Viera Voice, June 2020 by Viera Voice • Senior Life • Boomer Guide

Newspaper of Viera & Suntree...........BLUEWATER CREATIVE GROUP JUNE 2020

Musical icon, PAGE 16

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 5

Hurricane Season, start preparing, pages 19-22

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New fieldhouse, page 15 social parades, page 24, 25

Dads in the HOT zone Story, page 2

Happy Father's Day Fire medic Adam Harrington, left, and Lt. Ryan Gault have adjusted to the demands forced by COVID-19.

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Lt. Ryan Gault is a 10-year veteran of the Brevard County Fire Rescue. He said one of his main duties during the coronavirus pandemic is looking out for his crew.

VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

Fire medic Adam Harrington is the father of a 5-year-old boy, Strafford.

COVID-19 challenges emergency workers BY ERNEST ARICO

Father's Day is a day of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. In the United States, we will celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 21. However, there will be many fathers who will be celebrating that day while working as Brevard County fire and emergency medical technicians on the frontlines against the deadly coronavirus. These fathers will be wearing protective gear and following strict protocols in handling calls, and they do so in an attempt to balance helping the public while taking care of their families.

Brevard County Fire Rescue personnel at Station 47 on Murrell Road in Viera wear protective gear and follow new protocols during potential COVID-19 emergency calls. For example: • BCFR officials sent an 11-minute COVID-19 EMS response training video to Brevard hospitals, cities and towns demonstrating how they are handling these IS calls, or "infectious surveillance." • Dispatchers are screening 911 callers for possible COVID-19 symptoms using a list of questions, including: "Do you have a fever? Do you have a persistent cough? Do you have difficulty breathing?

Have you traveled outside the country the past 14 days?" • After arriving on scene, one firefighter/EMT dons personal protective equipment (PPE), including goggles, gloves, mask and white medical gown. In some cases, a protective Tyvek "bunny suit" is worn. • The firefighter/EMT typically enters "the hot zone" and makes initial contact with the patient. • Patients on IS calls are transported to a hospital emergency room. Afterward, the ambulance remains out of service until it is fogged with disinfectant spray to kill viruses. This decontamination process takes about 30 minutes, reducing the risk of having the entire crew enter the home. • BCFR is Brevard's ambulance service, often working alongside and sharing protocols with various city firefighting crews. No personnel are sent inside nursing homes or assisted living facilities, save for medical emergencies. All patients from those facilities are brought outside for treatment and transport.

• BCFR personnel are getting their temperatures taken twice per day, at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. • PPE is discarded after every possible coronavirus call. If a shortage strikes, equipment will be decontaminated and reused according to protocol. Lt. Ryan Gault, 41, is a 10-year BCFR veteran. He is the father of two children, Wyatt, 9, and Lilly, 7. He said one of his main duties during this pandemic is looking out for his crew.

“Don't live your lives in fear. Stay vigilant, stay safe and take care of yourself and family.” — Chris DiSciascio

“I want to make sure they have the right equipment and the correct information before they go out on a call,” he said. Gault added that when he is finished with his shift and returns home, he makes sure he doesn’t spread the

virus by changing his clothes in the garage. Fire medic Adam Harrington, 32, is the father of a 5-year-old boy, Strafford. He said his son doesn’t necessarily understand what’s going on but is teaching him how to stay safe. “I tell him to wash his hands frequently and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze,” said the six-year veteran. “And I try not to bring my gear home.” District Chief Chris DiSciascio said BCFR personnel are a lot safer than others because of the new protocols. “We’re doing everything we can to be virus free,” said the 23-year veteran. This Father’s Day, Gault said he plans to hang out with his kids at the beach and later have a barbecue. “I just want to be the best dad I can be and be there for them,” he said. The 50-year-old DiSciascio said fathers should be the rock of their family, especially during this pandemic. “Don’t get swept up in all the hype,” he said. “Don’t live your lives in fear. “Stay vigilant, stay safe and take care of yourself and family.” VV

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Publisher Bluewater Creative Group, Inc. Managing Editor Jill Blue Assignment Editor R. Norman Moody Office Manager Sylvia Montes

VIERA MEANS Copy Editor Jeff Navin

BUSINESS

NETWORKING GROUP

Sports Writer/SportsBlog Carl Kotala Writers/Reporters Ernest Arico Judy Berman Chloe Ho Charlotte A. Corbeil Maria Sonnenberg VIERA MEANS BUSINESS NETWORKING GROUP George White

BUSINESS Viera Voice's Networking Group The entire contents of this newspaper are copyrighted by VIERA VOICE with all rights reserved. VIERA VOICE 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.

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BUSINESS

New playground to open at Suseda Park BY ERNEST ARICO

playground equipment, is a small family park that has One of Viera’s most play areas, a small lake, and beautiful parks has a new a walking trail that features playground. playgrounds, picnic areas, Thomas Dillon, the restrooms, bridges and hiking president and owner of trails. It is located at 5805 VIERA MEANS BUSINESS NETWORKING GROUP Fairway Management of Murrell Road in Viera East. Brevard, the company that Dillon said the project oversees the Viera East began in mid-March but took Community Association, time to complete because of SB said it was time to replace EANthe coronavirus pandemic. U M the old playground with new “TheSvirus slowed things equipment. down,” he said. “We wanted to upgrade The VECA is a not-forthe playground equipment to profit corporation formed in make it safer,” he said. accordance with the Viera Built in 2008, Suseda East Community Declaration. Park, also known as the Blue N It is theUMaster Association for E TW O Park because of its blue-hued It is administered O R Viera REast. KIN G G SS E IN

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BUSINESS

Special Assignment Reporter Chris Bonanno

VIERA VOICE Ernest Arico VIERA MEANS New playground equipment has been built at Suseda Park, located at 5805 Murrell Road in Viera East. Suseda Park, also known as the Blue Park because of its blue-hued playground N E T W O R K equipment, I N G G R O U Pis a small family park that has play areas, a small lake and a walking trail that features playgrounds, picnic areas, restrooms, bridges and hiking trails.

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and Woodside Park have children's play equipment along with adjoining trail systems. Some of the rules and regulations about Suseda Park include: It is recommended that children younger than 12 be supervised at all times. All pets are excluded from the pavilion areas and playground. If pets are brought onto the remaining park premises, they must be “picked-up” after. Skateboards, bicycles,

SUSEDA PARK

continued to page 33

Dear Friends, In the coming months, we’ll likely start to see a new reality in travel. Similar to the time period after 9/11, travelers will have the peace of mind to start traveling again. Using a trusted and licensed travel advisor will provide multiple daily updates with all of the rule changes and the flexibility of our trusted suppliers. We are able to provide the guidance, information and expertise to help navigate the “new normal” when travel does re-emerge. During the past few months, I have spent more time in educating myself on zoom calls and webinars. I want to be prepared for my clients when they feel confident to start traveling again. None of us know what the crystal ball holds for us, but we will soon be back exploring the world. We might start closer to home, which is fabulous for hidden gems and beautiful landscapes across the wonderful country. So for now, dream of where you would like to go once it is safe to travel again. Give me call so we can chat . . .

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by a five-member board of directors, and it is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the hardscaping, landscaping and irrigation systems on most major roadways throughout Viera East, certain parks and recreational facilities. VECA was incorporated Oct. 4, 1989, and it owns about 200 acres of parks (Suseda Park and Clubhouse Park), lakes, streets, parking lots and landscape tracts. Viera has six community parks and a number of pocket parks within each neighborhood. In Viera East, Clubhouse Park, Suseda Park

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Lawyer turns to farming in charitable retirement BY MARIA SONNENBERG A sign tacked at Andrew Graham’s fruit and egg stand in front of his Mullet Hill Farm advises friends, neighbors and customers that during the pandemic they are to “take what you need and pay what you can.” During the season, the Scottsmoor farmer routinely sells out most of the citrus his 1,200 trees produce. Throughout the year, the wholesome, fresh eggs from his 50-some chickens are always a big hit. Graham knows folks are hurting financially these days, so he is happy to do his part. The laid-back Graham of now is the polar opposite of the trial attorney Graham was before his retirement to Mullet Hill Farm in 2007. “I had led a confrontational life, dealing with hostile lawyers and witnesses and lying clients, and I didn’t realize how stressful it was on your psyche until I retired,” he said. While commercial citrus growers have left Brevard County, small farmers such as Graham are thriving and diversifying. He has the time and energy to baby his trees and his chickens, and the results, all grown without the use of chemicals, taste delicious. When Graham purchased the 12½ acres after the freeze of 1988, the property was one of the few that had not sustained much damage to its trees, some of them veterans more than 40 years old. Through the years, he kept adding trees and replacing those that did not thrive. Oranges, grapefruits, tangerines, tangelos and lemons make up the grove. “I pick an average of two 90-pound boxes of citrus every single day from October to April,” Graham said. His choice of varieties focused on those resistant to greening, and he fortifies them four times a year with a spray that includes diatomaceous earth, which is lethal to the belligerent bugs that threaten the grove. VV Go to VieraVoice.com for the full version of the story.

