Senior Life, Oct. 2021 by Viera Voice • Senior Life • Boomer Guide

E-Bikes roll into town page 9

VOLUME 24

OF FLORIDA

ISSUE 6

myseniorlife.com

October 2021

Polka time!

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Brigitte Koss and Klaus Kolb prepare for the upcoming Oktoberfest season. See story, page 15

Foosaner art moved, page 3

Just keep running, page 10

Celebrating 100th, page 11

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There is so much packed into this edition of Senior Life you’ll want to check it all out. And I think that when you open your copy of the paper or read it online, you will be pleased with the mix of stories. Our aim is to always bring you interesting stories that keep you informed and entertained. Each month, we feature a veteran in a profile story, and tell you in a column what veterans’ advocates are doing to assist our large population of former and current service members in Brevard County. One such organization is 2-11 Brevard which, with the Florida Veterans Support Line, is there to guide veterans to benefits, housing, employment and a suicide prevention hotline. That and other stories are in the Stripes section of Senior Life. We like telling you about what seniors are doing on the Space Coast. I always find it interesting to see some of the things people are doing, whether it’s for their own entertainment or something to help others in the community. And there is a lot to do out there. Seniors are working beyond their retirement age, many because it helps to keep them busy or because they simply love what they do. Others find their way to the nearest community or senior center. At the YMCA in Titusville, there are plenty of activities and exercises for seniors. In South Brevard, libraries have restarted programs, some of which are geared to seniors. We are continuing a series of stories — one, telling you about our local theaters. This month, it’s about The Henegar Center for the Arts in Melbourne. You might have also read some of the stories about small urban farms on the Space Coast. In this edition, we tell you about a vineyard that doubles as a wedding and events venue. And, we have the photos to show you and tell you about events at the vineyard. Brevard County residents recently celebrated two centenarians. In fact, one is a 103-year-old and the other is a veteran whose neighbors surprised him with a parade in celebration of his 100th birthday. Check out the stories in Senior Life and see what some local seniors are doing. SL R. Norman Moody norm@myseniorlife.com

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Now-closed Foosaner Museum collection moved to Ocala college

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Wikipedia

Clyde Butcher is known for his large format black and white landscape photographs. Some of Butcher’s work was part of the Foosaner collection. BY LINDA JUMP Artwork from the now-closed Foosaner Art Museum has moved to the Appleton Museum of Art at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, but college officials there would not say when or if the collection might be viewed by the public. “We don’t have many details to share right now,” said Lois Brauckmuller, the director of marketing, public and community relations. “I can confirm that the collection has transitioned to the Appleton Museum.” Florida Institute of Technology signed the transfer agreement after

selling the museum property and the Renee Foosaner Education Center next door in the Eau Gallie art district in April 2020 to the owner of Northboro Builders Inc. The college said it became too costly to maintain the museum without increased community support, but kept it open through May to abide by the 2011 acquisition agreement that promised another decade’s operations. FIT had received $1 million from the Foosaner Foundation and Dee Negroni-Hendrick. Officials said they spent $1.8 million to bring facilities to code and another $7 million to keep it operational. “Over time, it’s just become an untenable situation to pour money in.

We hope that the community will step about their proposed project, but an up to preserve this community asset,” FIT press release quoted Lawrence FIT President Dwayne McCay said in a James, CEO of Northboro, as saying prepared statement. he plans to raze the museum building The museum was established in to build a 200-room “boutique” hotel, 1978 as the Brevard Arts Center and restaurant and bar and will convert the Museum. Its permanent collection education center into “flexible shared included an estimated 5,000 pieces of office space.” art worth $6 million that spanned art Engerran said, “Our hope is that one over 20 centuries. Clyde Butcher’s day Brevard will once again have an art large-format black and white landscape museum.” SL photographs, works by painter Isabel Bishop and Janet Fish and works by Dutch sculptor and artist Fritz van Eeden, who lives locally, were included. Kathy Engerran, the interim director of Brevard Cultural Alliance, said the museum closure “and the loss of the collection for art lovers and citizens of Brevard County is just so unfortunate.” She said the alliance, the Community Foundation of By Attorney Brevard and the art TRUMAN SCARBOROUGH community tried to keep part of the 239 Harrison Street, Titusville, FL Foosaner collection For A Complimentary Copy local, “but that effort was not successful.” Phone 321 267 — 4770 Northboro Builders officials did not reply to questions

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SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

Table of contents Volume 24, Issue 6 Senior Life of Florida 7350 Shoppes Drive, Suite 102 Viera, FL 32940 321-242-1235

myseniorlife.com jill@myseniorlife.com Publisher Jill Blue

Editor R. Norman Moody

myseniorlife.com

Ofﬁce Manager Sylvia Montes

We encourage organizations to contact Senior Life by the 15th of each month prior with information and dates regarding upcoming community-oriented events by email and mail.

Art Director Adam Palumbo Copy Editor Jeff Navin

Feature Writers Ernest Arico Ed Baranowski Brenda Eggert Brader Mike Gaffey Sammy Haddad Linda Jump Fred Mays Jennifer H. Monaghan Flora Reigada Maria Sonnenberg Henry A. Stephens John Trieste

NEIGHBORS TECH KNOW TIDBITS SENIOR LIVING STRIPES VETERANS HISTORY THEN AND NOW COLUMNISTS HEALTH & WELLNESS NORTH BREVARD NEWS BCOA

COUPONS & DISCOUNTS Boomer Guide —the best resource guide in Brevard!

Senior Life of Florida is published on the first of each month. The entire contents of this newspaper are copyrighted by Senior Life of Florida with all rights reserved. Senior Life of Florida is not liable for errors or omissions in editorial, advertorial or advertising materials. Distribution of this newspaper does not constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

pg. 1 pg. 2 pg. 5 pg. 6 pg. 13 pg. 17 pg. 18 pg. 21

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Neighbors SENIOR LIFE Jennifer H. Monaghan

Ivy Shin, left, and Angela Yard, middle, are members of the Mahjong Club.

SENIOR LIFE Jennifer H. Monaghan

The Sit ‘n Knit Club is offered at Palm Bay Public Library in Port Malabar.

Library restarts in-person programs, brings community together BY JENNIFER H. MONAGHAN Palm Bay Public Library in Port Malabar held a Welcome Back to the Library Open House on Sept. 1, heralding the reopening of its inperson programs. Head Librarian Elanya Bairefoot announced that five adult programs have restarted. The yoga class did not because the instructor relocated. Youth services programs will restart at a later date. Book-lending services and summer youth programs were offered during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, all in-person programs were suspended. Bairefoot said she’s looking for ideas for additional programs that the library might offer, while at the same time assessing the interest level for existing programs. “I also look forward to creating some partnerships with other organizations in the community. This is an opportunity to bring the community together and share

SENIOR LIFE Jennifer H. Monaghan

Kindred Spirits entertained patrons at Palm Bay Public Library in Port Malabar. resources,” Bairefoot said. One new adult program — Color Me Calm — was added, which provides materials for coloring accompanied by background music. “Getting away might be attractive now,” Bairefoot said.

She hopes that this program will be a relaxing experience for users. Amanda Lester, who attended with her sons, said she was drawn to the open house to learn about the coloring club. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “It’s

something to do with my kids. It’s my first time exploring this activity, and if able, I’ll definitely attend.” Lester was particularly attracted to the intricate coloring sheets and wondered how she could incorporate that activity in her duties as a hospital CNA. Another patron, Angela Yard, who played mahjong at the library prior to the pandemic, said, “I’m looking forward to the gathering. It’s nice to have camaraderie.” Ivy Shin started the Mahjong Club at the library three years ago. “It’s convenient to meet at the library,” she said. “They have a community room.” Shin is excited to be able to spend time with the group again. However, she did express some concern as to whether people are ready to return. Open house attendees enjoyed live music by Kindred Spirit. The adult programs are: Sit ‘n Knit; Cribbage; Mahjong; I Read Romance Book Club; and Color Me Calm. For more information, call 321-952-4519. SL

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Nine years without a cold?

cientists have discovered a natural way to kill germs. Now thousands of people are using it against unwanted viruses and bacteria in the nose and on the skin. Germs, such as viruses and bacteria, can Copper can stop germs before they spread. “What a wonderful thing!” multiply fast. When unwanted exclaimed Physician’s Assistant germs get in your nose they can Julie. Another customer asked, “Is spread and cause misery unless it supposed to work that fast?” you stop them early. Pat McAllister, 70, received In the last 20 years, hundreds one for Christmas and called it of studies by government and “one of the best presents ever. university scientists show the This little jewel really works.” natural element copper kills Frequent flier Karen Gauci germs just by touch. used to suffer after crowded The EPA officially declared copper to be antimicrobial, which flights. Though skeptical, she means it kills microbes, including tried copper on travel days for 2 months. “Sixteen flights and not a viruses, bacteria, and fungus. sniffle!” she exclaimed. The National Institutes of Businesswoman Rosaleen says Health says, “The antimicrobial when people around her show activity of copper is now well signs of unwanted germs, she uses established.” Ancient Greeks and Egyptians copper morning and night. “It saved me last holidays,” she said. used copper to purify water and “The kids had crud going round heal wounds. They didn’t know and round, but not me.” about microbes, but now we do. Attorney Donna Blight tried Scientists say the high copper for her sinus. “I am conductance of copper disrupts the electrical balance in a microbe shocked!” she said. “My head cleared, no more headache, no cell by touch and destroys it in more congestion.” seconds. A man with trouble breathing Some hospitals tried copper for through his nose at night tried touch surfaces like faucets and copper just before bed. “Best doorknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA, and other illnesses, by sleep I’ve had in years!” he said. over half and saved lives. The strong scientific evidence gave inventor Doug Cornell an idea. He made a smooth copper probe with a tip to fit in the bottom of his nose. The next time he felt a tickle in Dr. Bill Keevil: Copper his nose that felt like a cold about quickly kills viruses. to start, he rubbed the copper In a lab test, technicians placed gently in his nose for 60 seconds. “The cold never got going,” he 25 million live flu viruses on exclaimed. “That was September a CopperZap. No viruses were found alive soon after. 2012. I use copper in the nose Some people press copper every time and I have not had a on a lip right away if a warning single cold since then.” “We don’t make product health tingle suggests unwanted germs gathering there. claims,” he said, “so I can’t say The handle is curved and cause and effect. But we know textured to increase contact. copper is antimicrobial.” Made in America of pure He asked relatives and friends copper. 90-day full money back to try it. They reported the same thing, so he patented CopperZap® guarantee. Price $79.95. Get $10 off each CopperZap with code and put it on the market. FLSL10. Soon hundreds of people had See www.CopperZap.com or tried it. The feedback was 99% call toll-free 1-888-411-6114. positive if they used the copper Buy once, use forever. within 3 hours after the first sign Statements not intended of unwanted germs, like a tickle as product health claims. Not in the nose or a scratchy throat. Early user Mary Pickrell said, evaluated by the FDA. Not claimed to diagnose, treat, cure, “I can’t believe how good my or prevent any disease. nose feels.” (paid advertisement)

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SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

Tech Know Tidbits

SENIOR LIFE Adam Palumbo

Crypto currency is commonly traded on smart phone apps such as Coinbase, Robinhood, eToro and CashApp.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Mike Persichetti

Mike Persichetti trades and lists his NFT digital art on opensea.io under the name chettyart. OpenSea is the world's first and largest NFT marketplace.

