Celebrating 28 Years!
Passionate about falcons
BY JEFF NAVIN
Don’t be caught unprepared for what could be a tumultuous hurricane season later this summer and fall.
Senior Life will conduct a Hurricane Prep Rally & Senior Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, July 18 at St. John The Evangelist Catholic Community’s Event Center at 5655 Stadium Parkway in Viera. It will be the second of three free Senior Day events sponsored by Senior Life this summer.
“We’ve always published a hurri-
cane guide,” said Jill Blue, the CEO of Bluewater Creative Group and the publisher of Senior Life and Viera Voice. “So, it’s only natural to pair it with a hurricane preparation event.
We are doing this with an emphasis on helping boomers and seniors with a dash of fun.”
Morning at the Museum with Senior Life and Friends was held June 27 at the Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science in Cocoa. A third event will be held in August with the theme yet to be announced.
Will Ulrich, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service, will be a guest speaker.
“It’s a county-wide event,” Blue said. “It’s not just for Viera. These hurricanes can sneak up on us. It’s nice to have all the things you’ll need. You don’t want to be running around like crazy when the stores are all packed and everyone is trying to get
HURRICANE PREP RALLY
Continued on page 3
Nurse can’t forget ordeal of Vietnam War
BY R. NORMAN MOODY
Cheri Hawes would often hear the whop, whop, whop of the Huey choppers approaching the evacuation hospital at her Army post in Vietnam.
That meant that severely wounded troops were being brought in for life-saving, critical care. Sometimes, there were mass casualties.
“When the wind was blowing and the helicopters were coming, the doors would blow open,” said Hawes, who was a 20-year-old Army second lieutenant when she arrived in Vietnam.
ARMY NURSE
Continued on page 12
SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Cheri Hawes Cheri Hawes served in Vietnam.
Volume 28, Issue 2
Senior Life of Florida
7350 Shoppes Drive, Suite 102
Viera, FL 32940
321-242-1235
myseniorlife.com
Jill@bluewatercreativegroup.com
Publisher
Jill Blue
Editor
R. Norman Moody
Office Manager
Sylvia Montes
Copy Editor
Jeff Navin
Art/Design/Photography
Matt Clark
Feature Writers
Ed Baranowski
Chris Bonanno
Ernie Dorling
Mike Gaffey
Linda Jump
Flora Reigada
Amy Tremante
Emily Warner
E
pages — enjoy your Senior Life full of interesting stories
Would a well-trained therapy dog elicit a smile from you?
Space Coast Therapy Dogs apparently do that for many people living in assisted living facilities around the county, cheering up residents.
At the Melbourne Orlando International Airport, they help greet tired and weary passengers arriving from a long trip. It is refreshing to see how positively most people — especially children — react to the presence of an animal. Children even read out aloud to some of the pets at the public libraries. We share a story and some of the photos in this edition of Senior Life
After starting out with a single question, we learned that many fire departments and the American Red Cross will help with equipping homes with smoke detectors. We found that firefighters recommend not just checking and changing batteries twice a year but also changing a smoke detector that is more than 10 years old. Once you read the story on smoke detectors, you too might learn something new and who to call to have your home smoke detectors checked or obtain some free ones installed. Climbing a ladder to do the work yourself can be too much trouble.
I find it good to learn as we research and write these stories because sometimes we get as much out of it as you do when you read some of them.
Oftentimes, if the information we gather is useful to us, we think it might also be helpful to some readers. That is some of what we always try to bring you, information that is helpful in your daily life or stories that entertain and inform you about events and happenings in our community.
We bring you health and wellness features, veterans’ stories and profiles and articles on what others are doing in the community. There are also stories on hobbies and passions that might pique your interest.
If you are interested in some of the latest technology gadgets, we tell you about them in each issue of Senior Life. We often bring you stories about local authors and their books and about short trips or day trips you can take this summer.
This edition is full of stories and information that should interest you, so turn those pages and enjoy your Senior Life
HURRICANE PREP RALLY
Continued from page 1
that last loaf of bread.”
Special guests will include Barbara (Bobbie) Keith, the Vietnam Weathergirl for the Armed Forces Vietnam Network, and Cheri Hawes, a former Army lieutenant nurse during the Vietnam War.
State Farm (Arty Pagan Insurance Agency), Rhodes Law, P.A. and Health First will be the presenting sponsors.
Ian Craig, a disaster preparedness specialist with the Brevard County Emergency Operations Center, is one of the community partners. Other community partners include The Salvation Army, the City of Rockledge, 211 Brevard and Aging Matters In Brevard. The Salvation Army will have a table to share information on preparing for a hurricane.
Slug-A-Bug will offer buckets for people to gather items during the event.
“It was going to be a small event,” Blue said. “Now, it’s getting more involved and bigger. Everyone is invited. These things are dangerous — flooding, high winds and losing power.”
Hurricane mocktails, sponsored by The Brennity at Melbourne, will be served during the Prep Rally. American Shutter Works will be the water sponsor. DC Roofing will be the coffee sponsor.
“We’re glad to supply the knowledge of how to be prepared.” said Steve Vick, the director of service extension for The Salvation Army, which will supply snacks. “We’re happy to do
WHAT Hurricane Prep Rally WHEN Friday, July
18
WHERE Event Center
St. John The Evangelist 5655 Stadium Drive, Viera INFORMATION 321-242-1235
Free parking & admission
that as part of the community.”
Attendees will be able to pick up items for their personal hurricane kit at stations set up at the event, while supplies last.
Exhibitors will be featured, as well as educational displays on how to recover after a storm, navigate through insurance claims and how to avoid scams.
Emergency responders and safety workers will be available to chat with one on one about different hurricane scenarios and how to remain safe. Do you live in an evacuation zone? Have you charted an evacuation route? Will your pet be sitting in the backseat of your car as you flee the area? Don’t leave your pet behind.
An Anker C300 DC power bank station will be given away. ClinCloud is the grand prize sponsor. Other prizes also will be offered.
Other sponsors include The Home
Depot, St. John The Evangelist Catholic Community, Ask An Adjuster and First Light Home Care.
Exhibitors include the Alzheimer’s Association, Senior Partner Care Ser-
vices, Quality Craftsmen, St. Francis Hospice, ServPro and the Brevard County Property Appraiser. For information, call Senior Life at 321-242-1235. SL
HOBBIES & PASSIONS
THE 11TH FEATURE IN A SERIES ON HOBBIES & PASSIONS
Ancient practice of falconry takes passion, commitment for Rockledge woman
BY ERNIE DORLING
The practice of falconry, using raptors — known as birds of prey — to hunt wild quarry, dates back millennia.
Initially started as a means of subsistence for nomadic huntergatherers, falconry was practiced in Mongolia and later refined to the point that the military campaigns of the Great Khans used it for food and sport between battles.
“Falconry is something I’ve been interested in since I worked at a zoo in Alaska,” said Shannon Harmony of Rockledge.
In 1983, Harmony moved from Alaska to Florida.
“You’ll
need to study for the exam and find a sponsor who is a master falconer who will guide you through
your apprenticeship.”
— Shannon Harmony
“Years later, a raptor fell out of its nest at our farm. I contacted the Audubon Bird of Prey Center and my falconry journey started again.”
Thirteen years ago, Harmony acquired an Aplomado Falcon named Sniper from a breeder in Florida.
“I provide for all his needs, food, safety and shelter,” Harmony said. “I only hunt Sniper in the winter when the weather is cooler and appropriate game is available. It’s an ancient practice enjoyed by the Falcon and the Falconer, where the bird gets to do
what it loves most while I provide a safe environment that meets its needs for a long life.”
Keeping a captive bird requires a commitment to its daily needs and management. State and Federal captive bird of prey laws are extensive. In Florida, captive birds of prey, specifically raptors, are regulated under federal and state laws.
“To be a falconer, you must take a written test and be sponsored for no less than two years by a Master Falconer in an apprenticeship,”
Harmony said. “Falconers are subjected to inspections and require regular license renewal.”
Finding open fields for her Sniper to fly and hunt is challenging for Harmony. “It’s critical for any
Falconry started as a means of subsistence for nomadic hunter-gatherers. It was practiced in Mongolia and later refined to the point that the military campaigns of the Great Khans used it for food and sport between battles.
falconer to be aware of potential threats in the birds’ flight zone. The birds are far loose. They come back to us because of their training. And any serious injury or ailment is treated by a qualified avian veterinarian.”
Anyone interested in learning about falconry should be prepared to build a relationship with the bird like most other animals.
“You’ll need to study for the exam and find a sponsor who is a master
falconer who will guide you through your apprenticeship,” Harmony said.
