14 minute read
NORTH BREVARD
Historic Pritchard House reopens after hurricane
BY FLORA REIGADA
Since it was built in 1891, Titusville’s historic Pritchard House has graced the city’s Downtown District.
A venue for many public events, the house was temporarily closed following damage sustained during Hurricane Nicole.
The Pritchard House began as the Pritchard family’s home and now serves as a community museum.
During its 132 years, the house has weathered many storms, including a lightning strike in 2019.
More recently, on Nov. 7, Hurricane Nicole caused damage to the exterior. Half of the front chimney collapsed, leaving bricks scattered on the sidewalk. A front verge board (exterior trim) was also blown off.
The interior sustained no damage, nor did any interior artifacts.
Concern for public safety caused the city of Titusville, which owns the house, to close its doors and cancel all events overseen by the North Brevard Heritage Foundation. These include group and private home tours, talks, presentations and teas.
Tours and teas are hosted by costumed docents. The closure presented a problem because tickets had been sold and reservations made.
“Our Christmas parade porch party was sold out,” said Roz Foster, the President of the North Brevard Heritage Foundation.
But talks with the city and the contractor determined the damage presented no danger to the public and activities could resume. Repairs are underway.
“The contractor has taken down the remainder of the chimney,” Foster said. “Bricks will be moved to storage for reuse in the chimney construction at a later date. The verge board will also be moved to storage and used as a pattern for new construction.”
Much is planned for January and February.
On Friday Jan. 20, starting at 11 a.m. the community is invited to an Arbor Day celebration on the grounds.
Look for the official Tree City USA flag, waving beneath Old Glory, proclaiming Titusville’s 22 years as a Tree City.
Among the speakers, Roz Foster will welcome guests and recall Past Arbor Day celebrations. Titusville Mayor Daniel Diesel, will read the
SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada
Damage sustained by the Titusville Pritchard House during Hurricane Nicole included a decorative verge board, which was blown down. Bricks from the chimney also collapsed.
SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of the North Brevard Heritage Foundation
Bricks from the chimney were strewn across the sidewalk following the hurricane.
city’s Arbor Day Proclamation,
On Saturday, Feb. 18, starting at 2 p.m., a Best Friend Afternoon Tea and Tour offers the chance to relax in oldfashioned elegance. Reservations are required, as well as a $35 donation.
The Pritchard House is at 424 S. Washington Ave. in Downtown Titusville. For more information, call 321-607-0203 or visit pritchardhouse. com. SL
A bit of advice for everyone: Try before you cry
How do you face a challenging situation? Whatever your age, you may be prone to cry before you try some solution.
Recently, my great granddaughter Addi as a kindergartener received a Student of the Month award for helping another student. The 5-year old used problem-solving skills taught to her by her mother and teacher.
Addi coached her little classmate: “Try before you cry!” When you feel worried, nervous, scared or upset, take deep breaths. Do it. It will calm you down. Always try before you cry.
After a busy holiday period, there is the challenge of overcoming anxiety. There may have been holiday lows, some highs, sadness, happiness, memories — good and bad, excitement and disappointment. We cope, we are resilient and we look ahead. We may cry, but now we must try to move on with a new spirit. Take a deep breath.
As a new year begins and it may seem the world is unraveling all around us, we may be challenged to make sense of it. Natural disasters, diseases, violence and financial difficulties have been with us through the ages. You may want to cry, but what can you do?
Try making resolutions that make a difference in your world and that of others. Recycle, budget, get vaccinated, install an alarm system, and be aware of your surroundings.
Try a healthy diet, try moving and daily exercise. Try preventive health measures. Focus on regular visits to the doctor, get a wellness check, obtain treatment, follow rehabilitation routines and experience recovery. Stay positive.
Try connecting with new people your age, with younger people, with your neighbors and with family members. Try going back to church, the senior center in your area, lectures, seminars, Senior Adventures In Learning (S.A.I..L.) programs, and One Senior Place events.
Try a new hobby, revive an old hobby, travel with a group, create your own adventures, and decide to accomplish some new skill. Yes, old dogs can learn new tricks.
Try a prayer. Try a few more prayers. Don’t cry about a bad situation. Try several solutions.
Challenge yourself to make things better.
Challenges of Living to Age 100
Ed Baranowski
Try composing a song and sing: “Don’t be weary; just be cheery. Don’t Cry, Just Try. It’s a lovely day today, so whatever you do, you’ve got to do it. Don’t Cry; Just Try!” SL
Ed Baranowski is an awardwinning writer, artist, speaker and seminar leader. He lives in Melbourne and can be contacted at fast75sr@ gmail.com.
