Before Indian River Colony Club — "The Place that Patriots Call Home" — was created in 1986 as a military retirement community, the property was mostly occupied by cows, alligators and accessible only by dirt trails.
In short, the plot of land that is now IRCC was located basically out in the middle of nowhere, according to the book “The Story of Indian River Colony Club 1986-2006.”
As part of the Founders' Day celebration, The Cart Barn Players entertained with a humorous skit about the early days of IRCC. Today, as Viera’s first residential community celebrates its 40th year of incorporation, the 453-acre gated development off Murrell Road has
IRCC continued to page 6
Stargazing from the Space Coast never gets old for Viera family
BY LILLIAN NGUYEN
Though both grew up on the Space Coast, Bill Sibert and his wife, Jean Marie, did not know each other until mutual friends insisted they get together.
The Viera couple have now been married 10 years.
"They were both in our ear, saying we ought to meet each other," Jean Marie Sibert recalled. "It took a little bit of time to finally connect and then when we did, I mean, the rest is history."
Jean Marie Sibert is the senior rehab liaison at Sea Pines Rehab Hospital. Bill Sibert is a retired police officer.
"I worked 24 years at the Space Center," he said. "Working contract security. Now I am the owneroperator of Screw Loose Handyman Services."
Their son Liam, 9, is a third grader at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy. He plays multiple sports and enjoys playing Madden video games in his free time. His mother joked that Liam keeps them busy.
Liam Sibert is a proud Bear of Cub Scouts Pack 332 of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. He recently won three awards in the Pinewood Derby for best in show, overall first place and
"We love that there's so much to do. It's at the heart of everything."
— Jean Marie Sibert
first place for Bears.
"The Pinewood Derby is, instead of racing horses, you're racing wooden cars," Liam explained. He had a great time building the undefeated Liam S. Car and is excited to race it in the district competition.
The Siberts love living in Viera.
"We love that there's so much to do," Jean Marie Sibert said. "It's at the heart of everything."
Sibert loves the familyoriented atmosphere and all of the different things to do in the area. All three of the Siberts share a deep passion for space — they like stargazing, watching the International Space Station go by and, of course, "all the launches, it never gets old to us."
While Jean Marie Sibert lamented over the loss of her plants, the earlyFebruary cold front didn’t stop the family from connecting with their community — it may have even brought them closer.
Bill Sibert has a portable firepit that he would set up in their driveway for the neighbors to come over.
"They'll come over and we'll kind of hang around the firepit, do marshmallows, drink hot chocolate," Jean Marie Sibert said.
She mentioned that neighbors would drive past and see the family around the fire, and then doubleback to join them.
The adventure-seeking
family often go for walks on the Linear Trail. Bill and Liam Sibert love setting up Christmas lights each year.
"This is the Star Wars house," Bill Sibert said proudly. The family's collection of Star Warsthemed inflatables started out in a single tote bag but has since grown into several closets full of big, yellow Tupperware totes. "I think we had 20 inflatables this year." VV
VIERA VOICE Lillian Nguyen
Bill Sibert, right, his wife Jean Marie and their 9-year-old son Liam love the family atmosphere of Viera.
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County's environmental program will further protect Hundred Acre Hollows
BY CHRIS BONANNO
Hundred Acre Hollows, a 114-acre conservation area in Suntree, is now protected from ever being developed.
The Brevard County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to make Hundred Acre Hollows part
of the Environmentally Endangered Lands Program.
“Everybody that we’ve talked to has been really excited,” said Tom Unrath, the Hundred Acre Hollows director-at-large.
Hundred Acre Hollows, Inc. is a nonprofit, whose mission is to protect the wildlife, restore the habitat and engage the public.
Hundred Acre Hollows, established in 2016, is located off Rock Springs Drive in the Springs of Suntree neighborhood. The transfer means that the property will stay
MEANS BUS
as a conservation area in perpetuity, according to the post.
“That’s something that we’ve been really hoping for and wanting to work toward since the very beginning. At the whole start of this, it was because it was an announcement that the county wanted to sell this property and put 200 houses back there and we were able to convince the commissioners that that really wasn’t a good idea,” Unrath said.
Unrath added that he worked with former commissioner Curt Smith on a plan to use the space for conservation, which prompted the nonprofit to be formed.
He also noted that the new county designation, which came in a County Commission’s decision Jan. 27, is a boost for the nonprofit organization’s volunteers and the public.
“A lot of our energy and very, very limited financial resources have gone into trying to maintain the property and get rid of Brazilian peppers and Cogon grass,” he said. “So once the county (has) the EEL program involved in maintaining the property, it will free up time and energy and financial resources to do some other things.”
Among the other things Unrath was referring to include educational programs and “perhaps being able to open a little bit more frequently since we won’t have to be doing what we’ve called ‘Restoration Days,’ getting volunteers in there to work on preserving the habitat.”
Hundred Acre Hollows is open to visitors on Sundays, two hours before sunset.
Unrath said that he spoke with EEL program director Mike Knight and Ian Golden, the director of Brevard County Parks and Recreation.
“We’ll have to meet together with them and the rest of our board to answer questions and kind of nail down some procedures and that kind of thing,” he said.”
For more information, visit hundredacrehollows.org. VV
VIERA VOICE Jorjann Blake
A timid Gopher Tortoise emerges from his den at the Hundred Acre Hollows conservation area.
VIERA VOICE Jill Blue Volunteers have helped to protect Hundred Acre Hollows, a conservation sanctuary, since 2016.
VIERA VOICE Jill Blue
Hundred Acre Hollows is a
in Suntree.
Buckaroo Ball promises fun, important support for Harmony Farms
BY CHRIS BONANNO
Miracles occur on a regular basis at Harmony Farms, where children and adults who have been silent respond to the gentle touch of a horse.
Therapeutic horseback riding is offered to improve cognitive, physical and emotional handicapping conditions at Harmony Farms. The ranch, located at 2205 Pluckebaum Road in Cocoa, is a member of the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.
One way to help support the work of Harmony Farms is by attending its major annual fundraising event.
Tickets are still available for the 25th annual Buckaroo Ball, presented by Harmony Farms.
The event, slated to take place Saturday, March 28 at the Space Coast Convention Center at 301 Tucker Lane in Cocoa, will include cocktails and a cash bar beginning at 6 p.m. and a buffet dinner starting at 7 p.m.
“It’s our major fundraiser, so we’re hoping that people will attend and we’ll have a full house,” said Pamela
Rogan, the founder and executive director of Harmony Farms.
The Ball will have dancing, as well as live and silent auctions. Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey will serve as the Wild West race announcer.
“It’s really great,” said Rogan of Ivey being at the event. “He’s been doing this for us for probably about 10 years. He gets people to participate. He gets people to contribute and he’s been very generous with his time and with anything he can donate to us. The Sheriff’s Office donates a K-9 ridealong as an auction item every year, so it’s pretty neat.”
Attire for the event will be dressy casual or western.
“This will be a big
fundraiser of the year, and I think it will be pretty neat,” Rogan said. “We have some
VIERA VOICE Jill Blue Pamela Rogan is the founder and executive director of Harmony Farms.
1,200 residents and 788 single-family homes.
“I think it’s a wonderful place to live whether you’re 100 or 50,” said 99-year-old June O’Connor, one of IRCC’s first residents. O’Connor, who still lives at IRCC with her daughter Barb Jones, turns 100 in October.
Residents marked the community’s anniversary and Founders Day with events that started on Feb. 18 and wrapped up with a black-tie gala on Feb. 21. The multi-day celebration had “been in the works for over a year,” said Colleen Ward, IRCC’s chairman of the board.
Envisioned in the early
1980s by retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Charles D. Briggs as a safe, affordable and amenities-filled community for retired military ages 55 and older, IRCC began taking shape in the mid-1980s. Briggs enlisted the help of fellow retired Air Force Gen. Gordon “Bat” Masterson to help make his vision a reality.
In 1986, Briggs reached a deal with Jack Maloy, the vice president of real estate with Oviedo-based A. Duda & Sons, Inc., which owned most of the land between Wickham Road and Barnes Boulevard, to buy 250 acres for $660,000. As part of its initial land sale, Duda, later the parent company for The
Viera Company, agreed to provide IRCC with another 57 acres in return for IRCC funding the construction of an extension of Murrell Road.
On Feb. 19, 1986, the nonprofit corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws were officially adopted and filed with the State of Florida. By the end of September 1986,
“I think it’s a wonderful place to live whether you’re 100 or 50.”
— June O’Connor
more than 100 people had signed up as members, even though no houses had been built or a loan secured.
After Briggs’ death in 1987, Masterson took on the complex task of financing the project and creating the community. “I practically lived in my office for 10 years,” he told Viera Voice in 2016.
After IRCC secured a $3.6 million loan from First Federal of Osceola, home construction started in early 1988. The first residence was completed in June 1988.
Retired Army Chief Warrant Officer Jack Kilz and his wife Dottie became the first residents of IRCC — and later Viera — when they moved into their new home at 1263 Continental Ave.
Today, IRCC offers 24hour gated security and features a private 18-hole, par-72 golf course with putting and chipping greens and an aqua range, a centrally located hub featuring a resort-style clubhouse for casual and fine dining venues and an event and banquet center.
Amenities include a pool, fitness center, a newly renovated court complex housing three tennis courts, a regulation bocce and
shuffleboard court and a croquet lawn. Residents also can choose from more than 60 clubs and activities.
The community is owned entirely by its membership and is 100 percent debt free.
“Over its 40-year history, IRCC has never had to impose special assessments, underscoring its stability and sound management,” Ward said.
Originally exclusive to retired military officers, IRCC is now open to a limited number of nonmilitary members.
Scott Miller, the executive vice president, sales, marketing and community development for The Viera Company, said IRCC’s success helped pave the way for Viera’s surging growth.
