Senior Life, May 2023

Volume 25, Issue 12 Senior Life of Florida 7350 Shoppes Drive, Suite 102 Viera, FL 32940 321-242-1235

In May, we honor mothers and pay tribute to fallen troops

Mothers are on duty 24/7 and 365 days of the year. Any idea how much of a salary that should demand?

The answer to this and other questions about mothers are in a Mother’s Day quiz in this edition of Senior Life

How will you celebrate your mother this Mother’s Day?

We have a story that will tell of the unique relationship between a biological mother, an adopted mother and the woman they now both call daughter.

On May 29, we remember and honor those troops who made the ultimate sacrifice in all of America’s wars. We will tell you about some of the Memorial Day events throughout the county.

A local veteran is paying tribute to all those who died while serving in the wars of terror since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Rick Beech, of Satellite Beach, has a truck painted with patriotic symbols and colors. The truck is covered in the signatures of veterans from across the nation. It will head to a museum later this year where it will become a permanent display. I saw this truck a few years ago and we told you about it then, when it was just starting to collect signatures painted all over the vehicle.

Patrick Space Force Base recently broke ground for a monument that will honor fallen airmen who were stationed at the base.

Florida has more golf courses than any other state and Brevard County certainly has its share of courses. Our Senior Life story on the game will tell you how enthusiastic players are about golf, which most can play well into their 80s and even 90s. It is a sport for all ages. It is another installment in our series, Games People Play. In this edition we also include bowling, another popular game that draws children to retirees and professionals.

Travel is another series we have been running for a few months. I wanted to see us give you options for mostly day trips and nearby overnight or weekend jaunts. In this edition of Senior Life, we bring you Howie-in-the-Hills mansion. If you have not heard of Howie-in-the Hills, it is a Lake County town of 1,200 residents about 85 to 90 miles from Melbourne.

These stories are only a sampling of what you can read in this month’s Senior Life. In addition to these, we bring you stories on health and wellness, the Indian River Lagoon, efforts by a group to keep Pineda Causeway clean so the debris does not go into the waterway and more.

Let us continue to stay in touch. We listen to your feedback and suggestions.

R. Norman Moody norm@myseniorlife.com

Adoption meets needs all around — three

BY FLORA REIGADA

Three Titusville women recently got together for a fun day of shopping, lunch and laughter.

While this may not seem remarkable on the surface, it is when we consider the circumstances that brought Sandra Stanford, Christy Jordan Logan and AnnaBeth Stanford-Corley together.

“My husband David and I were trying to conceive, but without success,” Stanford said. “I had two miscarriages.”

At the time, Stanford was the director of the Alpha Pregnancy Center in Titusville. She learned a teenager she knew was coming for help.

The 16-year-old teenager was Logan.

“I had no intention of giving my baby up for adoption. But when I was four months pregnant, I realized I couldn’t give her the care she needed,” Logan said. “I prayed God would show me who would adopt her. When I heard Sandra and David were choosing adoption, I knew it was meant to be.”

Stanford had been doing her own praying.

“I always had a heart for adoption because my dad became orphaned at 15,” she said.

She still cries when she recalls the life-changing phone call.

“You and Dave meet everything on my list for adoptive parents,” Logan said. “Would you consider adopting my baby?”

Those qualities included sharing Logan’s Christian faith, the baby having a stay-at-home mom and a dad able to support the family. Logan also requested future updates on the child.

Stanford agreed through her tears.

The decision was made for open

An open adoption allowed AnnaBeth Stanford-Corley, to connect with her birth mother, Christy Jordan Logan.

adoptive family when the time was right.

Another phone call came March 4, when Anna Beth Stanford-Corley was born.

Following a dedication service on March 7, the new parents took their daughter home.

A biological son, Jonathan Stanford, has since completed the family.

Now 33 years old with a family of her own Stanford-Corley feels blessed.

“God knew what family was supposed to raise me, but He also knew I needed a relationship with my birth family. Today, we celebrate that we are all family and there for one another,” she said.

“I am blessed with an extended family I never thought possible,” Logan said.

This extends to the workplace, where Logan is Stanford’s office manager at the Hearts Matter Counseling Center in Titusville, where Stanford is the owner and a counselor.

She recalled the adoption process.

“The emotions were both sorrow and joy.

one family

By Attorney

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Natalie Lin Photography Sandra Stanford, center, celebrates her birthday with her biological son Jonathan Stanford and adopted daughter, AnnaBeth Stanford-Corley

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Angela June Photography

PLAY Games

Golf

BY ERNIE DORLING

The United States has more golf courses than any other country in the world, with more than 16,000 courses representing about 42% of the courses worldwide. And Florida has more courses than any other state in the union, possibly because Florida has an abundance of senior citizens with free time and disposable income. Oh yeah, Florida also has an abundance of sunshine.

On a recent afternoon, David Tomczak spoke enthusiastically about the game of golf. Tomczak, who started his career in golf as an assistant pro at the age of 20, recently retired as the general manager of the Duran Golf Club.

“I love the game,” he said. “Every round is a journey. However, people should understand that no matter who you are, you will never be perfect at it.”

Tomczak is a Professional Golf Association (PGA) professional who plays golf three days a week.

“Weekend and amateur golfers should take a few lessons,” He said. “Think of it as an investment in your game that will pay you dividends for years to come. Find someone you can connect with to help you.”

Most golfers would know that Tomczak is right: No matter how badly you play, it is always possible to get worse. There are few sports, if any, where lessons with a one-on-one instructor are the best way to learn the game.

Alex Basso, 69, of Viera, plays golf twice a week. “My goal is to always break 90,” he said.

Basso’s favorite group to play in is on Friday mornings at Patrick Space Force Base. “We’re called the Militia,” he said. “That’s because the majority of us are former military and/ or retired government employees. However, that is not a requirement to play with us.”

John Gowing, who runs the Militia league with the precision of the planners of Operation Overlord involving the D-Day invasion, said, “The only real requirement to join our Friday league is access to the base. You can contact the pro shop and get an application for a golf pass. We have about 40 members, and while our target audience is seniors who are prior military or retired government employees, everyone is welcome.”

Gowing has been playing golf for 45 years.

“What I love about the game,” he said, “is that no matter how many times you play it, the course is always different. The challenge is

you laugh

continuous.”

John Sherry, 81, of Suntree, has been playing golf on and off for 50 years and also plays in the Friday Militia group. “I love the game because it keeps me young and, somehow, provides a calming, relaxing environment,” Sherry said. “However, what disturbs me the most about the game is others who might be having a bad day doing things to interfere with mine.”

Sherry’s sentiments were echoed years ago by a very wise man and former PGA professional who said, “I was told by my father years ago, that no matter how poorly I was playing, I had no right to ruin anyone else’s round of golf.”

“That’s another thing about golf,” Tomczak said, “It doesn’t build character, it defines it. You can learn a lot about people on the golf course, including how they deal with adversity.”

There is no dearth of golf

courses in Brevard County. Playing opportunities abound. Area golf clubs host numerous men’s and women’s leagues and golf groups. For those couples who want to play together or simply work on their short game, the par 3 course at Duran is the perfect solution. Duran hosts a Friday night couples league where everyone is welcome.

You can play golf well into your 90s if you take reasonable care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Clint Eastwood, when asked about golf and aging, said, “I wake up every morning and don’t let the old man in. If you think you’re old, if you talk about it enough, you will be.”

