01/02/2020 ISSUE 01

Top of the world! P3 Holiday goodwill. P8 FAR OUT, BREVARD!

Seychelle Webster achieves Beachside communities ensure
Stand Up Paddle Racing glory. it’s a toy story to remember.

United States Space Force seen as
a boon to county’s economy. P. 20

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020 | VOLUME 05, ISSUE 1 www.melbournebeachsider.com | NEWSSTAND PRICE $1.00

FAREWELL! Calls for action after tragic death at A1A crosswalk

Happy New Year. Sorry we won’t be Protesters carry signs at the A1A crosswalk in Satellite Beach where Sophia Nelson, 12, inset, was struck by a car. PHOTO: JULIAN LEEK STORY BY GEORGE WHITE STAFF WRITER
with you each week in the 2020s, but we [email protected]
give up.
Just beyond the beach
For three years, we have tried to where blue ocean meets blue
produce a weekly newspaper that (a) sky, 12-year-old Sophia Nelson
filled the information void created by – whose favorite color was blue
the slow-motion death of Brevard’s daily, – lost her life last week from
and (b) brought in enough revenue to injuries she sustained Dec. 22
cover printing, postage and payroll. while crossing State Road A1A
at a designated and flashing
Unlike the daily, we delivered the crosswalk near her Satellite
Melbourne Beachsider to homes free. Beach home.
At the end, we were printing and mail-
ing 20,000 of these 40-page newspapers Devastation over the Nel-
to residences from Melbourne Beach to sons’ loss of
Satellite Beach and Merritt Island. their youngest
child turned
That cost serious money, and unlike into hope for
the daily – which continues to harvest four other fam-
an indecent amount of subscription ilies as Sophia’s
revenue from its pathetic product – our organs brought
only income to pay production costs, life to four other
editors, reporters, photographers, and children awaiting transplants,
the expenses of news gathering came said her dad Mark Nelson.
from sale of advertising.
Her lungs, liver, kidneys
When we launched the Melbourne and pancreas were passed
Beachsider, we anticipated that adver- on by Our Legacy at Orlando
tising support would get the paper to
break even in some reasonable amount CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
of time. Boy, were we wrong.
SHERIFF’S BUDGET Teen surf star earns shot at Olympic glory, history
While some of our advertisers have PROMPTS LAWSUIT
been with us from Day One – clearly BY COMPTROLLER Caroline Marks. STORY BY JENNIFER TORRES CORRESPONDENT
convinced that the Beachsider is a cost- [email protected]
effective way to reach prospects and STORY BY HENRY A. STEPHENS CORRESPONDENT
customers – hundreds of other Brevard [email protected] For the first time in history, the sport
businesses never deigned to give us a try. of surfing will make its debut at the
Last summer, Brevard 2020 Tokyo Olympics – and 17-year-
We never quite understood that, be- County commissioners agreed old Melbourne Beach native Caroline
cause on the barrier island just south of to bust their voter-approved Marks is going for gold.
us, our model for this publication – Vero budget-increase cap so Sher-
Beach 32963 – is now starting a third iff Wayne Ivey could get $1.7 At age 15, Marks became the young-
profitable decade as the indispensable million extra for what he said est women to qualify for the women’s
way advertisers reach the community. were “critical” needs like more Championship Tour. In 2018 she
deputies and raises. ranked No. 7 in the world, and by 2019
But while a typical issue of Vero Beach she was No. 2, second only to Carissa
And now, Clerk of Court
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

ADVERTISING: 772-559-4187 | CIRCULATION: 772-226-7925 THIS BBQ IS A-OK!

NEWS 1-8 GAMES 23-25 PEOPLE 9-12 Enjoy good-luck goodies
ARTS 13-16 HEALTH 27-29 PETS 22 this new year at Charlie
BOOKS 21 INSIGHT 17-26 REAL ESTATE 33-40 & Jake’s. Dining, Page 30
DINING 30 CALENDAR 32

2 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

FAREWELL! success in the future.
To the many South Brevard island
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
residents accustomed to looking for
32963 contains more than 30 ads for the Beachsider in their mailboxes each
area restaurants, the Beachsider – week, sorry we’re no longer going to be
where ads cost significantly less – never there for you.
had more than three!
We leave you with one final thought.
In looking over the newspaper and In these polarized times, if you think a
the P&L at year’s end, the inescapable newspaper produced by real, honest-
conclusion was that while our team of to-goodness journalists is needed to
journalists had produced an editorial provide the objective and reliable com-
success, the Beachsider was a business munity news and information missing
failure. from social media, some mechanism
needs to be found to fund it. We did not
So we give up. find the answer in Brevard, but we hope
To the advertisers who supported us, someone takes up the challenge. 
many, many thanks. We wish you every

PHOTOS: PAMELA STIMPSON

SAND STOCKPILED FOR DUNE PROJECT

Mountains of sand are being bastian Inlet State Park. The cost
stockpiled near the former Sebas- of $4.5 million is being funded by
tian Beach Inn as Brevard County the Tourism Development bed tax
stages an emergency dune project on short-term rentals with partial
to place 98,500 cubic yards of sand reimbursement to be sought from
on the South Beaches. Hurricane FEMA. Construction is expected
Dorian was a major factor erod- to end by May 7 when equipment
ing the 14-mile stretch between must be off the beach for sea turtle
Spessard Holland Park and Se- nesting season. 

CAROLINE MARKS ing, surfers must navigate ever-chang-
ing conditions – and mother nature – in
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 a bid to secure two winning runs.

Moore, 27, of Hawaii, whom Marks com- “You can ride pretty much as many
peted with throughout the season. waves as possible but they only count
your top two,” Marks said.
Last April, in the finals of the Boost
Mobile Pro Gold, Marks won the cham- “You let some pass by and then, I
pionship title after besting Moore in the think some you just know. Something
finals. inside you tells you this is the wave and
I’m going to go.”
In December, Moore took the No. 1
spot after winning her fourth surfing Over the holidays, Marks spent time
world title at the Maui Pro – with Marks in Melbourne Beach, visiting with
in close pursuit, but ultimately eliminat- friends and family. She was also on hand
ed in the quarterfinals. to mingle with young surfers who took
part in the 4th annual Caroline Marks
With just two surfers of each gender Surf Camp in Cocoa Beach on Dec. 21,
able to qualify for the Tokyo Olym- and later that week had the opportunity
pics, the former competitors are now to try surfing in the Typhoon Lagoon
Olympic teammates. On Dec. 9, both wave pool in Orlando.
Marks and Moore appeared on the
“Today” show to discuss their latest The XXXII Olympic Summer Games
achievement. will take place in Tokyo, Japan, from July
24-Aug. 9, 2020. 
“That was probably one of the biggest
moments of my career, if not the big- Correction
gest,” Marks said.
The Orlando-Melbourne Interna-
“There’s a lot of great competitors at tional Airport began its daily nonstop
the Olympics; it should be really, really flights to Philadelphia on Dec. 19. 
exciting.”

With a judging process that’s de-
scribed as being similar to snowboard-

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 3

NEWS

Stand Up Paddle Racing star Webster’s on top of the world!

STORY BY JEANNINE MJOSETH CORRESPONDENT race and came in second. “Everybody

Melbourne Beach resident Sey- was cheering when I received the giant
chelle Webster paddled into the re-
cord books Dec. 7, defying almost trophy. I had a feeling of ecstatic hap-
overwhelming odds to win the 2019
Stand Up Paddle Racing World Cham- piness. Later, when I was in my hotel
pionship in Paris.
room by myself, I cried, thinking about
Winning the coveted award from
the Association of Paddlesurf Profes- what I’d done.”
sionals (APP) required Seychelle, 32,
to prevail in sprint and distance races Ten months earlier, Webster wasn’t
in London, New York City and Osaka,
Japan, to get to Paris. sure she’d ever paddle again. On Feb.

“I was nervous. I was leading in the 13, she awoke to intense pain shoot-
points, but my win was not a done
deal,” recounts Webster, tanned and ing down the left side of her body and
lithe with the sun-kissed hair of a
beach dweller. “One fumble in Paris numbness in her left hand. The soft
and it could have been screwed up.”
discs between her neck vertebrate had
The sprint race took place in a
70-meter pool in which competitors ruptured, causing excruciating nerve
accelerated their 14-foot racing pad-
dleboards, made sharp turns, acceler- damage.
ated and turned again. With epic skill
and speed, she won by a half a board’s “As an endurance athlete, I have a
length.
high pain tolerance and I had learned
The next day almost 1,000 people
participated in the long-distance race to push through pain,” she says, but
on the Seine River. Webster had al-
ready accrued enough points to win this pain was much more intense than
the championship, so she enjoyed the
any she’d ever experienced.

“I was really scared. I had a magnetic

resonance imaging (MRI) scan and

talked to half a dozen doctors. Every

single physician told me that I needed

surgery. They wanted to fuse three of

my vertebrate together to help deal

with the nerve damage caused by disc

herniation.”

JUST LISTEDPHOTOS: BENJAMIN THACKER She seriously considered surgery

Seychelle Webster. because it sounded like the fastest
way to get back to paddling. But she

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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4 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

LAWSUIT just add to future budgets.” Sheriff Wayne Ivey. Scott Ellis. the Consumer Price Index, whichever
However, he pointed to a Feb. 28, is lower. But voters also gave commis-
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 reached for comment from their side sioners an out: They could go beyond
2017, email from former County At- – such as whether the agency plans what they now call the “charter cap” if
Scott Ellis wants to block commis- torney Scott Knox to former County to seek a another “critical needs” in- four of the five commissioners, a “su-
sioners from absorbing that increase Manager Stockton Whitten. crease for 2020. permajority,” agrees such an increase
into the 2020 base budget when look- is required for “critical needs.”
ing at other possible increases. The commission had voted the pri- The issue has its roots in 2008, when
or year to bust the Charter’s budget- county voters approved a referendum And that’s what happened July 23.
In his role as the county’s comptrol- increase cap. limiting the commission from increas- The CPI was 2.44 percent. That in-
ler, Ellis on Dec. 13 filed suit asking ing the tax rate higher than 3 percent or crease would have meant a tax rate of
Circuit Judge James Earp to declare And Knox said there was “notably, $1.06 per $1,000 of taxable property
whether the commission can add the nothing in that section (of the Char- value for the Law Enforcement Mu-
sheriff’s increase into its base budget ter) that requires” commissioners to nicipal Taxing Unit, the primary fund
– or whether it must roll back to the roll back to the pre-increase tax rate for the Sheriff’s Office.
2019 proposed budget when consid- when calculating a new one.
ering the 2020 budget. “In the County But Ivey’s request to add $1.7 mil-
Charter, it says such an increase is County Attorney Eden Bentley de- lion, to make a $136.4 million budget
good for one budget only,” Ellis said clined to comment on the active law- for his agency’s taxing unit, called for
recently. “It’s not something they can suit or predecessor Knox’s advice. a tax rate of $1.11 – a 4.7 percent in-

Meanwhile, neither Ivey nor any le-
gal counsel working for him could be

SEYCHELLE WEBSTER River and continued seven miles to She raced in New York City in ster works out nine times a week – six
Putney.“I couldn’t believe I’d won early September. The distance cardio or paddling and three strength
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 both the sprint and distance compe- race circled the Statue of Lib- building. She rests one day a week.
tition because I’d only been training erty and the sprint races took Overtraining contributed to her in-
had studied alternative medicine at one-third to one-half of my normal place near Long Island. She won jury, so she listens to her body and
and, with the enthusiastic support intensity. But because I was paddling the sprint race, which started doesn’t necessarily complete every
of her online paddling community, differently, I’d gotten faster.” on Long Beach. Learning how workout.
she chose a less invasive, more ho-
listic approach. She meditated and to paddle in the surf was A long-time vegan with 10 percent
used plant-based medicines like the main reason Seychelle to 15 percent body fat (an average
turmeric, cumin and Frankincense, moved to Melbourne Beach woman has 21 to 33 percent body
also called Boswellia, to reduce the almost three years ago. “It’s fat), Webster eats whole foods that
inflammation. She used cannabis to challenging. You have to run into she cooks.
deal with the pain and began doing the surf and jump on your board
physical therapy and working with so you have a flying start.” “I eat when I’m hungry and stop
a NeuroKinetic therapist to identify She took second place in the when I’m full. I don’t count calories
and correct the root cause of her dys- overall event. At the end of Sep- though I did for a long time,” she said.
functional motor pattern. tember, she competed in Osaka. “What’s more important than calories
Her main competitor, April Zilg, are macro-nutrients. Getting the right
“I had to retrain my body,” she said. won the sprint race and Sey- balance of protein, carbohydrates
“The lats (latissimus dorsi) in my back chelle took the distance race. and fats.”
weren’t doing their job. My triceps Then came Paris.
muscles had disappeared entirely.” Webster has already set her Her next competition is in the end
sights on next year’s champi- of April so she will start a strict train-
In April, she slowly started padding onship. “From the moment I ing program again in March.
again. “I began to see the injury as an learned how to stand up on a paddle
opportunity, not a setback,” Webster raceboard five years ago, I knew that I Webster loves living in Melbourne
said. “I looked at my paddling tech- loved the sport. I knew I was going to Beach with her firefighter-paramedic
nique and retrained myself to use my be really good at it but I didn’t know if husband Will Webster, who is almost
legs a lot more.” I would be the best,” Webster said. “I as fit as she is. She also loves helping
love competing.” people become better paddlers and
In May, she traveled to London for When she’s not competing, Web- getting more people into paddling.
the first race of the world tour. “The “Being a professional athlete, people
distance race started under Lon- look up to me. I try to use that to make
don’s Tower Bridge on the Thames the world a better place,” she said. 

