CITY

The City of Cocoa is hosting three community events this month. April 10: MS Walk in Riverfront Park from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.; April 17: Trash Bash in Riverfront Park from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; April 25: Bridal Show from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Civic Center & Porcher House. To find out more, visit www.cocoafl.org.

Cape Canaveral’s next First Friday event is set for April 2. Activities will include a variety of food vendors, an assortment of novelty and craft vendors, children’s activities, including bounce houses, a giant slide and a rock climbing wall, and live entertainment along with beer and wine. The fun will take place on Taylor Avenue between A1A and Pointsetta Avenue from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. To find out more, visit www.cityofcapecanaveral.org, or call the Parks and Recreation Department at 868-1226.

The 85th Cocoa Beach Community Fest takes place April 10 in downtown Cocoa Beach. Scheduled from Noon to 11 p.m., this free, family-friendly event will feature kids’ activities, a raffle, arts and crafts, live music by Delgado, Cocolocos, and Vintage. Food and drinks will also be available. All proceeds will go to the Cocoa Beach Kiwanis, Elks, Rotary, and Lions Clubs. In turn, all of these organizations will be supporting local schools and residents. Check out this issue’s “Twenty Questions” feature (pages 18-19) for more details.

The City of Cocoa Beach is looking for volunteers who have ideas on how to gather and preserve the City’s history. Two of the projects that have been identified are: “Transitioning from Town to City” and “Timeline: People, Art, Education Space/Science, Hurricane Season, Government, Sports and Recreation, Taxes and Commerce, Medicine, Environment and Surfing.” Volunteers will collect memorabilia, photos, artifacts, and oral histories. The volunteers meet at 4 p.m. on the third Monday of the month at City Hall. Program volunteers are a working group who must commit time to perform research work. Those interested can obtain an application to become a member of the “Resident Historian Program” by sending an e-mail to the City Clerk’s Office at: cityclerk@cityofcocoabeach.comor by calling 868-3286.

Hammock Preserve update. The City of Cocoa Beach ranked 7 out of the top 25 grant entries for “small development projects” that were recently recommended for funding by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection — Division of Recreation and Parks — Florida Recreation Development Assisstance Program (FRDAP). Last year, the City re-submitted a $50,000 “no-match” grant application that was previously approved in 2008, but was not funded due to cutbacks in Florida’s 2009 operating budget. The “no-match” grant, if funded this year, will help enhance the Maritime Hammock Preserve park located south of Denny’s Restaruant on the west side of State Road A1A. Planned improvements will include: a wildlife observation deck; walking paths; picnic tables, covered picnic pavillions, information kiosks, and a tetherball court. The City must now wait to see if sufficient funding will become available in Florida’s 2010-2011 budget formulation and approval process. For more information, please contact City of Cocoa Beach Grantwriter/Public Information Officer Jerry Stansfield at 868- 3329, or email:jstansfield@cityofcocoabeach.com.

The 60-day trial period for Cocoa Beach’s Red Light Camera system at the intersection of Fischer Park and A1A is nearly complete. On Friday, April 2, the system will “go live” wherein violators will be issued a $150 citation for running the red light and/or failing to come to a complete stop before turning right when the light is red. According to City officials, during the trial period for the month of February, over 200 citations would have been issued for intersection violations had the system been fully operational. The red light cameras will become an integral part of a system that will enhance the pedestrian and vehicular safety program throughout the City. The City’s website – www.cityofcocoabeach.com — will contain an information section on the new red light camera system and how it all works.

In Cocoa Beach Public Library news: trained AARP volunteers will be on hand weekdays (Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 10 to 2 p.m., and Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 to 1 p.m.) to offer tax preparation assistance until April 15. A sushi-making demonstration presented by Ice Cream Junction and Oriental Food Market is set for April 8 at 2 p.m. Samples will be available to the first 50 people. “Music on a Sunday Afternoon” celebrates Jazz Appreciation Month with Jazz Vocalist Sybil Gage, Sunday, April 11 at 2 p.m. “Picaresque – a Longboard Film” will be shown Saturday, April 10. Presented by the Cocoa Beach Surf Museum, the film begins at 7 p.m. Mikey DeTemple’s Highs Seas Film’s first surfing video release, the 16mm “Picaresque” will show longboarding in a new light, getting away from preconceived notions and turning up the tempo. Refreshments provided by Sunseed Co-Op. The library is located at 550 N. Brevard Ave. in Cocoa Beach. To find out more about these and other scheduled programs, call 868-1104 or visit www.cocoabeachpubliclibrary.com.

