Viera Vision Volume 15, Issue 3

DINING OUT VIERA STYLE AND USSSA'S NEW CEO

VO L . 1 5 ISSUE 3

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contents vo l u m e 1 5 : i s s u e 3

5

ARTS AND CULTURE EXPLORE BREVARD COUNTY'S ROBUST CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

in this issue

PRE SIDENT

Todd Pokrywa EDITORIAL DIREC TOR

Lauri Duda

EDITOR

Stephanie Byrd

STAFF EDITOR S

Carmen Vastola, Laurie Widzgowski, Todd Pokrywa, Ben Wilson, Scott Miller SENIOR WRITER S

Lyle Smith, Stephanie Byrd, Maria Sonnenberg, Kate Schnake, Keri Goff, Carmen Vastola, Laurie Widzgowski DE SIGN

04 VHS TRACK

24 A VERY SPECIAL ARTS

WORKING TO RAISE $300K TO REFURBISH THE TRACK AT HAWK STADIUM

BAC HOUSES A UNIQUE ART PROGRAM WHERE ARTISTS WITH VARYING ABILITIES CAN EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVITY

RENOVATION PROJECT

PROGRAM

26 'SAVE A LIFE DAY' 28 E-BOOK RECIPE

30 ASTRONAUT PARADE

TOURISTS AND LOCALS ATTENDED THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY PARADE OF THE APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING IN COCOA BEACH

USSSA WORKS TO EARN A PLACE IN THE VIERA COMMUNITY

22 BREVARD ZOO

ADVERTISING S ALE S

Lauri Duda, Stephanie Byrd Mikki Holtzhauer, Shawn O’Keefe, Jennifer Swan

LEG AL

Jay Decator, Ben Wilson

Don Gust, All Service Graphics

TIME SAVING RECIPES FOR FALL

18 TURNING TO HOME

PUBLISHER

The Viera Company

DISTRIBUTION

DOWNLOADS

BREAKING BREAD WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

PHOTOGR APHY

Cathy Heinz, Stephanie Byrd, Kate Schnake, Carmen Vastola, Mikki Holtzhauer

FINANCE & ADMINISTR ATION

HEALTH FIRST TEACHES HANDS-ON LIFE SAVING SKILLS FOR FREE

14 DINING OUT VIERA STYLE

Christina Geiger

Viera Vision is the official publication of Articles and advertisements printed in Viera Vision do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. The Viera Company and Viera Vision assume no liability for the content and shall not be held liable for any errors or omissions.

LINEAR TRAIL

©2019. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission from the publishers.

in every issue

VIERA DISCOVERY CENTER 2261 Town Center Ave. #105 The Avenue Viera Viera, Florida 32940

2-MILE EXTENSION SPOTLIGHT

03

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

29

WHY I LOVE VIERA

32

SNAPSHOTS AROUND TOWN

34

UPCOMING EVENTS

36

DEVELOPER LETTER

(321) 253-2800

VIERA.com

/VIERAFLORIDA /VIERAVISION /VIERAFLORIDA #EXPLOREVIERA

2

letter from the

Editor

“DELICIOUS AUTUMN! MY VERY SOUL IS WEDDED TO IT, AND IF I WERE A BIRD I WOULD FLY ABOUT THE EARTH SEEKING THE SUCCESSIVE AUTUMNS.” GEORGE ELIOT

FALL IS IN THE AIR

F

“I PUM WOUL MY PKIN D RA T SEL F, T , AND HER S A V HAN B HAVE IT ON E E C IT A A HEN LVE RY T CU ROW LL TO DAV DED ID T SHIO ON N HO .”

R

all is the main event, the big show, the starting blocks for sports teams, the school year, and fourth quarter earnings reports. It is a cultural feast of upcoming festivals, concerts, performances, school plays, soccer and football games, and dinners with friends. It has the largest family meal of the year right before the other most celebrated season. You can quite literally walk or run in a planned racing event every single weekend in the fall. Classes are not just for primary, secondary, or undergraduate students but also for cooking, painting, and crafting enthusiasts. Networking is easier too amongst your peer and fellowship groups since everyone is back from vacation. It just does not seem to end, all the things you can participate in for the next 13 weeks!

We can count on a host of other things too in the fall. The days become shorter, the nights longer, and we have to “fall back” once again. The lack of daily summer rain showers have slowed the grass growing a bit and the birds will start to migrate to their winter homes. If you are a bird watcher, our own Viera Wetlands (at the end of Wickham Road) is a host habitat to rare birds pausing on their journey southward. If you play the short course at Duran you can hear the Viera Hawks marching band practicing before the next football game. The roads near The Avenue Viera become filled with pink shirts as walkers participate in the annual Making Strides Against Cancer event. White is out and the fall colors of red, orange and browns are in, except for the striped or solid jersey you see at the local eateries sported by the teams from USSSA visiting from out of town. The scent of cinnamon brooms fill the air at the local grocery store and pumpkin-infused everything is available anywhere you go. Fall is just fun and even kids will admit it since they are back on teams or in clubs after school and interact with more of their friends once again on a daily basis. Every famous author in the canon of literature has something to say about its beauty or wisdom.

Here’s to a fun fall for you and your family and we hope you find this issue a great resource for all the upcoming performances, new locations for lunch or dinner with friends, and maybe how to make a quick dinner when you have to make that 7 P.M. curtain or come back from a long practice or meeting during the week. Don’t forget to watch our social media pages for upcoming events, rocket launches and other events this fall.

Welcome back to fall y’all!

LD WOR A N I .”

I LIVE CTOBERS D A L EO OG “I’M S THERE ARGOMERY NT RE WHE L .M. MO

G RIN P S G, N HIN MER A A C T E AN R, SUM TUMN S I TER RCOLO ND AU ALL.” N I “W WATE ING A HEM Z T T A AIN IC OF T OROWI P L H OI SA Y MO STANLE

E AU

“EVERY LEAF SPEAKS NG BLISS TO ME, FLUTTERI EE.” FROM THE AUTUMN TR EMILY BRONTE

IN ORK TO Y EW NT VE N ME WA ULD O L O U S T YO T MAKE IES. I W EWLY ’ N “DO ALL? I SUPPL OF N W F ET L NE THE SCHOO BOUQU S IF I K .”

S L BUY YOU A PENCI DDRES D SEN RPENED E AND AON SHA R NAM RA EPHR NO YOU

“LIFE S AGAI TARTS A LL N WH EN IT OVER CRIS P GETS F. SC IN THE OT T F A LL.” FI T Z G ER

ALD

ING H T O ’S IS N MER F A E UM N L N A S YE.” E L AL THA OODB N F A “ ORE E G OW M WAV UNKN 3

VIERA HIGH SCHOOL TRACK RENOVATION PROJECT

P

OWER OF PIZZA CHARITIES LED BY MIKE ACOSTA OF VIERA PIZZA AND BRITTANY STREUFERT, THE NONPROFIT IS IN FULL FUNDRAISING MODE FOR ITS BIGGEST CHALLENGE EVER...THE BACK THE TRACK FUNDRAISER. In collaboration with VHS, the goal is to help the school raise $300,000 to refurbish the track at Hawk Stadium. Rubberized, soft surface tracks are designed to last for years on end, are preferred for their durability, resistance to weathering, and have relatively low maintenance requirements.

Through their Eat My Crust 5K and fundraising efforts this summer, POP has already raised $100,900.

Working with new principal of Viera High School, Sarah Robinson. They are encouraging everyone to purchase a brick which can be engraved with an individual or family's name, an organization, local business or to memorialize a loved one.

For more information on the Power of Pizza Charities or the Back The Track fundraiser, contact Brittany Streufert at PowerofPizzaCharities@ gmail.com or (321)412-1830.

4

VHS BRICK FUNDRAISER We’re offering a limited number of bricks that can be personalized with your name for the NEW brick pathway at the Viera Hawks Stadium.

It’s your chance to leave a lasting memory and support the Viera High School community.

CHOOSE FROM A 4" X 8" WITH 3 ENGRAVED LINES, OR AN 8" X 8" BRICK WITH UP TO 6 LINES OF TEXT. WANT TO DISPLAY YOUR BUSINESS LOGO? SELECT OUR 8" X 8" CORPORATE BRICK.

