Word on the Street: February 2012

Article Category: Word on the Street 2 Comments

COCOA

2/17: Movie in the Park The 2010 romantic drama “Letters to Juliet” (PG) will be shown in Riverfront Park at 7 p.m. Enjoy a parent’s night out movie under the stars and remember to bring your blankets and lawn chairs. Admission is free. For more information please contact Leisure Services at 639-3500, or visit www.cocoafl.org

2/24: Family Gras This family-friendly event, held in Riverfront Park, will feature Cajun-style children’s entertainment, mask crafts, costume contests, a children’s parade, and much more. Admission is free, though there will be some costs for kids’ amusements and vendors.  For more information, call 639-3500, or visit www.cocoafl.org

2/25: Cocoa Village Mardi Gras This year’s event will be a true New Orleans-style Mardi Gras with a variety of jazz and blues entertainment on two different stages, the CF News 13 parade of floats, where spectators can catch hundreds of beads from over 30 floats, roving entertainment, and much more. Tickets are $8 in advance and $12 at the gate. Call 639-3500 or check www.cocoafl.org for more details.

2/26: 6th Annual Mardi Gras Paws in the Park The Central Brevard Humane Society will be hosting this free event in conjunction with Cocoa Village Mardi Gras from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Riverfront Park in Cocoa Village. It’s a free, animal and family-friendly event for pet lovers that will include rescue groups, a vendor village, pet contests, the crowning of the “furry” King and Queen of the Park, a demonstration from the Brevard Sheriff Department’s Paws & Stripes Cadets, a Mardi Gras Parade of Pets, and live entertainment. All animals must be on a leash and have proof of current shots along with a county tag. For more information, please call 636-3343 or visit www.crittersavers.com

Cocoa Village Playhouse Rodgers’ and Hammersteins’ “State Fair” has been held over through February 26 as part of the theatre’s “Broadway on Brevard” series. Also, auditions will be held 2/5-2/7 for “Titanic: The Musical” and 3/4-3/5 for “Cabaret.” For details and ticket information, call the box office at 636-5050, or visit www.cocoavillageplayhouse.com

CAPE CANAVERAL

2/11: Parent’s Night Out at the Youth Center (7920 Orange Ave.) from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Go on a date night without the kids. Children ages 5-10 will be with the Rec Center staff enjoying games, a movie, and pizza. Space is limited to the first 20 children. Cost is $5 per child. Call 868-1226 to pre-register.

2/17: Free Movie in the Park “Kung Fu Panda” (G) will be shown at 8 p.m. in Manatee Park, 701 Thurm Blvd. Proceeds from refreshment sales will go to the Cape Canaveral Police Athletic League. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. For more details, call 868-1226.

MERRITT ISLAND

2/18: Sykes Creek Adventure Eco Festival from 10 a.m. 3 p.m. at Kiwanis Island Park in Merritt Island. The event will feature food vendors, geo-coaching, crafters, workshops, games, and hands-on activities for the whole family. Entry fee is $1 per person (no charge for children aged 2 and under); $2 admission extra for unlimited access to inflatable games. The event will feature a student nature photo contest, silent auction, and a raffle Guests can also take part in guided kayak tours or cruises on a pontoon boat for an extra fee. The day also sees a 7-mile Paddling Challenge through the Sykes Creek area; registration ($25 in advance; $30 at the event) starts at 8 a.m. and the Challenge begins at 9 a.m. Hook Kids on Fishing, a free clinic for youngsters ages 6-16 on casting, conversation, and knot-tying starts at 9 a.m. as well. The clinic is limited to the first 50 registrants. For more information and to pre-register for tours and the challenge, call 455-1385. Visit the website — www.brevardparks.com/central or www.ulumay.org/activities.html – for further details. Kiwanis Island Park is located at 951 Kiwanis Park Road in Merritt Island.