The Surfside Players are now accepting play submissions for their annual Playwriting Competition.They’re looking for original, unpublished full-length plays by current or recent Brevard County residents for a chance to be performed on Surfside’s stage. A complete copy of the rules of Surfside’s 10th Annual Playwriting Competition are available at www.surfsideplayers.com. Submission deadline is Sunday, April 4, and the winning entry will be performed June 25-27, 2010. For more info, call 783-3127. The Players also announce open auditions for “Frost/Nixon” by Peter Morgan at 7 p.m. on both Sunday, April 11 and Monday, April 12. There are roles for up to nine men and two women, ages ranging from late 20s to late 60s, plus a number of videotaped and prerecorded roles. Performance dates are May 28 to June 13, 2010 (three weekends), Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. The Playhouse is located at the corner of Brevard and Fifth St. South in Cocoa Beach.

Enjoy breakfast with the Easter Bunny April 3 at Pelican Beach Park in Satellite Beach. Kids through 1st grade age can enjoy donuts and juice and hunt for eggs. Parents should bring their cameras for photos with the Easter Bunny. Cost is $6 per child. Purchase tickets early at Satellite Beach’s David R. Schechter Community Center (1089 S. Patrick Dr. in Satellite Beach; 773-6458) as space is limited.

Look forward to the 2010 Melbourne Arts Festival April 24-25. Expect a 5K run, art workshops, live entertainment,  food court, kids activities, and a collection of some of the finest art on the beaches. To learn more, go to: www.melbournearts.com.

Downtown Melbourne’s Friday Fest will be held April 9 this month. From 6p.m. to 9 p.m., enjoy vendors, activities, live music from John Quinlivan and Heartbreaker, and much more. Find out more at www.downtownmelbourne.com

Melbourne’s Henegar Center will host “Brevard’s Got Musical Talent” on April 11. Presented by the Creative Arts Foundation of Brevard, the evening will showcase 12 young highly qualified musicians and vocalist finalists, chosen from a pool of over 50 auditioned from all across Brevard County, who will go forward to compete for first, second and third place prizes of $1,000, $500 and $250. Show time is at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20. Also, the Henegar Center will present “The Sunshine Boys” from April 23 to May 16 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinees on Sundays. Tickets are $22 for adults, $20 for seniors. Call the Henegar box office at 723-8698 or visit www.henegar.org for more details. The Henegar Center for the Arts is located at 625 E. New Haven Ave. in downtown Melbourne.

The 2010 Summer Camp Festival will be held April 17 at the Melbourne Square Mall. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., families can visit with more than 30 exhibitors representing exciting summer fun and camp programs for sports, science, nature, the performing arts, and more. There will be demonstrations and seminars from various camps as well as lots of fun activities for the kids, including arts and crafts, face painting, and much more.

EVENTS

The 46th Annual Easter Surf Festival takes place April 2-4 at the Cocoa Beach Pier and Shepard Park. This Ron Jon sponsored event is one of the longest continuous running events in the country. Come out and becomes part of the history of East Coast surfing. To learn more, visit www.eastersurffest.com.

April 10-11, Satellite High is hosting the 5th Annual South Beaches Relay For Life. This is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser. Check out the ACS online at www.cancer.org or email Erica Elliott at erica.elliott@cancer.org to learn more about the event or to find out how to enter a team in the Relay.

Indialantic’s annual Spring Fling is scheduled for April 16. Come celebrate spring and “going green” at this free family event from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Nance Park. The celebration will have a “green” theme promoting environmentally friendly products, displays and information booths. Along with a children’s area including rides and games, the seaside festival will feature unique vendors, live entertainment, and a diverse selection of food and beverages. Proceeds go toward generating funds of Indialantic civic improvements. For more details, go towww.fridayatfifth.com or call 508-6936.

The Cocoa Beach Surf Company is hosting surf artist Drew Brophy for a “drawing party” on April 16.From 4 to 7 p.m. in the Surf Complex, Drew will be signing copies of recently-released book, “How to Draw with Drew Brophy” and will mingle with visitors for a “Draw with Drew” activity. The Cocoa Beach Surf Company is located at 4001 N. Atlantic Ave. Call 799-9921 for details.

The 4th Suntree Spring Festival is set for Saturday, April 17. The free family celebration will be held at the The Centre at Suntree (6300 N. Wickham Rd.) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  and will feature pony rides, jumping rooms, an obstacle course, face painting music, horse and carriage rides, a rock climbing wall, and plenty of games, prizes, and vendors. For more information call 302-0905.

The Cape Kennedy Corvette Club will be holding its 9th Annual Vettes at the Port show at Port Canaveral, Saturday, April 17. Held in The Cove waterside dining and recreation area from 8:30 a.m. till 3:00 p.m., the show is expected to draw more than 150 participants from all over Florida in addition to scores of spectators. A unique space shuttle trophy will be awarded again this year for the best Corvettes in 11 classes, from 1953 (the first Corvette) to today’s model. There will be music provided by DJ Fast Eddie; a charity poker walk to benefit the National Kidney Foundation; a silent auction; a 50/50 drawing with half the proceeds going to the Cape Canaveral Volunteer Fire Department for their charity; and many of the restaurants will be featuring special discounts. For additional information, visit www.capekennedycorvetteclub.com or contact Peter Johnson, president, at 794-8096 or Roger Wolf at 633-7576.