“IRCC is truly a ‘plank owner’ of the master planned community of Viera, and we could not be prouder to join them in celebrating their 40th anniversary in Viera,” Miller said in a statement.
“The pioneering spirit that built Viera needed bold partners like General ‘Bat’ Masterson, longtime leader of IRCC, to transform the conceptual plans for Viera into the reality of homes, clubhouses and golf courses that gave Viera the essential foundation to become one of the top master-planned communities in the country that we are today.”
For more information about the community, visit ColonyClub.com or call 321-255-6000 VV
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of IRCC
Before Indian River Colony Club was built, the property was pasture land accessible only by dirt trails.
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of IRCC
The At Ease Club was built during the early years of Indian River Colony Club.
WrapUp SPORTS
Suntree voters will decide fate of tennis/pickleball courts at Interlachen Park
BY MIKE GAFFEY AND LILLIAN NGUYEN
Suntree residents can now vote on whether to approve construction of new tennis/pickleball courts at Suntree Interlachen Park.
In a letter to residents posted online Feb. 10, Suntree Master Homeowners Association Construction Committee members proposed building a fenced, dedicated 70-by-128-foot tennis court area with a permanent net just south of the parking lot at the park at 490 Interlachen Road.
The proposed project was listed on the ballot that was being mailed out to Suntree residents ahead of the March 24 election.
The proposed tennis court surface also would have four lined pickleball courts “for use with highquality portable nets, which will remain on site,” according to the letter. The court would be secured with a key fob available only to Suntree residents.
The finance committee and the Board of Suntree
to build
have already pre-approved the proposal, which leaves the decision up to the voters. A majority vote will determine whether or not the multipurpose courts will be built.
“It's gonna be a great amenity, a great addition to Suntree. It does help to raise property values and attract buyers because it's something that people want in their community,” said Lisa Auld, a Suntree HOA Construction Committee member.
“All our surrounding communities have courts. They have pickleball and tennis, and most of them are private. Most are in Viera and Rockledge. There are few places we can go to play in Suntree.”
Tennis and pickleball players previously had used a tennis/pickleball court at Jack Mahon Park in Suntree. But the court was closed and dismantled in 2024 due to a Brevard County permit violation.
“For many years, these
courts had been well used, and well loved by the Suntree community,” the letter stated.
A committee was formed in June 2025 to not only replace the courts but possibly upgrade them and increase Suntree property values, the letter stated.
“As perhaps we're all aware, virtually every new community being built in our area offers this amenity.”
After “a long process” to find the best location, the committee decided on Interlachen Park, also known
as Sand Park for its sandfilled playground.
The project would be financed entirely through Excess Operating Funds, the committee stated.
“These are surplus funds from previous budget cycles that have been prudently managed and set aside specifically for community enhancements,” the committee explained. “Because these existing
PICKLEBALL VOTE
Continued on page 15
ends March 31, 2026
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VIERA VOICE Jill Blue
proposal
tennis/pickleball courts at Suntree's Interlachen Park is on a ballot for Suntree residents.
BY CARL KOTALA
With only one senior on the roster, the Viera High School baseball team is going to have to rely heavily on its young talent this season.
Good thing there’s plenty of young talent to work with.
“We’re very young this year, but we’re very eager as well,” Hawks coach Matt Gifford said. “We’re eager to learn, eager to listen and take the instruction and mold it into their own game, which is great.”
Viera, coming off a season in which it fell one game short of making the state final four, has a pair of key returners in sophomore Carter Lee and junior Trey Slavik.
Lee, who made some big starts for the Hawks as a freshman last season, will be the team’s No. 1 pitcher and play center field when he’s not throwing. Slavik gives Viera some experience at the allimportant shortstop position.
Sophomore Rogan Crockett steps into the No. 2 pitcher slot while also playing first base.
Freshman outfielder Bryce Hudkins was already among the team’s top hitters through three games and showing the kind of potential that had Gifford saying, “He’s special.”
But it doesn’t end there.
Sophomore Liam Russell has emerged as a leader behind the plate with freshman Nick Conte manning second base and junior Max Leoni and sophomore Brayden
DeClue splitting time at third base.
Hudkins is in left field, though he will shift to center field when Lee is on the mound.
Sophomore Bryce Dentino and junior Lucas Kapatoes will be in right field and both will also see time on the mound. Dentino will shift to left if Hudkins moves to center.
Another sophomore, Ryan Volz, will play first base when Crockett is pitching and can also pitch as well.
Junior Nathan Burrus is Viera’s No. 3 pitcher, while sophomore Jack Angier will come on in middle relief. Freshman Dylan Hardin is the backup catcher.
Jack Park, the only senior, is recovering from an injury and hopes to eventually return in a designated hitter role.
Expect the Hawks to play a lot of small ball.
“We’re a small team physically as well as age wise,’’ Gifford said. “So, we have to rely on moving guys over and getting them into scoring position and then getting a timely hit or a timely ground ball or fly ball to score somebody.
“And just like anything, it will come down to defense. Are we throwing strikes, and are we making the plays behind the pitcher to get us in and out of the inning.”
So far so good. Viera was off to a 3-0 start and will only get better as the season goes on as its young players gain experience and have a chance to grow and develop. VV
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Cole Gifford
The Viera High School baseball team may be young this season but, with strong pitching and defense, the Hawks should find themselves in every game as they look to follow up last year's trip to the regional finals.
Players’ work ethic impresses new Tigers baseball coach
BY CARL KOTALA
The Holy Trinity Tigers already have been putting in a lot of hard work this season.
And that’s impressed new coach Stephen Branca.
“We have a dedicated group of guys that work extremely hard,” Branca said. “They’ve got great character. The makeup on these guys — they’re fantastic human beings first and foremost.
“It’s hard to find the kind of work ethic these guys have in this generation. A lot of guys just kind of rely on the talent they’ve gained over time or were God given. These guys continue to put in the work every day and it’s been a lot of fun to be a part of.”
Branca, who is also the school’s Director of Athletic Performance, is a former professional baseball player who brings a wealth of
knowledge to the program.
The Tigers have a young, talented roster that could definitely make some noise, not only this season, but in the years to come.
Owen Theiler, a sophomore who can play all three outfield spots, is expected to bat lead-off for the Tigers. He’ll be followed by senior Noah Thatcher, a left-hander, who can provide solid defense in center field.
Junior shortstop Ethan
Nunes didn’t waste any time establishing himself as one of the top Tigers in the lineup, going 4-for-4 with three doubles and four RBI in the team’s season-opening win against Cocoa.
Freshman Ayden Williams batted cleanup against Cocoa, showing off some nice speed while playing in left field.
Carter Davenport is an eighth-grade first baseman whom Branca said will be a
name to know in a few years when Division I schools come to recruit him.
“I think he’s going to be really good,” Branca said of Davenport.
Sophomore R.J. Wright is a versatile player who can catch or play third base, second base or shortstop.
Another sophomore, Charlie Lepper, started at second base against Cocoa, but can also play the outfield where his speed will be an asset.
Lucas Mooney is a lefthand hitting third baseman who can also play second. Eighth-grader Ian Cline will see time at catcher.
Sophomore Evan Ireland and junior Dexter Parrish are both utility players.
On the mound, the Tigers have two solid pitchers in sophomore Grayson Hammond and eighth-grader Kash Janke, whom Branca said has superstar potential and should also be highly sought by college scouts in the coming years.
Freshman Connor Purvis is expected to throw a lot of strikes for the Tigers this season. Theiler and Lepper are also going to get some time on the mound.
The Tigers should definitely be fun to watch.
“I think in the next few years you’re going to see this program definitely put on the map,” Branca said. VV
Viera softball will be led by strong freshmen class
BY CARL KOTALA
The Viera Hawks will be trying to build something this season.
And head softball coach Mike Worden believes he has the building blocks to make it happen.
“We’re going to be young,” Worden said. “We have a solid group of freshmen. The ceiling is high for all of them.”
With only five returning players from last season’s program, and only one — junior Valentinna Worden — who saw any playing time on varsity, those young freshmen are going to get plenty of chances to develop this season.
It all starts on the mound, of course, where freshman Shea Young is expected to be the team’s ace pitcher and take on Viera’s toughest opponents. She’ll be backed by sophomore Alivia Roszkowiak, who threw for the JV team season and should also get some quality innings.
While Young and Roszkowiak will get the bulk of the innings, the Hawks will also be looking to develop and find some time in the circle for freshman Caroline Nelson and junior Cami Glennon.
Freshmen Gracen Baker and Chloe Riley will be the two main catchers for Viera, with Worden at first base, backed up by sophomore Shayne Wofford.
Second base could be home for freshman Arianna Vega, sophomore Mia Abramow or freshman Emma Boyd.
The Hawks are loaded
at shortstop with freshman Jess Jordan, sophomore Ava Griggs, Vega and Body all potentially getting playing time there.
Third base could see Baker or Riley — whichever one is not catching — or perhaps Jordan, depending on how the lineup shakes out.
Wofford, who has the strongest arm of the position players, will likely see time in right field with Griggs likely in center field.
Roszkowiak or Glennon will likely be in left field.
The team also has three newcomers in sophomore Audrey Showers, junior Lexi Withers and freshman Haley Walker. The trio will all serve in a utility role for the Hawks this season.
Though Viera can expect to face its challenges this season, particularly considering the Hawks will be playing a tough schedule, the opportunity is there for the young players to keep growing throughout the season as they get more and more playing experience.
That not only bodes well for this season, but could
really pay off down the road as well.
And right now, the Hawks’ head coach likes the enthusiasm and spirit he’s seeing
out of his young team.
“They’re working hard,” Worden said. “Our first two preseason games … there’s just a different energy. There’s an emotional high that the girls are on right now just watching the hard work come to fruition.
“We’re team bonding on purpose … just so they understand we’re on this journey together. They’re rising to the challenge every practice. VV
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Cory Davenport
The Holy Trinity baseball team has been working hard all season under new coach Stephen Branca. The Tigers have a lot of developing young talent that could help put the school on the map in the coming years.