Maybe it’s time for a lot of people to throttle back on talks about all medical ailments and do what professional golfer Nick Price suggested about playing golf: “Spend more time with the people who make you laugh, and you’ll always have something to look forward to.” SL

challenging and enjoyable with people who make

SENIOR LIFE Ernie Dorling

David Tomczak, left, retired general manager of Duran Golf Course, loves to encourage people to play golf. Alex Basso, John Gowing and John Sherry play golf with the Militia league at Patrick Space Force Base. Florida has the most golf courses in the United States.

Three strikes and you’re in — bowling brings fun, social interaction

BY ERNIE DORLING

There’s a story about the origins of bowling that says that historical evidence has been discovered claiming that William Tell and his family were avid bowlers (known as lawn bowling at the time). However, all league records were unfortunately lost to antiquity. Thus, we’ll never know for whom the Tells bowled.

When Sue Basso, president of the Viera Bridgewater bowling league, approaches the lane, 9-pound bowling ball in hand, she tries not to breathe. She wants her body to perform a series of complex movements that her muscles themselves have memorized. What she really wants is to become machine like, releasing the ball so that it will glide smoothly across the oiled wooden planks in an effort to destroy the 10 pins in front of her into nothingness. And when all 10 pins scatter for a strike, she pumps her fist in triumphant glee.

Bowling

sport. “I’m working on it,” Crincoli said. “But at the end of the day, this is about the social aspect that bowling brings with it. I’m meeting a lot of wonderful people who are my new neighbors.”

Mike Demole, the manager of the Bowlero lanes in Melbourne, has been involved in bowling for 50 years. “I became addicted to it since I was a child,” Demole said. “I love the game for a lot of reasons. One, anyone can do it, as it’s based on your handicap. The game cuts across socio and economic ties and provides an opportunity to meet people from every walk of life. It’s also a great family sport.”

There are many reasons to take

up bowling if you haven’t already. In addition to the social benefits, bowling can boost your physical and emotional health. Bowling has been proven to burn calories, build muscle and improve hand and eye coordination. However, one of the most important aspects of bowling is the social interaction it brings with it. Walk into Bowlero lanes most anytime and you’ll see dozens of people getting along and having fun. Everyone can benefit from a bit more relaxed fun.

For more information about joining a league, or simply participating in some open bowling, call Demole at Bowlero Lanes at 321-242-2695.

In the meantime, let the pins fall where they may. SL

“I’ve been bowling on and off since I was 9 years old,” Basso said. “I’ve lived all over the world and have bowled most everywhere I’ve lived, including in India, where I bowled my highest game ever, a 273.”

Basso bowls weekly in the league with her husband Alex and about 50 other people from the Bridgewater development. “When I was younger, I was very competitive,” Basso added.

“I’m still competitive, but now it’s far more about socializing and meeting and making new friends.”

That same sentiment is echoed by her team partner, Sue Parks, who, in just a little more than a year of bowling, has posted a 131 average. “I love bowling,” Parks said. “The social aspect of it is what I love the most. People are meeting new people and making new friends all the time.”

Sue Crincoli, who recently moved to the Bridgewater development from Manalapan, New Jersey, has been bowling since she was 11, and is working to get her average back up to about 130 after a long layoff from the

SENIOR LIFE Ernie Dorling

SENIOR LIFE Ernie Dorling

Sue Crincoli, left, and Sue Basso burn calories and build

Space Coast prepares for busy Memorial Day observances

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

The COVID significantly hobbled Brevard’s Memorial Day observances, but that is in the past as the county gears up for a slate of activities that surpass pre-pandemic levels.

“This is the biggest number of Memorial Day events I have seen in 10 years,” said Donn Weaver of the Veterans Memorial Center in Merritt Island.

Memorial Day was created to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. “Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them,” President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said.

Well before the designated holiday, Brevard will be honoring heroes, with Friday, May 26, officially beginning observances with the Ride for Freedom and Flame of Honor Ceremony at the Veterans Memorial Center Plaza at 5 p.m. It is the first day of the three-day Rolling Thunder Florida, a massive motorcycle rally that takes off at 4 p.m. from Fishlips at Port Canaveral and ends at the Veterans Center, where the Global War on Terror Moving Walls will be on display and where the Gold Star Family and MIA/POW Remembrance Torch March is scheduled at the Memorial Plaza.

From 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on May 27, Space Coast Harley Davidson in Titusville will host the Ride for

Freedom Festival. Sponsored by all seven Rolling Thunder chapters in Florida, the event features food, drinks, music and more.

One of the biggest motorcycle events in the state is slated for the third day, when the Motorcycle Ride for Freedom kicks off from the Merritt Square parking lot adjacent to the Veterans Center at 10 a.m.

“We’re expecting 2,000 motorcycles for the 15 to 17 mile route,” Weaver said.

Weaver will have a busy day on Memorial Day, given that he plans to attend three major events that day, beginning with the 9:30 a.m.

Memorial Day Remembrance at the Veterans Center. Retired Lt. Col. Tim Thomas, who helped retrieve the remains of American soldiers lost in Korea and Vietnam, is among the guest speakers.

At 11 a.m., Cape Canaveral National Cemetery in Scottsmoor will host a Memorial Day ceremony that includes a folded flag ceremony by the Marine Corps League.

Riverfront Park in Cocoa Village rounds out major events that day with a short parade and ceremony at 4 p.m.

Palm Bay, Melbourne and Titusville are also hosting Memorial Day events, as are several cemeteries,

continuing a tradition that began May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, New York, when the community gathered May 5 to honor the dead of the Civil War.

Two years later, General John Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic proclaimed May 30 as the day to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers. After World War I, the holiday expanded to honor all those who had died in all American wars. It was not until 1971 that the day was declared a national holiday.

For more details, visit veteransmemorialcenter.org or call 321-453-1776. SL

Pineda Waterway Warriors prevent waste from polluting the IRL

BY LINDA JUMP

Who says one person can’t make a difference?

Six years ago, Sharon Noll began picking up trash on the Pineda Causeway. Now dozens join her bimonthly effort to keep garbage out of the Indian River Lagoon and Atlantic Ocean.

“My mother came to live with me and she commented about all the trash on the causeway. So out of love for her and as a Christian to be a caretaker, I picked up trash by myself from 2016 until 2020. I bought the supplies and took what I collected to the landfill in my husband’s truck.”

Sandra Leone of Satellite Beach moved to Brevard County in 2020 and kept seeing Noll alone on State Route 404 picking up trash. “One day I stopped and gave her my telephone

number and said I’d join her. It just felt right.”

The Florida Department of Transportation tracked down Noll and invited her to officially adopt the causeway for cleanup. Last August, four women formed the non profit agency Pineda Waterway Warriors that meets at 8 a.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays at the South Tropical Trail underpass. Last year alone, 12 tons of trash was collected on the eight-mile stretch.

“It’s important to remove garbage before it falls into the Lagoon and

sinks to become microparticles and is toxic,” Leone said.

The agency works with several municipal and environmental groups to educate the public about damage to the ecosystem such as water quality, seagrass destruction, fish kills and habitat loss that spreads to the ocean. “We are making a difference. There are plenty of beach cleanups, but most of the trash is in the Lagoon and then gets to the ocean,” said volunteer Sherill Spaccio of Indian Harbor Beach.

More than 700 pounds of garbage

is collected monthly. Volunteers receive sunscreen, bug spray, a yellow vest, bucket, trash bags, gloves and a metal pickup tool. They must wear closed-toed shoes, never cross the causeway and agree not to talk about controversial subjects, Noll said. Fundraisers and sponsors are needed.