SERVING MELBOURNE BEACH PLUS SATELLITE BEACH, INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH & INDIALANTIC

Community Editor Advertising Director We are here to provide Brevard barrier President and Publisher
Lisa Zahner, 772-584-9121 Stan Blake, 321-615-7626 island readers with the most comprehen- Milton R. Benjamin, 772-559-4187
[email protected] [email protected] sive news coverage of Melbourne Beach, [email protected]
Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Satellite
Staff Reporter Advertising Account Executives Beach, and South Merritt Island. Creative Director
George White, 321-795-3835 Lillian Belmont, 321-604-7833 Dan Alexander, 772-539-2700
[email protected] [email protected] For our advertising partners, we pledge [email protected]
to provide the most complete consulta-
Columnists tive and marketing programs possible for Corporate Editor
Pam Harbaugh, 321-794-3691 the best return on your investment. Steven M. Thomas, 772-453-1196
Jan Wesner Childs, 941-725-0970 [email protected]

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 5

NEWS

crease, beyond the charter cap. bourne Beach south to Sebastian In- Judge Earp hasn’t set a hearing on nate route if Earp rules for the County
So commissioners voted 4-1 to de- let. Tobia voted against busting the Ellis’ lawsuit. Commission. Tobia plans to have a
charter cap to give Ivey what he need- referendum drafted for the 2020 gen-
clare Ivey’s needs as “critical.” ed. He said the other commissioners But Ellis said it needs to be before eral election that would, if approved,
The lone dissenter was Commis- should have tightened their belts in June, so it will govern county budget- prevent absorbing one year’s “critical
the preceding year to have enough left makers’ work before commissioners needs” increase into the next year’s
sioner John Tobia. A Palm Bay resi- for Ivey’s needs. vote on the 2020 spending plan. base budget. 
dent, Tobia’s district also includes
the county’s barrier island, from Mel- Meanwhile, Tobia is taking an alter-

6 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

SATELLITE HIGH HOOPS TEAM SHOOTING FOR IMPROVEMENT

STORY BY DAVID JONES CORRESPONDENT guard position. They are relying on an He is an added bonus to the team. tential in this group of players.
experienced coaching staff to guide “I just did not want to be a head coach Noah Painter is shooting guard and
Satellite High boys basketball coach them into a mature team. anymore; 35 years was enough,” Baglin
Paul Creatura has been hoping for an said. “But Paul asked me if I would help a potential top scorer. “Having two in-
aggressive, hard-working team, and so “Paul is so unselfish with his time him and I said I’d be glad to. I haven’t puts is great,’’ Painter said of Baglin.
far has gotten what he wished for. and resources,’’ said assistant coach been without basketball a single winter “He’s great to have around. I think we’ll
Jim Baglin, who won state titles in 2000 since I was 10 years old. be better.”
“We’ve got a couple of spots up for and 2010 while running up a 708-215 “It was very nice of Paul to ask me,”
grabs,” Creatura said as the season- record and being named to the New he added. “We work well together and Senior point guard Daniel Weeks also
opener approached. “We are compet- Jersey Hall of Fame. I really like the kids. I kind of go by the believes having Creatura and the added
ing every day in practice. I believe the slogan ‘tomorrow belongs to no one.’” experience of Baglin is beneficial. “Ac-
proof is in the pudding.” After two years at Merritt Island, Ba- Both of the coaches see a lot of po- tually, it’s really nice,’’ Weeks said. “(Bi-
glin retired to Satellite Beach in 2018 glin) has so much experience. There’s
The Scorps lost quite a bit of offense with his wife, Cathi. a lot of potential. The main thing we
from a year ago, and are young at the need to work on is our defense.’’

Harvey Harris is the center, and at
6-foot-5 has already gotten interest
from Florida Gulf Coast. He played in
Cocoa but moved in search of a new

Satellite High basketball coach Paul Creatura. PHOTO: TIM WIRTH

environment. “He’s a great coach, I love
him,’’ Harris said of Baglin. “He likes
to joke around. I think I’ve made great
progress since I first started playing.’’

Senior Tommy Lacko has shown
promise at forward. “I knew Tommy
was a very good player,’’ Creatura said.
“Every week, he’s gotten better and
better.”

Sophomores Oliver Pasque and
Brayden Bell will both be key guards.
Gunner Greenwald is a college football
tight end recruit who was battling a leg
injury entering the season, but has po-
tential.

“Coachable,” Creatura said of Green-
wald. “You tell him what you need and
in practice he turns around and does
what you were talking about.”

Likewise, Mack Holland had been
nursing a knee problem but has a lot of
potential.

“We should be fine if things get going
our way,” Creatura said.

The Scorpions entered the Decem-
ber holiday break with a 3-5 record. 

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 7

NEWS

SOPHIA NELSON Pedestrian details close call at Indialantic crosswalk

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 STORY BY KELLIE LANDI CORRESPONDENT Megan Silva at the A1A crosswalk in Indialantic where a motorist slammed into a yield sign. PHOTO: TIM WIRTH

Health to four transplant surgeons Megan Silva of Sebring, Fla., was “People are just not ready to stop motorists don’t always stop has to do
who flew in from across the country in town visiting her finance’s fam- at these crosswalks,” Silva said. with the lights being yellow. “Maybe
to Arnold Palmer on Christmas Day. ily last Friday when she was almost because yellow means yield and cau-
If her heart had been used, then only struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk Earlier in the week, Sophia Nel- tion,” Silva explained. “People don’t
three lives could potentially have with yellow blinking lights near Flug son, 12, tragically was struck and think to stop.”
been saved, due to the nature of Avenue in Indialantic at approxi- killed by a vehicle in a crosswalk in
matching thoracic organs. Instead, mately 10:32 a.m. Satellite Beach. In both Nelson and Silva thinks there should be more
doctors chose to donate her lungs to Silva’s cases, they pushed the but- signs and more education for the
two Cystic Fibrosis patients and So- “I pretty simply pushed the but- tons for the crosswalk, waited for public in using the crosswalks.
phia kept her heart. ton and waited for cars to stop,” Sil- traffic to stop but, in both cases, one
va said. After the cars had stopped, vehicle did not. “People don’t feel safe walking
Loved ones launched a “blue rib- Silva proceeded to walk across A1A here. It’s a beach town so it shouldn’t
bon campaign” in the wake of So- with her dog in her arms. Silva has a theory that the reason be like that,” Silva said. 
phia’s death, prompting blue ribbons
to be tied in Sophia’s honor all over “I heard honking and then a long
Satellite Beach. honk,” Silva said. “That’s when I saw
him hit the other yielding pole.”
“We are overwhelmed that so
many, from close friends to people Silva was in the middle of the
we only know as anonymous faces in crosswalk when she noticed the
the supermarket, church and school, dump truck. The truck did not slow
are going all out on this effort to show down in enough time. A car, in the
their love for Sophia as we begin same lane as the dump truck, had to
down the long road grieving her loss,” pass through the crosswalk in order
Mark Nelson said. to avoid being hit by the dump truck.

Nelson said Sophia’s legacy – in- The dump truck veered off the
cluding reviewing safety measures at road and hit the pole on the other
the crosswalks – will end up meaning side of the crosswalk.
so much to so many, he said.
The pole was knocked off its base
“These tributes to Sophia’s mem- and fell onto the side of the road.
ory give us hope there’s some mo- Parts of the sign were bent. The driv-
mentum to build on, in terms of im- er of the dump truck did not remain
proving the education for using the at the scene.
crosswalks. Sophia potentially saved
four lives with her healthy organs on and wants Sophia’s
Christmas,” he said. “What a bless-
ing it would be, if we could help her memory at the fore-
further improve the world she left be-
hind by fixing these crosswalks and front of better de-
making future deaths and injuries in
them much less likely.” cisions for a safer

Sophia will be missed in the sixth design in the near
grade at Surfside Elementary School
and at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic future. A rally to
Church EDGE youth group. She was
a regular at the Satellite Beach Recre- call attention to the
ation Center as a junior camp coun-
selor. She sang, danced, created art, crosswalk safety is-
played violin in orchestra, and was in
the chorus in a production of “Beauty sues was held Satur-
and the Beast.”
day afternoon.
Her quest to not be treated as the
“baby” of the family and the thought “Sophia’s life was
of being excluded from an activity
because of age “propelled her play lost and people want
skills and talents in art and music, in-
stilled her instinct to include others action. I agree, a fix
no matter how different, and inspired
a sense of wonderment, always curi- is needed. With all
ous about something new or ready
with an insightful question,’’ Mark the Facebook posts,
Nelson said.
the blue ribbons, and
The family was crossing the road
together when Mark Nelson wit- Sophia’s memory, I
nessed the tragedy that occurred at
5:37 p.m. at SR A1A at Ellwood Av- believe we can imple-
enue, when a northbound car struck
Sophia. Now he questions the config- ment a plan to fix the
uration and effectiveness of the new
FDOT crosswalks and pledges his flaws by raising pe-
support behind meaningful changes
destrian awareness,”

he said. “And I be-

lieve the county can

design the new signs,

Zachary Green holds a sign at the A1A crosswalk where Sophia Nelson was struck by a car on Dec. 22 She later died from her injuries. PHOTO: JULIAN LEEK pay for them with

voluntary crowdfund-

to make crossing the roadway safer. Don’t roll the dice and walk in front ing, and not spend one penny in taxes.

“LED technology and reflective of any moving car. Wait for it to either “I stand ready to help in any way

road paint and signs have provided stop or pass safely by. They may be I can, to give meaning and purpose

a sense of added safety since (cross- wrong in not stopping, but at least to the killing of our beautiful girl this

walks first became popular 70 years you’ll still be alive when they don’t,” Christmas, so that others may live,”

ago), but there’s really no substitute he said. he said.

for the old-fashioned STOP – LOOK Nelson said he supports petitions (See Sophia Nelson’s full obituary on

– LISTEN method we learned as kids. calling for a review of the crosswalks page 8.) 

8 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

NEWS

Holiday goodwill: Beachside communities rise to occasion

STORY BY JENNIFER TORRES CORRESPONDENT 60 and 65 collected the toys. ment, they hosted the annual
[email protected] “Firefighters picked up the toys Santa run, distributing gifts on
Christmas Eve atop a firetruck,
The spirit of giving was in full force with fire trucks and ate dinner with throughout various neighbor-
along the barrier island, as local mu- us,” said Judy Whitaker of Melbourne hoods.
nicipalities and departments joined Beach. “The toys will be delivered lo-
together in a variety of charitable en- cally in south Brevard County.” “The town also had a mail-
deavors box at the tree lighting and
In Indialantic, Town Manager Mi- town hall where letters to San-
In Melbourne Beach, Indian Land- chael Casey said the elves were very ta could be dropped off and
ings held its second annual Christmas busy, with the police department everyone was answered indi-
collection for Toys for Tots, and Bre- also running a Toys for Tots drive – vidually,” Casey said.
vard County firefighters from Engines and then, along with the fire depart-
But even with the holiday
Sophia Marie Nelson season now past, the spirit of Toys for Tots collections.
giving goes on.
Sophia Marie Nelson, 12, of Satellite Beach Beach Garden Club also volunteered
passed away on Christmas Day at Arnold At Hoover Middle School in her services and will be in charge of
Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando Indialantic, Principal Cath- the crew at Bicentennial Park on A1A,
following injuries sustained in a traffic accident erine McNutt decided to do while Byrd will take the lead for the
in her hometown on Dec. 22. something immediately fol- group at Loggerhead Park Preserve.
Sophia was born Aug. 30, 2007, at Holmes lowing Christmas break as a
Regional Medical Center, Melbourne, to Mark way to give back. “We will be removing exotic inva-
and Jill Nelson. sive plants, such as Hawaiian Half
As the youngest of four children, Sophia always Along with Vice Principal Flower and Mother-in-Law tongues,
strived to be included with the older children by joining them in singing, dancing, Paloma Ferreira and science and planting natives,” Byrd said. “We
drawing and painting, gaming and performing musical theater, and playing music. teacher Laurie Chalko, they came up will also be cleaning up the Park and
More than these, she loved bringing people together as friends. She was sensitive with Community Service Day, and conducting a beach cleanup.”
to others being alone and quick to join them or include them in whatever activity enlisted the assistance of Curtis Byrd,
she was in. To exclude others was to be mean to them, and this was intolerable for chairman of the Melbourne Beach En- Other participants in the day in-
her. Her fifth grade teacher said, “she was loved by everyone.” vironmental Advisory Board. cluded the Surfrider Foundation, the
She especially liked to draw and paint sea life, sea horses and sea turtles, but her Global Sustainability Group WFIT,
favorites were dolphins. Art was an inclusive group activity for her, always asking “These three dynamic educators and the Sea Turtle Conservancy.
others what she should make, and sharing the result. While painting, playing saw the importance of showing stu-
on her iPod or even doing chores, she preferred to have the company of others dents how community service is grati- The community is also invited to
instead of solo activities. fying and fun,” Byrd said. “The entire come out and take part in the endeav-
Sophia was born into a family who liked to travel, and she toured Spain and school will be working on different or – but you don’t necessarily need to
Portugal, climbed glaciers in Alaska, skied in North Carolina, cruised to Vancouver community service projects which get your hands dirty in order to help.
and many ports in the Caribbean, and made trips to New York City and Upstate to could easily become the building
visit her large family of aunts, uncles and cousins. blocks of future volunteering efforts “We are looking for native plants of
Sophia was a communicant of Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. She was in for these up-and-coming young citi- all sorts,” Byrd said. “Since we have
sixth grade at Surfside Elementary School, where she was a student of Chimene zens.” both dune and inland types of areas to
Rice, Kristina Roberts, Mary Straehla, and music teacher Sue Sinander. work in, we are accepting any types of
Sophia is survived by her parents, sisters Jessica and Amanda, brother Andrew, The event will take place on Jan. 8 natives including ground cover.”
all of Satellite Beach; grandparents Andrew John Scarpellino of Satellite Beach; from 10 a.m. to noon at Bicentennial
Deems and Lib Nelson of Simpsonville, S.C.; Roberta Nelson of Oakwood, Ohio; Park in Indian Harbour Beach and Suitable donations include Sun-
aunts and uncles Tom and Jennifer (Nelson) Adams of Oakwood, Ohio; Gillian Loggerhead Park Preserve in Mel- shine Mimosa, Beach Sunflower,
Nelson of Nantucket, Mass; Jared and Julie (Scarpellino) Nichols of Ocala; Andrew bourne Beach. More than 100 student Beach Creeper and Blanket Flower, in
Joseph and Elizabeth (Bucklin) Scarpellino of Royal Palm Beach; and cousins Ian volunteers will take part, along with addition to shrubs like Yaupon Holly,
and Skye Adams, JJ and Andie Nichols, and Andrew James Scarpellino, and many local volunteers and assistance from Scorpion Tail, and Walter’s Viburnum.
aunts, uncles, great-aunts and great-uncles. Sophia is preceded in death by her the Melbourne Beach Police Depart- They also need mulch and garden
maternal grandmother Judith Scarpellino who passed away in March. ment and Public Works. tools.
She is also survived by many loving friends at Surfside Elementary and in her
EDGE youth group at church who will miss her. She loved hanging out with her Melbourne Beach Public Works Su- “Of course, refreshments and cash
friends in Cinnamon Park. Her death inspired a massive blue ribbon campaign in pervisor Tom Davis said the town is donations would be greatly appreci-
Satellite Beach, to raise awareness of crosswalk safety and organ donation. always happy to have help from indi- ated,” Byrd said. “We are also looking
Her last act on Earth, donating her organs to save four other lives in place of her viduals and groups such as this. for members of the public that could
own, will be remembered by her family whenever they hear “Hark! The Herald help with educating the students on
Angels Sing” every Christmas going forward. A recording of the song played as “Curtis works hand in hand with us native plants, gardening, beach clean-
Sophia was moved to the surgery ward, while friends and family around the world to preserve our environment. He is a ups and the importance of removing
stood vigil with candles in a silent moment of tribute. very dedicated leader in our efforts in invasive plants while we are on site.”
A Funeral Mass for Sophia will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 4 at Holy sustainability,” Davis said. “He is our
Name of Jesus Catholic Church, Indialantic. In lieu of flowers, please make ‘go-to guy’ when we address environ- Donations can be dropped off at
donations to Sophia’s favorite charity, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. mental issues.” Town Hall on Ocean Avenue. For more
information, email: CurtisByrd@
Melbourne Beach Police Chief Mel- gmail.com. 
anie Griswold said her officers were
especially happy to work with the stu-
dents at Hoover.

