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CITY

Recurring events for the City of Cocoa include the Cocoa Florida Tea at the Village’s Porcher House on the third Tuesday of each month from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Brown Bag Jazz Lunches take place every Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Myrt Tharpe Gazebo, which also sees the Village’s Farmer’s Market every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Beginning this year, the City’s Movies in the Park program will take place every third Friday at 8 p.m. in Riverfront Park and at the new City Hall. This month’s film, “Roxanne,” starring Steve Martin and Daryl Hannah, will be shown on January 15 at 8 p.m. Check www.cocoafl.org to find out more.

Expect new activities offered by the City of Cape Canaveral this month, beginning with country line dancing classes and a fiction writing course, which starts 1/15 from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Others include beginning and advanced salsa classes each Wednesday evening and an Internet workshop from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. on 1/13. Friday, 1/22 sees Jazz Under The Stars from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and a “Traveling Skate Park” will be provided on 1/16 from Noon to 5 p.m. To learn more about these and other activities, visit the “Recreator” newsletter in the Recreation section of the City’s website: www.cityofcapecanaveral.org.

Make your voice heard at the January 7 Cocoa Beach City Commission Meeting on the Oil Drilling Resolution at 7 p.m. in the Commission Room (located on the first floor of City Hall, 2 S. Orlando Ave.; Cocoa Beach).

Cocoa Beach’s Freedom 7 Senior Center will be holding a Winter Rummage Sale Fundraiser on Saturday, January from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The rain-or-shine event will be held in the auditorium of the Cocoa Beach Country Club (5000 Tom Warriner Blvd.). Free admission to the public. Expect household items, artwork, antiques, collectibles of all kinds,

clothes, and more. Cost for sellers per table: $10 F7 members/$20 Non Members. (Join for only $10 and save; membership helps support F7, is tax deductible, runs from October 1

through September 30 of each year, and gets you a card with discounts at many local businesses/services as well as most F7 activities). Call 783-9505 for information and table reservation. Payment required in advance to secure your table. Visit the Freedom 7 Senior Center online at: www.freedom7seniors.org.

Now is the time to sign up for the Youth Basketball season at the Cocoa Beach Recreation Center. Here are the programs being offered during the 2010 season: Pee Wees (ages 5-7) — play starts 1/6 and continues on Mondays and Wednesdays at 5 p.m. through the week of February 8, 2010. Pee Wees (ages 8-9) — play starts on 1/5 and continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5 p.m. through the week of February 8, 2010.

Costs for the above categories are $45 for Cocoa Beach Residents ($50 for non-residents).

Each additional child costs for Pee Wees are $40 for Residents and $45 for non-residents. Juniors and Intermediates consist of two groups — ages 10-13 and ages 14-16. Leagues will begin the week of 1/4 and end the week of March 8th, 2010. Costs for the above categories are $50 for Cocoa Beach Residents ($55 for non-residents). Additional child costs are $45 for Residents and $50 for non-residents. Many coaches are needed. Any parents interested in being coaches for Junior and Intermediate teams, please contact the Cocoa Beach Recreation Department as soon as possible by calling 868-3252 or 868-3274.