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Step aside COVID, hurricane season has arrived with kits BY MARIA SONNENBERG For more than a decade, Space Coast area organizations would host a festival for seniors in conjunction with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in June. COVID-19 put the kibosh on any large gathering this year, but that didn’t stop TRIAD for Brevard Seniors, the Florida Department of Children and Families, Brevard Commission on Aging and the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation, plus sponsors that include Viera Voice, Senior Life, to come up with a drive-through event. It won’t be a party this year, but it will be a way to obtain some valuable information and gadgets to help seniors during the next threat du jour, hurricane season. Volunteers from these organizations will be at four strategic locations

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Friday, June 12 8 a.m. - Noon LOCATIONS • Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation 4676 N. Wickham Road Melbourne • Palm Bay Police Dept. 130 Malabar Road. SE • Hospice of St. Francis 1250 Grumman Place Titusville • Ascension Lutheran Church parking lot 1053 Pinetree Drive Indian Harbour Beach from 8 a.m. to noon on Friday, June 12 to distribute Hurricane Preparedness Kits to seniors who drive up to pick these up. “Volunteers wearing masks will bring the kits to the seniors, who stay in the

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small first aid kit and a bag for medications. “The insulated cooler is perfect to keep medicines at the right temperature,” Russell said. Vial of Life, a small container that allows individuals to have complete medical information ready for emergency personnel, also is included, as is the unique Scent Evidence K9 Scent Preservation Kit, designed to collect and store the scent of loved ones so police department bloodhounds can track them should they go missing. “At the sites, you will also be able to register for special needs hurricane shelters and arrange for transport to the shelter if needed,” Russell said. VV

program specialist with the Department of Children and Families’ Adult Protective Services. The useful kits include an information booklet from Brevard County Emergency Management, a DOEA Disaster Preparedness guide, Senior Life’s 2020 Boomer Guide, a handy keychain with a built-in can opener and whistle, and a flashlight, among other goodies helpful during emergencies. “We want them to be prepared for any emergency, and these items can be used for a lot of things beyond a hurricane,” Russell said. The kit also includes pens, reusable bags for groceries, waterproof bags to hold important documents, bandaids, a

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Viera resident earns 10th consecutive CCC coaching title honor BY ERNEST ARICO

They call her “Scarbie.” For the past 36 years, Mary Beth “Scarbie” Scarborough has coached various sports and taught physical education at Rockledge High School. She’s a fixture in the school’s halls, gym, classrooms, playing fields and community. Thousands of students and athletes have been taught and coached by her. “Principals, parents, students all call me ‘Scarbie,’” said the 59-year-old coach. “It’s a term of endearment. I love it. I’m OK with it.” The nickname came about during the 1997-1998 school year when two students — Jamie Sheffield and Erika Butler — asked if they could come up with a nickname because many people were mispronouncing her name. The students came up with “Scarbie.” “Everybody calls me that now,” she said. “If they feel comfortable calling me that, I have no problem with it.” Although the coronavirus pandemic cut short the spring season of high school sports, Scarborough was named the Cape Coast Conference’s All-Girls Track Coach of the Year for 2019-2020. It is the 10th consecutive year (20102020), she has received the honor. The girls track team also was vying for its 10th consecutive CCC title and ninth district crown. Despite the awards and titles, Scarborough is the first to admit the honors she’s received is because of a joint coaching and team effort. “The award is awesome

VIERA VOICE Courtesy of the Scarborough Family

Members of the Rockledge High School boys and girls track coaching staff, from left, Freddie Goins, Mary Beth “Scarbie” Scarborough and Kenny Smith talk strategy before a spring dual meet.

and I’m very proud of it, but it’s not just me. I’ve been blessed with a great coaching staff,” she said. “We’ve been together since 2003.” Her coaching staff includes Freddie Goins (boys track coach in charge of sprinters, hurdlers and relays); Kenny Smith (long, high and triple jumps); Ed and Peggy Sebetka (distance runners — 800 meters, halfmile, mile and two miles), and John Holmes (throwers — discus, shot put and javelin). Scarborough also coaches the throwers. “I think the strong part of our success is that all of my coaches are former Rockledge High graduates,” she said. “Four of the five coaches played track and I coached them.”

Goins admits Scarborough wasn’t one of his favorite teachers when he was a Rockledge High freshman, but he has come to respect and admire her coaching skills. “She had a way of getting your attention in a very loud way,” he said. “I didn’t want to hear that as a freshman. When I became her assistant coach, she let me be me. She allowed me to make mistakes without micromanaging me. She treated me as her equal. “What I like about her is that she’s honest and upfront. She doesn’t hold any punches. I like the way she treats her athletes with respect. I just follow her example.” Born in the small Midwestern town of Ottawa, Illinois (population 1,500),

Scarborough moved to because the student-athlete Florida and Brevard County doesn’t have to be the very when she was 7 years old. best to succeed. “You can She graduated from teach it, see it and then see Cocoa High School in 1978, the success.” participating in numerous Scarborough credits her sports — three years of late father, Ellis Austin, for girls basketball, two years teaching her how to coach. of softball, two years of “My father taught and track (specializing in the coached for 45 years,” she shot put and discus), and a explained. “He taught me year each of volleyball and that you shouldn’t be afraid cheerleading. to laugh at yourself and that In 1980, she received who I am is what they see. her associate degree from They can trust me.” Brevard Community College Scarborough’s coaching (now Eastern Florida State philosophy is simple — work College). While at BCC, she hard and give it your best played volleyball for two effort, realize it’s not all years. about me it’s about the team, She received her Bachelor accept them for who they are, of Science degree in physical be a good supporter and try education from Florida State to learn from your mistakes. University in December “I consider myself a 1982. At the same time, she mother to my athletes,” she received her Florida teaching said. “I’m not afraid to say certificate. ‘I love you.’ I want them to Scarborough began her feel comfortable and trust Rockledge High teaching me. I want my athletes to be career when she was hired successful.” as a physical education and Greg Clayborne, health teacher in September Rockledge’s athletic director 1983. Since then, she has for the past 20 years, said coached almost every sport Scarborough is all about at the school — swimming, Rockledge High. golf, tennis, cross country, “She’s always taken upon softball, basketball, soccer herself to fill in the blanks and track. when needed,” he said. “She’s Track, however, is her a selfless person. She’s a favorite coaching sport. great mix of caring and Besides her coach of the year demanding. She’s always honors, Scarborough helped encouraging students to guide her girls track teams participate in athletics.” to two Class 2A runners-up Since February 1998, state titles in 2013 and 2016. Scarborough and her “We’ve been very blessed at husband Mike have lived in Rockledge. We’ve had many the Viera subdivision of Six Division I athletes,” she said. Mile Creek. The couple have “They have the raw talent and three daughters — Becky, our coaches have brought out 34, Samantha, 31, and Alana, the best in them.” 28. All three girls ran track Scarborough said she at Rockledge High and were enjoys coaching track coached by their mother. VV

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Passion for baseball makes Viera’s Espinal stand out BY CARL KOTALA

Puerto Rico, began playing baseball at age 7. After playing Viera High School catcher third base, shortstop and the Alan Espinal knows only outfield, he was moved to one way to play the game of catcher at age 11. baseball: “I like the leadership that With passion. comes with the position,” he “Ever since I started playing, said. “Ever since I was a child, it’s been 100, 100,” the recent my coaches have told me I was graduate said. “Even when a leader.” I got here and I didn’t know After Hurricane Maria hit anybody, I still played my Puerto Rico in 2017, Espinal game. and his family relocated to “And it ended up just right. South Florida. He played Coaches love it. That’s the his sophomore year at West first compliment I get, about Broward High School before the style I play. I don’t plan on moving to Viera so his family changing it. It’s been good could be closer to his older for me.” brother, Dilan, who was It certainly has. playing baseball at Eastern Espinal, who came to Viera Florida State College. His two years ago, has committed younger brother, Edian, just to play at Vanderbilt, one of finished his sophomore year college baseball’s premier at Viera. programs. He also has a VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala Last year, the Hawks chance to be selected in the Viera High School's Alan Espinal reached the Class 7A regional first drew the attention of 2020 Major League Baseball final and Espinal was looking Vanderbilt after taking part in draft, which takes place June forward to making another a showcase the summer of his 10 and 11. strong run at a state title sophomore year. Unlike previous years, with fellow seniors Declan where the draft went 40 cut their senior season short. McDermott, J.T. Smith, Billy rounds, this year’s event will “It was super hard, because Moser, Zach Taylor, Ethan be limited to five rounds at the time I hadn’t committed, Huffman, Jake Moldrem, due to the coronavirus so I didn’t know what I was Hunter Longtin, Thomas pandemic. ESPN has reported going to do,” he said. “I was Kaye, Tyler Madl, Christian players who go undrafted Stubbendeck and Owen Kling. frustrated. I had all these will be eligible to sign with a thoughts in my mind. The coronavirus, however, major league team, but for a maximum of only $20,000. While Espinal’s original A CLEAN HOME AND WORKPLACE plan before coming to Viera IS A SANITARY HOME AND WORKPLACE had been to forgo college and LET US PRESSURE CLEAN YOUR PROPERTY. sign a pro contract out of high school, he has since changed his mind and realized the value of getting a college The Hurri“cano” Solution to your pressure cleaning need. education, while also working to improve his game. “That was my mentality (to sign out of high school),” Espinal said. “But once I got here and was enrolled in school, I learned about how baseball players talk about college over playing professionally. “It really opened my eyes. Because it’s true — a lot of things can happen. Baseball’s not forever. Your career can end at any moment. Having a college (education), where you can study and make a new life, Celebrating 17 Years Serving Suntree/Viera that’s a smart decision. I went RandysPressureWash@att.net that way.” Randy Cano, Owner – Viera, Florida – Licensed & Insured Espinal, who was born in

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family first,” Espinal said. “But the one thing that hit “That’s my drive. I just want me the most was that these them to be comfortable. I guys were depending on this season to play and get noticed. want to buy my mom and dad a house so they can be Other people were crying for graduation, crying for prom … comfortable and never work I just wanted my season back. again. “They can just chill and sit I wanted one more game with back and be proud of what my boys. I love those guys.” they made — me and my Although his commitment brothers. They went above to Vanderbilt is firm, make and beyond for us. I’m so no mistake Espinal still has blessed I have them by my his sights set on playing side. I know not a lot of people professionally one day. can say that about their It’s not just about playing parents. for himself. He wants to be “It’s amazing. They’ve been able to take care of the people that ultimately mean the most super perfect, best parents in the world. I just want them to to him — his family. be happy.” VV “I’ll always think of my

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Duran women’s golf league a success despite shortened season BY CARL KOTALA

participants in the league. They don’t just join and not The coronavirus might play.” have forced the season to end Sanders was one of three early for the Duran Women’s committee members in this Golf Association (DWGA), but year’s league. The other two that didn’t mean it wasn’t a hit. were Sally Soutter and Shel “We had our most McAnulty. All three women successful year, with the most live in Viera. members (59) the league has Golf Carts Unlimited was ever had,” DWGA committee the league’s sponsor. member Marie Sanders said. “We are thrilled with the “Our members are very active growth that our DWGA has

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VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala

It was a record year for the Duran Women's Golf Association with 59 members signed up to play. Diane Dabbs, left, Marie Sanders, Patricia Ryan, Katie Clay and Duran head golf pro Matt Morrison adhere to social distancing.

seen year after year,” Duran Head PGA Professional Matt Morrison wrote in an email. “It was a shame to see the season cut short due to the virus. However, we are confident that next season will be our biggest and best ever thanks to the generous support of our sponsor and the hard work from our committee members.” The DWGA season runs from October through April,

though many of the golfers continue to play year-round. The league is open to the public and more information is available by calling the pro shop at 321-504-7776. As Morrison pointed out, Duran offers two other league options for female players on a year-round basis. There is a nine-hole league on the championship course that runs on Monday afternoons. On Tuesday nights,

there is a nine-hole league on the Par 3 course. One thing is for sure, Duran is always looking to create events for all of its players. “We are thrilled to continue to be able to grow the game of golf for ladies,” Morrison wrote. “We will continue to roll out new instructional programs and exciting leagues and activities throughout the summer and into next season.” VV

