having fun in the process,” Winrich said.

The North Brevard Art League is at 1421 Draa Road in Titusville.

For more information, call 321-383-7441 or visit northbrevardartleague.com. SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Diane Winrich

At a Christmas card workshop conducted by the North Brevard Art League, President Helen Wheatley, left, and Kathie Benson discuss a stamping technique. Classes, workshops and demonstrations are held on a regular basis and are open to the community.

Hello December

Community Band of Brevard concert. Merritt Island High School 100 Mustang Way 321-338-6210

Guided Barrier Island Sanctuary Hike 9:30 - 11 a.m. Free Enjoy a 1.0 mile stroll from dune-to-lagoon.RSVP: BIChike4Dec22.eventbrite. com Max capacity 15 people.

Eastern Florida State College 1519 Clearlake Road Cocoa, 321-501-0833

Repeal Day Roaring Twenties Party 5 - 9 p.m.

A custom engraved bottle of bourbon, three course meal, 20s costumes and dancing. 28 North Gastropub 2250 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-241-1159

11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Presented by Pasquale F. Reino, DO, Orthopedic Surgeon with Hughston Clinic.

RSVP Required. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

7 p.m. Dec. 7 and 8 Free concert by the Melbourne Municipal Band.

Melbourne Auditorium 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Melbourne, 321-724-0555

SATURDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

Back to Work 50+ Job Fair 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Space Coast Health Foundation 1100 Rockledge Blvd. Rockledge, 321-504-7600

Dueling Pianos by The Copper Piano 6 - 9 p.m. Murdock's Bistro & Char Bar and The Copper Piano 600 Brevard Ave., Cocoa 321-806-3352

Marine Corps Birthday

Motown Magic Moments 7 - 9 p.m.

Enjoy an evening of "Magic Moments" with Voices of Classic Soul. Concert benefits the Evans Center. Gleason Center, Florida Tech. 150 W. University Blvd. Melbourne, 321-674-8006

2 3

National Day of Community Service

Moonlight and Music on the Promenade 6 - 9 p.m. Cocoa Riverfront Park 401 Riveredge Blvd. Cocoa, 321-631-9075

Casino Happy Hour 3:30 - 5 p.m. Sip your favorite drink, enjoy hors d’oeuvres and casino games. Shell Harbor Retirement Community 2855 Murrell Road Rockledge, 321-265-6875

Holiday Car and Craft Show 10 a.m. Food Trucks and a live D.J. playing 1950s music. South Beach Community Center 500 Old Florida Trail Melbourne Beach 321-952-3210

Festival of Wreaths Auction 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Fundraiser for the Brevard County Students-In-Transition program. Riverview Senior Resort 3490 Gran Ave. NE Palm Bay, 321-312-4555

9 10

Our Lady of Lourdes Live Nativity 6 p.m. Live nativity sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church 1626 Oak St. Melbourne, 321-723-3636

Come dance with us! 7 p.m. Holiday songs with the Swingtime Jazz Orchestra. 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Melbourne, 321-724-0555

Celtic Christmas 7 p.m.

Celtic instruments and choir. St. Andrew UMC 3380 Dairy Road Titusville, 321-2639-7631

Christmas Memories 2 p.m.

A Christmas concert by the Harbor City Harmonizers. Holy Trinity Episcopal School 5625 Holy Trinity Drive Suntree, 321-345-7292

Customer Appreciation Day Quilts and Lace, 7720 N. Wickham Rd., 321-622-8602

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Old-Fashioned Christmas 3:30 p.m.

A free concert featuring traditional Christmas songs and carols.

Riverside Presbyterian Church 3400 N. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Bch., 321-426-0360

Third annual Florida Snow Day 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Eau Gallie Square 1453 Highland Ave. Melbourne, 321-430-4403

Court Kingz VS BCSO Enforcers 7 p.m. Presented by the Brevard Prevention Coalition.

Viera High School 6103 Stadium Parkway Viera, 321-987-1496

Space Coast Light Festival Nov. 23 to Jan. 1

Fred Poppe Park 1951 Malabar Road Palm Bay, 321-458-3515

Open Studio North Brevard Art League 6 - 8 p.m. Tuesdays 1421 Draa Road, Titusville

Passport Wednesday 5 - 6:15 p.m.

Event hosted by the Brevard County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Melbourne Courthouse 51 South Nieman Ave.

By appointment only, go to brevardclerk.us/passports Medium John Rogers 6 p.m.

Cocoa Beach Library 550 N. Brevard Ave. 321-868-1104

Meet The Grinch 4 -7 p.m. Free raffle, treats and crafts. All ages welcome. Sponsored by the Melbourne Police Foundation 1700 W. New Haven Ave.

Senior Fitness Class 1 - 2 p.m. RSVP required.

Sunflower House 777 Merritt Island Cswy. #201, Merritt Island 321-452-4341

Mikcey Mouse's Birthday

Sing We Now of Christmas 7 p.m. Free concert by the Indialantic Chamber Singers.