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Behind theBeat
By Randal C. Hill
“Crocodile Rock” became Elton John’s first No. 1 hit single on MCA Records. (In time, eight more would follow.) But rather than appreciate his rare good fortune, John apparently grew weary of the song and later grumbled, “The last time I have to sing ‘Crocodile Rock,’ I will probably throw a party. It became a big hit and people love to sing along with it.
“I play to amuse people and to entertain people, but I have to say, when the last show is done at the end of the last tour, I will never sing that song again.”
I remember when rock was young
Me and Susie had so much fun
Holdin’ hands and skimmin’ stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
“Crocodile Rock” is a microcosm of the past. A retrospective fueled by longing for bygone days with a girlfriend. Priceless moments impossible to retrieve. Yet John’s lyricist Bernie Taupin has admitted, “I don’t mind having created it, but it’s not something I would listen to. I don’t want people to remember me for “Crocodile Rock.” I’d much rather they remember me for songs like “Candle in the Wind,” songs that convey a message, a feeling.
Things like “Crocodile Rock,” which was fun at the time, was just pop fluff.”
—Elton John
John’s hit song was based on two Bill Haley oldies — “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock” and “See You Later, Alligator” (“After ’while, crocodile”).
But the biggest kick I ever got was doin’ a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were rockin’ ‘round the clock
We were hoppin’ and boppin’ to the Crocodile Rock
John told rock historian Fred Bronson, “I wanted it to be a record all about the things I grew up with, all
SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock
Elton John created an enduring music masterpiece with “Crocodile Rock.”
the great ’50s and ’60s records that we used to love. I always wanted to write one song, a nostalgia song, a rock and roll song which captured the right sounds. ‘Crocodile Rock’ is just a combination of so many songs, really — “Little Darlin,” “Oh, Carol,” some Beach Boys, they’re in there as well, I suppose. Eddie Cochran, too. It’s just a combination of songs.’
Elton John (who was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in 1947) was 10 when his parents divorced. By then, the chubby, soft-spoken lad had six years of piano playing under his belt. With his rock-music-hating father out of the picture, John received encouragement from his mother when she handed him a copy of Elvis Presley’s breakout hit “Heartbreak Hotel.”
“I went on from there,” he said. “Pop was my whole life.”
He began using his pocket money to buy records and then pick out their melodies by ear on the family piano.
In “Crocodile Rock,” John manages to create an enduring music masterpiece that roars along with high-octane gusto, pounding piano lines and whirling synthesizer riffs adding to the retro-rock feel, as do the growling guitar lines, pulsating bass notes and throbbing drum beats.
It is, one might say, a just-aboutperfect pop disc. SL
Follow the process on Indian River Lagoon status
How do I follow the Indian River Lagoon progress?
Good question. Here are a few ways.
The County’s Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) project has monthly meetings 8:30 to 11 a.m. on the third Friday of the month, where the outstanding $500 million restoration program is discussed in depth. At the February, May, August and November meetings, the staff presents detailed updates on projects completed and underway. Meetings take place in person in the Florida Room at the Government Center at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Bldg. C, in Viera, and online. Full details are available at brevardfl.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program (IRLNEP) works to promote restoration along the full 156 miles, five counties of the lagoon. It publishes an annual report that gives a broader summary of the progress being made through its efforts but also by the individual counties. If you have not visited their site, please do at onelagoon.org/.
The Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition (BIRLC) also helps to provide meaningful ongoing updates on the progress being made. On our Facebook page, we publish an ongoing summary of projects completed (and in progress) to help you understand the continuing progress being made to reduce pollution in the lagoon and to celebrate improvement.
The associated picture shows one of our most recent Facebook posts. It reports that the SOIRL plan includes 233 stormwater projects that, combined, will reduce Total Nitrogen (TN) pollution in the lagoon by 271,170 pounds per year. The brief video post (at facebook.com/BIRLC/ videos/457284199892404) goes on to explain that 36 of these projects around Brevard have been completed so far, eliminating 23,675 pounds per year of TN.
We also did a recent video post on six wastewater reuse reclamation projects that are eliminating 69,823 pounds per year of TN from the reuse water many of us use to water our lawns (see facebook.com/BIRLC/
Lagoon Straight Talk
From the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition
videos/494978699093966).
So, we also recommend that you follow our BIRLC Facebook (facebook.com/BIRLC) and website (helpthelagoon.org/) to stay informed on how Brevard is protecting our piece of paradise. SL
For more and to help, visit HelpTheLagoon.org, facebook. com/BIRLC/ and twitter.com/ HelpTheLagoon.
SUDOKU Solution on page 27