Viera East makes adjustments during pandemic BY DAVID D. HORST The snowbirds have returned home and we are enjoying such beautiful weather while playing golf. However, we remember those struggling in one form or another and our hearts go out to those who have suffered personal losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is important to understand that there are specific rules and guidelines to help protect our golfers and staff from this virus such as social distancing. The Viera East Men’s Golf Association always follows all local, state and federal guidelines. That includes employees wearing a safe mask in the ProShop, combined with keeping a distance of at least 6 feet and limiting the number of people

INSIDE THE ROPES in the shop at one time. During the next few months, I will include some VEMA individual highlights and introduce new members or staff to the community. One interesting fact is that more than 75 percent of our members are military veterans. We also have a number of teachers, principals and faculty in the organization as well. On May 7, VEMA assembled four-man teams where only the two best balls counted. The team of Bill Bevan, Larry Henris, Rick Molchos and Bill Scholtens finished first. The team of Fred Bogle, Allen Satcher and John Wieda tied the team of Bob Anderson, Marc Brown, Tony

Hines and Ed Wierda for second place. On May 14, VEMA played a variable best ball using one lowest score for a par 5, the two lowest scores for a par 4 and the three lowest scores for a par 3. Fourteen teams participated. The team of Jim Robinson, Craig Smith and Martin Gillette tied the team of Jim Smith, Jack Webb, Kevin Maloney and Tom Walker for first place. The team of Ed Wierda, John Perino and Bill Hall placed third. Next month, I will introduce Chris Game, the newest member of the ProShop. He is a wonderful young man with great aspirations to work in the golf industry. VV

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Von Eschen takes over as Duran’s senior manager of golf operations BY CARL KOTALA Nobody understands what it’s like to work your way from the bottom to the top like Jeff Von Eschen. Duran Golf Club’s new senior manager of golf operations was not only the third employee hired in 2004 when the course was under construction, he also has a long history of working on the business side of the game. “My dad introduced (my brother and I) to the game at a young age,” Von Eschen said. “We both just really enjoyed it. I got a job as a cart boy in New York at the age of 14. Then, at 16, the golf course superintendent asked me if I wanted to come work on his staff. “I started working for him and fell in love with that side of the business.” Von Eschen, who previously served as Duran’s superintendent, took over as the senior manager of golf operations on April 27, following the retirement of the club’s only general manager, David Tomczak. “I think it’s going to be a great transition because Jeff worked with Dave for so long and he really understands what makes

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Duran tick,” Duran’s director of instruction, Justin Blazer, said “He understands all the different nuances and things about the business. He’s going to be a strong leader. We’re all excited.” Von Eschen, who turned 43 this month, called Tomczak “definitely one of my biggest mentors in my professional career. Two of the biggest things he learned were paying attention to the details and being a good communicator. Dealing with some of those details — like budget issues and overseeing the course’s new bunker renovations — have been some of the biggest challenges outside of the coronavirus pandemic that Von Eschen has had to adjust to in his new position. “It’s a lot of the little details that Dave did without anybody even noticing that, obviously, now fall on my shoulders,” he said. “I’m just trying to figure them out and navigate through them.” Von Eschen also is working on some big plans for when the coronavirus subsides. “I’m really looking to create the golf course that is not just a golf course, but an amenity for the whole Viera community,” he said. “We’re planning on … once we’re

VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala

Jeff Von Eschen, who turns 43 this month, is the new senior manager of golf operations at Duran Golf Club. Von Eschen has been with the club since 2004.

capable … of doing a lot of different events that we might not have seen Duran do in the past. We’re trying to open it up to a new demographic.” One of those ideas involves golf carts, a big screen … and maybe even a snack or two. “We plan on doing a golf cart movie night, kind of a bite off the old, drive-in movie theaters,” Von Eschen said. “We’ll get a big projector, we’ll go over to the driving range, we’ll put the screen up and the community can come and catch a movie. We’ll have the

grill going and some popcorn and cotton candy.” Another idea is to take advantage of something Von Eschen has been pushing for six years. Duran recently received certifications in Environmental Planning and Wildlife and Habitat management from the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Von Eschen said Duran is hoping to host school field trips to introduce students as to why golf courses are an

amenity to the community, good for the environment and how different aspects of a course work — from environmental planning to water quality management. “Kind of like a land laboratory,” he said. The game of golf has always run strong in the Von Eschen family. Jeff’s brother, James, is the director of golf at Bellport Country Club in New York. After graduating from the State University of New York in Morrisville, where he studied horticulture and landscape architecture, he moved to Florida in 1997. He was working for Tomczak as the assistant superintendent at Viera East before they both made the move to Duran. And now he’s got a new title, new responsibilities and the passion to make it all work. “It was really exciting,” Von Eschen said of being named the new senior manager of golf operations. “It was always something I was kind of looking forward to, and then once Dave officially announced his retirement last year, it was something I was really pushing for and striving for.” VV

Viera Voice | June 2020

s w e N

SCHOOL

New car loop should alleviate traffic problems at Williams Elementary BY ERNEST ARICO

In an effort to eliminate “extreme” traffic congestion in front of Ralph M. Williams Jr. Elementary School in Rockledge, a new car loop is being built next to the school. Officials said the loop will be finished before school opens in August. What is so unique about the project? Susan Hann, the assistant superintendent of facilities services for Brevard Public Schools, said the project is a 50/50 partnership with Brevard County. The total estimated cost is $180,340. Workers from the county’s Department of Roads and Bridges are performing the work. The new loop is adjacent to Clubhouse Park. Hann said the project adds about 1,000 feet of dual lane stacking distance, which will accommodate about 65 vehicles. In addition, the project creates 55 grass parking spaces. “It’s the first project of this

VIERA VOICE Ernest Arico

Crews from the Brevard County Department of Roads and Bridges continue to work on the new car loop adjacent to Ralph M. Williams Jr. Elementary School in Rockledge. The project will be completed before the start of school in August.

size that both municipalities worked together,” said Brevard County School Board Member Matt Susin, whose

Viera Voice | June 2020

4th district encompasses Rockledge to U.S. 192 in West Melbourne. “Everybody is kind of strapped for money

these days. So, this was a great way to overcome a major hurdle and alleviate a serious road problem.” Williams principal Wesley Herold said it’s been a persistent problem at the school for the past six years. “This is a neighborhood school,” Herold said. “Most of our 600 kids are bikers, walkers or are driven to school. There is only one way in and out.” Herold said the school received many complaints that people couldn’t get to their homes or go to work because they were stuck in traffic. He said the worst time is in the afternoon between 2:30 and 3 p.m. “Traffic would be backed up in both directions for 20 or more minutes,” he added. “Another concern was that emergency vehicles couldn’t get through and some people would drive their cars up on the sidewalk, endangering people that were walking.” Although most businesses, schools and other

organizations have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, Hann said the project is on schedule to be finished before the new school year starts in midAugust. “Construction has been continuing because it’s outdoors and workers are maintaining social distancing,” she said. School officials also praised the efforts of Brevard County Commissioner Kurt Smith of District 4. “He was instrumental in making the project a reality,” Hann said. Williams, named in memory of a minority leader for education in the local community, opened its campus in one of the Space Coast’s most rapidly growing residential development areas in August 1999. The school accommodates a diverse student population from the Viera East, Rockledge and Cocoa communities. V V

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Viera Charter School acknowledges our amazing Mighty Panther students for their resilient character in these uncertain times with this acrostic poem Letters in this king-size photo quilt are held by faculty, administration, staff and Governing Board Chairman Robert Jordan. Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; performance during our live daily online instruction and interaction with their teacher and peers has been stellar. We look forward to welcoming students back in the fall to our brand-new middle school with gymnasium, new cafeteria, added track and athletics fields, and totally renovated and expanded elementary school with new multipurpose rooms.

For more information, go to vieracharterschool.com, or call 321-541-1434.

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Viera Voice | June 2020

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VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Michelle Salyer

When construction is completed, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy will have one of the most impressive sports complexes in Central Florida.

Holy Trinityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fieldhouse of dreams nears completion BY MARIA SONNENBERG Up to now, Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy athletes did not have much in the way of convenient lockers. Tiger fans were in no better shape when it came to restroom facilities during sporting events. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The only existing locker rooms are located adjacent to the gym and are not convenient for field sports such as soccer, lacrosse and football. And, for the last few years, we have been using a portable restroom trailer to supplement a very small restroom building midway between the main campus and the field,â&#x20AC;? said Michelle Salyer, the director of marketing and communications. Come fall, things are going to be very different as the Melbourne preparatory school unveils its new 13,000-square-foot Shah Family Fieldhouse, which will house home and visitor locker rooms, concessions,

VIERA VOICE Michelle Salyer

Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy president Katherine Cobb was present during the pouring of the foundation.

strength and conditioning facilities, athletic trainer facilities, office/meeting space, an outdoor dining pavilion â&#x20AC;Ś and plenty of restrooms.

The new facility will be busy, since 86 percent of the students are active in athletics and all students participate in physical education classes. Visiting teams, fans and visitors for district and regional games and meets also will benefit from the new building. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This marks the first major addition to our campus since the building of the Scott Center 15 years ago, and truly helps us fulfill our mission to educate the whole child in mind, body and spirit,â&#x20AC;? said school president Katherine M. Cobb. The project is part of a $5.5 million capital campaign to create the Tiger Athletic Complex, which includes the installation of an NFLquality synthetic turf field for field sports and physical education classes, a Plexitrac athletic track surface and a stadium. Sidewalks and 66 more

parking spaces near the athletic facility also will be added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Tiger Athletic Complex will totally change the game for Holy Trinity athletics,â&#x20AC;? Cobb added. When the foundation was poured in April, a Bible was placed on the threshold, open to Ephesians 2:20, which reads â&#x20AC;&#x153;And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;As a Christian school, Christ is the foundation and cornerstone of all we do, and it is important to us to let the hundreds or thousands of student athletes who enter this

building know that this is a well-designed building with a firm foundation,â&#x20AC;? Cobb explained. Making the Tiger Athletic Complex possible are major donors that include Kelly Automotive and the Mike and Rashmi Shah family. Fundraising continues for the Tigers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the Holy Trinity community behind us, I believe we can complete funding the project in the coming months,â&#x20AC;? said Colleen Middlebrooks, the director of advancement at the school. V V For additional photos, check out the online version of this story at vieravoice.com.