Cryptocurrency gaining traction among young investors BY HENRY A. STEPHENS Mike Persichetti, the sales manager at Cocoa’s Paradise Ford, would like to leave the car business one day and focus on his favorite activity, painting in oils and acrylics. And while many artists would

like to ditch the day job, Persichetti — or Chetty as his fans know him — said he has a chance to fulfill this dream by trading in cryptocurrency. The 33-year-old Melbourne native has only been trading over the Internet in cryptocurrency for a few years, but he said the returns have

been amazing. “I’m the type of person who dives into something real hard,” he said. “So already, I feel like I have several years of knowledge. And I’m still young, so I’m keeping up with the times.” Experts define cryptocurrency

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SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

as a new form of currency that exists solely in digital form on the Internet. It’s decentralized, meaning there’s no bank or other middlemen to store it. Instead, every computer on the network confirms an investor’s transactions in BitCoins, DOGEcoins, Etherium or other cryptocurrency tokens. And it’s the future for buying online, dealers claim. Credit cards and wire transfers are deemed outdated. Banks and brokers currently take cuts of the action with existing currency. But they don’t exist with cryptocurrency. In fact, Persichetti has gone beyond just buying and selling BitCoins to trading in NFTs, or non-fungible tokens. Standard cryptocurrency is fungible, or replaceable among various dealers on the network. But NFTs are bought with Etherium tokens and are specific to what they buy in turn. For Persichetti, his NFTs mean art. Art lovers can buy his paintings online using NFTs, rather than cash. Ed Hacker, the Viera branch manager for the Stifel Financial Corp., advises a much more conservative approach. “If you have $10 million and you want to put $200,000 into cryptocurrency, OK. That’s only 2 percent,” Hacker said. “But if that $200,000 is 50 percent of your portfolio, no.” Persichetti isn’t surprised by such remarks. He chalks it up to cryptocurrency being new, too new for many to have grasped it yet without studying it on Twitter and YouTube. Cryptocurrency attracts dealers, experts say, because the government isn’t part of the transactions and doesn’t add taxes or fees as with conventional investing. But that might change, Hacker said. With thousands of dollars being made, officials in Washington are trying to figure out how to get a piece of the action. SL

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E-bike sales surge during pandemic BY MIKE GAFFEY Just as a battery on an electric bicycle helps a rider zip down the road, the COVID-19 pandemic gave the e-bike industry a big boost nationwide. Many Americans cooped up at home and looking for an eco-friendly way to get outside while avoiding commuter crowds turned to e-bikes, which look and feel like traditional bicycles but feature an electric motor and rechargeable battery. “We’ve definitely seen e-bikes growing on an annual basis,” said Gary Stern, the co-founder of Infinity Bike Shop at 804 E. Hibiscus Blvd. in Melbourne. “It’s prolonging the amount of riding that people get to do. We typically see it’s an older clientele oftentimes, and/or people who are using them for commuting as well.” Electric bikes have been around since the 1890s, but the first pedal-assisted models also known as pedelecs didn’t arrive until the 1990s. Infinity, which opened in 2010, started adding e-bikes to its selection of traditional bikes about five years ago, Stern said. E-bikes come in styles such as mountain, road, cruise and cargo, and some can fold up for easier storage and transport. Mike and Patty Tipton chose e-bikes with wide tires and have enjoyed zipping around Cape Canaveral and Port Canaveral. They’ve had their Ecotric e-bikes for about two years. “We looked at the fat tire e-bikes,” Mike Tipton said. “They are foldable and you can easily get them in your car. We wanted bikes we could transport easily.” The Tiptons, of Cape Canaveral, can get up to 25 miles on a single charge. They said it takes a lot of pedal effort if the wide tire bike runs out of battery power. When a bicyclist pedals an e-bike, its motor kicks in and adds power to help the rider reach speeds of up to 20 mph, overcome such obstacles as hills and headwinds and arrive less sweaty at a destination. The motor also can propel the bike even when the rider is not pedaling. A second type of e-bike has a pedal-assist mode of up to 20 mph plus a purely throttlepowered mode. A third type of e-bike is solely pedal-assist but adds power until a rider hits 28 mph. “I love the fact that I can get some exercise without the wear and tear on my knees,” Patty Tipton said.

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Mike and Patty Tipton enjoy zipping around Cape Canaveral on their e-bikes. They often ride the wide tire bikes on the beach during low tide. She said they enjoy riding their wide tire e-bikes on the beach when the tide is low. E-bikes have a lithium battery that can be recharged from a standard wall outlet. A typical recharge takes anywhere from two to eight hours, Stern noted. Handlebar controls let the bicyclist turn the bike on and off and brake, while LCD displays show the bike’s speed and pedalassist levels. An e-bike’s range depends on rider weight, wind, hills, and how much pedal assist or throttle the rider selects, Stern said. “Sometimes you can run them only on the e-motor the whole time, in which case you’ll only get maybe 25 to 35 miles of use,” he said. “Other times, if you’re using it just on an assist basis, it could be unlimited miles, depending on once the battery finally runs out if you’re doing the last bit of pedaling.” In Florida, e-bike riders must be 16 or older but don’t need a license to ride. Helmets are encouraged but not required. By state law, e-bikes can operate on the same roads, bike lanes, bike paths and sidewalks as regular bikes. However, local communities can pass their own ordinances regarding e-bike use. Bikes equipped with gas-powered motors are not legal vehicles and can’t be registered or driven on Florida highways, according to floridabicyclelaw.org. E-bikes can be pricey, Stern said. Bikes can range from $500

to $8,000, with an average price around $2,000. “I say the challenge for the e-bike industry or consumer is the consumer expects the bikes to be priced according to the same pricing as a manual bicycle, and that’s just not the case,” said Stern, whose shop sells e-bikes made by Swiss-based Scott Sports and Taiwan’s Giant Manufacturing Co. To encourage Americans to try the zero-emission bikes, Congress is considering offering consumers a refundable 30 percent tax credit of up to $1,500 on the purchase of a new e-bike. Infinity doesn’t carry many e-bikes, but demand is picking up, Stern said. “We’ve done very well,” he said. “We only have one in stock right now. We typically will have anywhere from three to six in stock at any given time but there has been a big supply crunch in general in the bicycle industry over the last two years as a result of the COVID supply crunch. Just three years ago we were selling zero. There’s definitely a market for it.” Jim Twigg, the co-owner of Revolutions Cyclery at 6300 N. Wickham Road in Suntree, said e-bikes are “a blast to ride.” “It almost feels like it’s effortless,” said Twigg, a Palm Bay resident. “Anybody who gets on these bikes gets a big smile on their face.” SL R. Norman Moody contributed to this story.

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SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

Jackie Kellner is proud of her medals for running.

SENIOR LIFE Fred Mays

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Jackie Kellner

Jackie Kellner is greeted by Mickey Mouse at the finish line of the Disney Marathon.

30 years of marathon running and still going strong BY FRED MAYS Don’t call runners joggers. They take offense. Jackie Kellner of Melbourne is a runner. At 72 years old, she runs six days a week. But she considers that slacking off from her previous routine. Kellner is a marathon runner. At the peak of her running career, she ran 18 marathons between 1984 and 2016. Her last marathon was the big one … Boston. Prior to that, she ran the Disney Marathon nine times and the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. five times. She ran the New York City Marathon once. In many cases, she finished among the leaders in her age group. Her fastest time was 3 hours, 53 minutes in the Marine Corps Marathon in 1984.

ng i v i L howcase S

A B C D E F

“The Boston Marathon was never on my bucket list,” she said. It was only after running a fast qualifying time in the Space Coast Marathon of 4 hours, 36 minutes and 10 seconds, that she set a goal for Boston. She ran well in Boston in 2016, competitive in her age group, and decided that would be her last. The training for Boston was torturous: 26 weeks of conditioning and running leading up to the event. Through all of that, and the marathon itself, she never hit what runners call the wall, the point where you feel you just can’t go any farther. “I never went through anything like that,” she says. “There was a little soreness the next day. I rarely got a blister. I would get up and go to work the next day.” What compelled her to devote over

The log formed the basis for her book “A Boston Marathon Journey,” which was published in 2019 and is available on Amazon. It’s a journey through her life as a marathon runner, from her first marathon to her last in Boston. “Marathons made me a stronger person, more secure, and gave me confidence to get myself together. It’s an accomplishment nobody can ever take away from you.” She is no longer running competitively, but has another passion. She and her husband are “Parrotheads’’ and have attended 50 Jimmy Buffett concerts all over the country. Kellner never does anything halfway. SL

30 years to the marathon world? “I started because I had a little bit of a weight issue. Running and training helped with that. I never ran track in high school.” She started a gluten-free diet, lost 33 pounds and took 45 minutes off her marathon time. For 2017-2018, she was named the Runner Of The Year for women in her age group by the Space Coast Runners Club. At her home, she has a spare bedroom devoted to her running career. Ribbons, racing bibs, medals, plaques, all from over 30 years of competitive marathon running. She is meticulous at saving memorabilia from all those years of running, and even has kept a running log of every training run and racing HISTORIC TITUSVILLE event going back to 1983. MAIN STREET

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SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of family

Domenick Bellisimo turned 100 on Friday, Sept 10, 2021.

SENIOR LIFE Jennifer H. Monaghan

Classic cars participated in the parade to honor Domenick Bellisimo.