Pallets and brush are illegally burned, releasing toxins, in three

PINEDA WATERWAY

Continued on page 12

SENIOR LIFE Elaine Moody

Brevard Veterans Memorial Center is expected to draw a large crowd as it did last year for its Memorial Day ceremony.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Sharon Noll, left, the founder of the Pineda Waterway Warriors, greets first-time volunteers Ethan Smith, 14, and Evelyn Orozco of Melbourne during a Saturday morning cleanup of the Pineda Causeway. Sandra Leone, right, the director of development, is handing out supplies. Smith, an eighth-grade student at Edgewood Junior/Senior High School, said he was earning volunteer hours required for graduation.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump Sherill Spaccio helps the Pineda Warriors pick up trash. Cleanups are held at 8 a.m. the second and fourth Saturdays. People meet at the South Tropical Trail underpass.

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How much do you know about Mother’s Day?

BY RANDAL C. HILL

In 1870, social activist and poet Julia Ward Howe created the Mother’s Day Proclamation, in which she envisioned mothers everywhere protesting the concept of war.

Since then, Howe’s original idea has morphed into an American holiday to honor the goodness of

moms everywhere. How much do you know about this May tradition? Try your hand at this multiple-choice quiz.

1. What is a little-known fact about Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day?

a She was never a mother herself

b She intensely disliked her mother

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c She hated the idea of giving gifts on Mother’s Day

d She initially wanted to establish Father’s Day

2. Mother’s Day was made an official holiday by President

a Teddy Roosevelt

b Woodrow Wilson

c Warren G. Harding

d Calvin Coolidge

3. Mother’s Day is typically the busiest day of the year for

a movie theaters

b florists

c candy stores

d restaurants

4. Mothers are on duty 24/7 and 365 days a year. Salary.com says that, in theory, a mother’s work should earn her an annual salary of

a $47,927

b $88,021

c $126,776

d $162,581

5. What percentage of mothers are raising children without a spouse or partner?

a 12%

b 18%

c 24%

d 29%

6. This state is called “The Mother of Presidents,” as eight chief executives have come from here.

a Virginia

time machine in May...

May 5, 1862

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated to remember the Battle of Puebla. Mexican troops led by General Ignacio Zaragoza defeat Napoleon III’s French forces

May 5, 1961

Piloting the spacecraft Freedom 7 in a 15-minute, 28-second flight, Alan Shepard becomes the first American in space. The flight occurs 23 days after the Russians launch the first human, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, in a competition dubbed the Space Race.

May 6, 1937

The Hindenburg, a German airship, erupts in flames over Lakehurst, New Jersey. The airship carries 97 passengers and crew; 36 people are killed. This halts commercial airship travel.

May 20, 1873

b Ohio

c Illinois

d Massachusetts

7. In the first year of a baby’s life, how many diapers will the average mother change?

a 1,400

b 1,850

c 2,000

d 2,200

8. What Beatles song was inspired by a Paul McCartney dream about his late mother?

a “In My Life”

b “Let It Be”

c “Something”

d “The Long and Winding Road”

9. The most popular Mother’s Day gift is

a a card

b flowers

c chocolates

d jewelry

10. What famous musician was born to an unwed teenage mother and raised believing his older sister was his mother and his grandparents his parents?

a John Lennon

b Barry Manilow

c Eric Clapton

d Bruce Springsteen VV

Levi Strauss, a San Francisco businessman, and Jacob Davis, a Reno, Nevada tailor, officially create the blue jean, after receiving a patent to reinforce men’s work pants with metal rivets.

The Soviet Union halts the Berlin blockade, which begins June 24, 1948. American and British planes fly in food, coal and medical supplies; candy is tossed to children, receiving the nickname candy bombers.

May 20,1932

Amelia Earhart departs Newfoundland, Canada and lands her airplane near Londonderry, Ireland, a 2,026-mile flight flown in 13 hours. She becomes the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

May 27,1937

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco celebrates its grand opening with 200,000 people strolling across it.

Source: Shutterstock

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Brevard Veterans News

Brevard never fails to support veterans, military causes

Veterans can count on so many individuals, companies and organizations in Brevard County. I say this because I have been seeing it firsthand during my many years of writing about veterans on the Space Coast.

The Marine Corps League was holding its National Convention earlier this year in Daytona Beach when it ran into a glitch. The primary sponsor could not provide some necessary supplies, so BAC stepped in to help.

That help came on short notice after Vincent Howard, the past commander of Marine Corps League Detachment 513 in Brevard County, approached his employer, BAC, for help to fill the need.

BAC, which already has strong ties to the military because of its work with the Federal AbilityOne contracts, assembled a team that worked to secure the supplies, allowing the convention to go on as planned.

This is the kind of cooperation and support for the military and veterans in Brevard County that leads me to think

that this kind of relationship is the best. The Space Coast truly supports the troops.

The AbilityOne program network provides employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities.

The Marine Corps State Commandant of the Department of Florida, retired Lt. Col. Scott Westervelt, later recognized BAC and Howard for the generous support for the 2022 Marine Corps League National Convention, presenting the organization with a certificate.

This is just one or many instances of veterans’ support playing out all the time in Brevard County. There is a lot

more.

I attended a recent AVET Project event celebrating National Military Child Month. I was expecting a few people to attend the event at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. Not so. It was packed. Each table had a card recognizing the sponsors of the event. The celebration included a lot of activities, games, prizes and food for the military children and their families.

When events like Memorial Day or Veterans Day ceremonies are held at the Brevard Veterans Center, area residents show up to support and honor veterans. SL

Ship to shore, veteran brings art to life through paintings

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

Tom Busby has documented life realistically as well as in the abstract in a journey that has taken him from the deck of the legendary aircraft carrier Forrestal to the Eau Gallie Arts District. That’s where in April, Fifth Avenue Art Gallery hosted a retrospective of the artist’s colorful acrylic paintings.

Photography was the first passion for the Army brat who joined the Navy because he wanted to be on a boat. He began life in Germany, where he graduated from high school and studied art before military service.

“I was the artsy type and had gotten introduced to photography by a friend, and when I went into the service I had my choice, so I became a photographer’s mate,” he said.

Serving aboard the Forrestal provided Busby with a never-ending supply of subject matter during the six or so months at sea of each assignment.

“I was able to go everywhere to document life on the ship,” he said.

For a young photographer, the deck held special appeal. Busby admits he spent so much time there that the roar of the jet engines later impacted his hearing.

“It was like living at an airport,” he said.

While the work primarily involved chronicling the day-to-day life on the massive ship, it also involved recording the inevitable, tragic accidents that are part of life aboard a fighting ship.

“We would have two or three crashes every cruise and lose about four to seven crew members,” Busby said.

From 1980 until 1985, Busby’s camera captured life at sea. Newly married, he then opted out of the Navy

for a more land-bound career, trying the life of a civilian photographer before pivoting to computer technology.

“I decided it was not easy to support a family on a photographer’s salary,” he said.

Busby also segued into participating in street art festivals and gallery art shows, as his work transitioned from photography to acrylics.

The universe of his boldly drawn cartoons, as he calls his semi-abstract compositions, is populated with spacemen, dinosaurs and, in particular,

an endearingly naughty-looking little dog.

“I call him the Devil Dog,” because he is a bad dog who wants to be good,” explained Busby.

While at first glance his style is reminiscent of outsider art, a closer look reveals the work of a mature artist who connects with viewers through his upbeat compositions.

“Tom’s work definitely matches his personality, original and quirky, and always makes me smile,” said Renee Decator, a spokesperson for Fifth Avenue Art Gallery. SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Tom Busby Tom Busby went from photography to producing colorful acrylic paintings.

Proceeds from military tribute truck to help injured veterans

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

The creative mind is a wondrous thing. A case in point is Rick Beech, who from an abandoned truck created a magnificent celebration of America’s heroes, one that also will raise funds to help military families.