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Viera Voice | June 2020

ART &Culture

Dominic Chung, left, and Scarlett Chung, right, have worked closely with Loretta Fox.

VIERA VOICE Jill Blue

Jacqueline Chung said learning to play the harp is a dream come true.

Creative Music Art & Learning Center adjusts during anniversary celebration BY GEORGE WHITE Loretta Fox never expected a global pandemic to cut short her February celebration of 20 years as the founder and director of Creative Music Art & Learning Center at 1299 Bedford Drive in Melbourne. But, with virtual lessons, she and her other instructors have never missed a beat. Fox, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees, as well as a Ph.D., in education, directed musicals in college

and was a church organist for 10 years. After 30 years with the Wisconsin public school system, Fox retired and moved to Brevard County. She then taught kindergarten at Suntree United Methodist Church Preschool for four years. That was followed by six years as the music teacher. Still wanting to teach music, Fox opened Creative Music & Art Center in February 2000. “It’s kind of evolved. My

first thought, as a teacher, was that I would also tutor art and other subjects. But, the piano lessons sort of took over,’’ she said. Fox added lessons in violin, voice, guitar and harp. The range begins at age 4 with the “Little Mozart” program and goes up to adults. Her most popular age group is from about third grade to eighth grade, and the most popular instrument is the piano. Most of the 150 families involved in the center went

to virtual lessons seamlessly and have thrived in the program ever since. “Virtual lessons work out nice because it’s still one on one,’’ Fox said. “And, with the younger students, we have the parents on hand in case they need to take notes (from the teacher) on the music. Now, the students have requested to stay with virtual lessons over the summer.’’ As for the growth and success of the center, Fox deflects the praise onto her

staff, many of whom have taught there for several years. “It has advanced because of my wonderful teachers, who do such a good job they get students by word of mouth,” she said. When the center does resume on-site classes, masks and social distancing will be required and parents will no longer be allowed to use the waiting room. They will have to remain in their cars. V V

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Artist’s eclectic, in-your-face paintings tell stories BY JUDY BERMAN Steven Tyler’s concert screams can almost be heard emanating from Mike Persichetti’s painting. That’s how real the Aerosmith lead singer appears on the Suntree artist’s canvas. “That’s one of my favorites,” said his wife, Denae, who encouraged him to paint it.

“I like whatever is fun to paint. Like musicians have their own sound, I want mine to be my own style, not like everyone else's.” — Mike Persichetti

Persichetti said his art can best be described as inyour-face, bright, large-scale, eclectic pop art. You can see some of his paintings at the Art Gallery of Viera in The Avenue. “I like whatever is fun to paint. Like musicians have their own sound, I want mine to be my own style, not like

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VIERA VOICE photo

Mike Persichetti displays some of his eclectic paintings at the Art Gallery of Viera.

everyone else’s,” he said. He says Garibaldi, an American performance artist, influenced his style. “I like the way Garibaldi’s paintings look … the way it

splatters, the way the paint drips. It’s not perfect. But it’s how he sees it,” he said. About 10 years ago, Persichetti saw Garibaldi, in concert, paint a full-scale

painting in 6 to 10 minutes. That inspired him to create time-lapse videos of his own works. Persichetti paints whatever looks fun to paint — Audrey

Hepburn, Beetlejuice or Uncle Scrooge. “We’re Disney people.

ECLECTIC ART

continued to page 29

Viera Voice | June 2020

ART &

Culture

Artist Ferguson brings it all together as a watercolorist BY JUDY BERMAN Cut glass or folds in fabric can be a challenge in still-life paintings. “Sometimes, it’s like you’re working out a puzzle to get everything just right. There is so much detail and to make it all look like it goes together,” said watercolorist Therese Payne Ferguson. Her “Strawberry Wine” painting, on display at The Art Gallery of Viera in The Avenue, features a mix of cut glass, strawberries and a delicate tablecloth. Flowers — especially bromeliads — animals and birds are favorite subjects Ferguson paints in rich, vibrant colors. While she works in many mediums, watercolor is her main interest. “I saw a demo once, and it was of an artist doing a watercolor scene. It just blew me away watching how they did all the layering, all the transparency, and the vivid colors,” said Ferguson, an Eau Gallie resident who was 3 years old when her parents moved to Florida from Charleston, West Virginia. Nancy Dillen said

Ferguson was one of her first students when she taught at Brevard Community College. Dillen often visits Ferguson’s studio during the Eau Gallie Art District’s First Fridays. “She always has strong contrasts in textures and colors, creating a dynamic composition,” Dillen said. “You’ll see something very lacy and delicate paired with something simple and flat,” Dillen said. Ferguson’s decision to place a warm color next to a cool, and a light next to a dark, are what makes her compositions and scenes pop, Dillen said. “Most people are intimidated about putting the dark in,” Ferguson said. “That’s what gives (the painting) the 3-D effect, the depth.” She advises her students that “if it looks right when it’s wet, it’s wrong when it dries.” That’s because watercolor always looks much darker and richer when it’s first put down. When it dries, it’s much lighter as it soaks into the paper. Patience is the key, she said. “Just believe it’s going

Therese Payne Ferguson is proud of her “Strawberry Wine” painting.

to get there.” “Once in a while, when the color does its own thing, you just have to be willing to take a different journey.”

On April 1, Ferguson was going to be the honoree at the fifth annual Women We Love Luncheon for the contributions she’s made to

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VIERA VOICE Judy Berman

the Eau Gallie Art District. The event was postponed.V V Watch a video highlight of Therese Payne Ferguson at artgalleryofviera.com.

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Getting ready for hurricane season

HURRICANE HELP GUIDE

• 2020 predictions • What's in a name?

• Helpful information

• Hurricane checklist • Emergency contacts

• FPL ready for season • Hurricane history • Forecasting improves

BE PREPARED

2020 Hurricane Help and Information Guide Stories, pages 20-22

Brevard County residents can call 2-1-1 for up-to-date local information on hurricanes as part of a partnership with Brevard County Emergency Management.

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Viera Voice | June 2020

HURRICANE

The 2020 Hurricane Help and Information Guide BY CHRIS BONANNO

HELP GUIDE

The 5 Steps to Prepare Step 1: Know Your Risk Step 2: Build a Kit

Step 3: Have a Plan Step 4: Stay Informed

Step 5: Get Involved Source: brevardfl.gov/emergencymanagement

What to Do in the Event of a Tropical Cyclone Before

During

After

• Review your five steps on your Pathways to Preparedness • Decide early whether you will evacuate, and where you will go if ordered to leave • Prepare your home

• If you don’t live in an evacuation zone, find a safe room within your home (an interior room, closet or bathroom) • Do not go outside during the storm until the National Weather Service confirms the storm has left the area

• Return home when local officials say it is safe • Check in with family and friends by texting or using social media • Avoid walking or driving through floodwaters

Preparing for an Emergency Kit Basic Disaster Supply Kit We recommend having the following items as part of your basic disaster supply kit: • Water: one gallon of water per person, per day, for at least three days • Food: at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food • Battery-powered or hand crank radio, a weather radio and extra batteries • Flashlight and extra batteries • First aid kit • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties • Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items • Manual can opener for food • Local maps • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

• Cash • Important family documents such as copies of insurance policies and identification

Additional Supplies Once your basic supply kit has been stocked, additional items to consider include: • • • • • •

Prescription medications and glasses Infant formula and diapers Pet food and extra water for your pet Shot records for pet(s) A carrier for each pet Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each person • Complete change of clothing • Matches in a waterproof container • Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils

• Whistle to signal for help • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities • Books, games, puzzles or other activities for children • Paper and pen/pencil

Persons with Disabilities By evaluating your own personal needs and making an emergency plan, you can be better prepared for any situation. Inventory what you use every day to live independently. Identify the essential items you will need for at least three days. Stock custom essentials in your kit like: • • • • •

Durable medical equipment Assistive technology List of medications Contact information for doctors Have a method to communicate your impairments and needs

Emergency management officials urge hurricane preparedness with COVID-19 in mind It might be a little difficult for some to consider preparations for the upcoming hurricane season, which officially began June 1, particularly in the midst of such an abnormal situation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, it’s clear that preparedness efforts are essential, especially so given the looming possibility of above-average activity during the Atlantic hurricane season in 2020. “Our advice with regard to hurricane preparedness during the COVID-19 pandemic: people should consider COVID in every step of their planning,” said Brevard County Emergency Management director Kimberly Prosser in an e-mail. Prosser detailed steps that residents should take with their preparedness efforts relative to the virus: 1. Know your risks. Now, these risks aren’t just for your home and family situation, but also for the

Viera Voice | June 2020

transmission of COVID and your vulnerability. 2. Build a kit. Now, ensure that you have masks, hand sanitizer and whatever else you need to keep yourself and your family safe. 3. Have a plan. Reconsider your plans regarding where you will go and what you will do if a storm approaches. If you were planning to stay with a friend or family member, do they have COVID, are they risk-tolerant and are you risk-tolerant? Are you able to socially distance in their home? If you were planning to go to a public shelter, are you comfortable being in a larger group of people, without knowing their COVID status, even if they are all wearing masks? 4. Stay informed. This remains the same: Like “Brevard County Emergency Management” on Facebook, follow @ BrevardEOC on Twitter, or text BREVARDEOC

to 888777 to sign up for text messages. Also, go to brevardfl.gov/ EmergencyManagement and register for emailed press releases at sites such as sites.brevardcounty.us/ PIRA/PIRA. “Every year we preach to residents, through messaging and through press releases to know your risk, be prepared, make a kit and stay informed and that’s no less important this year,” said Don Walker, the communications director with Brevard County Emergency Management. “In fact, it’s more important this year because you need to do that as early as you can this year with the pandemic in mind along with the hurricane season.” Walker also indicated it would be a good idea for residents to check on things they normally would from a supply perspective using batteries for such things as flashlights, non-perishable foods and water as examples of items they should check

to make sure they have. He also advocated for residents to have sheltering and evacuation plans in place. There’s never any better time than starting today to get ready for hurricane season,” Walker added. In the event a hurricane does threaten the area, shelters will be open in Brevard, Prosser said. “More facility spaces will need to be opened to allow for social distancing, and masks will be supplied,” Prosser said. Having said that, most residents of Viera and Suntree probably won’t need to utilize them. “In the Viera/Suntree area, for the most part, those homes are well-built, well inland, and not mobile/manufactured homes. So, it is unlikely that they would need to evacuate,” Prosser said. Prosser added that more pertinent information could be found at the Federal Emergency Management Association’s website, ready.gov.

