Viera Voice, September 2020

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

An Event to Remember PAGE 11

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VOLUME 14 ISSUE 8

Viera teen catches piece of fishing industry Story, page 3

VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

Brenden Coady-Reese pours lead into a mold as part of the process to create several fishing jigs. He is a senior at Viera High School.

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VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

Turtles, alligators, otters and deer are a common sight at the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands.

VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

As many as 75 species of birds can be seen at the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands.

Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands re-opens to the public

BY CHRIS BONANNO The Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands, located on Charlie Corbeil Way just off of the western end of Wickham Road in Viera, has reopened after being closed since early April due to concerns relating to COVID-19.

Nature enthusiasts undoubtedly are pleased by the re-opening of the site, which spans about 200 acres, according to Raleigh Berry, a senior environmental scientist with Brevard County Natural Resources Management.

“On any given day, you

can see something on the order of 75 different species of birds,” Berry said. “We have alligators, we have turtles, we have otters, we have deer in the early morning, occasionally turkey. We’ve seen a couple of black bears come through, so it’s a great place for wildlife.”

Berry discussed the reasoning behind the closure, while noting how the hiring of a young man as a temporary employee has helped to usher in the reopening.

“We rely heavily on our volunteers, most of

whom are senior citizens and therefore in the high risk category,” Berry said. “That’s the principal reason that we needed to close because they come into close contact with our visitors regularly during their closing responsibilities and when they’re serving as rangers here. It took us a while to get everything lined up so that we could have an appropriately aged individual who would be able to do those duties in the evening for us.”

Berry also noted it wasn't an easy decision to

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close the Wetlands.

“This is a very popular site,” Berry said. “It’s beautiful. We have vehicular access when conditions permit and the local community loves it so it was a very hard thing, a hard decision to make to close it.”

The Wetlands is open daily at 6 a.m., according to grissomwetlands.org.

The Wetlands’ closing procedures have been changed with the safety of visitors in mind, Berry added.

“We have had to modify the closing procedure to incorporate sanitation here at the Wetlands because there are a number of surfaces that lots of people come into contact with and those need to be sanitized so we begin our closing procedure around 6 o’clock, last entry is still, and this is seasonal, at this time of year, last entry is at 7:30 and they’re closing the front gates at 8."

As of mid-August, Berry said that the park still was closed to vehicular traffic due to the frequency of heavy rain. That is assessed every evening.

Those interested in finding out more information as to whether the roads are open for vehicles should call an information hotline at 321255-4488. V V

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VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

Brenden Coady-Reese uses molds to create his own weights and heads for his jigs and tackle.

VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

Brenden Coady-Reese began creating jigs in a small shed in his backyard.

Brenden Coady-Reese puts the finishing touches on one of his handmade jigs.

VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

Teen entrepreneur excels as his fishing jigs catch on with bait shops

BY R. NORMAN MOODY Viera High School senior Brenden Coady-Reese is a 17-year-old entrepreneur whose goals defy his age.

“He acts, talks and looks beyond his years,’ said Holly Tanis, owner of Black Dog Tackle in Melbourne Beach, where Coady-Reese works part time.

Black Dog is one of eight bait shops that sell the fishing jigs the young entrepreneur makes as part of his business — JBC Jigs & Tackle LLC. “I brought his jigs into my shop and the little ones are flying out the door,” Tanis said. “He’s on the right track to make some money in this

business if he continues to make quality jigs.”

Coady-Reese learned to make the jigs from fishing with his father and grandfather since he was a toddler. A fishing jig is a type of lure or artificial bait.

“I do a lot of fishing,” he said. “Almost every single day, I’m fishing. My life revolves around fishing.”

Brenden’s mother, Brianne Coady-Reese, said her son has always spent most of his spare time outdoors since he was little.

He would see tackle in stores and say he could make them better.

“When he would go to the store with his dad, he always

wanted to change things and make it his way.”

So, he soon started making his own.

“I was making jigs for myself,” he said. “One day in school, one of my teachers said we have a Junior Achievement program.”

It was in coordination with the Viera High Business and Finance Academy. His team won scholarships to the Florida Institute of Technology.

“It’s kind of like a junior "Shark Tank," he said, referring to the television program in which entrepreneurs present their ideas to investors.

“That got me to pushing

more,” Coady-Reese said.

“I started taking them to bait shops and telling them my story. They started liking them. Most bait shops bought 50 of them, then they started buying more.”

JBC Jigs & Tackle, LLC was born. Now, his products are sold in eight bait shops in Brevard County.

Chelsea Leigh, an English teacher at Viera High School, said that Coady-Reese takes his after-school job very seriously.

“He’s always been a student that had his eyes on the prize,” she said. “He’s not just focused on going to college, but he’s focused on a career.”

Coady-Reese played Little League baseball and was an offensive left tackle for the Viera High football team. He did not play this year, but instead concentrated on his business.

He has a college scholarship, but his plans are to enlist in the U.S. Army after graduation. He said he will find someone to help keep the business active while he serves in the Armed Forces.

His parents support his decision to serve.

“I think it will be good for him,” his mother said.

For more information about his business, go to JBCjigs.com. V V

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Viera Voice | September 2020

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Viera family adapts to challenging school year

BY ERNEST ARICO

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The start of the 2020–21 school year will be unlike any we’ve ever seen before.

Whether you decide your child should attend school in person or participate in a virtual or hybrid approach, parents need to make sure they have the right supplies.

If your child is returning to the classroom, they’ll definitely need some new supplies, more than in past years. Schools shared the list of supplies for each grade.

If you plan on keeping your child at home to participate in a virtual or hybrid approach, there are several items you might need to buy.

For example, the top item both groups will need is a laptop. But before you buy, check with your school since technology recommendations might be different this year.

VIERA VOICE Ernest Arico Students will be required VIERA MEANS The Helton family, from left, Brian, Taylor and Christy, live on Deercroft Drive in the Bayhill subdivision in Viera to use Zoom in order to East. “We are living in a whole new world,” Christy Helton said. The family has been shopping for school supplies ORKING GROUP be connected with their N E T W during this pandemic in preparation for the start of the school year. teachers.

In addition, make sure “It’s kind of weird that But if now is not the right recommended the Monoprice you add a pair of headphones time to drop a lot of cash on a the kids are going back to headphones for less than $50 with a built-in microphone new computer or laptop, look school,” said Christy Helton, or for in-ear headphones, to your school supply into free software that can a marketing and sales list. Consumer Reports grab a pair of Panasonics. turn an outdated laptop into representative for the Duran a Chromebook.

Golf Club. “Nothing can be School officials also shared anymore. You have to strongly recommend parents buy your own headphones, set up a work space in the water bottle, school supplies. home with supplies and It’s crazy.”

VIERA MEANS BUSINESS NETWORKING GROUP materials requested by the The Heltons’ 16-year-old teacher. Many schools list the daughter, Taylor, will be a supplies students will need sophomore at Merritt Island on their school’s website.

High School this school year.

For example, Quest Her family decided she will S N BU A E S Elementary School in Viera go to school in person.

M lists its supplies on its “Taylor needs the website brevardschools.org/ interaction with teachers and QuestES. the social aspect of school,” If a student doesn’t Christy Helton said. have access to a laptop or Brian Helton is a seventhcomputer, some schools and eighth-grade physical N E U TW will supply one.

Quest O education teacher at Kennedy OR R KIN G G Principal Christine Boyd Middle School in Rockledge said her school will provide and assistant football coach Mon - Thurs: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. 321-848-0227 the student with a laptop if at MIHS. He said he’s OK with Fri - Sun: 11 a.m. - 12 a.m. 3826 Murrell Rd. needed. going back to the classroom Rockledge Brian and Christy Helton, but admits it’s a huge who live on Deercroft Drive learning process for him. in the Bayhill subdivision in We Offer Online/No Contact Pickup “For me, doing eLearning Viera East, said shopping for and face-to-face teaching 2AngryWives.com school supplies this year was at the same time will be a different. challenge as well as the new block schedule of 90-minute classes,” he said.

In response to COVID-19, I am now also offering the option of Tele-health sessions via phone or video.

Financially, the Heltons spent about $25 more in school supplies this year than in previous years. “We are living in a whole new world,” Christy Helton said. “You have to grab whatever you can because some supplies are limited.”

In the meantime, if your child is staying at home and participating in the Brevard Public Schools eLearning program or the Florida Virtual School, patience will be crucial in adjusting to the new requirements. V V

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VIERA VOICE Jill Blue

The new Suntree signs have received compliments.

New Suntree signs being placed at Wickham Road, Interlachen Drive

BY CHRIS BONANNO

A pair of new signs that read Suntree are being installed near the intersection of Wickham Road and Interlachen Drive.

The signs, which are located on both sides of Interlachen along south Wickham Road, should be completed around Sept. 5, according to Suntree Master Homeowner Association general manager Todd Foley.

The new signs are an updated take on the former Suntree signs that were around the area, which had green tiles. The new signs will have a beige background and white bordering.

The new sign installation occurred after a redevelopment in the area eliminated an island, which formerly held a sign in the area, Foley said.

The total number of signs when the two new ones are completed will rest at nine in Suntree.

"I think that the overwhelming response when we re-did the signs approximately about three years ago, that would be the other seven, was very well-received. VV

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The Viera Woman's Club sponsors a crew to help clean up local roads.

VIERA VOICE photo

The Children's Hunger Project is helped by the Viera Woman's Club.

Viera Woman’s Club begins two-year term, though meetings are delayed SPECIAL TO VIERA VOICE The GFWC Viera Woman’s Club, Inc. usually begins its year with a lunch meeting in September, but due to the pandemic it has delayed its meetings until November.

This doesn’t mean the club year hasn’t begun. The board of directors has been meeting via Zoom, re-adjusting and planning for ways members can help charities in Brevard County.

Members are volunteering

at home by sewing masks, cooking meals for The Haven For Children, and knitting blankets for veterans at the Viera VA Outpatient Clinic.

The club — part of The General Federation of Women’s Clubs — reported more than 9,000 volunteer hours. It donated goods and cash worth more than $60,000 locally and internationally in 2019.

The group begins a twoyear term with newly-elected officers and newly-appointed

community service program chairs.

Sally Kramer begins her second term as president.

Other elected board members are 1st VP JoAnne Post, 2nd VP Jan Gates, treasurer Harriet Hankerson, recording secretary Susan Musil and corresponding secretary Bonnie Lawrence.

“I joined the club after retiring and really liked that I could help our community in such a variety of ways,” Judy DeAngelis-Small said. “Plus, I

have met so many wonderful people.”

Just a few of the organizations supported by the club are BAC’s Color in Motion at the Brevard Zoo, the Children’s Hunger Project, Canine Companions for Independence, Aging Matters of Brevard, Keep Brevard Beautiful, Help Me Grow Brevard, The Haven for Children, National Veterans Homeless Support, and Art Therapy for Children.

The Swing for Charity

golf tournament is scheduled for Oct. 30 at Duran Golf Club in Viera. Sponsorship opportunities are available.

To sign up, go to vwc. swingforcharity@gmail.com.

For those interested in membership in the GFWC Viera Woman’s Club, Inc., it holds a luncheon meeting on the second Monday of each month from November to May at the Holiday Inn, Viera. Contact Deb Gorham at debgorham28@gmail.com.

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Yard sign tells Viera man’s victory against cancer

BY ERNEST ARICO When Shane Presley discovered a lump on the side of his neck last May he didn’t think it was that big a deal.

The 20 year old was looking forward to starting his junior year at the University of Central Florida and continuing his studies toward a degree in business management.

But when his mother, Jessica, an MRI technician at Viera Hospital, saw the lump she realized that her son needed to see a doctor immediately.

One month later, Presley was diagnosed with Stage 2 Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and was ordered to undergo multiple cycles and sessions of chemotherapy at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute in Orlando.

“I didn’t know what Hodgkin’s lymphoma was,” said Presley, who played four years of basketball at Eau Gallie High School before graduating in 2018. “It was pretty scary.”

According to the website — childrenscancerresearch. org — Hodgkin's lymphoma is caused by a change (mutation) in the DNA of a type of white blood cell called B lymphocytes, although the exact reason why this happens isn't known. The DNA gives the cells a basic set of instructions, such as when to grow and reproduce.

People between the ages of 15 and 40 and people older than 55 are more likely to develop Hodgkin's lymphoma.