“It is an excellent example for them
to see how volunteers from our com-
munity can partner together and get
projects done for the betterment of
our environment,” Griswold said.

Crystal Cain of the Melbourne

Jewish Federation’s
Winter Solstice Gala:
Brrrr-illiant!

10 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

SEEN & SCENE

Jewish Federation’s Winter Solstice Gala: Brrrr-illiant!

Cindy Gorssman, Mitchell Goldman and Larry Fineberg. PHOTOS: TIMOTHY WIRTH Melissa Galligan and Jerry Trachtman.
STORY BY KELLIE LANDI CORRESPONDENT
[email protected]

The American Muscle Car Museum “This is our campaign kick-off event Tzedakah, which is the ideal of charity Federation wanted to also extend
was the backdrop for the Jewish Fed- for 2020,” Trachtman said. and social justice. its support of Jewish communities
eration of Brevard’s Winter Solstice to an international level, including
Gala last Saturday night. A dash of Federation President David Slonim “It’s my job,” Lisa Pietruszewichz, helping support victims of the Holo-
wintry weather cooperated with the welcomed guests to the event, and executive director for the Jewish Fed- caust who are in Russia and unable
theme. thanked attendees for their support. eration of Brevard, said jokingly in to leave. It is believed that tens of
“We are working in the commu- response to her role within the orga- thousands of survivors from the Ho-
The event kicked off the organiza- nity, and while the community has nization. “I’m the one and only paid locaust are living in poverty in Rus-
tion’s fundraising season. Guests were changed the Jewish Federation has employee.” Pietruszewichz explained sia.
greeted to tables of warm, delicate supported them,” Slonim said. everyone else volunteers their time
foods and an ambiance which care- and these fundraisers really help sup- “I want to remind you that togeth-
fully combined the modern and sleek The Jewish Federation also assists port their food pantry and other im- er we can save lives and it’s only with
with feel-good nostalgia. those who are unemployed find em- portant services. your support,” Slonim reiterated as
ployment and provides assistance un- he closed out his speech before be-
Neon vintage-inspired signs with til they are able to thrive on their own. Pietruszewichz, who was assist- ginning the live auction. “I look for-
brand names that evoked memories “We are an umbrella for the Jewish ing at the silent-auction table, said ward to seeing you in the upcoming
of days gone by and high-powered community,” Trachtman said. the items were donated by “friends year and decade.”
modern lights cast a sparkle on the of friends” and members of the fed-
gleaming display of cars in the front The mission of the Jewish Federa- eration. Live-auction items were also Anyone interested in supporting lo-
showroom. A revolving platform in tion is to be an organization which available to bid on, and included cal or international Jewish families
the center of the room highlighted a helps fill the needs of Jewish Commu- beauty baskets and helicopter rides. in need can visit www. jewishfedera-
one-of-a-kind Ford GT with the exteri- nities in Brevard County. Their mis- tionbrevard.com. 
or color of Burnt Orange Metallic and sion statement is based on the ideal of Last Saturday night, the Jewish
interior color of Dark Energy Upgrade.

Along with enjoying everyone’s
company and touring the showroom,
guests were on hand to help raise
money for the Jewish Federation of
Brevard. Restored gas pumps, Sch-
winn bicycles and vintage boat mo-
tors wrapped around the museum
showroom in various displays. Guests
were overheard sharing stories of
youth bike rides and self-service gas
stations with smiles, while sipping
their drinks.

The Jewish Federation of Brevard
is one of over 200 Jewish Federations
in the United States, explained Jerry
Trachtman, first vice president. The
Jewish Federation of Brevard provides
social services for local Jews who may
need assistance in time of trouble. It
also raises money for education, rent
assistance and a food pantry.

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 11

SEEN & SCENE

Ollie George, Joanne Bishnis, Evelyn and Alan Jotkoff. Jennifer and Gene Friedman.

Monica Fishkin and Rick Kineapler. President David Slonim.

Candice Fisher, Lisa and William Peitruszewichz.

12 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

SEEN & SCENE

Rock Harbor Church tunes into community’s needs

STORY BY JENNIFER TORRES CORRESPONDENT Preston, Angie, Kevin and Carson Diamond. Diamond said he’s excited to finally
[email protected] Kevin Diamond. have a physical home at Gemini and
wants to help with the reality that
When Pastor Kevin Diamond and in today’s fast-paced, digital world
his wife Angie arrived in Melbourne – sustaining deep, meaningful rela-
Beach more than a year ago, they came tionships can be harder to achieve.
to be closer to family – and to start a
church. But as newcomers to the area, “Each week volunteers from the
and without a physical building for church come in early and transform
the church, they took things one step the interior from a school’s foyer
at a time by volunteering in the com- and cafeteria into a welcoming wor-
munity and making friends. ship center that embraces the atmo-
sphere of the beach community,”
Well, a lot can happen in a year, and Diamond said. “The relationships
in September, the newly formed Rock that develop in towns like Mel-
Harbor Church celebrated its brand- bourne Beach are what make small
new home at Gemini Elementary communities unique. Our desire is
School with a “morning worship ex- to be a place of hope and a home for
perience” attended by more than 150 everyone, whether you come from
people. a traditional church background or
have never stepped foot in a church,
With music, children’s activities we are a place for you.”
and worship, services now take place
each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. in the cafete- Diamond refers to it as “a church
ria, while school is not in session. for people who don’t like church,”
and it appears a lot of people like it.
Diamond and his family, which in-
cludes two sons, Preston and Carson, Rock Harbor is part of the Evangel-
are originally from Ohio, where he ical Covenant Church, which repre-
served as the associate and youth pas- sents more than 800 churches across
tor for nine years at Faith Covenant the United States and Canada.
Church near Columbus. The couple
both graduated from Ohio State Uni- For more information about Rock
versity and Kevin went on to complete Harbor Church, visit www.rhfl.org. 
his Master of Divinity at North Park
Theological Seminary.

Last January, before starting a
church in their new town, they decid-
ed to develop strong ties throughout
the community by volunteering: help-
ing residents with jobs around the
house, hosting beach cleanup days
following Hurricane Dorian and as-
sisting with events at Gemini Elemen-
tary.

In addition to being a pastor, Dia-
mond is also a professional DJ with
a complete array of equipment in-
cluding sub-woofers, mixing con-
soles, wireless mics and interactive
lighting, so he soon became known
around town as the “nonprofit DJ” for
providing his services at events and
fundraisers for free – asking only for a
small donation to his church ministry
in return.

“When most people think of a pas-
tor, they typically don’t think of a
DJ. But a core desire of our church is
to use every resource that God has
given us to support the community
through service and events, and if
that means we rock the park with
music, then we’re here for that,” Dia-
mond said.

He and his wife also put in a lot of
volunteer hours at Gemini Elementa-
ry School where their two sons attend
and recently provided all the sound
equipment and services for a school
play at no charge.

Buzz begins for
Vero Beach Opera’s
‘Barber of Seville’

14 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

ARTS & THEATRE

Buzz begins for Vero Beach Opera’s ‘Barber of Seville’

STORY BY PAM HARBAUGH CORRESPONDENT Stephanie Foley Davis.

Those who have made a New Year’s David Pershall as Figaro in a prior has sung leading roles with numerous
resolution to become more sophisti- production of “The Barber of Seville.” companies including the Glimmer-
cated, to raise one’s cultural quotient, glass Festival, Arizona Opera, Night-
this is for you. ingale Opera Theatre and the Orlando
Philhamonic. She is making her debut
It’s opera, specifically “The Barber this season with the Vero Beach Opera
of Seville,” and it will be presented and the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra.
3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12 by the Vero
Beach Opera. It stars four singers David Pershall and Susan Neves.
from the Metropolitan Opera and a
maestro who will conduct a 33-piece PHOTOS BY J. PATRICK RICE
professional orchestra.

Relax. Don’t get all nervous. “The
Barber of Seville” is “opera buffa,” or
comedy. The complex plot line and
broad characters and general good
humor is a bit like the Marx Brothers
set to glorious sound.

In fact, you will be hard pressed to
listen to the friendly, very familiar
music and not conjure images of Bugs
Bunny and Elmer Fudd.

Composed by Giochino Rossini
when he was only 24 years old, “The
Barber of Seville” Italian libretto was
written by Cesare Sterbini. It follows
the comic story of the same name
originally written by French writer
Pierre Beaumarchais.

In it, Count Almaviva has fallen in
love with Rosina, who is the ward of
Doctor Bartolo. But love will not run
smooth in this story. Bartolo plans to
marry Rosina and interferes. Enter Fi-
garo, a barber, who helps the Count.
Drunkenness, mistaken identity and
love letters also play into the plot.

“It’s going to be phenomenal,” said
Joan Ortega-Cowen, the president
and executive director of Vero Beach
Opera. “In the past three years, we’ve
done big operas like ‘Madama Butter-
fly’ and ‘Carmen’ and we’ve sold out
every year.”

Her husband, Roman Ortega-Cow-
en, serves as the organization’s artis-
tic director. He said the 15-member
working board spends at least seven
months working on the production.

“This is a full professional opera,”
he said. “This is not amateur hour.”

The opera stars:
David Pershall as Figaro, the bar-
ber. Pershall, a baritone, was hailed
as one of the 25 Rising Stars by Opera
News. He has performed at the Vien-
na State Opera, the Kennedy Center,
the San Francisco Opera and Carn-
egie Hall. He made his debut at the
Metropolitan Opera in 2015 as Figaro.
He returns to the Met and the San
Francisco Opera this season.

Stephanie Foley Davis as Rosina, the
young ward. Davis, a mezzo soprano,

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 15

ARTS & THEATRE

Russell Franks.

will bring with him students to per-
form as chorus.

David Margulis. tan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, Susan Neves as Berta, the house- While the opera has two acts and
the Washington Opera, the Teatro keeper. Neves, a soprano, has per- runs about three hours. It is sung in
David Margulis as Count Almaviva, dell’Opera di Roma, the New York City formed for the Met, the Opera Bastille Italian but is presented with “super-
a young rich man in love with Rosina. Opera and many more. in Paris, the Vienna State Opera and titles” above the stage which translate
Margulis, a tenor, has performed this at operas throughout Italy. Her nu- the Italian into English.
role with the Cleveland Opera The- Rod Nelman as Don Basilio, Ro- merous recordings include the role
ater. He has performed with the Aus- sina’s music teacher. Nelman, a bass- of Marianne in “Der Rosenkavalier” “It’s a very, very professional pro-
tin Opera and the Palm Beach Opera baritone, has performed over 80 roles with the Met. duction,” Joan Ortega-Cowen said.
in “Don Giovanni.” with numerous operas, including the “We rented costumes from Atlanta.
New World Symphony, the Washing- Maestro Joel Revzen. The sets are professional built at Stet-
Peter Strummer. ton National Opera, Arena di Verona, son then brought here.”
Florida Grand Opera, Michigan Op- Maestro Joel Revzen will conduct,
Peter Strummer as Dr. Bartolo, era Theater and the Chicago Opera an orchestra of 33 professional mu- While the Vero Beach Opera has
the curmudgeonly guardian of Ro- Theater. He has been a principal art- sicians. Revzen is an award-winning been presented only one fully pro-
sina. Strummer, a bass-baritone, ist with the Metropolitan Opera since conductor who has recorded with the duced opera each year, the demand
has performed more than 120 ma- 2007 and performed alongside Placi- London Symphony Orchestra. and interest in their opera produc-
jor roles in the world’s leading opera do Domingo, Jose Carreras, Michael tions have ramped up so much that
houses. Those include the Metropoli- Tilson Thomas, Loren Maazel and Russell Franks will direct. Franks the board has hopes to present a sec-
many more luminaries in the field. is the Vero Beach Opera’s assistant ond opera starting next season, said
Rod Nelman. artistic director and stage director. Roman Ortega-Cowen.
Susan Neves. Franks is the director of the well-
respected Stetson Opera Theater. He The Vero Beach Opera was founded
in 1988 by Eloise Rodger who opened
her home to opera loving friends. When
the Ortega-Cowens came on board, the
organization really gained steam.

Over the years, it has attracted big
names in the world of opera, includ-
ing Paul Plishka, Deborah Voigt and
Marcello Giordani.

With support from its Amici Soci-
ety, the fundraising arm of the orga-
nization, the Vero Beach Opera also
presents a concert and a Rising Stars
Opera Festival each season.

The 2020 Vero Beach Opera season
features:

“The Barber of Seville,” 3 p.m. Jan.
12. Tickets are $15 to $100.

The “Best of Broadway and Opera
Concert,” 7 p.m. Feb. 22. Tickets cost
$15 to $50.

The Rising Stars Opera Festival,
March 24 to 27. This is the rare op-
portunity for young vocalists to have
a master class with Metropolitan Op-
era legend baritone Justino Dias and
Metropolitan Opera soprano Susan
Neves. It culminates in a concert 7
p.m. March 27. Tickets cost $15 to $50.

Subscription tickets to all events cost
$54 to $207.

All programs take place at the Vero
Beach Performing Arts Center, 1707
16th St., Vero Beach. For more infor-
mation, call 772-569-6993 or visit Ver-
oBeachOpera.org. 