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Look out for a wild 2020 hurricane season Meteorologists are projecting the 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season to have above-average activity. If so, it would be the fifth-consecutive season with above average activity, according to Gerry Bell, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center. On May 21, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its projection for the season. In it, NOAA predicts: • 13 to 19 named storms • 3 to 10 hurricanes • 3 to 6 major hurricanes That forecast was in line with that made by another prominent forecast produced in April by Colorado State University, which forecasted: • 16 named storms • 8 hurricanes

• 4 major hurricanes There are numerous amounts of factors that go into these forecasts, said Kevin Rodriguez, public and winter weather program leader and Spanish language liaison with the National Weather Service in Melbourne in an e-mail. “Meteorologists and climatologists from NOAA, including the National Hurricane Center and the Climate Prediction Center, look at a variety of atmospheric and oceanic parameters when creating a seasonal forecast,” Rodriguez said. “Forecasters assess the probability of an active, near normal, or below normal season based on recent trends in sea surface temperatures, the location of atmospheric high and low-

pressure systems, and other global weather influences such as El Niño and La Niña.” “Keep in mind that these forecasts can change as the season goes on, which is why NOAA produces the seasonal outlook in late May, then releases an update in August before peak season.” On a conference call to discuss the forecast on May 21, Bell cited conditions for this year’s edition that are attributable to that on a larger scale that have been favorable for development in general since 1995. He also cited warmer water temperatures and weaker trade winds in the Atlantic as reasons, along with weaker vertical wind shear and an enhanced west African monsoon. The likely continuation of a neutral El

Niño Oscillation Cycle, which measures the warming or cooling of equatorial waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, and the possibility of La Niña, a cooling of the Pacific waters which can lead to more active Atlantic Hurricane seasons. Rodriguez urged preparedness each year no matter the preseason projections. “Regardless of the forecast, we always urge residents to prepare before the season begins,” Rodriguez added. “This includes determining your personal risk, creating a written plan, gathering supplies (food, medicine, water, etc.), ensuring your home insurance is up-todate, and strengthening your home by trimming trees and ensuring your shutters are in working order.”

What’s in a name when it comes to hurricanes? Frances. Jeanne. Fay. Matthew. Irma. Dorian. We remember tropical storms and hurricanes that have impacted our area almost rhythmically thanks to their designated monikers. But just how and why are storms named? Tropical cyclones, according to Oceanside.noaa.gov, were first named in 1953 in the United States but were only given female names. In 1978, both male and female names were used for storms in the Pacific basin and that same policy carried over to the Atlantic for the

1979 season. The names, which are decided upon for tropical cyclones in each of the world’s basins, rotate on six-year intervals and alternate the male and female names, which are designated by the World Meteorological Organization. Storm names that have extraordinarily negative impacts on populated areas are retired. For instance, the last time the name Andrew was used was in 1992 and the last time the name a tropical cyclone was called Katrina was 2005.

This year’s names for the Atlantic season are as follows:

• • • • • • • • • • •

Arthur (already used) Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gonzalo Hanna Isaias Josephine Kyle

• Laura • Marco • Nana • Omar • Paulette • Rene • Sally • Teddy • Vicky • Wilfred

Florida Power & Light says its ready for 2020 storms Among the biggest concerns with an approaching tropical cyclone in our area is whether or not residences and businesses will lose power and how long it’ll take for the electricity to come back if they do. Florida Power and Light officials said that both their preventative and restoration efforts have improved, particularly as the result of work that began following the 2004 and 2005 hurricane season, during which time Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, Wilma and Katrina all impacted the state. FPL noted the following improvements that will have been completed by 2020 in the Melbourne area since

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2005 in a release from the company including FPL having: • Strengthened 24 main power lines, including those that serve critical services • Reviewed 2,816 miles of power lines, clearing an average of 201 miles of tree branches and vegetation per year • Inspected all 21,972 power poles every eight years • Installed smart grid technology, including 1,889 automated switches on main and neighborhood power lines • Inspected 115 main power lines and equipment using infrared technology The efforts, according to FPL spokesperson Marie

Bertot, paid off during Hurricane Irma, which impacted populations on both the Gulf and Atlantic coasts in 2017. “We had already restored one million customers before it (Irma) had exited the state of Florida, Bertot said. “…. After one full day of restoration, we had restored two million customers.” There are some unique circumstances to any potential restoration efforts this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Bertot noted. During the restoration efforts for Hurricane Irma, crews from 30 states and Canada were called upon to assist in helping get the power back in the 35-county area that

FPL covers. The virus “may limit our ability to bring in outside resources,” according to Bertot. “It (restoration) may take longer,” Bertot said. “…. Our commitment doesn’t change though.” Customers can report outages via phone at 1-800-4-OUTAGE. They can get text alerts by texting “JOIN” to 63975 on their cell phones. An application for cell phones can also be downloaded through either the AppStore or Google Play, according to FPL’s website. They can also view outages online at fpl.com/ powertracker.

Viera Voice | June 2020

Brevard has seen its fair share of tropical cyclones BY CHRIS BONANNO It might seem hard to believe given that Brevard County has 72 miles of coastline in a state that is seemingly synonymous with hurricanes, but a major hurricane has never made landfall in Brevard since recordings began in the 1850s. We’ve had some very close calls, most notably last year with Dorian, in 2016 with Matthew and in 1999 with Hurricane Floyd, all of which prompted evacuations and led to some stressful times for residents. Still, as both relatively new and longtime residents can attest to, Brevard has had its fair share of encounters with tropical cyclones. Here’s a look at the five that were most impactful along the Space Coast:

Hurricane Frances (2004): Frances was

a large storm that made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in early September on Hutchinson Island in St. Lucie County. It was a relatively slowmoving system, and with Brevard on the northern side of the storm, Brevard saw some fairly rough weather. The National Weather Service office in

Melbourne recorded a peak wind gust of 63 mph and noted receiving 7.95 inches of rain. Frances produced a 6-foot storm surge in Cocoa Beach and the storm impacted an area that had been fortunate to get off relatively unscathed from the impacts of Hurricane Charley. Charley made landfall near Punta Gorda in southwest Florida as a Category 4 hurricane weeks earlier and its center went over Orlando after landfall as a weaker but still damaging storm. Frances, unfortunately, was just the first of a onetwo punch on the Space Coast in 2004.

Hurricane Irma (2017): Hurricane

Matthew the year before was perhaps a more frightening experience given that the storm came so close to land, but the fact Brevard was on the storm’s west, or weaker side, lessened the impacts. Although Irma was generally more of a threat to make a first direct landfall in South Florida, Brevard spent a significant amount of time ranging from a Sunday afternoon to a Monday morning on the north and east sides

of the storm, which led to issues locally even as the storm’s center made landfall south of Naples and drew no closer than when it was between Tampa and Orlando after landfall. Ultimately, Irma caused a myriad of issues such as power outages and generally left the area looking, well, as though a storm had come through. Sustained winds of more than 50 mph were recorded near State Road 528 on Merritt Island, with an 82 mph wind gust having been recorded there as well, according to the National Hurricane Center. Rainfall also was an issue with the storm, as two recording stations in Palm Bay, for example, each recorded more than 10 inches of rainfall from Irma.

was recorded on South Melbourne Beach, according to the National Hurricane Center, as the storm’s center came on through. The Kennedy Space Center, which recorded a 77 mph wind gust of its own, received nearly 7 inches of rain from David.

Tropical Storm Fay (2008): Fay is the poster

problems locally, the name Fay was not retired as is the case with storms that have particularly negative consequences for an area. The name “Fay” is on the list of names for the 2020 Atlantic season.

Hurricane Jeanne (2004): You can debate

up the coastline, paralleling the Space Coast and making a landfall of sorts on the barrier island after it made landfall near West Palm Beach as a Category 2 hurricane, though it registered as a Category 1 as it brushed Brevard. Melbourne recorded a peak wind gust of 90 mph as the storm passed by and an 86 mph gust

child for residents needing to take heed not just of the threats posed by hurricanes, but also tropical storms. The storm made its first landfall on the Gulf Coast and a second north of Brevard, but its lasting legacy will be the copious amounts of rainfall it left on the Space Coast as the storm simply refused to budge from its position near Brevard for days before heading west toward the Gulf of Mexico and an eventual third landfall on the panhandle of the state. Melbourne, according to a report from the National Hurricane Center, broke a 50-year rainfall record with the event and many locations in Brevard received well over 20 inches of rain from the storm, including Viera, which received 20.75 inches of rain in total from the storm. Though it caused major

whether or not Jeanne truly was the most impactful storm ever to hit Brevard, but it certainly did come at the worst time, impacting our area roughly three weeks after Frances did. Jeanne incredibly made landfall as a Category 3 storm after performing a loop of sorts off the east coast of Florida and perhaps even more incredibly, made landfall at nearly the exact same spot Frances did on Hutchinson Island It was essentially a slightly more intense version of what Brevard saw earlier in the month, with the NWS Melbourne office recording a sustained wind of 79 mph and rainfall amounts just above 6 inches. In addition to Frances and Jeanne, the state itself saw Hurricanes Charley and Ivan make landfall as major hurricanes as part of what was truly an unforgettable hurricane season. V V

residents quite a bit of time to prepare. “Hurricane track forecasts have been improving little-by-little most years and quite substantially over longer periods of time,” said Scott Spratt, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Melbourne, in an e-mail. “On average, there has been a 21 percent improvement between the very active 2004 season and 2019. Since the individual impacts and their timing are strongly dependent upon the hurricane track, this improvement has allowed forecasters to better define when, where and how significant wind damage, storm surge inundation, flooding and tornadoes are likely to be. “In turn, these improved assessments allow for more precise coastal evacuations; achievement of greater public readiness; and positioning of resources and personnel to allow for a faster post-storm recovery than in the past.” Perhaps in large part because of these upgrades,

the public seemed prepared for the events, Spratt said. “Overall, I believe the public response was good,” Spratt said. “Hurricane awareness is probably higher than it’s ever been; with so many sources of weather and safety planning information readily available to most citizens. That said, it’s pertinent that residents follow official and trusted sources of local information to ensure it’s accurate, timely and consistent.” The best news? Hurricane forecasting could even more precise in the years to come, Spratt added. “There are a number of recent and upcoming innovations, which should help continue the trend of more accurate tropical weather forecasts,” Spratt added. First, greater computer processing power will further improve the resolution of numerical hurricane models, leading to lower hurricane track and intensity errors, especially within the threeto seven-day range. Second, much more atmospheric and oceanographic data will

be collected from within the hurricane environment, as well as from areas surrounding the storm, and ingested into computer models.” “Much of this data will be derived from a new generation of weather satellites and aircraft reconnaissance missions — both manned and unmanned, as well as from probes dropped into the ocean ahead of the storm. And third, improved techniques for combining and weighting different model output will continue to be devised, allowing hurricane forecasters to use their expertise to capitalize upon dozens of individual pieces of computer guidance.” Those who wish to view forecasts from the National Hurricane Center should go to nhc.noaa.gov and those who want to view them from the National Weather Service should go to nws.noaa.gov. There, users can point and click on areas of the country to get information from local offices. V V