Startup costs can range from $400 upward for everything from the price of the bird to anklets, jesses, hood, leash, perch, a mews and travel box.
Sometimes, Harmony will release a bird into the wild.
“Letting go of anything someone loves is usually hard to do,” she said. “Letting go of a bird always brings both sadness and joy.” SL
SENIOR LIFE Matt Clark
Shannon Harmony’s interest in falconry started when she worked at a zoo in Alaska. In 1983, she moved to Florida.
SENIOR LIFE Matt Clark
By Randal C. Hill
Behind the Beat
‘Love Will Keep Us Together’ — Captain and Tennille
In early 1975, Toni Tennille and Darryl Dragon sat in the Los Angeles office of A & M Records. Company executive Kip Cohen played them a track from the latest Neil Sedaka album, “Sedaka’s Back,” which was a best of selection of cuts lifted from three albums he had released in the early 1970s in London. (He had moved to England after the Beatles had demolished his once-successful career.)
The tune Cohen spun on a turntable that day was a bouncy ditty called “Love Will Keep Us Together.” “The minute I heard it,” Tennille remembered later, “I knew we would do a number on it.”
Love, love will keep us together
Think of me, babe, whenever
Some sweet-talking girl comes along, singing her song
Don’t mess around, you just gotta be strong
Just stop … ’cause I really love you
Stop ... I’ll be thinking of you
Look in my heart and let love keep us together
From 1958 to 1963, Neil Sedaka
and his lyric-writing partner Howard Greenfield placed 13 RCA singles in the Top 40 charts. But in January 1964, the Fab Four exploded onto the American music scene and, overnight, swept away the careers of most rockers here.
As their final collaboration, Sedaka and Greenfield wrote “Love Will Keep Us Together.” Rock writer Tom Breihan later declared, “The song is about a couple fighting to keep their flame alive, but Sedaka says that he and Greenfield were really writing about each other. Sedaka also says that they were crying when they finished writing it.”
In San Francisco a few years earlier, Tennille had co-written songs for an ecology-based rock musical called “Mother Earth.” (1970 had been the first year for Earth Day.) The show was about to move south to Los Angeles, and the troupe’s pianist couldn’t make the move. Tennille ran an ad seeking a replacement musician.
Enter Dragon, the son of orchestra leader Carmen Dragon. Dragon was known in the industry as The
Captain. (Beach Boy Mike Love had often teased keyboardist Dragon about wearing a yachting cap onstage during tours.) Dragon was in between
gigs, so he flew to the Bay Area, met with Tennille and was hired.
Needless to say, neither musician realized that they would spend the rest of their careers together.
Tennille and Dragon formed a duo — the Dragons — and spent two years performing at a Los Angelesarea restaurant. It was during that time that they changed their stage name to Captain and Tennille.
“Love Will Keep Us Together” hit the top of the Hot 100 chart, where it stayed for four weeks. It became Captain and Tennille’s signature song and was named Record of the Year at the 1976 Grammy Awards ceremony. The remaining days of the ’70s brought the hitmaking pair half a dozen more hits.
In 2009, Sedaka recorded a children’s CD called “Waking Up Is Hard to Do.” Included among the tracks was “Lunch Will Keep Us Together.”
Don’t laugh; that disc earned a whopping 86% approval rating on Amazon! SL
Brevard County events celebrate the nation’s independence
BY FLORA REIGADA
On July 4, 2025, the United States of America will celebrate the 249th birthday of its independence from England and the uniting of its 13 colonies as a nation.
Brevard County will celebrate with several events.
An overview follows:
Merritt Island — Friday, July 4, 10 a.m. Brevard County Sheriff’s Office annual Independence Day Parade, which starts at Merritt Island High School and heads south on Courtenay Parkway.
Rockledge — Friday, July 4, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rockledge Independence Day Picnic at McLarty Park at 790 Barton Blvd. There will be games, music, waterslides and more.
Titusville — Friday, July 4, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. block party, First United Methodist Church at 206 S. Hopkins Ave. There will be hotdogs, waterslides and a cake walk.
Friday, July 4, 6 to 10.p.m.
Titusville: Red, White and Boom over North Brevard: food trucks, crafts and fun, Chain of Lakes Park 2300 Truman Scarborough Way, Fireworks begin at sunset.
Cocoa — Friday, July 4, 8 to 9:30 p.m., Free Symphony Under the Stars presented by the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. Riverfront Park at 401 Riveredge Blvd.
Melbourne — Friday, July 4, 10 to 11:30 a.m. City of Melbourne’s
This Independence Day there will be a lot of celebrations throughout Brevard County as the nation marks the 249th birthday of its independence.
annual Fourth of July Parade. Starts on Hickory St. and heads north on Fee Ave.
Friday, July 4, 4 to 10 p.m.
Melbourne: (Melboom) fireworks celebration: food trucks, kids’ zone. Fireworks set for 9 p.m., weather permitting. Front Street Park, 2205 Front St.
Viera — July 4, Great American Celebration in Viera — fireworks at
9 p.m. Space Coast Daily Park, 5775
Stadium Pkwy.
Cocoa Beach — Saturday, July 5, 8:45 to 9:15 p.m. Celebrate Independence with a Drone Light Show Spectacular, centered at Cocoa Beach City Hall, 2 South Orlando Ave. Port St. John — Saturday, July 5, Thunder Over the Indian River/Red, Hot & Barbeque at OUC Indian River Power Plant, 7800 US 1. Gates open 4
p.m. — food trucks, vendors, bounce houses and more.
Palm Bay — Saturday, July 5, Independence Day Celebration, 5 to 9 pm. Fireworks start about 9:15 p.m. at Eastern Florida State College at 250 Community College Pkwy. SE. Port Canaveral — Saturday, July 5, Fireworks Celebration begins at sunset. Fireworks, food trucks and entertainment. SL
SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Creative Commons
Captain and Tennille recorded several hit songs in the late 1970s.
SENIOR LIFE photo
Therapy dogs snuggle their way to healing, comfort
BY LINDA JUMP
Space Coast Therapy Dogs are snuggling their way into hearts at local hospitals, senior care facilities, schools, hospices, libraries, veterans’ clinics, businesses and even the airport. There is no cost to facilities.
The goal of SCTD, founded in 1992, is “to lift spirits, remove anxiety, provide companionship and eliminate loneliness and despair.”
Dogs hear stories read by children and war stories from distraught veterans. They heal hospital patients, relieve travelers’ stress at the Melbourne Orlando International Airport and dispel loneliness in longterm care.
The animals work for hugs, pets and love, and their handlers, for free.
“It’s life-changing not only for those we visit, but for us (handlers) and the dogs. The connections we make are profound,” said Caroline Lewis, president of the board of SCTD.
The group made 40 visits in June, not including the 10 airport teams.
Handlers agree that their dogs change lives. Rochelle Kenyon cited a female comatose patient who visited with her golden retriever. “Beebee went right in and silently put her head on her hand for several minutes. The lady opened her eyes and said, ‘there’s a red dog here.’ Your heart just thrills with such incredible experiences.”
Kathy Nilan of Palm Bay, a 25year therapy handler, said, “A little boy in a wheelchair had casts on both arms, looking down. His toes were sticking out and my dog started licking them. He started laughing and everyone cried. It was the first time he’d communicated or laughed in weeks.”
Mary Lewis of Viera and her golden retriever comforted people at a recent widow/widower seminar.
“During a break, a young widow sat on the floor and sobbed while hugging Colby. I didn’t have to say a word. She has a knack for finding the person who needs her and she’ll flop on her back for belly rubs.”
This retired Air Force veteran facilitates visits recently started at the
VA Outpatient Clinic. “I know what a comfort it is to relieve (military) stress.”
Terrier, who played the piano as they waited to board a plane.
The dogs offer special talents. Reggie plays an eight-key piano, while Romeo bows, twirls, dances and gives high-fives. Romeo’s trainer Maureen Reeder said, “He wants everyone to see him, pet him and love him. That’s his life.”
Dogs must be certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs. The alliance provides handler background checks, training, insurance and verifies canine health.
The Melbourne Orlando International Airport last year began scheduling “Comfort Canine” teams to greet travelers.
“Passengers love it. Traveling can be stressful, especially on international flights, with nervous flyers and kids. Who doesn’t love a dog?” asked Laura Richard, the airport marketing manager.
Roxzannah MacDonald of Edinburg, Scotland and her children were enchanted by Reggie, a Biewer
“It’s genuinely amazing and promotes calmness.” Her children loved receiving a collectible card from handler Janet DeMatteis of Merritt Island, listing Reggie’s favorite food as beef jerky and favorite toy as chasing lizards. Cards are part of the experience too.