16 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

COMING UP! ARTS & THEATRE

Revel in ‘Stars Sing Broadway’ at Scott Center

STORY BY SAMANTHA ROHLFING BAITA STAFF WRITER

1 Immerse yourself in your favor-
ite, fabulous Broadway tunes, de-

livered with full orchestra and terrific

vocals this Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Scott

Center for Performing Arts in Mel-

bourne. It’s the Space Coast Symphony

Orchestra’s always highly anticipated

January “salute to the stage”: Yes, it’s

“Stars Sing Broadway,” a splendid

way to start what we all hope will be

a great new decade, right? As always,

the SCSO kicks off its season in grand

style, with a stellar professional four-

some: Broadway superstar Michelle

Knight (“Disenchanted,” “Jersey Boys,” p.m.; Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. (Jan. 16, also charge. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: start terday Once More,” or perhaps “Rainy
2 p.m.); Fridays, 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 at $34.50. 321-242-2219. Days and Mondays.” These and other
“Finding Nemo”), mezzo soprano p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. Tick- wonderful Grammy-winning songs
ets: Adults: $50 to $85, students, $25 from uber-talented siblings Karen and
Sarah Purser, tenor Kit Cleto and bari- to $42.50. 772-231-6990 or www.river- Richard Carpenter will be yours again
sidetheatre.com. this coming Friday, Jan. 10, as the King
tone Stephen Mumbert, who join the 4 Hot Pink – “the hottest band Center brings to its main stage “We’ve
in Brevard,” according to their Only Just Begun – Carpenters Remem-
orchestra to bring you, lists the SCSO bered.” Described by the show’s pro-
ducer, Musicworks, this production
promo, faves from Richard Rodgers, fans – will present a musical tribute is “the definitive concert show cel-
ebrating the music of one of the most
Frederick Loewe, Meredith Wilsson, to one of the hottest bands in the his- successful recording acts of all time.”
In the spotlight, channeling Karen
Stephen Sondheim, Alan Menken, Ste- 3 Actor and comedian David Ad- tory of the world, according to prac- Carpenter’s voice and Richard Car-
kins, says Wikipedia, is “ranked penter’s compositions and arrange-
ven Schwartz, Andrew Lloyd Webber, tically everybody – the Beatles – this ments, will be vocalist Michelle Ber-
ting Brett and her seven-piece band
Claude-Michel Schönberg and more. A by Comedy Central as one of the ‘100 Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Jan. of Nashville musicians. According to
the show promo, the show recreates
truly ‘Wow’ lineup. Curtain: 2 p.m. and Greatest Standups of All Time.’” Who’s 9-11, at the Cocoa Village Playhouse. the arrangements, sound and stories
that generated “a legion of loyal fans,”
7 p.m. Tickets: $25. 855-252-7672. he, you ask? How about Sinbad? That’s Eclectic aptly describes this group of all culled from “extensive research
and interviews with those who knew
Adkins’ stage name, and he’ll be sail- seasoned musicians, who, according Karen and Richard personally and
professionally.” Brett and her band,
2 Just the show to launch yourself ing to the King Center with a cargo of to their show promo, have performed says Musicworks, have worked with
into 2020 on an upbeat note: a such music icons as Donna Summer,
standup comedy this coming Thurs- all over Central Florida for more than Wynonna Judd, Collin Raye, Bobby
Caldwell, Tanya Tucker and numer-
hilarious and high-spirited Jazz Age day, Jan. 9. Sinbad’s had audiences a decade, employing a “perfect blend ous others. Time: 8 p.m. Tickets: start
at $33.25. 321-242-2219. 
tale with lots of terrific hoofin.’ Six- laughing for more than three decades of soulful guitar, powerful vocals and

Tony-winning Broadway hit “Thor- now and, according to Wikipedia, he’s thick rhythms,” and playing “every-

oughly Modern Millie” hits the boards starred in a couple of Comedy Central thing from Stevie Wonder to Elton

at Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach this specials and, with his thespian hat on, John, from Soul to Rock and Roll.”

Tuesday, Jan. 7. It’s the story of Millie he’s had “leading roles on such films For this gig – “Hot Pink: The Music

Dillmount, fresh from Kansas, who as ‘Jingle All the Way’ and ‘Good Burg- of The Beatles” – it’ll be wall-to-wall

lands in the Big Apple at the height of er,’ and on the FX super series, ‘It’s Al- fave songs of the boys from Liverpool.

the exciting, dizzying Jazz Age, with its ways Sunny in Philadelphia.’” Sinbad Time: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.; Friday, 7:30

rich milieu of “frisky flappers, dash- trivia: Says Wikipedia, he was a boom p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

ing leading men and a villainess you’ll operator in the U.S. Air Force and, Tickets: $25. 321-636-5050.

love to hate,” according to Riverside’s while stationed in Wichita, he’d often

promo. This thoroughly enjoyable mu- head downtown to perform stand-up. 5 “Long ago and oh so far away …”
Many of us, I daresay, hold a dis-
sical is based on the 1967 film starring He says he didn’t make the cut on the

Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore, Air Force basketball team, so he kept tant, dreamy memory that drifts back

so says Wikipedia. Curtain: Tuesdays, going AWOL, which almost, but not into mind when we hear a certain Car-

7:30 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2 p.m. and 7:30 quite, got him a dishonorable dis- penters song. Do you? It might be “Yes-



Maj. Darwani stands in a position he commands in Kulajo.

Along the 150-mile length of the no man’s Men pray on the street outside a
land running between the Iraqi army and the mosque that’s under construction in Raqqa.
Kurdish peshmerga, militants are living off the
land. Officials said the group is reorganizing
itself, getting weapons and arms.

Men, accused of belonging to an ISIS sleeper cell in Raqqa, Two-year-old Hassoun was orphaned and
face a prison wall in Tabqa shortly after their arrest. maimed during the U.S.-led operation to drive

A man in Kulajo wanders between a peshmerga the Islamic State out of Raqqa. He relies on
position and the no man’s land between them a small local NGO named Hope Makers to
and Iraqi security forces. provide him with a prosthetic foot that

needs to be replaced regularly as he grows.

Iraq – In caves tucked into Across many parts of the vast territo- belt during a U.S. raid on his hideout ern Deir al-Zour province, where the
craggy cliffs and tun- ry it once controlled, the Islamic State in October. group made its last stand in March
nels dug deep beneath the desert, the is scrambling to reassert its presence and where tribal and ethnic rivalries
remnants of a vanquished army are in a setting that is no longer as wel- As many as 30,000 suspected ISIS help sustain support for the militants.
converging for what they hope will be coming as it once was. Militant fight- fighters are in prison in Iraq and Syria
the next chapter in their battle for an ers who escaped from the battlefield and tens of thousands of their wives Assassinations have been on the rise
Islamic State. are assembling in ungoverned spaces and children are detained in dismal in recent weeks, in part because the
Hundreds and perhaps thousands of such as the no man’s land between camps, according to Kurdish, Iraqi and U.S.-allied Syrian Democratic Forc-
Islamic State fighters have made their areas controlled by Kurdish and Iraqi U.N. officials. es pulled fighters out of the area to
way over recent months into a stretch forces. Others are laying low as so- confront Turkish troops to the north,
of sparsely populated territory span- called sleeping cells in cities such as The group has struggled to reassert according to an employee of a U.S.-
ning the disputed border between the Raqqa in Syria, waiting for the phone itself in its former city strongholds such backed NGO in the province, who was
Kurdistan region and the rest of Iraq, call ordering them to attack. as Raqqa and Mosul in Iraq, where Is- interviewed during a recent trip to the
according to U.S. and Kurdish officials. lamic State attacks have become rare. area and asked not to be named due to
Off limits to Kurdish and Iraqi secu- Recent visits to the Islamic State’s Memories of its brutal rule and the hor- safety concerns.
rity forces because of historic disputes former capital of Raqqa and the vi- rors of the airstrikes used to dislodge the
over who should control it, this area of ciously contested frontier town of Ku- militants deter any desire to see them Over a typical Syrian breakfast in
twisting river valleys dense with vege- lajo revealed the challenges the mili- return, according to Rasha Al-Aqee- one of the towns ISIS once ruled, he
tation has attracted the biggest known tants face as well as the reemerging di, the editor of Irfaa Sawtak, an Iraqi described having to take back roads
concentration of Islamic State fight- threat they pose. newsletter. through the desert to avoid a cluster
ers since they lost control of the last of towns where the militants still com-
village of their once-vast caliphate in So far, this is less a resurgence than Since U.S.-led forces began to roll mand loyalties. The group is now mak-
eastern Syria in March. a struggle to survive in the wake of the back the caliphate more than four ing a strenuous effort to rearm, he said.
In recent weeks, they have been massive defeat inflicted on the last years ago, the number of attacks car-
stepping up their attacks, focused on vestige of their territorial caliphate, ried out by ISIS in Iraq and Syria has Islamic State fighters have also found
an area of northeastern Iraq in the according to U.S. military officials. declined, by between 30 and 40 per- refuge in the vast, barely populated des-
province of Diyala near the border cent a year since 2016 in Iraq, accord- ert known as Badia that lies across the
with Iran, carrying out ambushes by The Islamic State remains a long way ing to the U.S.-led coalition. Euphrates River from where U.S. troops
night and firing mortars. Grasses taller from possessing the capacity to retake are deployed. The area is nominally
than men provide cover for snipers territory, said Brig. Gen. William H. But the militants have already proved under Syrian government control, and
who sneak up on checkpoints and out- Seely III, who commands U.S.-led co- adept at infiltrating ungoverned spac- there are indications that the militants
posts. Government neglect and long- alition forces in Iraq. “These are people es, such as the gap between Kurdish there have established a measure of
standing grievances foster a measure who are hiding out. They only come and Iraqi army lines, said Maj. Johnny command over cells elsewhere in the
of sympathy among local residents. out at night to harass and take pot Walker, spokesman for the U.S. Special country, Syrian Kurdish officials say.
“They have good military plans, they shots,” he said. “You can’t run a revo- Operations forces that conduct most of
attack when you don’t expect them, lution or create your own caliphate if the anti-ISIS operations. “While Daesh For now, fewer people are being
and they are posing a real threat to that’s all you do.” is at a serious disadvantage, finding killed in Islamic State attacks than in
people’s lives,” said Maj. Aram Dar- it while it’s hiding in the complex hu- the anti-government protests in Iraq
wani, the commander of Kurdish pesh- Over the past two years, tens of thou- man and physical terrain is a complex and the battles unleashed by Turkey’s
merga military forces in the area. sands of Islamic State fighters have task requiring significant resources,” he invasion of northeast Syria in October.
been killed, their leadership has been said, using the Arab acronym for the Is-
decimated and their self-proclaimed lamic State. But these new conflicts illustrate
“caliph,” Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, is dead, the danger posed by the group’s re-
blown up after he detonated a suicide The Islamic State also appears to sidual presence, analysts and mili-
be gaining momentum in Syria’s east- tary officials say. The Islamic State

In Raqqa, the biggest attack of the year Kurdish fighters at a peshmerga post said they felt vulnerable. A grove of palm trees where Islamic State fighters
took place in May in Naim Square, where hide is visible just a couple hundred yards away.
at least 10 people were killed. During its
rule over the city, the Islamic State carried
out public beheadings on the square.

Islamic State fighters are regrouping in a remote
stretch of eastern Iraq, aiming to revive their
fortunes after the defeat of their caliphate
early this year. “They are posing a real threat
to people’s lives,” warns Maj. Aram Darwani,
second from right, of the Kurdish
peshmerga military forces.

In cities such as Raqqa in Syria, once the
caliphate’s capital, secret Islamic State
cells carry out bombings and assassina-
tions. Even as the city strives to rebuild
from the last war with the militants, local
security forces are struggling to prevent
their return.

owed its conquest of territory to the accounts offer a rare glimpse into the territory in the Syrian province of Alep- sights enabling them to strike at night,
collapse of state authority over a big world of Islamic State’s sleeper cells, po, while others are thought to be hid- said Burhan Nouri Hamasayi, one of
part of Syria and the implosion of the which lie at the heart of its efforts to ing out in the Badia desert, where ISIS the post’s guards, pointing to the palm
Iraqi army in Iraq. Any further dete- reassert its influence in the cities from is believed to coordinate its sleeper groves nearby. “They could easily kill us
rioration of security in Iraq or Syria which it’s been driven out. cells throughout northeast Syria. all,” he said.
would create a new opportunity for
ISIS fighters hiding out or laying low. Akraa, 22, said his missions were as- “We haven’t arrested any of the Darwani put the number of Islamic
signed at meetings arranged during brains,” said Sharwan, referring to the State fighters in his area at about 300
The militants have not gone away hurried calls over the encrypted Tele- leaders. “So we cannot confirm that but said he believed many more people
and could yet rise again, cautioned gram app. He would be told a time and Raqqa is safe.” in the area were sympathetic to them.
Maj. Gen. Eric T. Hill, who commands place to rendezvous, typically a land- “These were the Arabs supported by
U.S. Special Forces in Iraq and Syria. mark such as the clock tower, a park or The disputed Iraq-Kurdistan border Saddam when he was oppressing Kurds.
Naim Square, where the Islamic State area has attracted the biggest known They will join any group that is against
They are making every effort to do so. carried out public beheadings during concentration of Islamic State fight- us. Even people who say they are with
its rule over Raqqa. ers since they lost control of the last us are secretly with Daesh,” he said.
Over the eight months that Muawiyah village of their once-vast caliphate in
Abdul Khader Akraa operated as part There he would be met by an “emir” – eastern Syria in March. As many as 3,000 fighters have gath-
of a secret Islamic State cell in Raqqa, a prince or leader – who picked him up ered along the 150-mile length of the no
he said he participated in 17 attacks. in a car and would deliver the orders, Kulajo, a tiny, drab town of flat- man’s land running between the Iraqi
He doesn’t know how many people he usually to plant a bomb but sometimes roofed concrete homes, lies along one army and the Kurdish peshmerga, ac-
killed because, he said, he didn’t linger to assassinate a local official. of Iraq’s most fraught fault lines in the cording to Gen. Sirwan Barzani, who
to find out whether his victims died. troubled province of Diyala. commands Kurdish forces farther north,
The emirs changed frequently. In in the Qara Chokh mountains. U.S. mili-
“I did it to avenge our brothers in April, one he knew only as Baraa dis- Arabs and Kurds have wrangled over tary officials say they put the number at
the battles,” he said, displaying no appeared, and a new leader known as territory here since the former Iraqi closer to 500, strung out in remote terrain
remorse during an interview at the “the doctor” showed up to arrange the president Saddam Hussein began set- and operating in groups of around five.
prison in the town of Tabqa where he bombing of Naim Square, said Akraa. tling Arabs in the area in the 1980s, as
has been detained by Kurdish security Then “the doctor” vanished and was part of his campaign to quell the rebel- “I don’t think the strategy of ISIS now
forces since his arrest in August. followed by two more. lious Kurds. And the area has long been is to do big things. They need more
home to Islamic insurgents, including time,” Barzani said. “They are reorga-
He and two other self-confessed Then Kurdish forces infiltrated the al-Qaeda, which preceded ISIS, accord- nizing themselves, getting weapons
members of the cell agreed to be inter- cell, and one day in August, they burst ing to Darwani, the peshmerga com- and arms. They don’t have the power
viewed in the presence of Kurdish offi- into Akraa’s apartment and detained mander, who has been fighting the mili- now to do a big attack.”
cials, who said they had verified the in- him. The two others were apprehend- tants in the area for the past 12 years.
formation the prisoners had provided ed shortly after, as were eight other But the difficult terrain and rivalry
after months of interrogations. Their members of the cell. Today, Kulajo is populated mostly by between the Iraqi army and Kurdish
Arabs but is under the control of Kurd- forces preclude any kind of organized
Attacks in Raqqa have fallen off since ish peshmerga. At a peshmerga post on offensive to root out the Islamic State
the cell was cracked. the edge of the town, little more than a militants, said Darwani.
ring of sandbags atop an earth mound,
None of the cell’s emirs have been Kurdish fighters said they felt vulner- “Iraq is on the edge of a cliff and it is
tracked down, however, said Heval able, armed only with the Kalashnikov falling,” he said, urging a hasty depar-
Sharwan, the commander of the unit rifles common across the country. ture from Kulajo as the sun set. For the
responsible for rounding up the cell. Islamic State to return, he added, “it is
The captives have told him that two Islamic State fighters, however, have a matter of time.” 
emirs relocated to Turkish-controlled mortars and sniper rifles with infrared