In general, men are slightly more likely to develop Hodgkin's lymphoma than women, although the nodular sclerosis subtype is more common in women.

Hodgkin's lymphoma might cause the following general symptoms: swollen lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, itchy skin, fatigue and loss of appetite.

“It definitely hit us very hard,” said Presley’s father, Michael. “He’s the healthiest person of us all. He’s very active and plays a lot of sports. We were shocked when we heard the news.”

Because they caught the cancer early, Presley’s chances of survival are very good — a 94 percent survival rate during a fiveyear period. “The doctor told me to stay active during the (chemotherapy) treatment,” Presley said. “I had the treatment every two weeks.”

Presley also said he reacted well to the chemotherapy, so good that he kept most of his hair. “I was very surprised because I would see the other patients and most of them had

vieravoice.com

VIERA VOICE Ernest Arico

Shane Presley, right, who survived Hodgkin’s lymphoma, stands with his father, Michael, center, and Luis Merced, left, co-owner of Yard Card Brevard in Suntree. Merced and his wife Suzanne put up the sign in front of the family’s Six Mile Creek home in Viera to commemorate Presley’s cancer victory.

lost their hair.”

Presley also was ordered to eat a Mediterranean diet, inspired by the eating habits of Italy and Greece in the 1960s. The principal aspects of this diet include proportionally high consumption of olive oil, legumes, unrefined cereals, fruits and vegetables, moderate to high consumption of fish, moderate consumption of dairy products (mostly as cheese and yogurt), moderate wine consumption and low consumption of non-fish meat products. Olive oil has been studied as a potential health factor for reducing all-cause mortality and the risk of chronic disease.

Last month, Dr.

Muhammad Imam, a cancer specialist at the institute, told Presley that he was in full remission. His last chemotherapy session was Aug. 10.

To commemorate the event, Suzanne and Luis Merced, owners of Yard Card Brevard, a sign company in Suntree, decided to put up a sign after reading about Presley’s cancer fight on Facebook.

The couple, who have known the Presleys for years, quietly put up the sign around 11 p.m. on the front lawn of the family’s Crane Creek Boulevard home in the Six Mile Creek subdivision in Viera. The sign read in big, bold letters: “I FOUGHT CANCER AND WON.” Included

with the sign was a picture of a basketball, signifying Presley’s favorite sport.

“I was pretty surprised when I saw it the next morning,” Presley said. “It was

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kind of weird, kind of crazy.”

Now, Presley will take some time off to recuperate before resuming his studies at UCF in January 2021. V V

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Viera’s Bradford ready to be ‘defensive glue’ for Hawks this season

BY CARL KOTALA

There’s the leadership aspect of it, of course. And the fact that you have to hustle.

But when it comes right down to it, Viera High School libero Hannah Bradford loves the challenge of making sure the volleyball never hits the floor.

“You always have to be focused, always have to be in tune with what’s going on, talking to everyone on the court,” the junior libero said. “That’s what I love about it.”

And after having to sit out most of last season with a back injury, Bradford is just happy to be healthy and ready to go.

“Last year was not the most fun to watch from the bench, but it kind of gave me a new perspective on how grateful I should be to be playing,” Bradford said.

“We have a great team this year so I’m really excited to get back playing.”

Viera High School volleyball coach Sarah Wayne is excited about the prospect of having a healthy Bradford, too.

After leading the team

VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala

Viera High School's Hannah Bradford missed most of last season with a back injury. This year, the junior is healthy and ready to show why Coach Sarah Wayne calls her the best libero in the county.

in digs as a freshman, Bradford was limited to 20 sets last season because of her injury. She was able to return to play for the Cape

Coast Volleyball Club in January, but after helping her team to a top five state ranking, the season was cut short because of the

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Viera Voice | September 2020

coronavirus pandemic.

The FHSAA voted to allow teams to start practicing on Aug. 24, but under an announcement made by Brevard Public Schools, practice will now begin Aug. 31 with games starting the week of Sept.

14.

When that happens, Wayne believes people will get to see an improved Bradford, who has been drawing the attention of Division I coaches.

“Hannah is set apart because obviously, she’s extremely dedicated and she’s very hard working,” Wayne said. “I’ve never had a player who has had to deal with something and come back … she’s stronger, she’s quicker and she’s faster.

“I told her (last season), ‘You’re not going to be on the court, so use this time to learn.’ All year long, she sat with me on the bench, sat with the coaching staff.

I think sitting made her really learn the game a lot.

She can read the ball really well.”

Originally a setter, Bradford said she started playing libero at age 13 and instantly loved playing the position.

By sitting on the bench last season, she said

she was able to see the game from the coach’s perspective. That improved volleyball IQ will certainly serve Bradford and the Hawks well this season as they attempt to chase a district title with what is expected to be a very talented roster.

“We have some great chemistry this year,” Bradford said. “We’re kind of a really tightknit team right now. We hang out with each other outside of volleyball. And we definitely have some amazing coaches … they’re just amazing people as well as coaches. They push us every day to be better.”

When she wasn’t conditioning this summer, Bradford could usually be found working as a lifeguard, a job she thoroughly enjoyed.

But make no mistake, when the Hawks are given the clearance to return, Bradford and her teammates will be ready to go.

“We’ve just been trying to keep our bodies as physically fit as possible,” she said. “We’re really looking forward to the day when we can be back in our Viera gym, playing. But I think right now, our main focus is keeping our bodies conditioned, ready to go when we get back on the court.”

With two years of playing time ahead of her, there’s no telling how good Bradford will be when her days of playing for the Hawks are over. But as her game continues to improve, Wayne is ready to put her in some pretty lofty company.

“She’ll be our defensive glue (this season),” Wayne said. “There’s multiple different levels of captains and she’s the defensive captain back there, calling plays “Obviously, this is my opinion, but I think she’s the best libero in the county and, I would venture to say, probably the best I’ve had at Viera.

And she’s only a junior.

Her potential to grow and improve … there’s not much stopping her.” V V

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Popular Suntree-Viera Youth Football League ready for 16th season

BY CARL KOTALA The start of the SuntreeViera Youth Football League season can only mean one thing for Saturdays at Viera Regional Park.

Things are about to really start hopping around here.

“We get pretty fired up,” said Shaun Hartman, president of the league and coach of the SVYFL 12U team. “We have a Hawk head. It’s a 40-foot inflatable that the kids come out of.

"We have the breakthrough banners.

Sometimes, the coaches do the smoke. The parents all stay on one side (of the field). They do their tents.

Everybody’s really decked out. And then on (another) field, we have flag games going concurrently the entire day.

“This place is a thousand people deep at any given time on a game day. It’s pretty impressive.”

The SVYL Hawks are set to open their season Sept. 5 with 160 kids playing tackle football and 150 playing flag. There are five tackle teams ranging in age from 5 to 14 with a maximum of 35 players per squad and 10 badged coaches/team moms.

It’s a true community effort, too, with Viera High School players such as Tyler Cooley, C.J. Simms, Caleb Osburn, Jake Woodruff and Nolan Helton showing up at practice to act as junior coaches, Formed in 2004 as the SVYFL Lightning, the nonprofit organization began with 12 volunteers hoping to create and develop a home for youth football and cheerleading in Viera. It now boasts 16 board members and four coordinators.

The team name was changed to the Hawks in 2015, and in 2018, the SVYFL moved from the Brevard County Youth Football and Cheer Association to compete in the national organization, Pop Warner, three years ago.

“We’ve always had a board that thinks ahead, and in the best interest

VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala

The Suntree-Viera Youth Football League is set to kick off its fall season on Sept. 5, with more than 300 players ages 5 to 14 taking part in tackle and flag football.

of the organization as a conglomerate versus … my kid’s on this team, so I’m thinking about him,” Hartman said.

Safety is a big priority as evidenced by two products introduced in recent years.

In flag football, the SVYFL has contracted with GameBreaker Helmets, which feature a D30 technology that Hartman described as a thin layer of orange foam that is being used in military-grade helmets as well as Schutt NFL helmets.

“It’s basically a molecular compound that, when it impacts, it absorbs everything to one central spot and doesn’t let the impact go through the material,” Hartman said.

The organization bought more than 300 of the helmets last year and went from having six concussions the previous season to zero with the new protection.

In tackle football, some parents have purchased — for their child’s own personal use — the Riddell SpeedFlex helmet with InSite Impact Response System technology that features built-in sensors around the lining of the helmet. It can then be synced to a handdevice used by coaches to monitor players.

“There are three levels of impact that it monitors,” Hartman said.

“There’s low, medium and high. If you have a high impact, it will alert and beep and vibrate and the coach can pull it out and immediately be able to see the number of the player and the level of impact.

“Then, he can pull that player off, do an assessment and say, ‘Yeah, OK, he’s good,’ or ‘No, he’s not.’”

There will be 26 players using the helmet this season. The device also can be used as a coaching tool. In one instance, after looking at the numbers and subsequently simulating practice situations, it was determined a lineman kept turning his head when he was blocking and was being impacted by the opposing player’s helmet.

When it comes to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, the league is following guidelines provided by Pop Warner and the CDC recommendations passed down by the county.

Player’s temperatures are to be taken before they come on the field and anyone showing symptoms is asked to take two weeks off. At practice, players' water bottles are placed six-feet apart so they can practice

safe distance whenever possible.

Pop Warner has a COVID questionnaire that will be done at a minimum of three times during the season.

“We’re going to up that a little more and we’re going to do it weekly as soon as the actual season starts,” Hartman said.

On the field, the Hawks continue to be both popular and successful. The spring flag football league draws 450 players and this year, there was a waiting list for three of the five teams after the first 45 days of registration.

Last season, SVYFL’s five tackle teams went a combined 28-4 in Pop Warner and two teams — 8U and 10U — won the East Coast Conference championship with the 10U team (which had been undefeated the two previous years) reaching the second round of the Southeast Regional.

“We were pretty competitive in Pop Warner last year,” Hartman said. “We expect to be competitive again.” V V

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Viera Voice | September 2020

9

Passion for helping people translates well for Holy Trinity’s Yochim

BY CARL KOTALA There’s a reason why Holy Trinity senior Olivia Yochim is considering a career in the medical field.

“I’ve always had a passion for helping people,” she said.

Well, that same passion is why Yochim also is embracing another role as one of three seniors on this year’s Holy Trinity volleyball team: a chance to help the younger players grow up on the court.

“Last year, we depended on Olivia quite a bit on the court and she showed she can deliver as she was highly ranked on the team in both kills and blocks,” Holy Trinity coach Pete Klonowski wrote in an email.

“This year, her role will expand to include more leadership responsibilities.

Olivia will be a senior this year and we will be a young team with only four returning players.

“She will need to help instruct our new players on our gym culture, attitude, how to prepare for practices and matches, etc. I know she will be up to the task.”

Though admittedly shy, Yochim said she opens up more when she is on the court. And she’s eager to show her younger teammates what the Tigers’ culture is all about.

“We’re dedicated and all

VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala

Holy Trinity's Olivia Yochim finished second on the team in blocks and third in kills last season. This year, she will be asked to take on a bigger leadership role.

of us are really motivated,” Yochim said. “We also like to have fun on the court. We all like to pursue the ball.

Once all the new players are comfortable … it becomes more of a family thing.

“We always want to help each other, build each other up and help each other become better players

individually as it helps the team.”

As eager as she is to assist her new teammates, Yochim is looking forward to simply meeting them.

After months of dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, the original starting date of July 27 was pushed back. The FHSAA

INSIDE THE ROPES

voted last month to approve a start date of Aug. 24 for the beginning of fall sports.

However, under guidelines released by Brevard Public Schools, volleyball practice won’t begin until Aug. 31 with the first games set to be played the week of September 14.

After moving up to varsity as a sophomore, Yochim really took on a bigger role and really stepped up her game as a junior, finishing third on the team with 112 kills and second with 33 total blocks as the Tigers claimed their seventh straight district championship.

In order for the Tigers to have another successful season, Yochim will have to team with returning sophomore Sophia Panarese and seniors Mackenzie Sands and Taylor Mullen to bring along the younger players to keep Holy Trinity among the county’s top programs.

Under the new format created by BPS, the Tigers have been placed in one of two divisions as part of an in-county only schedule. Holy Trinity will face Astronaut, Space Coast, West Shore, Edgewood, Merritt Island, Titusville, Satellite and Cocoa Beach. Teams can play a maximum of 12 regularseason games and there will be a chance to take part in the state championship series.