Neighbors celebrate joyful centenarian with a parade BY JENNIFER H. MONAGHAN Domenick Bellissimo joined the exclusive club of centenarians on Friday, Sept. 10, 2021, and the Barefoot Bay community celebrated with him. “So far, I’m doing pretty good,” Bellissimo said. An Italian immigrant, Bellissimo at age 14 arrived in New York, where he spent most of his life. His first job as a schoolboy was delivering newspapers by foot until he saved enough money – $10 – to buy a bicycle. “We learned much from him through example. We learned the value of hard work, and a pure,

simple life,” said his daughter Mary Bellissimo-Degregorio, one of three children. A parade held in Barefoot Bay not only honored Bellissimo’s memorable life, but also recognized his service in World War II in the U.S. Army’s 124th Infantry Regiment. “This was a wonderful tribute to a great man,” Dottie Reed posted on Facebook. The parade was led by the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, who helped to coordinate the event. Well-wishers followed in cars, trucks, classic cars and golf carts. The Brevard County Fire Department rounded out the parade,

which delighted Bellissimo, who as a boy would run alongside fire trucks. He fulfilled his dream to be a fireman as a volunteer with the Seaford Fire Department in New York, of which he remains a member and is the oldest living non-active fireman of that station. Brevard County Sheriff Office deputies escorted the parade along the main road in Barefoot Bay to Veterans Way. Bellissimo and his family, who were appreciative and appeared overwhelmed by the large turnout in the park, received the parade and military honor guard by the American Legion Post 189, Sebastian.

Barefoot Bay residents were joyful — from waving along the route to numerous greetings on Facebook. One woman performed a dance to the song “Que Sera Sera.” “He’s always so joyful. He often says, ‘que sera sera’ and will break into song with it frequently,” Degregorio said. The parade also exemplified community spirit. “So beautiful! What a fabulous community and a beautiful celebration of life!” Maryann Marzano posted on Facebook. Degregorio said her father never missed a night of saying his prayers. “Thank the good Lord,” she said. SL

Nursing home resident, 103, attributes longevity to daily prayer BY JENNIFER H. MONAGHAN

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of family

Evelyn Thomas celebrated her 103rd birthday.

On her 103rd birthday on Sept. 5, 2021, Evelyn Thomas surprised her family with her wit and clarity. A close family attended her birthday celebration at Avante at Melbourne nursing home where she has been living for the past five years. Other family and close friends joined the party via Zoom. “She was sharp as a razor. She remembered all her kids’ names — all four sons and two daughters, where she was born, her husband and her siblings as well. She held up for over two hours. I tell you, she shocked everyone today,” daughter-in-law Sharon Thomas said. The staff at Avante was not so surprised, since they have spent more time and have been more engaged

with Thomas during the past 18 months.

“She was sharp as a razor. She remembered all her kids’ names — all four sons and two daughters, where she was born, her husband and her siblings as well.” — Sharon Thomas

During the COVID-19 pandemic, visiting hours at nursing homes were severely restricted and close physical contact with visitors, including family, was prohibited.

Based on a Facebook post by Avante Group, Thomas, who is lovingly called “Grandma” by staff and residents, often regales them with stories about her life and family in the Caribbean island of Jamaica. Her large, happy family was always at the center of her stories. In the early 1900s there were limited career opportunities for girls in Jamaica, a British colony until 1962. As a child, Thomas liked to sew and embroider, typical hobbies for girls especially in rural areas. Her expertise developed and as an adult she was admired as a highly proficient seamstress. When asked by her daughter-in-law what she attributes her longevity to, she said, “I pray every day.” Thomas also expressed gratitude to everyone who cares for her. SL

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The people answering the calls for assistance through the Florida Veterans Support Line and 211 Brevard understand the plight of veterans in need. These specialists are veterans who have had some of the same experiences as callers needing assistance. That’s because FVSL is a program of veterans working to help other veterans. Florida Veterans Support Line, in its third year, has care coordinators who are veterans that offer support and connection with the Department of Veterans Affairs and/or communitybased services. It could be for anything from housing, health, VA benefits, mental health or other services. Henry Angulo is a MyFLVet team leader in the 211 Brevard office, which also handles calls from Volusia and Flagler counties. His team receives about 80 to 100

calls a month from veterans asking for help. However, “sometimes people just want to talk,” he said. He understands what they are going through. “Yeah, I can totally relate,” he said. “Here are the steps I took, here are the steps you can take.” Angulo said he understands because he faced financial and mental health issues after leaving the military. He served in the Marine Corps in Iraq and Japan before becoming a marksmanship instructor. He spent four years on active

duty and six years in the reserves. Others on the team are also veterans. He said the team is diverse, with a female veteran and an older veteran who’ve had different experiences serving in the military at different times. They also have served in different branches. Clearly, veterans in need or those just looking for information to help themselves, can talk to someone who’s had some of their same experiences. Angulo and the other veterans not only understand but they are eager to help a fellow service member. “It’s a way for me to give back,” Angulo said. According to the U.S. Census, there are about 65,000 veterans in Brevard, 50,000 in Volusia and 11,000 in Flagler. So as more veterans learn of the services of the FVSL, calls to the teams will likely increase.

Some of the veterans contact the team through the 1-844-MyFLVet, which is answered 24 hours, seven day a week. Some call 211 with a need or question and soon discover that there is a veterans option extension that connects them with Angulo or another fellow veteran. Some call seeking help because of financial or mental issues while others recently have left the military and are looking for guidance. The teams can be reached at 1-844-MyFLVet (693-5838) which is at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. People in need can also dial 2-1-1 or text their zip code to 898211. Trained specialists are available 24 hours a day to provide information and assistance in financial, emotional crisis, including suicide intervention. For more, see myflvet.com or 211brevard.org SL

Elected ofﬁcials connect in solidarity with plight of homeless veterans BY R. NORMAN MOODY Brevard County’s constitutional officers will host the sixth annual Rescuing Veterans Lost in America Gala on Oct. 16 at the Radisson Resort at the Port Convention Center. The event, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., will raise funds and draw awareness of the National Veterans Homeless Support’s effort to eliminate homelessness among veterans in Brevard County and beyond. NVHS has been instrumental in drastically reducing the homeless veteran population on the Space Coast. The population went from a high of

1,800 homeless veterans in 2008 to less than 300 by 2018. But there is still a lot of work to do, said Brevard County Property Appraiser Dana Blickley, who heads organizing the gala along with the constitutional officers, the State Attorney and the Public Defender. “Even though we have reduced our homeless population by 88 percent, we still have to work to prevent others from becoming homeless,” Blickley said. “In 2020, we helped 135 families prevent becoming homeless.” Blickley said everyone should want to support veterans for the sacrifices they made on the nation’s behalf. The

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NVHS has helped to drastically reduce homelessness among veterans.

gala is one way of doing so. Attendees will hear of the efforts being made to help veterans, getting some out of homelessness and preventing others from becoming homeless. Some of the formerly homeless share their stories of how they have gone on to success after being helped with housing, job referrals and counseling. George Taylor Jr., the NVHS president and CEO, said the organization’s work is successful because of the community involvement. “It shows the strength of our community as a whole in helping

veterans,” he said. “Having the elected officials come together to do this speaks for our community.” In addition to Blickley, the other elected officials involved in helping NVHS help the veterans are Clerk of Courts Rachel Sadoff, Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Tax Collector Lisa Cullen, Supervisor of Election Lori Scott, State Attorney Phil Archer and Public Defender Blaise Trettis. Taylor said many other individuals help and attend the event, while companies and organizations support the cause in other ways. “It’s a great opportunity for showing solidarity for preventing homelessness,” he said. Tickets for the gala, which includes dinner, are $100 per person or $1,000 per table for 10 people. In addition, there are sponsorship opportunities available. Tickets and sponsorship information is available through the NVHS.org/events. Radisson Resort at the Port Convention Center is at 8701 Astronaut Blvd. in Cape Canaveral. Blickley expects the event to sell out as it has in previous years. SL

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New Community Band conductor follows tradition of great military bandleaders BY MARIA SONNENBERG The musicians of the Community Band of Brevard expect to make plenty of beautiful music together for years to come, with the help of new conductor Rob Kessler. Kessler has the large shoes of former CBOB founder and conductor, the late Marion Scott, to fill. But if anyone can do it, it is Kessler, who brings to the job a background rich in all aspects of music. In fact, you could say CBOB’s new bandleader is genetically predisposed to music.

“We think Marion would have been glad to pass his baton to this very capable retired Army band commander.” — David Scarborough

“I had no choice, since my dad was the high school band director and my mom the choir director,” said the Merritt Island resident. The Ohio native joined the Army straight out of high school in 1974 during the tail end of Vietnam. Although the Army prepared him to be a fighting soldier, the service tapped into his saxophone skills. For six years, Kessler served as an Army saxophonist. Unlike many of his fellow soldiers, Kessler was fortunate enough not to be assigned to far-flung locations. “I spent my entire career in Indiana,” he said. After his first military stint, he pursued a degree in music education from Ohio State University. For a decade, he taught school band and worked at the chain of music stores his wife’s parents owned, while also serving as the 122nd Army Band company commander for the Ohio Army National Guard. His service with the National Guard later entailed assessing military bands around the country and acting as branch chief for the military funerals honors program. “We did about 5,000 funerals a year all over the state,” Kessler said. Kessler finished his military career in the Honor Guard and as a deputy senior bandmaster for the National Guard. In 2016, when Kessler finally retired with the rank of chief warrant officer, he had amassed 42 years of military service. Three years ago, Kessler and his wife, Judy, selected Brevard as their retirement haven after becoming acquainted with the area during cruises from Port Canaveral. Judy played clarinet with the 122nd and is now also part of the Community Band of Brevard. He could not have picked a more challenging time to join the Community Band. Fettered by the threat of COVID-19, the Community Band, like other musical groups, cancelled performances for more than a year. That chapter of the band’s life is hopefully history, as Kessler conducted the first post-COVID concert Sept. 12. The band is now

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SENIOR LIFE photo

Rob Kessler finished his military career in the Honor Guard and as a deputy senior bandmaster for the National Guard. rehearsing for its next gig, a Dec. 5 holiday performance. “We think Marion would have been glad to pass his baton to this very capable retired Army band commander,” board chairman David

Scarborough said. The Kessler musical tradition should continue for decades ahead, thanks to son Derek and daughter Erin, both musicians with the 122nd Ohio Army National Guard Band.

Admission is free to Community Band of Brevard concerts, usually held at the Merritt Island High School Auditorium. For more information, visit communitybandofbrevard.com or its Facebook page. SL

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Painting becomes inspiration for Monument to the Fallen the grief of losing their brother. “I said ‘What am I going to do?’ ” she said. “ ‘Mom, you’re going to paint,’ ” they told her.