Therapy dogs also visit Brevard libraries, where children read to them. Lucinda Dann, the youth services librarian at Eau Gallie Library, said, “I want the kids to gain confidence in reading aloud. What’s better than to read to your best friend.”
Recently, five dogs and handlers participated. Patrick McGregor of Viera raced to his favorite, Breezy, a 150-pound Newfoundland. He got to eye level. “Remember me?” he asked the dog, opening his book.
Jeff Arent of Melbourne, Breezy’s handler, said, “It’s absolutely a gift that we can do this.”
For information or to schedule a visit, spacecoasttherapydogs. SL
SENIOR LIFE Matt Clark
Last year, Melbourne Orlando International Airport introduced a program where dogs greet and comfort travelers.
SENIOR LIFE Jeri Lyn Jump
handler with Space Coast Therapy Dogs, holds
Zimmerman, 7, of Melbourne reads to him
Eau Gallie Public Library. Handlers
certification of their animals.
Row Brevard encourages interest in rowing with demonstrations
BY CHRIS BONANNO
Row Brevard invited the community to try rowing as part of National Learn to Row Day, held at Oars and Paddles Park in Indian Harbour Beach.
“My love of rowing has been lifelong,” said Row Brevard president Alex Goodale. “It’s a real kick to get people interested to want to try it and get out in the water and show them the ropes.”
Twenty-two new rowers participated in the event, the club’s vice president Adrienne Smith said.
The oldest of the new participants was 75. Most were in their 40s and 50s.
“Every rowing club in America does this. It’s always the first Saturday of June — National Learn to Row Day. The clubs up north obviously aren’t going to be rowing in the winter ’cause they’re frozen over,” Smith said.
The event gave participants an opportunity to learn the basics of rowing before getting in a boat.
Rowing provides good low impact exercise
“We started off on land on erg (ergometer) machines,” Smith said. “…We showed them the proper technique, then we went down to the docks and we put them all on the same side of the boat. So they could actually row while we held on to the boat so it wouldn’t go anywhere. We just taught them the proper stroke, how to slide, how to get your oar in the water at the same time and out of the water at the same time. Then, we moved them into the different seats and we went out with four newbies and four master rowers. We took them out through the canal into the Indian River, up to Dragon Point and back. So, they were out there for maybe a half an hour rowing.”
Those in attendance undoubtedly got a taste of what Goodale feels are multiple positive impacts of rowing, which he said includes the aesthetics of going out on the water and it being very low impact on the body. He said that rowers use close to 90 percent of the body’s muscles during the activity.
“It preserves your muscle tone,” Goodale said. “It’s outstanding in
ROWING
Continued on page 25
Independence
SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue
SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue
Adrienne Smith, left, and Alex Goodale are the vice president and president, respectively, of Row Brevard.
STRI PES Brevard Veterans News
Brevardians put their support for veterans into action
It is refreshing to witness a sea of people supporting the families of veterans by showing up to pay tribute to those interred at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.
Hundreds attended the most recent Memorial Day remembrance ceremony at the cemetery.
But on the other hand, it is not surprising in Brevard County. I don’t know a whole lot about how much support and appreciation veterans get elsewhere in the state, but I know our community. It truly supports veterans.
I have attended several Memorial Day ceremonies at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery and sat in the audience with everyone else.
This time, I was invited to be the emcee at the event. It is a totally different perspective looking at the audience from the stage. I could see the dedication, devotion and emotion on the faces of those who came to remember and pay tribute and
support the families of the veterans interred there.
Promotional hand fans got their workout as those using them in the hot and humid weather, as was forecast. It didn’t even matter to the dedicated crowd that I asked them to sit for a moment longer as I shared some final thoughts on other ways to support those who served the nation in uniform.
Part of what I told them is “If you have the time, volunteer for an organization that helps veterans. If you have the money, donate to a local organization that supports veterans. If you are an employer, hire veterans. If you appreciate the service and
sacrifice of veterans, tell them, thank you for your service.”
This is the Space Coast, so it was like preaching to the choir. I have said many times that Brevard County residents are very supportive of the veterans.
Part of it could be that we are one of the Florida counties with the highest percentage of veterans to the general population.
Veterans make up more than 12% of Brevard County’s population of people 18 and older. The state average is 7.3% and the national average is 6.1%, according to the Florida Department of Health SL
BY ERNIE DORLING
In 1953, “From Here to Eternity” won the Academy Award for Best Picture and an Academy Award for Frank Sinatra for Best Supporting Actor.
That same year, Richard Mau, who grew up in a small village of 150 people in Bonfield, Illinois, and attended a one-room school during World War II, joined the Marine Corps.
“There were six of us in the school,” Mau said. “Three boys and three girls.”
Mau, 90, enlisted in the Marine Corps after learning that his cousin, a Marine pilot in World War II, died after his plane malfunctioned, causing him to land in the ocean.
“I had a friend in high school whose father had a small airport with a grass runway. He took me flying with him after high school classes. I loved flying. That and my cousin being killed in World War II, influenced my decision to join the Marine Corps.”
Mau served in the Marine Corps from 1953 to 1956, rising to the rank of sergeant.
“I was an airplane engine
mechanic,” he said. “Some of my fondest memories of my time in the Marine Corps include being responsible for an AD-5 airplane. I started the engine every morning to prepare it for the pilot to fly. When the plane returned, I checked it for problems that might need fixing before its next flight. But the happiest memory of my time in the Marines was meeting a woman in Miami. A week after we met, we were married.
“Jacqueline and I were married for 60 years and had two children together. She passed in 2016 and is interned at the Cape Canaveral (National) Cemetery.”
Mau left the Marine Corps at the end of his enlistment in 1956. He spent the next 15 years working as a mechanic for Eastern Airlines. He also earned his commercial pilot and flight engineer licenses.
“After I was qualified as a pilot and flight engineer, I went to work for National Airlines on the Boeing 727 for 10 years,” Mau said.
Mau later flew with Pan Am and Delta Airlines.
“During Operation Desert Storm, I flew our troops to and from New York and Saudi Arabia,” Mau said.
Mau met presidents Richard Nixon and George H. W. Bush during his time with the airlines.
“I also met and spoke with Congressional Medal of Honor winner Capt. Eddie Rickenbacker, who flew in World War I,” Mau said. “But my
fondest memory was flying Mother Theresa from Panama City, Panama to Miami. We all had our picture taken with her. She boarded with all her possessions stuffed in two cardboard boxes with a rope around them. I put them in the cockpit for her. When the passengers heard about her being on the plane, they took up a collection. It was about $800, which she later donated to a home for unwed mothers in Miami.”
Mau is a member of the Space Coast Honor Flight team, the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association in Melbourne and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation.
Mau won no Academy Awards and wasn’t in the movie “From Here to Eternity.” However, he has lived a life that is far beyond here and eternity.” SL
by Margie E. Burke
SENIOR LIFE Matt Clark
Richard Mau was a pilot for Pan Am and Delta Airlines after leaving the Marine Corps.
SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Richard Mau Richard Mau served in the Marine Corps.
IRCC grand ball celebrates the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday
BY ERNIE DORLING
Since its official establishment on June 14, 1775 — more than a year before the Declaration of Independence — the U.S. Army has played a vital role in the growth and development of the United States.
Army installations worldwide, including reserve units and militaryaffiliated organizations, celebrated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army on July 14.
More than 200 people attended a celebration at the Indian River Colony Club in Viera.
“Since 1775, American soldiers have represented the very best of our nation,” Secretary of the Army Honorable Dan P. Driscoll said in a message to soldiers worldwide. “The U.S. Army has upheld this legacy for 250 years, and we will carry this legacy into the future.”
The Army has been tasked with everything from mapping the United States, including the Lewis & Clark expedition, to leading the effort to free Continental Europe from its Nazi stranglehold.
From young men in the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions parachuting behind enemy lines the night before the allied invasion in Normandy to secure key objectives including bridges, roads and towns, to young women, right out of nursing school, all of whom volunteered as combat nurses in Vietnam.
Many of them had to deal with working in primitive medical
conditions while facing mortar attacks, all while living without the benefit of female medical services, to the present day’s efforts to combat terrorism, the U.S. Army has been at the forefront of our nation’s security.
Guests at IRCC celebrated the Army with a grand ball.
Retired U.S. Army Col. William Greenawald, the IRCC Army Ball committee chairman, opened the event.