CHOOSE

4X8 STANDARD BRICK $200 — up to 3 lines of text, 20 characters per line 8X8 UPGRADED SQUARE BRICK $400 — up to 6 lines of text, 20 characters per line

8X8 CORPORATE BRICK $500 — features company logo First__________________________________ Last Name _______________________________ Address__________________________________________________________________________

City_______________________________________________ ST_______ Zip Code___________ Business/Company Name________________________________________________________ Phone_______________________________ Email_______________________________________ Fill in brick wording on reverse side

To order go online to: www.VHSBacktheTrack.com or complete this form and submit along with payment to: Power of Pizza Charities located at Viera Pizza, 5450 Stadium Parkway Viera, FL 32940

Make checks payable to: Power of Pizza Charities Please direct questions to Brittany Streufert at powerofpizzacharities@gmail.com or (321) 412-1830

Arts CuLTuRe

A SEASON OF

SO MANY ARTS, SO LITTLE TIME

B

IG CITIES MAY OVERFLOW WITH CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES, BUT THEY CAN BE CROWDED, NOISY, AND EXPENSIVE. BREVARD COUNTY, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS VIBRANT AND AFFORDABLE, BLESSED WITH A SUNNY CLIMATE, BEAUTIFUL BEACHES AND GREEN SPACES, A CHARMING SMALL-TOWN ATMOSPHERE, AS WELL AS A ROBUST CULTURAL LANDSCAPE THAT SPANS EVERYTHING FROM THE PERFORMING TO THE VISUAL ARTS.

5

PHOTO COURTESY OF BCA

&

by the Florida Division A ppointed of Cultural Affairs to represent six counties, Brevard Cultural Alliance (BCA) executive director Neil Levine has in-depth experience in the arts and culture across east Florida. The arts scene he sees in Brevard impresses him, both from its scope as well as from the revenue it injects into the county.

“What delights me about Brevard is the ever-growing diversity of great cultural experiences, available for all ages to enjoy,” said Levine.

“As noted during BCA’s recent Cultural Summit, the arts and cultural sector continues to have a significant economic impact on our local economy, and certainly delight residents and tourists from near and far.”

6

Brevard’s oldest professional orchestra, the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, will also do its part on keeping the sound of music in the air during its 66th annual season.

“It is a milestone year for music director Christopher Confessore, who has been at the helm of the BSO for

BSO'S MUSIC DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER CONFESSORE

25 years, an exceptional run by any measure and a testament to his artistic excellence, programming acumen and his commitment to education in Brevard,” said BSO executive director David Schillhammer.

rchestra’s ony O h mp n.” - Conductor Aaro y nC S aso oll ins e a s o C e pac S “I am thrilled about the 11t st h

Orchestras BaNDS

Levine is 100 percent correct. Brevard offers cultural enticements on the scale of much larger metropolitan areas.

Like music? We have not just one, but two, professional symphonies, plus the Space Coast Flute Orchestra, one of the largest regularly rehearsed flute orchestras in the world, in addition to wind instruments ensemble Central Florida Winds, community bands and orchestras, youth orchestras, choirs, a chamber music society, a jazz society and the Brevard Music Group. Let’s not forget the King Center, where headliners the likes of Aretha Franklin, Liza Minnelli, and The Beach Boys have delighted audiences for decades.

These cultural organizations are planning to tempt you with their wide variety of offerings.

“I am thrilled about the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra’s 11th season,” said conductor Aaron Collins.

“It’s a fun lineup featuring a broad repertoire and something for everyone.”

Broad repertoire, indeed, for the Symphony, from its home base at Suntree’s Scott Center for the Performing Arts, which will showcase Caliente, music inspired by Latin America, Big Band sounds, familyfriendly Halloween thrills and chills music, “Superheroes” music, a Grand Night of Opera, a Messiah sing-along, a New Orleans Christmas, Broadway faves, Hollywood movie scores, Rachmaninoff’s greatest hits, a special “fan favorites” concert, television and movie scores, Dvorak’s Seventh Symphony and an inspiring side-byside concert with the Space Coast Symphony Youth Orchestra. That is only part of the lineup. This season, the Symphony has also entered into a collaborative partnership with Brevard Zoo, geared towards families. Whew!

MELBOURNE MUNICIPAL BAND (MMB), WHICH OFFERS FREE CONCERTS AT MELBOURNE AUDITORIUM

“We’re on pace for our best season in years.”

The BSO’s “Signature Six Series” begins Nov. 16 at the King Center with one of the “biggies” in orchestral works: Gustav Holst’s The Planets.

The outstanding program also includes selections from John Williams’ Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Mothership by Grammy-winning composer Mason Bates.

The orchestral works of Ralph Vaughan Williams and Czech composer Bedrich Smetana will be enhanced by the breathtaking symphonic photochoreography of Westwater Arts during “Visual Concertos” on Jan. 18. Revisit the songs of Ol’ Blue Eyes when the BSO presents A Sinatra Valentine Feb. 8 and reacquaint yourself with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons on Feb. 22.

On March 14, it’s time for Beethoven’s Pastoral, and on April 4, get your fill of Tchaikovsky and Brahms in the special program that marks the season finale.

Melbourne Municipal Band (MMB), which offers free concerts at Melbourne Auditorium, is also stoked for next season.

“I recently bought almost 20 new pieces for the coming season, and the band had a giant sight-reading session,” said conductor Staci Rosbury.

“We played Puccini, Grainger, John Williams, plus pop favorites like Aretha Franklin and Freddie Mercury. There will be plenty of new and old favorites to enjoy this season.”

MMB’s 22-piece Swingtime Ensemble also plans a lively schedule of concerts and dances, and their

WINSTON SCOTT TO PERFORM AT SPACE COAST JAZZ SOCIETY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13TH, AT 2PM

signature New Year’s bash at the Melbourne Hilton Rialto, an affair that includes cocktail hour, elegant dinner, floor show and open bar.

“You can celebrate the New Year in style and dance the night away just as they did during the Big Band era,” said conductor Art Martin.

Jazz lovers will never go hungry for their favorite musical genre in

Brevard, thanks to the Brevard Music Group, the Space Coast Jazz Society and Heidi’s Jazz Club, which keep jazz alive and well along the Space Coast with outstanding performances by “A- listers” and up-andcoming talent.

Choral GROuPS Space Coast is also home to several T hechoral ensembles, including the Indialantic

Chamber Singers, who celebrate 20 years this season.

“In October, we’ll be celebrating our anniversary with a pair of special concerts, with songs from our 20-year repertoire about music and the joy of singing,” said Chamber Singers president Tony Spadafora.

2019 is also a big year for the 100-voice Brevard Community Chorus, which celebrates the big 5-0 this year.

“Our chorus came into being in 1969, the same year we landed on the moon!” said conductor Dr. Robert Lamb.

The chorus will celebrate its first half-century with a pair of very special concerts.

“In December, we will repeat the very first program performed by the chorus in 1969: Handel’s “Messiah,” and in May, we will perform a masterwork by Beethoven, the Mass in C, along with a commissioned piece by award-winning composer, David Brunner.

In 2020, the world will mark Beethoven’s 250th birthday and members of the chorus will travel to Vienna to take part in the Beethoven 250th international choral festival.

7

King CeNTeR Performing aRTS

theater is your thing, take I fyour pick from eclectic PHOTO BY ZACH STEVENSON A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS

PHOTO BY ANNA OSTAPENKO

JERSEY BOYS

FAIRYTALES OF GRIMM

offerings from the Henegar Center, Melbourne Civic Theatre, Surfside Playhouse, Titusville Playhouse and the grand old dame of Brevard community theater, the historic 1924 Cocoa Village Playhouse. In her three decades with the historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, chief executive officer Dr. Anastasia

om “From concerts to c e.” l u

ed everyone on the sch

8

PHOTO COURTESY OF COCOA VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE

us i

such as Trisha Yearwood and Broadway hits such as Jersey Boys. Even Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly will be on the main stage this November, thanks to cutting-edge holographic magic with remastered audio that promises to transport the audience back in time for an electrifying evening with these two musical legends.

For the younger patrons of the arts, the King Center’s Theatre for Youth delights with the Peking Acrobats, the fairy tales of Grimm and many other live performances.

“Our 2019-2020 season is ave something h e packed full of diverse, quality , w tive director Stev for s performances,” said King l e Ja ecu ca nic Center executive director ex ki r e t Steve Janicki. m en C to g in edy -K

PHOTO COURTESY OF MALCOM DENEMARK

coming season should be another winner for the King Center, where T heaudiences can get a well-balanced diet of the performing arts with stars

Hawkins-Smith has helped to nurture countless thespians and entertained the community with finely crafted plays and musicals.

“We’re known as “Broadway on Brevard” because of the

PHOTO COURTESY OF COCOA VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE

PHOTO COURTESY OF COCOA VILLAGE PLAYHOUSE

quality of our productions,” said Hawkins-Smith, who is gearing up for the Playhouse’s 30th season, which began Sept. 20 with the Broadway version of Cinderella and continues with Into the Woods, Nine to Five: The Musical and others.