BY R. NORMAN MOODY

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Jeanne Weaver

Donn and Jeanne Weaver headed a two-year effort to get a Monument to the Fallen installed at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. It was unveiled Sept. 11, 2021.

When their 26-year-old son, Army 1st. Lt. Todd Weaver, was killed in action in Afghanistan, Donn and Jeanne Weaver of Cocoa Beach set out to make sure he would be remembered. “I vowed that for the rest of my life he would not be forgotten,” she said. An artist, Jeanne Weaver set out to paint to help her through the grief. She painted his baby shoes, his baseball cleats and the military boots he wore and many other scenes and things that evoked his memory. One painting was inspired by photographs she received from a memorial service his fellow soldiers held at Camp Terra Nova, their outpost in Afghanistan, the day after his death. “Someone took a bunch of pictures,” she said. “I put them all together to make a painting.” When her son’s unit returned home from Afghanistan, Weaver and her husband Donn Weaver went to Fort Campbell to visit with them and to talk. “It was heartwarming to see the response from how the other soldiers were affected by Todd’s death,” she said. The Weavers made sure their children were busy as they dealt with

“I vowed that for the rest of my life he would not be forgotten.” — Jeanne Weaver

The painting from the memorial sat in a closet in her home studio until the idea came up for a memorial to troops killed in action. While at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Weaver had noticed that there was not a memorial to the fallen. Though there are none yet interred at the cemetery who died in combat, she thought it would be appropriate. After a two-year effort to get the authorization and to raise $24,600 for the project, the Memorial to the Fallen was installed Sept. 11 at the cemetery. “What I saw is that there is a monument that should have been there in January 2016 (when the cemetery opened),” said Chip Hanson, a veterans’ chaplain who participated in the unveiling ceremony. “As a combat veteran, that means so much.” SL

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Moving to beat of their German heritage keeps musicians tuned BY LINDA JUMP It’s October and Klaus Kolb, 86, and Brigitte Koss, 84, are donning their Lederhosen and Dirndl, practicing polkas and reviving their native tongue to lead Oktoberfest events around the area. “We couldn’t have an Oktoberfest without Klaus,” gushed Stella Tobin, director of activities and recreation at Chateau Madeleine Senior Living in Suntree. “We booked him again this year. He brings some authentic Germany and draws everybody in with his personal style.” For a decade, the Merritt Island couple have shared their BavarianGerman culture through accordion music and folk dances. “I love seeing people enjoying themselves,” Kolb said. By Sept. 1, he had booked 12 Oktoberfest performances for clubs, organizations and senior residential facilities.” They perform year-round too. Kolb’s music repertoire includes 800 songs, most European and American Standard dance music. “He does them all by heart, not by notes,” Koss said. Kolb also plays piano, keyboard, French horn and the Slovenian diatonic button box, which is similar to an accordion. Four years ago, he spent six months learning the tuba to provide bass tones for the Harbor City Dance Band where he played weekly.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Klaus Kolb and Brigitte Koss dressed in authentic German garb to practice accordion music for Oktoberfest events. Kolb played accordion at Sonata Viera on Sept. 1 and will return for an Oktoberfest this month. “He’s amazing. The whole room was dancing and singing along. He made

SENIOR LIFE Adam Palumbo

The main corridor at Shell Harbor offers some of the conveniences residents would find on a town’s Main Street.

it super fun and interactive,” said Ashley Mazzoni, lifestyle director. The first Oktoberfest was held in 1810 in Munich to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I.

Strong beer, German folk music, clothing and dances as well as tents and carnival attractions swelled attendance to 6 million. COVID-19 derailed the 2020 event and postponed this year’s plans, but Koss said locally people are “anxious to get together to have fun.” Although Kolb was raised in East Germany and Koss in Frankfurt, neither has attended a Munich Oktoberfest. The couple met in 2014 at the AccordionFest of the Brevard Chapter of the Central Florida Accordion Club, which Koss directs, and agreed to grow older together. Their days are active. “I get up about 5 a.m. and ride my bike almost 20 kilometers (more than 12 miles) sometimes, no hands because that helps with balance. And I walk two miles,” Kolb said. His father instilled in him that “movement is essential for our bodies.” At age 80, the former business CEO began writing his memoir, producing four books titled “Twelve Flags.” Last year, he formed the Palm Island Music Ensemble to provide music in outdoor settings during the pandemic. Kolb supervised construction of geodesic dome homes globally until 2019. He continues to translate Old German documents into English, gardens and rides horses. “You have to keep your mind going to stay young,” he said. SL

SENIOR LIFE Adam Palumbo

The ceiling and lighting throughout Shell Harbor evokes a festive mood.

Main Street atmosphere highlights senior community “Everything here is first class”

BY ERNEST ARICO Walk down the main corridor at Shell Harbor and you will find some of the same conveniences one would see on the main street of a planned community. Shell Harbor Retirement Community has that centrally located corridor known as Main Street, which boasts the convenience of a guest suite, lounge, casual and formal dining, resource center, conference center, in-house bank, business center, fitness center, game room, arcade, general store, salon and a state-of-the art, 150seat theater. Resort Lifestyle Communities, a Nebraska-based company that owns and operates Shell Harbor, opened Sept. 1 at 2855 Murrell Road in Rockledge. It has 130 apartments — studio, one, two and three bedrooms. The new retirement community offers independent living for adults 55 and older but its main attraction is its

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SENIOR LIFE Adam Palumbo

One of the first residents to move into the facility was 78-year-old Judith Thomas Main Street — a focal point in its main building. In addition, Shell Harbor offers livein managers, weekly housekeeping, utilities, resort-style dining, transportation and concierge services and valet parking. “Our company has been in business for 21 years but what makes us so unique and different from the other retirement facilities is our Main Street,” said Paul Nichols, who is

one of Shell Harbor’s team managers along with his wife, Hala. “Resort lifestyle communities are the best. All our activities are built on Main Street. We want our residents to have a good time.” One of the first residents to move into the facility was 78-year-old Judith Thomas of Suntree, formerly of Cleveland, Ohio. “I love the whole facility,” she said. “Everything here is first class. They treat you with respect and everything is provided for you. Main Street is great. I’m a very passionate supporter of this facility. “And another reason why I like it so much is that it’s only six miles from where I used to live. Everything is here that you could possibly want.”

Nichols said there are 23 residents at Shell Harbor. By the end of October, he expects the facility to be half full. Of the 130 apartments, 128 will be rented. The 129th apartment will be used by the live-in managers, while the 130th will be made available for its travel program. Nichols said the theater now is used for movies on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. He is hoping to hold concerts and is seeking a religious leader to perform church services on Sundays. The fitness center, which also includes a private shower and steam room, is open 24 hours. Other amenities include a mailroom, a Wall of Honor for its military veterans, a library on the second floor and a billiards parlor on the third floor. An official grand opening of Shell Harbor is planned for Nov. 11. For more information visit ShellHarborRetirement.com or call 321-576-0040. SL

SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

History Then and Now 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

Henegar Center swings Then - 1890s into second century with continued optimism

The Henegar Center has stood in downtown Melbourne for more than 100 years.

BY MARIA SONNENBERG Some things never change. The Melbourne School, the building that now houses the Henegar Center for the Arts, welcomed its first students in 1920, at a time when Melbourne boasted two streetlights and nary a paved road. By 1925, the structure was so brimming with students that wooden outbuildings — the portables of the era — were scattered around the eight-acre campus. The school encompassed all grades until a high school was built in 1926, leaving the elementary grades at the original site. The fate of the two buildings couldn’t be more different. One would go on to become a hub for the arts, while the other would end up as the rubble of development. “The Henegar is the oldest surviving public building currently operational in Brevard,” said Dominic Del Brocco, the executive artistic director. The Henegar’s confident, solid neoclassical style reflected the optimism of the Florida land boom. In 1920, Florida had a population of just a million; only five years later, the number had swollen by 200,000 more. In Brevard, enrollment rose by 1,000 students from 1924 to 1926. In 1963, Melbourne School became the Ruth Henegar School to honor its former teacher and principal. After 55 years, the school doors closed for the last time on June 11, 1975. Its savior was the Brevard Regional Arts Group, or BRAG, which undertook

the daunting task of raising $2.5 million to convert the building into a community theater. It was serendipitous that Peter Feller, who designed and built scenery for hundreds of Broadway shows, had retired to Melbourne. The two-time Tony winner and his wife, Katie, were critical players in Henegar’s transformation, which culminated with opening night of “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” on Oct. 25, 1991, marking the beginning of the new chapter in the building’s long history. “The Henegar has survived for over 100 years,” Del Brocco said. Despite challenges that the pandemic brought to community theaters, the Henegar forges ahead with the same confidence it exhibited back in the Roaring ’20s. The energetic “Newsies,” the first show of the Henegar’s 20212022 season, was an apt choice for a theater that refuses to age. “We have increased our Main Stage show offerings from five shows to seven,” Del Brocco said. A completely renovated balcony, updated technical equipment and unique Main Stage and Black Box productions further enhance the audience experience. A true survivor, the 33,000-squarefoot Henegar is a mainstay in downtown Melbourne’s cultural scene, and its future as a vibrant performing arts center is assured. For a peek at the Henegar’s 20212022 season, visit henegarcenter.com. SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Brevard County Historical Commission

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The Pritchard house was purchased for historic preservation by Brevard County in May 2005. Brevard County transferred ownership of the house to the City of Titusville in March 2016.