The Cocoa Beach Library will be closed Friday, January 1 for New Year’s Day and again on Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Their Friends of the Library Travel Film Series will commence on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 7 p.m., January through March. This month’s destinations include: Germany: Berlin, Munich & Bavaria (1/6), and Greece and the Greek Isles (1/20). People in Print presents bestselling author W.E.B. Griffin on Saturday, January 9 at 11 a.m. A storyteller in the grand tradition, Griffin is the author of six best-selling series: “The Corps”; “Brotherhood of War”; “Badge of Honor”; “Men at War”; “Honor Bound,” and “Presidential Agent” His latest novel, “Honor of Spies,” released on December 29, is number five in the “Honor Bound” series, and will be on sale for $26.95. Proceeds from books bought at the event benefit the Library. People in Print will also present “Sketches in My Garden,” by Donna Lee Bowers, Tuesday, January 19 at 2 p.m. in the Jane von Thron Room. Written over many years of gardening in several states, Donna Bowers has found that flowers encouraged her to paint and teach in watercolor. She has incorporated her garden watercolors into a delightful book showcasing her talent as both a writer and artist. She was a founding member of the Brevard County Watercolor Society, a member of the Transparent Watercolor Society, and a watercolor instructor at the library for several years. She has written two novels and several children’s books. You can also look forward to “Too Good to Be True: The Rise and Fall of Bernie Madoff,” by investigative journalist Erin Arvedlund, on Thursday, January 21 at 2 p.m. Arvedlund’s book narrates the dramatic full story of Madoff’s rise and fall. She has written for Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Dow Jones newswires, The Moscow Times, and has freelanced for Fortune and Outside. Copies will be available in hardcover for $28 and softcover for $24. Music on a Sunday Afternoon will kick off the New Year with “Remember When? Experience Again!” featuring professional soloist La Senora, aka Bess Cohen, on Sunday, January 10 at 2 p.m. Enjoy music from the ‘20s and ‘30s, Glenn Miller, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and more. The program will also present The Brevard Early Music Ensemble, on Sunday, January 17 at 2 p.m. with medieval and renaissance music played on authentic instruments of the time by fully costumed musicians. The Ensemble, which comes under the umbrella of the Brevard Theatrical Ensemble, will play 13th- and 14th-Century instruments such as the tambor, lute, recorder, and the bowed psaltery. If you’ve never heard a crumhorn or a zink, you’re in for a real treat. Enjoy an Oriental Cooking Demonstration, Thursday, January 28 at 2 p.m. Ice Cream Junction and Oriental Food Shop will demonstrate methods of oriental cooking and will provide samples for the audience. Please register at the sign-up table, and check the event and activity schedule for information on loads of other events. The Library is located at 550 N. Brevard Ave. in Cocoa Beach. Call 868-1104 or visit www.cocoabeachpubliclibrary.org.

Here are some activities and classes offered this month through Satellite Beach’s Recreation Department, located at the David R. Schechter Community Center, 1089 S. Patrick Dr. in Satellite Beach. 1/12: Anglers for Conservation; 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This is a two-hour intermediate fishing class, geared toward both kids and adults interested in improving their skills in knot tying, spin casting, rigging plastic baits, and handling and using shrimp and finger mullet for bait, while becoming a more conservation-minded angler. All tackle (soft plastic baits, hook, weights, rattles, and fishing line) is included in the class cost and can be taken home after the class. Cost: $20/class. Every Saturday, Zumba Classes (8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., ages 16 to adult; 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for beginners and seniors). Zumba fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a dynamic fitness program. Contact certified instructor Crystal Harrison at 427-7223, or visit www.zumbawithcrystal.com for details and prices, which vary between the two classes. 1/16: Adult Heartsaver CPR Courses; 9 a.m. to Noon. For a 2-year American Heart Association Certification. Cost is $35 (includes certification card; books available for $15) Location: Satellite Beach Fire Department. Registration and payment guarantees you a spot in the class and must be made by noon on Friday prior to the course. Make checks payable to City of Satellite Beach and mail or drop payments to: Satellite Beach Fire Dept., 1390 S. Patrick Dr., Satellite Beach, FL 32937. Questions or concerns can be directed to 773-4405 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The DRS Community Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 773-6458 or check www.satellitebeach.org for more details.

Join the Town of Indialantic on January 15 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Nance Park for their free annual Winter Festival. Enjoy live music, art demonstrations, clowns, fun and games for children, specialty food vendors and lots of unique shopping opportunities. And don’t forget the popular chili cook-off competition between the Indialantic Departments and the Melbourne Beach Commission. For more details, visit www.fridayatfifth.com, or call 508-6936.

Indialantic’s Heritage Committee is pleased to present local historian Bob Gross as a program guest speaker at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 17, at Indialantic’s Town Hall Council Chambers (216 Fifth Ave.). Bob will speak on Florida’s “Boom and Bust — Then and Now,” and the resulting Depression of the 1920s and 1930s and the impact on Brevard County. He will provide some insight into the causes of the boom, some of the remedies that were used to alleviate the bust, and the impact on local businesses and residents. He will also provide some comparisons to the present boom and bust and potential impact to Brevard County. Public welcome, admission is free. To learn more, call 536-4218.