Yochim said she and her returning teammates are determined to push through practices and games and will speak to the new players to try to motivate them to succeed, just like the older players did for them when they were first coming up.

That’s not all Yochim wants to leave with the younger Tigers. From team dinners and sleepovers, to a pre-game prayer circle and dance party in the locker room, she wants to leave all the traditions of the Holy Trinity volleyball program behind.

“I just want to see them grow,” she said. “When we leave this year, I want the younger players to take the team on and do what we did for them. I want them to carry on the team traditions.”

Though she is not sure where she will go to college next year, or whether or not she will continue to play volleyball, Yochim knows she wants to pursue a career in the medical field. The specific area of study will be determined at a later date.

Right now, Yochim is just eager to get back on the court and start swinging and blocking again.

“I’m ready to get this show on the road,” she said with a smile. V V

Golf Association member is no stranger to fighting for the right cause

BY DAVID D. HORST Lorenzo Battle, as his name suggests, is not afraid of a fight for the right cause.

Battle is a Vietnam War

veteran, who served in the U.S. Army as a supply sergeant during the early 1970s.

After his service in Asia, Battle lived in Texas and

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Viera Voice | September 2020

California before settling back in Yonkers, New York.

As with many veterans returning home from Asia, he struggled with PTSD. He joined the Yonkers Fire Department in 1982, rising to the position as fire investigator while training in the department for fires and bombs investigations. The Yonkers Fire Department is located adjacent to the Bronx Fire Station. Each morning, the firefighters would awaken to the smell of fresh coffee and breakfast. That’s if they were not already awake after fighting fires all night or starting their day training or responding to more emergency calls.

Sept. 11 was no different as the morning started with fresh coffee and TV news.

However, a few minutes later, life would change forever as they watched a jet liner slam into the first building of the Twin Towers World Trade Center. At that moment, the fire station phones began to ring nonstop.

Battle was one of the senior men at the station, with 19 years. In coordination with the chiefs and captain, he took an NYFD fireboat to Ground Zero and back to the NYFD Boat Yard.

For the next four days, Battle, along with other firefighters, police and iron workers began a search and rescue mission of the horrific site. They worked different shifts looking for survivors, breathing in tremendous amounts of lung-damaging gases and dust.

Battle was trying to comfort the younger firefighters, who were seeing unspeakable things.

Through the tragedy, Battle said he saw America at its best.

Race, color, sex, background, political persuasion, jobs and professions were irrelevant.

None of those things mattered on the front line.

Battle thanks the World Trade Health Program for supporting first responders and rescuers, who are

dealing with health issues every day or are deceased.

He was forced to retire several years later due to illnesses related to 9/11. He served 25 years in the fire department with dedicated service to help humanity.

Battle moved to Florida in 2009. He has been a member of the Viera East Men’s Golf Association for the past five years.

On July 16, the team of Peter Maloney, Dale Zeigler, David Horst and Ernie Parra tied the team of David Jensen, Mike Pope, Jim Toy and Battle in a four-man scramble format conducted by VEMA. The team of Tim Brown, Jack Webb, Greg Humble and Kerin Vetter finished third.

On July 30, John Moriarty, Dick May and Bill Scholtens prevailed in a four-man team, best-ball format.

Gene Quirk, Freddie Baltazar, Bob David and Allen Satcher teamed up to place second. John McComas, Bill Harrison, Mike Piccinnini and Battle finished third.

VV

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VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala

Jared Weiss shoots and scores for the Viera Valor club team during last month's AAU Junior Olympics. Weiss was the leading scorer on a 16-player team made up exclusively of Viera High School players — including six incoming freshmen. The Valor took the silver medal.

VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala

Jared Weiss was the leading scorer on a 16-player Viera Valor club team made up exclusively of Viera High School players — including six incoming freshmen — at last month's AAU Junior Olympics held at Viera Regional Park.

The Valor took the silver medal.

Viera lacrosse gets glimpse of future at AAU Junior Olympics

BY CARL KOTALA

For a number of Viera High School lacrosse players, the AAU Junior Olympics offered the chance to make some history … and get a look at the future.

The Viera Valor, a boys club team made up

High varsity boys coach, wrote in an email.

“To be able to do it in tournament play with an organization as deep and rich in tradition as the AAU made it extra special.”

The Valor opened the two-day tournament in impressive fashion, beating

VIERA VOICE Carl Kotala

The Viera Valor, a 16-player club team, made up exclusively of Viera High players — including six incoming freshmen — had quite an impressive showing at last month's AAU Junior Olympics held at Viera Regional Park.

The Valor took the silver medal and gained valuable experience for their younger players, which should pay off in the spring.

exclusively of Viera High School players, took the silver medal in the first lacrosse tournament ever held at the AAU Junior Olympics. The event was held in August at Viera Regional Park.

Though the Valor fell short of their goal of winning gold, it was still an impressive showing for a team that featured six Viera freshmen.

“I would say that anytime you can get a look at younger players, especially incoming freshman as a head coach, it helps create excitement for your program, as well as build on a good starting point with the younger players,” Bo Bartlett, who coached the Valor and is also the Viera

vieravoice.com

the TC Sailfish from Martin County 9-1 in their opening game and then winning 8-3 against a River Hawks team made up of players from Edgewood, Holy Trinity and Satellite.

It was a good experience for the younger players, who moved the ball well and didn’t seem intimidated — especially in the first game — in what was essentially their first action on the high school level.

“I think we played pretty good, especially with all the freshmen and the young kids coming in,” Viera senior Jared Weiss said following the two wins.

“I think they’re going to

really grow up and be good players.”

As well as the Valor played on the first day, they struggled in the gold medal game against the Sailfish, falling behind 4-0 and 6-2 before starting to rally.

Weiss would score five times and scored the gametying goal late in the second half. But the Sailfish would get the game winner with just 1 second remaining in regulation to take the gold medal by a score of 10-9.

The experience will certainly help Viera when boys varsity lacrosse starts in the spring.

And getting a chance to play in the first AAU Junior Olympics lacrosse tournament was certainly something to remember for players such as Josh Glick, Ethan Discuillo, Jake Glick, Eli Menchetti, Maguire Pedrick, Harley Sylvia, Brayden Wolfe, Austin Smith, Jack Hathaway, Alex Rodriguez, Weiss, Hunter Levi, Dallas Thomas, Kyle Fischer, Gabe See and Michael Howkins.

Bartlett, meanwhile, expressed interest in putting a team together to play in next year’s tournament in Houston, Texas.

‘When you are a part of something that has been in place over a century, and then can be a part of history, it’s special,” Bartlett wrote.

“I look forward to seeing

this game continue to grow around the country.

“Once you see it, and are exposed, it’s impossible to not fall in love with it.” V V

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11

s w e N

SCHOOL

Rockledge teen earns summer science opportunities

BY LINDA JUMP

When Gabriel Cenker, 17, couldn’t find mosquito larvae in dozens of Brevard County water samples during his first formal research with a NASA program, he was surprised.

“But I wasn’t complaining about not finding any. I even built extra traps and put them where there should have been mosquitos and I still couldn’t find larvae,” Cenker said.

As one of 313 national students selected for the STEM Enhancement in Earth and Space Sciences summer internship, his team studied correlations between population density and mosquito numbers.

“We found that rural areas had the most mosquito habitat,” Cenker said. Second were heavily populated urban areas, with mid-populated areas housing the fewest mosquitoes.

The Mosquito Mappers internship, sponsored by NASA’s Texas Space Grant Consortium, provided NASA satellite data, a mobile device clip-on microscope, other tools and training in safety procedures, mosquito identification and habitat.

“The goal of the NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science project is to encourage more students to major in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. When the university could not host students on campus, the experts felt strongly that they could provide a worthwhile opportunity

VIERA VOICE Linda Jump

Gabriel Cenker was selected for the STEM Enhancement in Earth and Space Sciences summer internship.

VIERA VOICE Linda Jump

Gabriel Cenker's bulletin board in his room is full of awards and recognitions.

virtually,” said Margaret R. Baguio, the program manager of the Center for Space Research at the University of Texas at Austin.

“I couldn’t work directly with scientists and engineers, but I got to do real work that matters,” Cenker said.

Mosquitoes weren’t the only thing Cenker investigated this summer.

He also studied atomic nuclei of stars and careers in geosciences. The Joint Institute for Nuclear

Astrophysics’ Center at Michigan State University provided a two-week intensive virtual classroom.

Cenker, two other high school students and a mentor investigated how changing variables affected production of specific elements within stars.

Texas A&M University’s College of Geosciences twoweek on-line exploration program showed Cenker the importance of various earth science occupations, such as oceanography and atmospheric science.

“Now, I want to do more research at college,” Cenker said.

He is home-schooled through Florida Virtual with help from his mom Jennifer, a former kindergarten teacher.

The straight-A senior, dual enrolled in Eastern Florida State College, hopes to become an engineer or scientist, possibly in meteorology.

“He’s worked really hard. It’s an incredible accomplishment,” Jennifer Cenker said.

Her husband David said Gabe has always been curious. “Now he’s curious about the universe, the rockets going into space, everything.” V V

Anyone can participate in the International Globe Citizen Observer program by downloading the free mobile app from the App Store or Google Play. Observe and report data that is compared with NASA satellite observations of vegetation, temperature and water to help scientists forecast a community’s risk of mosquito-borne illness.

For more information, go to observer.globe.gov/ about/get-the-app.

New Suntree academy aims to help virtual school students

BY CHRIS BONANNO

A new nonprofit academy designed to help students in grades 3 through 8 taking classes online is now open in Suntree.

The Matthew Erik Academy is located at 7630 N. Wickham Road, Suite 114.

It hosts up to 15 students at a time in three-hour block sessions, with one in the morning and another in the afternoon.

The academy is named after Matt Falcone, a former teacher at Manatee Elementary School, who passed away at the age of 39

12

the homeschool.”

Students work independently at the center, according to Coluccio, but have tutoring available to assist them.

Safety also is paramount at the academy, said Coluccio, who also teaches at Eastern Florida State College. She also has four other state teaching certifications.

“We will be having VIERA VOICE Jill Blue social distancing at my Kim Coluccio is the owner of the Matthew Erik Academy. Maria Cirilli, back center, so students will be left, is a teaching assistant and business manager. at a minimum 6 feet away, due to a brain illness.

Coluccio, Falcone’s sister. probably 8, 10 feet apart,” “I think it’ll give parents “There are a lot of parents she said. a break too, said owner Kim that are nervous about doing Coluccio anticipates being

Viera Voice | September 2020

able to hire another teacher to work at the academy soon.

Volunteers also are welcome, according to the academy’s website.

The academy is the second education-related entity named after Falcone, with Coluccio also having established the Matthew Erik Foundation to fund educational initiatives in Brevard County.

For information, go to matthewerik.com or contact Coluccio at kimcoluccio@ matthewerik.com. V V

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13

The Doster family enjoyed the first day of school.

VIERA VOICE Jill Blue

VIERA VOICE Jill Blue

Winston, the Jones' family dog, was happy to make new friends at school.

The Higginbotham family traveled in style to end the school day.

VIERA VOICE Jill Blue

VIERA VOICE Jill Blue

Traveling by golf cart is common at Manatee Elementary School.

Students head back to school, elementary school opens in Viera

BY CHRIS BONANNO The path for students in Brevard Public Schools was uneven, full of directional arrows and filled with uncertainty as classes for the 2020-2021 school year began Aug. 24.

Some students took the bus to school. Others stayed at home as fear of COVID-19 made virtual classes an appealing choice.

The first day of instruction came two weeks later than the original start date of Aug. 10.

“We’ve been running about a 30 to 40 percent rate of students choosing e-Learning, 60 to 70 percent of our students choosing face-to-face learning,’’ said Brevard Public Schools Superintendent Mark Mullins. “Of course, parents are changing their mind as we’ve gotten closer to the school year and even as recent as today (Aug. 24).

14

Some parents are choosing to bring their children back to brick and mortar and others (are) wanting to reconsider the e-Learning option.”

Mullins used an example of students attending the new Viera Elementary School.

“They’re (students) going to see a lot of the very same things that they would have in a normal school year,” Mullins said. “Some of the things that are different are the expectations of directional arrows of where we walk. The routines into the cafeteria are going to be a little bit different as we separate students to increase social distancing.

But, by and large, our kids, you know, they’re tremendously resilient.