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SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

Mowers cut the convenience out of commute This summer, it’s not the bugs that are bugging me. Oh, there’s still a lot of the little flying and crawling critters around, but what’s bugging me this summer is the thing that’s two separate parts connected at one small point in the middle that impacts your driving when you’re in the car. No, not lovebugs, I’m talking about mowing company trucks and trailers. Now is it just me or are there more mowers than mosquitoes this summer? Grass mowing can be a real cut up, but do those mowers only work before 7:30 a.m.? You know you can’t drive down any neighborhood road without encountering a parked

truck and mowing trailer. Like the little critters that splat on your windshield, these guys are really bugging me, pun intended. If you have my luck, there is always a car coming the opposite way right at the point you encounter the mower truck and it’s usually the only other car on the road. And why do they have to slow to a crawl until they pass? Yeah, they’re worse than speed bumps. They see you stopped and waiting, and they slow down to a crawl? Not wanting to exercise my middle finger too excessively or put to use my vast vocabulary of colorful metaphors (swearing), I choose instead to crank up the stereo

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with some classic Santana and sing at the top of my lungs. Then when they see you’re not mad, they hit the gas. Hmmm, maybe I should have exercised that middle finger after all. By the way, this happens mostly if you’re running late and in a

hurry. This wouldn’t be happening though if we didn’t have a different mowing company every two yards. Like in the NFL, one team should have the ball (or the mower in this case) every 10 yards. Yeah, then I would be able to get out of the neighborhood in less time than it takes to watch the grass grow for the next round of mowing. The truth is, like certain critters that bug me, I know mowing companies are a necessary inconvenience for a beautiful environment. But if there were ever a reason to allow alcohol in the car, this would be it. Well, time to hit the road. Now where did I put my Valium? SL

Hallowed, horror and the history between the two Throughout the ages, people have been challenged by the rituals at the end of summer. Linked to pre-Christian practices, people throughout the world have celebrated in various ways. Christians connected by honoring holy people on All Hallowed Eve on Oct. 31. Eventually, it evolved to Halloween. Further, it was recognized as the eve of All Saints Day, celebrated on Nov. 1. Additionally, Spanish people connect with the Day of the Dead on Nov. 2 with celebrations. During our childhood days, we were challenged to create the best, most original, or scary costumes to go out for Trick-or-Treat and collect all kinds of candy and treats. In my hometown, we got a head start on Oct. 30, by calling our venture Beggar’s Night. As we escorted our children and grandchildren on the hallowed outing, we saw their transformation with contemporary costumes. “Star Wars” characters and superheroes moved ahead of witches, ghosts and skeleton creations. Some of us remember days living in rural areas where we made Halloween more of a Horror night. Pranks and bad deeds are often shared by seniors to include dumping over outhouses, putting cow pies on a porch before knocking on the door at a farmhouse, and other mischievous antics. However,

Challenges of Living to Age 100

All Saints, and Day of the Dead together at a family fun gathering, are observed. Boo! Have I got your attention? You’re challenged to check internet

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Ed Baranowski what was considered a playful prank later became labeled vandalism with costly and dangerous consequences. With concerns for child safety and family protection, Halloween parties evolved to keep people off the streets. Good food, beverages, games, bobbing for apples and dancing replaced the old routines. After seeing all the fun that children were having, adults started having their own celebrations. Challenges from religious groups that Halloween glorifies Satan were met with information and education. Big-time area attractions provide horror night haunted houses and horror movies to build attendance. Who can scare more people seems to be the standard. Repeating century-old traditions and practices has given way to local cemetery ghost tours, and special effects-laden horror movies. Reading Poe literature such as “The Black Cat” at libraries, and generational events, where generations share the meaning of Halloween, All Souls,

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Behind the

Beat

By Randal Hill

‘Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves’ — Cher Thomas “Snuff” Garrett was a Dallas high school dropout who became a Lubbock, Texas disc jockey at age 17 and befriended local music star Buddy Holly. Two years later, Garrett became a staff producer at Liberty Records in Los Angeles. Garrett wasn’t a musician, but he did have the uncanny knack of finding — and later producing — hit songs. During the 1960s, he created million-sellers for the likes of Bobby Vee (a Buddy Holly soundalike) and Gary Lewis & the Playboys. Garrett lived in the Hollywood Hills, next door to Salvatore and Cherilyn Bono — better known in the entertainment world as Sonny and Cher. (As with Garrett, both were also high-school dropouts themselves.) In 1965, the husbandand-wife duo had rocketed to international fame when their Atco single “I Got You Babe” became one of the biggest pop successes of the decade. But two years later, neither the pair together nor Cher on her own found themselves putting out any hits. Then, in 1971, Cher signed with Kapp Records, hopeful of finding a successful song that would return her to prominence. Garrett asked songwriter pal Bob Stone to come up with something noteworthy that would bring Cher a hit and an audience beyond teenyboppers. Stone responded with an adult-level story-song called “Gypsies and White Trash.” Garrett sensed that Stone’s creation had

Cher puts on an inspiring show in Las Vegas in 1981. hit potential but obviously needed some tweaking in order to avoid controversy. The result was one of the finest pop tunes of Cher’s career

SENIOR LIFE Wikipedia, CC

— and one she never really liked. The melodramatic “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves” unfolds at nearbreakneck speed — it lasts just 2½

minutes—but unfurls a poignant tale of poverty and misfortune. I was born in the wagon of a travelin’ show My mama used to dance for the money they’d throw Cher as the 16-year-old narrator tells of meeting a 21-year-old drifter in Mobile, Alabama. Her family befriends him, feeds him and gives him a ride to Memphis. He travels on from there, deserting the girl: Three months later, I’m a gal in trouble And I haven’t seen him for a while The narrator’s daughter is, as she herself was, born in a wagon. Now the teenager is the one who must dance for money when men of the visited towns come to do their ogling. Hypocritically, those who frequent the traveling show later reject the gypsy families as lowlife carnies and grifters. Cher all but spits out the words in a sort of punkish anger that renders Stone’s lyrics both haunting and depressing. “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves” held the No. 1 position on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for two weeks. Cher never liked her comeback hit and dismissed it as “a song I recorded in, like, an hour.” In concert, she would pare the tune to 90 seconds by eliminating a verse and a chorus. We’ll never know the reason for Cher’s antipathy toward the song, but it does seem an odd way to treat Stone’s creation that had granted her a rare return to music-world stardom. SL

Frank Lloyd Wright architecture charms visitors at Florida Southern Let me introduce you and your family to the architecture of America’s most gifted and noted architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. He was commissioned in the 1930s to build a series of college buildings on the campus of Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Construction started in the late 1930s, was interrupted by World War II, and the entire project was completed in the late 1950s. You will have an opportunity to see Wright’s genius as you tour the campus grounds. Start your visit at the college’s Child of the Sun Visitor Center and Esplanade Gift Shop. The center is part of an ongoing effort to better educate visitors to Wright architecture. The center provides a home for the permanent display of photographs, furniture and drawings depicting Wright’s relationship with the college. The center also acts as a home for visiting exhibits on loan from various other Wright sites. Located in the William M. Hollis Exhibition and Seminar Room, the room also serves as the meeting location for college faculty and community groups.

Touring the Town

John Trieste

The campus buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and together form one of the largest collections of buildings by the architect. Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator who designed more than 1,000 projects, which resulted in more than 500 completed works. Well-known during his lifetime, Wright was recognized in 1991 by the American Institute of Architects as “the Greatest American Architect of all-time.” To get to Florida Southern’s Child of the Sun Visitor Center, take State Road 528 from Brevard County west to Interstate 4. Take I-4 south/west (toward Tampa) to the Polk Parkway/SR570 to Exit

SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

SENIOR LIFE Wikipedia

The Annie Pfeiffer Chapel at Florida Southern College’s Child of the Sun was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. 7 (South Florida Avenue/North). Follow South Florida Avenue (about two miles) and turn right onto McDonald Avenue. Follow McDonald to Johnson Avenue, cross Johnson and make a right turn into the college parking lot. At the end of the parking lot, on your left, you will see the visitor parking. Travel time from Brevard is about

two hours. Visitor Center and gift shop hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, call 863-680-4444. Free self-guided walking tours are available at all times. Tour maps are located at the directional sign located under the esplanades at Parking Lot VB. SL

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Health & Wellness

Breast cancer screening advancements saving more lives BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER Advancements in breast cancer screening reflect the genuine discovery in better cancer detection that is so important to women. “We have developed specialized tools, 3-D mammography and breast MRI becoming more common,” said Dr. Alphonse M. Pecoraro Jr. of Surgical Association of Brevard. “From the statement standpoint is the understanding of one predisposition to cancer — to test at-risk families’ genes associated with different types of breast cancer and genetic testing for ovarian cancer and screening. “We are now able to subject the tumor to a genetic look by patients’ not negative and low positive in the lymph nodes to decide on treatment medication,” Pecoraro said. “We are also better at getting stratifying patients over the treatments they need. Poorly differentiated breast cancers have better drugs out there to treat those patients.” Pecoraro said new advances are in imaging, stratifying and treatment with efficiency and use of resources. “What is interesting in my practice is the trend for aggressive breast cancer, people are opting to remove

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Dr. Alphonse M. Pecoraro Jr.

Dr. Alphonse M. Pecoraro Jr. works at Rockledge Regional Medical Center.

breasts,” he said. “There has obviously been a stigma with mastectomy and reconstruction options have improved. But this is sort of counterproductive in what we have been wanting to do.” Early detection is key. It should include self-exams, regular clinical exams and mammograms. “I am pretty open about it and have been cancer-free since 2013,” Cindy Pagillo said. “I went in for my routine exam and they saw it in the mammogram. Two years prior to them finding it, I went in every year because my mom has had breast cancer twice.” Pagillo found a lump under her

SENIOR LIFE Brenda Eggert Brader

Deb Smith is a breast cancer survivor. SENIOR LIFE Brenda Eggert Brader

Cindy Pagillo, a breast cancer survivor since 2013, has been happily back to her routine and busy working in her craft room.

arm two years before cancer was discovered but was advised by an attendant to ignore it due to cost and let the mammogram find it. “Trust your body,” said Pagillo, who lives in Melbourne. “Don’t let somebody squash your suspicion. I went in for an ultrasound, nothing on that breast and got an MRI after the mammogram. The spot on the left breast lump was the cancer discovered two years before. I ended up getting

a double mastectomy. It is a tough choice for it is a long-drawn-out process and they want to do tests and procedures until the surgery. So, I did get the mastectomy and am glad I did.” Cancer-free a year in April, Deb Smith is doing well. “I have no troubles. I had stage one cancer and only two lymph nodes removed, and both were negative,” Smith said. “Every six months, I have a mammogram and ultrasound; check with an oncologist once a year.” The Making Strides of Brevard cancer fundraiser will be Oct. 23 with a 7 a.m. check in, and an 8 a.m. program at The Avenue Viera at 2261 Town Center Ave. in Melbourne. SL

Real Men Wear Pink continues to ﬁght cancer BY R. NORMAN MOODY

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11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at The Melbourne Police Department. All donors receive a free OneBlood Cancer Awareness T-Shirt, socks and a #$20 egift card plus a wellness checkup including blood pressure, temperature, iron count, pulse and cholesterol screening. Appointments are encouraged. 650 N Apollo Blvd, Melbourne (321) 608-6731

He is a first-time participant in the American Cancer Society’s Real Men Wear Pink, but Steve Vitani’s enthusiasm and drive to raise awareness and funds for the cause is evident. More than a month before the end of the campaign, Vitani already was ahead of his fundraising goal. He enlisted friends, family and business associates to help with the cause. He joins others in the campaign. “Cancer has affected many of my friends and family,” he said. “I’ve seen how vicious this disease is.” It not only has affected people with whom he is associated, but it has also affected his own family. While there have been many advancements, there needs to be more awareness. “I lost my father to cancer last year, so my determination to raise more awareness for all is my main priority,” Vitani said. “Even though there’s been great strides throughout the decades, I’m driven to deliver more cancer awareness as we are nowhere close to where it needs to be.” Vitani said he wants to help to bring as much awareness as possible and help to raise funds for research. “I am humbled and grateful to know that my efforts can help bring more awareness to prevent, treat or save someone’s life,” he said. “I am extremely thankful for the donations by my clients, friends and colleagues

SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

SENIOR LIFE Adam Palumbo

Steve Vitani has lost relatives and friends to cancer. He is a first-time participant in Real Men Wear Pink. to raise more awareness from this campaign.” This year, campaigns from Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Volusia, Flagler, Brevard, Lake Sumter/Marion (The Villages) and Polk counties have joined forces and become the Central Florida Real Men Wear Pink campaign. The campaign’s presenting sponsor is AdventHealth and is chaired by Timothy Clark, the CEO of AdventHealth Apopka.