April 17 also sees Keep Brevard Beautiful’s 2010 Trash Bash. Bring the whole family to Pelican Beach Park and help clean up Satellite’s beaches, parks, and schools. Check in between 8 a.m. and Noon.

The 2010 Boards & Waves Expo is coming April 17-18. Held at the Cocoa Expo Sports Center (I-95 and S.R. 520), the event is the East Coast’s only consumer expo for surfers. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, meet with top shapers, see some of the latest board designs, learn about fin performance, and watch board shaping demos. There will be over 70 exhibits of surfboards, fins, and surf accessories on hand, as well as board painting by Drew Brophy, a homemade surfboard contest, SUP displays, educational seminars, prizes and giveaways, and much more. The event is open to the public and Saturday, April 17 sees the Expo Party from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the International Palms in Cocoa Beach. A portion of the proceeds from some of the events will go toward assisting the Surfrider Foundation and the Cocoa Beach High surf team. To learn more, go to www.boardsandwaves.com.

The Ron Jon Triathlon is set for April 18 at 7:30 a.m. Part of the 2010 Surf Coast Trifecta (a bike race and another triathlon are set for May and June respectively), the event will consist of a 1/4-mile river swim, 12.5-mile bike race, and a 5K run. For more details, check out the event’s page on Facebook.

The Historic Rossetter House Museum presents “Unmarked Graves in the Houston Cemetery?” on April 24. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., this free Public Archaeology Day event invites you to join Rossetter staff and FPAN (Florida Public Archaeology Network) to survey the Historic Houston Cemetery. See Ground-penetrating radar in action to locate graves, archaeological displays and demonstrations, and learn about the symbolism of “grave art.” House tours are $5. Refreshments will be provided (donation suggested). The Rossetter House is located at 1320 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District. Call 254-9855 or visit www.rossetterhousemuseum.org.

Mark your calendars for April 29 and the 2nd Annual Taste of the Space Coast. The Space Coast Chapter of Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association proudly presents this event to be held from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The event will showcase food samples from over 30 restaurants from across Brevard County, local vendors, artists, and family activities. Admission is $10 per person. A cash bar will also be available. Live music will be provided by local bands Santos and the Naturalistics. 50% of the funds raised will help support the local high school culinary students. There are still spaces available for those restaurants or vendors who would like to participate. For more information, call Louie Morehead at 385-9600 or Joanna Kemp at 223-4003.

Hip Impressions is a belly dancing extravaganza where ladies of all ages will take the stage and perform the different styles of belly dance. Hip Impressions will be be held at the Henegar Center (625 E. New Haven Avenue) in downtown Melbourne on April 3. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., the show will start at 7 p.m. For tickets, call the Henegar Center at 723-8698, or purchase via PayPal at www.ambellydanceclub.com.

The Conradina Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society is sponsoring a Landscaping with Natives Tour on April 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit eight residential gardens landscaped primarily with Florida native plants in central Brevard County. Talk to the homeowners for tips and learn about other resources for using native plants in your landscaping. For more information and ticket purchases, call Sharon at 729-6857.

History Wednesdays with Ray Osborne. Enjoy multimedia presentations on local history, every Wednesday from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Resort on Cocoa Beach movie theater, 1600 North Atlantic Ave. Learn about native cultures, the lighthouse, pirates, early settlers, heritage trails, treasure finds, famous visitors, local businesses, and the early days of the Space Program. Suggested donation: $3. To learn more, contact 243-8097.

Brevard Art Museum events for April: Enjoy “Navel Gazing: Fresh-Squeezed Visions of Florida” through April 11. Also, after a year of creative collaboration, 12 published poets and 12 award-winning artists are preparing to unveil their original, collaborative work at 7 p.m. on April 17. TRANSFORMATIONS is a unique presentation of poetry reading, art, music, and an opportunity to learn more about collaboration in the arts. In addition to the evening presentation, the exhibition will hang in the museum until May 15.  There is also a book, published by the Brevard Art Museum Press ($19.95 plus tax in the gift shop) which details the processes employed by each pair as they sought shared inspiration or common direction for their challenge. The Brevard Art Museum is located at 1463 Highland Avenue in the Eau Gallie Arts District. Visit them online at: www.brevardartmuseum.org.

The Fifth Avenue Art Gallery presents “Color Musings” through April 30. In her paintings, Clare Pearson Zipperly’s brush deftly captures a vibrant symphony of dynamic color in watercolors that rivals those found in oils. Join her at the opening reception on the First Friday Artwalk from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. this April 2. The reception is free and open to the public. Afterward, continue down Highland Ave., where you can enjoy dinner and drop in to visit shops and galleries, as well as the museum in beautiful downtown Eau Gallie. The gallery is located across the street from the Brevard Museum of Art. Call 259-8261 or log on to www.fifthavenueartgallery.com.