The Playhouse, once known as the Aladdin movie theater, also features a classic film series, plus additional special events, including the First Annual Hangar Party, a Feb. 22, 2020, dance fundraiser amidst the vintage

planes of the Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum in Titusville.

Like the Cocoa Village Playhouse, Titusville Playhouse is located in a delightful historic building.

Its 2019-2020 season will offer Titanic and Elf: The Musical, among others.

Beachside, the upcoming season at Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach brings Brighton Beach Memoirs and Sex Please, We’re 60 to the schedule.

“Something old and something new is the name

Visual aRTS

of the game,” said artistic director Bryan Bergeron.

“We take risks with treasured chestnuts and add in newer productions with eclectic audience appeal. We finish our season off with our successful “fractured” series of original shows. We are about fun, plain and simple.”

At the Henegar Center, patrons can enjoy season tickets for as little as $81 to catch productions that this year include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, It’s a Wonderful Life,

Mamma Mia, A Chorus Line and Grease. New seats, a new look and new artistic director Steven Heron should make for a blockbuster season at this downtown Melbourne venue.

It’s the 67th season of fun, music and laughter at Melbourne Civic Theatre, also downtown, and managing/artistic director Peg Girard has put together a selection of shows that include I Hate Hamlet, Love, Loss and What I Wore and The Cemetery Club.

it comes to the visual arts, there W hen is a wealth of talent in Brevard, home to many, many

excellent artists working in all mediums. Culture vultures often head to the Eau Gallie Arts District, or EGAD, to catch the latest monthly openings at venues such as the Foosaner Art Museum, Eau Gallery and the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery.

“Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is first and foremost a fine art gallery, but we are so much more than that,” said president Lori Pitten Jenkins.

“I would go so far as to call us a family.”

At Eau Gallery just a few steps away, monthly shows highlight specific themes.

Join them in September to learn all about the Healing Arts.

“This is where creativity starts,” said gallery spokesperson Lolly Walton.

9

Ea u

.”

-

on

“This is

esperson Lolly spok y W r alt lle Ga

rts wh a t ere creativity s

ARTIST FROM EAU GALLERY DAVID PITTS

Eau Gallery’s neighbor, the Foosaner, is operated by Florida Tech: Florida's Stem University, which also runs Melbourne’s Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, the only textiles center in the state and one of very few in the nation. A center for creativity,

the Foosaner also offers art classes and camps.

Pencil in Nov. 23 and 24 for a visit to the Foosaner and to the rest of EGAD, when in addition to the ArtWorks festival happening that weekend, local cultural organizations will be performing throughout the day.

EGAD of course does not have a monopoly on the visual arts, which are alive and well throughout the county in galleries such as Downtown Gallery in Titusville and the Studios of Cocoa Beach, which represents more than 30 local artists. Upcoming exhibits at the Studios include Fiber Fusion Sept. 27 to Nov. 18 and the annual member’s showcase Nov. 27 to Jan. 20. The Studios also offer a variety of learning opportunities, from one-time workshops to ongoing classes for the young and not-so-young.

“Our artistic director is a SAG award winner for the movie Chicago and a soloist with American Ballet Theatre. Five percent of our 120-person cast are professional with the remainder being performers from our community. This gives the children and community a chance to be part of a professional production without ever leaving their hometown.”

Galmont Ballet, the resident company at the historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, also delights ballet fans with several performances during the year, including an original American version of The Nutcracker, set in the United States of the 19th century.

If you love the arts, you will often experience “so many arts, so little time” moments through 2020 in the Space Coast. Get ready for a great time!

Learn more.

Brevard Music Group brevardmusicgroup.com Brevard Symphony Orchestra brevardsymphony.com Cocoa Village Playhouse cocoavillageplayhouse.com Eau Gallery — eaugallery.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPACE COAST BALLET

Fifth Avenue Art Gallery fifthavenueartgallery.com Foosaner Art Museum foosanerartmuseum.org Galmont Ballet — galmontballet.com Henegar Center — henegar.org Indialantic Chamber Singers indialanticchambersingers.org King Center for the Performing Arts kingcenter.com Melbourne Civic Theatre — mymct.org Ballet thrives in Brevard, too. The children who years ago saw Space Coast Ballet’s lush production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker at the King Center now bring their own families to share the joy of the music, the world-class principal dancers and the wonder of sets imported from the Mariinsky Theatre in Russia. The entire family is in for a special treat this holiday season when the Brevard Symphony Orchestra joins the Space Coast Ballet for this holiday tradition.

“We hire a lighting director from New York City, a stage manager from Carnegie Mellon and principal dancers from the Boston Ballet, New York City Ballet and other world- famous companies,” said Space Coast Ballet vice-chair Loretta Grella.

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Melbourne Municipal Band/ Swingtime mmband.net Space Coast Ballet spacecoastballetcompany.com Space Coast Symphony Orchestra spacecocastsymphony.org Surfside Playhouse surfsideplayers.com Titusville Playhouse titusvilleplayhouse.com

2019-2020 SEASON SCHEDULES Orchestras & BaNDS Brevard Symphony Orchestra

Melbourne Community Orchestra

Signature Six Series at the King Center NOV 16 JAN 18 FEB 8 FEB 22 MAR 14 APR 4

All concerts are at Melbourne Auditorium

The Planets 7:30 p.m.

Visual Concertos 2 & 7:30 p.m.

A Sinatra Valentine 2 & 7:30 p.m.

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons 7:30 p.m.

Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 Pastoral 2 & 7:30 p.m.

Tchaikovsky and Brahms 7:30 p.m.

SEP 11/12 OCT 23/24 DEC 4/5 JAN 29/30 MAR 25/26 MAY 6/7 JUN 10/11

30 Years of Music (FREE) 7:30 p.m.

Trick or Treat on MCO Street (FREE) 7:30 p.m.

Holiday Celebrations (FREE) 7:30 p.m.

Jazz for the Soul (FREE) 7:30 p.m.

It’s Showtime (FREE) 7:30 p.m.

Let’s Dance (FREE) 7:30 p.m.

A Salute to America (FREE) 6:30 p.m.

Swingtime All concerts are at Melbourne Auditorium SEP 20

Fall Kickoff Dance

7 p.m.

OCT 9/10 Salute to Big Band Vocalists & Groups 7:30 p.m.

OCT 17

Sock Hop

7 p.m.

JAN 15/16 Swinging Classics w/ Strings Attached 7:30 p.m.

JAN 24

Sock Hop

MAR 11/12 Let’s Boogie All Night Long

Swing into Spring Sock Hop JUN 19 June Moon Dance JUL 15/16 Bask in the Sun with Some Musical Fun (picnic concert)

7 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

MAR 13

7 p.m.

APR 24

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

7 p.m.

Space Coast Flute Orchestra OCT 27 DEC 15 APR 26

3 p.m.

Suntree United Methodist Church (FREE)

Suntree United Methodist Church (FREE)

Spring Concert

Eastminster Presbyterian Church (FREE)

Melbourne Municipal Band All concerts are at Melbourne Auditorium SEP 18/19 No Strings Attached

7:30 p.m.

Let Freedom Ring DEC 11/12 Songs of the Season FEB 19/20 Staci’s Top Ten APR 15/16 April Blockbusters JUN 3/4 MMB Pops (picnic concert) AUG 12/13 The Water is Wide (picnic concert)

7:30 p.m.

NOV 6/7

Fall Concert

Christmas Concert

PHOTO BY BRIANNA SCAFIDI

3 p.m.

3 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

6:30 p.m.

Space Coast Symphony Orchestra SEP 14/15 Caliente! Scott Center 7 p.m.

2 & 7 p.m.

OCT 5/6 Big Band Fever Scott Center 7:30 p.m./3 p.m.

OCT 12/13 Frederic Voorn in Concert Eastminster Presbyterian Church (FREE) 7 p.m.

OCT 19/20 Chills and Thrills Satellite High School Performing Arts Center NOV 2/3 Musicians are Superheroes 2 & 4:30 p.m./3 p.m.

Scott Center (FREE) NOV 23/24 A Grand Night of Opera 7:30 p.m.

Scott Center DEC 6 Messiah Sing-Along 7 p.m.

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church/Viera DEC 14/15 Duke Ellington’s “Nutcracker” and a New Orleans Christmas 2 & 7 p.m./3 p.m.

Scott Center JAN 4/5 Stars Sing Broadway 2 & 7 p.m./3 p.m.

Scott Center JAN 25/26 Hooray for Hollywood 7 p.m./3 p.m.

Satellite High School Performing Arts Center FEB 29/ The Romance of Rachmaninoff 7 p.m./3 p.m..

MAR 1 Scott Center MAR 21/22 Fan Favorites, Redux 7 p.m./3 p.m.

Satellite High School Performing Arts Center APR 4/5 From the Flat to Silver Screen 2 & 7 p.m./3 p.m.