COCOA BEACH

2/8: City Commission Workshop at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall. Look over the agenda in the “Government” section at: www.cityofcocoabeach.com

2/24: Freedom 7 Senior Center’s 6th Annual Hot Night in the City from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Cocoa Beach Country Club Auditorium. Enjoy light and hot food, cool drinks, and live entertainment from Delgado. Tickets are $15 and include admission, one drink, food, and access to lots of fun. Advance tickets are available from the Center (located at 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd.), the Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cocoa Beach Health and Fitness, the office of L. George Leonard, CPA, and Strater Family Chiropractic. For more information, call 783-9505, or visit www.freedom7seniors.org

2/26: Joe Luley Benefit at the Beach Shack (1 Minutemen Cswy. in Cocoa Beach) from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. On December 9, Joe, a taxi driver and member of two local bands — the Matt Sams Band and the Cosmic Hillbillies — awoke with chest pains and ended up in ICU for two days. A few stints later, he’s doing as well as can be expected, but he has no health insurance and is laden with $70,000 worth of bills. The legendary Winos 4 Peace will be reuniting to host this important benefit.

3/3: Coconuts on the Beach 5K Twilight Run to benefit the World Skin Cancer Foundation. The race, which will take place on the beach at 5 p.m., begins at Coconuts in the heart of downtown Cocoa Beach. Free skin cancer screenings will be offered from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by registration at 3 p.m. Registration for the race includes a free drink ticket for use at Coconuts, a goodie bag, and a raffle ticket. Register online at: www.active.com, or download the form from www.worldskincancerfoundation.com

2012 Cocoa Beach Parking Permits are now on sale. Parking Permits can be purchased in person at City Hall. Cost for Cocoa Beach Residents is $10; $60 for all others.

2012 Cocoa Beach Historical Calendars have been reduced in price from $15 to $10. A few are still left. Sale hours are Monday through Friday in the City Clerk’s at City Hall Office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2012 Citizen’s Academy The Cocoa Beach Citizen’s Academy is a look into the internal values, philosophy, and operations of the City. Designed for residents, the academy educates citizens on the “how and why” of City departments. Academy staff will cover a variety of topics and issues pertaining to the City, including information about seldom seen civic functions. Citizens will learn how they can play a role in the future of Cocoa Beach. For more details, visit www.cityofcocoabeach.com

Bicycle Registration Program Now is a good time to consider registering your bike with the Cocoa Beach Police Department. Doing so will greatly enhance the chances that your bike, if stolen, will be returned as soon as possible. Contact the CBPD through email at: crimebreak@cityofcocoabeach.com or call the Record Division at 868-3276.

Special Olympics The CBPD is also participating in and raising funds for this year’s Special Olympics. The Department is selling hats, t-shirts, and raffle tickets to raise needed funds. If you’re interested in making a donation or a purchase, call 868-3251.

Calling all artists: Cocoa Beach City Hall and the Recreation Complex Walls need your art. City Hall offers walls for art displays to promote art in public places. Help brighten up the lives of all who work and visit the facility. If you are interested in sharing your work of art, please call Ann at 868-3217.

Cocoa Beach Public Library
2/8: Friends of the Library Travel Film Series: Florence, Genoa, and Italian Rivers at 6 p.m. 2/11: Author Edna Buchanan This annual Book & Author Luncheon will feature the Pulitzer Prize-winning mystery/crime novelist at the International Palms Resort (formerly Holiday Inn) in Cocoa Beach. Social hour will be held at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at 12:15. Cost is $20 per person. Buchanan will be discussing her latest novel, “A Dark and Lonely Place,” a romantic historical thriller which revolves around two sets of outlaw lovers, one from Florida’s past and the other from the present. 2/12: Music on a Sunday Afternoon with singer/songwriter Austin Church at 2 p.m. 2/18: “Longboarder: A Surf Film” at 7 p.m. Take a video time machine back to the days of old, when boards were really boards and the men who rode them were as surf-crazed as ever. Refreshments will be served. 2/19: Music on a Sunday Afternoon welcomes Celtic Music with Bob and Harry at 2 p.m. Join the duo for some popular Irish and Scottish tunes. 2/25: World Travels as Vegans & Vegetarians with Mike and Catrell Cooney at 2 p.m. 2/26: Music on a Sunday Afternoon with Acoustic Alliance at 2 p.m. 2/29: Friends of the Library Travel Film Series: Amsterdam, the Netherlands, and Denmark at 6 p.m. The Library is located at 550 N. Brevard Ave. Call 868-1104 to learn more about these and other ongoing programs, or visit www.cocoabeachpubliclibrary.org

Surfside Family Practice Welcome Olga Emgushov, MD, MPH and her staff to the neighborhood. Olga is Board Certified and has over 10 years of experience in family practice. She conducts work and school physicals, offers well woman exams, and specializes in personalized primary care. She’s now accepting new patients and participates with most major insurances. Her office is located at 3000 N. Atlantic Ave., Suite 108, in Cocoa Beach. Call 799-2554 to find out more.