Melbourne Beach’s Barrier Island Center is offering several interesting events this month. Take a downwind kayak sail and paddle to explore the island’s natural shore and marine life around the lagoon on Saturday, April 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.Meet at the Center at 12:30 p.m. to organize carpooling to the south side of Sebastian Inlet and Wabasso Causeway. Cost is $48 per person (for ages 12 and up with previous kayaking experience) and includes kayak rental. Enrollment is limited to 10. Call 723-3556 to make your reservation by Thursday, April 8. Celebrate World Habitat Awareness Month with a special 1-mile guided on the Barrier Island Sanctuary Trail to discover the diverse flora and fauna from dune to lagoon. Enrollment is limited to 20. Call 723-3556 to reserve a spot. Visit www.cccturtle.org/barrierislandcenter for detailed information on their “Eco Explorers” Summer Camp or call the center to learn more about these and other programs. BIC is located at 8385 S. Hwy. A1A in Melbourne Beach. They can be found online at www.barrierislandcenter.com.

BUSINESS

It’s the perfect season to revisit Seafood Atlantic in Port Canaveral. Located at 520 Glen Cheek Dr. in the heart of the Port, Seafood Atlantic offers sea-fresh fish, oysters and more. In addition to being a well-stocked fresh fish market (they also ship orders), Seafood Atlantic offers waterfront dining. Enjoy a beer with your order as you watch the ships go by. They’re open Call them at 784-1963 or visit www.seafoodatlantic.net to learn more.

Drop by The Bald Strawberry, a new bakery in Cape Canaveral. Baker Linda Lopez and friendly staff offer fresh-baked breads and treats daily and bake cakes and pies to order. They’re also starting a gluten-free line of breads and goodies — including gluten-free doggy treats, as many dogs cannot handle wheat. This April they’ll start running daily specials. Look forward to Empanada Tuesdays, Croissant Wednesdays, Eclair Thursdays, and Pie Fridays. The Strawberry also displays local art, features three different-themed sitting rooms (including a record room where customers can spin old vinyl) and are looking at putting together a jam night. The Bald Strawberry is located at 6811 N. Atlantic Ave. in Cape Canaveral. They’re open Tuesday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 704-6195.

If you haven’t yet, turn yourself on to Cape Canaveral’s Oceanside Cafe. Open Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this “Bagel Paradise” prepares several different varieties of bagel sandwiches, muffins, sweet pancakes, fresh fruit and garden salads, pizza, deli sandwiches, lunch platters, soups, and excellent Thai dinners. Check them out at 6710 N. Atlantic Ave., or call 868-0088 for more information.

Wayfast Signs has moved to 350 N Atlantic Ave. (the old Nearly Barefoot sandals shop) in Cocoa Beach. Though their location has changed, their phone number remains the same: 868-6728.

Spring is in the air at Bob’s Bicycles, and TrekFest is the perfect way to celebrate. With two locations — 1135 Fifth Avenue in Indialantic (725-2500) and 510 E. Eau Gallie Blvd. in Indian Harbour Beach (773-2093) — the folks at Bob’s offer sweet deals on bicycles and gear. Celebrate TrekFest with them April 7-11th. Learn more about other events as well their wide range of products and services, call or visit www.bobsbicycles.com.

The Burger Place is now open in downtown Melbourne. Located at 1904 Municipal Lane, the retro-style burger joint is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Buns are baked fresh on site, and burgers come in three sizes with a wide choice of simple toppings. They also offer homemade fries and shakes. Call 676-8914 for more information.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Space Coast Art Festival is holding a contest for artists to design the 2010 art festival poster. The winning artist receives $250 in prize money as well as prestige and recognition. Past poster artists include Rick Piper, Henry Lund, Bruce Reynolds, Wayne Coombs, and Fred Cheney, among others. All work must be unpublished, original art created since 2008. Work can be any reproducible two-dimensional work (painting, drawing, photograph, mixed media, etc.) The winning design will also be reproduced on a t-shirt and may be used in Space Coast Art Festival advertising materials. Special consideration will be given to artwork that is particularly representative of the Space Coast. Additionally, since the artwork will be used on both the festival poster and the festival shirts, consideration will be given to designs that will work in both applications. All work must be received no later than Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at the Margaret Heins Gallery at 36 N. Brevard Avenue in Cocoa Beach or at M.A. Rigerman & Associates, 200 North 1 Street, Cocoa Beach. Submissions may be mailed to SCAF, P.O. Box 320135, Cocoa Beach, FL 32932. For further inquires regarding contest details, call the Art Festival office at 784-3322 or visit www.spacecoastartfestival.com.

The Way Church is excited to host a community Easter Celebration on April 4, Easter Sunday. There will be services for all ages at 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. with a free carnival to follow, featuring jump houses, games, food, and an Easter egg hunt consisting of 7,000 eggs. The Way Church is located at 399 E. Eau Gallie Blvd. in Indian Harbour Beach adjacent to Texas Road House. For more information, call 779-0111, or log on towww.waychurch.com.