Scott Center APR 18/19 Dvorak’s Seventh Symphony 7 p.m./3 p.m..

Scott Center MAY 23/24 Side by Side 7 p.m./3 p.m..

Scott Center

Choral GROuPS Indialantic Chamber Singers

Advent Lutheran Church/Suntree Oct. 20 Eastminster Presbyterian Church/Indialantic DEC 6 Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along with Space Coast Symphony OCT 13

St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church/Viera

DEC 8 DEC 15

An Old-Fashioned Christmas

Riverside Presbyterian Church/Cocoa Beach

Sing We Now of Christmas

Eastminster Presbyterian Church/Indialantic

3 p.m.

3 p.m.

7 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3 p.m.

Brevard Community Chorus at the King Center DEC 14 MAY 9

12

Messiah by Handel (the first piece performed by the chorus 50 years ago) 7:30 p.m.

Beethoven Mass in C, plus a piece commissioned for the 50th 7:30 p.m. anniversary and being composed by David Brunner

2019-2020 SEASON SCHEDULES

SEP 21 Classic Albums Live OCT 19 OCT 22 NOV 1 NOV 5 NOV 7 NOV 7 NOV 9 NOV 10 NOV 13 NOV 14 NOV 17 NOV 19 NOV 21 NOV 21 NOV 22 NOV 23 NOV 29 DEC 1 DEC 2 DEC 3 DEC 4 DEC 7 DEC 15 DEC 16

King Center for the Performing Arts 8 p.m.

The Beatles /Abbey Road Classic Albums Live 8 p.m.

Tom Petty/Damn the Torpedoes ZZ Top 7:30 p.m.

Acoustic Alchemy in the Studio Theatre 7:30 p.m.

Alice Cooper 8 p.m.

One Night in Frogtown (Theatre for Youth) 10:30 a.m.

Calling All Divas 7:30 p.m.

Family Feud Live On Stage!

8 p.m.

Justin Hayward 7 p.m.

Straight No Chaser 7:30 p.m.

Dwight Yoakam 8 p.m.

Jeanne Robertson 3 p.m.

John Oates w/the Good Road Band 7:30 p.m.

Fairy Tales of Grimm (Theatre for Youth) 10:30 a.m.

Steven Wright 8 p.m.

Chris D’Elia 7 p.m.

Little River Band 8 p.m.

Tom Segura 8 p.m.

The Four Italian Tenors 2:30 p.m.

Dave Koz & Friends Christmas Tour 2019 7:30 p.m.

A Magical Cirque Christmas 7:30 p.m.

Trisha Yearwood 7:30 p.m.

Space Coast Ballet’s “The Nutcracker� 2 & 7 p.m.

Criss Angel 7 p.m. ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas 10:30 a.m.

(Theatre for Youth)

DEC 18 Rhythm of the Yuletide Dance

7:30 p.m.

DEC 19 The Outlaws with support from Firefall 8 p.m.

DEC 22 A Christmas Carol

3 p.m.

DEC 27 Swan Lake

7 p.m.

DEC 28 Swan Lake

2 p.m.

JAN 10 We’ve Only Just Begun:

8 p.m.

Carpenters Remembered

JAN 15 Ana Popovic in the Studio Theatre

7: 30 p.m.

JAN 16 Ottmar Leibert & Luna Negra in the Studio Theatre

7: 30 p.m.

JAN 19 Tusk: A Fleetwood Mac Tribute

7 p.m.

JAN 26 Steve Martin & Martin Short

7 p.m.

JAN 28 JAN 28 JAN 30 JAN 31

With The Steep Canyon Ballet Flamenco La Rosa (Theatre for Youth) Battle of the Big Bands The Tap Pack Gaelic Storm in the Studio Theatre

10:30 a.m.

7: 30 p.m.

7: 30 p.m.

7: 30 p.m.

FEB 7

Kansas

FEB 10 Tapestry: The Carole King Songbook

7:30 p.m.

8 p.m.

FEB 11 Aliens Alive: A Space Rescue Mission 10:30 a.m.

(Theatre for Youth)

FEB 14 Abba Mania

8 p.m.

FEB 16 Joe Bonamassa

8 p.m.

FEB 17 Bandstand

7:30 p.m.

FEB 20 The Beach Boys

7:30 p.m.

FEB 23 Jersey Boys

7:30 p.m.

FEB 24 Princess Thumbelina (Theatre for Youth)

Cocoa Village Playhouse SEP 20 - OCT 6 Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella NOV 22 - DEC 8

10:30 a.m.

FEB 27 The Office! A Musical Parody

7:30 p.m.

MAR 3 Celtic Woman

7:30 p.m.

DEC 20 - DEC 22 Galmont Ballet’s Nutcracker JAN 31 - FEB 16 The Sound of Music

MAR 4 Peking Acrobats (Theatre for Youth) 10:30 a.m. & 7 p.m.

MAR 6 Jane Monheit in the Studio Theatre MAR 6 The Fab Faux

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas The Musical

DEC 10 - DEC 11 Elf Jr. the Musical

MAR 13 - MAR 29 Into the Woods

7:30 p.m.

APR 24 - MAY 10 9 to 5 The Musical

8 p.m.

MAR 7 Kenny G

8 p.m.

MAY 29 - MAY 31 Seussical The Musical

MAR 13 Get The Led Out

8 p.m.

JUN 5 - JUN 7

MAR 18 Paul Anka

8 p.m.

MAR 20 The New York Bee Gees

8 p.m.

The Playhouse also hosts classic films, music concerts and special events such as the Florida Magician of the Year.

MAR 21 The Lao Tizer Band in the Studio Theatre 7:30 p.m.

MAR 22 Beginnings: The Chicago Tribute in the Studio Theatre

7:30 p.m.

MAR 24 Trash‌Think Before You

10:30 a.m.

MAR 31 Gordon Gumshoe,

10:30 a.m.

Throw It Away (Theatre for Youth) Fairy Tale Detective (Theatre for Youth)

APR 5 Frankie Valli

Disney’s The Lion King Jr.

JUN 12 - JUN 14 Catch Me if You Can: the Musical

Henegar Center SEP 6 - SEP 22 Beauty and the Beast OCT 18 - OCT 20 The Rocky Horror Show DEC 6 - DEC 22 It’s a Wonderful Life

7 p.m.

APR 25 The Kingdom Choir

7:30 p.m.

JAN 23 - FEB 2 Menopause the Musical

MAY 7 The Hit Men

7:30 p.m.

FEB 7 - FEB 23 Mamma Mia!

8 p.m.

MAR 13 - MAR 29 A Chorus Line

MAY 9 The Bachelor Live on Stage!

FEB 23

Jersey Boys - I Walk Like A Man

Photo Credit: Zach Stevenson

Titusville Playhouse SEP 27 - OCT 20 OCT 25 - NOV 2 NOV 22 - DEC 22 JAN 10 - FEB 2 FEB 5 - FEB 16 FEB 28 - MAR 22 APR 3 - APR 26 MAY 15 - JUN 7

Grease Rocky Horror Show Life Elf the Musical Mamma Mia! Menopause the Musical Something Rotten Titanic Bright Star

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPACE COAST BALLET

King Center for the Performing Arts

Performing aRTS

APR 24 - MAY 10 Grease

Melbourne Civic Theatre OCT 4 - NOV 10 I Hate Hamlet DEC 6 - DEC 24 Making Spirits Bright

Cocktail Party with Alfie Silva

JAN 17 - FEB 23 Love, Loss and What I Wore MAR 20 - APR 26 The Cemetery Club MAY 22 - JUN 28 The Sunshine Boys

Surfside Playhouse SEP 20 - SEP 29 NOV 8 - NOV 24 JAN 10 - JAN 26 MAR 13 - MAR 29 MAY 1 - MAY 10 JUN 19 - JUN 28

Brighton Beach Memories Curtains Arsenic and Old Lace Pirates of Penzance Sex Please, We’re 60 The Three Musketeers

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DINING OUT -Viera-Style

BREAKING BREAD WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS

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COMMUNITY IS BUILT ON TWO THINGS, ITS PEOPLE AND ITS SHARED EXPERIENCES. BREAKING BREAD WITH OTHERS IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS OF SHARING THIS TIME AND MAKING MEMBERS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE PART OF A LARGER COMMUNITY.

28 NORTH

A growing community like Viera needs places to gather, to share food and fellowship and become the collective experience that enables it to define itself beyond a collection of subdivisions and business opportunities.

Whether it’s a concerted effort to bring a selection of more diversified dining experiences to a place, or the more organic development driven by entrepreneurs, restaurants and places to share food are bringing the personal, the human excitement, the joyful noise of community, to our area.