Scheduled events for the City of Melbourne: 1/9 – the Eau Gallie Civic Center Open House/Rummage Sale at the Eau Gallie Civic Center (1551 Highland Ave.; Melbourne) from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Meet the Center’s instructors, watch demonstrations, and learn more about their facility. If you’d like to clean out your closet, garage or storage area, sign up to rent a table for the rummage sale for only $15 per 8-foot table. Space is limited, so call 255-4608 to secure a table now. 1/14 – the Brevard Antiques and Collectors Club Show at the Wickham Park Senior Center (2785 Leisure Way, in Wickham Park off Parkway Dr. 1/15-1/17 – Sea Shell Festival in the Melbourne Auditorium (625 E. Hibiscus Ave.); each day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call 724-2449 or log on to www.melbourneflorida.org.

Melbourne’s Henegar Center for the Arts presents “You Can’t Take It With You” January 8-30. This popular production relates the humorous encounter between a conservative family and the crazy household of Grandpa Martin Vanderhof. Critics have admired the witty one-liners and the intense visual theatricalism. Performances are held on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The Henegar Center is located in historic downtown Melbourne at 625 E. New Haven Ave. For ticket information, call 723-8698 or visit www.henegar.org.

Join the Melbourne Beach community for their annual Community Night Potluck Dinner, Wednesday, January 27 at 5:30 p.m. in the Community Center. To learn more, go to: www.melbournebeachfl.org.

BUSINESS

East Coast Coffee and Tea is under new ownership, but they still host live original music and present local art in their relaxing café setting. Here are some of their events planned for January – 1/2: Art Gallery Opening with Jackie Scone, art and stained glass with music by Shep Gold from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; 1/9: music by Just Blue from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; 1/16: music by Grumpy Al from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.; 1/23: Mark Nathan; 1/30: Sweet Serena. East Coast Tea and Coffee is located in the Publix Plaza at 285 E. Eau Gallie Blvd. (at the corner of Eau Gallie and South Patrick Blvds.). Visit them online at: www.eccoffee.com.

The Thirsty Lizard (previously Declan’s Irish Pub) in Satellite Beach is now under new ownership and recently celebrated its grand opening. Along with great atmosphere and beverages, the Thirsty Lizard offers an impressive lineup of live local music, including January performances by Odie’s Bone (1/15), Lady and the Tramps (1/22), and Sygnal (1/29), as well as regular Wednesday open mic nights and acoustic performances by WilCor each Tuesday. Ladies Nights (featuring 2-4-1 wells, wine, and drafts) are held every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, and Bingo games are hosted each Thursday. Every Friday and Saturday sees live music; check this issue’s calendar page for more information. The Lizard is also the home of $1 Jell-o shots and $1.50 PBR tallboys as daily specials. Don’t forget to join them on February 7 for their Super Bowl Party. The Thirsty Lizard is located at 1132 Hwy. A1A in Satellite Beach. Call 777-7228 for more information.

Ken & Carrie’s Plumbing of Cocoa Beach has moved from their old digs to a new address: 10 Francis St. in Cocoa Beach. Call them at 799-5499.

Force Fitness and Mixed Martial Arts of Cocoa Beach is officially opening on January 9.

Their brand new, state-of-the-art facility offers over 4,000 square feet of cardio and strength training equipment with a dedicated 1,500 square foot mixed martial arts area that offers mats, heavy bags, a boxing ring, and an octagon cage wall. Group classes such as yoga, cardio kickboxing, and zumba are offered as well. Force Fitness also boasts a wellness room where acupuncture, massage, and facial services will be available to all members. Force Fitness is located at 801 North Atlantic Ave. in Cocoa Beach. Stop by during the month of January and receive half off your enrollment fee. Be sure to ask about their corporate and family membership specials. Call 613-3950 for more details, or visit www.forcefitnessgym.com.