“I don’t know who coined the phrase, ‘It’s a great day to be a soldier,’ but looking out at the audience tonight, it is indeed a great day to be a soldier and celebrating the Army’s 250th birthday,” Greenwald said as he welcomed the guests.
One of the attendees included
retired Air Force Col. Mike Lane, who was forced to eject over North Vietnam and spent 2,271 days as a POW.
Also in attendance were retired Maj. Gen. Gene Anderson and Brig. Gen. Jack Morris and Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Pierson.
“Every year, celebrating the anniversary of the Army is special in its own way,” said Anderson, who has been a resident of IRCC since 1998.
Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Hans Hunt started the ceremony by leading a color guard of the Sons of the American Revolution.
“I’m proud to have followed the example of my Revolutionary War ancestor by serving my country in the Army for over 35 years,” Hunt said.
Master of ceremonies, retired Army Col. Teresa Ortiz, told the guests about the history of the U.S. Army and the early days of battling the British as the country was fighting for its independence.
“They were just regular people, taking up arms to defend all they owned and held dear,” Ortiz said. “They took on the might of a worldwide empire to pursue freedom. And over the last 250 years, each generation has answered the call to defend our great nation.”
The residents of the Indian River Colony Club showed up in mass to celebrate the fact that everyday people have and continue to take up arms to defend and hold dear what this country stands for. SL
SENIOR LIFE Ernie Dorling Hans and Sabrina Hunt enjoyed the party at IRCC.
SENIOR LIFE Ernie Dorling
Guests filled Colony Hall at Indian River Colony Club to celebrate the Army’s 250th birthday.
ARMY NURSE
Continued from page 1
Hawes was among the nurses, corpsmen and surgeons who would care for soldiers coming in with missing limbs, severe burns and other critical injuries.
The 91st Evacuation Hospital at her Army Post was high on a cliff in Chu-Lai, Vietnam, overlooking the South China Sea. It would have been a beautiful setting if not for the horrors of war.
Hawes graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Bloomington, Minnesota, knowing that military service was in her future. She was commissioned in the Army Nurse Corps after graduating as a registered nurse from St. Barnabas Hospital Nursing School in Minneapolis. It was 1970 when she was assigned to help save the lives of U.S. troops in Vietnam. The hospital also treated allied forces, Vietnamese civilians, children and even enemy fighters.
Almost immediately after arriving at Chu-Lai, she began experiencing some of the tragedies of war.
“My first week there, I’m standing there. All of a sudden, the doors pop open and the helicopter landed,’’ she said.
As they often did, when the team heard the whop, whop, whop of the Huey helicopters, they would spring into action to prepare to receive the injured. The nurses memorized where the instruments and supplies were
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so they could reach without looking when it became so hectic in the emergency room.
Three severely wounded soldiers were brought in during her first days there. The surgeon began calling for scalpel and other tools and instruments.
“He opened the young man’s chest. With big forceps, we held it open while he massaged his heart,” she said. “It was a heartbreak to lose all of them.”
Gripped with post-traumatic stress, it took decades before Hawes could talk about her experience in Vietnam.
“You’re in shock,” she said. “You didn’t talk about that stuff. You just keep working.”
Despite the horrific injuries she saw and the concern about incoming enemy rockets, Hawes is proud of her military service, even as she suffered from PTSD and the health effects of Agent Orange.
“When I hear the whop, whop, whop, I feel like I should be getting ready,” Hawes said. “I was always listening for the choppers.”
Military service is part of Hawes’ heritage. She has family members who served in wars from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 to World War II, Afghanistan and Iraq. Her father served and fought during the Battle of the Bulge in WWII.
In return for paying off her nursing studies, Hawes would give the Army two years of service. She knew there was a need for nurses during the Vietnam War, and she did not hesitate.
“We were not considered to be in a secure area,” she said. “We got rocketed all the time.”
Most of the injured were stabilized before being transported to Da Nang, a Navy ship, and from there back to the United States. Some came in with severe head injuries or missing limbs. Hawes said the hardest part was triage. For some soldiers, there was no hope they would survive.
“We’d give them to God,” she said. “We’d give them pain relief and stay with them until they died. I’d say my prayers with them. I would get the
chaplain over there.”
Long hours and heartbreak were part of life in the evacuation hospital emergency room. The personnel there took care of more than 30,000 patients per year.
“The worst cases to deal with were burns from napalm,’’ Hawes said. “Napalm was horrible.”
In 1971, Hawes returned to the United States to the difficulties endured by so many who served in Vietnam — the poor reception and rejection.
But Hawes went on to work as a flight nurse before a career in marketing, medical education and medical device product development and consulting. She later became a corporate executive in New York.
Now retired and living in Viera, Hawes summarizes her experience in the military in a few words: “It was the best time and the worst time at the same time in my life. SL
SENIOR LIFE R. Norman Moody and courtesy of Cheri Hawes
Viera resident Cheri Hawes served as an Army nurse during the Vietnam War. She has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and the health effects of Agent Orange.
SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Cheri Hawes Cheri Hawes served with distinction during the Vietnam War after graduating from the St. Barnabas Hospital Nursing School in Minneapolis.
SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Cheri Hawes
Army’s 91st Evacuation Hospital cared for more than 30,000 patients per year during the Vietnam War. The severely injured were treated in the emergency room and later transferred to Da Nang and then to a Navy Hospital ship before being sent back to the United States.
Alura Senior Living
777 Roy Wall Blvd., Rockledge 32955 321-549-3980 AluraSeniorLiving.com
Shell Harbor 2855 Murrell Road, Rockledge 32955 321-252-1221 ShellHarborRetirement.com
Indian River Colony Club 1936 Freedom Drive, Viera 32940 321-255-6000 ColonyClub.com
The Brennity at Melbourne 7300 Watersong Lane, Viera 32940 321-253-7440 BrennityMelbourne.com
Chateau Madeleine 205 Hardoon Lane, Suntree 32940 321-701-8000 SuntreeSeniorLiving.com
Speaker
ATTEND AND PREPARE
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Get FREE preparedness items while supplies last
• Learn how to prepare for a storm
• Speak with Emergency Responders
• Evacuation zones and routes
• Special Needs Shelter information
• Plan for your pet
• Learn about avoiding scams, navigating insurance claims
• Post storm planning
• Get resources on storm recovery and cleanup
We will be serving Hurricane mocktails during the Prep Rally! Sponsored by
Bobbi Keith The Weathergirl Vietnam
Jim Wilson Deputy fire chief City of Rockledge
Cheri Hawes Former Army Lt. Army Nurse Corps.
Jennifer LeVasseur City clerk and public relations officer City of Rockledge
Tom Kammerdener
TIME TO TRAVEL
Westgate River Ranch
Florida ranch offers rodeo, camping, fun — just a short drive away
BY EMILY WARNER
Nestled in the countryside of River Ranch, about 80 miles southwest of Melbourne, is Westgate River Ranch Resort & Rodeo.
Home to wild, exciting and memorable experiences, there truly is something for everyone. Every Saturday night, guests can throw on their boots and saddle up to watch the rodeo, which features bull riding, bronc riding, trick riding and barrel racing.
In addition to the rodeo, the River Ranch property has a plethora of wholesome, rootin’ tootin’ fun. Some of the activities guests can book include airboat rides, swamp buggy rides, horseback riding, trap shooting, archery, a petting zoo, a farmers’ market and more. Plus, opening just in time for summer’s heat, guests will soon be able to enjoy the new River Country Water Park on property, which features water slides and a lazy river.
With so many activities at River Ranch, it’s easy to see why visitors often want to spend more than one day on the dude ranch. Thankfully, there are accommodations on site that allow people to stay for a night, a weekend or a full vacation.
Lodging options range from camping and glamping to cabins and cottages. There are even unique stay options that allow guests to step back in time to the wild west and stay in a luxe teepee or luxe conestoga wagon.
Of course, after a day full of fun, it’s easy to work up an appetite. River
Ranch has enough food options to help feed the whole crew. For quick snacks or something sweet, swing by the general store or Coffee Corral for a variety of choices.
If you’re out busy with all of your fun ranch activities, check out the Graze Food Truck. If you’re hanging by the rodeo arena, the River Ranch
Saloon may be the spot for you, but be sure to keep an eye out on Friday and Saturday nights for live music and a great time line dancing.
Consider checking out River Ranch for your next date night, adventure or getaway weekend.
For more information, go to westgateresorts.com. SL
Oz Museum drew thousands of visitors last year, moving to Kissimmee
BY LINDA JUMP
Take the yellow brick road into the Wizard of Oz Museum before flying monkeys move it west to Kissimmee. Despite steady growth since opening in 2022, the museum will remain on A1A near Cape Canaveral another two years until a building three times larger is built on U.S. 192.