Our staff is extremely resourceful. They’ve done an amazing job of putting structures in place to accommodate kids as they

Viera Voice | September 2020

return to school and it’s really gotten off to a good start.”

Mullins also said BPS was providing “flexibility to our families” with respect to parents potentially switching their child’s learning options.

“We would just ask that they just reach out to their child’s school, talk with the administration,” Mullins said. “Right now, it’s difficult to adjust on a day-to-day basis. But, we certainly want our parents to remain connected with us. If there are parents out there that haven’t registered their student yet, we need you to connect with your school. We want to reach out to you, answer your questions and work with you to get your child registered for school and get them engaged with their school. Whether it’s e-Learning or it’s in person.”

In general though,

Mullins said things were running relatively smoothly on the first day.

“Really, by and large, it’s all good,” Mullins said.

“We’ve had some technology glitches. Our Zoom provider — their services went down for a period of time. But, we’re working through that and we’ve got some of the normal first of the school year issues to work through.

Class sizes, staffing and those kind of things, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Very pleased with the tremendous preparation that our administrators worked so hard all summer for to ensure a smooth start to the school year.”

Mullins also noted how enthused he was for the opening of the new school.

“It’s a very exciting time for Brevard Schools (that) we’re able to open a new elementary school,” Mullins added. “It’s been many years, about 10 years

since we’ve opened a new school. So, I think it’s a sign of positivity and growth in our community and meeting the needs of the growing community here in Viera so very excited to launch this school this year.

Mulins added that the presence of the new Viera Elementary School would help to alleviate crowding at other area schools.

“If you look at our other elementary schools in the area, Manatee, Quest, Ralph Williams, all of those schools have been growing and expanding,’’ Mullins said. “And, Quest particularly, not far away, has really far exceeded its capacity. So, this is going to begin to provide balance in our schools to make sure that we can provide all the resources we want to and that our kids deserve in our elementary schools.’’ V V

vieravoice.com

VIERA VOICE Ernest Arico

Zoe Strong, 17, paints details while decorating the concrete pylon for her senior parking space.

VIERA VOICE Ernest Arico

Amy and Enrique Torres watch their daughter, Brianna, paint her concrete pylon. Brianna, 17, used her favorite TV show “Supernatural” as the theme for her design.

VIERA VOICE Ernest Arico

Jinna MacDonald, 17, paints sunflowers on her parking space.

VIERA VOICE Ernest Arico

Viera High School seniors work on their parking spaces during one of the school’s yearly traditions.

VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Cooper Liston

Cooper Liston poses infront of his newly painted parking space.

Viera High seniors display their artistic side in painting parking spots

BY ERNEST ARICO It’s a tradition that’s been going on for the past 15 years at Viera High School — seniors painting their designated parking spaces.

But with the coronavirus pandemic affecting everyday life, Viera school officials weren’t sure if the tradition was going to continue this school year.

“We usually start selling parking passes in March or April but because of the coronavirus everything changed,” said Jeff Draves, a Viera High school social studies teacher and senior class sponsor. “Now, because of social distancing, we’ve had to downplay the event. It’s always been more of a celebration for the kids. However, this year, no music, no cookout.”

Despite COVID-19, the school sold 219 parking passes to students at $20 each in order to reserve a parking space. Students then paid an additional $20 to paint the concrete parking pylon.

vieravoice.com

Draves said the money raised will be used to pay for the senior prom, graduation and the Grad Bash at Universal Studios.

The tradition was held from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 22.

Brianna Torres, 17, said she was happy she was able to paint her spot and use her favorite TV show “Supernatural” as her theme.

“I was concerned it wasn’t going to happen because of the coronavirus,” she said. “But I’m glad we can. It’s fun.”

Torres was accompanied by her parents, Enrique and Amy Torres. “I think it’s a cool thing they can do,” Amy Torres said.

With all the disheartening news about the coronavirus, Caelin Roche, 17, said she wanted to decorate her pylon with a little sunshine. “I just want to brighten up my day when I come to school,” she said.

Seventeen-year-old Katelyn Frisbee used her favorite TV show “Friends”

as the theme of her parking space, while Jinna MacDonald, 17, decorated her spot with sunflowers. “I thought it would be pretty,” she said.

One of the most interesting parking spaces was done by 17-year-old Ethan West. He painted one side with flags from two countries — the United States and Zambia, an East African country. The other side he painted a car racing down the road — his dream

of becoming a rally racing car driver.

Ethan Maden, 17, and a member of the VHS football team, painted his uniform number — 54 — and his graduating year on his pylon. He also selected a parking spot closest to the football field.

“You only get to be a senior once,” he said. “It’s a memory I will cherish forever.”

Jack Breitfeller said his theme reflected his lifestyle

— palm trees, surfing and the beach. “I think this is just awesome,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to do this since I was a little kid.”

Many students practiced social distancing and wore face masks while decorating their spaces.

“It’s a lot of work but it’s fun,” said Brianna Todd, 17.

“This was a chance for me to celebrate my senior year and I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity.” V V

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Viera Voice | September 2020

15

New rock garden added at Suntree Elementary

BY CHRIS BONANNO Suntree Elementary School continues to have new features added to its campus, including a new rock garden that has been added at the school.

The garden is roughly 20 by 20 feet and located on the east side of the school.

Brian Dougherty, chief of operations at Valderrama Orthodontics in Suntree,

said the business helped make the garden possible through a donation.

“I was very interested because my three children came to Suntree Elementary,” said Natalia Valderrama, owner, orthodontist and dentofacial orthopedist at Valderrama Orthodontics “…. We love this school and I was so excited about the idea…. We made it happen.

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My staff helped, the team helped and I think it looks beautiful and I’m happy that we did it.”

Tracy Seibert, former head of the Suntree Elementary Kindness Club and who recently became an assistant principal at Surfside Elementary School in Satellite Beach, said the garden is meant to inspire.

“The rock garden has a nice little bench in it for kids to sit and look at it.

We bordered all the way around,” Seibert said. “The Kindness Club plus our sixth-grade students wrote messages on the rocks and painted the rocks so there’s large rocks or stones in there and then there’s smaller rocks that say like ‘be kind,’ ‘have a great day,’ ‘you are awesome,’ ‘smile.’

It’s just all supposed to inspire our students.”

Suntree Elementary School Principal Shari Tressler indicated that she hoped the garden would evolve throughout the school year.

“It’s going to be incredible. The plan is for them (students) to paint rocks and they’re going to contribute to the rock garden. So, there’ll be rocks that have kindness messages on them. Over time, we’re hoping, over the

VIERA VOICE Chris Bonanno

Suntree Elementary School Principal Shari Tressler, left, Brian Dougherty, Natalia Valderrama, Jeronimo Molina, Alejandra Valderrama and Tracey Seibert like the improvements at the school..

year, it will just be a garden full of kindness messages for all of our students,” Tressler said.

Seibert noted that the rock garden project was about a year in the making.

But, “we didn’t have any resources or money to do that until the Valderrama (Orthodontics) group had come forward for us.”

“In conversations with Dr. Tressler, she invited us to show us a garden that they wanted to revamp that was in pretty rough shape. Then, after making some sketches and some drawings and some ideas with the team at Suntree Elementary, we came up with a final design of the

rock garden. (It had) a paver pathway made out of red brick that were reclaimed bricks and that led to the project,” said Dougherty, Natalia Valderrama’s husband.

The rock garden, along with other recent additions in the form of outdoor classrooms, has school principal Tressler very excited.

“It’s really exciting to have so many new things on campus that we can share with our kids,” Tressler said. “The rock garden, the outdoor classrooms, it’ll feel brand new to them almost. It’ll feel brand new to our teachers, too. It’s just exciting.” V V

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Viera Voice | September 2020

17

ART &Culture

Balance, unity and movement influence Sharon Dixon’s art

BY JUDY BERMAN

As Sharon Dixon strolled along a beach, she spotted a heart-shaped pebble.

That found object became the centerpiece of “Loving Kindness,” embedded in a wire-shaped heart, that is on display at the Art Gallery of Viera in The Avenue.

A native of Ohio, the Merritt Island metal sculpture and jewelry artist uses bronze wire to form flower petals, incorporates beads in her designs, and uses plastic bottles and other materials to create her stunning pieces.

Dixon said Alexander Calder is her biggest inspiration with jewelry.

Calder, an American sculptor, is best known for his innovative mobiles.

“If I did this or tried that, what would happen?

So, therefore, I do a lot of experiments. I think about

the balance, the unity, the movement,” Dixon said.

“There’s something about the 3D form that is very appealing to me. The form moves in space. I love working with my hands and manipulating the wire, anything. It moves in ways so it’s not a flat piece of metal.”

Marta Eagle, who makes custom art jewelry, said she met Dixon several years ago at a Florida Society of Goldsmiths’ workshop, and was “blown away” by Dixon’s “creativity and passion in her work.”

“She is creatively driven, not technique driven,” Eagle said, explaining that Dixon is not “constrained by the limitations of material, technique” or skill set of a given discipline such as painting, clay or metal.”

“Sharon envisions her creations without those limiting influences, and then

employs whatever techniques and materials she requires to create the desired work, whether it employs fiber, wood, enamels, metals, epoxies or found objects,” said Eagle, a resident of Punta Gorda.

Dixon just completed a tree of life. The wall hanging also is at the Art Gallery of Viera. Its leaves are vintage buttons, and hundreds of twisted wires form the trunk.

How does she choose which material to use? Dixon said it’s random.

“A lot of times, I’ll take something I have and turn it into art. Sometimes, it works.

Sometimes, it doesn’t.”

Dixon describes her art jewelry line, “Slightly Sassy Jewelry,” as fun and a little bit funky.

“I just want to make pieces that are joyful, that give people a smile. It’s something you don’t see every day.” V V

VIERA VOICE Judy Berman

Sharon Dixon works on a metal sculpture at her studio.

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Viera Voice | September 2020

VIERA VOICE Judy Berman

Sharon Dixon's "Loving Kindness" is on display at the Art Gallery of Viera.

vieravoice.com

VIERA VOICE Judy Berman

Susan Carden-Flicker paints a watercolor of a friend's cat in her studio at home.

VIERA VOICE Judy Berman

Susan Carden-Flicker, in her home, adjusts her painting "Eyes of Mandie." Mandie, her cat, is her brand and her logo.

Carden-Flicker seeks the essence of nature

BY JUDY BERMAN Susan Carden-Flicker captures a moment and freezes it in her watercolor and acrylic paintings.

The vibrant colors, lighting and the moods are drawn from those paint mediums.

In Connecticut, a Great White Egret stood at the edge of a pond and CardenFlicker began to sketch it. In the “Great White Hope,” the bird’s bright white feathers stand out amidst the blue and golden colors in the pond. The watercolor is on display at the Art Gallery of Viera in The Avenue.

Landscapes, seascapes and local wildlife are frequent subjects Carden-Flicker paints. The ever-changing nature that surrounds us is what she wants “to capture the essence of.”

Under the watchful eyes of her cat, Mandie, she paints a

VIERA VOICE Susan Carden-Flicker

Susan Carden-Flicker's watercolor "Great White Hope" is on display at the Art Gallery of Viera.

watercolor of a friend’s cat.

Her interest in art started in kindergarten. She was born with a severe hearing loss.

When she got hearing aids, it opened her whole world.

“I tend to be more visual.

I believe in having art in

the world. It brings out my inner emotions, and I want to share that with people,” said Carden-Flicker, who lives in Suntree with her husband, Steven.

As a teenager, she visited Norman Rockwell’s museum in Massachusetts. The realism Rockwell brought to his art captivated her. Another artist who inspired her was Maxfield Parrish, an oil painter and illustrator.

“With ‘Daybreak,’ I love how the lighting in his painting glows with the colors. It has more of an otherworldly quality, fantasy, mythology.”

Her friend, Bobbi Q. Brown, a watercolor artist and instructor, said CardenFlicker is “kind of fearless.”

“She’s willing to take on any subject. What sets her apart is she never backs away from a challenge,” Brown said, referring to a subway piece

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that Carden-Flicker won an award for from the Brevard Watercolor Society Show in February.

The painting, “Androgynous Fashionista,” “is very detailed. It grabs your eye because it’s different and it engages you,” Brown said.

Brown said that’s evident in her friend’s paintings,

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whether it’s the stillness of a bird or the warmth you can feel as the sun shines on a steer’s hide in the pasture.