Hurricane David (1979): David slithered

Upgrades in hurricane forecasting helped Dorian, will aid forecasters in future BY CHRIS BONANNO

It certainly wasn’t good news that Hurricane Dorian threatened Brevard County last year. But a positive that can be taken from the event could be seen in the immense amount of time residents

had to prepare for the storm. Last year’s event highlighted the advances in hurricane forecasting that have been made in recent years. The forecast for Dorian, which from a long-term track perspective was very good, helped give

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Viera Voice | June 2020

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COVID-19

Helpful Articles & Resources

IMPORTANT CONTACTS: BREVARD COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT WEBSITE: brevardfl.gov/emergency-event/status-reports PHONE: 321-637-6670

FLORIDA HEALTH CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES WEBSITE: floridahealthcovid19.gov PHONE: 850-245-4111

BREVARD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WEBSITE: brevard.floridahealth.gov PHONE: 321-454-7111

GOVERNMENT UPDATES WEBSITE: whitehouse.gov PHONE: 202-456 -1111

CDC CORONA VIRUS PAGE: cdc.gov/coronavirus

NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE: 800-799-7233

DISASTER DISTRESS HELPLINE: 800-985-5990

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION: who.int

Local groups step up to help during pandemic SPECIAL TO VIERA VOICE

VIERA VOICE Courtesy of the Viera’s Woman's Club

Local nurses wear some of the masks created by GFWC Viera Woman's Club members.

Two local groups took action to fill a need by making cloth face masks to help the community during the coronavirus pandemic. Members of the Greater Federation of Women's Clubs- Viera Woman’s Club have kept busy using their sewing skills to make cloth masks and dispense them to the Health First Distribution Center and to nurses, who were happy to receive them. Some face masks also were distributed to friends, family and neighbors. The Abigail Wright Chamberlin Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) also has been making face mask and ear protector headbands, ensuring support for Melbourne’s residents during the coronavirus pandemic. “While we are each doing our part to slow the spread of the virus by staying at home, the DAR members in our chapter wanted to

do more to give back to our neighbors,” said Cathy Jaskiewicz, the regent of the Abigail Wright Chamberlin Chapter. “We know these are tough times for everyone and we wanted to do whatever we could to spread a little sunshine and help take care of our community.” To date, the DAR chapter’s donations have been 346 face masks and 30 ear protector headbands, which have taken more than 225 hours collectively to make. Masks and headbands have been distributed to friends, neighbors, Crossnore, a DAR-supported school, Children’s Home, Orlando Health, Advent of Orlando and several cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Nationwide, DAR chapters from all 50 states have been participating in the organization’s Service to America From Home initiative by supporting a variety of efforts in local communities, including creating care packages for essential workers,

providing food to those with diminished resources and responding to the medical mask shortage by hand sewing masks to donate to medical facilities in need. More than 262,449 masks and 11,669 PPE have been donated by DAR members across the country and thousands more are produced every day to be distributed in local communities. “I am exceptionally proud of what our DAR members are accomplishing as part of a proud tradition of service that dates to our 1890 founding,” said Denise Doring VanBuren, the DAR president general. “In difficult times like these, we know that it is not the emergency that defines us, but how we respond to it.” For DAR membership inquiries and other questions about the Abigail Wright Chamberlin Chapter, contact Michelle Abbey at imafldar@gmail.com. To learn more about DAR, go to dar.org. V V

agencies will never: • Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended. • Tell you about crimes committed in your name, or offer to resolve identity theft or a benefit problem in exchange for payment. • Request a specific means of debt repayment, like a retail gift card, prepaid debit card, wire transfer, internet currency or cash. • Insist on secrecy about a legal problem, or tell you to make up stories to tell family, friends or store employees.

Scammers continue to develop new ways to mislead you. They might use the names of Social Security officials and tell you to look them up on public websites (where they learned the names themselves). Or, they might email you officiallooking documents with a letterhead that looks like it’s from Social Security or Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Don’t believe them! Social Security will never email you attachments that have your personal information in them.

If you ever owe money to Social Security, the agency will mail you a letter, explaining your payment options and your appeal rights. If you get a call about a Social Security problem, be very cautious. If you do not have ongoing business with the agency, or if the caller mentions suspending your Social Security number or makes other threats, the call is likely a scam. Ignore it, hang up and report it at oig.ssa.gov. V V Kimberly LaPorta is a Social Security district manager in Melbourne.

Watch out for ruthless Social Security scammers BY KIMBERLY LAPORTA June is World Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Throughout the month, government agencies, businesses and organizations sponsor events to unite communities, seniors, caregivers, governments and the private sector to prevent the mistreatment of and violence against older people. Scammers often target older people. They use fear to pressure people into providing personal information or money. In times like the current pandemic when people are

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particularly vulnerable, scammers will pretend to be government employees, often from Social Security, to gain people’s trust to steal their money and personal information. The most effective way to defeat scammers is by knowing how to identify scams then hanging up or ignoring the calls. What you can do If you get a Social Security scam phone call, hang up, report it to the law enforcement office at oig. ssa.gov, and tell family and friends about it. Government

Viera Voice | June 2020

Heritage Isle honors beloved 96-year-old Heche BY CHRIS BONANNO On May 13, a parade to celebrate the 96th birthday of World War II veteran "Wild" Bill Heche was held in the Heritage Isle subdivision in Viera. The parade was led by a Brevard County Fire Rescue engine, which was followed by a host of well-wishers in vehicles, with most of them waving American flags of varying size as they drove by. "I'm shocked. I can't believe it," Heche said.

East Coast Christian remembers first responders BY CHRIS BONANNO East Coast Christian Center and local residents honored first responders and those working on the frontlines in the fight against COVID-19 on April 27 as a drive-through parade was staged at Health First Viera Hospital. The parade also stretched onto Vidina Drive and passed by the Viera Del Mar Health and Rehabilitation Center. East Coast Chrisian also brought pizza and good cheer to for those changing shifts.

Chateau Madeleine offers free lunches for unemployed BY CHRIS BONANNO The Chateau Madeleine Senior Living & Memory Care facility, located off Wickham Road in Suntree, offered free lunches in May to those who are unemployed and in need. The lunches, made at the facilityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dining area, were placed in bags and given to customers as they drove in front of the facility. Lunches were free up to $15 and then patrons were asked to pay the difference if the orders were of any greater value.

Social-distance parade cheers up Viera Del Mar residents BY CHRIS BONANNO A parade was held May 7 for residents of the Viera Del Mar Health & Rehabilitation Center, located on Vidina Drive in Viera. Many who participated in the parade had signs as they drove past residents, who were lined up in a socially-distanced manner along with Viera Del Mar personnel on a sidewalk outside of the center.

Viera Voice | June 2020

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Viera Voice | June 2020

Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS 52 Off the track 1 Cozy dwelling 53 In a low-risk manner 5 A mummy may have 54 Abrade 55 Undersized one 10 Conviction 12 Din DOWN 13 Naval force 1 Rome’s fiddler 14 Cowboy’s seat 2 Brat in “Blondie” 15 Latitude 3 Where Anna taught 16 “Hey, —!” 4 Danson 18 Exploit or Turner 19 Machine parts 5 Financial whiz 21 Certain corn chip 6 Karachi language 25 Blanks 7 Drapery supports 29 Sticks around 8 Discount event 30 Earth 9 Sooner 32 Account entries than anon 33 — tube 10 Candy shape 34 Tomato jellies 11 Dunaway 37 Down and out of films 38 Lamp-plug part 12 Seize power 40 Solidify 17 W. Hemisphere grp. 43 “Shogun” apparel 19 Loose talk 44 Wrongful act 20 Carpentry job 48 Planet before 21 “Most Wanted” org. Uranus 22 Moreno 50 Shore bird or Rudner

23 Date in March 24 Office sub. 26 Volcano shape 27 Sea eagle 28 Musher’s vehicle 31 Help with the dishes 35 Close companion 36 Express grief 39 Playful bites 40 Window part 41 Grammy winner — James 42 Grass 44 Soybean food 45 Baker’s must 46 Bank (on) 47 Get a taste of 48 Pouch 49 Funny Charlotte — 51 Baby’s seat

Crossword Solution, page 34

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Viera Voice | June 2020

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Summer Art Activities Kids & Adults Everything you need to complete a beautiful summer art project Summer Art Kits available for purchase in store or online at artgalleryofviera.com. Pick up kit orders at the Art Gallery of Viera at The Avenue Viera or have them shipped to you home.

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Viera Voice | June 2020

Kids' Mini Page June 2020

Founded by Betty Debnam

Mini Fact:

Summer Foods

Vanilla is Americans’ favorite flavor of ice cream.

Yum! Yum!

WATERMELON Watermelon was first grown in Africa thousands of years ago. In some African areas during dry spells, watermelons were the only source of water. European colonists brought watermelons to America.

FRESH TOMATOES

What’s your favorite summer food? Now is the time to enjoy juicy fruits, fresh vegetables and allAmerican traditions. Let’s learn more about some of our summertime standards.