The 4,500-square-foot highlyranked museum is currently housed in a strip mall slated for demolition, Fred Trust said. “I just bought four acres of land in Kissimmee closer to large tourist destinations. About 90 percent of visitors are tourists,” he said.
Trust enjoyed the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland, but said it was reading the book it is based upon by L. Frank Baun that captured his interest. “Everybody knows the movie, but Baum wrote 40 books and the movie is just the first one. There’s so much more,” Trust said.
He began collecting memorabilia decades ago with the dream of opening a museum. More than 2,000 of his artifacts are in the building, including the first known copy of “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” signed by Baum, one of the movie’s Dorothy dresses, a spear and original MGM
script copy. Books, dolls, McDonald’s toys and comics are there, but don’t look for Dorothy’s famous ruby slippers. They’re in the Smithsonian Museum.
Visitors begin in the gift shop, where they view a short video about the museum. Inside are glass shelves housing the organized collectibles, described by using URL codes. Displays such as Miss Gulch and
her bicycle, huge flying monkeys and three thrones with the primary characters provide perfect “selfie” shots.
A children’s room offers coloring sheets, wall-sized yellow brick road into Emerald City, books, dolls and games from the 1850s to today. A two-room viewing area with 3D laser projectors immerses visitors in Vincent van Gogh and his artwork,
high-resolution celestial images from the Webb telescope and a show that Trust created with scenes from the Wizard of Oz movie. Projections on the floor, ceiling and interior walls allow visitors to feel they are part of the scene, set to music.
Trust said creating the one-minute tornado scene alone took six months to design.
“My intention is to inspire visitors to learn and read some books for pleasure, as I did a long time ago,” Trust said.
Last month, Nicole Mehlich and her two sons of Casselberry visited for the first time. “I love everything,” Mason, 13, said. His brother Maddox, 8, ran to search for a donkey in a display to complete a search board to earn a prize.
Harper Toigo, 11, of Sebastian dressed as Dorothy and her sister Hannah, 6, as Glenda the Good Witch when visiting with their grandmothers Ann Marie Willis of Sebastian and Joanne Toigo. “It’s a nice family attraction,” Willis said.
The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 7099 N. Atlantic Avenue. The cost is adults, $31.99; children, $15.99 and military and seniors, $29.95. SL
SENIOR LIFE Matt Clark Bull and bronco riders come from all over the region to compete in the weekly rodeo.
SENIOR LIFE Matt Clark Airboat rides and tours are offered at River Ranch, which is about 80 miles southwest of Melbourne.
SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump
Harper Toigo, 11, and Hannah Toigo, 6, of Sebastian dressed as Dorothy and Glenda the Good Witch from the “Wizard of Oz” movie made by MGM in 1939 to visit the Wizard of Oz Museum at Cape Canaveral. The girls visited with their two grandmothers and said they loved watching the immersive show there.
SENIOR LIFE Matt Clark
Westgate River Ranch Resort and Rodeo sits on 1,700 acres of Florida wilderness and features Luxe Conestoga Wagons for overnight stays for up to six people.
Ex-lifeguard’s beach station project committed to cut drownings to zero
BY MIKE GAFFEY
As summer heats up, beachgoers in Brevard County might notice posts equipped with orange flotation devices. along sandy shorelines.
More than 200 unmanned Flotation Stations have been installed at Brevard beaches from Cape Canaveral to Sebastian Inlet, and another 100 operate around Florida and in Georgia.
The initiative is the brainchild of retired Brevard County chief lifeguard Wyatt Werneth, the founder and CEO of Drown Zero International, a nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to preventing drownings.
“I’ve been put on the Earth to do something and that’s my mission: The Drown Zero project where we save lives and educate people on drowning prevention,” said Werneth, a Cocoa Beach resident who worked for Brevard County Ocean Rescue for 19 years.
Erected at city beach accesses, beachside parks and certain hotels, motels and oceanfront homes, the stands are equipped with a Drown Zero flotation ring for beachgoers to throw to struggling swimmers when lifeguards are unavailable.
Newer stations south of Patrick Space Force Base are equipped with solar panels and electronic features that trigger an alarm when someone removes a ring. It also automatically calls 911 and tracks the ring using GPS technology.
“We’re going to start installing cameras so we can capture the event as it unfolds,” Werneth said.
Each stand also carries messages for visitors to swim near lifeguards, dial 911 in an emergency, use the ring at their own risk and “Throw . . . don’t go.”
Werneth came up with the idea for stations in 2016 after having witnessed numerous drownings during his lifeguard career. An engineering friend designed the stations, Rockledge-based Entec Innovative Engineering builds them, and city personnel or volunteers install them three feet deep in the sands.
With help from local Rotary Clubs, Surfing’s Evolution and Preservation Foundation and the cities of Cocoa Beach and Cape Canaveral, Werneth was able to install the first 62 stations
along beaches in those two cities, he said.
Today, stations have been erected at Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Indialantic, Melbourne and Melbourne Beach. More stations also are planned at Patrick Space Force Base, Sebastian Inlet State Park and Indian, St. Lucie and Flagler counties, Werneth said. He’s also heard from officials in Hernando County, Naples and Sanibel Island on the state’s west coast.
“We’re still growing,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of beaches still yet
to cover.”
Beachgoers used the flotation rings in 26 rescues in 2023 and deployed the rings 245 times in 2024, Werneth said. Volunteers check the stations daily to ensure they’re ready for use.
Stands are on display at Florida welcome centers, and Werneth hopes to expand the program to rivers and lakes and offer Drown Zero rings for boats and at swimming pools.
To offset building and maintenance costs, businesses, groups and individuals can adopt a station for $500 a year and receive a full-color sign on top of the adopted stand for their support.
“We have restaurants, we have families, we have attorneys, we have Realtors taking part,” Werneth said.
Chip Dickens, the president of the Melbourne Beach Rotary Club, said the club was happy to partner with Cocoa Beach Rotary and bring 13 stations to Melbourne Beach.
“It’s a definite need with the amount of rip currents that we see along the shore,” Dickens said. “We can’t have lifeguards at every beach, so there’s got to be some solution that makes sense and enables some self help. It’s a practical application that helps increase safety for a form of recreation that we all love. Plus, Wyatt’s passion for this project and his vision makes you want to do something to help, to get people committed to it. I think it’s a really great thing.”
So far in 2025, no one has drowned at Brevard County beaches, and Werneth is grateful that Drown Zero has played a part.
“Drownings probably are one of the most preventable tragedies there are,” he said. “Flotation is proven to save lives.” SL
For more information, go to drownzero.com or call 321-704-0151.
TECH KNOW TIDBITS
Portable power station might suffice during an emergency
BY R. NORMAN MOODY
What do you do if there is a storm and you lose electrical power for a day or more?
You could have a generator installed that would kick on automatically when the power goes out. That might give you peace of mind at a cost of several thousand dollars.
However, you may be able to get by with minimal power for a couple of days and not need a generator that you might not get much use from.
In that case, maybe a portable power station might be the answer to give you some light and a way to charge or plug in your cellphone or laptop computer. Think of it as a hurricane power bank that you can also use on a camping trip or other outdoor activities where you only need minimal electrical power.
There are portable generators that cost a few hundred dollars to those standby automatic generators that can run $6,200 or more before installation and maintenance.
You can then charge phones, laptops and power up small appliances when there is no traditional electrical power available.
A portable power station, also called a portable battery pack, stores electrical energy and can be used to power your electronic devices. It uses a rechargeable battery to store electrical energy and convert it to power like you would get from a wall outlet.
And the price is far less than generators, which require great care when operating. Generators must be operated away from the house. A power station is safe to use inside.
There are a variety of portable power stations — with wattages from about 120 watts and higher and cost anywhere from $70 to $500.
They are available from stores such as Home Depot, Northern Tools, Walmart and online at Amazon. SL
SENIOR LIFE Mike Gaffey
Retired Brevard County Ocean Rescue chief lifeguard Wyatt Werneth created Drown Zero International, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to preventing drownings.
SENIOR LIFE Matt Clark
A portable power bank, instead of a generator, might be sufficient during an emergency such as a hurricane.
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Annual Wellness Visits, physical exams remain key to seniors’ health
BY AMY TREMANTE
As we age, maintaining good health becomes increasingly important — and more complex. For seniors, regular checkups are essential to monitor ongoing health conditions, identify new concerns early and promote overall well being.