The emotional reaction Carden-Flicker’s paintings evoke are “just magical,” Brown said. “That’s very important for an artist because we want to tell a story.” V V

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Viera Voice | September 2020

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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

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Children shut in by coronavirus need Guardian Ad Litem volunteers

BY GEORGE WHITE Hundreds of abused and neglected children shut in by the coronavirus are expected to soon need volunteer child advocates under the Brevard County Guardian Ad Litem Program.

“Not all kids are safer at home with their parents,” countywide volunteer recruiter Georgi Grootershe said. “Once kids are back out in the community, we will be facing a publichealth-crisis level of influx

in cases. We need to ramp up volunteers now.’’ There are nearly 900 children depending on volunteers, simply called Guardian Ad Litems, who are individually designated to a child by a judge. However, there currently are only 280 volunteers — all of whom now have to work virtually — who have gone through the extensive training process, she said.

Once trained, the time commitment for a Guardian Ad Litem is 10 hours per month. There currently are

250 children in Brevard County who “don’t have anybody checking in on them,’’ Grooters said.

A Guardian ad Litem is much more to a child than just a court advocate.

They often become a role model, mentor, educational surrogate, friend, confidant, and most important, a consistent caring person on whom the child can rely, she said.

They officially serve as a monitor of the agencies and persons who provide services to the child, assure

that orders of the court are carried out and that families receive the help that they need.

A Guardian ad Litem does not have to be a lawyer, counselor, therapist, or parent, since he or she does not perform these roles for the child. The volunteer Guardian ad Litem is a representative for the child before the court, social service agencies and the community.

There is a required 30hour (virtual) training class during which volunteers are

provided with a mentor and advise on specific types of cases from staff members and lawyers.

The State of Florida Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program resulted from the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974. By 1990, all of Florida's 20 judicial circuits had Guardian ad Litem services.

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Viera Voice | September 2020

vieravoice.com

Four Brevard candidates look to new terms — without elections

BY HENRY A. STEPHENS Rachel Sadoff of West Melbourne knows where she will be on Jan. 5.

And that will be at the Brevard County Courthouse, standing before an 18th Judicial Circuit judge and raising her right hand.

The 23-year employee of the Clerk of Courts office will be starting a new chapter of her life, taking the oath of office to succeed the retiring veteran Clerk of Courts Scott Ellis, her mentor, in her own four-year term as the elected clerk.

Only she didn’t have to be elected by voters. Her prospective Republican primary opponent, former Osceola County deputy clerk Sandy Ruizzo, now of Palm Bay, failed in June to qualify for the ballot.

Since elections laws assume a candidate without an opponent would vote for himself or herself, that hypothetical single vote gave the 45-year-old Sadoff the victory.

Ruizzo couldn’t be reached for comment, but Sadoff said she bears her no ill will.

“I wish her the best,” Sadoff said. “But if she had such strong experience, why didn’t she run in her own (Osceola) hometown?”

Sadoff was born in Coral Gables but grew up in Brevard County. She attributed her ease in winning the Clerk of Courts post to her familiarity with local attorneys, lawenforcement officials, politicians and even residents who get marriage licenses, passports and other services from the Clerk’s Office. As a newcomer to the county, Ruizzo didn’t have that.

Sadoff joins a team of five officials, each elected separately, whose positions are listed in the Florida Constitution as requirements for all counties. They are thus often called “constitutional officers.” In addition to the clerk, they are the sheriff, the property appraiser, the tax collector and the supervisor of elections.

And on Jan. 5, when Sadoff swears in, Property Appraiser Dana Blickley will be swearing in for a third four-year term, Tax Collector Lisa Cullen for a fourth term

opposition. And it’s equally common for the sheriff, the most visible of the five, to attract opposition.

What makes the constitutional officers different from county commissioners, who routinely face opposition for reelection? It’s the scope of the job, Blickley said.

“We don’t set policy,” she said. “These are institutional, operational, technical jobs.

And once you’re here and get the experience, and if you do a good job, well, people typically want to keep a good employee.”

Nevertheless, she said, she didn’t assume she’d be reelected every four years until retirement when she first ran in 2012. That’s never wise for anyone to assume, she said.

Meanwhile, county commissioners Rita Pritchett of Titusville, John Tobia of east Palm Bay and Kristine Isnardi of west Palm Bay, all Republican, are facing Democratic challengers in the general election.

For details on those contests, go to votebrevard. gov/Candidates/2020Candidates#cc1 VV

VIERA VOICE photo

Rachel Sadoff will be sworn in Jan. 5 as the new Brevard County Clerk of Courts.

and Elections Supervisor Lori Scott, also for a fourth term.

Sheriff Wayne Ivey is seeking a third term and faces Democratic attorney Alton Edmond in the Nov. 3 general election. Whoever wins that race will join the others swearing in on Jan. 5.

Neither Cullen nor

Scott could be reached for comment. But Blickley echoed Sadoff in expressing appreciation to supporters whose petition signatures qualified them for their races.

In fact, it’s common in Florida for all constitutional officers but the sheriff to win reelection without

Veterans can qualify for VA disability benefits for chronic physical conditions such as an illness or injury and mental health conditions such as PTSD, traumatic brain injury and anxiety that developed before, during or after service, said service officer Russ Graddick.

In 2015, service officers assisted 3,280 veterans and their dependents during 6,209 volunteer hours.

Compare that to 2019 when the service officers set a record by assisting 4,350 veterans and their dependents during a total of 14,914 volunteer hours.

DAV service officers continue helping despite COVID-19 shutdown

BY GEORGE WHITE The challenge is different because of the COVID-19 shutdown of the DAV office at Brevard Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island.

But, the mission remains the same for service officers at the 720-member Disabled American Veterans Space Coast Chapter 123.

They want to help all veterans through the red tape required to claim earned benefits and services.

Instead of a schedule of in-person case reviews, they must now leave a message on an answering machine for help with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans or their surviving spouses, including those who need to apply for or have been denied VA benefits.

The machine is checked daily by a DAV service officer designated for that task, according to senior service officer and chapter vice commander George Furis.

“When we got the news about COVID, we shut the office down and we’re working through the answering machine. They haven’t totally lost contact with us. We didn’t want them to come in because of the risk to them and us. As members

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of DAV, all of us are disabled in one way or another,’’ he said.

There still are occasions where in-person visits are needed to exchange documents and get needed forms.

“It’s definitely more of a challenge (to conduct the case reviews) over the phone because each vet has a unique set of circumstances,” Furis said.

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Viera Voice | September 2020

23

On May 27, 2017, the World Trade Center I-Beam was brought to The Avenue Viera and installed.

VIERA VOICE The Darrell Woehler Collection

Brevard Veterans Memorial Center will hold ceremony Sept. 11 SPECIAL TO VIERA VOICE Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and retirees from New York police and fire departments will hold a remembrance ceremony for those who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

It will reflect on that day and the many who sacrificed so much following 9/11.

A combined Patriot Day and 9/11ceremony will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. outside the center at Veterans Memorial Park at 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy. on Merritt Island.

The commemoration will include music, special events and talks by 9/11 police and firefighter survivors, Sheriff Wayne Ivey and retired Coast Guard Rear Adm.

Wayne Justice.

Because of COVID-19, the entire ceremony will be held outdoors and masks are encouraged. Visitors inside the museum will be limited to 50 at a time and masks will be required.

Chairs will be spread apart to maintain distance in all areas of the parking lot in front of the museum and center.

Before the gathering at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center, everyone will have an opportunity to place flowers or flags at the World Trade Center I-Beam.

The I-Beam was brought to The Avenue Viera in 2017.

The solemn event will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Flowers and flags will be available at no cost. VV

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VIERA VOICE The Darrell Woehler Collection

Flowers and flags will be provided from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 11 to place at the World Trade Center I-Beam at The Avenue Viera.

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Viera Voice | September 2020

We appreciate your support of local small businesses.

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LIC. & INS. 18-AL-CT-00011

Viera Voice | September 2020

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© 2020 UFS, Dist. by Andrews McMeel Syndication for UFS

Crossword Puzzle

Brevity Comic

ACROSS 1 Steal from 4 Airgun ammo 7 Typewriter type 11 Plumbing bend 12 Stadium noise 14 Famed prep school 15 Boxing great 16 Wight or Capri 17 Dog chow brand 18 White water 20 Like some arches 22 Pop-up 23 Fury 24 Entertainer Della - 27 Omitted in speech 30 As well as 31 USC rival 32 Chart shape 34 Shoe-wiping place 35 Does it wrong 36 Lake dwellers 37 Bahamas' capital 39 Watch noises 40 Hosp. employee 41 Term of endearment 42 Swimsuit 45 Pulled hard 49 Roman poet 50 Depletes 52 Role for Madonna 53 Road division 54 -- julep 55 Author's need 56 Goals 57 Set in place 58 Writing fluid

DOWN 1 Emulate a bronco 2 Earthen jar 3 Radar screen image 4 Horse's gear 5 Imperious 6 Famed mule 7 Rang out 8 "-- do for now" 9 Handle problems 10 Soon 13 Pharmacy requests 19 In that case (2 wds.)

21 Opera tune 24 Barnyard animal 25 Gusto 26 Is, to Pedro 27 Light brown 28 Homer's "Aeneid," for one 29 Platter 31 Nuclear reactor fuel 33 Codgers' queries 35 "WNBA Tuesday" airer 36 Lapp neighbor 38 Playground gear 39 Nice and warm 41 "Laughing" animal 42 Tree trunk 43 Dreaded czar 44 Good-natured 46 Military cap 47 Uniform 48 Wet and chilly 51 RSVP word

Crossword Solution, page 34

PROTECT YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR ASSETS

Will • Health Care Directive • Power of Attorney • Living Trust Call now for a FREE consultation!

321-253-6100

The Law Office of Laura Siemers 6767 N. Wickham Rd, Suite 400 Melbourne, FL 32940

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Viera Voice | September 2020

We will notarize your documents via video!

No need to leave your home to sign important documents.

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Kids' Mini PageFor Kids Founded by Betty Debnam

The science behind

Mini Fact:

NASCAR

The average NASCAR tire has to be replaced every 50 miles.

Kyle Busch, left, and Carl Edwards lead the restart at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Good Sam 500 race at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, AZ on March 13, 2016. Photo: Action Sports

Are you a NASCAR fan? If you are, you’re not alone. Millions of people watch NASCAR races each year. But there’s more to the sport than high-speed driving.

Even when a driver slows down, the brake

parts might be so hot that they glow. The brake pads might squeal. The motion energy has changed to heat, light and sound.

Friction

What’s NASCAR?

NASCAR stands for the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. A stock car has a body similar to a passenger car in stock at a regular car dealership.

There are about 1,500 NASCAR races each year. They take place at about 100 tracks in 30 states, Canada and Mexico.

Many scientists and engineers* work on race teams. It is impossible to win a NASCAR race and stay safe without using math and science.

Energy

Energy is the ability to do work or make something happen. There are different forms of energy. A moving car has motion energy. The faster a car is going, the more energy it has.

When a crash stops a car suddenly, all this energy has to go somewhere.

In a crash, there is very little time to spread the energy around. A lot of energy hitting at once can crumple the car.

No one wants that energy to crumple the driver, too. So engineers for NASCAR and passenger vehicles have designed cars so that energy is spread around the car rather than into

the driver.

When two things move against each other, there is friction. Friction is a force that can slow or stop the movement.

In racing, friction is both good and bad. It’s good because you can’t go fast unless you have a lot of friction between the car and the track. Without friction, it would be like driving on ice. There wouldn’t be enough grip on the tires. Friction also helps the car stop when the driver puts on the brakes.

NASCAR tires grip the road much better than tires on passenger cars. NASCAR tires are softer and are totally smooth because they have no treads.

But friction can be bad because it creates heat. For example, when you rub your hands together, friction makes them warm. The friction of tires against the track Darrell Wallace, Jr (43) pit crew causes a lot of does a pit stop during the 2019 Bank of America ROVAL 400 at heat, which can destroy the tires. Charlotte Motor Speedway. Photo: Grindstone Media Group

* An engineer is someone who uses science and math to design something.

NASCAR safety

A big worry for NASCAR engineers is safety. NASCAR safety features include: • A “crush zone” is made by using weaker tubing in the area engineers hope will crumple first. Slightly smaller tubing is put in the front and rear of the car. Thicker tubes are placed closer to the Jeff Burton exits out of his crashed CAT driver. That Chevrolet during the AMP Energy Juice way, if there 500 race on Oct 31, 2010 at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, AL. is a crash, Photo: Grindstone Media Group the crush zone with the smaller tubing will crumple easier.