ICE CREAM

One of the first frozen desserts was made nearly 2,000 years ago. Runners brought snow from the mountains to Roman Emperor Nero. He flavored it with honey and juices. In the late 1200s, the Italian explorer Marco Polo brought a sherbert recipe home from Asia. (Sherbert is made with ice and milk.) In the 1700s, ice cream was popular in America as well. Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were big fans. When rivers froze in the winter, people often collected the river ice. They then stored it in sawdust in special ice houses to make ice cream in warmer weather. But few could afford it. In the 1900s, electricity and refrigeration made ice cream a treat for everyone. What are some of your favorite summer foods and traditions? Share and compare your list of the tastiest summer foods with a friend or sibling.

APPLE PIE Apple pie is so popular in the United States that we say, “As American as apple pie.” Apple pie was probably invented in England. When the Pilgrims came to America, they brought apple seeds and recipes with them. In the late 1700s, a preacher, John Chapman, began traveling through the Ohio and Indiana frontier, planting apple trees. For about 50 years, he taught settlers how to grow the trees. People began calling him Johnny Appleseed.

HOT DOGS Americans eat about 20 billion hot dogs every year! No one really knows who invented the hot dog. Experts believe that German immigrants brought sausagemaking recipes to America in the late 1800s. Some German immigrants also brought over their long dachshund dogs. A sausage served in a bun was called a “dachshund sausage” or “little-dog sausage.” College students started calling them “hot dogs.”

Tomatoes ripened outdoors in the sun are a special summer treat. Tomatoes have been grown in South and Central America for centuries. Spanish explorers brought tomatoes from Mexico to Europe in the 1500s. However, many Europeans thought they were poisonous and refused to eat them. The legend is that in 1820, a man who liked tomatoes, Col. Robert Johnson, ate tomatoes in front of a crowd in Salem, New Jersey. Everyone thought he would die before their eyes. When he didn’t, people began to believe tomatoes were safe to eat.

CORN ON THE COB Corn on the cob is from a variety called “sweet corn,” and is best eaten before the corn kernels are fully grown. Only about 10 percent of the country’s corn crop is eaten by people. About half the corn is used to feed livestock. The rest is used to make products including syrup, fuel, oil, paint, medicine, cloth, starch and paper. Native Americans living in the area of Mexico were eating corn, or maize, 10,000 years ago. By the time Europeans arrived, people throughout the American continents were eating corn.

Try ’n’ Find

Words that remind us of summer foods are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: AFRICA, AMERICAN, APPLE, CORN, DACHSHUND, EAT, FOOD, FUN, HOT DOG, ICE CREAM, MAIZE, MILK, PIE, SAUSAGE, SEEDS, SHERBET, SUMMER, TOMATO, TRADITION, WATERMELON.

X A C I R F A B B W W Q V N C N P M A I Z E M M S A D S R A S R R E M M U S A E T O H O P T N A C I R E M A E E O E C P D A C H S H U N D D R F R T L U G T O M A T O D S M C B A E I K L I M V F U N Y E D E E J J N O I T I D A R T L X T C P S A U S A G E Z N D O S B W I Y N L H O T D O G G N A M L E

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ECLECTIC ART

continued from page 17

He will take pictures to remember later even when we’re on the Winnie the Pooh ride (when it’s moving),” Denae said. “He’s always working hard at his craft, watching videos to learn something new.” “I like to create a vibe. Something that makes people feel good,” Persichetti said. His painting of the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain was on the cover of Forbes’ Mixology magazine in January along with Chris Adams, owner of the Los Angeles-based Mixology. It’s one of five of

Persichetti’s paintings hanging in the company’s building. Adams said Mixology is a lifestyle brand and part of what they do is storytelling. “All of the paintings he’s done have a lot of depth, a lot of layers and tell stories,” Adams said of Persichetti, who is his brother-in-law. Adams notes the colors used in Bourdain’s painting — the reds, greens and whites. “If you look at Bourdain’s travels, the colors are of the flags of Italy, Spain and Mexico. That painting unintentionally just screams Italy. It’s just very deep. Whether the artist intended it or not, it speaks to you,” Adams said. V V

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Phones, laptops and tablets are all items that we touch many times throughout the day. Just as it is important to wash our hands regularly, it also is important to sanitize these devices regularly. Especially if these devices are shared with other family members or used by friends, it is important that they stay clean. Luckily, disinfecting devices is pretty easy and only requires supplies that you probably already have. Cell phones and tablets For all devices, it is important that they are

turned off and unplugged before starting the sanitizing process. If you have a case for your device, you can remove it from your device and wash it with soap and warm water. Use a cloth to gently rub the case with soap and water, making sure to wash the sides as well. Then, rinse the case and allow it to dry completely before putting it back on the device. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any dirt or dust on your device. Next, slightly dampen a cloth with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol or use a disinfectant wipe to gently rub the surface of the device.

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Seth Headley, an information technology consultant in Melbourne, said that using isopropyl alcohol is OK as long as the cloth is just slightly damp. “You want to just dab a little bit on a cloth,” he said. “You don’t want drips going down the screen.” Make sure to avoid touching any openings, such as a charging port or headphone jack, with your wipe or cloth. Use a dry microfiber cloth to dry your device and you’re ready to go. Laptops and computers Start by turning off the machine and unplugging it from any outlets. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any dirt, dust or smears. Next, rub the surface of the laptop or computer with a disinfectant wipe or a damp cloth with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol. Wipe especially gently on the screen. Wipe the device with a dry microfiber cloth or allow the device a few minutes for the disinfectant to dry. To clean the keyboard, use a dry Q-tip or cotton swab to clean any dirt or crumbs

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It's important to clean your personal devices from time to time.

from the crevices. Next, wet a Q-tip with 70 percent isopropyl alcohol and rub it between the keys. Lightly wipe each key with the Q-tip, being sure not to rub off the lettering on the keyboard. Again, Headley emphasized that the cloth should not be too wet when

disinfecting the keyboard. “You don’t want anything dripping in there,” he said. “The thing I would stress is slightly damp.” To finish, dry the keyboard with a microfiber cloth. Now, the computer has been thoroughly disinfected and is ready for use. V V

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Viera Voice | June 2020

SENIORNews

Fishing is a good way to enjoy the beach

BY GEORGE WHITE Viera residents are in proximity to a variety of social-distance-friendly fishing spots, freshwater, and saltwater, that could represent a healthy new normal hobby. This could be especially true for seniors older than 65 who are exempt from fishing license requirements. The St. Johns River and its lakes can hold a variety of freshwater species such as bluegill and bass, but there also are opportunities for channel catfish and mudfish. Local author and fisherman Rodney Smith wrote “Catching Made Easy and

Enjoying Life on the Indian River Lagoon Coast.” “The private lakes are good and surprisingly we have a lot of local waters that have non-native, but exotic species like tilapia which can get relatively large,’’ he said. Bank fishing, where allowed, is the perfect hobby for social distancing and getting some fresh air, whether or not it turns into a successful trip, he said. “It’s a good thing to do and it’s fun even if you don’t catch a fish,’’ Smith said. Just over the Pineda Causeway, a 20-minute drive away, is the Atlantic Ocean where beaches have now reopened to surf fishing.

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Viera Voice | June 2020

That’s another way to have fun and be safe, according to longtime surf fishing guide and blogger John Detmer. “With surf fishing, you can maintain your safe distances and it’s not as cumbersome as other (measures to prevent the spread of the virus),’’ he said. The hobby not only provides fresh saltwater species fish, but it is a way to get a cardio-vascular workout in while walking through sand and handling the gear. “Surf fishing with friends or family just makes the day fun. Sometimes you’ll have six poles — two for each fisherman — and you can sit in lawn chairs at least 6 feet apart at one end to see which pole gets a hit. If it’s yours, you have to get out of your chair, run like crazy, set the hook and land the fish. That’s the cardio part,’’ he said. In freshwater fishing, you are exempt from fishing license requirements if you are a Florida resident 65 years of age or older and you possess proof of age and residency. That could be a

John Detmer enjoys surf fishing.

Florida driver’s license or ID, or an optional no-cost Resident 65+ hunting and fishing certificate. In saltwater fishing, ages 65 and older also are exempt with proof of age

VIERA VOICE George White

and residency, such as a Florida drivers license or identification card. For more information on fishing regulations and fees, go to myfwc.com. V V

Lockdown leads to renewing friendships both old, new

It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere. Yep, at the top of each hour somewhere in the world, it’s 5 o’clock. It happens at least twice a day at my house lately. Twice on the clock and then as many times as necessary off the clock. I’ve gotten to know many new friends thanks to this policy and the now two-month lockdown. So, those who know me know I’m a beer drinker. But, since this all started, I’ve become fed up with corona and I started to wine a lot. I decided that with all this free time I should answer the lifelong question of which is better — red or white? I got a bottle of each with the goal of getting to the bottom of it. And, boy did I get to the bottom of it. The problem is when I got there, I forgot the question.

Funny thing is... Sammy Haddad Not only that, things started to look a little fuzzy so I decided to get my glasses. A glass of cognac and a glass of vodka. I didn’t know if it would help, but it was worth a shot … or two. Now that was punny but, as you know, alcohol puns are always in pour taste. Well, I might be getting a little punchy being locked up with all this virus hysteria everywhere in the world. So, maybe some other world would be better to hang out in for a while. I gathered some friends such as Jim Beam, Jose Cuervo and Jack Daniels. We’ve

decided to hit the high seas with a ship run by Captain Morgan. I honestly can’t remember when I’ve had a better time. Actually, I couldn’t remember this time either. So, I thought it might be a nice time to get off the high seas and dry out. You guessed it. A dry martini. To pass the time a little faster, I called my best friend Johnnie Walker (regards to JW) and we sat down for a rousing game of cards. You guessed it again — we played Gin. Starting to sense a pattern here? Well, here’s to everything getting back to normal soon. Real soon because I’m starting to think it’s better to be a good liver than to have one. Seriously though folks, just joking and trying to make you smile because alcohol humor is the best — bar none. SL

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Viera Voice | June 2020

There’s a new beginning after the lockdown Countries around the world have started to lift their lockdowns, easing restrictions and allowing non-essential businesses to reopen. Aiming to keep pollution down, there is a common thread in the process — innovate and incentivize green practices. With studies reporting unprecedented drops in air pollution since air quality monitoring from satellites began in the 1990s, countries want to keep the momentum

and establish routines today that will help maintain those low levels. France will invest about $22 million toward a program that encourages people to reduce driving when commuting or traveling short distances. That includes reimbursing bike repairs, paying for cycle training and temporary parking spaces. In Paris, separate lanes for bicycles and new cycle routes will be created. Italy is offering