20 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

INSIGHT VIEW

SPACE FORCE SEEN AS BOON TO BREVARD ECONOMY

BY GEORGE WHITE rick Air Force Base and Cape Canav- Just as branches of the military are places to eat and do business,’’ he said.
Staff Writer eral Air Force Station, are assigned to dedicated to protecting the air, land, and Added Lynda Weatherman, Presi-
the U.S. Space Force to become part of sea, the Space Force is a new branch to
The United States Space Force is about 16,000 initial members. They are protect U.S. and allied interests in space dent and CEO of the Economic De-
coming to Brevard in a big way over still Airmen within the U.S. Air Force and to provide space capabilities to the velopment Commission of Florida’s
the next 18 months, and while much with the same benefits and housing, joint forces, Williams said. Space Coast: “We have worked so hard
will remain the same for local military but Patrick Air Force Base and Cape in this county to bring back launch
personnel and base operations, there Canaveral Air Force Station and its Air The Space Force was officially estab- activity, this is almost the next step in
are positive economic impacts expect- Force members will soon be renamed. lished Dec. 20 with signing into law of the natural success of that: to get the
ed across the Space Coast from this the 2020 National Defense Authoriza- decision-making roles and that has a
brand-new branch of the U.S. Depart- Want to enlist in the Space Force? tion Act. Start-up plans will be imple- greater economic impact,” she said.
ment of Defense. There are no specific Space Force re- mented over the next year and a half.
cruiters yet so the road is through the Weatherman said up to this point,
“Patrick Air Force Base (PAFB), and Air Force Recruiting services. Those As 2019 came to a close, local lead- “we’ve worked very hard not to lose
the 45th Space Wing, are a huge eco- interested should pursue current Air ers remained in the dark about the anything” after the Space Shuttle pro-
nomic driver for our area. PAFB com- Force space-centric career fields such details, but they anticipate a positive gram ended. SpaceX rockets and other
bined with other military installations as Space Operations or Space Systems economic impact – not only from pa- exciting endeavors have helped keep
in Brevard County have a $1 Billion Maintenance, the spokesman said. tronage of beachside businesses, but space industry hopes and dreams alive
economic impact on our region. Some from the sale of higher-end housing in Brevard, but the advent of Space
members serving at PAFB and their Qualified personnel from all branches for USSF brass. Satellite Beach Mayor Force could be the tipping point.
civilian employees also reside in our will also have the opportunity to transfer Frank Catino says increased launch
community. The inclusion of PAFB in and become U.S. Space Force members. activity, military or commercial, would “Here’s our opportunity to gain some-
the new U.S. Space Force will further add to the beachside economy. thing: people stationed here will eat out
enhance the base’s presence in our Space Force responsibilities will in- more, they’ll need housing, disposable
area and the economic impact for all of clude developing military space pro- “I think we’ve already started see- income will be there,’’ Weatherman said.
Brevard County,’’ said Indian Harbour fessionals, acquiring military space ing impacts with that program ramp-
Beach City Manager Mark Ryan. systems, maturing the military doc- ing up. It seems in general that since The Space Force activity is an ex-
trine for space power, and organiz- these (commercial space) companies ample of Brevard County getting more
Effective immediately, the men and ing space forces for combatant com- that have come here have brought aggressive to get more launches here,
women of the U.S. Space Command, mands, according to Chief of Media higher paying jobs into the area. (The with all the ripple-effect benefits to the
including the 45th Space Wing at Pat- Relations Jim Williams, a Space Force Space Force) going to create jobs and local economy. “The launches are im-
spokesman at Patrick Air Force Base. they are going to need housing and portant, but you want the ‘upstream’
of that activity,“ she said. 

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Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 21

INSIGHT BOOKS

A mudlark – a per- jects that hold their value “magical preserver,” Maiklem writes, and extract-
son who scavenges through time than in those ing an object from its embrace takes care, skill and
for treasure in the that trail mysteries and hu- an extraordinary level of patience, from both the
muck and rubbish of man stories with them. mudlark and those who share her household. Mai-
a riverbank – sounds klem describes wrapping lumps of wood and old
like a character from a Maiklem engages in a leather shoes in plastic and tucking them away in
Shakespearean come- twofold process of rescue cupboards or the freezer for months or years, until
dy, flitting between the and research. When she an expert or a technique can be found to help with
extremes of filth and unearths fragments of long-term preservation. Whatever else the Internet
magic. In her quirky old tobacco pipes, for in- has unleashed, it’s certainly made it much easier for
memoir of modern stance, we first learn how similarly wired people to connect and share what
mudlarking, Lara Maik- common that is, then dis- they’ve discovered about the literal objects of their
lem travels from west to cover how the pipes were obsessions, whether those are “lead bag seals, Dutch
east along the Thames, clay pipes, pre-1800 buttons, bricks, lead tokens,”
from Teddington to Til- made and how their size which are among the areas of expertise Maiklem has
bury, reflecting on Lon- and structure changed encountered. The curious forager’s eye doesn’t dis-
don’s long and layered over the centuries as criminate in its fascination, even when the finds are
history as revealed in the tobacco became less frightful: musket balls and other weaponry, Roman
detritus thrown up by the expensive. Fragments “castration clamps,” human remains. There’s a cer-
water. With minute at- of earthenware bottles tain coldness to this mudlark’s process of discovery
tention, Maiklem tracks carry enough informa- and storytelling alike, as if the mud dulls the capac-
the river’s tides, descends ity for shock.
steps and ladders to the tion, combined with
foreshore in all weather, census records, for The river’s pull connects Maiklem to her child-
and crouches and crawls Maik-lem to tempo- hood on a farm, where she was free to roam over
over mud and debris in rarily resurrect a long- fields and riverbanks and was “tutored” by her
search of fragments of the vanished riverside pub mother “in the art of looking.” She acquired a medi-
past. This kind of urban and its landlord. tative attention to the tiny details of the natural
gleaning is an old pursuit, world that serves her well as she studies the mud,
and city dwellers have always known that the river She hunts for inti- and that she hopes to pass on to her own children as
harbors secrets and treasures – Maiklem’s chapter mate and ordinary ob- a way of slowing down amid the rush of modern life.
headnotes quote from several 19th-century sources jects and finds items Yet Maiklem’s attempts to describe her emotional
describing women and children who waded into the that people used to fasten their clothing, connection to the river and to mudlarking remain
water on the hunt for scraps of metal or lumps of mark their possessions, seal their bonds and prove rather vague, in sharp contrast to her ability to focus
coal that could be rinsed off and sold for pennies. their affection: rings and hairpins, coins and tokens, on, say, the carving on the head of a centuries-old
knives and bottle stoppers, nails and pins, and frag- ship’s nail. Perhaps a collector’s obsession is impos-
Today, Maiklem’s status as a female mudlark ments of pottery, shoes and pipes. Her finds often sible ever to fully explain or share, but it means her
makes her unusual: all the more so since she’s not serve as a reminder of the city’s naval past and global narrative remains fragmentary –a cabinet of curi-
motivated by the market value of her finds. She adventures, of the cultural and geographic diversity osities lacking the binding thread of a story. There’s
counts herself as a gatherer, an “eyes-only forager” of people and histories that converge on the river- only so much an object can reveal, and most of their
rather than a hunter equipped with metal detec- bank. Religious tokens of various kinds have found stories inevitably end in speculation, the tantaliz-
tor and shovel. In an effort to maintain the delicate their way into the water over the centuries, and to- ing uncertainty of what can’t be recovered. The fore-
equilibrium of the foreshore, regulations restrict day, Hindu icons are plentiful, as the “Thames has shore, the mudlark’s domain, remains “a muddle of
how deep hunters can dig and what they can re- become a substitute for the Ganges” for the local refuse and casual losses.” 
move. The law defines certain objects as treasure, faithful. But as far back as the Romans, London was
whose discovery must be reported to the authorities a diverse place, garrisoned by soldiers from all over MUDLARK
and offered up to museums for purchase. In the eyes the empire, who constructed ingenious heating sys-
of the law, something is treasure if it’s really old or tems and imported wine and food to cope with their IN SEARCH OF LONDON’S PAST ALONG THE RIVER THAMES
really shiny – more than 300 years old or more than alienation on the damp northern island.
10 percent precious metal. Maiklem’s notion of trea- Maiklem doesn’t make the point explicit, but amid BY LARA MAIKLEM | 314 PP. $27.95
sure is more complicated. She’s less interested in ob- Britain’s current paroxysms over national identity, REVIEW BY JOANNA SCUTTS, THE WASHINGTON POST
it’s a pertinent reminder that notions of who or what
is native and foreign have always been arbitrary.
Thames mud – damp and oxygen-free – is a

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22 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

PETS

Bonz meets Bugsy, a perky, pizza-loving pooch

Hi Dog Buddies! got rushed to the vet and got a shot.

If I had only one word to describe That was scary. Also when I was still
Bugsy Corbiciero, it’d be – Paws
Down, ALL CAPS – “HAPPY!” Bugsy’s a silly puppy, I kinda chewed up the
a fawn-an-white Boston Terrier with
sailboat ears; white sox; a Big Toothy Bugsy. baseboards. An I alway liked chewin’
Smile; engaging, slightly smushy lid- PHOTO: KAILA JONES
dle nose; an large, wide-set, round- leaves, sticks an mulch. My favrite
as-saucers black-rimmed eyes that was probly cuz they were
always look Very Intrested In Every- all doing their best Adorable Puppy thing to chew is a hand-me-down
thing. thing when people came to check us
out, while I was doing – nothing. Just chew-toy that was Rocky’s.”
When me an my assistant knocked, hangin’ back, watchin,’ all stand-off-
there weren’t the usual barks, but ish.” Bugsy was chewin’ on it off an on
there was the clickety-click of toe-
nails. When the door opened, Bugsy “You? Stand-offish? Seriously?” durin’ the innerview. “Woof! That
anna human lady an man were right “I KNOW. I WAS, back then. You’d
there to greet us. I introduced my- never know it now though, right?” must be one tough chewtoy,” I ob-
self an my assistant, an Bugsy zipped “For sure,” I agreed.
right up for the Wag-an-Sniff. “Anyway, finally, when I kept not served.
bein’ adopted, the lady put me On
“I’m SO HAPPY to Sale. So, even though I was stand-off- “Yeb, id is. Ab-sho-ludely.” He
meet you, Mr. Bonzo! ish, an picked at my food, Mom saw
Me an my Poppi al- something in me, so I got adopted. ceased chewing to say, “Guess what?
ways read your col- An I am One Lucky Dog, Mr. Bonzo.
umn together. An now I have The Best Famly Ever, as you In my neighborhood, I have a leash-
I’m gonna ackshully be can see! I just love humans, and fel-
IN it! This is my Mom low pets. An,” he leaned in an lowered walk girl-fren – Daisy – she’s one of
an Dad, Lisa an Mario. his voice, “I’m a total Mamma’s Boy.
Come’on in an meet my those pretty Lhasa Apsos. Me an Dad
Poppi an Gramma. This is
their house. I’m here free- watch Animal Planet an football.
qwuntly when Mom an
Dad are workin’ an stuff. That’s where a buncha large human
We always have the Best
Time. An you know what guys with funny hats tumble around
they say: ‘What happens at
Poppi an Gramma’s STAYS sorta like puppies. I also like to play
at Poppi an Gramma’s.’”
hide-an-seek in that cool secret space
“Ah, yes,” I smiled. “It’s
a pleasure to meet you an under the TV cabinet. When I’m over
your famly.” I opened my
notebook an Bugsy sniffed it here, I mostly hang with Poppi an
an friffled the pages. “I’d love
to hear all about how you got Gramma. I stay close in case Poppi
your Forever Famly.”
decides to make a pizza. That’s my
“Sure! So, I was born (it’ll
be three years ago in Feb-you- FAV-rite Food in the World. I help him
airy) at a breeder in Lake City called
Rucker Run Dog Co. Mom an Dad had make it. An eat it. When I’m watchin’
just lost Rocky, who was also a Bos-
ton Terrier. He was the usual color, Poppi make pizza, I use my Laser
black-an-white. Well, Mom wanted
another Boston Terrier but whenever Stare. He says I speak with my eyes. I
she saw a puppy she liked, black-an-
white, it’d remind her of Rocky, an ’Cept when I’m here.” guess I do. I’m not much into barkin.’
she’d get Real Sad all over again. The
nice Rucker Run lady would call Mom He ran around to his Mom an Dad When I’m here, I also enjoy sittin’ on
whenever there was a new litter, but
all the puppies made Mom sad. Then an Poppi an Gramma, then to my the back of the couch an watchin’ the
my litter came along.
assistant, being all slurpy an happy. ducks out by the pond. An the hu-
“Well, Mom looked at all of us,
’specially the not-black-an-white He was pretty irresistible, for sure. mans walkin’ by. If there happens to
pups. Before she decided, the breeder
lady called an said all my litter ’cept “What was it like, when you first be one of those pesky racoons han-
me had been adopted. She figured it
got here?” I queried. gin’ around the grill, I quickly alert

“It was Cool Kibbles! I got my Poppi an Gramma. Those raccoons

own cozy crate. An yummy kib- have No Manners Whatsoever.”

bles. Right away I met my older “You’re obviously very well-

brothers, Squiggy an Dexter (aka groomed,” I observed. “Do you enjoy

Fluffy). They’re cats, which was baths?”

no problem. I mean, it’s all the “Thanks, Mr. Bonzo. Ackshully, I

same to me. An to them, too. Me DO like baths. I get ’em in a nice, big

an Fluff sorta grew up together, deep tub in the garage. An I have this

an we still like to tumble around special shampoo from Key West Aloe.

a lot. We usta be about the same It’s Totally Crispy Dog Biscuits!”

size, but I’m a liddle bigger now. Headin’ home, I was smilin,’ pic-

Squig likes to curl up in my crate with turin’ Bugsy happily roughhousing

me, on my real comfy bed. Only prob- with his cat brothers; sharin’ pizza

lem we ever had was them eatin’ my with his Poppi an Gramma; snugglin’

kibbles. I hadda make it clear THAT with his Mom; an watchin’ football

was NOT gonna happen. I’m happy to with his Dad. Bugsy’d sure found his

share my bed, an toys. But NOT my perfect Forever Famly. 

kibbles. We had a liddle discussion,

-The Bonzan now we’re cool.
“One time, onna walk, I accidently
stepped in an ant hill an got bit by,
like, a zillion of ’em. Mom says I went

into SHOCK. I don’t remember, but I

Don’t be shy!
We are always looking for pets with interesting stories. To set up
an interview, please email [email protected].