VIERA VOICE
Courtesy of Andi Wofford
Led by a strong freshman class, the Viera High School softball team is building a strong team for this season as well as for the future.
Tigers moving to SSAA to give young players chance to develop
BY CARL KOTALA
There are a lot of new faces around the Holy Trinity softball program this year.
“We kind of have a brand-new team, really,” coach Lexi Betterman said. “... I’m really excited. It’s all seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th (graders). I have no juniors or seniors.
“It’s a very young squad, even younger than in years past. But, I’m super excited because they all have a really good attitude and they all want to be there.”
That’s not the only thing new about this year’s Holy Trinity team as the Tigers have opted to play in the Sunshine State Athletic Association (SSAA) this season instead of the FHSAA in order to give their young players a chance to develop.
The SSAA also has a postseason tournament.
“I’m excited. Little bit of a lighter schedule, but new year, fresh faces,” Betterman said. “I think it will really give us a chance to be competitive, give the girls some confidence to show that their hard work is paying off and give them some more wins than we’ve had the past couple of seasons.”
While the Tigers have an influx of new players, they aren’t completely devoid of returners.
Sophomore Caleigh Schmoll leads the way and will move between center field and shortstop. Freshman Jenna Robertson is the team’s primary catcher. Another freshman returner, Nathalie Ponton, will bounce between the
middle infield and the outfield. All three players were voted team captains by their peers.
Both pitchers are seventh graders. Julia Leach is a hardthrowing transfer from Virginia who is working her way back from injury, but could have a big impact when she returns. Ella Nosworthy has also shown plenty of promise as she makes the transition to the high school pitching mound.
Sophomore returner Carlie Campos will get time at first base and in the outfield. Leach and Nosworthy could also play first base when they’re not pitching.
Peyton Mathis, a sophomore transfer from Viera, is expected to have a big impact at either shortstop or center field.
Freshman Ava Allison will play third base and also serve as Holy Trinity’s backup catcher.
Newcomers Zoey Kohler, Dorothy Mize and Sydney Seliga can all play second base or the outfield. Sophomore Maddie McNabb also falls into that category.
Eighth-grader Kinslie Campos can see time at shortstop or in the outfield.
Betterman said she’s lucky to have assistants such as Elizabeth Stewart, Rusty Stewart, Steve Schmol and Tina Velasquez Rolon.
“I’m really excited to have the staff that I have,” Betterman said. “Having more hands out there, more eyes, more ears from a coach’s perspective is always huge. It helps give the kids the time they need to develop because there’s more people out there.” VV
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VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Jane Ponton
With no juniors or seniors on this year's team, the Holy Trinity Tigers will certainly be a young team. The team is moving to the Sunshine State Athletic Association.
Suntree baseball fan writes song, releases music video
Frisher said he was inspired by looking at baseball cards of legendary players such as Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Ted Williams around 25 years ago.
“I liked it so much that I took my kids down to the studio with me and I had them sing along with me,” Frisher said.
BY CHRIS BONANNO
A Melbourne resident has released a new AI-enhanced music video that celebrates baseball as the new Major League Baseball season is set to begin.
Alan Ross Frisher, who is also a member of the Suntree Rotary Club, has released his song entitled “Playball Baseball Game” that is
The song also has drawn a positive response from the office of Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.
“When we finished the video, I sent it to him and, within a day, two days, he wrote me back, thanking me for sending it along,” Frisher said. “... I know it went directly to him and he responded, which I thought was just unbelievable. I thought it was just so great.”
In the video, Frisher is seen wearing a Marlins jersey and Mets hat but said the video is for fans of all 30 MLB
teams. “I grew up in a household — my brother was a big Met fan and we grew up with
the Mets. But, when I came
NEW SONG
Continued to page 15
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Alan Ross Frisher
Alan Ross Frisher, center, his son Bryce Frisher, bottom left, Danielle (Frisher) Groover, top left, and Adam Frisher, top right, recorded a baseball song that could become a popular hit.
DINING OUT & EVENTS
MARCH 7
Theresa’s Paint Evening 5 - 7 p.m. Galleria of Art and Photography 7720 N. Wickham Road, Suite 107, Suntree 321-338-9787
MARCH 14
16th annual Space Coast Conquers Noon - 4 p.m.
St. Baldrick’s Big Shave The Avenue Viera 2261 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-604-2888
MARCH 21
Valiant Air Command Air Fair
March 21 and 22
9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Open cockpits, games, food trucks and aircraft displays. Valiant Air Command
6600 Tico Road
Titusville, 321-268-1941
MARCH 28
Space Coast Boots, Brews, Bourbon and BBW
Noon - 10 p.m.
Live music, vendors, games and contests.
Merritt Island Veterans Memorial Amphitheater 555 Fortenberry Road
Merritt Island, 855-386-3836
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Holy Trinity’s Spreitzer wins Florida Dairy Farmers award
BY LILLIAN NGUYEN
Evan Spreitzer’s crosscountry career at Holy Trinity was already full of medals, milestones and achievements that set him apart from any other boys runner in program history.
But here’s another honor to add to the list.
Spreitzer was recently named the Florida Dairy Farmer’s Class 1A CrossCountry Runner of the Year.
“It means a lot. I think it really helps display my hard work and motivation to show up every day,” Spreitzer said.
“It’s an award to help show all the hard work I put
in over the years.”
Though he originally went out for cross-country in part because he wanted to stay in shape for soccer, Spreitzer put together an incredible career and an amazing senior season.
After finishing second at the state meet as a junior, Spreitzer hit the road with a
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vengeance this past fall.
Not only did he win the Class 1A state championship, he was so far ahead that he eased up at the end to save himself for future races … and still won by 31 seconds.
A week later, Spreitzer took part in the Brooks XC South Region championship in Charlotte, North Carolina and broke his own school record with a time of 14 minutes, 52 seconds.
That finish put him into the Brooks XC Nationals in San Diego, where he placed 15th in 15:45.
Spreitzer, who has committed to Furman University, still has plenty of potential to reach.
Holy Trinity coach Marc Bailey has said he believes Spreitzer could become an
Olympian one day.
“It’s an honor to coach the greatest distance runner in Holy Trinity history,” Bailey wrote in a text message.
Spreitzer, who was also a key member of Holy Trinity’s highly successful boys soccer team that went to three consecutive final fours, will now turn his attention to track and field.
All he did last year was win four medals — three of them gold — including the 3,200-meter championship at last year’s Class 1A state meet.
Meanwhile, he leaves a legacy for the Tigers’ crosscountry program that will be tough to match.
“I think it’s the perfect way (to cap it off),” he said.-
VIERA VOICE
Courtesy of Kimberly Edmondson/ Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy
Holy Trinity senior cross-country runner Evan Spreitzer, left, capped off a brilliant season by being named the Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A Runner of the Year. Tigers coach Marc Bailey, right, called Spreitzer the greatest distance runner Holy Trinity has ever had.
Golf tournament is part of ongoing effort to help La Paz, Honduras
BY LILLIAN NGUYEN
The Rotary Club of Suntree and Faith Viera Lutheran Church, Woody and Linda McDaniel and fellow director David Cook have made great efforts to support La Paz, a community in Honduras.
Part of that effort includes an annual fundraising golf tournament. This year’s tournament is scheduled for April 18.
Operation La Paz started in 2015 when the McDaniels went to La Paz, Honduras to help build an orphanage. Inspired to do more, the couple founded Operation La Paz to lead numerous initiatives, including providing school and medical supplies, and assisting with construction and repairs for schools and hospitals in Honduras.
The Rotary Club, the church and the McDaniels’ dedication has since continued to grow — Operation La Paz’s biggest project at the moment are water filters.
“They’re a simple filtration system
NEW SONG
Continued from page 11
down to Florida, I saw Marlins games and, then I figured, well you know what, I want this to be for all the teams,” Frisher said. “I want it to be for everybody in baseball. I didn’t want any one team to really have more than the other but, of course in the video, the Yankees have the
PICKLEBALL VOTE
Continued from page 7
reserves are being utilized, there will be no increase in homeowner dues and no special assessments required to complete this project.”
SMHOA ballots regarding the project were distributed starting Feb. 21, the committee stated. Ballots will include information about the selected contractor and the project’s scope.
“The committee is excited about the impact this project will have on our community, and is eager to answer
that is built there locally,” Linda McDaniel said. “Inexpensive and with little care should last a family for five years. You can pour any kind of water into them and it’ll clean 99.9% of the bacteria out of that water.”
Operation La Paz will hold its annual fundraising golf tournament at Viera East Golf Club on Saturday, April 18. The fee is $100 per golfer.
“It’s a fundraiser that we’ve been doing for 15 years,” Cook said. “It counts for a good portion of the funds that we raise, that go to fund all of the projects that we do in La Paz.”
Act fast — there are limited spots available for the tournament. Golfers and sponsors can sign up for the tournament at operationlapaz.org.
Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. with coffee, followed by the shotgun start at 8:30. There will be gift bags, door prizes and pulled pork sandwiches served with coleslaw and chips for lunch.
For more information, go to operationlapaz.org. VV
biggest franchise, the most popular franchise. So. that’s why DiMaggio and Mantle and the pictures that I got were of those guys.”
Frisher has a goal to see the song spread far and wide.
“I would love this song to really be played on the Jumbotrons of every Major League Baseball game, before the game starts, before the national anthem,” Frisher said. VV
any questions residents may wish to ask, either by email or voice call,” the letter stated.
Residents voiced their opinions about the project at a Feb. 2 meeting of the SMHA Board of Directors, which voted unanimously to place the issue on the ballot.
“We had a whole committee working on this,” Auld explained.