Vitani joined other long-time participants in this year’s campaign. It is the sixth year that Todd Pokrywa, the president of The Viera Company, will participate in Real Men Wear Pink. Pokrywa is poised to set a new fundraising record. “This is the most successful fundraising year I have had personally since I started participating as a Real Men Wear Pink candidate in 2016.” SL

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A Fall Festival will be held Saturday, Oct. 9 at The Vineyards at Black Willow.

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Vineyards draw festive mood BY MARIA SONNENBERG

Drive Black Willow Trail in Mims and you will encounter a rare sight in Brevard: a working vineyard. It is not surprising that The Vineyards at Black Willow is a popular spot for weddings and other special events, for this little slice of Napa is all about gorgeous sights and wonderful ambiance. “The beautiful pictures don’t even begin to describe how beautifully amazing this place is,” said Katrina Combs, who was married at The Vineyards at Black Willow. Brittany Stevens grew up on her family’s 88 acres and now orchestrates the day-to-day workings of the farm, wedding venue and 30-acre vineyards. On Oct. 9, she is inviting the community to check out the place. “We’re hosting our annual Fall Festival that day,” Stevens said. The event will showcase the vineyards and its buildings, including the barn, a rustic and beautiful backdrop, and the picturesque site where wedding ceremonies are held.

Stevens and her family are importing more than 3,000 pumpkins for the special event. Hayrides, food trucks, vendors and a bounty of photo opportunities — including an antique truck — await visitors. “Stroll through our gorgeous vineyard, pick out the perfect pumpkin and enjoy some yummy barbecue,” Stevens said. The Fall Festival is part of a robust schedule of events at The Vineyards. During “A Day in the Vineyard” event in August, guests could even do a bit of grape stomping. U-pick days allow participants the opportunity to gather grapes. The Vineyards at Black Willow grow seven different varieties of grapes, the majority of them muscadines. The Vineyards at Black Willow’s Fall Festival will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 9 at The Vineyards at Black Willow at 2350 Black Willow Trail in Mims. Admission is $5 for anyone age 3 and older. Admission is free for kids 2 and younger. For more information, call 321-6849402. SL

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Ziegler reaches new heights in handball with national title BY JEFF NAVIN

SENIOR LIFE Adam Palumbo

Dale Ziegler won a coveted national championship in handball.

For years, Dale Ziegler has looked up to handball champion Norm Young. He doesn’t have to anymore. Ziegler, a Viera resident, defeated Young 21-20, 21-17 in the United States Handball Association’s 70th 3 Wall National Championship in the 80-and-older division. “I was behind in both games,’’ said Ziegler, a native of Joliet, Illinois, who has lived in Brevard County since 1979. “I just put up some better serves and had some determination.’’ The two had never played before August’s championship match in Maumee, Ohio, which is just outside of Toledo. “Norm has won numerous national titles,’’ said Ziegler, who worked in contract negotiations for NASA during his working years. “I could not compete with him. He was always a much better player than me. I could win at the state level, but not at the national level. I was never

high enough up in the bracket to play him or I was in a different side of the bracket.’’ The pandemic in both 2020 and 2021 provided Ziegler with the time to hone his handball game. Still, there were unexpected obstacles.

“I’m a competitor, I’m stubborn and I’m determined.” — Dale Ziegler

“In February, I couldn’t walk one block without pain in my legs,’’ Ziegler said. “I was diagnosed with coronary artery disease. I needed stents in both legs to increase the blood flow. I also needed two stents around my heart.’’ Ziegler nearly had to have his left leg amputated due to blood clots. “This all took place in a ninemonth period where I had four hospital stays,’’ Ziegler said. “The doctors and modern medicine did me

well. I’m a competitor, I’m stubborn and I’m determined. I decided to give the nationals one last try.’’ After the various procedures, Ziegler was able to return to playing handball within a week. That kept him sharp. “I have to give a lot of credit to Dr. (Dwayne) Badgett, my vascular surgeon, and Dr. (Subroto) Acharjee, my cardiologist,’’ Ziegler said. “Older athletes have to realize that you can never quit and you can never give up.’’ Not only is Ziegler a national champion, but he also is a spokesman for the sport of handball. Winter residents seek him out for places to play, and he’s willing to share his cell phone number (321544-0363) to help others improve their game through consistent practice. “There aren’t a lot of younger people into the sport, except in bigger cities,’’ Ziegler said. “If anyone wants to play handball, they can contact me.’’ SL

No thoughts of retirement for King Center director of youth theatre BY MARIA SONNENBERG Karen Wilson fondly remembers the wonderful sights, sounds and emotions of attending a Broadway show with her New York City classmates. “It was a magical experience,” Wilson said. As director of youth theatre for the King Center for Performing Arts, Wilson has for almost a quarter of a century connected Brevard County school children with the wonder of live theatre. “I’ve always had a passion for the performing arts,” she said. During her long tenure with the Space Coast’s premier performing arts organization, Wilson has touched the lives of thousands of kids, many of whom had never been exposed to live theater. Prior to COVID-19, attendance for youth programs averaged more than 10,000 children. Last year, attendance plummeted to nothing, but Wilson is optimistic that the future will soon again bring young people back to the King Center. With friends in Brevard and a desire to stop shoveling snow, Wilson moved to Brevard in the 1990s. Although she loved the performing arts, she opted for the more secure paycheck using

her business training, a background that helped her land jobs with local FM radio station WAIA before she joined the King Center in 1997. Her business background continues to help her as she maneuvers through marketing programs, negotiating with artists, working on collaborative opportunities within the community, securing additional funding for the youth program and building community relations. Although she is often onstage to introduce acts, she is not usually onstage to act, except for rare occasions such as her performances with the Cocoa Village Playhouse in productions such as “Dreamgirls” and “Aida.” Although youth shows were non-existent last year, Wilson kept herself busy with “Rakonto: Voices of Brevard’s Heroes,” a collaborative project with Brevard Achievement Center and Eastern Florida State College, a longtime vision of Wilson. Grants she secured from Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council of Arts and Culture and the National Endowment for the Arts enabled the telling of the powerful story of 11 Brevard residents all living with, as Wilson calls it, “differently-abled abilities.” These are individuals who never allowed physical challenges to

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SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of the King Center

Karen Wilson is the director of youth theatre at the King Center for Performing Arts. veer them from achieving their dreams. Wilson’s experience with her blind father inspired her pursuit of the project. “He was a great role model,” she said. When out in the community, Wilson loves it when a youngster she passes by remembers her as “the lady from the theater.”

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News for Titusville, Mims & Port St. John

North Brevard As forests shrink, bobcats roam into neighborhoods and parks BY FLORA REIGADA While walking her dog, Boss Hogg, along a rural Mims road, Lenore Barton got a surprise. Just ahead, she spotted a bobcat standing in the road, watching her and Boss. “I stood still and forced myself to relax, so Boss wouldn’t start any trouble,” Barton said. “The bobcat stared, then shook his little tail and trotted off into the woods.” Such encounters are not unusual in the Sunshine State. “Bobcats are fairly common in Florida,” said James Lyon, a biologist with the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, bobcats are about twice the size of a domestic cat and tan to yellowish brown, with brown or black streaks and a bobbed tail. They are primarily nocturnal. “Bobcats have been sighted in

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Tim Raley

Bobcats, such as this one with its prey, make their home in Titusville’s Enchanted Forest Sanctuary and other wooded areas in Brevard County. Cocoa Beach, Fox Lake Park and Chain of Lakes Park,” said Jeff Davis, the operations manager for North Brevard Parks and Recreation. “Any densely wooded area is suitable for bobcats.” Among these are the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and Enchanted Forest Sanctuary.

Bobcats make their way into neighborhoods. “The more we build, the less property wildlife has. If necessary, they will cohabitate with humans, just like the alligator,” he said. Davis has seen a bear in his neighborhood, as well as brown foxes,

deer and wild hogs on his property. By keeping her cool during her wildlife encounter, Barton ensured that she, Boss and the bobcat emerged without incident. Safety measures include not shouting, throwing things or inciting in any way. “Bobcats are generally not a threat to humans, but should not be approached because any mammal, except for the opossum, can be rabid. We don’t always recognize the symptoms,” Lyon said. He urged pet owners to watch domestic cats and small dogs, because bobcats are predators. Lyon cautioned against putting food out for animals. “Even food for stray cats can attract other animals,” he said. “They will equate food to humans and we don’t want that equation,” Davis said. “Humans need to understand our role. We encourage co-existence.” For more information about the bobcat and other wildlife, visit myfwc. com SL

The Y is not just for the young, but for seniors too BY FLORA REIGADA Vanda Knowles hates exercise. “I hate it with a purple passion,” she said. However, well aware of its importance, Knowles is a regular at the Titusville branch of the YMCA of Central Florida. She comes to exercise with what she calls the senior set. The class enhances her physical and emotional health. “It’s a good group,” she said. “A lot of seniors come every day and we have become friends, not only gym friends, but friends on the outside too.” YMCA of Central Florida Communications Director Paula Machado said the organization has plenty of programs for older adults. Senior Fitness: Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:45 a.m.