Solution, Puzzle page 26

approximately $500 to people living in urban areas toward the purchase of bikes. The city of Milan is reallocating road space for walking and cycling. According to Bloomberg. com, that also is happening in England. London “wants people to walk and cycle rather than get in their cars.” The city is adding new bike lanes and widening pavements, while closing whole streets to traffic so commuters and children can safely get to their destinations. Recently, The New York Times reported that the British government announced a $2.42 billion funding package for “active travel” such as cycling and walking. In Belgium, the capital of Brussels will create 25 miles of additional cycle paths to reduce the number of people using public transport. In Germany, Berlin is widening cycle lanes while Chancellor Angela Merkel is looking to propose a post-pandemic stimulus

BEYOND the CURB Marcia Booth

President & Founder, Recycle Brevard

that supports modern technologies and renewable energy such as offering a higher cash incentive for buying electric cars. In the United States, New York will close 100 miles of streets to cars and open them to cyclists and pedestrians. Oakland will close 74 miles of its city’s streets to through traffic, and Charlotte will close some low-speed streets to through traffic and designate them as “Shared Streets.” Many of those measures could have been implemented before the pandemic, but they were not considered a priority. Based on current evidence that emissions from vehicles, power plants and industrial activities as well as everyday individual actions make a real impact, the focus has shifted to efforts

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to maintain improved air quality levels. That’s even when all businesses are in full operation. And how can we do our part in containing the pollution? We can introduce healthy habits and reinforce the practice of sustainable actions. To assist our community with that and also create an opportunity to measure results, Recycle Brevard is using technology. It is partnering with EcoChallenge.org’s online platform and Litterati’s phone app. Those are both practical ways for you to make a difference. For EcoChallenge.org, you select your own actions and challenge yourself to fulfill them at your own pace. Our team, 2020 Recycle Brevard, was among 816 teams from around the globe, 19 from Florida, and placed 120th overall and third statewide in the last challenge launched for Earth Day. You are welcome to join us. For information, contact the team captain, Chris Kane, at cdkane@gmail.com. If you install Litterati on your smart phone, you can join Recycle Brevard and I Pick Up Litter in the Brevard Against Litter 2020 Challenge. The app records any piece of trash you pick up to properly dispose. All you need is to use the app to take pictures of the trash picked up and the app will track the amount of trash you help remove from the environment. It is that easy. As a new phase begins for all of us, let’s share with Greenpeace International the same wish: “May we grow back not to what was but, instead, towards what we can become.” And to all dads out there, happy Father’s Day! V V Email Marcia Booth at Marcia@RecycleBrevard.org.

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Man killed in deputy-involved shooting at Viera assisted-living facility

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A man was shot and killed by a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office deputy at a Viera assisted-living facility in an incident that took place early in the morning, of May 20. According to a release from the BCSO, deputies responded at 6:40 a.m. to the facility, located on the 7400 block of Orchestra Lane, in reference to a man threatening to harm himself. When deputies arrived, they learned that the man concealed a firearm and had displayed it to an employee at the facility. “As our team was trying to stage and go in, they hear a single gunshot and at that point make entry. And, they encounter an individual there at the facility that had a gun in his hand, was moving the gun around at several points, pointed the gun in their direction and they unfortunately had to take action. The individual was shot and pronounced dead a short time later,” said Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, who held a news conference in front of BCSO’s West Precinct on May 20.

VIERA VOICE Chris Bonanno

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said the shooting at the assisted-living facility in Viera has left his department saddened.

Ivey said that the deceased man was “a client at the assisted living facility.” The deputy was placed on paid administrative

leave pending the results of an investigation, Ivey said. “It’s a very sad moment for not only our agency, but for the individual and their family as well,” Ivey added. “Obviously, when you see something like this, thoughts of suicideby-cop, there is a pretty good indicator that that was his direct intention. Some of the other evidence that we’re starting to pull together, giving a good strong indication of that.” An investigation continues into the incident. The deceased man’s body was transported to the Brevard County Medical Examiner’s office for a postmortem exam, BCSO added in the news release. “This is one of those (phenomena) where you and I will probably never understand it because our mind is not at that point. So, we can’t make logic of it, but unfortunately there’s not,” Ivey added. “Our team encounters these and our team does everything they can. We know in this specific case that our team tried to engage him in conversation, tried to create a parallel of being able to talk to him and get him to not do this.” V V

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Viera Voice | June 2020

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Brevard County’s award-winning senior resource magazine

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Viera Voice | June 2020

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Many traits empower the mighty oak The mighty oak often is symbolic of strength and nobility. This is a keystone species because it supports other species in an ecosystem. There are about 90 oak varieties native to the United States. For its seed and fruit, the oak produces acorns. About 24 species of birds and other creatures feed on these. Depending on the oak species, it takes 20 to 30 years for a tree to produce acorns — as small as a pea or as big as a jawbreaker. Ralph Waldo Emerson claimed, “The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn.” Significant traits empower the oak. The trunk stores water for dry periods. The complex root system serves as an anchor. The thick bark shields it from fire. Its tannic acid guards against fungal and insect invasions. At times, the oak’s height and moisture creates a susceptibility to lightning strikes. Incidentally, the solitary white oak highlighted in the movie “The Shawshank Redemption” was split by lightning and later collapsed by strong winds. Commercially, the dense and durable oak is processed for such products as furniture, flooring or barrels to age liquor. White oak resists water and is used for outdoor furniture. Regrettably, the sturdy oak often served as a hanging tree in the Wild West. Before the 19th century, wood was used for shipbuilding. Because of its stability, oak was in demand. Indeed, planks made of oak were used on high-status Viking longships. Southern live oak (of ironlike strength) and white oak were used for the hull of the USS Constitution, launched in 1797. In the War of 1812, British cannon fire bounced off the ship’s impenetrable wooden hull — thus, the name Old Ironsides.

Emblematic of the South is the live oak, commonly referred to as the southern live oak. Nearly evergreen, it replaces its leaves during a short period in the spring. Adding to its splendor are descending limbs reaching to the ground, draped with Spanish moss. Some might survive more than 1,000 years. Legacy trees (of notable value) are frequently the majestic southern live oaks of the Deep South antebellum plantations. The historic Oak Alley Plantation (sugarcane) in Vacherie, Louisiana features the grandeur of 28 live oaks, approximately 300 years old, forming a canopied alley 800 feet in length. The avenue leads from the home to the Mississippi. Part of the movie “Interview wth the Vampire” was filmed there. Florida also is proud of its legacy of southern live oaks. The largest is the Cellon Oak in Cellon Oak Park, Gainesville. It displays a crown spread of 160 feet and is approximately 198 years old. Likewise dramatic is Treaty Oak of Jacksonville with a crown spread of 145 feet and possibly 250 years old. In Britain, the biggest oak tree is the Major Oak in the midst of Sherwood Forest. It is an English oak with a spread of 92 feet and is 800 to 1,000 years old; possibly, it encompasses multiple saplings fused together. Legend claims that it sheltered Robin Hood and his merry men. True, there are many mighty oaks. The grandest is encircled with a yellow ribbon. V V

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Despite pandemic, progress continues on IRL restoration BY VINCE LAMB Work on the Save Our Indian River Lagoon Project Plan continues without delay despite fears about the long-term impact of COVID-19. The Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition has shared some concerns, but it has faith in the community’s commitment to cleaning up the IRL. This work, funded by the half-cent sales tax that was approved by 62 percent of Brevard County voters in 2016, has remained on track. The staff at the Brevard County Natural Resources has worked without interruption to implement, supervise and monitor this work and provide supervision. The Citizen Oversight Committee has continued to meet monthly, except March 2020, to provide leadership. When the sales tax referendum passed in November 2016, the forecasted revenues were approximately $340 million for the 10-year period. With a strong economy entering 2020, sales tax revenues for the duration were revised upward to $484 million. During the first three years, $139 million was collected. While sales tax collections in Brevard County can’t be predicted for the remainder of this term, most experts believe that the amount will equal or exceed the original expectation of $340 million. This amount would allow all of the current projects to be completed. Projects in the planning and permitting stages also should be viable. Other approved projects not yet begun likely can wait until the sales tax forecasts can be accurately updated. Completed projects have been completed that remove 17,000 pounds of nitrogen annually, the most harmful nutrient pollutant in IRL waters. Many people have observed that the water clarity is exceptionally good, especially for a warm month like May. The reduction of residential fertilizer applications have led to

vieravoice.com

Lagoon Straight Talk From the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition

the clear water. Nutrient pollutants that have been reduced or removed by Save Our Indian River Lagoon Plan also have helped. The Restore Our Shores project by the Brevard Zoo has five projects currently underway to provide oyster restoration and living shorelines for more than 56,000 square feet of IRL bottom. That should reduce the nitrogen by approximately 2,200 pounds per year. This work has continued uninterrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers have been required to practice social distancing and wear protective face masks when working closely together. The Brevard Zoo is conducting community fundraising to ensure that the organization remains financially healthy during this unusual pandemic. According to Terry Casto, the chairman of the Marine Resources Council (MRC), “The current financial crisis is creating hardships for many organizations until we figure out how to do business in the new normal. I’m encouraged by the way Dr. Souto and staff have continued to execute the mission of the Marine Resources Council. MRC’s vital water quality program is continuing, the informative Brown Bag lunches are now delivered via Zoom, and our robust mangrove program is continuing replenishment of the IRL shoreline.” Despite these positive assessments, the COVID-19 pandemic will have adverse impacts on the Indian River Lagoon Restoration as well as many elements of our community. The local economy might require years to fully recover. In Florida, tourism provides approximately 20 percent of sales tax revenues. Tourism might be slow to fully recover, but the natural Space Coast

Gynecology

beaches, conservation lands and waterways, as well as launches sending mankind back to space, offer great opportunities to travelers who want to enjoy clean outdoor spaces with plenty of room for social distancing. Good jobs, clean water and quality of life remain essential to keeping our community strong. As we move forward, we need to remind our elected officials that we must continue to fund water quality projects. As individuals, we must consider and adopt our voluntary efforts to help the lagoon. Let’s work together to ensure we remain committed to our efforts to have a healthy Indian River Lagoon — and a healthy economy. VV

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Congrats!

CLASS OF 2020

The Duran Golf Club would like to congratulate all students, parents and teachers on their incredible accomplishments this year! Always chase your dreams and continue to pursue excellence where you go! We are so proud of you! 321-504-7776 | 7032 Stadium Parkway Viera, FL 32940 | www.durangolf.com