After retiring from the Air Force and subsequently spending more than a quarter of a century in diplomatic missions, Beech wanted to honor the memory of fallen soldiers he had met while working as a civilian contractor in Afghanistan. The idea of a moving tribute in the shape of a truck took shape.

In 2007, Beech found a 1957 Chevy truck rusting away at a North Carolina goat farm. He purchased and trailered it home to his Satellite Beach garage, where work began.

“We completely restored it,” said Beech, who was helped in the multiyear project by his son.

Like an ugly duckling transforming into a beautiful swan, the old truck shed the rust and dirt of years, emerging resplendent with a custom paint job, red-white-and-blue re-upholstered seats and medallions representing branches of the Armed Forces. The hood enjoyed a metamorphosis with the patriotic artwork of a Palm Bay airbrush artist.

“Everything was done locally, because I also wanted to honor the many members of the military we have in the county,” Beech said.

Restoring the truck was preparation for a two-month, 10,000-mile tour of 38 military installations where, one by

one, soldiers from the Korean War to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom signed the blue vehicle with alternating lines of red and white oil-based markers. A special glazing will safeguard the signatures, also enhancing them with a 3-D effect. On the bed of the truck are now 7,030 miniature flags, each one representing a hero. Coins minted locally at the Highland Mint honor soldiers who, like Lt. Todd Weaver, gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country while fighting

in Afghanistan.

“Thanks to Rick, the fallen will not be forgotten,” Todd’s father, Donn Weaver, said.

The old truck was reborn to tell the story of heroes and, like the soldier it honors, has served admirably as it raised awareness at the many special events Beech trailered it to.

“Every time in every venue his display enthralls all who attend,” Weaver said.

There is no more room for signatures, signaling the completion of the project. The Chevy continues doing the circuit of special events until

next year, when it will be auctioned, with proceeds helping the Travis Mills Foundation, which assists post911 veterans who have been injured in active duty or as a result of their service to the nations. Retired Staff Sgt. Mills is one of only five quadruple amputees from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to survive.

The unique project reflects the dedication of the man who created it.

“Having known Rick’s passion and seen the project expand and improve over seven years, his patriotism and honor are topped by few in our county,” Weaver said. SL

“Everything was done locally, because I also wanted to honor the many members of the military we have in the county.”

—Rick Beech

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Rick Beech Rick Beech restored a 1957 Chevy truck to make it the ultimate patriotic vehicle.

Memorial becomes reality with help of Viera Builders

SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE

Since 1947, the mission of long-range detection has been the responsibility of what is now known as the Air Force Technical Applications Center. During the course of those 75 years, 81 airmen — civilian and military — have died while in active government service.

When AFTAC headquarters was moved to a new building in 2014, staff realized that plaques with the names of the fallen service members were antiquated.

AFTAC’s former historian, Dr. James “Mike” Young, decided it was time to find a solution to the situation. He worked closely with AFTAC alumni to see what could be done to appropriately recognize the fallen members of the Department of Defense’s sole nuclear treaty monitoring organization. Through a series of meetings, years of research, and the drive to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, the AFTAC Memorial Corporation was founded.

The corporation, a nonprofit organization, became an official entity in January 2018. Five former AFTAC employees formed the initial cadre of officers: Lou Seiler, president; Jim Whidden, director; Young, director; David Charitat, secretary; and Arlin Massey, treasurer. Shortly after their initial meetings, another former AFTAC alumnus, Mark Bitter, joined the board.

Seiler and other members of the board approached Viera Builders for an estimate on a concrete pad for the memorial. After some discussion, the company decided to donate the entire pad, including labor and materials toward the construction of the monument.

Viera Builders became the corporation’s first Platinum Donor. The memorial consists of a

As ground is broken for a new memorial at the Air Force

leaders symbolically toss shoveled earth where the memorial will be

once worked at the nuclear treaty monitoring center. Pictured are:

Finlayson, AFTAC commander; Todd Pokrywa, The Viera Company president;

vice commander; and Nick Crowe, Viera Builders executive vice president.

15-foot square concrete pad to hold two granite wall segments that will display the names of the fallen, along with a granite pedestal and two stone benches. The brick walkway will lead from AFTAC’s flagpole to the pad.

“In a perfect world, and if additional funding becomes available, we hope to install a

lithium-ion sculpture made of brushed steel that we will mount to the granite pedestal,” Seiler said. “But for now, we’re very pleased with how the memorial is coming along.”

The corporation and its donors are anticipating a completion date of early June.

Anyone interested in having a brick inscribed should go to donate. brickmarkers.com/aftacmc. SL

Congrats

fourth time volunteering. “What we need are more cleanup helpers and less people throwing away their trash.” PINEDA

Continued from page 6

large sites. “We cleaned up one area, and picked up 1,100 pallet nails — 92 pounds worth,” Leone said. The group has also found clothing, computer monitors, boat parts, weapons and ammunition (the sheriff’s office is notified) and animal carcasses.

SENIOR

recycling coordinator, brings a bucket of trash from a wooded section under the causeway. He said he often joins the Pineda Waterway Warriors for Saturday cleanups. “It’s hard to find harder-core volunteers,” he said.

Two county Rotary clubs sent volunteers in February, and Matt Margot, president of Indialantic Rotary, said his group is working with Florida DOT to adopt the Eau Gallie Causeway for cleanup. The Zonta Club adopted the Melbourne Causeway. “We try to improve our community, and the environment is an area of concern,” he said. SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Matthew S. Jurgens, U.S. Air Force

Technical Applications Center at Patrick Space Force Base,

erected to honor fallen Airmen and civilians who

Lou Seiler, AFTAC Memorial Corp.; Col. James A.

Col. Anthony Graham, SLD 45

LIFE Linda Jump Kevin Smith, Brevard’s

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump Paul Sweatman of Indialantic picks up scraps of paper in a wooded area next to the Indian River Lagoon. It was his

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UPCOMING EVENTS

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Ask the Doctor Lunch-N-Learn

Tuesday, June 13, 11:30-1 Topic: “Understanding GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)”

by Dr. Emanuela Biban, MD and Dr. Roderick T. Dippel, MD

What’s New in Viera? Presented by The Viera Company

Monday, July 17 at 10am. Viera is exploding! Come out and see what’s next.

Heritage Isle Health Fair

Thursday, August 24th 1pm-3pm: A comprehensive afternoon full of One Senior Place Businesses & health related services- at Heritage Isle. Must RSVP to attend by calling One Senior Place 321-339-0551. Limited availability to Non-Heritage Isle Residents.

Every Day is Veteran’s Day!

September 2023. Sponsored by the One Senior Place Family of Senior-Focused Businesses. Details coming soon!

Passion for wood saves ecosystems, environment

BY NANETTE HEBDIGE

There is something so meaningful about turning reusable materials into pieces of art. But, when old wood is recycled it creates a bigger impact on the environment.

That’s what Lenard Kensey and Sean Kostelnik — who met early 2022 at the Melbourne Makerspace and were immediately intrigued by each other’s vision — are doing at Wood River Studio. Their partnership has turned into an organic venture.

“Wood River came about after many discussions of two guys connecting and having the same goal, which is way bigger than creating a piece of furniture,” said Kensey, who is originally from rural Pennsylvania. “With everyone turning to recyclable materials, the greater picture for us is the impact we can have on preserving ecosystems with sustainability even on a small scale.”

Kensey has been called a serial entrepreneur, master craftsman and Einstein inventor throughout his career. Most of all, he has an artist’s eye to create unusual and craft beautiful things.