From gastropub dining, to international options, to colorful desserts, we took a look at several of the newest places on a list of culinary treats that continues to grow here.

Get out there and give them a try!

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T

he second home of local restaurateur Chris Conneen, the gastropub 28 North is named for the global latitude of its location at The Avenue Viera. Just opened this winter and seated comfortably next to Conneen’s first establishment, Pizza Gallery & Grill, 28 North has a decidedly different approach to dining.

A gastropub is, by definition, designed to offer high-end dining in a casual, pub-like environment.

Conneen and his team have created a totally unique space for Brevard County, one with an industrial and highly polished flair throughout the bar and dining room.

28 North offers a celebratory atmosphere, craft cocktails, and a menu created by Executive Chef Kyle Hash featuring locally sourced, farm to table offerings like the Bone Marrow appetizer, Cherry Cola Braised Shortrib, u10 Scallops, and their own unique take on buttermilk fried chicken.

“It’s an exciting time to be a part of the expanding Viera dining landscape,” Conneen says, “and we look forward to providing enriching dining experiences for years to come.”

They offer numerous vegetarian and vegan options as well as playfully-named takes on classics

CULVERS

B

GIO’S ITALIAN ICE

A

s a longtime entrepreneur, it was natural for Keith Germano to dedicate his thinking to what his adopted home of Viera needed when he made the permanent move from Astoria, NY last year.

After a chat with his uncle Dennis who also recently made the transition from snowbird to full-time resident, about what he wanted to do, they landed on THE idea.

The result is Gio’s Italian Ice, a colorful, sweet, and joyous purveyor of homemade Italian Ice, gelato, soft ice cream and more, located in the Village Center on Viera’s east side.

“We thought about what wasn’t really available here and as an entrepreneur I wanted to own something,” Germano said. “And it’s summer around here all year long. It made all the sense in the world.”

So the two put a business plan together and opened Gio’s Ice on Viera Blvd. on May 31st.

Open 7 days a week from 11am to 11pm, Germano, reflecting on summertime memories of when he was a child, wanted to offer a place for fun, dessert, and celebration late into the evening.

The Germano family are active members of the community. Their children attend local schools and they are business sponsors of the Suntree Viera Youth Football league and the Viera Charter School.

uilt on the attraction of Butterburgers, milkshakes and hometown hospitality, Culver’s of Viera just opened this summer on Lake Andrew Dr. in the Shops at Colonnade.

Founded in Sauk City, Wisconsin, in 1984, the dream of Craig and Lea Culver blossomed into a franchise operation with locations all around the country. Local owner/operator Lisa Teays Wallmueller from Port St. Lucie expanded her entrepreneurial vision to select Viera as her passion project in our community.

Focused on lunch and dinner fast dining options; and, of course, ice cream; it’s open 7 days a week until 10pm. Culver’s is just hitting its stride in this area of the community that is undergoing major development and will undoubtedly add to the downtown feel of Viera for years to come.

like Not Yo Momma’s Mac & Cheese and the twicefried boardwalk fries with garlic aioli which are worth the price of admission all by themselves.

Hash, in fact, has been nominated to compete in the 2019 Markon/Mushroom Council Blended Burger Chef Summit Recipe Contest in Monterrey, California.

And if the quality of the food and drink isn’t enough to bring you out to give 28 North a try, Conneen commits a significant effort to charitable giving in each of his operations. Conneen’s

first Viera restaurant, the Pizza Gallery & Grill has donated to causes as varied as Brevard Public Schools, Promise in Brevard, the American Cancer Society, and the St. Baldrick’s Foundation by request from customers over the past decade.

With 28 North, Conneen said, he wanted to structure the charitable giving program differently, dedicating effort and a portion of revenue to specific charities including Family Promise of Brevard, Brevard Rescue Mission, and the Children’s Hunger Project.

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TAJ INDIAN CUISINE

POKE’ BAO

O

ne of the freshest faces at The Avenue Viera is Poke’ Bao (po-kay ba-ow) offering an eclectic combination of menu choices with an Asian-Latin flair.

While the diversity of the menu may at first seem unusual, the commonality becomes clear when you realize this new place was created by a group of friends with a passion for lunch. All from different backgrounds, they each had their own preferences from day to day and merely wanted to create a place they would love to frequent.

And so Poke’ Bao came to be.

A menu features all flavors of Boba Tea. Bowls are built to order with meat, fowl, seafood and vegetarian options. The core mission of this unique place is to attract people with the same passion: good food, good tea, good friendship shared over a meal.

le macaron

J

errin Luke is planning to plant a South Asian stake in the ground right here in Viera. Taj Indian restaurant is scheduled to open in The Avenue Viera this fall with a vision designed to break the expectation of the standard-issue Indian restaurant in both menu and ambiance.

Taj presents itself as a modern rethinking of what most of us understand as “Indian restaurants.” Where most American interpretations of Indian flair presents dim lighting and bronze and brown coloring, Luke has added a brighter touch to Taj. Light blue and white throughout, and well-lit with Turkish chandeliers, this decidedly Western bent on Eastern culture makes the Taj experience unique.

The menu offers a more modern touch with a fusion-style embracing both east and west, in a true blend of cultures.

To obtain a full list of all local restaurants in the Viera, Florida area, visit the Viera Discovery Center and the Community Ambassadors will provide you with a comprehensive list of local options.

Fabrice and Valerie

HAVE BROUGHT A LITTLE TASTE OF FRANCE TO THE AVENUE VIERA WITH THE OPENING OF THEIR DELIGHTFUL PASTRY SHOP, LE MACARON. THE COUPLE CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FROM FRANCE THREE YEARS AGO, AND OPENED THEIR FIRST SHOP AT THE MELBOURNE SQUARE MALL. ALONG WITH DELECTABLE MACARONS OFFERED IN A VARIETY OF FLAVORS, ONE CAN ENJOY FRENCH TREATS SUCH AS NAPOLEANS AND ECLAIRS, GELATO, AND CHOCOLATES, RIGHT HERE IN VIERA. LITTLE EIFFEL TOWER AND MACARON-THEMED KEYCHAINS FOR SALE REFLECT THE DECIDEDLY FRENCH ATMOSPHERE, ALONG WITH THE PARIS-CAFÉ STYLE TABLES WHERE YOU CAN SIP A COFFEE AND TRY A MERINGUE. COMING SOON: LEMON, CHOCOLATE, AND CARAMEL CREPES. VIVE LE DESSERT!

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TURNING TO

USSSA WORKS TO EARN A PL ACE IN THE VIERA COMMUNIT Y

B

ASEBALL IS ALL ABOUT COMING HOME. SOFTBALL, TOO. IT’S THE GOAL. IT’S HOW YOU WIN. IT’S HOW YOU DECLARE VICTORY. IT’S THE OBJECT OF THE GAME.

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So, after its first full year of operations in Viera, and following a long journey from its original home town of Petersburg, VA, the group at United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) can say it has finally found its way home. A new home meant to be permanent.

From the outside, when the USSSA began talks about taking over the Washington Nationals Spring Training home on Stadium Boulevard, there were many more questions than answers.

Most residents didn’t really have much of an understanding

of what USSSA was beyond some vague thoughts of youth baseball and softball and a big business moving here from Kissimmee.

REVEALING THE MYSTERY

Who was behind this massive, faceless organization? What are they all about, anyway? Youth baseball? Women’s pro softball? Who’s going to come see that? How could that be a benefit to our community at all?

But in the end, celebrating its first anniversary of a 20 year commitment, the USSSA and its new CEO Don DeDonatis III have embraced Viera

“MOVING HERE HAS ENABLED US TO CREATE AN ATTRACTIVE PLACE TO COMPETE. A FINAL DESTINATION EVERYONE WANTED TO VISIT.” -USSSA CEO DON DEDONATIS III

USSSA INVESTED

$18 MILLION INTO THE FACILITY

HOME

as the perfect home for this sporting governing body and the literally thousands of teams from around the country whose highest goal is to come here to compete.

“Moving here has enabled us to create an attractive place to compete,” DeDonatis III said. “A final destination everyone wanted to visit.”

When it comes to declaring his new home, DeDonatis III is emphatic. He spent a few months living in one of the townhomes USSSA purchased in the area while his new Viera home was being constructed.

“We had so many people coming in for temporary stays, it just made more sense than putting them up in hotel rooms all the time,” he said. “It also made us feel like a more permanent part of the community right away.”

The question of a commitment to permanence should be laid to rest at this point. The USSSA invested the better part of $18M into the facility, installing more than a million square feet of artificial turf fields, two additional championship stadiums, scoreboards and video screens, and upgrading the fields and facilities to play host to dozens of annual tournaments and thousands of players, parents, family and friends.