“There were five of us and we’ve been working on it since last June. It’s been a big job; we’ve met a lot of times and done a lot of work, a lot of research. And in our opinion, this is the best place to put it in Suntree.” VV
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Operation La Paz
Operation La Paz, a group of organizations and individuals from the Viera/Suntree area, helps support people in La Paz, Honduras. Delegations from Brevard County periodically visit La Paz.
SCHOOLNews
BY CARL KOTALA
Viera High School has released its list of Principal Scholar award recipients for the Class of 2026.
To be considered, students must meet criteria that includes community involvement of volunteer
or work hours, and school involvement in extracurricular activities such as sports, clubs, band and other activities. They also must meet the College and Career Acceleration requirement of a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher.
Students must also fill
out an application and respond to essay prompts.
Of those who qualify, the school takes the top 10 percent according to the size of the graduating class.
There are 510 seniors in this year’s class, so 51 students were chosen out of the 106 applicants.
In deciding the top 10 percent, the school looked at the rigor of courses taken, the amount of community and school involvement and leadership roles with GPA used as a tiebreaker.
Here are this year’s Viera High Principal Scholars: Brian Borbath; Ella Brand; Sofia Brandt; Jane Brooker; Emily Burwinkel; Tyler Campbell; Riley Carrizales; Emily Castellano; Lilli Chen; Emma Collins; Savannah Correia; Brolin Cozzolino; Haley Crawford; Michael DeMarco; Rachel Devoid; Nolan Diedling; Addison Elwell; Holden Faison; Noah Foisy; Lilana
Gallego; Michael Girard; Michael Gonzalez; Isabella Gonzalez Lopes; Nina Halbig; Arielle Hamilton; Jolie Johnson; Kathit Kadakia; Benjamin Leptich; Lyla Maharramzade; Issac Moss; Alex Ollis; James Olson; Quinn Pasanen; Sofia Polvino; Lucy Presecan; Greg Preston; Avery Richarson; Logan Robinson; Luke Rodgers; Hector Salvatierra; Jack Scheinbart; Jessica Schulman; Mariana Spolatori Nasser; Eric Strong; Rachel Tague; Samantha Torres; Brennan Turner; Claire Wilkerson; Ava Wilson; Hayden Yannick and Brady Zink. VV
VIERA VOICE staff photo
Fifty-one students at Viera High School have been honored as Principal Scholars for the Class of 2026.
Viera High School students teach community about avoiding scams
BY CHRIS BONANNO
If you receive unsolicited emails that seem suspicious, do not click on any associated links.
That was only one piece of advice from Viera High School computer class students to adults during a recent presentation on how to avoid scams.
Four Viera High School students and their computer class teacher, Jeff Dohmen, conducted the presentation on avoiding scams Jan. 31 at the Suntree/Viera Library.
“This presentation is the collaboration between the Technology Student Association and the Girls in STEM program at Viera High School, said Madison Bohn, a junior at VHS. “The presentation came about because we wanted to have a community service project. We wanted to do something good for the community.”
The group decided to collaborate and find a topic that related to both clubs.
“Basically, we just wanted to come out here and try to protect the community and warn them about things that could possibly happen
to them and just inform them that these things do happen,” Bohn said. “And it’s important to be wary of them because it’s actually a much more common problem than people think.”
Two seniors at the school — Seah Rai and Rei Liang — and two juniors — Izzy Thurner and Madison Bohn — joined VHS computer science teacher Jeff Dohmen as they provided valuable information to those in attendance.
“I think the most important thing to take away from our presentation today is basically be wary of everything online on the internet and don’t trust any link, anything,” Rai said. “Always verify everything you’re doing on your phone and on the internet.”
Dohmen echoed what Rai stated, adding his advice.
“Don’t respond to anything that’s unsolicited that came your way,” he said
The emergence of artificial intelligence also poses an issue. Dohmen noted that his mother received a concerning phone call from an individual asking for money that was pretending
Girls in STEM takes root at Viera High School
BY LILLIAN NGUYEN
Students at Viera High School are empowering young women looking to join STEM fields — Madison Bohn, 16, is a junior at Viera High School and the founder of the Viera High School chapter club of Girls in STEM.
Bohn and the club's copresident, Seah Rai, started the club together in August 2025. The pair noticed a glaring gender gap in the more advanced science and math classes.
“In my physics class, I have a class with probably almost 30 people,” Bohn said. “There's only six girls in the class. I just was seeing and hearing from girls that they felt intimidated by these classes. I just really wanted to make a space where they could feel comfortable exploring things that they're interested in.”
The club now has around 40 members and holds monthly meetings dedicated to discussing all of the different aspects of STEM.
“The whole goal is to help girls feel more comfortable involving subjects that they might be intimidated signing up for in school because they're very male dominated,” Bohn said. “Which is especially
to be a family member but wasn’t.
“You’ve got to be very suspicious,” he said.
Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions.
“It felt good,” Thurner said of the presentation.
“Everyone was really engaged and I like how everyone was asking questions at the
end and it felt good having a room full of people who were really engaged.”
The group also handed out brochures from Elder Affairs Florida with information on how to reduce the risk of identity theft as well.
“We did put in a lot of effort to include as much detail as possible in as concise a time
as possible,” Liang said.
Among the attendees was Steve Roth, who indicated he had been to other events dealing with how to help people avoid scams.
“They are basically on the forefront as young, computer individuals. You have it from another point of view,” Roth said. VV
important at this age because this is when the STEM gender gap begins to form.’’
While the club's focus is on empowering girls, don’t exclude men. In fact, male students at Viera High School are encouraged to join and attend the meetings.
The students invited a female aerospace engineer to speak to the club about her experience in a STEM field.
“This is really important to us because having mentors at this age and role models for girls to look up to is really important,” Bohn said. “Sometimes, we, as young women, look at careers that we're interested in and we don't see ourselves being represented in these fields that are very male dominated.”
Girls in STEM at Viera High School went to the Suntree/Viera Library to give a presentation on how to avoid common online scams. The presentation was a community outreach project intended to educate seniors, who are the number one targeted demographic group of scammers.
To stay updated on Girls in STEM at Viera High School, check out its instagram page @girlsinstem_viera VV
VIERA VOICE Chris Bonanno
Four Viera High School students and their teacher presented information to patrons at the Suntree/Viera Library on how to avoid scams on Saturday, Jan. 30.
BY LILLIAN NGUYEN
More than a dozen Brevard County homes have woken up to a shocking surprise — plastic flamingos have taken over their lawn. But where are these flamboyant birds coming from? It turns out, flocking is just one of many fundraisers for Viera High School’s Project Graduation.
Flocking is a practical joke that involves scattering plastic lawn flamingos around someone’s yard, usually without the homeowner’s knowledge.
The Project Graduation committee has a flock of plastic flamingos that they
migrate between lawns. The stunt raises money for Viera High School seniors.
Project Graduation is a nationwide program dedicated to providing organized, safe and substance-free activities for seniors post-graduation.
Tiffany Pasanen is the acting treasurer for the Project Graduation committee. Her eldest son, Quinn Pasanen, is a graduating senior.
“Our goal is to have a gathering — a safe space — for these graduating seniors to make sure they have the opportunity to have a safe celebration on graduation night,” she said.
The committee is planning a big, end-ofthe-year celebration for the seniors that is a safe,
supervised, alcohol and drug-free all-night party.
Pasanen’s son, Quinn, is a multi-sport varsity athlete and is dual enrolled at Eastern Florida State College, where he’ll graduate with his Associate of Arts degree in May. He plans to attend the substance-free celebration.
“It’s cool that we can have a safe — environmentally safe —and fun way to enjoy our time together since it’s our final year,” Quinn Pasanen said. “It’s going to be fun to just hang out for hours on end and not have to worry about getting home or making any dumb decisions.”
Aside from flocking, Project Graduation’s other fundraising events have
included bingo nights and spirit nights at local restaurants and businesses.
On Friday, Feb. 13, Project Graduation held a spirit night at Kendra Scott Jewelry in the Avenue Viera. When customers mentioned Viera High School during a purchase, Kendra Scott provided Project Graduation with a donation from those sales.
Tiffany Pasanen hopes that these fundraisers will help raise awareness for the parents of 2027 seniors.
“We really need parents of underclassmen to learn and find out about Project Graduation,” she said. Check out vierahigh projectgraduation.com VV
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Jenn Barclay
Flocked — plastic flamingos are planted on lawns as a practical joke to raise funds for Project Graduation.
Viera High School’s robotics team overcomes adversity, achieves success
BY CHRIS BONANNO
For almost eight years, Viera High School’s Wingspan 7431 robotics team has been a fixture on campus.
But the team recently lost its founder and leader in David Formanek, who was also a teacher at the school, when he unexpectedly died in late January.
“It was heartbreaking,” said Kelly Walsh, a mentor to the program on finding out about the news. “Mr. F, he was a great man.”
School administrators handled disseminating the sad news.
said. “They told them all together so that the team could be together when they found out.”
Preston Hinckley, a junior at the school and a member of the team, is a student in Formanek’s classes.
Hinckley said that being able to spend time with Formanek was very impactful because he was a good mentor.
“They called me in and told me. Then, they pulled all the students in from all their classrooms into the library and they had some of the counselors there,” Walsh
“He still made sure that we had the resources, the time, even the extra mentors ’cause this year we’ve grown a lot. He really just gave us the opportunities to, I guess, I don’t want to say express ourselves, but express ourselves in the robotics field. But, also with a group that we can be a part of.”
Formanek’s passion and pride in the program has clearly had a lasting impact.
“I’ve been on the robotics team all four years and, Mr. F,
Lift Every Voice showcase brings students, community together
BY LILLIAN NGUYEN
Students from area schools, churches and community groups gathered at the Rockledge High School Auditorium to perform at the fifth annual Lift Every Voice Youth Showcase.
Area students from elementary school to high school took to the stage at the Feb. 15 event. The audience watched a wide spectrum of talents and performances, including jazz teams, choruses, bands, motivational speakers and poetry recitations.