321-242-1235

Includes warm-up and corrective exercises, flexibility and stretching. Shallow Water Fitness: Mondays, 10:45 a.m. Low-impact class in shallow water, using water dumbbells and floatation belts, is designed to improve joint stability, coordination, heart health and strength. Chair Yoga: Tuesdays, 9 a.m. Class involves muscle stretching to reduce stress and improve circulation. Aqua Zumba: Thursdays, 5:45 p.m. and Saturdays, 10:15 a.m. Blends Zumba moves and body sculpting techniques, using lightweight dumbbells. Virtual YMCA Spirit, Mind and Body Wellness center: The community explores free content, such as recipes, trainer tip videos and blogs with activities. In

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of YMCA of Central Florida

Vanda Knowles has benefited from the Senior Fitness class she attends at the YMCA of Central Florida in Titusville.

keeping with the YMCA’s religious roots as the Young Men’s Christian Association, the virtual wellness center

offers chaplain services, church partners, a mission committee and a prayer wall. Specialized fitness training is available for Senior YMCA members. A tennis and racquetball facility is popular with older adults. “At the Y, being healthy means more than simply being physically active. It’s about maintaining a healthy balance between spirit, mind and body,” Machado said. “The Y is empowering people of all ages and abilities, to take charge of their health and change their lives for the better.” Just ask Knowles. “Young people call me an encouragement,” she said. The Titusville YMCA of Central Florida is at 2400 Harrison St. For more information call 321-267-8924 or visit ymcacf.org/locations/titusville SL

SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

HELLO Just to be safe — please call each event location to confirm date and time. SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

National Fire PupFruitcake Day Toss Day Master Gardner Clinic 6th annual Grandparents 10 a.m. Raising Grandchildren A Master Gardener will Golf Tournament answer any questions you might have about plants, pests, insects and diseases. Handouts and information will be available to take home. Bring questions or plant cuttings. Cocoa Beach Library Captain’s Room 550 North Brevard Ave. Cocoa Beach 321-868-1104

Independence Day

Party Bridge

12:15 - 4 p.m. Mondays and Fridays Martin Andersen Senior Center 1026 Florida Ave. Rockledge, 321-631-7549

National Golf Lover’s Day

Women’s Pickeball

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Mondays Join your friends to play pickleball. $2 per person. Viera Regional Park 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, 321-433-4891

Citizens Appreciation Day Diagnosis: Lewy Body 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Dementia, Parkinson’s The City of Satellite Beach Support Group free event for all ages. Desoto Park 499 DeSoto Parkway Satellite Beach 321-773-4407

10 - 11:30 a.m. Dr. Anthony LoGalbo RSVP required. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

2 - 5 p.m. Dinners include salad, bread, drink. Wine bar donation only, limit two. Prices are $5.50 to $7.50. Greater Palm Bay Senior Center 1275 Culver Drive NE Palm Bay, 321-724-1338

1 - 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays Greater Palm Bay Senior Center 1275 Culver Drive NE Palm Bay, 321-724-1338

Spaghetti Diner

National Pecan Columbus Day Pie Day

Pingpong

National National National Pasta Caviar Day Chocolate Day Cupcake Day National Ice Central Florida Winds Cape Canaveral Pen Cream Day Concert Women present: Jaimie 3 p.m. Engle, screenwriter, author Free admission. and speaker

National Motherin-Law Day

Inaugural Serene Harbor Golf Classic

National Night Out 2021

5 - 7 p.m. “All For One, One For All” Neighborhood Watch groups are joining together to have a unified block party that will include elected officials from the City of Melbourne, members of the Melbourne Police and Fire Departments, and Parks & Recreation. Lipscomb Park Community Center 3316 Monroe St. Melbourne, 321-608-6731

Open Pickleball

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Tuesdays Join your friends to play pickleball. $2 per person. Viera Regional Park 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, 321-433-4891 10:45 a.m. Join us for gentle seated Yoga. 55-minute class. Freedom 7 Senior Center 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd. Cocoa Beach, 321-783-9505

11 a m. - 12:30 p.m. Greater Palm Bay Senior Center Palm Bay, 321-724-1338

Suntree United Methodist Church 7400 N. Wickham Road Suntree, 321-405-2359

Labor Day

Seated Yoga Class

Cornhole Toss

10 a.m. - Noon Join Jaimie Engle as she talks about her book, “Write a Book that Doesn’t Suck: A No-Nonsense Guide to Writing Epic Fiction.” Space is limited, masks are required. Must RSVP. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

China Painting

9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Wickham Park 1 p.m. Senior Center Fundraiser for Serene Harbor. Players and teams 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne, 321-254-0254 will have a round of golf with cart and ball. Awards, a meal, and fun raffle Jazzercise Lo games will be included. 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Suntree Country Club Wickham Park 1 Country Club Drive Senior Center Suntree, 321-726-8282 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne, 321-698-0445

Navy Birthday

Shell Harbor Information Seminar

10 a.m. Join us for a brief presentation and discover how the independent resort lifestyle at Shell Harbor encourages a happier and healthier life. RSVP Shell Harbor Retirement Community 2855 Murrell Road Rockledge, 321-252-5882

Minimally-invasive treatments for the spine

6 - 7 p.m. Free in-person seminar presented by Michael Cronin, D.O. from Melbourne Regional Medical Center. 250 N. Wickham Road Register call 321-752-1427

Open Mic Night

8 p.m. Thursdays Island Root Kava Bar 7954 N. Wickham Road Suntree, 321-622-6857

Melbourne Beach Watercolor Society

Be Bald and Be Free Day Social Ballroom Class 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. We Dance Academies 7640 N. Wickham Road Unit 114, Suntree 321-334-9136

Elder Law Attorney William A. Johnson, P.A. One Senior Place Viera, 321-751-6771

6 p.m. Duran Golf Club 7032 Stadium Parkway Viera, 321-504-7776

Island Root Kava Bar 7954 N. Wickham Road #115, Suntree 321-622-6857

National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day

Medicaid Planning Seminar LPGA Amateurs Brevard/ Open Mic Night Space Coast Social 10 a.m. 8 p.m. Thursdays

National Day of the Deployed

Zumba Gold

8:30 - 9:15 a.m. Wickham Park Senior Center 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne, 321-914-9401

Line Dancing

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Martin Andersen Senior Center 1026 Florida Ave. Rockledge, 321-631-7549

National Black Cat Day

Line Dancing with Larry

National Shawarma Day

Hearing Loss (=Brain Stress)

11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Boxed lunch provided, must RSVP. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771 1 - 3 p.m. Sunflower House Merritt Square Mall 777 E. Merritt Island Causeway, 321-452-4341

7:30 p.m. Oct. 13 & 14 Melbourne Auditorium 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Melbourne, 321-724-0555

10 a.m. Informative presentation about the all-inclusive amenities at the resort. RSVP by Oct. 14. Shell Harbor Retirement Community 2855 Murrell Road Rockledge, 321-252-5882

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Second and fourth Fridays For those interested in quilting or who have current projects to share. Suntree/Viera Public Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404

Friday Afternoon at the Movies

Swingtime Concert

Explore Shell Harbor

5 - 9 p.m. Free movie, “Coco” Viera Regional Park 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, 321-633-2046

TGIF Piecemakers

6:30 p.m. All you can eat Tri-Tip, sausage, assorted side dishes, desserts and drinks. 50/50 raffle. Presented by Satellite Beach Lions Club Pelican Beach Park Pavilion Satellite Beach, 321-917-5338

Cars Under the Stars

11 a.m. First and Third Thursdays Beginners welcome. Bring your own supplies. Melbourne Beach Library 324 Ocean Ave. Melbourne Beach 321-674-9986

Tri-Tip BBQ Fundraiser

Gentle Mat Yoga

10:45 a.m. Great for beginners $1. 10 - 11:30 a.m. Mats are provided. Wednesdays Viera Regional Community First class free. Freedom 7 Senior Center Center, 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd. 321-323-4928 Cocoa Beach, 321-783-9505

National Motorcycle Ride Day Viera East Farmers Market 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Woodside Park 1703 Crane Creek Blvd. East Viera. Contact unique webbconsulting@gmail.com

Fall Craft Fair

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Unique artisan booths perfect for holiday shopping. Free admission and parking Ascension Catholic Church Parrish Hall 2950 N. Harbor City Blvd. Melbourne

Viera’s Harvest Festival Scarecrow Stroll & Auction

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Join us for the annual fall Harvest Festival in Viera. This family-friendly event will have fun children's activities, traditional vendors and exhibitors, a pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving contest, music, food trucks and more. Viera Regional Park 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera, 321-255-4500

National Beautician’s Day

24th annual Louise Classic Golf Tournament

8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Fundraiser for the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation. $10,000 hole-in-one prize. Indian River Colony Club Golf Club, 1936 Freedom Drive Viera, 321-253-4430

Mah Jongg, American

Noon - 3:30 p.m. Greater Palm Bay Senior Center 1275 Culver Drive NE Palm Bay, 321-724-1338

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Be a golfer, sponsor, donor or diner at the sixth annual Child First Golf Tournament. Proceeds go directly to support GRG of Brevard programs to improve the well-being of Brevard's children and their relative caregivers. Turkey Creek Golf Club 1279 Admiralty Blvd. IRockledge, 321-631-7776

Melbourne Fall Art & Craft Show National Make a Dog’s Day

Oct. 23 & 24 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. 250+ booths of creativity Wickham Park 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne

National Mutt Day

2nd Duran Golf Club Trick- Halloween Tunnel of Terror 7 - 10 p.m. or-Teeing Event

6 - 9 p.m. Evening of fun trick or treating on our Par 3 course featuring 30 treat stations. Lots of candy, games and activities. Costumes Silver Sneakers are recommended and 11 a.m. - Noon encouraged for all ages. $6, non-members $8 Wickham Park Senior Center Duran Golf Club Par 3 Course 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne, 469-662-4176 7032 Stadium Parkway Viera, 321-504-7776

Oct. 29 to 31, $15 per car Tommy’s Express Car Wash 2800 Veterans Way Viera, 321-335-4075

Howl-O-Ween Petacular

1 - 4 p.m. Dress your pups for the Pet Costume Contest! Proceeds help pay medical care for our senior dogs. Cocoa Village Myrt Tharpe Square

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More local events Friday, Oct. 1

Satellite Beach Library Friends’ Book Sale Noon - 4 p.m. Book sale to support the library. Satellite Beach Public Library 751 Jamaica Blvd. Satellite Beach, 321-779-4004