Two visits that should be performed annually are the physical exam and the Annual Wellness Visit, preventive services covered by Medicare.
The annual physical exam is a comprehensive evaluation of your overall health, involving a hands-on assessment and diagnostic testing. The focus of an annual physical is to diagnose new health issues and evaluate the treatment of your chronic conditions. It provides your primary care provider with a review of your overall health and treatment plans.
The key components of the yearly physical are a hands-on exam, labs and other diagnostic results, and medication review. Your provider may review weight and BMI or body mass index, blood pressure and heart rate, cholesterol and diabetic labs, among others.
To complement these checkups, Medicare created the Annual Wellness Visit benefit to fill the gap in preventive care for older adults. An Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly primary care appointment covered by Medicare for beneficiaries age 65 and older. It is not a problem-based visit but intended to address health
maintenance and preventative care. This is not a traditional physical, but rather it is used to identify and prevent future problems based on the patient’s current health and risk factors. It complements but does not replace a traditional physical exam.
The essential elements of the Annual Wellness Visits are health risk assessments such as cognitive exams or family history and lifestyle factors, discussion of healthcare goals and advance care planning and referrals to specialists or scheduling further screenings, vaccinations and counseling services. At this visit, your provider could recommend a skin check by a dermatologist, hearing and eye exams, depression or dementia
screening, or diagnostics for specific cancers like breast or prostate cancer.
“Your health is your greatest asset, and you should prioritize being proactive about preventable issues,” said Dr. Tamid Turbay of MHM Medical Group in Rockledge. He recommends everyone over the age of 55 undergo colorectal cancer screening every 10 years or more if at risk, skin cancer screening annually, dental exams every six months, annual lung cancer screening for any current or former smokers, and regular immunizations including yearly flu and pneumonia vaccines and the shingles vaccine once after age 65.
These annual visits provide
early detection of health conditions, improved quality of life and reduced healthcare costs. Despite the benefits, many seniors skip their AWVs due to a lack of awareness or confusion about coverage. Many people only go to the doctor when they are sick or hurt.
The Annual Wellness Visit is more than just a routine check in — it’s a proactive approach to aging well. Encouraging seniors to take advantage of this Medicare-covered benefit in addition to yearly physicals can lead to healthier and happier golden years. SL
Amy Tremante is a registered nurse living in Brevard County.
Cocoa Beach Air Show highlights centennial celebration
SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE
The F-22 Raptor, considered to be the fastest and the most maneuverable fighter jet in the world, will be featured at the Cocoa Beach Air Show July 12 and 13.
Aerial performances will be held from noon to 3:30 p.m. each day near Lori Wilson Park at 1500 North Atlantic Avenue in Cocoa Beach. The event is being put on by Air Dot Show Tour.
The air show will be one of the
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highlights of Cocoa Beach’s Centennial Celebration.
With its sleek aerodynamic design, the F-22 can cruise at 1.5 times the speed of sound without using a fuel consuming afterburner. The F-22’s thrust vectoring and advanced flight controls allow it to outmaneuver other aircraft.
The F-22 Raptor climbs straight up, stops in mid-air, then reverses toward the ground before flipping its nose around in a summersault at near zero forward speed. The F-22 makes sharp, sudden
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turns displacing and compressing air into vapor.
Viewing of the event from a boat or watercraft is permitted in a limited area on the eastern perimeter of the US Coast Guard Safety Zone. The eastern perimeter extends 12,000 feet parallel with the flight path of the performing aircraft. Anchoring, hovering or idling of boats or watercraft will not be permitted to the North or South of the Coast Guard Safety Zone.
The 920th Rescue Wing, based at Patrick Space Force Base, will perform a Combat Search and Rescue Demonstration (CSAR) showcasing the wing’s capabilities in personnel recovery operations. It will feature para-rescue jumpers (PJs) deploying from aircraft to simulate the rescue of isolated personnel in combat scenarios. The demonstration will conclude with the PJs swimming into the beach and the helicopters simulating a mid-air refueling operation from a C-130J Super Hercules.
The EA-18G Growler will be featured at the show. It provides tactical jamming and electronic protection to U.S. military forces and allies around the world.
The U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker will perform precision maneuvers each day defying its size as a tanker.
The C-17 Globemaster III
Demonstration Team will demonstrate the C-17’s agility through a series of tactical maneuvers, including steep tactical descents, short-field landings, rapid reverse taxiing and precision turns rarely seen in a large transport aircraft.
The REMAX Parachute Team will give a demonstration on skydiving. It is known for its precision jumps and dynamic aerial performances.
John Black, a retired Air Force pilot, will put on a display to remember with his Super Decathlon. For information, call 321-3001162. SL
SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock
Seniors should be diligent about getting annual exams and wellness checks.
SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue
The Cocoa Beach Air Show is expected to once again draw large crowds July 12 and 13 to the beach.
8085 Spyglass Hill Road
Viera, Florida 32940
Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm
FREE 30-MINUTE CONSULTATIONS
• Get answers to your questions about aging
• Connect with trusted local resources
• Discuss your unique situation with a senior care expert
• Plan ahead with clarity and confidence
We offer hundreds of presentations at One Senior Place, covering a wide range of educational topics. These events allow guests to ask direct questions to the experts presenting.
CAN’T MAKE IT TO ONE SENIOR PLACE?
Phone consultations are available for those who can’t leave home or drive. In some cases, we can even schedule in-home visits. We also bring our presentations to groups – such as churches, book clubs, or community centers.
“Nurse Lisa” Conway, RN, CCM
1 2 3 4 5
Line Dancing 4:15 - 5:30 p.m.
Wickham Park Senior Center 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne 321-255-4494
Painting with Pearl 10 a.m. - noon An instructor-led watercolor or acrylic painting class. Cocoa Library 308 Forrest Ave. Cocoa, 321-806-3760
Sit-n-Stitch
1 - 3 p.m.
Embroidery, knitting, crochet group.
Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404
Flow and be Strong
Exercise Class
8:30 - 9:15 a.m.
A balance flexibility and strength class.
Ryckman Park 509 Ocean Ave. Melbourne Beach
Glenbrooke Community Health Fair
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Glenbrooke Senior Living 815 Briar Creek Blvd. NE Palm Bay, 310-497-9759
Brevard Authors Critique Group
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Bring your story for useful advice or inspiration.
Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404
6 7 8 9 10
Cocoa Beach Centennial Celebration
July 5 and July 6 Visit cityofcocoabeach. com for a list of events to celebrate the centennial.
Senior Fitness with Polly 1 - 2 p.m. Increase stamina,energy and balance. Cocoa Beach Library 550 N. Brevard Ave. Cocoa Beach 321-868-1104
Bingo
11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Satellite Beach Civic Center 565 Cassia Blvd. Satellite Beach 321-446-3206
Computer Basics Class 10 a.m. - noon Mims/Scottsmoor Library 3615 Lionel Road Mims, 321-264-5080
Regular Line Dance Class 1 p.m.
DRS Community Center 1089 South Patick Drive Satellite Beach 321-779-2914
Medium John Rogers 6 - 7:45 p.m. Professional medium, author and lecturer. Cocoa Beach Library 550 N. Brevard Ave. Cocoa Beach 321-868-1104
Line Dancing Fun
5:30 - 7 p.m. Palm Bay Senior Center 1275 Culver Drive NE Palm Bay, 321-724-1338
Alzheimer’s/Dementia Caregiver Support Group 11 a.m. - noon Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404
Chef for Seniors 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Proceeds benefit The Children’s Hunger Project. Wickham Park Senior Center 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne, 321-255-4494
Glow in the Dark Pickleball 6 - 9 p.m. Eau Gallie Civic Center 1551 Highland Avenue, Melbourne 321-608-7400
Viera Park Market & Food Trucks 4 - 8 p.m. Viera Regional Park 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, 321-759-3713
321-268-1941
Palm Bay Independence Day Celebration
Live music, food trucks and vendors. Fireworks begin at 9:15 p.m.
EFSC Palm Bay 250 Community College Palm Bay, 321-952-3400
Cocoa Beach Air Show
July 12 and July 13
Noon - 3:30 p.m.
Lori Wilson Park 1500 N. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Beach 321-868-3200
Romantic Reflections
7 p.m. Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. Eastminster Presbyterian Church 106 N Riverside Drive Indialantic, 855-252-7276
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Sunset in the Hollows
6 – 8 p.m.
Hundred Acre Hollows 1170 Rock Spring Drive Suntree, hundredacrehollows.org
Chess Club
1 - 4 p.m.
Chess lessons and competition.