For an organization that began in small-town Virginia in 1968, to grow to this scale is success by any measure.

HISTORY

The USSSA began as the United States Slowpitch Softball association with the vision of creating a sport association to allow teams of adults from across the country to compete against each other eventually in a formal World Series competition.

Through the 1970s and into the 1980s, the USSSA grew from just a few thousand players around the country to thousands of teams organized into state divisions and levels of play. Over time the tournaments were divided to have teams of comparable ability compete against each other, always with the goal of growing the sport.

DeDonatis’ father, also named Don, began as Michigan State Director in 1982 and built that into the #1 state program before

19

75K

THERE ARE CURRENTLY BASEBALL TEAMS, 35K FAST PITCH TEAMS AND 45K SLOW PITCH TEAMS REGISTERED.

eventually taking over CEO duties in 1997. As the economics of adult sports declined through the 1990s, the organization embraced the understanding that their best growth opportunity lay in youth sports.

In 1998, the elder DeDonatis established a youth baseball tournament as a fundraiser that quickly grew to 1,985 teams participating from around the country.

The organization’s future in youth sports was glimpsed and the name was changed to match the established initials. The United States Specialty Sports Association was reborn in 1998.

With its established state division structure, the organization was built to scale and with that same dedication to growth applied to first baseball and girl’s fast-pitch softball, the USSSA has grown to become the first organization in the youth space to classify divisions and in 5 years grew from no teams participating to 50,000 teams across the country.

THE MOVE FROM KISSIMMEE

“Through the 90s, it became clear that Petersburg could not be the future for the organization so my dad started targeting Orlando as a possible new home,” DeDonatis III said. “We partnered with Disney and the Wide World of Sports Resort and were fortunate enough to be able to attract a strong following there.”

After all, what kid wouldn’t want to play a World Series Game at a Disney resort?

USSSA established a partnership for a few weeks of tournament play at the Wide World of Sports Resort and another partnership to set up shop at the Houston Astros Spring Training facility in Kissimmee and that’s where they’ve operated from 2003 until 2017 when they moved to the Space Coast.

DeDonatis III points to significant challenges during that time that led them to believe moving to the Space Coast would ensure the brightest future for USSSA. “We really needed our own home that we could organize and operate under our own schedule,” he said.

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As attractive as the Disney resort was, they didn’t have the control over calendar and facility operations the way they felt they needed to.

“Here at Space Coast, we were able to put in full artificial surfaces which enables us to keep weather delays to a minimum as well as reduce injuries related to field conditions in inclement weather,” he said. “And because it is our own home, we’re in complete control of the tournament schedule in a way we were not before.”

So after a decade in Osceola County, USSSA seized the opportunity to take charge of its own destiny here in Viera.

WHAT’S NEXT?

DeDonatis III points to an assortment of developments in the organization that he and his team hope will drive them forward into the future including expanding operations into a dozen or more sports like soccer, volleyball, golf, martial arts and more. But for the time being, what he calls “bat and ball sports” are the bread and butter.

They currently have 75,000 baseball teams, 35,000 fast pitch teams, and 45,000 slow pitch teams registered in the organization.

Space Coast Stadium also plays host to the USSSA Pride professional women’s softball team who won the league championship Cowles Cup last year.

USSSA and the Space Coast Stadium also played host to the Women’s World Cup of Baseball last year, the first time the event was ever held in the United States.

DeDonatis III is also particularly excited about a partnership venture they are working on with the Major League Baseball Players Association to establish a training and education facility here on the Space Coast.

“We had an event out here recently and all these kids got to see guys like Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Dave Winfield working with them,” DeDonatis III said. “It was a great event and we’re really excited about the possibilities.”

The idea is to create a training home for the MLB Players Association as well as include the young people and their parents in the process to train, assess, and otherwise inspire young ballplayers in their understanding of the game.

Clearly, it’s been a big year for USSSA as they create their footprint here and establish a new home in our community.

Neighbors continue to learn about what’s going on under the lights along Stadium Parkway and DeDonatis III is committed to becoming a positive, permanent part of the community.

“We’re so excited about the future,” DeDonatis III said. “I get the opportunity to do something I love but I also have a platform to do things for kids and adults.”

The USSSA has programs in multiple sports for all ages from kids of 4 to adults of 80.

“I grew up in it since I was a kid. My dad did so many great things for the sport and the kids,” DeDonatis III said. “To see that come to fruition for him here and be able to step in and take it to the next level, is tremendous.”

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BREVARD ZOO

LINEAR PARK TRAIL Name: Brevard Zoo Linear Park Trail Opened: 2014 and second extension in 2019 Location: Lat-Lon: 28.230156, -80.712917 Fees: Free Hours: Posted Brevard Zoo hours Start: Brevard Zoo with signage leading to the trail head

End: Turtle Mound Road Distance: 6.3 miles Type of Trail: Kid friendly, nature viewing, exercise trail Surface: Combinational surface with sections of asphalt and boardwalk.

Nature Visible: Wetlands, oak hammocks, various birds and small wildlife and insects

Did you know? » THE 10-FOOT WIDE BOARDWALK IS MADE UP OF RECYCLED PLASTIC » THE DUDA FAMILY DONATED THE LAND FOR THE TRAIL » PARTNERSHIP OF THE TRAIL WAS A COMBINATION OF THE BREVARD COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE BREVARD ZOO, SPACE COAST TPO (TRANSPORTATION PLANNING ORGANIZATION), AND A. DUDA AND SONS INC.

22

Join Our Community of Advocates To Bring This Project To Life!

Brevard Zoo has been working to build a worldclass aquarium and conservation center. This is a transformational opportunity for our region, and it will require a lot of community support!

Learn More

theaquariumproject.org

Dive In

Benefits Abound Provide up close views of local marine life and habitats

Tackle the threats facing the Indian River Lagoon

Offer hands-on aquarium adventures

Teach responsible lagoon-healthy living

Protect wildlife that contributes to our coastal lifestyle

Generate tourism, create jobs and protect property values

“WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OVER 1200 STUDENTS EACH YEAR WITH OUR BAC ARTS FESTIVAL IN FEBRUARY HELD AT THE BREVARD ZOO AND OUR PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE HELD AT THE KING CENTER.” -ARTS PROGRAM MANAGER LEE SORENSEN

A VERY SPECIAL ARTS PROGRAM

H

OUSED IN BREVARD ACHIEVEMENT CENTER’S (BAC) ROCKLEDGE HEADQUARTERS IS A UNIQUE ART PROGRAM WHERE ARTISTS WITH VARYING ABILITIES CAN EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVITY. THEY BELIEVE THAT EVERYONE IS CAPABLE OF CREATIVE EXPRESSION, NO MATTER THEIR ARTISTIC SKILL. THAT’S WHY BAC OFFERS TWO DISTINCT ART PROGRAMS.

Members who participate in the Adult Day Training program are free to foster their creativity in a classroom setting each day. Participants have the opportunity to create handcrafted clay or fused glass creations which require heating in the on-site kiln, or they may elect to work with beads to create jewelry, paint or draw fine art pieces, work with wood and other textiles, or use recycled rubber tires to create floor mats. From whimsical to utilitarian, the participants have the opportunity to showcase their individuality and talents through their art work. Visiting artists will come in from time to time to help students hone their skills or learn new techniques.

Art in all forms empowers individuals to reach their creative potential. The BAC Arts Program also offers inclusive projects to community members aged six and above through the Brevard Public Schools Exceptional Student Education programs and private school programming. Dance, Music, Painting, Sculpting and Acting are a few of the mediums

24

taught by the visiting artists to students at the local schools as well as the participants in the Adult Day Training program at BAC. The inclusive and interactive community-based arts education is brought to life through annual events and showcases.

Art may be purchased directly from the BAC headquarters in Rockledge at 1845 Cogswell Street from 8:30am – 4:30pm as well as at the Holmes Regional Gift Shop in Melbourne, Downtown Art Gallery in Titusville or the Cocoa Beach Surf Company in Cocoa Beach.

The artist’s work is also showcased in a display at the Health Department in Viera and at the lobby of local radio station WFIT on the campus of Florida Tech.

The BAC Arts Program depends on private donations, art sales and grant funding to provide these enriching arts activities to the individuals in the community. If you are interested in supporting the arts programs, visit: bacbrevard. com/ways-to-give. For more information, contact Lee Sorensen at LSorensen@bacbrevard.com

Save the dates » BOOTH AT THE COCOA VILLAGE ART SHOW OCTOBER 19 AND 20, 2019 » EMPLOY, EMPOWER, ACHIEVE – E2A COMMUNITY AWARDS OCTOBER 23, 2019 » HOLIDAY ART CARD CONTEST, ENTRY PERIOD AUGUST 26 – SEPTEMBER 27, 2019 » BAC 2020 COLOR IN MOTION ARTS FESTIVAL - BREVARD ZOO FEBRUARY 25 – 27, 2020 » PERFORMING ARTS SHOWCASE AT THE KING CENTER MAY 6, 2020

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RENTAL RACQUETS AVAILABLE!