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 23

INSIGHT GAMES BRIDGE

HOW DO YOU DOUBLE FOR PENALTY? WEST NORTH EAST
A Q 10 7 6 3 4 2
By Phillip Alder - Bridge Columnist K82 J 10 9 6 AQ74
763 J 10 9 8 KQ52
Nancy Astor, England’s first female member of parliament, said, “The penalty of success is to 2 Q 10 9 5 A863
be bored by the people who used to snub you.”
SOUTH
The penalty of the negative double is: How do you make a penalty double? KJ985
53
Look at the West hand. After partner opens one diamond and South overcalls one spade, A4
West would love to double for penalty. But double would show four hearts. KJ74

West must pass, preferably with no noticeable hesitation. He must not turn to South and Dealer: East; Vulnerable: Both
ask, “Did you really bid spades?”
The Bidding:
After West and North pass, East should reopen with a takeout double. Then West can pass
again, converting his partner’s takeout double into one for penalty. SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST OPENING
1 Spades ?? 1 Diamonds
How does one spade doubled fare? LEAD:
2 Clubs
West leads his singleton club, East wins with the ace and returns the eight, his highest
asking for a heart return, the higher-ranking of the other two side suits. When West returns
the heart two, the low card guarantees at least one honor in the suit, which must be the king.
So East wins with the heart queen and gives his partner another club ruff. Back in with the
heart ace, East leads a third club for West to ruff. Still to come are one diamond and three
trump tricks, leaving the contract down four, minus 1,100!

Yes, perhaps North should not have passed throughout. After West’s second pass, probably
North should have risked an SOS redouble. Then the final contract would likely have been
two clubs doubled, which escapes for down one, or, if East-West immediately play trumps,
down two.

In theory, East-West’s only game is four spades!

24 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly
SOLUSOTLIOUTNISONTSOTPORPERVEIVOIOUUSSISISSSUUEE ((DDEECCEEMMBBERER262)6O)NOPNAGPEA3G2E 60
INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS DOWN
1 Have to (4) 1 Bacterium, say? (5-8)
3 Like residue (4) 2 Brazilian dance (5)
6 Poem (3) 4 Underside of an arch (6)
9 Shell-shock? (6,7) 5 Himalayan monster (4)
10 Composition on a religious 6 Current (7)
7 Voting list (9,4)
theme (8) 8 Sling your hook! (7)
12 Scotsman’s garb (4) 11 Barbarian (3)
13 British faucet (3) 14 Travelling worshipper (7)
15 Full and rich (wine) (6) 16 Nightclub door worker (7)
18 Knuckle digit (6) 17 Timber preservative (3)
19 Listener? (3) 20 Solemn ceremony (6)
21 Shivering fit (4) 23 Customary practice (5)
22 Part of a beer can (4-4) 24 Full of oneself (4)
25 Unable to be spoken to (13)
The Telegraph 26 Spoil (3)
27 Links game? (4)
28 Calf flesh (4)

How to do Sudoku:

Fill in the grid so the
numbers one through
nine appear just once
in every column, row
and three-by-three
square.

The Telegraph

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 25

INSIGHT GAMES

ACROSS co-star 50 “Just ___” The Washington Post
1 Large vehicles 91 Hope (to) 51 Director Kurosawa
6 Dessert that often follows 93 Shoe-heel attachment 52 Put in the paper again
95 Commotion 53 Valentine’s Day rewards?
moussaka 97 The New Yorker 54 Big and unwieldy
13 Con games 55 Ark numbers
18 Send away film critic ... 57 M star
19 Thought-ful guys 99 Lose, as pounds 58 Gaiter relatives
20 Journalese, for one 100 Quick pic 60 Draw with acid
21 Wide-open spaces? 101 Banco bill 62 La Dolce Vita star
23 Ben of the Ponderosa 102 Gunbelt goods 65 Some people feel theirs
24 Inter ___ 103 ___ with a view 66 Tasty
105 Gillette razor 69 Ms. Fitzgerald
(among other things) 106 He’s Charles in Citizen Kane 72 Fellow
25 “That’s ___!” 108 Kennel rations? 75 Asta’s co-owner
112 “___ evil ...” 76 Mystical symbol
(end-of-filming shout) 113 Just theoretical, 78 Japanese city
26 Actress Ward of The 80 ___ hearing
so far 81 Get rid (of)
Fugitive 114 Not you 82 Got through
28 Buzzer? 115 1950s flop
29 Pronounce wrong 116 My friends, the gate
31 Pretentious 83 Ocean clinger
33 Hearty entree to Depardieu 84 Steering-linkage
34 Morse Code bits 117 Harry and The Lone Ranger
35 Montezuma II, for one connectors
36 ___ ease (comforts) DOWN 85 The horse
38 Baghdad’s land 1 Castro overthrew him
40 Retro’s opposite 2 Discomfort course force
41 Crabber’s home 3 Lancelot’s title 86 Time-saving computer keys
42 Rarin’ to go 4 Opinion piece 87 “___ To Be You”
44 Prynne’s emblem 5 Third-place finish 90 Beads for bartering
46 Bring about by bribery 6 Having two political 92 First part of an operation
48 Truck stop sights 94 Paged (through)
49 Hebrew month groups 96 Onetime TV
50 Works time and ___ 7 Gets used (to)
51 ___ in the Sun 8 Plop top exec Arledge
54 Football coverage? 9 “Mighty ___ A Rose” 98 Churls
56 Soulful Lou 10 Not quite right 100 Thwacked, à la Samson
59 Continued 11 Old Italian region north of 104 Smell
60 Continental coin 107 Lon of Cambodia
61 Caramel center? the Po 109 Bush 41 resigned from it
63 Anger 12 Catfish hunter 110 Hard to make out
64 Dog warmers? 13 Actor Mineo 111 String after F?
67 Time 14 Give insufficient elbow room
68 Hangout for 85 Down APPROPRIATE MEASURES By Merl Reagle
70 Hits the road to
71 Captain Queeg portrayer 15 Bread crumb ingredient?
73 Joint with charm? 16 Dinosaur, e.g.
74 “I’ll teach you a 17 Flattens,

___ two!” or a relative
76 Rebuts successfully 18 Neighbor of Guatemala
77 Some spreads 21 Half a 1960s quartet
79 Opposite of sud 22 See 13 Across
80 “Come on!” 27 Flooded
81 Treats, as wheat germ 30 Dentist’s dream?
83 Indian tourist stop 32 Neglected-lawn result?
84 Melodramatic dance 36 Boy, does it hurt
85 ASCAP alternative 37 Dog or mule grouping
88 Printer’s buy 39 Miner’s haul?
89 Streep’s Death Becomes 43 Easy guitar chord
45 Word with snappy or sloppy
Her 47 Gil ___
48 Order to a dog
49 Pilot’s prefix

The Telegraph You can still easily go to

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26 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

INSIGHT BACK PAGE

All couples have problems … but this one’s a real red flag

BY CAROLYN HAX strangers, but here is a great person who if I were lines and none of the background information to
Washington Post ask.
single I’d go for. What do I do?
Dear Carolyn: For the past 3½ (And that all of us can answer in one sentence:
years I have been in a relationship – Flattered but Unavailable Tell him he’s great but your feelings for him aren’t
with a great guy and I’m really romantic. Unless they are?)
happy. Sure, we’ve had our share Flattered but Unavailable:
of problems but what couple Unavailable. Yes. You mentioned that. Several Which means we’ve either taken a long walk
hasn’t? times in several hundred words, many of which through the daisies to answer an obvious ques-
I have a problem with other guys though. I get I cut or condensed, over acres of excuses preced- tion, or you won’t admit your real concern: that
hit on fairly often. Usually it’s from a sleaze on the ing a question that you needed only your last two you’re in a rocky relationship with a jealous, pos-
street or something I can just blow off with, “Oh, no, sessive guy who at 26 picked out a 17-year-old,
I have a boyfriend.” and you’d like to get out and feel fresh air in your
Recently, I went back to finish college and I’ve met lungs and discover yourself and maybe eventu-
some great people I enjoy talking with, but they’re ally date nice photo-class guy.
“school friends” and that’s it. I was always “one of
the guys” in high school and am more comfortable If that’s not your real concern, then it should
talking to guys. My boyfriend doesn’t like or under- be. If you need to play up your boyfriend devo-
stand this since he doesn’t have any female friends tion and play down other male attention sooo
except for his friends’ girlfriends. thoroughly and irrelevantly to me – a completely
Also, he’s 30, I’m 21. He worries that I might meet neutral stranger – then I can only imagine how
some other punky artist like myself, closer to my age, doggedly you’ve had to reassure your skeptical
and fall for him. But he really has nothing to worry boyfriend. And that’s not something you bat away
about. I love him and I would never cheat. with “Don’t we all have problems?”
This past semester there was a guy in my photo
class who I had a lot in common with and ended This. Is. Bad. News.
up talking to a lot. He just emailed me about how He doesn’t trust you, will never trust you, and
much he likes me and how he was too shy to ask me it has nothing to do with your loving him enough
out. I feel really bad now. He’s a really nice person, (or not) or cheating on him (or swearing you
very attractive and fun to hang out with, but I have won’t) or having male friends (or not) or getting
no romantic interest in him. I’m used to blowing off whistled at on the street (or scaring the tourists).
He’s looking for guarantees in a world that, sorry
dude, doesn’t offer them, and he’s going to pres-
sure you for them till someone breaks. Get out,
now, while you can. 

Mobility mentality:
Have balance and
bone density tested

28 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

YOUR HEALTH

Mobility mentality: Have balance and bone density tested

STORY BY TOM LLOYD STAFF WRITER percentage of those broken bones. Bernadette Haugh, director of rehabilitation at SRMC; Kristy Losapio, ARNP; and Julie Ann Klucar, PA-C.
[email protected] It’s this two-pronged problem – bal-
PHOTOS BY DENISE RITCHIE
Benjamin Franklin’s axiom that ance issues in seniors along with weak-
“an ounce of prevention is worth a ened and broken bones – that Klucar
pound of cure” is no less true today and Losapio deal with on a daily basis.
than when he first authored it.
Bernadette Haugh, director of reha-
Unfortunately, many seniors put their bilitation for the Sebastian River Medi-
health, their mobility, their indepen- cal Center, wholeheartedly agrees that
dence and even their lives at risk by not seniors should be tested for balance
heeding Franklin’s words when it comes and bone density.
to osteoporosis and balance issues.
Testing is critical because “osteo-
Certified physician assistant Julie porosis [the age-related decrease in
Klucar and advanced registered nurse the density and quality of your bones]
practitioner Kristy Losapio at Steward is a silent disease and you might not
Health’s Coastal Fracture Prevention in know you have it until you break a
Sebastian urge everyone over the age of bone,” according to the U.S. National
50 to consult their primary care physi- Library of Medicine at the National
cian, or to come to see them for bone Institutes of Health.
density and balance tests.
“A bone mineral density test,” says
The International Osteoporosis NIH, “is the best way to check your
Foundation reports one in every three bone health,” and Losapio couldn’t
women and one in every four men over agree more – though she quickly adds
the age of 50 will suffer broken bones balance problems to the equation by
due to osteoporosis, and that an osteo- saying, “If you don’t practice balance
porosis-related bone fracture occurs throughout your lifespan, you can lose
every three seconds. it; if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

According to the National Institute “Learning how to move properly
on Aging, balance problems in se- when you have osteoporosis is just as
niors are a major contributor to a high important as all the other things that we

Collins & Montz do to treat osteoporosis,” Klucar says. death in seniors by up to 25 percent.”
Klucar and Losapio agree that com- “I think, as a society, there’s a certain
DCOESMNETTICI&SFTAMRILYY
bating the dual threat of bone weak- stigma involved with growing older and
Experience the fusion of ness and balance issues doesn’t nec- the things that happen to our bodies
traditional values and essarily mean adding to the list of and the changes that we go through,
medications you’re already taking. but people need to recognize that nor-
modern dentistry. mal aging doesn’t mean you stop doing
“It’s not just ‘here’s another pill or all the things you love to do,” Haugh
At Collins & Montz, DMD, here’s a shot.’ There’s more to it. There’s says. “There are little things you can
we will focus on improving every the balance aspect of it. There’s the fall do. There’s just little exercises, different
aspect of your smile for optimal prevention aspect of it. There’s the vita- things, different ways of looking at how
appearance, function, and comfort mins, the supplements, and only then, you’re moving that can make a huge dif-
through our general family dentistry, if necessary, the medication,” accord- ference in your life. If you never ask the
and restorative procedures such as ing to Klucar. question, you never get the solution.”
dental implants. Our comprehensive
range of services and dedication of They both agree that many people Bone and balance assessments are
quality set us apart. Call today to disguise their balance issues without not arduous, says Klucar, adding that
even realizing they’re doing it. “every patient who comes here for an
schedule your appointment. osteoporosis evaluation gets a packet
“A lot of people,” says Losapio, of handouts with balance exercises, fall
524 OCEAN AVENUE, MELBOURNE BEACH, FL 32951 “function great in their home because prevention tips, strengthening exercis-
they’re furniture-walkers. They know es and weight bearing exercises.”
(321) 725-6565 • MELBOURNEBEACHDENTISTRY.COM where the furniture is so they go and
they hold on and they get themselves The tests and informational pack-
where they need to be. They don’t ets are covered by Medicare and pri-
even go outside their house because vate insurance – often with no co-pay.
all of a sudden they’re a little unstable
out there and they don’t know how Letting untreated osteoporosis and
to manage. As a therapist you want balance problems curtail your free-
to look at what the root problem is” – dom of movement – or even end your
which often is balance issues. life – is just unacceptable.