“I’m more like Alfred the butler in Batman, jack-of-all-trades, and I let Sean be the spokesperson.”

Their materials are dredged from intracoastal waterways, the Indian River and from landfills, thus avoiding the depletion of natural resources. Wood River also acquires materials from Costa Rica, which is one of the hardest countries to obtain export permits for salvaged woods.

“I’ve always been passionate about environmental issues and how it affects our communities, which is symbiotic with the wellbeing of humanity,” said Kostelnik, a transplant from Ohio. “Even though we’re small, our goal is to create public awareness as a whole.”

Kostelnik’s inherent love of nature was nurtured due to a childhood spent in Ohio’s Forest Hill. He also comes from a long line of wood mastercraftsmen, where his great-grandfather, grandfather and father passed their skills down to him.

“During my childhood, my dad and granddad taught me how to make things with my hands, but above all they showed me to respect nature. I would spend hours deep in the forest surrounded by giant oak trees, thinking and reflecting,” Kostelnik said.

only cut down if it’s dead or needs to be relocated to prevent an impact on farming fields or forestation,” Kostelnik said.

Both Kensey and Kostelnik are also involved in philanthropy, wanting to give back to the community. Kostelnik is board chairman at the Brevard Family Partnership Foundation, where a percentage of Wood River proceeds assist the organization.

Acquiring materials from Costa Rica is quite challenging as it’s the strictest country for tree exportation, where extreme ecological consideration and sustainability are given to reforestation, according to reports. In the 1940s, almost 75% of trees were cut down.

“We’ve partnered with tree extraction facilities which abide by the strict laws of Costa Rica, as every part of a tree is reused, even the sawdust. Every tree has government tags and it’s

As part of Wood River’s vision, they’re working to create woodworking and apprenticeship programs to provide internships for graduating students so they learn how to create pieces from recycled materials.

“Change has to start at grass roots levels to shift the paradigm for everyone to be more mindful. We all have to lead by example and engagement —we owe that much to our planet and society,” Kostelnik said.

For more information, go to woodriverstudio.com SL

SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress

Lenard Kensey, left, and Sean Kostelnik hold a finished table top crafted from exotic wood.

SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress

Lenard Kensey uses state-of-the-art equipment at Wood River Studio.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Sean Kostelnik

Sean Kostelnik acquires wood from Costa Rica, where every log has to have a government tag.

“During my childhood, my dad and granddad taught me how to make things with my hands, but above all they showed me to respect nature.”

—Sean Kostelnik

Breathing exercises — making more room for oxygen can improve health HEALTH & WELLNESS

BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER

Problems breathing can affect quality of life, especially when walking. But, it can get better.

“Typically, when a person has shortness of breath, they consult with their doctor first and if they don’t already have a pulmonologist specializing in breathing and lung disorders, they should get one,” said Mathew Kronman, a physical therapist who is director of Florida Therapy Center of Melbourne. “The pulmonologist would diagnose conditions of shortness of breath and refer the patient to a pulmonary rehabilitation associate or help with medications for breathing.”

Breathing exercises are an enormous help.

“Diaphragmatic breathing or belly breathing helps you to breathe more efficiently,” said Bonnie McClelland, a certified clinical exercise physiologist with Rockledge Regional Medical Center. “You need to get the body well oxygenated.

“Belly breathing helps you to breathe more efficiently. A lot of people hunch up their shoulders when they breathe, so relax shoulders and use the belly or diaphragmatic method instead of shoulders. Combine that with pursed lip breathing that just means breathe in through the nose and out pursed lips. Breathe out twice as long as you breathe

in. It is commonly explained as ‘smell the roses and blow out the candle.’ That helps with lung disease and helps you to get rid of carbon dioxide, making more room for oxygen to breathe in,” McClelland said.

“If walking at a slow pace, use your feet to time yourself in breathing,” McClelland said. “Counting so many steps to breathe in, so many to breathe out. This helps anybody with a breathing disorder.”

If someone is struggling and short of breath, there are techniques to recover.

“Exercise is shown to be just as competent to decrease shortness of breath to increase your life and get you out into the community,” Kronman said. “They may be able to walk more and feel better about themselves. When you can’t breathe, you appear to be anxious all the time. Exercise and improved breathing also decrease the chance of sickness and pneumonia.

“When they have a lung condition, the muscles become weak,” Kronman said.

“Body exercising through the help of machines also yields better breathing

as experienced through licensed respiratory therapists,” Kronman said. “People receive education to deal with lung conditions, learn exercises, improve muscles for respiration and cardiovascular endurance and strength, socialization and nutritional components to rehabilitation.”

No matter if the patient has breathing problems from COPD, COVID complications, asthma or perhaps emphysema, a series of physical exercises will help the patient resume daily activities again SL

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Linda A. Collins lcollins@expediacruises.com

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“Breathe out twice as long as you breathe in. It is commonly explained as ‘smell the roses and blow out the candle.’ That helps with lung disease and helps you to get rid of carbon dioxide, making more room for oxygen to breathe in.”

—Bonnie McClelland

SENIOR LIFE Steward Medical Group Bonnie McClelland, a certified clinical exercise physiologist, works on breathing exercises with patient Mark Harper at the Cardiac, Pulmonary and Vascular Rehabilitation Services at Rockledge Regional Medical Center.

Cleanup work will close Viera Wetlands in mid-June for an expected six months

BY NANETTE HEBDIGE

The Viera Wetlands will close in mid-June for cleanup work that is expected to last about six months.

The berm roads are already shuttered to vehicle traffic, including golf carts since 2021. The Wetlands will now also remain closed to bicycles and pedestrians while the $2.7 million project is being done.

Funding for the Wetlands project comes from the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act.

The county already had closed the berm roads to vehicle traffic due to safety concerns and environmental issues.

“The extensive cleanup project will comprise of muck dredging and the removal of dead vegetation to make the area safer to the public and address some environmental concerns,” said Don Walker, the Brevard County communications

director at the Utility Services Department.

“While the renovations take place, the Wetlands will be closed to public access.”

Also known as the Rich Grissom Memorial Wetlands, it’s one of Brevard County’s ultimate eco-tourism destinations for photographers, birders and lovers of Florida’s wildlife with more than 200,000 visitors a year.

“Additionally, two bird lookout towers and a gazebo will also be removed which have been roped off to the public for some time, as they were deemed unsafe,” Walker said. “There aren’t any plans to rebuild them at this time.”

The Wetlands were established in the 1980s as Brevard County’s South-Central Wastewater Treatment Plant to address water recycling in Viera. It provides a necessary biological function in the treatment of water, as the natural vegetation

reduces solids, phosphorus and nitrogen.

It officially became part of the Great Florida Birding Trail in 2008, with one mile of shoreland covering 200 acres.

“Once the project is completed, it will admit bike and pedestrian traffic only,” Walker said. “The Board has opted not to allow vehicle access inside after reopening, as there are no funds allocated in the budget for road paving and other improvements.”

Anita Ingram, a Viera resident who visits the Wetlands weekly, started a community Facebook group in 2021 called the Viera Wetlands.

“I started a Facebook group to keep our neighbors and community informed on what’s taking place,” Ingram said. “Most residents and visitors don’t realize that the main objective of the Wetlands is for the recycling of water treatment and the county has provided access to the

park for the public to enjoy Florida’s natural beauty and wildlife.

“I’m happy the maintenance has been scheduled, as it will ensure public safety and address environmental concerns.”

Bruce Lott recently was visiting his son from Vancouver and this was his third visit to the Wetlands.

“I retired from a busy sales job traveling between Canada and the States and the Wetlands are a great place to capture scenery and wildlife as photography is one of my hobbies now,” Lott said.