Our Lady of Grace Church 300 Malabar Road SW Palm Bay, 321-725-3066

Pancakes with Santa 9 - 11 a.m.

Pancakes, hot Cocoa, pictures with Santa. Palm Shores Bistro 5060 U. S. Highway 1 Palm Shores, 321-752-5222

Wreaths Across America 11:45 a.m. Cape Canaveral National Cemetery 5525 U.S. 1 Mims, 321-383-2638

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

Christmas Around the World and Back 3 p.m.

A concert by the Space Coast Flute Orchestra.

First Baptist Church 4300 N. Wickham Road Melbourne, 321-385-7236

Food Pantry Day 1 - 3 p.m.

Open to all.

First United Methodist Church Cocoa Beach 3300 N. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Beach, 321-783-8991

AARP Smart Driver Course 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

This course is open to drivers of all ages and costs $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members. This class is taught by a certified volunteer instructor.

One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 719-648-1052

Medicaid Planning Seminar 10 a.m.

Presented by Elder Law Attorney William A. Johnson, PA One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

Holiday Golf Cart Parade

5:30 - 9 p.m. DRS Community Center 1089 S. Patrick Drive Satellite Beach 321-773-6458

Snow in Love 7 p.m. Dec. 21 and 22 “A love letter to music in the holiday season” Melbourne Auditorium 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Melbourne, 321-285-6724

Christmas Party and Car Show 4 p.m.

The Burger Inn 1819 N. Harbor City Blvd. Melbourne, 321-254-2211

Caroling at the Avenue 6 - 8 p.m. Bands, orchestras, musical groups and more are invited to perform in Central Park this Holiday season.

The Avenue Viera 2261 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-63.4-5390

Run Run Santa 1 Mile 7:30 a.m.

Perfect for kids & family members of all ages. Run or walk 1 Mile in a Santa suit.

Calvary Chapel Viera 2852 Fellowship Place Viera, 321-412-1830

Christmas Live Nativity 5:30 - 7 p.m. Club Zion 830 S. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Beach, 321-799-4340

New Year's Eve Gala Dinner & Dance 7 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. Live music with the 12-piece Rock & Roll Revue. Featuring vocalists Len Fallen and the Swingtimers Trio. Ring in the New Year with the best music from the Golden Age of Rock & Roll - 50s & 60s. Hilton Rialto Melbourne 200 Rialto Place Melbourne, 321-724-0555

National Ugly Sweater Day

Gingerbread Decorating Day National Underdog Day

Surfboard art takes bold approach at Brevard Zoo

Executive Director Keith Winsten said.

Brevard Zoo invites guests to see some unique artwork as they stroll through the different sections of the zoo.

Bold Boards — Visions of Florida, art painted on surfboards, will remain on display through April 2 at the Brevard Zoo.

“We actually commissioned 28 artists to paint surfboards with their own visions of Florida,” Brevard Zoo

The bold art exhibition showcases the work of 28 artists, who upcycled surfboards donated by the local surfing community to celebrate what makes Florida special. This includes the waterways and wildlife that should be protected and a shared commitment to its preservation.

While strolling through each loop of the Brevard Zoo, see what makes Florida a place like no other.

It is exciting to take in this

History – Then and Now features Space Coast historic landmarks or sites in pictures and what those same areas look like today in photographs.

SENIOR LIFE photo

Mathers Bridge, which once was wooden, joins Indian Harbour Beach to the southern end of Merritt Island.

SENIOR LIFE Nanette Hebige

Mathers Bridge is a 700-foot-long, low-level swing bridge at the southern tip of Merritt Island.

SENIOR LIFE Robert Parente

Bold Boards — Visions of Florida, art painted on surfboards, will remain on display through April 2 at the Brevard Zoo.

What’s your signature dog breed?

Media@bluewatercreativegroup.com

“They’ll get you trained within no time to get you to do what they want you to do,’’ Dillon said. “They might not be wild, but they have the deep bark and size. They like to slobber. It’s not like it runs off the ceiling, but don’t get one if you’re not ready for a big dose of slobber from time to time.’’

Since 1966, the Dillons have fed the dogs boneless chicken thighs mixed with rice and kibble.

During their Connecticut days, the Dillon family spent summers on Betts Island, off the coast of Norwalk. The rustic cottage didn’t have running water or electricity. They had a cistern in the backyard for water, gas for lights, a refrigerator and a stove and a generator for everything else. Heidi and the children went swimming every day.

It was a good place to eat clams and other seafood delights each day.

After leaving Islamorada, the family bought a chicken farm in Live Oak which kept them busy. After a brief time living in Ocala, they moved to Melbourne. SL

This 1956 Cadillac has a 365 V8 engine and a Hydro glide transmission. It is an

with no post or pillar. Jayden Switzer, a senior at Viera High School, bought the vehicle about six months ago from a private owner in Georgia. He always wanted this vehicle because he likes the body line and uniqueness.

ST. BERNARD

Senior Life is introducing a new feature this month for families to brag about their favorite dog breed.

Brevard County dog owners are welcome to recommend their signature dog for a story.