The Indian River Potters’ Guild is calling for ceramics entries for Cinco de Mug-O. All functional, scultpural and conceptual ceramic work honoring the drinking vessel is welcome. In celebration of the rich history of drinking vessels, the Guild invites artists in the local ceramic community to participate in this first open event. From ancient Greek kylikes to German steins, British teacups, Japanese tea bowls, and modern mugs, all share the same intimate function in quenching the thirst of the holder. Works submitted must be originals by the artist, and may not exceed 10_ in any direction. Deadline for submissions is May 5, 2010. For questions and more details, please contact Valerie Karas at vkaras@cfl.rr.com or call 543-3645. Visit the guild online at www.indianriverpottersguild.com.

The City of Cocoa is putting on two community events this month: The Spring Craft Fair March 6-7 in downtown Cocoa Village, and a Spring Praise Fest Concert from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Riverfront Park. To find out more, visit www.cocoafl.com.

Beginning Friday, March 5, the Cape Canaveral Recreation Department will be hosting “Friday Fest” on the first Friday of every month. Activities will include a variety of food vendors, an assortment of novelty and craft vendors, children’s activities, including bounce houses, a giant slide and a rock climbing wall, and live entertainment along with beer and wine. The fun will take place on Taylor Avenue between A1A and Pointsetta Avenue from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Also, Opening Day Ceremonies for the Space Coast Little League are scheduled for Saturday, March 6 at 10 a.m. at the Cape Canaveral Ball Fields. To find out more, visit www.cityofcapecanaveral.org or call the Parks and Recreation Department at 868-1226.

On Tuesday, March 2, at 6 p.m., Cocoa Beach Mayor Skip Beeler will host a Town Hall Meeting at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. Mayor Beeler will present a briefing on the state of the City and will answer the public’s questions. Free refreshments will be served.

Trained AARP volunteers will be on hand at the Cocoa Beach Public Library on weekdays to offer tax preparation assistance from until April 15. Hours will be Monday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also, Brevard County Commissioner Chuck Nelson, who represents District 2, has scheduled his “Open House” for Friday, March 5 from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Library. Other Cocoa Beach Library events for March: “People in Print” presents mystery writer Kay Williamson on Monday, March 1 at 2 p.m. in the Jane von Thron Room. She will be signing her newest novel, “The Mysterious Woman on the Train,” which deals with ADC (After Death Communication), a phenomenon she has personally experienced. Enjoy an informative presentation entitled “Inshore and Backcountry Fishing” with Capt. Shawn Foster on Tuesday, March 2 at 6 p.m. Capt. Foster is a U.S. Coast Guard approved Captain. Learn about tackle, lures, and techniques from this professional fishing guide. The Friends of the Library Travel Film Series concludes this month with films on the first and third Wednesdays at 7 p.m. March 3: Ireland; March 17: Thailand. Look forward to a “Double Header Sunday” on March 14 with bestselling author Randy Wayne White at 1 p.m. Randy will be on hand to autograph and discuss his latest Doc Ford Novel “Deep Shadow.” Copies will be on sale for $25.95. Also, enjoy Music on a Sunday Afternoon with Acoustic Alliance at 3 p.m., one hour later than usual. The group will play swing and gypsy jazz. The music program welcomes back Good Time’N on Sunday, March 21 at 2 p.m. Enjoy Bluegrass, Folk and Pop Music. Florida author Tom Lowe, whose writing style has been compared to John D. MacDonald, will have a book signing on Wednesday, March 31 at 6 p.m. He will introduce his second mystery, “The 24th Letter,” featuring retired investigator Sean O’Brien. Copies will be available for purchase. Lastly, kids can look forward to an Easter Puppet Show on Tuesday, March 30 at 6:30 p.m. The Library is located at 550 N. Brevard Ave. in Cocoa Beach. Call 868-1104 or visit www.cocoabeachpubliclibrary.org.

Satellite Beach is sponsoring Go Go Green!, an event based around recycling, reducing, and reusing on Saturday, March 13. The event will be held in the parking lot of the DRS Community Center at 1089 S Patrick Dr. in Satellite Beach from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon. The folks at the Satellite Beach Recreation Department have been long time advocates of recycling and this is the first of what will be a number of annual events. The day will offer a silent Auction of City Surplus property held in conjunction with a rummage sale, and will see loads of educational opportunities on recycling by Waste Management. Support local reuse efforts and bring your used eyeglasses to be collected by SB Lions Club; coffee mugs to serve soup at Daily Bread; baseball caps for a mission trip Guatemala; cell phones for Phone for Soldiers; wall calendars with pictures and greeting cards for local crafters and classes. Donate your old blankets, towels or sheets for injured wildlife. You can also bring your used batteries for recycling and Astro Too of Melbourne will be on location to take old electronics. People can bring their used bars of soap (not liquid) for collection by Global Soap. They will be sent to their plant where it’s boiled down for sanitation and reformed into larger bars and donated to areas of need. Please be reminded that this event is NOT a hazardous waste roundup. Things like pesticides, paints, etc. will NOT be collected. Refreshments and food will be sold by SB’s Police Athletic League for a nominal fee. For more information, contact Recreation Programmer Louise Stevenson at 773-6458.