In race cars, tubes form a cage that surrounds the driver’s compartment. These tubes protect the driver from getting smashed.

• Drivers wear protective suits similar to what firefighters wear. The material does not burn or melt easily. When the suit gets hot, it forms a layer of carbon on the outside. That carbon blocks the fire.

• The suits are not totally fireproof, but they give the driver time to get out of the car.

• The walls around the track have foam that absorbs energy. When a car hits a wall, the energy goes to damage the wall instead of the driver.

Mini Joke Ned: What happens to old tires?

Nancy: They retire!

The Mini Page® © 2020 Andrews McMeel Syndication

Words that remind us of NASCAR are hidden in this puzzle. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find:

Try ’n’ Find CAGE, CRASH, CRUSH, DRIVER, ENERGY, ENGINEER, FRICTION, MOTION, NASCAR, RACING, SAFETY, SCIENCE, SPEED, STOCK, SUIT, TIRES, TRACK, TUBING, ZONE

vieravoice.com

C U H S R A C I N G W R L Z I

S B U M O T I O N N U B E K C

H S U R C Z I H S A R C V R C

Y T E F A S R E E N I G N E R T U B I N G A S D E E P S V K

T Z I D S T O C K E G A C I C I Z V O F R I C T I O N D R A

R O E C N E I C S I Y C E D R

E N X P R A C S A N U I E I T

S E J K Y G R E N E R S Y F S

Viera Voice | September 2020

27

p o o c BUSINESSS

New Indian restaurant expected to open after Labor Day in Viera

BY CHRIS BONANNO

A Taj Modern Indian Cuisine restaurant is expected to open soon after Labor Day at The Avenue Viera.

“We’re still analyzing the whole situation with the whole coronavirus and we want to make sure that when we open we do it the right way, and we don’t have to shut down or anything like that,” said owner Jerrin Luke.

The aesthetics of the restaurant will be striking, Luke noted. He cited about 50 Turkish lights that are hanging in the main dining room, wood focus, lighting in the shape of the Taj Mahal and different types of embroidery that represent different silks and materials that were developed in India.

“Every aspect of this restaurant has a story,” Luke said.

Luke discussed what he

28

feels is a very diverse menu that the restaurant will offer.

“What we’re serving here is different types of interesting foods from different parts of the subcontinent,” Luke said. “…. We have some things coming from the north, from the south, from a lot more rural regions as well. However, what I always tell everyone is we’re going to start with a simple menu that’s kind of more traditional in a sense. But, we call ourselves modern, and the reason is we’re going to continue to evolve our menu as we grow through and understand what tastes our customers like.”

Luke also said the main dining room can fit about 60 people if there isn’t a pandemic going on, and they have a patio area that can fit another 30 or so guests.

Luke added that the restaurant still is hiring.

Viera Voice | September 2020

Taj Modern Indian Cuisine will have both indoor and outdoor dining.

The opening would represent the culmination of almost two years of hard work, with Luke taking over the project about a year ago, he said.

“Yes, the coronavirus is going on but we’re still excited because this is our baby, right? We’ve been doing this for the last two years and we’re going to

VIERA VOICE Chris Bonanno

follow the right safety protocols ’cause we want this. I know everyone’s been waiting and we don’t want to make you guys wait any longer.” VV

vieravoice.com

Local hospitality workers can count on Ben’s Friends

BY MARIA SONNENBERG Hospitality workers toil in a high-stress industry with one of the highest rates of substance abuse.

Chris Conneen knows that fact first-hand. The owner of Viera’s Pizza Gallery, Conneen himself battled drugs and alcohol for 15 years. Conneen won the fight and has been sober for a quarter of a century, but many of his colleagues have not been so lucky. “It was only by the grace of God that I made it,� he said.

In 2016, Conneen and fellow restaurateur Buz Underill, who owns the Squid Lips chain, founded Hospitality Life, which serves the serving industry with life-giving resources.

On Sept. 8, Conneen is again reaching out to industry comrades by opening up his pizzeria for weekly meetings of Ben’s Friends,

“I could not put down the book, because it could have been an autobiography about my life.� — Chris Conneen an organization of hope, fellowship and a path forward to hospitality industry workers struggling with addiction.

After chef Ben Murray lost his fight with alcoholism and committed suicide, Charleston, South Carolina-based restaurateurs Steve Palmer and Mickey Bakst created the nonprofit in his memory to provide an anonymous, judgment-free forum for industry workers. The group has weekly meetings at 12 locations nationwide. “These are people who talk the restaurant language,� Conneen said.

VIERA VOICE photo

Local restaurateur Chris Coneen said Steve Palmer's book helped him halt drug and alcohol problems.

Conneen discovered Ben’s Friends through Palmer’s book, “Say Grace: How the Restaurant Business Saved My Life.�

A copy had appeared in Underill’s mailbox without a return address; Underill passed it on to Conneen. “I could not put down

Morgan Stanley

the book, because it could have been an autobiography about my life,� he said.

As a safe haven for individuals grappling with maintaining sobriety, Ben’s Friends offers the opportunity for dialogue and the acknowledgement that addiction cannot be overcome in isolation or through willpower alone.

Although unaffiliated with AA or NA, Ben’s Friends, like the two organizations, only requires that participants have a desire to stop drinking or using. “We feel that we have a

higher purpose to help our own who are struggling with addiction,� Mickey Bakst said.

Ben’s Friends meetings in Brevard will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8 at Pizza Gallery & Grill at 2250 Town Center Ave., Suite 113. Meetings will continue every Tuesday at the same time. Anyone working in the hospitality industry is welcome. No registration is needed.

For additional information, go to bensfriendshope.com. VV

PrivateLessons Lessons Private Piano••Voice Voice••Violin Violin ••Piano Harp••Guitar Guitar••Ukulele Ukulele ••Harp

OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH EVERYONE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE STAY SAFE.

HappyHolidays Holidaysand and Happy bestwishes wishesfor foraa best wonderfulNew NewYear!

Year! wonderful

We are now open for limited lessons.

Face masks are required for both teachers and students. Parents wait in their car or return in 30 minutes. Rooms are sanitized after each student. Virtual lessons are also scheduled.

The Carter Hester Group at Morgan Stanley (Left Right: Faith Wheeler, Service Associate; Joe Carter; Tim Hester; Josh Hester; Terri Dingman, Registered Sales Associate) (Left toto Right: Faith Wheeler, *Joe Carter, Client *Tim Hester, Josh Hester, Terri Dingman)

Experience, intellectual capital2019 andList dedicated personal service to Wealth help you meet your goals* Named to Forbes Magazine’s of America’s Best in State Advisors for life Florida.

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Once we will periodically yourRetirement progress Plans as you move to help bring clarity and focusimplemented, on what matters most to you, so • Corporate Trust Services through adjusting your plan necessary. you can life, manage your wealth morewhen effectively in today’s • Endowments and Foundations complex global market environment. • Estate Planning Strategies

Proud to be the first in Brevard to offer the Durysta Implant, a sustained-release implant for open angle glaucoma. It can lower intraocular pressure up to 33%, potentially replacing daily drop therapy, and lasts for up to a year.

Now offering cataract patients the PanOptixÂŽ trifocal lens, a revolutionary intraocular lens that could let you live truly glasses-free.

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Lending Products Life Insurance Long Term Care Insurance Municipal Bonds track your progress as you move through life, adjusting your Planning for Individuals with Special plan when necessary.

Needs • Retirement 8150 N. you Wickham Rd.,grow Melbourne Florida 32940 • (321) Planning 751-2064 Committed to helping protect and your assets, we • Structured Products are focused on providing timely, unbiased advice and earning • Trust Accounts your Carter, confidence a real difference in your Joseph CIMAŽevery day to make Tim Hester, CFPŽ, CIMAŽ, CDFAŽ, CAPŽ Josh Hester, CRPSŽ • Wealth Management Senior Vice President Senior Vice President Financial Advisor life.

Wealth Advisor Financial Advisor Financial Planning Specialist Joseph.Carter@morganstanley.com Tim.Hester@morganstanley.com Josh.Hester@morganstanley.com Life is Big, Let’s Plan for It! your financial portrait. We then help you build a plan tailored

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Committed to helping you protect and grow your assets, we focused on providing timely, • are Financial Planning Our approach covers the full spectrum of customized •make Fixeda Income unbiased advice and earning your confidence every day to real difference in your life. strategies. We begin by determining your goals and outlining Life is Big, Let’s Plan for It! to your specific goals. Once implemented, we will periodically

Loretta Fox, Ph.D.

The Carter Hester Group at Morgan Stanley

The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. The use of the CDFA designation does not permit the rendering of legal advice by Morgan Stanley of its Financial Advisors which may only be done by a licensed attorney. The CDFA designation is not intended to imply that either Morgan Stanley or its Financial Advisors are acting as legal experts in the field. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFPŽ, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the US. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 3085071 5/20

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ALEXANDROS PAPPAS, DO Comprehensive Ophthalmologist Cataract & Refractive Surgeon

REGINE PAPPAS, MD Board Certified Ophthalmologist Eye Surgeon • Glaucoma Specialist

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JENIFER RAMSOWER, OD Board Certified Optometric Physician

Call today to schedule!

8059 Spyglass Hill Road, Suite 101, Viera 1649 West Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne

PinnacleEyeCenter.com • (321) 255-4949 Viera Voice | September 2020

29

Love Works carved emotional pieces from the heart PHOTOS BY ADAM PALUMBO

SPECIAL TO VIERA VOICE Nicholas Johnson, Madison Kenney, Sue Doucette, Kathee Kit Jones and Helen Wheatley were all winners in the Love Works Art Show and Competition conducted by the Art Gallery of Viera in August.

The exhibition and competition was dedicated to promoting peace, love and equality.

The winners were announced during an invitation-only reception held Aug. 8 at the Art Gallery of Viera. Therese Ferguson served as the judge for the competition.

Johnson’s painting “Lava Love” won the Publisher’s Choice Category.

Kenney won the Living Emotion Category with her illustration “A Spare Moment of Kindness.”

Doucette won the Interpretive Category for her painting “Strength in Unity.’’

Jones and her handcrafted heart necklace titled “Once Upon a Time’’ prevailed in the Literal Category.

Wheatley received Honorable Mention for her painting “One Together.’’VV

Madison Kenney designed “A Spare Moment of Kindness."

Sue Doucette painted “Strength in Unity.”

Kathee Kit Jones created her necklace "Once Upon a Time.”

Nicholas Johnson painted “Lava Love."

Helen Wheatley painted “One Together.”

Carnival Mardi Gras is coming to Port Canaveral in February... there is still space available!

EGYPT AND SAIL THE NILE RIVER

NEW DATES March 12-21, 2021 Globus has brought us Egypt again, I feel it is safe to go now. Let’s go while the timing is good!

From the Pyramids to the Valley of the Kings and Queens to the Temple of Horus and so much more!

NORTHERN ITALY AND CINQUE TERRE AND GOURMET TUSCANY NEW DATES May 21 June 6, 2021 Join Jean as we explore from Northern Italy to Tuscany. This is going to be a fabulous trip and the last week we spend in a villa and do day trips each day to different areas!

GLACIER NATIONAL PARK AND THE CANADIAN ROCKIES July 17 - 25, 2021 We are traveling in North America for those of you who prefer to stay on this side! Join me to see some of the most beautiful places in North America. If it didn’t snow in Montana I would live there but since it does we will go in July and only see just snow capped mountains.

CRYSTAL SYMPHONY

Aug. 28 Sept. 4, 2021

Sailing from Monaco to Barcelona rates starting at $2649. As always Crystal is an all inclusive cruise line this is the time to try them if you have not done so before. I have not seen rates like this in over 20 years!

Call today to take advantage of our great rates!

321-631-8080

allaboutyoutravelunlimited.com 1240 US Hwy 1, Suite 6, Rockledge, FL 32955

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Viera Voice | September 2020

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Launch

Monday

1

Tuesday

u AvantMask

5:21 p.m.

Launch of an Argentinian Earth observation satellite to monitor moisture to help early warning for natural disasters and improve agriculture.

Live on Senior Life Facebook

Artistic mask design competition. Enter your artistic avant gard design.

Enter your creation at artgalleryofviera.com AvantMask deadline for entries is Sept. 28.