EVENTS

To start 2010 off with a bang, the folks at the Flying Corkscrew have decided to host two free wine and beer tastings in January. The first will be held on Friday, January 8 from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. Ken and Marilyn will be pouring some new finds from Chile and California as well as favorites like Moscato D’Asti and Chocovine. They’ll also be sampling six craft beers. The next tasting (Friday, January 29, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.) will feature a dozen of their great beers and some wonderful wines. The Corkscrew will also be having a month-long special on Douglas Hill wines — cabernet, merlot and chardonnay for $6.99 a bottle (no case discount). They’ll also have a rack of sale wines, accessories, hats, wine and beer shirts, wine glasses, carafes, cigar accessories and more at a 25% discount. Their business hours for 2010 are: Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Flying Corkscrew is located at 1877 S. Patrick Dr. in Indian Harbour Beach. Call them at 773-8757 or visit them online at www.brevardwines.com.

The Three Man Army is coming to Melbourne’s Gallery Club Saturday, January 16. From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the gallery will be taken apart and put back together by renowned local artists Bruce Reynolds, Gary Propper. The Gallery Club is located at 701 E. New Haven Ave. in historic downtown Melbourne. For more details, call 557-2643, or visit www.thegallerymelbourne.com.

The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery invites you to experience “Expressions of Art” during January, beginning with an opening on January 8. There are as many forms of art as there are artists’ personalities, and artists use these forms to express their moods, thoughts, ideas, emotions and passions into art. These diverse expressions can be found in “street” art, museum art, dance, ballet, music, song or verse. Creative expressions such as writing limericks or prose and singing on the street corner can be as surprising and pleasurable as an orchestra playing. Expressions of art are everywhere, but many times we do not even realize it. Some art gets overlooked or goes unrecognized as art forms, and the Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is drawing attention to these various expressions of art in our everyday world. Come see how the Gallery’s member artists use their “expressions of art” at the free reception on the Friday opening of January 8th, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Visit the gallery and the artists, and enjoy the collection with light refreshments and wine. Afterwards, continue your stroll down the street to enjoy dinner and other galleries in the Eau Gallie Arts District. “Expressions of Art” runs through January. The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery is located in downtown Eau Gallie, across the street from the Brevard Museum of Art. Call 259-8261, or visit them online at www.fifthavenueartgallery.com for more details.

Enjoy “An Introduction to Florida Grasses,” a presentation by Walter Kingsley Taylor, Ph.D., author and professor emeritus, University of Central Florida, 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 14. The presentation will take place at the Nyami Nyami River Lodge in the Brevard Zoo, 8225 N. Wickham Road, Melbourne. The event is free and open to the public. Sponsored by the Conradina and Sea Rocket Florida Native Plant Society. For more details, call 729-3840 or log on to www.fnps.org.

Chase away the post-Holiday blues with a luncheon and fashion show, sponsored by the Cocoa Beach Woman’s Club, on January 23 at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. The lunch, which begins at 11:30 a.m., will be catered by Chef Damian Josephson, and will feature a cascading jumbo shrimp cocktail centerpiece, a fresh salad, a main dish of grilled chicken with a sun-dried tomato parmesan cream sauce, and a variety of miniature pastries and cakes. A fashion show featuring the popular “Accessories and More” from Sarasota will follow. There will also be drawings for precious gemstones, a presentation by the Artful Bra Project in support of breast cancer awareness, raffle baskets and a door-prize drawing. Proceeds help support the various charitable and service activities of the Woman’s Club. Advanced reservations are required and are only $25 per person. Contact Julia at 868-7393 for tickets.