Changes in eyesight, changes in Have the tests. Get the facts. Then
hearing and different medical con- enjoy your senior years to the fullest.
ditions including low blood pressure
can also play a significant role in falls Bernadette Haugh is director of re-
and bone breaks, according to Klucar. habilitation at Sebastian River Medical
Center. Kristy Losapio and Julie Klucar
If balance problems and bone are with Coastal Fracture Prevention,
weakness are left untreated, a study a Steward Healthcare facility at 13000
in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinol- U.S. 1, Suite 5 in Sebastian. The phone
ogy & Metabolism says, “even simple number is 772-581-2663. 
bone breaks can increase the risk of

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 29

YOUR HEALTH

Take heed: 7 common warning signs for heart attacks

STORY BY TOM LLOYD STAFF WRITER time – during exertion or at rest. Some given within the first hour after the happened at home
[email protected] heart attacks are like the ones you see onset of an attack. or at work. For ex-
in films and on stage; they’re sudden ample, decide who
Q. If you think you’re having a heart and dramatic. However, most heart If emergency medical services are would care for any
attack, should you take aspirin? attacks build gradually over several not available, ask someone to drive dependents. And
hours. Many heart-attack victims have you to the hospital. You shouldn’t discussing aspirin
[Heart attack is a subject too vast for symptoms days or weeks in advance. drive yourself, unless you have no with your doctor in
one column. We’ll need three. This is other choice. advance will give
the first installment.] If you think you’re having a heart you a clear course
attack, call 911 immediately. There While it may seem macabre, planning of action if you have
A blood clot in a coronary artery are drugs that break up clots and for a heart attack is intelligent. Having a a heart attack. 
narrowed by cholesterol and other open arteries; they work best when basic plan in place could save time and
substances is the usual cause of a a life. Map out your steps if an attack
heart attack. Aspirin keeps blood
moving through constricted arteries.
Therefore, paramedics may give as-
pirin when they respond to an emer-
gency to treat a heart-attack victim.

Aspirin reduces mortality from
heart attacks. But taking aspirin is a
subject you should discuss with your
doctor. Aspirin could hurt you if your
symptoms are caused by a different
health problem.

Doctors call a heart attack a “myo-
cardial infarction.” Loosely trans-
lated, the term means heart-muscle
death. The clogged artery prevents
oxygenated blood from nourishing
the heart. This can lead to pain, the
death of heart cells, scar tissue and
fatal arrhythmias.

About 1.1 million Americans have a
heart attack every year. About 460,000
of those heart attacks are fatal. About
half the fatalities happen within an
hour after symptoms begin and before
the victim gets to a hospital.

How do you know if you’re having a
heart attack? Here are seven common
warning signs:

1. Most heart attacks involve dis-
comfort in the center of the chest that
lasts more than a few minutes. It may
pause for a while and then restart.
The discomfort can be in the form of
pain or pressure. Some experience a
squeezing or feeling of fullness.

2. Pain in shoulders, arms, back,
upper abdomen, neck and jaw.

3. Shortness of breath.
4. Cold sweat.
5. Nausea.
6. Lightheadedness.
7. Anxiety.
Angina pectoris is the medical term
for chest pain or discomfort usually
caused by coronary artery disease. An-
gina (pronounced “an-JI-nuh” or “AN-
juh-nuh”) is not a heart attack. Howev-
er, there’s a higher risk of a heart attack
if you have angina.
It is often difficult to tell the difference
between a heart attack and angina. If
you get angina, you should get medical
attention immediately. Exertion brings
on angina. It’s usually relieved by rest-
ing or taking angina medicine.
A heart attack can happen any-

30 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

FINE & CASUAL DINING

Charlie & Jake’s: Good-luck goodies for the New Year

REVIEW BY LISA ZAHNER STAFF WRITER
[email protected]

One of my family’s holiday tradi- St. Louis Style Ribs.

tions was always eating greens and Grilled Chicken
Garden Salad.
black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day
RESTAURANT HOURS
for good luck and prosperity. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday;
11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday & Saturday
We had greens throughout the
BEVERAGES
year, and I learned to load them Full Bar

with butter and tolerate them, ADDRESS
490 E Eau Gallie Blvd.
but the greens plus black-eyed Indian Harbour Beach

peas pairing was saved for Jan. PHONE
321-777-7675
1 and usually accompanied by

a pork loin roast, pork chops or

barbecue, plus cabbage and

homemade corn bread or

hush puppies. It was much

less fussy than Christmas or

Thanksgiving. New Year’s

Day supper always had a

distinctly down-home,

Southern flavor.

Apparently, the

black-eyed peas sym-

bolize coins and the

collard, turnip or

mustard greens rep-

resent paper money or

“greenbacks.” The tra-

dition dates back to the

mid-1800s. Pulled Pork
Lunch Special.
To get a jump on the holiday and give
Southern Turnip Greens and
my son his first taste of greens and black- Black-eyed Peas.

eyed peas in a charming, rustic setting, side dishes ($2.99 each) all year round.
My son decided they are an acquired
we headed out to Charlie and Jake’s BBQ taste and that he’d try his luck – sans
greens and peas – 2020.
beachside. There are only a couple places
I welcome your comments, and en-
where I will order ribs, and Charlie and

Jake’s St. Louis-style ribs always make

the cut with me. A full rack plus two sides

and garlic bread or hushpuppies was my

choice that day ($19.99). The meat was

fall-off-the-bone tender and slathered

with caramelized sauce. The cole slaw,

sweet potato and hush puppies were

great, too. Yum!

If you like your beer on the dark side,

I would recommend Duke’s Cold Nose

Brown Ale on draft ($5 pint).

My son ordered the Grilled Chick-

en Salad ($10.99), a crisp green salad

with tomato, onion, cucumber, shred-

ded cheese and hush puppies or garlic

toast. The chicken breast was mari-

nated, tender and juicy, the salad fresh

and the garlic toast tasty, and a much

less messy lunch than mine if you must

go back to the office.

A co-worker happened to be eating a

Pulled Pork Sandwich with fries lunch

special at the bar and it looked deli-

cious. He said it’s his favorite thing at

Charlie and Jakes, so much so that he

gets his oil changed next door as an ex-

cuse to walk over. courage you to send feedback to me at
[email protected].
How about the Southern Turnip
The reviewer is a Brevard resident who
Greens and Black-eyed Peas? I liked dines anonymously at restaurants at the
expense of this newspaper. 
them a lot, even without butter. Our

friendly server said they are very popular

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 31

WINE COLUMN

Hot summers see Spanish winemakers seek higher ground

STORY BY JAMES BADCOCK can get complex reds. But it’s a false idea in the famous wine town of Haro close “Until recently, the idea existed that
The Telegraph of gaining because in reality you are los- to the border between La Rioja and the this was a problem that the next gen-
ing many other things,” he said. Basque Country but the problems are eration would have had to deal with.
Hotter summers caused by climate not unique to the area. But now honestly I think that we either
change are forcing Spanish winemak- The winemaker said that as tem- act now to resolve this problem or it will
ers to move their vineyards to higher peratures rise, the variety and nuance In Catalonia, the Bodegas Torres win- be too late,” Bastida said. “Our vines are
altitudes to maintain the characteristic of wine is being replaced by higher al- ery has launched a vineyard at 1,000 me- sending us the message that we need to
taste of wines like Rioja. cohol content, as hotter temperatures ters above sea level, on land the family make changes.” 
ripen grapes faster, increasing their never expected to use for wine growing.
Rodolfo Bastida, technical direc- sugar content.
tor at the Ramón Bilbao winery in La Fine Dining, Elevated
Rioja, said that higher temperatures “OK, you can make Tempranillo fast-
have brought forward the date that er, but it needs a period to reach phenolic Exciting Innovative Cuisine
grapes need harvesting by an average ripeness in terms of taste. Just because Award Winning Wine List
of 22 days over his 30-year career. He you can get 14.5 per cent alcohol doesn’t
is already making changes to long- mean it has reached true ripeness.” Unparalleled Service
standing production techniques but
warned that more will have to be done Spain is one of the world’s biggest pro- Reservations Highly Recommended  Proper Attire Appreciated
to maintain the variety and quality of ducers of wine and exports more than
Spanish wines. $3 billion worth annually. Zagat Rated (772) 234-3966  tidesofvero.com  Open 7 Days
2013 - 2017 3103 Cardinal Drive , Vero Beach, FL
“We used to plant vines north to south But just as hotter summers are pro- Wine Spectator Award
to maximize sunlight, but now we plant ducing wines with higher sugar con- 2002 – 2017
east to west so the canopy is protecting tent – which makes for more intense
the grapes,” he said. flavors – consumers are moving to-
ward lighter tastes.
La Rioja denomination of origin
rules dictate that wines must be pro- “Fashion is going in the completely
duced at an altitude no higher than opposite direction to the influence of
750 meters, but Mr. Bastida believes climate change,” Bastida argued.
that limit will have to be raised be-
cause high-quality Rioja reds depend To maintain quality, he and other
on the contrast between night and day winemakers are moving vines to high-
temperatures. er terrain. They are also using satellite
technology to detect the areas within
“At altitudes where we could only vineyards where photosynthesis activ-
grow rosé grapes for light wines, now we ity has ceased, to avoid picking too soon.

The Ramón Bilbao winery is based

32 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

CALENDAR

Please send calendar information 15|16 “Big Band Classics” a free
at least two weeks prior to your Concert by Swingtime,
7:30 p.m. Melbourne Auditorium. Pre-show to
event to start at 6:30 p.m. featuring the Clarinetics. For
more information call 321-724-0555.
[email protected]

ONGOING 16 “Remember Then” jukebox hits of the
1950s, 1960s and 1970s, performed by
Satellite Beach Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 5 Dave DeLuca, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Melbourne
p.m. Thursdays at Pelican Beach Park on A1A. Beach Public Library on the corner of A1A and
Ocean Drive. Free and open to the public, pre-
Melbourne Beach Rotary Club meets at 7:30 sented by Friends of the Melbourne Beach Li-
a.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month brary. For details call 321-956-5642.
at Oceanside Pizza, 300 Ocean Avenue, Suite 6,
Melbourne Beach. 18 New Year Car, Truck and Bike Show at
Dunkin Donuts in Indialantic from 8
“Art Meets Medicine” more than 30 art Jan. 5 | Running Space Coast Trails, “For the Girls Scholarship Fund” a.m. until noon. Call Bill Antonetz at 321-725-
pieces created by cancer patients and care- 3648 for more information.
givers. Runs from January1-31. Proceeds to 4 ‘Stars Sing Broadway’ presented by the 7 Free lecture at the Melbourne Beach Li-
benefit the Arts in Medicine Program at Or- Space Coast Symphony Orchestra at the brary, “Dissolve stress, improve health 24 “Sock Hop” dance and music by the
lando Health UF Health Cancer Center. Eau Scott Center for the Performing Arts in Sun- naturally,” at 6 p.m. For more information, 321- Rock & Roll Revue from 7 p.m. to 10
Gallery 1429 Highland Ave., Arts District. For tree. Tickets are $30. For more information, 724-0555. p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium. All seats $12
more information, call Lolly Watson 321-652- call 855-252-7276 or visit www.SpaceCoast- visit melbournemunicpalband.org
7115. Symphony.org 11 Learn how to Row with the Space Coast
Crew. Grades 6-12 at Oars and Paddles FEBRUARY
JANUARY 4 Tropical Haven 1 Annual Classic Car Show Park in Indian Harbor Beach. Event is free. For
at 1205 Eddie Allen Road in Melbourne, more information email sccheadcoach@gmail. 3 Fifth Avenue Art Gallery 14 opening of the
1 The 36th Annual New Year’s Day Walking near the airport from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Dona- com or visit www.spacecoastcrew.org. annual juried exhibition “100% Pure Flori-
History Tour of Old Melbourne Beach with tion will be taken to benefit a charity. All makes da” at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be pro-
commentary by town historians Frank Thomas and models. Call Debbie at 404-386-5357 for 15 Indian Harbour Beach Garden Club vided. Call 321-259-8261 for more information.
and Bruce Morgan, plus historical photographs, more information. light luncheon with guest speaker,
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Meet at the Melbourne Beach Susan Skinner of the Sea Turtle Preservation 13 Rescheduled lecture, “Marine Resourc-
Pier at the west end of Ocean Avenue in Mel- 5 Running Space Coast Trails, “For the Girls Society at the Indian Harbour Beach Recreation es Council-Making the Indian River La-
bourne Beach. Scholarship Fund” race series to benefit Center. Starts at 9:30 a.m. Contact Linda Kuhl at goon Healthy Again and Right Whale on the Brink
cancer survivors. First race in series. 6k and 12k [email protected] or 908-892-4426 for of Extinction,” with Dr. Leesa Suoto and Julie Al-
4 Huge Indoor Rummage Sale, 8 a.m. to 1 runs. For more information call 321-802-5655 further information. bert, at Sebastian Inlet State Park, park admission
p.m. Eau Gallie Civic Center with more required. For more information visit www.sitd.us
than 90 vendors. Free admission. Vendors call
321-608-7400 for details. 19|20 Concert for Staci Rosbury’s
tenth season as conduc-
Solutions from Games Pages ACROSS DOWN tor of the Melbourne Municipal Band. Free. For
in December 26, 2019 Edition 1 CHEDDAR 1 CHRISTMASTIME more information call 321-724-0555
5 CLOTH 2 ERROR
8 RURAL 3 DILEMMA 22 Surfside Playhouse fundraiser from 5:30 to
9 COASTER 4 RECESS 9:30 p.m. at the Cocoa Beach Hilton. Dinner,
10 SHRIMPS 5 CLASS silent auctions, performances, dancing. $75 a ticket,
11 SHORE 6 OUTCOME reservations required. For more information, visit
12 MISLAY 7 HORSECHESTNUT www.surfsideplayhouse.com or call 321-783-3127
14 SPEECH 13 SINCERE
17 SENOR 15 PANCAKE 28-29 National Sailing Event 2020
19 IGNITES 16 BIGTOP Mercedes Benz, Porsche,
21 INEXACT 18 READY Audi of Melbourne J/24 Midwinter Champion-
22 ADORN 20 TROVE ship. More than 30 teams competing. Eau Gallie
23 ENEMY Yacht Club and Melbourne Yacht Club are host-
24 PRESENT ing. For more Information, For more informa-
tion, please contact: Dan Noble 321-543-2224
Sudoku Page 2424 Sudoku PPaaggee 2435 CrosswordPPaage 4242 Crossword Page 2435 (COLORIZATION) or visit www.melbourneyachtclub.com