There were food trucks, table displays and giveaways.
Lift Every Voice started as Cocoa High School teacher Beverly Hamilton's poetry club. The then Kennedy Middle School teacher wanted her students to experience poetry recitation in front of a live audience.
“Sometimes, our students aren't going to these fancy conferences or programs and performances," Hamilton said. “So, I needed to find a way for them to show what they learned.”
She then reached out to the Rockledge City Council for help — where
Councilman Michael Cadore answered the call for assistance.
“When she came and wanted to showcase her poetry team, we did it on a larger scale to do (it for) all kids,” Cadore said. “Our vision turned into a reality that gives us continued inspiration to see all of these kids showcase their talent.”
During the event, Hamilton and Cadore presented Thomas Cole and Kimberly Harrell-Cole of Emma Jewel Charter Academy with a Community Hero award.
Cadore explains that community heroes are “unsung heroes” that give, not for the recognition, but to do phenomenal things in the community. “We went from Dr. Joe Lee Smith to Jeff Davis, to Mel Mitchell, and now Mr. and Mrs. Cole,” he said. “That's why we do it; all for the kids, all for the community.”
Organizations such as Train to Succeed (TrainToSucceed.org), the GEICO local office in Palm Bay and Magnus Solutions in America came together to sponsor the event and provided a place for the children to succeed. VV
he spent more time at school here with us than at home,” said Isabel “Izzy” Beiderman, a senior and a team member.
Formanek also helped cultivate a family atmosphere.
“I would say the thing that (encourages) me here is, since it’s a team effort, I want to support my team to make it to the competition as well,” said Athena Crittington, a junior and team member. “I know these people now. So, it’s harder to just walk away and not be here and support and do it every day.”
Students devote a lot of time to the robotics team and stay after school for hours five nights a week.
“It’s just such a nice environment to just be around and to just interact
VIERA ROBOTICS
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Please join us for Little Mozart Piano and
Happy Holidays and best wishes for a wonderful New Year!
Happy Holidays and best wishes for a wonderful New Year!
We o er a "Little Mozart" Beginning Piano and Music Enrichment Program for ages 4 to 6
Happy Holidays and best wishes for a wonderful New Year!
VIERA VOICE Chris Bonanno Owen Romberger, left, and Eli Sorbet work with a Wingspan robot.
Piano
Loretta Fox, Ph.D. Owner and Director
Private Lessons
Piano
Voice
Violin
Flute
Harp
Guitar
Ukulele
Lessons
Piano
Voice
Violin
Harp
Guitar
Ukulele
Mozart Mouse
Beethoven Bear
VIERA VOICE Chris Bonanno
Viera High School's Wingspan 7431 robotics team is an energetic and committed squad.
David Formanek
Viera Elementary holds Fun Run to raise money for playground
BY CHRIS BONANNO
Viera Elementary School held a Fun Run as part of an attempt to raise $90,000 for playground equipment and student/teacher resources.
“The kids love it,” Viera Elementary School principal Adrienne Schwab said.
“They have a great time. We do a school-wide glow party if we hit our goal, and it’s a really good time.”
The fundraiser has been held for the past several years, Schwab noted. The event was held over two days due to the school’s size and the number of student participants. The latest Fun Runs were held Feb. 18 and 19.
“Students come out by
grade level and they have about an hour outside where they run laps around the track,” Schwab said.
“We have parent
VIERA VOICE
volunteers to mark their shirts to see how many laps they have. Then, the people that have pledged donations typically pledge
by lap. So, let’s say they say, ‘I’ll give you 50 cents a lap’ or whatever. So, students typically run between 30 and 35 laps.”
Two years ago, money was raised to build a track. Last year, money was raised toward shading a part of the recess area and other items.
“This year, just adding more equipment,” Schwab said. “We haven’t actually picked out the equipment. We’ll have to see how much money we raise and more things for the students to do outside. As we grow bigger, our school, we need more things for the students to do when they’re outside at recess.
Schwab added that which student/teacher resources would be purchased wasn’t “set in stone exactly” and that “it’s as we come up and need it.” VV
Design & Conquer construction competition sharpens students’ job skills
BY CHRIS BONANNO
Students from five schools — wearing hard hats and safety goggles — worked quickly as they competed in the inaugural Design and Conquer building competition at Viera High School.
The Feb. 18 event featured eight teams of six Career & Technical Education (CTE) students competing in groups as they built a small structure.
Rachel Rutledge, the director of CTE, noted that the teams had students with responsibilities for carpentry, electricity, heating and air conditioning and three with responsibility for general trades.
“They have 2 hours and 15 minutes to build two small walls, connect them together, drywall, run three electrical things and then even put a mini-split air conditioning unit on the wall too,” said Charles Owens, a carpentry teacher at Viera High.
The teams were judged in categories that included framing, electrical, heating and air conditioning, drywall, safety,
in addition to teamwork, communication and professionalism.
“We brought them all here and put them on completely different teams, so they’re not working with anybody that they know. They all are coming from different schools.” Rutledge said. “They had to get together, brief, come up with which role everyone’s going to take and then get to work.”
The students worked as fast as they could to complete their tasks in the competition while being mindful of safety.
In the event a tiebreaker was needed, teams were judged on a nail placement accuracy during a nailing contest.
“I think they’re having a blast,” Owens said. “They’re having to have critical thinking. They have judges that are walking around, making sure they’re safe and everything. So, there’s a little pressure on them. But, it’s good pressure. This is great.”
The Design & Conquer event is just one of the CTE initiatives put forth by Brevard Public Schools, BPS School Board Chair Matt
Chris Bonanno Students at Viera Elementary School participated in the Fun Run fundraiser on Feb. 18 and 19. The goal was to raise $90,000 for playground equipment and student/ teacher resources. The Murtha Law
Kevin M. Murtha
Susin said.
“We lead the entire state of Florida and the nation with CTE programs,” Susin said. We’ve had four programs that were nowhere else in the country that started in Brevard County. One of them, for instance, is the aviation program that actually has a hangar with aircraft inside of it. We have jet engines and everything else inside of that. We also have all kinds of programs like the
Group, PA
welding program that’s up at Astronaut (High School).
That was the first one that was put in.’’ Susin pointed out some of the CTE programs in Viera and other Brevard County schools.
“Here in Viera, we do framing,” Susin said. “Why? Because the Viera Company
VIERA ROBOTICS
Continued from page 21
is building more than any other company — in the entire company thousands of homes every year — and they need help and support. Susin said it is the job of the high schools to prepare students to work for those companies. It is a great opportunity for the students. VV
Kelly Walsh said this year’s team of 33 students, consisting of students from ninth to twelfth grade, is preparing for the FIRST Robotics Orlando Regional competition from March 18 to 21 at the University of Central Florida.
“By far the most fun thing, which it’s really hard to capture until you’re actually there, but it’s competition,” said Kirsten Walsh, a junior and a team member. “The energy is insane.” VV
with every single day. That’s something that I look forward to, being with these people and being able to build something that I love,” said Owen Romberger, a freshman and team member who works with the mechanical portion for the team. “Just being there physically and seeing my designs come to life and actually happening. That’s what’s really cool to me about this. It’s just honoring Mr. F, too, ’cause he really wanted us to push ourselves and go forward with everything. So, that’s part of it, too.” Wingspan is steeped in tradition despite being in existence for less than a decade. It has earned numerous awards in sustainability and entrepreneurship in regional competitions.
VIERA VOICE Chris Bonanno
Students from six Brevard County public high schools took part in the inaugural Design and Conquer competition held at Viera High School on Feb. 18.
COOKBOOK
Chicken pot pie soup
Our winter months are almost over, but that doesn’t mean a good bowl of soup can’t still be enjoyed.
Who likes chicken pot pie? If you do, you’re going to enjoy this month’s recipe. It’s
Here’s what you’ll need:
chicken pot pie soup. After making this recipe recently, my husband and I had it for dinner. The next day, I had some for lunch and, a couple days later, my husband had soup with a sandwich.
2 cups shredded or diced cooked chicken breast
¼ cup olive oil
2 to 3 medium-size red potatoes, diced
2 large carrots/chopped
½ cup frozen green beans
½ cup frozen yellow corn
1 large stalk of celery/chopped
Instructions:
I also shared some with neighbors, and it was gladly received.
You can always double this recipe to share with someone or freeze a portion of it for use at a later date. VV
½ cup white onion/chopped ¼ cup all-purpose flour
4 cups chicken stock or broth
1 bay leaf
½ teaspoon black pepper or to taste
½ teaspoon sea salt or to taste ½ cup heavy cream
*Biscuits for serving with soup
Pre-cook one large chicken breast — chopped or shredded — and set aside.
In a mixing bowl, place the onion, celery and carrots and pour in flour. Thoroughly coat the vegetables.
In a large soup pot, pour in olive oil and heat on medium. Add the flour-coated vegetables and stir continuously until slightly browned and softened. Pour in chicken stock and continue to heat.
Add the potatoes, salt, pepper and bay leaf to the broth. Stir well. Bring to boil then reduce heat to low and simmer until the potatoes are tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
Add chicken, heavy cream, green beans and corn. Stir until well blended. Continue to simmer for about 20 minutes or until all vegetables are cooked to desired tenderness.
While chicken is simmering, bake biscuits.
Serve into soup bowls and top with a biscuit.
As always, enjoy.
VIERA VOICE Elaine Moody
Chicken pot pie soup is a favorite during cool weather, but it is good at any time throughout the year.
BUSINESS Scoop
Church at Viera’s future
BY MIKE GAFFEY
A 1,800-seat auditorium is part of Church at Viera’s ambitious two-year, $20.6 million initiative.
Multiply 26/28 Discipleship Journey hopes to enable the Southern Baptist church at 9005 N. Wickham Road to continue to spread the gospel in Brevard County and beyond.