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7

8

Questions About Your Hearing?

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Sunday Jazz in the Park

3

Fit4Mom Run Club

5:30 p.m.

Free Twice a week we invite you to come on a run with us.

Wickham Park, 2500 Parkway Drive, Melbourne 321-591-7648

Thursday

Thursday

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Thursdays in September 11 a.m. - 1 pm.

Hosts: One Senior Place to benefit Sunflower House Community Caregiver Center. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road

11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Live music by the Melbourne Municipal Band. Bring a chair.

The Avenue Viera Central Park, Viera

Mask entry deadline today.

Enter your creation at artgalleryofviera.com For information, call Adam at 321-242-1235.

Presentation by: Eva Rey, The Viera Company.

One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road 321-751-67711667

What’s New in Viera?

Saturday

Space Coast Cars & Coffee

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12

The Avenue Viera Near AMC Cinema 2261 Town Center Ave. Viera 321-634-5390

Sept. 12 - 15 Tickets runsignup.com/Race/FL/ Indialantic/TurtleKrawl5K

18

19

8 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Come join us for the largest car show in our area every 1st Saturday of the month!

Viera High School 6103 Stadium Pkwy., Viera 201-658-2004

Thursdays 1 - 2 p.m.

Join us to read thoughtprovoking literature and discussions. Sponsored by the Legacy Club.

RSVP 321-751-6771 One Senior Place

My dog brings me joy by... ________________ ________________ #CC IDog Fest

24 u Brevard County

u

29

AvantMask

5

9/11 Commemoration 2020 Virtual Turtle Krawl 5K The Avenue’s World Trade All proceeds benefit the Sea Turtle Preservation Society.

Center Memorial

25

Movies in the Park

Thursdays, 3 - 6 p.m.

The county’s largest produce-only market.

Wickham Park Pavilion 2500 Parkway Drive Melbourne, 321-633-1702

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1

Book Club

Farmers Market

Sunday Jazz in the Park

Saturday

Drive-Thru Senior Expo Senior Life Viera event

8 - 10 a.m.

A unique drive-thru event in the safety your car.

The Avenue Viera Colonnade, Viera 321-242-1235

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Friday

4

Food Truck Fundraiser

10

Friday

3

8 - 9 a.m. Wednesdays Complimentary class.

Social distancing will be in effect.

Central Park, The Avenue 2261 Town Center Ave. 321-634-5390

10 a.m. Elder Law Attorney William A. Johnson, P.A. will present the seminar.

One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road 321-253-1667

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11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Live music by The Jazzcats Quintet. Bring a chair and enjoy the show.

The Avenue Viera Central Park, Viera 321-634-5390

Wednesday

Special Needs Trust Seminar

11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Live music by Chief Cherry and His Red Beans & Rice Bring a chair and enjoy.

The Avenue Viera 2261 Town Center Ave. 321-634-5390

2

9

15

Sunday Jazz in the Park

2

Wednesday

Yoga at The Avenue

Mondays 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Sandra Wagner will answer questions about hearing loss.

Personal Hearing Solutions 8085 Spyglass Hill Road 321-253-6310

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1

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October 1 View additonal area events online at vieravoice.com

DogFest Space Coast virtual event

10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Join the event on Facebook and use this printable DogFest selfie sign. Hosted

by Canine Companions for Independence.

October 2

October 3

8:30 - 10:30 a.m.

A unique drive-thru event.

American Police Hall of Fame, Titusville 321-242-1235

Children under 18 must be accompanied by a paying, participating adult. $175 Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, 855-433-4210

Drive-Thru Senior Expo Astronaut Training Senior Life Titusville event Experience (Ages 10+)

FOR CURBSIDE PICK UP

28 TOGO?

or DELIVERY!

WE GOT Y OU!

curbside, pick up or delivery

7:30 - 10:30 p.m.

“Hotel Transylvania” Brevard County Parks and Recreation will present a free drive-in movie at Wickham Park.

2500 Parkway Drive Melbourne, 321-255-4400

26

u

Sunday

Tuesday

u

30

Monday

u

SEPTEMBER Sunday

Gourmet Pizza and So Much More!

HAPPY HOUR DAILY FROM 3-6PM

ALL APPETIZERS HALF PRICE DURING HAPPY HOUR!

NEW MENU ALERT!!!

WATERMELON SALAD

FLAMIN’ HOT CHEETO CHICKEN

SCALLOP CRUDO

NEW SALADS, SHAREABLES, MAIN COURSES & MORE!

NEW DAILY BAR SPECIALS - $5 AFTER 5PM MONDAY $5 MOJITOS / TUESDAY $5 TEQUILA WEDNESDAY HAPPY HOUR ALL DAY / THURSDAY $5 MARTINIS

OUTDOOR DINING AT THE AVENUE VIERA F ind Out about Our Speakeasy Supper Club, 28 Night and More!

321.241.1159 28ngp.com

vieravoice.com

Find and Follow us on social media for contests and more!

321.633.0397 pizzagalleryandgrill.com Viera Voice | September 2020

31

SENIORNews

Hunkering down is a passing thought

IT’S BEEN A GREAT

10 YEARS!!!

People on television keep chair sipping on an adult telling us to hunker down. beverage and watch the over Funny The news people, the weather the top hysteria on TV? They thing is...

CELEBRATE OUR 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY WITH US people, governors, mayors tell us everyone is hunkering Sammy and, even people I trust, like down.

Haddad priests and police.

I don’t believe it, and it’s Why? not a pretty visual. Have you Why should I hunker ever actually seen someone down? hunkering down? Can you up, crisp, bow, crease, stoop, The reason I ask is I went imagine models walking crinkle, bend, scrunch, thud, to a couple of dictionaries to down the runway in high ruckle, squat, crouch, wrinkle.

WITH DINNER BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER see what hunker means. Well, fashions in a hunkering-down Ouch! How’s that gonna Offers cannot be combined - only one offer per customer. Offers expires on September 30 the very first definition you position? help? see says it means to squat or It would totally ruin the In those positions, you FREE PSB TUMBLER crouch down. annual swimsuit issues if AND FREE REFILLS can’t walk the dog, eat, and What? that’s the position they posed then there’s that little matter I don’t ever do that unless in. OK, nobody is gonna do it Excluding alcohol of the restroom. Now in the someone is shooting at my so why do they keep telling us WITH PURCHASE OF A $100 GIFTCARD case of a hurricane, you only Only one offer per customer. Offers expires on September 30. Offers cannot be combined. head. So, if a hurricane is we all need to hunker down?

Purchase of a $100 giftcard required to receive 1 offer of your choice listed above.. have to hunker down for a coming I should squat to My answer to them is, “you couple of days until it passes. weather the storm (pun hunker down.” I’m gonna Then, you can get a couple intended)? relax in my lounge chair or The mission at Palm Point Behavioral Health is to provide of friends to lift you up and If a pandemic happens, I’m backyard pool, play on my quality treatment to children, teens, adults adults straighten your knees. and older supposed to crouch down in video game system or just But, in a pandemic, you my house for six months to a call and Facetime SUNDAY - TUESDAY: 8 AM - 3 PM, WEDNESDAY - SATURDAY: 8 AM - 8 PMbehavioral health or chemical dependency symptomsfriends and whose can’t let anybody near you year until it passes? family until the storm passes or touch you for months to So, then I their looked updaily lives. like a bad kidney stone attack. are interfering with We offer both inpatient and CDC SOCIAL DISTANCING 5060 US HWY #1, PALM SHORES synonyms for hunkering a year or more. Can’t I just You know, I might just hunker GRUB HUB • BITE SQUAD • UBER EATS 321.752.5222 • Follow us outpatient services to specific and it says crump, scrunch tailored down for that. VV sit comfortably in my loungeneeds.

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We are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide the services you need. Learn more at palmpointbehavioral.com.

Serving Brevard County and neighboring communities 2355 Truman Scarborough Way Titusville, FL 32796 P: 321-603-6550 • F: 321-800-2860

palmpointbehavioral.com

32

Viera Voice | September 2020 For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website.

The mission at Palm Point Behavioral Health is to provide quality treatment to children, teens, adults and older adults whose behavioral health symptoms are interfering with their daily lives. We offer both inpatient and outpatient services tailored to individual needs.

vieravoice.com

Rockledge saxophonist finds the right notes in retirement

BY CHRIS BONANNO Rockledge resident Fred Cavese has found great joy in playing the saxophone following his retirement.

In fact, Cavese has found so much excitement in his new hobby that it has led to him playing about 60 performances in 2018 and in 2019.

“I just like to get out and perform for people,” said Cavese, 60.

That’s just what he will do Sept. 4 as he plays the saxophone at The Avenue Viera during Senior Life’s Drive-Thru Senior Expo from 8 to 10 a.m.

What perhaps makes Cavese’s story so unique is that it is a culmination of sorts of a love of playing instruments that began when he was very young.

Cavese picked up his first musical instrument, an

accordion, at age 5. He then began to play the clarinet at age 10 and the tenor saxophone at age 16.

But he put his days of playing instruments aside for a couple years before he pursued a career in the Air Force at age 25.

Cavese served as a logistics officer in the Air Force from 1985 to 1991, during which time he worked on a law degree at the McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento, California that he eventually earned in 1992 after beginning studying there in 1988. He transitioned into serving in the reserves from 1991 to 1994, during which time he earned a one year specialty master’s degree in international law in 1993 from Notre Dame Law School.

After his retirement

VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

Fred Cavese will perform during Senior Life's Drive-Thru Senior Expo from 8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 4.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SENIOR DRIVE-THRU EXPO ON PAGES 20 & 21

VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

After a military career, Fred Cavese is enjoying musical gigs in retirement.

though, Cavese found that he was able to rediscover a longlost love for playing music once again.

“I put it aside for many years and picked it up eight, nine years ago,” Cavese said.

He says he picked up playing the clarinet and tenor sax in 2011, and he played in ensembles in the St. Louis area for a couple of years or so until starting with individual performances.

Cavese also picked up playing the soprano sax in 2013.

He also notes that the clarinet and many saxophones are closely related.

Eventually in 2016, Cavese and his wife, Debbie, ultimately decided to move to Florida.

They chose to move to Rockledge in 2016 after narrowing down their choices based on hurricane vulnerability. He humorously then went on to note how the couple were putting up hurricane shutters due to Hurricane Matthew three weeks after moving.

Cavese soon got back into playing the saxophone here.

Cavese added that he plays tunes from the classic, light and contemporary jazz genres, as well as swing music from the Big Band eras.

“One gig leads to another leads to another,” Cavese said. “…. I do think I get better

$30 New Patient

com or 757-303-0138. He also notes that video samples of his work can be found online at fredcavesemusic.com and through the Fred Cavese Music Facebook page. VV

Sudoku

Sudoku Solution, page 34

Check out the Q&L website for class sched  We are an authorized, full line retailer fo

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Liability laws govern the payment of treatment by these carriers. This coupon represents a $125 value. Not Redeemable for cash. Expires 05/16/20

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with each gig. Each gig is a learning opportunity.”

Those interested in booking Cavese for a gig can do so by contacting him directly at gbcc77@gmail.

 We arethe an authorized, full line retailer for B Contact shop for further details Koala ®, Floriani ,® & Anita Goo Check ourBrother® websites for ,updates.

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Viera Voice | September 2020 M,W,Th,F: 10am - 5pm, Tue: 12N - 7pm, Sat: 10am - 2pm, Sun: CLOSED

33

Phone: (321) 622-8602, F www.quiltsandl beth@quiltsand

Connection of life relies on true teamwork All species on this planet, including humans, have to meet certain basic needs in order to survive: access to food, clean air, water, shelter, space and relative climatic constancy. An imbalance of any of those elements might greatly affect and threaten the existence of a species.

The higher the trophic level the species occupies in the food web, the more affected the species will be by such disturbance. Humans occupy the highest trophic level, so we have a lot to lose.

According to the Science ABC, “out of the 100 crop species that provide us with 90 percent of our food, 35 percent are pollinated by bees, birds and bats” and the bee population has been in decline in recent years.

Without bees, crops of many food items — such as apples, cherries, blueberries, avocado, broccoli, most leafy greens, cucumbers, pumpkins, garlic and many more — would cease to exist, greatly affecting our food supply.

How can we curb that?