Satellite Beach’s David R. Schechter Community Center events for March: 3/25: Community for a Lifetime Seminars at 12:30 p.m. The City of Satellite Beach has been moving forward with the State of Florida initiative, “Communities for a Lifetime” for our elder residents. The City, in conjunction with Wuesthoff Health System, is providing a series of lectures by local experts. The programs are open to all seniors and other adults. Held in the DRS Meeting Room. Free, but please RSVP to 773-6458. A light lunch is provided. 3/13: Whole City Garage Sale and City Surplus Silent Auction from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon. City surplus will be on display and sold via a silent auction. Clubs and organizations who wish to reserve a space in the DRS Parking lot to sell items to benefit their club functions, can contact 773-6458 for event details. This is a great event for groups to join who are trying to earn money for their Relay for Life cause. If you want to sell from your home, call 773-6458 and provide your garage sale location and they will distribute a master “Whole City Garage Sale” flyer listing your home location prior to and day of the event. 3/27: Samsons Island Open House from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Explore the island’s trails in hopes of seeing some of the abundant wildlife and stay for a light picnic lunch. Demonstrations will be ongoing, and visitors can view or participate in river seining, exotic and native plant identification, primitive camping, wildlife exhibits, and bird watching programs. Visitors are welcome to bring their fishing pole, binoculars for bird watching and camera for nature photography. To reserve boat transportation, call 773-6458 and to schedule transport time from the SB Fire Dept. dock. Location: 1390 S. Patrick Dr. in Satellite Beach. 3/31: Anglers for Conservation meeting from 12 Noon to 2 p.m. Cost: $20 per class. The group will be conducting a two-hour intermediate fishing class, geared toward both kids and adults who are interested in improving their skills in knot tying, spin casting, rigging plastic baits, and handling and using shrimp and finger mullet for bait all 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. Location: the DRS Community Center. The Community Center is located at 1089 S. Patrick Dr. in Satellite Beach. Call 773-6458 for more information, or visit www.satellitebeach.org.

Registration underway for Melbourne’s Citizens Academy. Registrations are being accepted for participation in a Citizen’s Academy to be offered by the City of Melbourne at the Melbourne Auditorium from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. over three evenings, March 16, 24, and 25. There is no cost to participants and a light dinner is to be provided each evening. The registration deadline is March 8. The academy is designed to foster citizen involvement in the community and to provide a wealth of information about city government with speakers and activities that include a K-9 demonstration, a fire truck display, and a simulation of the City’s water treatment process. Topics include the fundamentals of local government, information about municipal services and resources, and insights into opportunities for citizen involvement in city government. Those interested in joining the academy should contact the City Clerk’s Office at 608-7220 or send an e-mail message to cityclerk@melbourneflorida.org with information including names, addresses, and telephone numbers of all persons who would like to attend.

Melbourne’s Henegar Center will be presenting a Red Carpet Production of “The Producers” this month. Performances will be held on March 5 through 28 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and on Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets are $22 for adults and $20 for seniors (there is a $2 service charge for each ticket). Call the Henegar box office at 723-8698 or visit www.henegar.org for more details. The Henegar Center for the Arts is located at 625 E. New Haven Ave. in downtown Melbourne.

BUSINESS

Welcome the Happy Healthy Human organic raw vegan cafe to Indian Harbour Beach. The cafe, located at 1869 S. Patrick Dr., offers a wide range of smoothies, soups and salads, healthy treats and desserts, a choice of five meal platters served with salad, and revolving daily menu specials. Their hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays (their produce box day) from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. HHH also provides catering and party services as well as delivery within their area. To find out more, call 779-0077, or log on to: www.happyhealthyhuman.com.

Cape Canaveral has a new pizza joint in the form of Rocco’s New Jersey Boardwalk Pizza Express. They’re located at 7000 N. Atlantic Ave., 1.5 miles north of Ron Jon’s. Tracy and Micky Giokas serve up all your Italian favorites every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call 784-3433 for more details.

At long last, The Music Rooms are open at 7095 Turner Rd. in Rockledge. The Music Rooms offer the ultimate acoustically engineered, climate controlled practice rooms designed for the serious musician with monthly or yearly leases available. They are large and can accommodate a wide range of instruments and musical styles, and are ideal for practicing, jamming, recording or teaching. They are also kept under 24/7 security camera surveillance and give room specific access control. To learn more, call Carl at 777-5936, or visit www.brevardmusicrooms.com.