Saturday, Oct. 9

6th annual Oyster & Fish Fry Fundraiser 3 - 7 p.m. The Field family hosted their own Oyster & Fish Fry gatherings in the 1890s on this same piece of property. This event will feature a full seafood menu, drinks, entertainment and a silent auction. Oysters provided by sponsor East Coast Shuckers and beer from Bugnutty Brewery. It will beneﬁt the Field Manor Foundation. Field Manor 750 Field Manor Drive Merritt Island, 321-848-0365

Saturday, Oct. 16

Central Florida Winds Concert 3 p.m. Night on Bald Mountain Concert piece for French horns, Dances with Wolves

321-242-1235

Gandalf, the Wizard — Puszta. Free admission. Titusville High School 150 Terrier Trail S., Titusville 321-405-2359

USSSA Space Coast Stadium, 5800 Stadium Parkway,Viera 321-863-9474

Furry Friends Adoption Festival 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Enjoy this free family day of fun at Micco Park while you look for your next best friend. There will be dogs and cats from diﬀerent agencies such as HALO, Brevard County Humane Society and the SPCA of Brevard. There will be food vendors, games and crafts. Micco Park, 9645 Riverview Drive, Micco, 772-663-8748

Art Gallery Cards with Ree 10 a.m. Join Ree Nathan in creating greeting cards, gifts or gift bags. Class is $10 for all instructions and materials. Titusville Public Library 2121 S. Hopkins Ave. Titusville, 321-961-2350

Sunday, Oct. 17

Space Coast Police K9 Competition 4 p.m. Police, military and professional working K9 teams compete on an obstacle course designed to showcase their incredible abilities and unique bonds between handler and K9. Donations to this event help support police K-9 programs and public safety community outreach throughout the Space Coast.

Thursday, Oct. 21

Saturday, Oct. 23

Martin Andersen Open House 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Arts and Crafts, raﬄes, 50/50 and baskets. Line dancers and tappers will entertain and demonstrate. Hot dog, chips and drink plate for $5 donation. Martin Andersen Senior Center 1025 S. Florida Ave. Rockledge, 321-631-7549 Great Tastes at Suntree 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Culinary fare from dozens of local restaurants and live entertainment. Proceeds raised from the event support local charities. Suntree Country Club

1 Country Club Drive, Suntree 321-626-9791

Wednesday, Oct. 27

Save Our History — Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation Fundraiser 6 - 8 p.m. The Cape Canaveral lighthouse is turning 152 years old. Celebrate it at the American Muscle Car Museum. The AMCM is a 123,000 squarefoot complex that houses more than 300 American muscle cars. There will be delicious food, beverages, wine, beer and live auctions. Attire is business casual. General admission tickets; and VIP tickets with early admission for a private tour with champagne. American Muscle Car Museum 3500 Sarno Road Melbourne, 321-307-2900

Saturday, Oct. 30

Sunday, Oct. 24

Sunday Jazz in the Park 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. “Swing Boutique” will perform a variety of styles and selections. Bring a chair and enjoy the show. The Avenue Central Park 2261 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-634-5390

No One Hungry 10 - 11:30 a.m. The center will be a satellite of the Julia Street No One Hungry Senior Pantry facility. A small bag of groceries will be distributed and other food items. North Brevard Senior Center 909 Lane Ave. Titusville, 321-268-2333

Spooky Magic Séance Show 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Costume competition, bonﬁre, dancing and come speak with your dead or alive relatives. Italian American Club 1471 Cypress Ave. Melbourne, 321-890-7754

Sunday, Oct. 31

Sunday Jazz in the Park 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. “Chief Cherry” will be performing a variety of styles and selections. Bring a chair and enjoy the show. The Avenue, Central Park 2261 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-634-5390 Visit our online event calendar at vieravoice.com

SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Jupiter’s wife 5 Simile center 8 Kid’s ammo 11 Pupil’s place 12 Wire fractions 14 Grassy field 15 Prohibits 16 Lahore language 17 Website addr. 18 Dens 20 Not in class 22 Agent’s take 23 Weight rebate 24 TV trophies 27 Morays 29 One -- -- time 30 Repair place (2 wds.) 34 Mythical beasts 37 Planet 38 Makes public 39 Areas 41 Cereal serving 43 Promise 44 Past and future 46 Column order 49 Mr. Lilly 50 Sports “zebras” 52 Mythical archer 54 -- Grande 55 Meat turner 56 Function 57 Fellows 58 Iced drink 59 Winter weather

DOWN 1 Triangular sail 2 Caspian Sea tributary 3 Ship of 1492 4 Become bone 5 Entertain 6 Army address 7 Tynan portrayer 8 More downcast 9 Swiss capital 10 Ocean tang 13 Not blatantly 19 Musical notes 21 Talk back 24 Paris thirst-quencher 25 Atlas abbr. 26 -- tai 27 Practically forever 28 Newspaper execs 30 Subzero comment 31 Sweetie-pie 32 Blast furnace input 33 “Sesame Street” channel 35 Crow’s cries 36 OPEC vessels 39 Chaotic place 40 Buyers 41 Contradict 42 -- rings 43 Panorama 44 Duration 45 Equinox mo. 47 Soldering tool 48 Nebr. neighbor 51 “-- upon this quiet life!” 53 Hem

Crossword solution, page 30

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Always be cautious when dealing with frauds and scams Each year, millions of elderly Americans fall victim to financial fraud or confidence schemes. Criminals gain their targets’ trust and might communicate directly via computer, phone, and mail. Seniors are targeted because they tend to be trusting and polite. They also usually have financial savings, own a home, and have good credit — all of which make them attractive to scammers. Additionally, seniors might be less inclined to report fraud because they are not sure or might be too embarrassed to do so. They might also be concerned that their relatives will lose confidence in their abilities to manage their financial affairs. Elder fraud is a growing problem with the elderly population increasing and seniors racking up more than $3 billion in financial losses annually. Common elder fraud schemes • Romance scam: Criminals pose as interested romantic partners on social media or dating websites to capitalize on their elderly victims’ desire to find companions. These imposters might convince their targets that they have common interests, run in similar social circles or have compatible values and life goals in an effort to forge an emotional connection. Once this connection has been established, the scammers might either: Claim they need money urgently to cover an emergency, deal with a family tragedy, take advantage of a business opportunity, recover from theft or a stolen identity or to travel to finally meet in person; or convince their victim to open a new bank account, wire stolen funds to it, and then have the victim forward those funds to another account, thereby involving their victim in bank fraud.

• Charity scams During times of crisis, scammers often try to take advantage of the goodwill and generosity of others by creating sham charitable organizations and pocketing any donations. Before donating, determine whether an organization is registered to solicit in Florida at FDACS.gov and check its reviews on CharityNavigator.org. • Unsolicited calls, texts, and emails The pandemic has given rise to new scams received via unsolicited messages. Upon receipt of a robocall, hang up. Ignore recordings that say that pressing a button will connect the call recipient to an operator or will remove the recipient from the robocall list. Pressing a button on the phone will likely lead to more robocalls. Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone making unsolicited contact. Do not click links in unsolicited text messages or emails, as doing so might download malware onto the device. • Stimulus payments and nursing homes: The Attorney General’s Office received reports that nursing homes and assisted living facilities were seizing Economic Impact Payments of residents, particularly those receiving care through Medicaid. These payments are classified as tax credits, not as a federal benefit, and are allocated to the individual payees named on the checks, not the facilities caring for them. Anyone who encounters a stimulus payment scam, or any other type of COVID-19 fraud, should contact the Florida Attorney

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General’s Office at 1-866-9-NOthree estimates in writing. SCAM. • Protect yourself: Resist the pressure • Tech support scam: Criminals pose to act quickly. Scammers create a as technical support representatives sense of urgency to produce fear and and offer to fix non-existent computer lure victims into immediate action. issues. The scammers then gain Call the police immediately if you remote access to victims’ devices and feel there is a danger to yourself or a sensitive information. loved one. • Grandparent scam: Criminals • Be cautious of unsolicited phone pose as a relative — usually a child calls, mailings, and door-to-door or grandchild — claiming to be in services offers. immediate financial need. Even if • Never give or send any personally you think you have verified the story, identifiable information, money, pause for a moment before thinking jewelry, gift cards, checks or wire about sending money. Once the information to unverified people or scammer gets the money, it’s gone. businesses. • Government impersonation scam: • Disconnect from the internet and Criminals pose as government shut down your device if you see a employees and threaten to arrest or pop-up message or locked screen. prosecute victims unless they agree Perpetrators regularly use pop-ups to provide funds or other payments. to spread malicious software. Enable Government agencies won’t call, pop-up blockers to avoid accidentally email, or text you and ask for money clicking on a pop-up. or personal information. Only a • Take precautions to protect your scammer will do that. identity if a criminal gains access to • Sweepstakes/charity/lottery your device or account. Immediately scam: Criminals claim to work for contact your financial institutions to legitimate charitable organizations to monitor your accounts and personal gain victims’ trust. Or they claim their information for suspicious activity. targets have won a foreign lottery or How to report sweepstake, which they can collect Report suspected fraudulent activity for a fee. If someone says you have to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office or to pay to claim a prize, it is likely a your local law enforcement agency if you scam. live within a municipality. • Home repair scam: Criminals Reporting is vital. Only one-third appear in person and charge of people who are victims report them. homeowners in advance for home Reporting fraud keeps scammers from improvement services that they never making someone else a victim. SL provide. Instead of deciding to Crossword Solution Crossword on page 28 do business with someone who knocks on your door, get at least

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South Florida, West Florida, Central Florida, and Atlantic Coast. CarePlus is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in CarePlus depends on contract renewal. CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. complies with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status, or religion in their programs and activities, including in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, their programs and activities. Any inquiries regarding CarePlus’ non-discrimination policies and/or to file a complaint, also known as a grievance, please contact Member Services at 1-800-794-5907 (TTY: 711). From October 1 - March 31, we are open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. From April 1 - September 30, we are open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may always leave a voicemail after hours, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and we will return your call within one business day. Español (Spanish): Esta información está disponible de forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Favor de llamar a Servicios para Afiliados al número que aparece anteriormente. Kreyòl Ayisyen (French Creole): Enfòmasyon sa a disponib gratis nan lòt lang. Tanpri rele nimewo Sèvis pou Manm nou yo ki nan lis anwo an. H1019_MKBNDMFNPRReminderAEP2022_M

SENIOR LIFE • OCTOBER 2021

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