For more information: Duran Golf Club 321.504.7776 www.DuranGolf.com 7032 Stadium Pkwy, Viera, FL 32940

25

‘SAVE A LIFE DAY’ TEACHES HANDSON LIFESAVING SKILLS HEALTH FIRST’S FREE EVENT INCLUDED A 5K AND FAMILY FUN

By Sara Paulson 26

A

TOTAL OF 860 PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN HEALTH FIRST’S ANNUAL “SAVE A LIFE DAY,” PAIRING A FREE COMMUNITY 5K WITH LIFE-SAVING TRAINING.

Held on Saturday, June 15, at Viera High School, the event provided residents an opportunity to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), as well as “Stop the Bleed” training. In addition, the event offered a free 5K, family activities and more.

“This is an opportunity where we can give back to the community by training our community members in key life-saving skills,” said Paula Just, Chief Human Resources Officer, Health First. “Our mission is to improve the wellness and health of the community we serve, and one of the ways that we can do that is to make sure our community members have skills in CPR, FAST (which is recognizing the signs of a stroke), AED training and Stop the Bleed.

“Over the years, we have trained more than 20,000 people in these life-saving skills, and we believe that’s an important way that we can continue to focus on keeping Brevard County healthy and well,” she said.

“THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY WHERE WE CAN GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

BY TRAINING OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN KEY LIFE-SAVING SKILLS.”

PHOTO BY KEITH BETTERLEY

-CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, HEALTH FIRST PAULA JUST

Training was conducted by Health First instructors and volunteers and included Family & Friends CPR, which teaches adult, child and infant CPR. Among the volunteers were 34 senior University of Central Florida Nursing students from the Cocoa campus.

Additionally, Stop the Bleed training (also known as B-Con) follows a national initiative and teaches bystanders how to quickly control bleeding in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Participants are taught how to save lives by applying pressure, as well as how to use a tourniquet.

To learn about how Health First gives back, visit HFgivesback.org.

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27

EBOOK RECIPE DOWNLOADS

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TIME-SAVING RECIPES FOR YOU THIS FALL

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ALL IS A BUSY TIME AND DANDY® WANTS TO HELP WITH SHOWCASING A FEW RECIPES TO MAKE WEEKNIGHT MEAL PREP AND CREATION FAST AND EASY. THEY OFFER ELEVEN EBOOKS THAT CENTER ON USING HEALTHY RECIPES TO INSPIRE YOU TO EAT GUILT-FREE BUT ARE STILL FLAVOR-FILLED AND DELICIOUS. WE LISTED A FEW HERE BUT ONE OF THE ONLINE FAVORITES IS AN EBOOK TITLED VEGAN DESSERTS THAT INCLUDES FRUITY SORBETS AND TARTS. DOWNLOAD THE BOOKS BELOW AND OTHERS AT DUDAFRESH.COM/DOWNLOADABLES

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BY WAYS TO LIVE GREEN. THIS EBOOK PROVIDES GREAT IDEAS ON DIY GIFTS, HEALTHY RECIPES, AND MONEYSAVING TIPS FOR THE FAMILY.

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Guilt-Free Game Day Party Playbook HEALTHIER ALTERNATIVES ABOUND IN THIS FUN PLAYBOOK FOR GAME-DAY SNACKING. NOT ONLY ARE YOU GETTING SOME CROWD-PLEASING RECIPES TO TRY BUT THERE ARE A FEW FUN HALF-TIME GAMES AND ANTICS TO READ ABOUT AND TRY TOO.

Perfectly Cooked SQUEEZING IN A WEEKNIGHT MEAL CAN BE DIFFICULT AT TIMES AND IT IS TOO EASY TOO OFTEN TO RESORT TO FAST-FOOD. THIS EBOOK INCLUDES RECIPES THAT ARE FAST, FILLING, AND CAN BE PREPARED IN A PRESSURE COOKER.

Sweet, Savory and Sour in Under an Hour CORN IS A SUMMER AND FALL FAVORITE. IT CAN BECOME A SALSA, WORK ITS WAY INTO GUACAMOLE AND EVEN BECOME THE KEY INGREDIENT IN A FRITTER. ALL READY IN UNDER AN HOUR!

DAN AND JESSICA BOWEN

D

AN AND JESSICA BOWEN MOVED TO VIERA IN 2003. AT THAT TIME, DAN WAS IN THE AIR FORCE STATIONED AT PATRICK AFB AND THEIR TWO CHILDREN, BRENDAN AND SHELBY, WERE BOTH UNDER THE AGE OF FIVE. THEY ENJOYED THEIR NEW NEIGHBORHOOD, THE LOCAL PARKS WHERE THEY LIVED AND OCCASIONAL TRIPS TO ORLANDO’S THEME PARKS. OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL YEARS, BRENDAN AND SHELBY BOTH STARTED SCHOOL AND JESSICA STARTED TAKING CLASSES TO BECOME A REGISTERED NURSE.

They moved away from Viera in 2007 and lived in the various air base locations where Dan was stationed. Their Air Force assignments included stays in Florida, Maryland, California and overseas in Japan. Dan retired from the Air Force in 2017, after over 20 years of service.

Ready for their next chapter, Dan and Jessica decided to come back DAN AND JESSICA BOWEN to the community they AT THEIR HOME IN loved and have built their TRASONA COVE “forever home” in Viera.

“We wanted our new home to be our perfect vacation spot,” said Jessica.

Dan is currently the Administrator at Health First’s Palm Bay Hospital and Jessica is working as a Radiology Support RN at Health First’s Viera Hospital. She will begin BRENDAN, JESSICA, DAN her Doctorate of Nurse AND SHELBY 2019 Practitioner program at the University of Central Florida this fall. Brendan, 20, earned an Associate’s degree from Eastern Florida State College and recently moved to Jacksonville, enrolled in the University of North Florida’s Bachelor of Exercise Science program. Shelby, 17, currently attends Eastern Florida State College and Viera High School as a dual enrollment student with aspirations to pursue a degree in architecture.

With two dogs and ever-changing schedules, this very busy family needed a community with quick access to various services and amenities already established. Dan likes to play golf at the local courses and they both enjoy

why i

Love

viera dinners at The Avenue Viera. “It is really convenient when we want to have dinner out with friends. Our lives are still extremely busy right now and we needed the amenities to be easily accessible.”

Somehow, in the midst of all this, they find time to volunteer with the Children’s Hunger Project, the Brevard

BOXERS: PENNY LANE AND CAYMUS

Humane Society and the No One Dies Alone (NODA) program at Health First Hospitals. “NODA is a volunteer program that allows a volunteer to sit with a terminally ill patient when neither family nor close friends can be with them during their final days,” said Jessica. “Providing simple comfort and compassion for a patient in their final moments is the last gift you can give them.”

The next several years will be eventful, but, ultimately, the Bowen family have made their home in Viera emulate a personal retreat where they can relax and enjoy some time together with family and friends. The Viera community is made up of many families like the Bowens who live, work, play and volunteer to make each day better for themselves and others.

29

BILL NELSON

ASTRONAUT

RICH HAUCH

PARADE

JIM WETHERBEE

NEIL ARMSTRONG'S 1967 CORVETTE STINGRAY

O

ANNA FISHER

N JULY 13TH TOURISTS AND LOCALS ATTENDED THE HISTORICAL ASTRONAUT PARADE IN THE CITY OF COCOA BEACH CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APOLLO 11 MOON LANDING.

The parade honored former astronauts and their families with a tribute ride which had each astronaut seated in a classic Corvette convertible from the Space Coast Corvette Club. The present day space engineers and staff members from local companies such as United Launch Alliance, Boeing and SpaceX also participated by walking with their families.

NASA employees provided fun educational stickers and bookmarks along the route.

The multi-day events were organized by the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation and the parade was only one of thirteen events in July honoring

30

CHILDREN OF JIM AND SUSAN LOVELL

all aspects of this incredible accomplishment.

After the parade, attendees were able to gather downtown to celebrate with more interactive displays, food trucks and an announcement by the MACY’s Thanksgiving Day Parade organizers. This November, look for the classic lovable Peanuts® character Snoopy wearing a space suit just like the famous Neil Armstrong.

One giant leap for man’s best friend.