THE MELBOURNE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

CERTIFIED Windows & Doors Join our directory for the most affordable way to reach out to customers for your service or small business targeting the
Siding & Soffit South Brevard barrier island communitites. This is the only directory mailed each week into homes in 32951, Indialantic,
ALUMINUM AND WINDOWS INC. Aluminum Structures
“Everything You Need To Be” Screen Room’s Indian Harbour and Satellite Beach.
Contact Lillian Belmont, 321-604-7833 [email protected].
CLAY COOK Car Ports

[email protected] CGC 1524354

321.508.3896 772.226.7688

BREVARD INDIAN RIVER

Enjoy island lifestyle in
remodeled beachside condo

700 Wave Crest, No. 105, Indialantic: 3-bedroom, 2-bath, 1,451-square-foot Islamorada condo
offered for $449,000 by Maria Malinowska, Coldwell Banker Paradise: 321-431-8433

34 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

REAL ESTATE

Enjoy island lifestyle in remodeled beachside condo

STORY BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER CORRESPONDENT ing throughout in a plush beach- A secure entrance to the building Off-white cupboards fill the kitch-
themed décor with many other up- lobby in the Islamorada Condomin- en, which has plenty of granite coun-
The cozy, attractive three-bed- grades listed for $449,000. ium complex accommodates post tertops and a farm undermount
room, two-bath condominium at 700 office boxes and space for packages. sink. Stainless appliances include
Wave Crest, Unit 105 in Indialantic “The current owners’ family has in- Walk through lush plantings along the dishwasher, electric oven/stove,
has a beach access point just across creased in size, so they want to find a paver paths to Unit 105, just a short French door refrigerator, wine/bev-
the lane from its private brick patio. larger vacation home,” said Coldwell stroll from the lobby to a welcoming erage refrigerator and built-in micro-
Recently remodeled for the enjoy- Banker Paradis Realtor Maria Ma- double front door. wave. A large wine rack accents the
ment of the current owners, the lux- linowska. “They remodeled the proper- cupboards. The patio and beach can
urious condo’s interior has soft gray ty for themselves to enjoy as a vacation From the foyer, a bright hallway be seen from the kitchen/dining/liv-
walls and white woodwork, tongue home but have now found the home is leads past two bedrooms. The bed- ing areas of the home through mul-
and groove ceilings and crown mold- too small for their growing family.” room on the north side features a tiple French doors.
queen bed, outdoor courtyard view,
Todd Ostrander Top 1% of Brevard closet and private entrance into the A completely tiled laundry closet
“Door to the East Shore” ® County Agents bathroom that services these bed- with stacked appliances is located op-
321.749.8405 rooms and main living area. The posite the galley kitchen, which has
Over 200 Million
three-quarter bath features a large breakfast bar seating along one side.
SOLD! walk-in tile shower kept within the The large living room provides
gray and white color scheme along
Hall of Fame with a single sink. The bedroom on the plenty of space for entertaining and
Producer south side of the hall currently is used the dining room table sits in an el-
as a nursery but could be converted to evated bay of windows facing south
www.DoorToTheEastShore.com a generous office space or library. that flood the space with light and
[email protected] command a beautiful seaside view.
All interior doors throughout the
Opening Doors To the Beaches & More! home are French doors with frosted Across from the kitchen is the French
glass inserts that allow light to pen- door entrance to the master suite
Melbourne Beach Unique Architecture - $459,000 Wide navigable Canal in Merritt Island - $349,000 etrate but keep rooms private when highlighted with large king-size bed
closed. The entire home has conve- and dresser. The French door opens to
nient and attractive plantation shut- the completely remodeled master bath
ters as window treatments. including a walk-in tiled shower with
glass door opening. A plus is the in-

Luxurious Lakefront home in Suntree - $525,000 Mediterranean Waterfront Townhouse - $409,000

Representing Both Buyers and Sellers With Their Best Interest in Mind!

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 35

REAL ESTATE

VITAL STATISTICS
700 WAVE CREST DRIVE, NO. 105,

INDIALANTIC, FL

stant hot water rain shower head and tion homes in this area,” Malinowska a few steps away from the landscaped Neighborhood:
standard shower spray. A single sink, added. “The family that owns this condo grounds. It is just a short walk Islamorada Condominiums
commode and walk-in closet finish condominium is from Orlando, but to grab breakfast or lunch, sample a
the bathroom. many people who purchase vacation slice of pizza or an ice cream cone, or Year built: 1983
homes also come from Miami to get buy a swim suit or surf board. Construction:
More French doors lead from the away from the crowds for quiet beach Concrete block/stucco
master bedroom to the ocean-view time. The Melbourne area is very To tour this beautifully located, Architecture: Modern Key West
patio and beach access path. A con- popular and attractive.” upgraded condominium, contact
venient parking space is assigned to Realtor Maria Malinowska at 321- Home size:
the unit, which also has its own pri- Restaurants and shopping are just 431-8433.  1,451 square feet of
vate garage space. Pets are welcome air-conditioned living space
here and ideal in this home on the
first floor. Bedrooms: 3
Bathrooms: 2
Opposite the condominiums is View: Beach and ocean views
James A. Nance Park with volleyball Additional features: Remodeled
courts, a playground and more access with fine architectural features
to the sandy Atlantic beaches Bre- such as tongue and groove
vard’s barrier island is famous for. ceilings, crown molding and
plantation shutters through-
“Many people are hunting for vaca- out; impact-resistant windows
and doors; garage and assigned
parking space; patio; instant hot
water master shower
Listing agency:
Coldwell Banker Paradise
Listing agent:
Maria Malinowska,
321-431-8433
Listing price: $449,000

36 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Sales on South Brevard island: Dec. 20 to Dec. 26

The real estate market ended the last full week of the year on a strong note in ZIP codes 32951, 32903 and
32937. Satellite Beach and Indialantic reported seven transactions each, followed by Melbourne Beach
with five. Indian Harbour Beach reported four.
The top sale of the week was of a stunning oceanfront home in Melbourne Beach. The residence at 9445
South Highway A1A was first listed May 23 for $4.3 million. The price more recently was $3.999 million.
The sale closed on Dec. 23 for $3.875 million.
The seller in the transaction was represented by Gibbs Baum and Gregory Zimmerman of ONE Sotheby’s
International. The purchaser was represented by Thomas Davis of RE/MAX Elite.

SALES FOR 32951

SUBDIVISION ADDRESS LISTED ORIGINAL MOST RECENT SOLD SELLING
ASKING PRICE ASKING PRICE PRICE


SUNNYLAND BEACH S7 393 NIKOMAS WAY 10/7/2019 $467,500 $449,000 12/23/2019 $425,000
WILCOX MELBOURNE BEA 1405 ATLANTIC ST 11/8/2019 $398,800 $408,800 12/23/2019 $390,000
FLORIDANA BEACH 1ST 6506 FLORIDANA AVE 11/10/2017 $349,900 $322,900 12/20/2019 $300,000
STONEHEDGE 114 NORMANDY PL 11/11/2019 $235,000 $235,000 12/23/2019 $230,000

SALES FOR 32903

VIZCAYA OCEANFRONT 925 N HIGHWAY A1A 202 7/8/2019 $625,500 $625,500 12/23/2019 $618,000
SANCTUARY PHASE 2 T 343 PEREGRINE DR 11/1/2019 $502,500 $502,500 12/20/2019 $450,000
INDIALANTIC BY SEA 300 3RD AVE 7/18/2019 $419,000 $380,000 12/20/2019 $380,000
OCEAN SD VIL P2 37 CALCUTTA CT 12/3/2019 $239,900 $239,900 12/23/2019 $235,000
PARADISE BEACH VILLA 180 PARADISE BLVD 18010 11/24/2019 $209,000 $209,000 12/23/2019 $206,000
PALM COLONY CLUB CON 2700 N HIGHWAY A1A 13-207 10/8/2019 $168,000 $160,000 12/23/2019 $150,000
BEACH CLUB CONDOMINI 1999 ISLAND CLUB DR 21 10/8/2019 $150,500 $128,500 12/23/2019 $117,600

SALES FOR 32937

VILLA DEL MAR SEC 3 250 SUNRISE AVE 8/8/2019 $450,000 $440,000 12/20/2019 $420,000
WATERWAY ESTATES 5TH 453 SKYLARK BLVD 11/12/2019 $399,900 $399,900 12/24/2019 $398,900
MICHIGAN BEACH 9TH 3 270 SHERWOOD AVE 10/29/2019 $419,000 $374,900 12/20/2019 $365,000
GOLDEN BEACH EST 1ST 224 SHORE LN 11/23/2019 $349,000 $349,000 12/20/2019 $340,000
WATERWAY ESTATES 2ND 443 ATLANTIS DR 11/13/2019 $279,900 $279,900 12/20/2019 $270,000
S PATRICK SHORES 1S 156 OCEAN BLVD 11/4/2019 $259,900 $249,900 12/20/2019 $250,000
WATERWAY TWNHMS 2B10 425 DOVE LN 310 8/26/2019 $224,900 $224,900 12/23/2019 $210,000
HARBOUR ROYALE NORTH 500 PALM SPRINGS BLVD 810 8/22/2019 $219,000 $200,000 12/26/2019 $200,000
THAT PART OF W 1/2 O 36 EMERALD CT 9/5/2019 $197,500 $189,700 12/20/2019 $193,700
HARBOUR ROYALE NORTH 500 PALM SPRINGS BLVD 210 8/23/2019 $174,900 $169,900 12/24/2019 $164,900
CNDO INDN HRBR P2 403 SCHOOL RD 63 10/1/2019 $146,000 $143,000 12/23/2019 $143,000

Barrier Island Newsweekly THE MELBOURNE Thursday, January 2, 2020 37

REAL ESTATE

Here are some of the top recent barrier island sales.

Subdivision: Floridana Beach 1st, Address: 6506 Floridana Ave Subdivision: Sunnyland Beach S7, Address: 393 Nikomas Way

Listing Date: 11/10/2017 Listing Date: 10/7/2019
Original Price: $349,900 Original Price: $467,500
Recent Price: $322,900 Recent Price: $449,000
Sold: 12/20/2019 Sold: 12/23/2019
Selling Price: $300,000 Selling Price: $425,000
Listing Agent: Elizabeth Lyons Listing Agent: David Settgast

Selling Agent: Melbourne Beach Properties,Inc Selling Agent: One Sotheby’s International

David Settgast Gibbs Baum &
Gregory Zimmerman
One Sotheby’s International
One Sotheby’s International

Subdivision: Wilcox Melbourne Bea, Address: 1405 Atlantic St Subdivision: Michigan Beach 9th 3, Address: 270 Sherwood Ave

Listing Date: 11/8/2019 Listing Date: 10/29/2019
Original Price: $398,800 Original Price: $419,000
Recent Price: $408,800 Recent Price: $374,900
Sold: 12/23/2019 Sold: 12/20/2019
Selling Price: $390,000 Selling Price: $365,000
Listing Agent: Gibbs Baum & Listing Agent: Kevin Hill
Gregory Zimmerman
Selling Agent: Selling Agent: RE/MAX Alternative Realty
One Sotheby’s International
Laura Quintin
Lynn Raymond
SunCoast Real Estate Group
BHHS Florida Realty

38 Thursday, January 2, 2020 THE MELBOURNE Barrier Island Newsweekly

REAL ESTATE

Here are some of the top recent barrier island sales.

Subdivision: Vizcaya Oceanfront, Address: 925 N Highway A1A 202 Subdivision: Sanctuary Phase 2 T, Address: 343 Peregrine Dr

Listing Date: 7/8/2019 Listing Date: 11/1/2019
Original Price: $625,500 Original Price: $502,500
Recent Price: $625,500 Recent Price: $502,500
Sold: 12/23/2019 Sold: 12/20/2019
Selling Price: $618,000 Selling Price: $450,000
Listing Agent: DeWayne Carpenter & Kirk Kessel Listing Agent: Elizabeth Braun

Selling Agent: Dale Sorensen Real Estate, Inc Selling Agent: Classique Properties of Brev.

Marla Vardaman Zachary Spurlock

Cocoa Beach Best Realty LLC RE/MAX Elite

WATERFRONTBREVARD.COM Subdivision: Golden Beach Est 1st, Address: 224 Shore Ln
JUST LISTED IN THE CLOISTERS!

Happy Listing Date: 11/23/2019
Original Price: $349,000
New Year! Recent Price: $349,000
Sold: 12/20/2019
from Curri Kirschner Selling Price: $340,000
Real Estate Group! Listing Agent: Fonda Cote

Selling Agent: Fonda Fay’s Global Realty, Inc

Sheri Hufnagel

Curri Kirschner R. E. Grp. LLC

Subdivision: That Part Of W 1/2 O, Address: 36 Emerald Ct

ACTIVE LISTINGS UNDER CONTRACT Listing Date: 9/5/2019
Original Price: $197,500
1105 Pine Tree Dr, Indian Harbour Beach, Recent Price: $189,700
$325,000 · 2,063 SF Sold: 12/20/2019
Selling Price: $193,700
204 N Emerald Dr, Indian Harbour Beach, Listing Agent: Todd Ostrander
$259,000 · 1,788 SF
Selling Agent: RE/MAX Elite
258 Lansing Island Dr, Satellite Beach, 177 ATLANTIC AVE, INDIALANTIC
$745,000 · .81 Acres of Vacant Land Lydia Lopez
JUST SOLD
0 Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach, RE/MAX Elite
$549,000 · .72 Acres of Vacant Land $600,000
Subdivision: Villa Del Mar Sec 3, Address: 250 Sunrise Ave
200 First Ave, Indialantic,
$365,000 · .29 Acre Corner Lot

135 Waters Edge Ln, Indialantic, Listing Date: 8/8/2019
$449,000 · 1,785 SF Original Price: $450,000
Recent Price: $440,000
505 SANDERLING DR, INDIALANTIC Sold: 12/20/2019
Selling Price: $420,000
David Curri Broker/Owner Listing Agent: Zachary Spurlock

321.890.9911 Selling Agent: RE/MAX Elite

davidcurri.com Jack Taylor

[email protected] RE/MAX Alternative Realty

2 Offices to Serve You!
• 325 Fifth Ave, Indialantic
• Downtown Eau Gallie Arts District

Get Your Home Value Today, Visit: value.myckhome.com



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