Multiply “is not a fundraising effort with a side of discipleship,” said Mark Ragsdale, the church’s lead pastor since 1992. “It's a discipleship journey that involves every part of life, including generosity.”
Built on CAV’s 30-acre property, a new auditorium would help the church reach its goal of adding 200 families as partners in its mission and free up 11,000 square feet of existing church space to serve more children, students and special needs families, Ragsdale said.
“With this expanded capacity, we're going to host large discipleship gatherings for men, women and students, conferences, marriage events and retreats that call people to deeper surrender and mission,” Ragsdale said.
The Equipping Life
initiative to increase church capacity is one of three secondary, gospel-centered Multiply efforts that CAV will focus on through 2028.
Transforming Life aims to increase attendance in discipleship groups to 3,000, perform 600 baptisms, create a 100-member team to spiritually aid people in crisis and allow more
children and students to attend camps, retreats and discipleship weekends, Ragsdale said.
Increasing Life will focus on adding a care portal to meet real-time needs of local families and children, adding another local community partner and increasing the number of people who regularly serve the church’s seven partners and multiply global impact by adding a global ministry partner to reach the unchurched around the world.
CAV also plans to partner with Bridger Church, a new church plant in Bozeman, Montana, as an initial step in helping launch churches across North America and team up with 282 church partners in Florida to help strengthen churches planting throughout the state.
“Increasing Life is about sending people and
resources beyond our walls so more can experience the abundant life found only in Jesus,” Ragsdale said.
“Multiply's primary goal is 100 percent engagement from the more than 3,000 people now attending each week. CAV is asking all of its congregants to ask the question: ‘Am I fully trusting God in every area of my life, and following Him in what he’s asking me to do?’ Think of the impact we can have in the community and beyond if we all just did what Jesus asks us to do.”
Multiply is one of CAV’s largest endeavors for the church, which began meeting in 1987 as Suntree Baptist Church, then moved to a facility on Murrell Road in 1996. After selling the Murrell Road complex, which later became Prince of Peace Church, CAV bought its current site in
ARTHRITIS AND JOINT CENTER
2003 and opened the facility in 2007.
CAV will host an Advance Commitment Night at 5:30 p.m. March 8 at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Road in Melbourne, and a Commitment Weekend March 12 to 15 at all church services.
“As God is moving in the hearts of people, we’ve asked them, ‘Would you be willing to go first, to give your first and your best?’ ” CAV Executive Pastor Brandon Rieb said of the King Center event. “And so we’ll invite those individuals who say ‘God’s already stirring in my heart and I’m all in on Multiply, and so I’m going to go first and give my commitment of increased generosity or give my family’s commitment.’ ” For more information, check out churchatviera.com or call 321-259-3454. VV
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Church at Viera
Church at Viera is launching Multiply 26/28 Discipleship Journey, a two-year endeavour to help the church at 9005 Wickham Road spread the gospel.
VIERA MEANS BUSINESS EANS B
VIERA MEANS BUSINESS
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Experience the ease of all-inclusive retirement living! With spacious, maintenance free apartment homes, chef-prepared meals, and weekly housekeeping, we take care of the details so you can focus on what matters most. From energizing fitness classes to lively happy hours, every day brings new opportunities to stay active, connected, and fully engaged.
Because when the everyday is taken care of, living well comes naturally.
Kattana Davis, Robert Allen, Kelly Riese, Malak Hammad, Anjanette Wicks
Daniel Pierron, Jeff Law, Jenee Krzyston
Brooke Jones, Chelsea Payne Leah Bleichner, Kacie Sattler
Michelle Forehand, Jo Carol Salinas
Brian Vinci, Tara Pagliarini Robert Robak
Kattana Davis, Jill Blue
Eileen Duerr, Robert Allen, Michelle Voye, Curtis Stolaas, Sandra Michelson, Bob Grey
Guest speaker Matt Gerrell of The Gerrell Collective shared valuable insight on how fractional leadership helps businesses access experienced executive talent on a flexible basis to drive growth, strengthen operations and scale strategically.
Chris Tauscher, Jesse Scianno
Fred Smith, Malak Hammad
Health First opens new cardiac cath lab in Viera
BY CHRIS BONANNO
Health First has opened a new cardiac cath lab in its Viera Hospital.
“For me, it’s really exciting because I think of my colleagues here at Health First, we’re really lucky,” said Dr. Kevin Campbell, a cardiologist and the chair of medicine at the hospital. “We’re a smallish-size town on Central Florida on the coast, right? We have incredibly talented operators, and to be able to have a facility that can support our skill set, it means the world to me.”
Campbell indicated that prior to the new lab being instituted, patients would have to have procedures done at other area Health First hospitals.
“It’s also nice that my patients who live here in Viera — and I have a lot of patients in this area— don’t have to go to Holmes (Regional Medical Center in Melbourne) with me or go to Cape (Canaveral) with me because we can keep it here,” Campbell said. “And the folks
that are up on Merritt Island or up north, they can go to Cape (Canaveral Hospital) and the folks that are down south can go to Holmes.”
The first patient to be treated in the new lab was Malcolm Brand on Feb. 17.
According to Health First, Brand was to receive a dual-
chamber pacemaker. In all, Campbell said the procedure on average would take 45 minutes to an hour counting sedating and recovery. The actual operative time would be around 25 minutes.
“I haven’t got a problem coming in here because I mean — just look at it,” said
Brand, referring to the new facility.
Brand acknowledged that “of course there is” a unique quality to being the first patient in the new lab.
“There is a uniqueness just because this is obviously just part of the growth of Viera Hospital and hopefully
it will continue to grow like you would like to see,” Brand said. “This has become a fantastic heart center in the middle of Brevard County.”
Campbell said that initially four cases a day will be handled in the new lab, but that his normal days involve five to seven cases.
Campbell added that when a second tower is constructed at the facility a second cardiac cath lab would be added to the campus as well.
“I am so grateful to be here,” Campbell said. “I left one of the premier institutions in the world after a career at Duke and UNC (the University of North Carolina) in North Carolina. To come here, I love it. … For me, this is my baby. I’m mid-career and, when I want to retire, I want people to remember. You know Dr. Campbell, he did that first case at Viera and he really helped grow the Heart Center here. I want my legacy to be this Heart Center that just becomes this huge mecca for heart care in Central Florida.” VV
Central Brevard will get a 12-bed emergency room next year
BY CHRIS BONANNO
The Rockledge/Cocoa area, left without a hospital after its only major medical center closed last year, will have a stand-alone emergency room.
The Health First’s Rockledge 12-bed emergency room near the intersection of Fiske
Boulevard and Roy Wall Boulevard in Rockledge is expected to open next year.
It will fill a void left when Orlando Health closed its Rockledge Regional Medical Center permanently in April 2025, less than a year after it assumed ownership.
“This is huge because when the local emergency room closed, we saw an
increase in our emergency responses and also an increase in the transport times. That is really critical because transport time, you’ve got a patient with a heart attack, time is muscle.
A patient who’s suffering a stroke, time is brain,” said Jim Wilson, the Rockledge deputy fire chief. “Someone is bleeding, time is additional blood loss.”
Keila Stradtner, the vice president of facilities, real estate and construction for Health First, said the 13,500-square-foot facility will have imaging services which will include CT, X-ray and ultrasound. It will also
have three low-acuity beds, a bay for two ambulances and a generator that can run up to 72 hours.
The facility will be designed to withstand a Category 4 hurricane, with winds up to 165 mph, according to Health First. Completion of the project is expected to take about a year.
“We expect construction activities to conclude around the end of November. Then, we have an activation period where we make sure everything’s operationalized and ready for the public. Stradtner said. “We expect to go live about this time next year.”
Wilson is in full support of the concept of free-standing emergency rooms.
“It’s going to end up helping a lot in that in my experience, stand-alone emergency rooms have a fast patient turnaround,” Wilson said. “So, superficially, 12 beds does not sound like a lot of bed space. But in reality, with the number of patients that they’ll be able to see in a 24-hour period, it’s an enormous positive impact on all of the other emergency rooms throughout the county and especially those here that serve Central Brevard,” Wilson said. VV
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Health First
This is a rendering of Health First’s Rockledge 12-bed emergency room that is being built in Rockledge.
VIERA VOICE Courtesy of Health First
Malcolm Brand, left, was the first patient treated by cardiologist Dr. Kevin Campbell at Health First’s new cardiac cath lab at Viera Hospital.
BUYING EVENT
4 DAY BUYING EVENT
Fairfield Inn Viera
Wash, Clean, or Polish!
Antiques of all Kinds: Do Not Wash, Clean or Polish!
Art work: old oil paintings, old watercolors, old etchings, lithographs, old movie posters, cartoon art & more.
Statues: old bronze, carved jade, wood, marble, alabaster, pottery, porcelain
Old Toys: old toys, trains, old comics + baseball cards (prior to 1960) old Japanese toys, robots, old banks & old dolls
Historical items: letters, autographs (movie stars, presidents, political etc), old photos, political pins + ribbons, old fountain pens, old pocket knives, swords, military items, American, Japanese, German medals, advertising items, old stamps and old badges (police, fire, military).
Gold, Silver & Platinum Jewelry
We buy all types of gold jewelry, new, old and broken. Rings, (class rings, mothers rings, wedding sets, etc.). Bracelets, (charm bracelets, tennis bracelets, bangles, etc.). Earrings do not need to be a matching pair. Chains and pendants, broken is okay.
ALL THINGS GOLD!
We even buy old yellow gold teeth and crowns. Brooches, company year pins. We buy diamonds, emeralds and rubies.
Sterling & Silver Items
Any item made out of sterling silver. Silverware, forks, spoons, bowls, dishes, trays, tea sets, statues, sterling and .999 bars, sterling and .999 rounds, frames, candle sticks, trophies, salt and pepper shakers and jewelry. Broken and smashed is okay.