31

snapshots

around

town

SIMON LE BON OF DURAN DURAN

SIMON LE BON OF DURAN DURAN WAS THE SPECIAL GUEST AND HEADLINER FOR THE BREVARD CULTURAL ALLIANCE’S 2019 CULTURAL SUMMIT. LE BON ANSWERED NUMEROUS QUESTIONS FROM THE CROWD WITH THE HELP OF TV PERSONALITY GREG PALLONE OF SPECTRUM NEWS 13.

17TH ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL GIVE-A-WAY EVENT

THE VIERA COMPANY SPONSORED AND VOLUNTEERED AT THE ANNUAL GIVE-A-WAY EVENT HOSTED BY THE SUPPLY ZONE FOR TEACHERS. THE SCHOOL SUPPLIES BENEFIT THE 2,500 CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE FREE OR REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM. STEPHANIE BYRD AND A LOCAL AGENT FROM EXIT REALTY DISTRIBUTED THE STEAM MATERIALS.

SNOOPY’S MACY BALLOON UNVEILED JORDAN DABBY,

PRODUCER OF THE MACY’S THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE, UNVEILED THE NEXT DESIGN FOR SNOOPY (40TH FLIGHT IN THE PARADE LINE-UP) DRESSED AS A MODERN-DAY ASTRONAUT TO COMMEMORATE THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOON LANDING.

PRINCESS MOVIE NIGHT AT THE AVENUE VIERA THE AVENUE VIERA’S SUMMER MOVIE NIGHT FEATURED DISNEY’S BLOCKBUSTER HIT FROZEN. MOVIE-GOERS WERE ABLE TO MEET THE PRINCESSES AND THEN SEE THE MOVIE ON A BIG OUTDOOR SCREEN.

RESOLUTION FROM BREVARD COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

TAILGATE 2 MILER

THE TEAM FROM THE VIERA COMMUNITY INSTITUTE (LAURIE WIDZGOWSKI AND MIKKI HOLTZHAUER) ENJOYED HAVING FUN WITH THE CROWD BEFORE AND AFTER THE ANNUAL TAILGATE 2 MILER AT THE AVENUE VIERA. THE RACE IS PART OF AN ANNUAL SERIES SPONSORED BY THE RUNNING ZONE.

THE BREVARD COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENTED TODD POKRYWA AND MEMBERS OF THE VIERA COMPANY STAFF WITH AN OFFICIAL RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING AND RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE COMPANY AND THE DUDA FAMILY OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS ON AUGUST 20, 2019.

VIERA MEANS BUSINESS AT CENTRE POINTE VIERA MARK BUSALACCHI, DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, ORLANDO-MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT IS THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT THE LOCAL VIERA MEANS BUSINESS MEETING HOSTED BY THE NEWEST LUXURY APARTMENT COMMUNITY IN VIERA, CENTRE POINTE.

33

upcoming

Events

NOV 2

FUNDRAISING Jazzoo

FUN FOR ALL

Viera Hawks Football

DATE: October 4th LOCATION: Hawks Stadium at Viera High School CONTACT: VIERAHAWKSFOOTBALL.COM

OCT 19

DATE: November 2nd LOCATION: Brevard Zoo, Viera CONTACT: BREVARDZOO.ORG

Pumpkin Patch at The Church at Viera DATE: October 6th – 31st LOCATION: The Church at Viera, Viera CONTACT: CHURCHATVIERA.COM

Boo at the Zoo Scarecrow Stroll and Harvest Festival

PHOTO BY ANNA OSTAPENKO

DATE: October 3rd – 16th (Stroll), October 19th (Festival at The Avenue Viera) LOCATION: Local Businesses in Viera, Suntree and Rockledge CONTACT: 321-242-1235

34

MUSICAL & DATE NIGHT EVENTS See pages 12-13

DATE: October 11th - 13th, 18th – 20th and 25th - 27th LOCATION: Brevard Zoo, Viera CONTACT: BREVARDZOO.ORG

Space Coast State Fair

DATE: November 1st – November 17th LOCATION: Across from USSSA Space Coast Complex, Viera CONTACT: SPACECOASTSTATEFAIR.COM

OCT 19-20

ART SHOW Space Coast Art Festival DATE: October 19th & 20th LOCATION: Space Coast Daily Park, Viera CONTACT: SPACECOASTARTFESTIVAL.COM

ACTIVE EVENT

FARMER’S MARKET

Run With Hope 5K

Viera Park Market & Food Truck Events

DATE: October 19th LOCATION: Church at Viera, Viera CONTACT: RUNNINGZONE.COM

Spooky 5K Run/Walk

DATE: October 19th LOCATION: Viera High School, Viera CONTACT: RUNNINGZONE.COM

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

DATE: October 26th LOCATION: The Avenue Viera, Viera CONTACT: BREVARDFLSTRIDES@CANCER.ORG

DATE(S): Monthly 1st Friday Vendor Market 3-9 p.m. (weather permitting) and Food Trucks 5 -9 p.m. (weather permitting) LOCATION: Viera Regional Park CONTACT: FACEBOOK.COM/VIERAPARK-MARKET

A FAMILY BUILDING HOMES FOR FAMILIES

Custom Riverfront Builds Custom Oceanfront Builds Custom Homes on your own lot

Visit Our Model Home at 8320 Serrano Circle Viera, FL 32940 321.254.0997

www.Joyal-Homes.com

Now Buildin in Vale g at Add ncia i Village son in Viera!

35

developer

Letter

TODD POKRYWA, PRESIDENT

A

s backyard barbecues and time spent in the pool transitions to fall for many residents throughout our community, we at The Viera Company look ahead in anticipation of what the change in season brings us: promise. Sights and thoughts also turn to what the upcoming fall season brings: turkey, trimmings and gratitude for what our community provides to us and all those who visit Viera. We are fortunate to live and thrive in an area with such strong roots which have been nurtured and developed since the groundbreaking of the community, not only to what was all an active agricultural ranch, but also to what is to come as the master plan continues to evolve, and I was inspired by these thoughts as we move into what promises to be a significant and new period of growth. I always find meaning from a planning perspective to keep those roots of the past in the forefront of my mind as we move forward with innovation and the continued faith in the DUDA family’s legacy that started it all.

36

VIERA'S DYNAMIC GO-FORWARD PLANS

As we celebrate Viera’s 30th anniversary of the community’s groundbreaking in 1989, a reflection back over this time on some large-scale gains underscores the guiding principles that have governed the manner in which Viera has been developed. Our mission has been to create a financially successful community with educational and worship opportunities, active recreation, diverse employment, and above all, a place which emphasizes all events and activities with a strong sense of community. This mission is shaped by our values; through faith, responsibility, stewardship and integrity, the vision of community we continue to strive for is always fueled by the need to grow and the changing of the seasons.

Government. As the saying goes, we’ve come a very long way. Shortly after the master plan for Viera was unveiled in 1989, The Viera Company seeded the community with donations for the Brevard County Government Center, Brevard County School Board and the Judicial Center in what would ultimately become the heart of Viera; this placed important government services in close proximity to future residents and businesses while representing the first employment hub in Viera.

Amenities. Progress continued in implementing the master plan through the 1990s with the addition of key community amenities; this began with the land donation by The Viera Company for the Brevard Zoo, one of the largest community build projects, which has quickly become a world-class attraction recognized by US News & World Report.

Lifestyle. By 1998, approximately 6,000 residents called Viera home; this

grew to 14,000 by 2004 and 22,000 by 2014. Today, Viera is a thriving community with over 12,000 homes, 10,000 jobs, and a population consisting of over 27,000 residents living in a wide range of housing types from multi-family rentals, attached single family product, semi-custom homes, active adult options, and estate living.

Residents and visitors alike are afforded a myriad of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors by exploring the 100-plus miles of trails (and growing) that link neighborhoods to parks and other key community destinations and enjoying active recreation at the Viera Regional Park or the top-ranked Duran Golf Club which opened in 2005.

Roads and Infrastructure.

Since inception of the community’s development, The Viera Company has invested more than $175 million in construction of arterial and collector roadways (not including local neighborhood streets) that are part of the regional roadway network and which support, attract and enhance both mobility and economic development efforts in Brevard County.

From all of us here at The Viera Company, we wish you and your family a great fall season filled with reflection on significant milestones, gratitude for our blessings and faith in the dynamic go-forward plans for Viera!

WE ARE FORTUNATE TO LIVE AND THRIVE IN AN AREA WITH SUCH STRONG ROOTS WHICH HAVE BEEN NURTURED AND DEVELOPED SINCE THE GROUNDBREAKING OF THE COMMUNITY.

Join the fun!

Call for Sponsors, Volunteers and Participants Opportunities are available to be part of the 2019 Light Up Viera parade! Please email events@viera.com.

Many thanks to all of our past sponsors, participants and volunteers - making the past 6 years of the parade a huge success for the Viera community!