“This time, I noticed a lot of garbage and overgrown vegetation at the park and I’m glad there’s a cleanup project scheduled, which I wasn’t aware of. We conduct regular maintenance in our Canadian parks to keep areas clean and maintain public safety.” VV

Look for updates in upcoming editions of Senior Life and on myseniorlife.com.

SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress

Bruce Lott captured the beauty and life of the Viera Wetlands, located in southwest Viera, before the park closes for six months for a cleanup in June.

SENIOR LIFE Steve Hollinger

In the future, cars will not be allowed to drive around the Viera Wetlands.

Children, adults offered lesson about Florida gopher tortoise

BY BETTY PORTER

It is against the law to damage or harass gopher tortoises.

That’s just one thing the children and adults learned at Satellite Beach Public Library during a family-friendly event celebrating Florida Gopher Tortoise Day.

The afternoon program on April 12 featured indoor educational games and arts and craft activities, a story walk and an outdoor habitat tour of gopher tortoise burrows, of which there are at least 17 such burrows on the library grounds.

“We don’t have to walk far,” said Jenny White, a biologist with the city of Satellite Beach, as she pointed out the many burrows, some clustered close to the walls of the library. “Each individual gopher tortoise makes its very own burrow in a sandy area and they never share them with other tortoises. An average gopher tortoise can use its shovel-like front feet to dig a 9-foot tunnel in just a day.”

Burrows can be up to 10 feet deep, she said.

“Satellite Beach is a very gopher tortoise friendly community,” said Susan Skinner, a naturalist in the Planning and Sustainability Department. “They are very common here (on the) beachside and the residents all respect them.”

Respect for the gopher tortoises was quite evident among the group of about 20 children who sat on the floor of the library’s conference room for the presentation.

Volunteers from the Florida Wildlife Hospital in Palm Shores also spoke to the children and adults about gopher tortoises, which generally dig nests in May and June and are legally protected.

“It’s against the law to damage, destroy, harass or kill gopher tortoises or their eggs or burrows,” presenter and Florida Wildlife Hospital volunteer Denise Canina said. “Tortoises are a keystone species, providing habitat for hundreds of other animals that use their burrows for protection from the elements and shelter from fire and predators.”

The volunteers brought with them several gopher tortoises to show, but not touch. Each of the gopher tortoises they showed the children had been brought to the wildlife care facility with injuries such that they could not be put back in the wild. They are considered resident tortoises of the Florida Wildlife Hospital and they all have names.

There’s Lt. Dan, a Keystone species who is missing part of his right front leg. He was found in an abandoned building and brought to the Florida Wildlife Hospital 13 years ago.

Batman suffered an injury to his left front leg and required two surgeries and an amputation. He has been a resident at the Wildlife Hospital for the past three years.

Carolina is a box turtle whose shell was permanently damaged by someone who had found her and kept her in water as a pet. “Box turtles should always be on land, not in water,” Canina said.

She explained that water makes their shells soft and renders them unable to build burrows.

In a response to a child’s question, Canina showed how to tell a female from a male gopher tortoise.

“The male has a curvature on his under belly while a female’s under belly is flat,” she said.

Canina went on to explain that

are thought to live in excess of 60 years.

— Denise Canina

humans should never feed gopher tortoises or any other wild animal.

“The gopher tortoise is a herbivore and has a diet of grass and about 300 different types of plants,” she said. She noted that gopher tortoises are thought to live in excess of 60 years.

While the children were not able to touch the tortoises, the volunteers brought a yellow rat snake named

Dijon that the children could touch with two fingers if they desired. Many did. More information about Florida Gopher Tortoises can be found at gophertortoisecouncil. org and at MyFWC.com/ GopherTortoise SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Florida Wildlife Hospital Lt. Dan is missing part of his right front leg. He was found in an abandoned building 13 years ago.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Florida Wildlife Hospital Pat Jones, a volunteer with the Florida Wildlife Hospital, holds Lt. Dan, a gopher tortoise.

“The gopher tortoise is a herbivore and has a diet of grass and about 300 different types of plants.” She noted that gopher tortoises

TECH KNOW TIDBITS

Expect to

SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE

see more

smart eyeglass cameras this summer

Suppose you could take a photo simply by touching a small button near the temple on the stem of your eyeglasses?

That technology is available today and is growing quickly, with several eyeglass cameras from which to choose. Expect to see more people wearing them this summer.

Camera glasses look like ordinary eyeglasses or sunglasses but have tiny camera lenses that take photos in the direction the user is looking. Some have cameras that are readily visible, while others are less conspicuous. Some, like Ray Ban, have a small light that indicates when it is recording a video.

Some smart eyeglass cameras allows the user to put the eyeglasses down, leave it behind and still see on a smartphone the images it captures.

Ray Ban sunglass cameras charge in a case, which is charged with a USB cable. A switch on the inner side of the left arm turns the camera on and off. The user can take a photo through touch control, or how about just saying: “Hey Facebook, take a photo” or “Hey Facebook, take a video.”

The Ray-Ban Stories camera glasses came about in a partnership between Ray Ban, which is part of EssilorLuxottica and Meta’s Facebook

division.

Its smart camera, which has a lens that is not very noticeable, can take videos of up to one minute and still photos.

Ray-Ban Stories include a dualintegrated 5MP camera to capture

photos and videos, open-ear speakers and a three-microphone audio array.

The Ray-Ban camera glasses sell for a starting price of about $300. It is also available in prescription, polarized and transition at additional cost.

There are several brands of smart

glasses on the market.

Smart camera glasses might just be an item to take on vacation or day trips. It might not replace your smartphone camera but is a good addition.

The smart glasses uses Bluetooth to connect to smartphones. SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of EssilorLuxottica

Smart eye glasses technology allow users to take photos and videos with fashionable eyewear.

TO

Howey’s mansion in the hills attracts day-trippers

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

Very few historic houses allow visitors the opportunity to stay at the property. The Howey Mansion is one.

For about $300, guests can stay overnight at the carriage house or the gardener’s cottage of the show home citrus magnate William Howey built in 1927.

For approximately 10 times that amount more per night, you and 18 of your closest friends can avail themselves of the entire property, which include the one bedroom/one bath cottage, the two-bedroom, one bath Carriage House and the fivebedroom, four-bath mansion.

The residence, tucked away on bucolic Howey-in-the-Hills, is worth a visit even for day-trippers, for the 24-room mansion Howey built is both architecturally and historically significant.

“You step back in time,” estate manager Frances O’Keefe Wagler said.

The house once stood among the 60,000 acres of orange groves Howey purchased in Lake County in 1920. To make their dream of a Mediterranean Revival home a reality, Howey and his wife, Mary, enlisted architect Katherine Cotheal Budd, one of the rare female architects of the time.

While Henry Flagler and Henry Plant own the name recognition factor as the entrepreneurs who shaped Florida, William Howey was no slouch in helping the state develop.

“He is the most famous person you know nothing about,” O’Keefe Wagler added.

The Illinois native started his career at age 16 selling insurance but was soon developing land and towns in Oklahoma. Always looking for a

new road to success, he opened the Howey Automobile Company at age 27. After producing all of seven cars, he closed the business and headed to Mexico, where his goal of developing pineapple plantations died with the Mexican Revolution.

Florida citrus proved much better than pineapples; Howey began planting citrus on Lake County acreage, buying the raw land for less than $10 an acre and selling it for up to $2,000 an acre. The Florida Land Boom was a boon to Howey, who served as mayor of the town named after him from the time it was incorporated in 1925 until 1936.