Gold & Silver coins, United States Coins, & silver/gold foreign coins
before 1959, Dimes and Quarters before
SUNDAY
March
SATURDAY
Mardi Gras Paws in the Park
10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Fundraiser for the Brevard Humane Society. Food trucks, vendors, pet parade and live music.
Riverfront Park 401 River Edge Blvd. Cocoa, 321-631-9075
Gold & Silver Buying Event
March 2 to 5
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Antiques of all kinds, coins, old toys, watches, collectibles and gold, silver and platinum jewelry.
Fairfield Inn 2400 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-258-9109
Salsa Night with Hans 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Salsa lessons and dancing.
Hook & Eagle 2300 Clubhouse Drive Viera, 321-639-3487
Early Bird Trivia
4 - 6 p.m.
Free to play and fun for all.
Pizza Gallery 2250 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-633-0397
Stop the Bleed Course
9 - 10 a.m.
A free interactive course that teaches how to recognize and effectively intervene in cases of life-threatening bleeding.
Health First Viera Hospital 8745 N. Wickham Road Viera, hf.org
Sip & Smoke 6 - 8:30 p.m.
Cigar and spirit-themed monthly event. 28 North Gastropub 2270 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-241-1159
Pickleball Open Play 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Viera Community Center 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, 321-433-4891
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
National Peanut Butter Lovers Day National Employee Appreciation Day
Sunset in the Hollows
3 - 5 p.m.
Stroll the trails and the peace of nature. Entry is free. Parking is on the street or at the Springs of Suntree clubhouse.
Pets are not allowed.
Hundred Acre Hollows 1170 Rock Spring Drive
Suntree, Hundredacrehollows.org
National Meatball Day
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
Pop Trivia 6 - 8 p.m.
Pop culture-themed. Pizza Gallery 2250 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-633-0397
Bingo
2 p.m.
Napping Day
One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771
Happy Healthy Chefs
5 - 6:30 p.m.
A hands-on cooking class that encourages creativity and helps kids develop their love of cooking. Ages 6 to 12. Wickham Park Community Center 2815 Leisure Way Melbourne 321-608-7490
National Bartender Day
National Dentists Day
TogetHER 8 - 10 a.m.
A celebration of Women’s History Month. The theme is The Stories We Tell. The Avenue Viera 2261 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-277-9630
Brevard Antiques and Collectibles Club 10 a.m.
Subject is “The Sea.”
Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-254-5831
Introducing Girls to Engineering Workshop 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Meet women engineers and technologists and hear first-hand about these exciting careers. Participate in five handson projects. Pinecrest Academy Space Coast 7550 Stadium Parkway Viera, 386-453-3112
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Highwayman Artists Talks Thursdays in March 10 to 11:30 a.m. Coffee and pastries Galleria of Art and Photography 7720 N. Wickham Road Suite 107 Suntree, 321-338-9787
Lili Fitness 7 - 8:30 p.m. Viera Community Center Viera, 321-433-4891
National K9 Veterans Day
Florida Wildlife Hospital — Spring Workshops 9:30 - 11 a.m. Outdoor Explorers workshop includes presentation, a craft, story and snack time, and educational activity. Target age is for kids 3 to 10.
Florida Wildlife Hospital 4560 N. U.S. 1 Palm Shores 321-254-8843
P.E.O. Charity Golf Scramble 8:30 a.m. Indian River Colony Club 1936 Freedom Drive Viera, 254-644-1243
Artist Meet N' Greet 4 to 8 p.m. Galleria of Art and Photography 7720 N. Wickham Rd. 107 Suntree RSVP, 321-338-9787
Springtime Swing Concert
3 p.m.
Presented by the Melbourne Municipal Band. Suntree United Methodist Church 7400 N. Wickham Road Suntree, 321-724-0555
Panda Day National Plant a Flower Day
National Let's Laugh Day
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Flower Heads TwoWeek Art Class
5 - 8 p.m. March 16 and March 23
A self-portrait class taught by Jennifer Bonset. Galleria of Art and Photography 7720 N. Wickham Road Suite 107 Suntree, 321-338-9787
Special Needs Trusts
10 a.m. Presentation by elder law attorney William S. Johnson. 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771
Law School For Life Seminar
10 a.m. - 11 a.m. March series topic is Medicaid Planning 101. Presented by Rhodes Law, PA. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-323-7325
Third Thursdays 5 - 8 p.m. Live music, complimentary snacks in Central Park. The Avenue Viera 2261 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-634-5390
Sip and Paint Art Class
5 - 7 p.m. Bring in your own project or create one guided by the instructor. Engage in different art styles and utilize different mediums to create these pieces. Galleria of Art and Photography 7720 N. Wickham Road Suite 107 Suntree, 321-338-9787
Community Garage Sale
Extravaganza 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Find treasures from around the world. Park alongside Murrell Road Indian River Colony Club 1936 Freedom Drive Viera, 603-498-9333 March for Meals Walk 9 a.m. Wickham Park 2500 Parkway Drive Melbourne runsignup.com
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
National Corn Dog Day
Fit4Mom Family Run Club Viera
9:30 a.m.
All paces, fitness levels and family size are welcome.
Linear Trail at the Brevard Zoo 8225 N. Wickham Road Viera, 321-591-7648
Tamale Day
Viera Chess Club 7 - 9 p.m. Open to all ages and skill levels.
Publix at Addison Center 7655 Stadium Parkway Viera rskchess.com
Florida Wildlife Hospital — Spring Workshops 9:30 - 11 a.m.
Junior Wildlife Rehabber workshop includes a presentation, a craft, story, snack and educational activity.
Target age is for kids 3 to 10.
Florida Wildlife Hospital 4560 N. U.S. 1 Palm Shores 321-254-8843
Become an Artist Class 1 - 3 p.m.
This is a continuing class for individuals who want to learn useful art skills to create their own beautiful artwork. Galleria of Art and Photography 7720 N. Wickham Road Suite 107 Suntree, 321-338-9787
Ironworks Fencing 5 - 6:30 p.m. Fencing with Greg Arthur. Equipment is provided for ages 13 and older.
Viera Community Center 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, 321-258-1054
Karaoke 6 - 11 p.m.
Karaoke with Rockstar Entertainment.
Hook & Eagle Tavern 2300 Clubhouse Drive Viera, 321-639-3487
Melbourne Spring Art and Craft Expo March 28 and 29 250 booths of creativity and inspiration by exhibitors from Florida and the U.S. Wickham Park 2500 Parkway Drive Melbourne 772-492-6105 29 31 31
National Vietnam War Veterans Day National Doctors Day
Sunset in the Hollows
3 - 5 p.m.
Stroll the trails and enjoy the peace of nature. Entrance is free. Park on the street or at Springs of Suntree clubhouse. Pets are not allowed.
Hundred Acre Hollows 1170 Rock Springs Drive, Suntree Hundredacrehollows.org
Tae Kwon Do 5:45 - 8:30 p.m.
Viera Regional 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, 321-433-4891
Scottish Country Dancing 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.
Springs of Suntree
8300 Holiday Springs Road Suntree, 321-427-3587
Faith Tuesday Live music 4 to 8 p.m. Urban Prime 2455 Metfield Dr. Viera 321-499-1188
Patrick's Day
Gallery celebrates, discusses Lewis' paintings
BY BETTY PORTER
The Galleria of Art and Photography in Suntree will honor the late Robert L. Lewis Jr., one of the original 26 Highwaymen artists, during the month of March.
Galleria owner Rose Marie Capasso is offering the community the chance to learn more about Lewis and his art style.
“We are having coffee and pastries from Amici’s bakery every Thursday morning in March from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Galleria as we talk about the Highwaymen artists and Florida artists,” Capasso said. This is open to the public and at no charge.
“We want to pay homage to a great man in the field of art,” Capasso said. “What set Lewis apart from the other Highwaymen is the fact that he was dedicated to art education and mentoring.”
Lewis taught art at Cocoa High School for 32 years and 20 years at Brevard Community College. He was inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame in 2004.
Capasso has one of his paintings and will have
others on display and discuss at the March coffees.
Lewis’ work is sometimes referred to as “Florida’s history on canvas.” It is characterized by bold colors and dynamic compositions of Florida landscapes, which capture the beauty of Florida and in particular the Indian River Lagoon where he spent much of his youth outside exploring and fishing with his two brothers.
The Galleria of Art and Photography is at 7720 N. Wickham Road in the Boardwalk Plaza. VV
Gastropalooza VI dazzles palates
BY LILLIAN NGUYEN
Chef Melvin “Boots” Johnson, the owner of Harlem Biscuit Company in New York, and 28 North’s Chef CJ Hughes put on a culinary show to remember at Gastropalooza VI at The Avenue Viera on Feb. 6.
Hughes edged Johnson 14-13 as the two chefs prepared appetizers, main entrees and desserts to please a happy crowd in the three-round battle.
“It was our best event yet, for sure,’’ said Chris Conneen, the owner of 28 North Gastropub and the organizer of the annual event. “What made it unique was having a
true celebrity chef (Johnson) come to Brevard for a wonderful charity and give Chef CJ a run for his money. The community has been wonderful in embracing this event for the Children’s Hunger Project and Hospitality Life.’’
The dishes were judged based on innovativeness, taste and presentation. R. Norman Moody, the editor for Viera Voice and Senior Life, was one of judges during the entrée round. Moody called the meals delicious and described one entrée as a thin layer of steak spices before being rolled and grilled. Another dish included oxtail.
“I had no idea that oxtail could taste that good,” he said.
Before the round of judging, Moody sampled food and drinks from various tasting stations, offered by national food distributors, local chefs, breweries and distilleries.
“CJ brought the Gastropalooza trophy back to Brevard,’’ Conneen said. “We want a twist for 2027 and No. 7 by bringing in a female chef. We’ve never had a female chef compete in this event. That will make it different and a lot of fun.’’