EVENTS

March 13 sees the inaugural Cocoa Beach Wine & Food Festival held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Lori Wilson Park. The festival will feature an international Tasting Village comprised of over 20 local chefs preparing dishes from their respective countries to be paired with some specially selected wines. Enjoy live music from Three Dog Nigh and MoGeetz, food vendors, a beer truck, raffles, local artisans, a “Wine 101″ class, and much more. Tickets are $75 and are available for purchase through Ticket Web (www.ticketweb.com), a link for which is also supplied on the Festival’s website: www.cocoabeachwinefooodfestival.com. Find out more in this issue’s Restaurant section.

Mark your calendars for the 48th Easter Surf Fest to be held April 2-3 at the Cocoa Beach Pier. Check next month’s issue for more details.

Get ready for the Cocoa Beach Pier’s annual Reggae Beach Splash on March 27. Look forward to performances by UB40′s Ali Campbell, Maxi Priest, Julian Marley, and the Supervillians. Tickets are on sale now at the Pier and through Ticketmaster. To learn more, check this issue’s Local Amp section or visit www.cocoabeachpier.com.

Join students from Cocoa Beach High School on Friday, March 12 for An Evening of the Arts. The event, to be held in the CBHS auditorium, will feature performances and exhibitions by students, and Indian Harbour Beach’s Taste of Thai will host a pre-show light dinner available for purchase from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria. Desserts will be provided by Perkins Bakery. Visual art exhibitions begin at 6 p.m. and performing arts begin at 7:15 p.m. Admission is $5; $10 for dinner. Tickets may be purchased at the door or reserved through the Rotary Interact Club. Email them at cocoabeachinteract@gmail.com for ticket locations. Evening attire is suggested.

Local Artist Jane Hodges, Ph.D., will be the Guest Speaker at the Cocoa Beach Women’s Club Meeting on March 4. The public is invited to attend this event at the Cocoa Beach Country Club. Jane will be displaying her international photographs and will begin speaking at 11:30 a.m., following a “meet and greet” at 9:30 a.m. and the business meeting at 10 a.m. For more information, please contact Julia George at 868-7393 or email cbwcjuliageorge@yahoo.com.

The advisory board and co-directors of Breast Friends of Florida will be holding their first annual “Joy for Life” luncheon on Friday, March 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Indialantic. Reservations are available by calling Kristi at 729-9559 or by emailing conniecooke@breastfriends.com or sherrypalmer@breastfriends.com. Each year more than 200,000 American women learn they have cancer. This is an unwelcome “sisterhood,” but they find strength in the numbers and the sisterhood. Breast Friends was founded in Oregon in 2000 by co-founders Becky Olson and Sharon Heiflen. Both had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast Friends mission: “Until a cure is found… is to provide emotional support for women dealing with the trauma of cancer… one friend at a time.” Breast Friends of Florida, an affiliate of the national non-profit, was founded in July 2009 by breast cancer survivors Connie Chiles-Cooke and Sherry Palmer. Sherry and Connie met while receiving chemotherapy together and as a result a friendship was forged which resulted in the desire to assist other women through their diagnoses and treatments. For more information on Breast Friends visit the national website at: www.breastfriends.com. Click on “Resources,” “Florida,” and then the affiliate site.

The Brevard Art Museum presents “Navel Gazing: Artists Visions of Florida” through April 11. Sixteen artists were selected for this national juried exhibition, and eight Florida artists and eight artists from outside the state were selected to reconstitute existing ideas or make fresh-squeezed interpretations of Florida. “Navel Gazing” is sponsored in part through a $25,000 award for the Culture Builds Florida grant by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Also this month, the Brevard Art Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary of the Annual Brevard County Student Art exhibition. Culled from art programs throughout the county’s public and private schools, this exhibition celebrates the creative talents of students and the teachers who guide them. Teachers selected 10 works of art from their school. The Museum provides a high profile, prestigious venue for the multitude of talented youth in the county. The student exhibition runs through March 14 in conjunction with the “Navel Gazing” exhibition. Local favorite Rich Abrahams will perform at the Brevard Art Museum on Friday, March 5 at 5:30. Enjoy some delightful piano jazz in their galleries. Jazz Fridays are the first Friday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 and Museum members are free. Tours of the Museum are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and take approximately one hour. Tours cost $2 per student and chaperones are admitted free of charge at a ratio of one adult to six children. Tours must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance. To schedule a tour, please call the Museum at 242-0737. The Brevard Art Museum is located in the heart of the Eau Gallie Arts Disctrict, at 1463 Highland Ave. Call 242-0737, or go to: www.brevardartmuseum.org.