To celebrate the completion of his 7,200-square-foot Florida residence, Howey hosted all 100 artists of the entire New York Civic

Opera Company. More than 4,000 automobiles carried the 15,000 opera lovers that showed up for the outdoor performance. The event made Howey many friends. According to a newspaper at the time, “the greatest applause was when W. J. Howey was introduced, the applause was ringing and ringing until it echoed for miles around.”

Howey survived the collapse of the Florida Land Boom, the Stock Market Crash and the ensuing Great Depression, but his health suffered. He died of a heart attack in 1938 at age 62.

The unique two-story mansion he built, however, lives on for visitors to enjoy for a day tour or an overnight stay.

Tickets for tours of the Howey Mansion cost $25 for guests five and older and can be purchased at thehoweymansion.com, where overnight stays can also be arranged.

Tours are limited to 20 individuals per tour. Reservations are required.

Howey Mansion is at 1001 Citrus Ave., Howey-in-the-Hills. For more information, call 407-906-4918. SL

SENIOR

Maria Sonnenberg

The 7,200-square-foot, 24-room Howey Mansion was built for William Howey and his wife, Mary. It once stood on 60,000 acres of orange groves in Lake County.

By Randal C. Hill

Behind the Beat

‘Stuck in the Middle with You’ — Stealers Wheel

Even before he became a successful and respected musician, Gerry Rafferty had developed a loathing for the often-underhanded machinations of the pop-music industry.

He was born in 1947 in Paisley, Scotland, a town that borders Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Rafferty came from a workingclass family, where his mother taught him Scottish and Irish folk songs. As he grew into his teens, he became influenced by the music of the Beatles and Bob Dylan.

His father was a hot-tempered alcoholic who died in 1963, when Rafferty was 16. That year, young Rafferty left school to work in a butcher store and a shoe shop, although deep down he wanted only to earn a living by making music. On weekends, he and best pal Joe Egan played in a local rock band called the Maverix, primarily offering covers of Beatles and Stones hits.

Gerry later joined a folk-pop group called the Humblebums, which

History

included future comic star Billy Connolly. The Humblebums cut a pair of albums for Transatlantic Records, which received critical appreciation but sold poorly.

When the Humblebums disbanded in 1971, Rafferty continued with Transatlantic as a solo performer and recorded his first album, “Can I Have

My Money Back?” His creation received enthusiastic praise but was ignored by the record-buying public.

In 1972, he and Egan reunited, this time to form a soft-rock outfit called Stealers Wheel. They promptly struck gold with “Stuck in the Middle with You,” which became a Top 10 single in America, the U.K. and Canada. That hit 45 gave Rafferty a chance to vent his spleen against the negative forces that controlled the music business. In a voice that mimicked his idol Bob Dylan, Rafferty set the scene for his tune at a record-company party that made him uncomfortable being in the midst of the power people he always preferred to avoid:

Well, I don’t know why I came here tonight

I got the feeling that something ain’t right Rafferty just wanted to make music, revel in the satisfaction of its creation, and ignore that part of the picture that included insensitive bean-counters and “friends” who were supposedly furthering his career:

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.

Then - 1926

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you

He found his frustrations maddening:

Trying to make some sense of it all

But I can see that it makes no sense at all

Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor?

‘Cause I don’t think that I can take anymore Stealers Wheel cut a trio of albums, but by the time the first one was issued, Rafferty had already left the outfit. Stealers Wheel officially disbanded in 1975, and for three years Rafferty’s creative hands were tied by legal hassles that prevented him from releasing new material.

In 1978, his 6-million-selling LP “City to City” featured his signature song, the worldwide hit “Baker Street.” As a result, his success brought Rafferty financial independence — thanks, ironically, to the industry that he despised. SL

Now - 2023

SENIOR LIFE Creative Commons Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle with You” became a top 10 hit in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Brevard County Historical Commission

This early bridge from Cocoa to Merritt Island was built of wood.

SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress

The current bridge is built up high to allow boats to pass under it.

NORTH BREVARD

Titusville’s past elegance revived with Walker Hotel restoration

BY FLORA REIGADA

The historic Walker Hotel in Downtown Titusville was once a go-to destination in its heyday.

Chances are the Spanish Colonial Revival style structure will regain some of that status. This is thanks to Red Canyon Software’s restoration of the hotel into the Launch Now Apartments, also referred to as Launch Pads.

“Red Canyon Software has a proven track record,” said Jeff Thamert, who co-owns The Downtown Art Gallery with his wife, Heidi. “It’s great that they are investing in the city. They will bring business downtown. We’re excited about that. The apartments will be a great addition.”

The adjacent former Bank of Titusville and Trust Company, built in neo-classical revival style, is likewise making a grand entrance into the 21st Century, while maintaining its historic charm with its renovation.

In the hotel’s glory days, northern tourists traded snow shoveling for lounging in the sun while sipping mint juleps on the hotel’s sprawling secondfloor balcony.

Locals patronized stores and businesses on the sidewalk level, shaded by an arcade the length of the building.

Built in 1924 by Miami

In addition to its steep staircase, the historic Walker Hotel, renamed the Launch Now Apartments, has the added convenience of an elevator.

businessman George Walker, the hotel contained 13 apartments and 12 hotel rooms on the second and third floors.

It has been listed in the National Register of Historic places, as is the bank, also built in 1924.

Its winding, grand stairway, accented by a massive crystal chandelier, was once a popular site for bridal pictures.

However, as Titusville expanded, businesses relocated and the buildings were left vacant.

The late Titusville journalist and historian Bob Hudson once said that part of the reason for the hotel’s decline was its beautiful, but steep and

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imposing stairway. People wanted an elevator.

A new elevator has now been installed, along with restored handrails, new wallpaper and light fixtures.

The properties boast original Merritt Island Pine hardwood floors,

historic molding and original details.

Twelve one-bedroom apartments and eight studios promote Titusville’s past, combining the old with the new. A penthouse apartment features an original fireplace.

For information call, 720-689-9388, or go to launchnow.space SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Cpl. Mariah Biddle Therapy dogs from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Paws and Stripes College recently visited Titusville’s American Police Hall of Fame and Museum.

HISTORIC TITUSVILLE MAIN STREET

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada

The historic Walker Hotel in Downtown Titusville will soon find renewed purpose as the Launch Now Apartments.

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada

BCOA NEWS Brevard Commission on Aging

Brevard County shows commitment to help identify, prevent elder abuse

In the United States, millions of older adults fall victim to financial exploitation, abuse and neglect each year. In Brevard County, the elderly population is at risk.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs, the Senior Resource Alliance, the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation, the Brevard Commission on Aging, Aging Matters in Brevard, and other state and local community organizations will host a World Elder Abuse Awareness Day — WEAAD.

The event will support efforts to raise awareness about elder abuse and neglect in Brevard communities.

Come by from 9 a.m. to noon Thursday, June 15 to the Space Coast Health Foundation in Rockledge to learn what is being done to prevent elder abuse and neglect.

Special guest speakers Ruth Rhodes, an attorney from Rhodes Law, and Rachel

Sadoff of the Brevard County Clerk of Courts will provide information on protecting yourself from financial exploitation.

Admission and parking are free. Space is limited and reservations are requested. Contact the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation at 321-253-4430 to save a spot.

WEAAD serves as a call-toaction for communities to raise awareness about abuse, neglect and exploitation of elders.

It reaffirms the country’s commitment to the principle of justice for all. Elder abuse is widespread. Every year an estimated one in 10 older Americans are victims of elder abuse, neglect or exploitation. Experts believe that elder abuse is significantly under reported.