Here are just a few of the Barrier Island Center’s events scheduled for January: 1/9 (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.): Pelican Island Sunset Paddle. Celebrate National Bird Day with a paddle around Pelican Island for a bird’s-eye view of this thriving rookery where 16 different species of birds nest. Meet at the Barrier Island Center at 2:30 p.m. to carpool to the launch on Jungle Trail. Please wear water shoes and sunscreen and bring your water bottle, snack, and clothes to layer as needed. Binoculars are optional. Tandem touring kayaks available for a party of 2 or singles for individuals. Children under 12 must paddle tandem with an adult. Cost of kayak rental is $38 per person. Enrollment is limited to 20 people/10 kayaks. Call 723-3556 to make your reservation by Thursday, January 7. No refunds after this date, unless minimum of 6 enrollments is not met. If the weather does not permit, after meeting to launch, the rain date will be Sunday, January 10. 1/16: Beach Clean-Up at 9 a.m. Give the beach a fresh beginning for the new year. 1/17 (2 p.m.): “Ospreys of Pelican Island: An Exploration into the Life of the Fish Hawk.” Join Bob Montanaro of the Pelican Island Audubon Society for an intimate look at nesting ospreys through several years of observations and photography. Bob will share other exciting wildlife encounters within the Refuge too… everything from river otters, a family of pileated woodpeckers to ﬁghting red-shouldered hawks. The Barrier Island Center is located at 8385 S. Hwy. A1A in Melbourne Beach. For more information, call 723-3556 or log on to www.barrierisland center.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Winners of the Cocoa Beach Library’s Third Annual Singer Songwriter Contest Announced. The 3rd Annual Singer-Songwriter contest was held at the Cocoa Beach Library on Saturday, December 5th.Criteria was based on originality, lyrics, melody and overall performance and was judged by a panel of professional singer-songwriters consisting of Bob Lamber, Sharon Osuna, and Sunnyland Steve, and also included a People’s Choice ballot. 1st Place: Sarah Bryant; 2nd Place: Jessica Lynn Williams; 3rd Place: Christine Reilly; People’s Choice: Susan Simonetti. Congratulations to all who participated.

Property Compliance Group (PCG) had its genesis in the economic downturn that has plagued Brevard County for the last two years. Brevard County’s loss has been a gain for homeowners, sellers, and buyers. Tom Ramsey and Jeff Molner have leveraged their 17 years of County field inspection service with their more than 40 years experience in the construction industry into a service organization to help distressed home owners save their homes or avoid costly penalties, and help new home buyers get value for their investment. These two Army veterans are intent on helping those in need and as a “We Help Brevard” (Brevard’s premier senior referral service) company, have already made a difference in many senior citizens’ lives. PCG is fully compliant with all necessary licenses, insurances, and background checks, and is a member of the Florida Association of Building Inspectors (FABI); the Melbourne Area Association of Realtors; the Melbourne/Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce; My Safe Florida Home, and the Florida Association of Code Enforcement. Whether buying, selling, or owning, they can help you with all your home repairs and maintenance, home inspections, or code enforcement mediation. PCG is also happy to meet one-on-one or with your organization, club, or neighborhood to expound on our services and give instruction on the “do’s and don’ts” of hiring a contractor safely. Visit them online at: www.propertycompliancegroup.com. Tom may be reached at 749-8583, and Jeff at 431-8113.

Here are some January events hosted by the First Baptist Church of Cocoa Beach you’ll want to attend. “The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry” film opens at the Merritt Square 16 Theater in the Merritt Square Mall on January 15. Also, a free Deaf and Hearing Impaired Awareness Presentation by Marietta Patchin of the Space Coast Center for Independent Living at 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 20. Free Gospel Music Concert 5 p.m., Saturday, January 23. This event features rhythm and blues singer Eddie Scott. For more information about these events, contact Holly Lay at the First Baptist Church of Cocoa Beach 783-2844. Discount tickets at $7 each are available for “The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry.” The First Baptist Church of Cocoa Beach is located at 830 S. Atlantic Ave. in Cocoa Beach.

Attention First Peak Stakeholders: Over the past two years, Justin Enjo has been studying the wave breaking effects once associated with First Peak at Sebastian Inlet. This research has been part of his Master’s degree at the Florida Institute of Technology. About six months ago he made a discovery that relates the wave breaking at First Peak to the sediment transport morphodynamics at tidal inlets. With current research and this discovery, he and his colleagues will be able to send a proposal to the US Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Florida in order to 1) increase the natural sand-bypassing at Sebastian Inlet; and 2) enhance the surfing wave First Peak. Enjo proposes forming a think-tank of stakeholders to begin navigating the complex processes of permitting, fundraising, and bringing this proposal to reality. With the help of John Hearin (from ASR Ltd. and the Space Coast Reef Project), the current group has created a presentation to share the First Peak project with you. On Monday, January 18 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., they will be holding an open dialogue session at the DRS community Center in Satellite Beach (1089 S. Patrick Dr.). The PowerPoint-style presentation will be held in the general meeting room. If you have any questions, call (518) 268-8050.