On March 5, the Eau Gallie Arts District will hold its monthly First Friday Art Walk Event from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Art studios, galleries, shops, boutiques and restaurants in the Eau Gallie Arts District will remain open late for a free gallery walk featuring: exhibition openings, artisans, demonstrations, refreshments, and live-music. In conjunction with First Friday Art Walk, EGAD will host the National Art Honor Society of Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy’s third annual “Empty Bowls” fundraising event in Eau Gallie Square. Attendees of the event will be served a cup of soup and bread in handmade ceramic bowls in exchange for a cash donation of $10 to help provide support for the South Brevard Sharing Center and Candlelighters of Brevard. Attendees will keep the bowl that they selected as a reminder of the meal’s purpose to raise awareness about the issues of hunger in our community. First Friday Art Walk is free and open to the public. The “Empty Bowls” event will begin at 5 p.m. in Eau Gallie Square on Highland Avenue. The X-Band will provide musical entertainment.

Eau Gallie’s Fifth Avenue Art Gallery invites you to view Donne Bitner’s “Painting by Discovery,” a collection of mixed media works of acrylic, pastel and graphite. Works begin with Bitner layering thin washes of acrylic, watercolor and gesso on paper, canvas, or wood. Initially there is no definite image in mind with Bitner following a more intuitive approach, resulting in magnificent surprises so unlike their beginning. Oil pastel, charcoal, and graphite add texture and line to the surface. Interesting shapes come from stamps, stencils, textured paper, and wood blocks. This is truly painting by discovery and will be exhibited in the Gallery throughout the month of March. Come join them at the opening reception on Eau Gallie’s First Friday Art Walk on March 5th, from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Talk with Donne, see her artwork and enjoy light refreshments with wine.  The reception is free and open to the public. Afterwards continue your stroll down the street to enjoy dinner and other shops, galleries as well as the museum in beautiful Eau Gallie. The gallery is located in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne, across the street from the Brevard Museum of Art at 1470 Highland Ave. Call 259-8261 or visit them www.fifthavenueartgallery.com.

Eau Gallie’s historic Rossetter House and Museum will host a Murder Mystery Tour called “Time Traveler” Sunday, March 21. From 1 to 4 p.m., the Rossetter House is the scene of the crime and you play the sleuth in this “Clue”-based game tour. Use the clues to figure out the murderer. Guess right and enter the drawing for the grand prize. Tours begin every half hour. Call 254-9855 for reservations. Admission is $7.50 per person, $12 per family. The House will also host an “Egg Hunt With Easter Bunny & Friends” on Saturday, April 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 11: 30 a.m. Wear your Easter bonnet and bring your basket to hunt for eggs on the Rossetter grounds. Can you find the Golden Egg? The morning will feature candy, prizes and loads of fun. Parents should bring their cameras for children’s pictures with the Easter Bunny in his Garden Gazebo. Free for children ages 2-12. The Historic Rossetter House Museum is located at 1320 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne. Call 254-9855, or visit www.rossetterhousemuseum.org.

The Art Gallery Viera and The Home Center are proud to present “Digital Directions,” a digital workshop for artists by digital artist Jerry Hanzl on Saturday, March 6. Participants will learn all of the skills a working artist needs to compete in today’s digital world. Featured artist Jerry Hanzl will cover techniques on using the digital camera to capture subjects and photograph artwork; using the file system in Windows to save and locate images; and using Photoshop for color correction, resizing, and print preparation. Join the fun and informative workshop and get answers to all your questions from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Cost is $75 and pre-registration is required. The maximum class size is 20 participants. For more information, contact Jerry at 633-4075. The Art Gallery of Viera is a Fine Art Gallery and Educational Center, offering a wide variety of mediums and day and evening classes. Classes are added often, so visit their web site at www.artgalleryofviera.com. They are located in the Home Center, Suite 135, 5410 Murrell Road, in Viera.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wynfield’s Sports Bar in Satellite Beach hosted a benefit for Haiti on February 21, 2010, which raised $1,700. The benefit was planned by Amy Pastorius of Sharp 5 Entertainment and included performances by the ever-generous Pat Travers, Mary Pastorius, Over the Void, and Johnny Shameless Project. Thank you to everyone for coming out to support a great cause with great music. Special thanks to Russ Kellum for giving his time and hard work.

Art Scholarship Available: The Melbourne Art Festival will award one $1,500 scholarship to a graduating senior or alumnus from a Brevard County high school (or home-schooled senior). Applicants will be judged on the basis of his/her artistic and academic abilities, as well as performance, character, and extracurricular activities. The application is downloadable at www.melbournearts.org and must be completed and submitted to the Melbourne Art Festival office, together with all required supporting documentation, by Friday, March 19. Incomplete or late applications will NOT be considered. Inquiries should be made to info@melbournearts.org or by calling 722-1964.

WEGO Ministries (Worldwide Evangelical Gospel Outreach), a not-for-profit ministry, has started a Food Outreach Ministry. Bags of ready-to-eat foods will be handed out to the homeless and others in need between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday at their office, located at 163 Minutemen Cswy. in Cocoa Beach. Monetary donations for this outreach ministry may be sent to WEGO Ministries: P.O. Box 320735, Cocoa Beach, FL 32932. For more information, please contact Coordinator Shenna Wilson (Coordinator) 536-4201 or the WEGO office at 799-9445.