Cocoa Library 308 Forrest Ave. Cocoa, 321-633-1792
Brevard Investment Education Group 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. This group meets to talk about investments.
Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404
Third annual Christmas in July Party
5 - 7 p.m.
Presented by the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation. Only 250 tickets will be sold, minimum $100 donation per ticket.
Rising Tide Tap & Table 523 Glen Cheek Drive Port Canaveral 321-351-5052
Undercover Blues Music to Spy By July 16 and July 17
7 p.m.
Presented by the Melbourne Municipal Band. Melbourne Auditorium 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd Melbourne 321-724-0555
Strength/Flexibility 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Wickham Park Senior Center 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne 321-255-4494
Bingo
10 a.m. North Brevard Senior Center 909 Lane Ave. Titusville, 321-268-2333
Hurricane Prep Rally
Sponsored by Senior Life and Viera Voice
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
St. John The Evangelist Catholic Community 5655 Stadium Drive, Viera See pages 14 & 15
Brevard Home and Garden Show July 19 and July 20
10 a.m.
Melbourne Auditorium 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Melbourne, 321-773-8816
Tea Tasting Event
2 p.m.
Benefits of teas. The Pritchard House
Museum 424 S. Washington Ave. Titusville, 321-607-0203
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Sunday Night Karaoke
8 p.m.
Merritt Island Moose Lodge 3150 N. Courtenay Parkway Merritt Island 321-452-9061
Scottish Country Dancing
6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Springs of Suntree 8300 Holiday Springs Road Suntree, 321-427-3587
Yoga for Seniors
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. North Brevard Senior Center 909 Lane Ave. Titusville, 321-268-2333
Lunch and Learn City Speaker Series Noon - 1 p.m. A free event focused on topics that matter to the Satellite Beach community.
Satellite Beach Civic Center 565 Cassia Blvd. Satellite Beach 321-773-6458
3 H’s Exercise Class for Seniors 9 - 9:45 a.m. The happy, healthy heart program covers all the elements to keep you strong, energetic and flexible.
DRS Community Center 1089 South Patrick Drive Satellite Beach 321-773-6458
Estate Planning Seminar 10 a.m. William A. Johnson will discuss the basic principles of estate planning. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-752-6771
Domino Girls 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Learn and play dominos. Melbourne Beach Library 324 Ocean Ave. Melbourne Beach 321-953-5642
Minute by Minute: A Doobie Brothers Tribute 7:30 p.m. A high energy tribute concert. Merritt Island Moose Lodge #2073 3150 N. Courtenay Pkwy Merritt Island 407-252-3536
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Space Coast Cars and Motorcycles
8 - 11 a.m.
Back to school show. Bring school supplies to donate. Ford's Garage 5480 Lake Andrew Drive Viera, The Brain-Health Lifestyle What the Research Shows 2 p.m.
Enhancing cognitive function in adults. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill
Warbird
Are your smoke alarms fire-ready, updated, with fresh batteries?
BY LINDA JUMP
Sixty percent of home fire deaths are in residences without working smoke detectors/alarms. Most Brevard fire rescue services offer courtesy home fire prevention surveys with free smoke alarm installations.
“We get more calls for seniors than any other demographic, but we don’t do nearly as many as we’d like to,” said Doug Carter, a fire marshal for Brevard County Fire Rescue.
He said alarms should be replaced every 10 years, inspected periodically and tested monthly.
The National Fire Protection Association, reporting from a 2024 survey, said only 7% of homes meet that suggestion, although 99% of homes have at least one alarm.
Marcello Maggio of Malabar, a county fire rescue inspector, said, “Smoke alarms are the number one way to prevent fire deaths, but they’re one of the most overlooked. People think if they have one, they work.”
Palm Bay Fire Rescue will check homes for any elderly or disabled residents. Both departments have provided and installed free ionization
10-year sealed lithium batterypowered units where needed, through a grant program.
“We also get a lot of calls from older folks who can’t get high enough to put them up,” said Nathan Thomas, a Palm Bay Fire Department deputy chief. He said they do 10, 15 home inspections monthly. “Know your limitations. We don’t want people climbing up ladders thinking they can do it and falling.”
Melbourne Fire Rescue officials don’t install smoke alarms, but have a limited supply to give one per household to those without any alarms.
A smoke alarm is a self-contained unit with a sensor, while a smoke detector is generally a system of hardwired and interconnected units that all sound if one is alerted to smoke or heat. Some systems will also contact a constantly-attended location for help.
Types of alarms include photoelectric or ionization, a combination of the two, each with pros and cons. Alarms should be placed high in every bedroom, on every level and outside each sleeping area. Those who are hard of hearing
or deaf can use alarms with strobe lights and bed shakers.
“We want everyone, especially our seniors, to be safe and educated about fire safety,” said Matt Clark of Palm Bay, a fire inspector with Brevard Fire Rescue.
During a recent inspection in Palm Bay, fire inspectors found that a home that should have had five smoke alarms had only two. And, the two alarms were from 1987 and 2009 and should have been replaced years ago. Inspectors suggested moving a fire extinguisher and unsealing a window that had been caulked shut.
Central Florida Red Cross has a grant to provide up to four free installed non-wired smoke alarms to Brevard County residents who need one, regardless of income, said Duhane Lindo, the regional communications director. Fill out a request form at soundthealarm.org/ centralflorida.
To schedule a smoke alarm check, call your local fire department. For Brevard Fire Rescue, call 321-633-2056, ext. 4. City of Palm Bay residents can call 321-726-5608. SL
Save money and the Indian River Lagoon with smart irrigation
You have probably seen water from sprinkler systems running down the street or running when it is raining?
That water runoff from irrigation systems picks up pollutants from yards and the street which ends up in the Indian River Lagoon. You can save money and water by reducing lawn irrigation, especially during the summer when there are frequent rain storms.
The St. Johns River Water Management District states that “Outdoors, lawn and landscape irrigation accounts for about half of all residential water use. Watering wisely saves water and promotes healthier lawns and landscapes. Overwatering a lawn can promote weeds and insect pests, as well as weakened grass roots.”
Here are a few simple steps to save water:
• Check that your irrigation system is in proper working order.
• Make sure there are no broken heads or pipes
• Check that sprinkler heads are aimed toward plants and not sidewalks or hard surfaces
• Set your sprinkler timer to the
Lagoon Straight Talk
St. Johns Water Management District guidelines: sjrwmd.com/wateringrestrictions/
• Odd numbered addresses: Wednesday and Saturday
• Even numbered addresses: Thursday and Sunday
• Do not water between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. because water will evaporate.
• Maximum watering time per zone is one hour, the equivalent of a half inch of rain.
• Use refuse water (purple pipe) when available from the city.
Another easy step is to monitor the weather forecast. It is best to turn your irrigation system off when we have weekly rains.
Over-irrigating your lawn will weaken the roots (they won’t grow
deep) and encourage diseases and weed growth. If your sprinkler system runs within 24 hours of significant rainfall (more than .2 inches), you should have your controller checked to see if it has an operating rain sensor.
Florida law requires automatic irrigation systems to have an operating rain sensor.
It also helps to incorporate efficient sprinkler heads like rotary nozzle heads. The newer water efficient rotary nozzle sprinkler heads can
save 40% on water use due to their reduced loss to evaporation, overspray and runoff. Use drip lines in gardens and around trees where water can be directed to the roots of the plant. This will reduce fungal diseases on plant leaves.
There are a variety of drip-line options that can deliver water directly to the roots of individual plants or irrigate ground cover using emitter tubing. Consult with your gardener or irrigation company before planting so that the correct tubing and heads can be installed underground in the correct locations. Ask for Florida Water Star certified irrigation installers for best results.
You can save even more money and water if you use Florida Native plants in your landscape. Many do not require any supplemental irrigation after they are established. A welldesigned and properly maintained Florida yard will stay beautiful with minimal care, and you will save our waterways.
For more tips and information on how to be lagoon friendly, visit helpthelagoon.org. SL
SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump
Marcello Maggio, a fire inspector with Brevard County Fire Rescue, at the top of the ladder, replaces an outdated smoke alarm unit with a new ionization 10-year unit. His colleague Matt Clark, also a county fire inspector, holds the ladder steady on a recent in-home inspection.
27. Driver’s license datum
28. Dorothy Parker quality
31. Came to earth
33. Bygone money
35. Bottled gas
36. Frostiness
38. More likely
39. Rubbernecker
41. Quick note
42. Pitchfork wielder
45. Under
47. In the thick of
48. Proficient
49. Photo (media events)
52. Not hot
53. Map out
54. “Well, -di-dah!”