The band Hot Pink performed between rounds. VV
R.L. Lewis Jr.
VIERA VOICE Jill Blue
Chef CJ Hughes defeated Chef Melvin "Boots” Johnson 14-13 at Gastropalooza VI on Feb. 6.
March Into Life Well Lived
P.E.O. to hold golf tournament for women’s local scholarships
BY LILLIAN NGUYEN
The P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) will hold a golf tournament Saturday, March 14 at the Indian River Colony Club to raise funds for scholarships. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m. and the tournament will start at 8:30 a.m.
Chapter JF (Viera) has been active in the community since 2018. The
chapter’s goal is to provide college scholarships for women.
“We raise money for college scholarships for women,” said Karen Savage, the head of Chapter JF’s ways and means committee. “We have a local scholarship called the Jackie Fieseler Fund. It awards scholarships to local girls, young ladies and young women.”
“We raise money for college scholarships for women.”
— Karen Savage
named after the late Jackie Fieseler, who was a member of the P.E.O. for more than 70 years. All local women that have graduated from high school and intend to continue their education
in a college or trade school are eligible to receive the scholarships.
Chapter JF’s golf tournament will be one of the organization’s major fundraisers. Savage hopes that with this golf tournament, Chapter JF will be able to provide more scholarship opportunities to women within the county. The competition will be open to both men and women of all ages. Entry
Solution, page 34
is $125 per person and includes greens fees, golf cart fees, buffet lunch, mulligan and game card and a donation to Chapter JF's local projects. All players will receive a Tee gift bag. Following the tournament, a buffet lunch will be provided. There also will be door prizes and a basket auction.
To learn more about the P.E.O., check out peointernational.org VV
ACROSS
1. Debit hue 4. Brad, e.g.
8. Spread out
12. Wrigley Field flora
13. Obsessed with 14. Concept
15. Mil. bigwig
16. Pierce
17. Jump
18. The Little Mermaid
20. Port holders
21. Partner of rank and serial number
23. Factions
25. Inspiring reverence
27. Blackguard
28. Place for a stud
31. Stroked
33. Parti-colored
35. Look at
36. Apprentice
38. Poker ploy
39. Knitter’s purchase
41. Blockhead
42. Tortellini topping
45. Nick of “Tropic Thunder”
47. Vermeer’s “Woman With a ___”
48. Fortune
49. Barney, to Fred
52. Star turn
53. Makes a boo-boo
54. Vacation spot
55. Average guy?
56. Stains
57. Fine-grained wood
1. Fix, in a way 2. Time of anticipation 3. Explosive stick 4. Not yet final, as a decree
46. Amount to make do with 48. Disobeyed a zoo sign?
50. Chimp, for one 51. Scientific principle
SENIOR News
R.L. Lewis — one of the last Highwaymen leaves lasting legacy
BY ERNIE DORLING
Many of us don’t have to imagine living in the segregated world of 1950s Florida; we experienced it firsthand. And in that segregated world of the 1950s and 1960s, there weren’t many opportunities available for AfricanAmerican artists to show their work in galleries due to the racial and cultural barriers that existed at the time.
Unable to show their
work in galleries, which were typically whites-only venues for both customers and artists, 26 Black artists, who focused on painting Florida landscapes in a flamboyant style, resorted to selling their artwork from the trunks of their cars, earning them the moniker of Highwaymen.
The Highwaymen were mostly self-taught painters who mentored each other. They packed these paintings into the trunks of their cars and sold them
door-to-door throughout the southeastern coast of Florida.
One of the last known members of the Highwaymen, Robert L. (R.L.) Lewis Jr. died on the evening of Jan. 26 in Cocoa at the age of 84.
“My father told me that a lot of his sales were the result of word of mouth,” said R. L. Lewis III, the son of R.L. Lewis Jr. “Dad was often a horse trader, trading a painting for things like a set of tires for his car.”
Lewis became known for vivid landscapes that captured the spirit of old Florida — blazing sunsets,
towering palms, winding rivers and storm-lit skies.
His work, often painted quickly and sold roadside, was never meant to be fine art in the traditional sense. Yet over time, it became something even more powerful: a visual record of Florida as it once was.
“A teacher in high school named Alberta Leisure saw dad’s talent and put a paintbrush in dad’s hand after he was injured playing football,” his son said. “Dad always stressed academics and was able to finish college at Florida A&M (University) and became an art teacher in Brevard
County, where he taught for 32 years.”
“I use the color to display the mood I am experiencing. Bright colors make the meaning clear. Often, I am focused on there being so many people who are spiritually or emotionally dead and not even aware of it. I want to wake them up,” R.L. Lewis once told the Ocala Star Banner, in an interview.
Collectors often describe Lewis’ paintings as uplifting — windows into Florida’s wild spaces before the rise
Continued to page 35
VIERA VOICE staff photo
Highwaymen artist R.L. Lewis attracts a crowd to watch him paint during Senior Life’s Morning at the Museum Senior Expo at the Brevard Museum of History in June 2025.
Recycle Brevard celebrates 15 years of helping environment
“Where does garbage go?” my six-year-old daughter asked one day as a garbage truck rumbled past us. That simple question led us on a landfill tour — and to a turning point. It was there that I learned our recycling rate was only 30% at the time. I was enrolled in a Community Involvement class at Brevard Community College (now Eastern Florida State College), where Dr. Erin Baird challenged us to look around, identify a need and take action to improve our community.
A light bulb went on.
If we wanted more people to recycle — and to understand what to recycle, how to recycle and why it matters — we needed to make information easy to find and easy to understand. Recycle Brevard began simply as a Facebook page and a blog.
R.L. LEWIS
Continued from page 34
of heavy development. For longtime residents, his art brought back memories of orange groves, open skies and quiet stretches of land now replaced by subdivisions and highways.
Jill Blue, the CEO of Bluewater Creative Group,
BEYOND the CURB
Marcia Booth President & Founder Recycle Brevard
After years of volunteering with various organizations throughout the community, it was time to take the next step. Recycle Brevard officially incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a clear mission: to make the 3Rs — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — accessible, practical and a welcome habit for everyone. By doing so, we could, together, divert more waste from landfills, prevent pollution and protect wildlife and natural resources.
Fast forward 15 years.
Thanks to dedicated volunteers, strong
the parent company of Viera Voice and Senior Life, said Lewis would always make time in his schedule to appear at senior expos that the company sponsors.
“He would always come prepared to paint and chat with people,” she said.
“People would gather around him to watch him paint. Some sat for long periods
Classifieds
For Sale • Senior Services Employment • Rentals • And More Call today 321-242-1235 Deadline is the 15th of the month
WANTED COMIC BOOKS/COLLECTIONS
Buying Comic Books and Comic Collections 1930s – 1990s preferred. Private cash buyer. Will travel. Fair, simple sales. Call or text 321-357-1015
DOCUMENT SERVICES
Prestige Document Services Divorce, Bankruptcy, Estate Planning and much more. All case types prepared at the guaranteed lowest rate. Call or text 321-266-1299
LEARN
FRENCH / GERMAN Bonjour! Guten Tag! Learn French or German - all ages and levels welcome! Private or small groups. In-person and online. Located in Viera. TEFL certified. Call 954-740-4447
community partnerships and generous supporters, Recycle Brevard has grown into a nonprofit, 100% run by volunteers and 100% funded by donations with an office and bazaar in Cocoa Village (270 Brevard Ave.).
Today, we help recycle hard-to-recycle items such as pens and markers, coffee capsules, plastic utensils, single-use batteries, VHS tapes, electronics and more. We work to reduce waste, encourage reuse and promote sustainable living across Brevard County.
Through the years, Recycle Brevard has supported positive environmental initiatives, including advocating for the replacement of styrofoam trays in schools, reducing styrofoam containers in parks and implementing sharing tables in schools to prevent food waste — to
watching him.”
Lewis represented more than beautiful landscapes. He embodied resilience, entrepreneurship and the idea that art belongs to everyone — not just those who can afford it.
“My father always liked to quote Proverbs 18:16, stating, ‘A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth
name a few. Education and access remain at the heart of what we do. Through presentations to community groups, community events, discussion courses and online eco challenges via Ecochallenge.org, we answer questions and help residents build sustainable habits. We distribute reusable materials to teachers through Recycle Brevard Gives Back, and educators can sign up for the Supply Hub at RecycleBrevard.org to receive a list of available materials.
We also provide reusable materials directly to residents through Recycle Brevard Connect, in partnership with our local libraries. Scheduled dates and locations are posted on social media as well as the website, on the Events page.
For those who want to recycle more, Recycle
him before great men,’ ” R.L. Lewis III said.
The Museum of Florida History in Tallahassee has paintings by 23 of the original 26 artists.
Blue said Lewis is certainly part of Space Coast and Florida history.
“He was truely a lovely man who was admired by all,” she said.VV
All Things are Possible with Counseling
Dr. Rochelle Dorney, Lmhc
Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in addiction treatment and mental health services. Dr. Dorney offers face-to-face and telehealth counseling services. Dr. Dorney provides supervision hours to interns who are seeking licensure.
LOCATED AT: Suntree Business Center 3270 Suntree Blvd., Suite 2202, Melbourne Available 24/7 Text to 772-713-8517 email: frankelrochelle4645@gmail.com
All Things Are Possible with Counseling Lic. Mental Health #MH11813
Brevard’s Recycling Club membership and onetime recyclers programs offer expanded options for responsible disposal. Besides offering more recycling options, the membership is a good way to support and help us continue our mission. To learn more and join, check out RecycleBrevard.org
As we celebrate 15 years of service, we are deeply grateful for the volunteers, partners and supporters who have made this journey possible. Without you, there would be no Recycle Brevard. Here’s to 15 years of impact — and to 15 more, Brevard! VV
Email Marcia Booth at Marcia@RecycleBrevard.org
Recycle Brevard is an independent nonprofit organization promoting sustainable living.