Nolan’s Irish Pub & Tours Galore Get in the St. Patrick’s Day spirit at this authentic Cocoa Beach pub with a March 1 performance by popular Irish singer, songwriter, and comedian Cahal Dunne. Leading up to the big day as well, Nolan’s will present a March 3 performance by the Ennis Sisters, and Batt Burns, a seanachie (storyteller) from Co. Kerry, on March 4 beginning at 6 p.m. St. Patrick’s Day itself — March 17 — sees performances by Brendan Shanahan, Cailini Alainn, Damion & Shivawn, Men of the House, the Brevard Police & Fire Pipes & Drums, and the Myra Watters Irish Dancers. Expect an outdoor tent party, fine drink, and, of course, corned beef and cabbage. Nolan’s is located at 204 W. Cocoa Beach Cswy. Call 783-8499, or visit www.nolansirishpub.net for more details.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Central Brevard Multiple Sclerosis Self Help Group Meetings The Cocoa Chapter meets every second Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. in the Central Brevard Library, located at 308 Forrest Ave. in Cocoa. All family members are welcome to attend. For more details, call 636-0235, or visit them online at: www.cbmsgroup.org

Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc. announces its new executive director, Tony Sasso. Well known to all Cocoa Beach residents, Sasso has served on the KBB board of directors since 2010 and brings to his new position a varied public service background. A former city commissioner and Florida State Representative, Sasso currently serves the community in various organizations and boards, including the Area Maritime Security Committee (U.S.C.G.), Cocoa Beach School Advisory Committee, Boy Scouts of America (Asst. Scoutmaster), The Cocoa Beach Surf Museum, Keep Florida Beautiful, Friends of the Thousand Islands, The Brevard Cultural Alliance, and Lead Brevard. In the past he has served the Surfrider Foundation, Space Coast League of Cities, Propeller Club, and the Brevard County Tourist Development council on its Beaches Committee. For more information, visit www.keepbrevardbeautiful.com

EEL Program has a new website: www.eelbrevard.com. It’s much easier to navigate and has a downloadable map of all the EEL Sanctuaries. On 2/11, EEL will celebrate John Sams’ 173rd birthday. They’re partnering with St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, which John Sams helped to build and where he is buried. There will be special tours of Sams’ cabin and homestead, along with tours of the chapel and cemetery. Expect a soup lunch and evening fish fry. There will also be a number of historical booths set up and the women of the Spade and Trowel Garden Club will be selling baked goods. And on 2/19, EEL will be hosting the 2nd Annual President’s Day Geocaching Tour from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There are a number of historical and Presidential themed geocaches in our area; all it takes is a GPS unit to find them. To learn more about these and other events, visit the new website — www.eelbrevard.com — or check them out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/samshousepineisland, or www.facebook.com/eelbrevard

Central Brevard Humane Society A new grant-funded spay/neuter program is now available to low-income residents of Brevard. The program will enable them to have their feline(s) spayed/neutered for $20 (includes physical examination and spay/neuter surgery) per animal; maximum four per household. Rabies vaccine is required for age appropriate felines, prior to surgery. This new program was made possible through sales of the Official Florida Animal Friend (FAF) Spay and Neuter License Plate. To take part, simply complete the application online at: www.brevardanimalservices.com or www.crittersavers.com. Additional copies are available at the Brevard County Health Department, the Housing Authority for Brevard County, the Humane Society’s Shelter and Spay/Neuter and Wellness Clinic (both located in Cocoa), Molly Mutt Thrift Shops in Melbourne, Merritt Island, Palm Bay, and Rockledge, the North Animal Care Center, and the South Animal Care Center. For more information, call 633-2024 or 636-3343.

Potentially Related posts:

1. Word on the Street: January 2012
2. Word on the Street: February ’10
3. Word on the Street: February 2011
4. Word on the Street: December 2011
5. Word on the Street: November 2011