55. The hunted
56. TelePrompTer filler
57. Swelter
DOWN
1. Joker
2. Company’s yearly meeting
3. Spinning 4. Holds
5. Wrinkle removers
6. Sweethearts
7. Mole
8. Press
ACROSS
1. “This means !”
4. Perfume ingredients
8. Letters
12. Opposite of hence
13. Conclude, with “up” 14. In addition
15. Clock std. 16. Like a busybody 17. Chip’s cartoon chum
18. Grps. 20. Scrooge 21. Toast topping
Brown shade
Willow twig
9. “Too bad!”
10. Capri, e.g.
11. Malicious look
19. Spring purchase
20. Intermingles
21. Election
22. Pronto
24. Oomph
26. Nephritic
28. Lycanthrope
29. Point
30. Poi source
32. Party preparation
34. Kind of wrestling
37. Little rock
39. Lightheaded
40. Hang loose
42. Humid
43. Fujairah bigwig
44. Offensive
46. Solemn stretch
48. Quick
50. Good thing to break
51. Diffident
Solution on page 26
BCOA NEWS
Brevard Commission on Aging
BCOA meetings are open to the public and are held the second Thursday of each month at the government center in Viera.
For information, contact Cindy Short at 321-633-2076, FAX 321-633-2170 or email cindy. short@brevardfl.gov. BCOA is located at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, B-106, Viera, FL 32940.
Awareness, action in Brevard helps protect seniors from scams
According to the FBI, scams targeting individuals 60 and older resulted in more than $3.4 billion in losses in 2023 — a rise of approximately 11% from the previous year.
These scams are especially devastating for seniors, many of whom are retired and no longer earning active income. As a result, recovering from financial loss is significantly more difficult, often involving stolen life savings, retirement funds or even homes.
The damage goes beyond finances. Falling victim to fraud can cause deep emotional trauma, including distress, embarrassment and a reduced quality of life. Seniors impacted by scams often face diminished access to healthcare, nutritious food and secure housing — making prevention not just important, but essential.
Thankfully, Brevard County is stepping up.
Recognizing that prevention is the best defense, local organizations and agencies are working together to educate and empower seniors — and their families — about the latest threats. While scammers continue to evolve, leveraging AI and high-tech tools in increasingly sophisticated
schemes, Brevard is fighting back with knowledge and community support.
One leading effort is from Helping Seniors of Brevard, a nonprofit that recently partnered with AARP’s Fraud Watch Network to launch Scam Jam. The classroom-style workshop featured presentations by top law enforcement officials and subject matter experts in fraud prevention. Participants learned how to recognize red flags and protect themselves — and they’re encouraged to serve as “deputies” by sharing what they’ve learned with friends and loved ones.
Scam Jam includes guidance from:
• Banking professionals on Safe Senior Banking and identity theft prevention
• Medicare experts who explain how to avoid common Medicare
scams
• Florida State Attorney William Scheiner (District 18) discussed realworld cases his office is prosecuting locally. The program’s first session — held recently at The Brennity at Melbourne — graduated more than 70 participants, and more sessions are being planned throughout the county.
Other important local initiatives include:
• A special World Elder Abuse Awareness Day event hosted by the Brevard Commission on Aging and other local agencies, titled “Protecting & Preparing Yourself and Loved Ones.” This free lunch-and-learn featured Dana Blickley, the Brevard County Property Appraiser, and Rachel Sadoff, the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Held at Sonata East at Viera, the event was filled to capacity, demonstrating strong interest among seniors in staying informed and safe.
SENIOR SCAM SAFETY CHEAT SHEET
WARNING SIGNS:
• Pressure to act immediately
• Asked to keep the conversation a secret
• Requests for payment via gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
• Promises of big prizes, miracle cures, or guaranteed returns
• Unexpected or suspicious emails, calls or texts
• Threats of arrest, loss of benefits or legal action
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:
• Hang up! It’s OK to be rude to a scammer.
• Verify independently: Look up official phone numbers and websites — never rely on what the caller gives you.
• Never share personal information: Don’t give out your SSN, Medicare number, or banking details.
• Talk to someone you trust: A second opinion can prevent a costly mistake.
• Report it: If it feels off, report it — better safe than sorry.
HELPFUL CONTACTS:
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): 1-877-382-4357
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): www.ic3.gov
Identity Theft Recovery Help: identitytheft.gov
AARP Fraud Watch Helpline: 1-877-908-3360
REMEMBER: Legitimate agencies — such as the IRS, Medicare and law enforcement — will never demand money, threaten arrest or request payment via gift cards. Stay informed. Stay alert. And share this knowledge with others — it could make all the difference. SL
“You
A rendering of the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum’s new events center hangs in the museum.
Warbird Museum’s new events center takes shape
BY FLORA REIGADA
Nostalgic and educational, Titusville’s Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum features an extensive collection of vintage aircraft from World War I to Desert Storm.
In addition, the organization hosts special events.
This summer, it will open a new events center that will enhance its capabilities and offer the community a more expansive option.
For Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum workers and volunteers, it will save on time and labor.
“When we previously had an event, it was held in an airplane hangar and
we needed to remove airplanes and tables,” said Jim Grammatico, the event center’s sales representative.
Located next to the Museum, the 11,000-square-foot facility should be able to accommodate 800 people.
“There is no other local place with that capacity,” Grammatico said. “It is the largest in Brevard County.”
The event center will boast a fully equipped kitchen and a spacious dining area.
“The new facility will allow for expanded corporate events, as well as luncheons, ceremonies, wedding receptions, birthday and retirement parties,” said Jolene Clark, the events director. “We also expect to host youth
activities such as wrestling tournaments and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) gatherings,” she said. “We will even have a garden area for ceremonies.”
A grand opening is planned for the first week in August.
The Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum is at 6600 Tico Road in Titusville.
Upcoming events at the museum include “Blue Flame Evening,” as Tico Belle, a C-47 aircraft, roars to life under the stars at 3:30 p.m. July 4. Tickets are required.
The annual Warbird Auto Show will be held at 5 p.m. July 5.
For more information, call
There are plenty of food options — choose a well-balanced diet
“What’s for supper?” “When do we eat?” Grumpy old men are shown on sitcoms and cartoons looking for chow.
In “Everyone Loves Raymond” rerun episodes, Raymond’s father Frank is always looking for food. His wife Marie is the only one who can cook a quality meal.
In-law relationships are tested by the Barone’s food wars. Buying food, cooking and feeding are big challenges today for seniors.
Common tools include shopping lists, food budgets, recipes, calorie counting, portion control, use of leftovers and packaging directions about cooking options to cook on/in the stove, microwave or air fryer. Yes, there is the outdoor choice to grill, barbecue or use the outdoor kitchen complex.
Too much trouble? Eat at a restaurant or fast-food place. Boring or expensive. Try a Home Chef or Senior Chef service where a chef comes to your house and prepares meals.
Too expensive? Look for senior functions that include lunch or dinner.
AARP Chapters, Helping Seniors, One Senior Place and many retirement communities host educational and informational programs that showcase food prepared by resident chefs.
Add variety to your meals prepared at home. Prepare menus. With various health challenges, many seniors must balance carbs, protein, fruits and greens. Then, look at the directions on the packages. The print is so small that a magnifying glass is needed under bright lights. Beware of government warnings, expiration dates, best-by notices and all content listings.
Challenges of Living to Age 100
Ed Baranowski
Consider fully-prepared meals offered by Factor and other services. There are many menu options with nutritious, fresh food delivered each week. Compute the meal cost of their ready-in-two-minutes approach, food boxes sitting outdoors in the sun and being overstocked.
Consider local UberEats, Amazon, Pizza Hut, Domino’s and Chinese food delivery options. Avoid a dependence on unhealthy options known as fast food. Remember the tip for delivery people.
Budget challenged? There are food pantries, community kitchens, charities and the old food stamp program known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Don’t forget Meals on Wheels.
Food is the engine for your body’s health. Plan to use quality fuel. Follow the guidance of your primary care doctor in maintaining a balanced diet. Select stoves, ovens and appliances that are easy to operate to avoid technology challenges (touch screens, applications, and digital programs). Is supper ready yet?
Ed Baranowski is an award-winning writer, artist, speaker and seminar leader. He lives in Melbourne, Florida and can be contacted at fast75sr@gmail.com SL
321-268-1941 or visit valiantaircommand.com. SL
SENIOR LIFE David Reigada
Jolene Clark, the events director at the Warbird Museum, discusses the history of the Tico Belle, a vintage plane on display at the museum.
Owner: Robert Beiler