Alexandra-Maria Klein, an agroecologist from the

BEYOND the CURB Marcia Booth

President & Founder, Recycle Brevard

University of Goettingen in Germany, suggests in Science Daily that because “the stability of crop yields not only depends on pollination, but also on further ecosystem services, we need landscapes carefully managed for a diversity of functionally important groups of organisms that sustain many important ecosystem services such as pollination, pest, pathogen and weed control, and decomposition.”

Those are free services nature provides to us and we most often take for granted.

Take lichens, for example.

Lichen, an organism formed from the union of a fungus and an alga, is the most basic form of life. Lichens have no roots, no leaves, no flowers, according to Robin Kimmerer in “Braiding Sweetgrass.“

Solution, Puzzle page 33

Solution, Puzzle page 26

34

Viera Voice | September 2020

The National Park Service reports that lichen play an important role in determining air quality.

Generally, since pollution might kill a lichen completely, the presence of lichens can be an indicator of good air quality.

Nature offers other indicators. One such indicator is manatees.

“Manatees are the proverbial ‘canaries in the mineshaft,’ as they serve as indicators of their environment and may reflect the overall health of marine ecosystems,” said Alonso Aguirre, the executive director of the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation in Science Daily.

Who can forget the great number of manatees that died in 2013 in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL)? That was the lagoon sounding the alarm in a cry for help.

Since then, residents, organizations, businesses and government have been working together to restore the IRL and you can help, too!

Start by going to Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition’s website

VIERA VOICE Shutterstock

Foliose lichen is one of a variety of lichens, which are complex organisms that arise from the symbiotic relationship between fungi and a photosynthetic partner.

(helpthelagoon.org) to gather information and read about initiatives that you can join.

Then go to LagoonLoyal. com and sign up to join the effort, complete lagoonfriendly actions and start collecting points. Recycle Brevard is one of the Lagoon Loyal businesses participating in that program and you might get a free bag of materials from the

Reuse Room in exchange for your Lagoon Loyal points.

To learn how this works, go to lagoonloyal.com/what-islagoon-loyal.

By helping the lagoon, you will be help rebuild a fertile ecosystem that provides plenty of riches for all of us.

VV Email Marcia Booth at Marcia@RecycleBrevard.org.

What’s getting done with the Indian River Lagoon?

We all know that the Indian River Lagoon needs real help to return to the clean habitat that it once was, supporting ecological diversity and providing enjoyment to residents and visitors.

Most of us also know and are proud that a half-cent sales tax adopted in 2016 is projected to raise more than $400 million spanning 10 years to help pay for the restoration.

So, what’s getting done?

And, how can I follow it?

The short answer is a lot!

And, read on.

The 269-page Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Project Plan 2020 gives a comprehensive, and quantitative description of the problems, the science-based strategies for restoration and summaries/ schedules for each of the 186 projects and sub-projects currently completed, in process or in planning. Each requires matching funding; more than 24 have been completed.

This master plan details how, combined, the projects will reduce the nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) and make additional improvements to largely restore the lagoon by 2026.

In addition to reviewing

VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

Little by little, the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition hopes to improve the health of the IRL.

Lagoon Straight Talk From the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition

the SOIRL Plan, you can watch the all-volunteer Citizen Oversight Committee (COC) review and dissect it by tuning into their meetings on-line from 8:30 to 11 a.m. during the third Friday of the month.

Follow “Another Project Complete” posts every Friday on Facebook at facebook.com/ BIRLC. We recently described how five baffle boxes — that clean storm water before it enters the lagoon — were

installed in Titusville and should remove more than 6,500 pounds of nitrogen and 1,000 pounds of phosphorous annually.

Another post described how SOIRL, the St. Johns River Water Management, Cocoa Beach and the state collaborated on dredging more than 100 acres of finger canals to reduce nitrogen by 110,000 pounds a year and phosphorus by 1,400 pounds a year.

We have a very special resource in the IRL — let’s all support its restoration!

For details on the SOIRL Plan and COC, go to brevardfl. gov/SaveOurLagoon/Home.

VV To learn more about how to help, go to HelpTheLagoon. org.

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Your voice

What are the top three things on your bucket list?

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Business Partners Please let these advertisers know that you saw them in the Viera Voice!

PLUMBING CDS Plumbing

321-433-3140

ART GALLERY/ART CLASSES Art Gallery of Viera 321-745-3710

PHARMACY Walgreens

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ATTORNEYS William A. Johnson, P.A. 321-253-1667 Murphy’s Law Office 321-985-0025 Murtha Law Group 321-600-4989 The Law Office of Laura Siemers 321-253-6100

PHYSICIANS & MEDICAL Palm Point Behavior Health 321-603-6550 Reflections OB/GYN 321-610-8955 Spine by Design 321-622-4501 St. Francis Reflections Lifestage Care

321-269-4240 Suntree Internal Medicine 321-259-9500

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AUTO DEALER/AUTO SERVICE/REPAIR 2000 Auto 321-259-2000 Ron Norris Buick GMC 321-267-9200 BARBER Clip Joint

321-338-2954

CODING CLASSES (KIDS) Code Ninjas 321-622-4358 COSMETIC SURGERY/DERMATOLOGY Brevard Cosmetic Surgery 321-622-8784

REALTORS/REAL ESTATE Ellingson Properties 321-750-7050 Joy Frankel 321-446-5826 Deb Tomczak 321-604-8479

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FINANCE Leonard Financial 321-259-6239 Sage Financial 321-242-7526 The Carter Hester Group, Morgan Stanley 321-751-2064

RETIREMENT / 55+ LIVING Buena Vida Estates 321-724-0060 Chateau Madeleine 321-701-8000 Courtenay Springs Village 321-452-1233 Indian River Colony Club 888-224-2927

321-956-9477

DENTISTS/ORTHODONTISTS Dr. Cedric Chenet 321-622-3895 Viera Smiles Studio 321-255-7740 EYE CARE Dr. Ho, Ophthalmology Pinnacle Eye

GOLF & EQUIPMENT Duran Golf Club Golf Car ER Viera East Golf Club

321-504-7776 321-372-9112 321-639-6500

HEALTH & EXERCISE Club Pilates Viera

321-419-0798

HEARING Personal Hearing Solutions 321-253-6310 HOME MAINTENANCE 321-956-3102 Johnson Aluminum Joseph Stevens & Sons Painting 321-984-8091 Kevin Thier Painting 321-255-8323 Melbourne Family Handyman 863-231-8217 Randy’s Pressure Wash 321-794-5168 Same Day Grab Bars 321-392-3000 Space Coast Deck Coatings 321-421-7047 MUSIC, ART CLASSES Creative Music & Art Center 321-255-0116 Viera Dance Conservatory 321-652-9142 PETS Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming 321-428-5565

Attorney and Counselor at Law Serving Viera/Suntree · Wills · Trusts · Estate Planning · Probate · Family Law 7351 Office Park Place Melbourne 32940 KMurtha@MurthaLaw.us

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QUILTING SUPPLIES Quilts and Lace 321-622-8602

RESTAURANTS/CATERING/BAKERY 2 Angry Wives 321-848-0227 Bella Luna 321-254-4455 Nikos Cuisine 321-610-7385 Olive Tree 321-631-0188 Palm Shore Bistro 321-752-5222 Pizza Gallery & Grill 321-633-0397 Tradewinds at Duran 321-504-7776 Tropical Smoothie 321-241-1140 Viera Pizza 321-636-7696

COUNSELING Gloria Rivera King

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SCHOOLS Divine Mercy & Catholic Academy

321-452-0263 Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy 321-723-8323 Shining Starr Learning Academy 321-400-9044 The Matthew Erik Academy 321-610-1406 SIGNS FastSigns

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Viera Voice | September 2020

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Art Gallery of Viera presents

AvantMask

An artistic facial covering expression

EXHIBITION & COMPETITION

Push the limits of creativity in our upcoming art competition & exhibition.

Create a wearable mask using any medium of your choice.

The most creative masks that display quality execution and push the limits of art will be selected to compete for cash and prizes.

Two age categories: 1. Adults, 18 and over 2.Youth, 12-17

Entry Deadline is Sept. 28 Enter at artgalleryofviera.com

vieravoice.com

Viera Voice | September 2020

37

World’s projects might lead to sand shortage

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Expires 09/30/20 National Code 1139

Pick Up and Delivery Available

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Text : OLIVETREE To: 22828

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Viera Voice | September 2020

Spinning tales about sand and how the supply of sand seems infinite.

Certainly, the planet is laden with this natural resource. It is found in riverbeds, beaches, ocean bottoms, farmlands, forests and deserts.

Still, there is the possibility of a future shortage because sand is the most extracted material.

It is often utilized for concrete in construction or for man-made beaches.

Indeed, with massive global urbanization and growing tourist venues, the need for sand is escalating. The United States, supposedly the top sand exporter, meets some of these demands.

A significant example of the high demand is the city of Dubai in the United Emirates. Sand had to be imported from Australia for such an undertaking as building Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Desert sand, certainly accessible in the region, is mostly useless — it is windswept too fine, smooth and rounded to bind together for stable concrete.

Land reclamation (land fill) for pleasure islands in Dubai relied on dredged sand excavated from the Persian Gulf floor. Of course, vast amounts of concrete will be needed before the completion of the infrastructures of these islands. In addition, 40 miles of beaches were established. Tourism is thriving as expected.

Other cities are similarly focused on tourism. In Paris, artificial beaches promise summer relaxation and profit. Brisbane’s inner-city sandy beach is unique as well.

Nevertheless, China consumes half of the global sand supply. Between 2011 and 2014, it used more sand than the United States did in the whole

20th century. Its Belt and Road Initiative extends infrastructure projects to dozens of countries. Also, seven artificial islands for military facilities were formed by dredging in the South China Sea. In 2018, it built more skyscrapers (88) worldwide and opened a sea bridge 20 times longer than the Golden Gate.

Extraction is common in Florida, which relocates compatible sand for beach nourishment after hurricanes and other forms of erosion. Regrettably, Miami Beach has run out of nearby ocean sand for its diminishing beaches and acquires tons of sand from a mine near Fort Myers — courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers. An estimated $16 million will be spent.

Mining any type of sand might create damage. In 2013, dredging started at the Port of Miami for canal expansion to accommodate sizable ships. It released sediment that buried the reefs and killed precious coral. In the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka, experts claim that sand mining in the area exacerbated the impact of the massive waves. In Vietnam, river mining is threatening the sustainability of the Mekong Delta.

Realistically, the evolving world population is accompanied by the need for additional housing which increases the demand for sand.

Alternatives are promising, such as recycled or manufactured sand and innovative products using desert sand.

Yet, are more artificial pleasure islands and beaches for tourism essential?

True, economies are of concern but so are precious ecosystems which support the planet. VV

vieravoice.com

Picture your child on the cover of Viera Voice

Cover Kid Contest Enter your child’s photo for a chance to be featured on the cover of Viera Voice! The winner will grace the cover of a future issue of Viera Voice.

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

Go to VieraVoice.com and enter your child’s photo and small biography by Sept. 29 to be eligible to win.

An Event to Remember PAGE 11

v ieravo ice.com

VOLUME 14 ISSUE 8

Viera teen Say Cheese! catches piece of fishing industry

How It Works

Story, page 3

Children ages 2 to 17 are eligible and must live in the Viera, Suntree or south Rockledge area. Submit a photo that shows the unique personality of your child.

The winner will receive a free studio photo session with Viera Voice’s award-winning photographer Adam Palumbo.

Entry deadline is Sept. 29

A panel of judges will select the top 20 finalists.

20 finalist will be entered to win the Viera Voice Cover Kid Contest.

A Fan Favorite Cover Kid will be selected by reader votes.

VIERA VOICE Adam Palumbo

Brenden Coady-Reese pours lead into a mold as part of the process to create several fishing jigs. He is a senior at Viera High School.

m o c . e c i o v a r e i v t a y a d o t r e nt

E

COME VISIT, page 2

Beating Cancer, page 7

VIERA VOICE 7350 Shoppes Dr., Suite 102 Viera, FL 32940

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Your child could be featured on the cover of 24,000 Viera Voice newspapers and our website VieraVoice.com.

Terms and conditions will be listed on the Viera Voice Cover Kid Contest entry form online at VieraVoice.com. For more information, call 321-242-1235.

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Viera Voice | September 2020

39

Home Sweet Home Deborah Tomczak

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www.DuranGolf.com

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7032 Stadium Parkway, Viera, FL 32940