Research suggests that as few as one in 14 cases of elder abuse come to the attention of authorities.

When everyone comes together, elder abuse can be prevented. Support services can be put in place and community resources can be used to prevent elder abuse. There are many ways to strengthen social support through policies, services and programs to keep people integrated in their communities as they age.

For more information, check out eldermistreatment. usc.edu/weaad-home.

To report abuse by phone, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800962-2873). Press 2 to report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of a vulnerable adult. This toll free number is available 24/7. The TTY (Telephone Device for the Deaf) is 1-800-955-8771. To report via fax, print and complete the DCF fax reporting form with details and fax to 1-800-914-0004. SL

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

Judge Fran Jamieson: Toughness and tenderness personified

BY MARK MIJUSKOVIC

Editor's note: The information that paved the way for the Judge Fran Jamieson story ( March 2023) has also provided an opportunity to correct inaccuracy. The article’s request for personal anecdotal information regarding the judge yielded responses.

Fran Jamieson’s University of Tennessee graduation date was 1945 (not 1958). Following a divorce and remarriage in 1954, she enrolled at Cumberland University Law School, graduating summa cum laude in 1958. A subsequent second divorce found the family — Jamieson, her son and a younger stepsister — moving to South Melbourne Beach, where she first found employment as a contract administrator for a San Diego-based company procured to build gantries at Cape Canaveral.

Upon passing the Florida Bar Exam in 1960, Jamieson moved the family to Cocoa Beach after being hired as a clerk for Attorney Thurmond Justice.

In 1961, she married Raymond A. Jamieson, the first mayor of Cape Canaveral. There, she wrote the Cape Canaveral Articles of Incorporation and the City Charter. The bumpy road of her married life found her divorcing in 1965 and remarrying in 1971 to Joe Rose whom she predeceased in 1995.

Jamieson was not the stay-at-home June Cleaver mother figure. She was never a widow. Rather, she was an occasional single mom who did her best to make sure her kids had a roof

over their heads, food on the table, clothes on their backs, and educational opportunities while steadily building an exceptional professional reputation. She had to be both a mom and dad.

Life-long educator Bill Pearlman recounted seeing Jamieson in action in juvenile court. In the mid-to-late 1980s, he taught at-risk fourth and fifth graders at Meadowlane Elementary School, students who this early on in life had

exhibited enough characteristics to be considered at risk of not graduating.

Some already had been suspended and had interactions with law enforcement. In the mold of scaredstraight efforts, Judge Jamieson did not disappoint.

“Children in shackles were openly crying in court,” he recalled. “She was harsh, especially with children she had seen in her courtroom before.”

Pearlman recalled her advising some of the wayward children to bring their toothbrushes with them should they ever appear in her court again, letting on that they would not be going home. He also saw a kinder, gentler Jamieson with those children who might have been appearing before her for the first time.

“Judge Jamieson impressed me as a stern, tough-talking yet very compassionate person who wanted very much to help children make better choices,” Pearlman recalled. “We can’t know, but we can wonder if it would have been more impactful if she saved her harshest words for the parents of those children.”

There appears to have been no shortage of toughness and no shortage of compassion in Jamieson.

When speaking before a group of mostly male attorneys, Jamieson would often open up by declaring, “I stand before you proudly today, because I chose to be a member of the world’s second oldest profession.’’

In the wake of her legacy, Judge Fran Jamieson Way remains a straight and narrow path. SL

“Judge Jamieson impressed me as a stern, tough-talking yet very compassionate person who wanted very much to help children make better choices.”

— Bill Pearlman

Our plan for the Lagoon — and how it continues to improve it

In 2016, after the big fish kill, Brevard County demanded action. The County Department of Natural Resources and multiple community groups responded with a plan for restoration, and voters overwhelmingly approved the half-cent sales tax, which began the major commitment to save the Indian River Lagoon.

Two key aspects of this effort were: The Save Our Indian River Lagoon

Project Plan (a 91-page description of how the tax money would be used to battle pollution) and The Citizens Oversight Committee (a group of 14 volunteers with varied expertise that would meet monthly to monitor progress, review new information and oversee annual Plan revisions). In other words, it set up a process to undertake projects according to the best information available and to ensure

Lagoon Straight Talk From the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition

Edited by Margie E. Burke

new information was incorporated into the plan annually: A Plan — And Continue to Improve It.

Here are just a few of many examples of how this process has worked during the past seven years.

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Clams — while the Lagoon was the clam capital in the 1950s, they were overfished and most believed that clams could no longer survive in today’s polluted Lagoon. However, the University of Florida Whitney Lab found and began breeding a species that thrives and clam seeding projects are now going on throughout the Lagoon.

Vegetation harvesting — we have endless numbers of holding ponds and they all grow vegetation, which is ignored or sprayed with chemicals. Both approaches leave the pollution in the water. Recently, the Plan has been helping to fund vegetation harvesting that actually reduces pollution.

Solution

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Septic systems — the original Plan recognized these were a problem, but with some 90,000 systems and more being installed, how to be cost effective?

First the Plan sponsored a detailed

analysis of which systems had the greatest impact and enacted a ban on new systems in high-impact areas. Then, it created financial assistance programs to help owners connect systems near sewer lines and to replace old inefficient systems with advanced systems in other critical locations.

All along, the idea was to follow a Plan and Continue to Improve It. It’s working!

Check out the Plan: brevardfl.gov/ SaveOurLagoon/ProjectPlan and also helpthelagoon.org/ and facebook.com/ BIRLC to stay informed. SL

For more about our piece of paradise — the Indian River Lagoon, go to HelpTheLagoon.org, facebook. com/BIRLC/ and twitter.com/ HelpTheLagoon.

All of life’s activities have challenging expiration dates

What if you knew your expiration date? What would you do differently?

As seniors, we are challenged by expiration dates. We look in our medicine cabinet and find medications and ointments that have expired. We look in the refrigerator or cupboard and find expired foods. You take your automobile to the dealership for repair work and find the warranty has expired.

All of life’s activities have expiration dates. When I studied risk management as a college student, we computed mortality tables to set premiums for life insurance policies. Back then, I determined I would live to age 78 years. Now, my longevity has beat the tables and I’m in my fourth quarter of life. My life has been extended due to my lifestyle, preventive medical care and mental fitness.

Our possessions have expiration dates as noted in “Limited Warranties” and “extended guarantees.” There is no date for obsolescence. Stuff just does not last as long. My parents received a Toastmaster toaster for a wedding present in 1936. My father as a handyman kept it operating for more than 50 years. Mother wrote a letter to the company about the 50-year-old toaster “expecting them to mail her a new one for an anniversary gift.” The company rep wrote “Congratulations on your 50 years of marriage. We are pleased your Toastmaster served you so well.” How many toasters have you had in 50 years?

My 2012 desktop computer recently developed problems. The Geek Squad worked endlessly to keep it operating. Vendors warned “We no longer

Challenges of Living to Age 100

Ed Baranowski

support the software.” Appliances, air conditioners, smartphones, and many electronic devices are built more for the short term with planned future innovations. We want what is the newest and best before it expires. Think about food again. On every container there is an expiration date. Does it mean “best used by” or “sold by”? Yes, there are required health warnings, but are you challenged to throw out the cheese before you can cut off the mold? Dry products may not taste as good, dairy may pose problems, but marketers love that you toss it when the expiration date comes to your attention.

Add to the expired challenge your magazine subscriptions, club memberships, service agreements, financial certificate of deposit terms, passports, credit cards, voter registrations and driver’s license. What about the hereafter? Keep checking!

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

Puzzle on page 21

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

The Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition works hard as an advocate to rehabilitate the IRL.