Party with the stars

The Barrier Island Sanctuary invites you to view the stars from one of the darkest places there is - over the ocean! Please join the Barrier Island Center and the Brevard Astronomical Society for an amazing opportunity to view the treasures of our universe through their powerful telescopes on the observation deck. Time 9 - 11 p.m. You can also enjoy a short “Night Sky” Film offered before the star party viewing. Imagine how great it would be if a nest of turtles hatched or a mama turtle came on shore to lay her eggs! What a double feature that would be! Please dress for the outdoors (insects) and be sure to pick up your very own glow-in-the-dark pocket guide to “The Night Sky” from their Mermaids Purse Gift Shop. 8385 S. HIGHWAY A1A, MELBOURNE BEACH 321.723.3556. How romantic is this!

NKF Surf contest Labor Day Wknd

This week-end, all roads lead to Cocoa Beach for the 26th annual National Kidney Foundation Pro-Am Surf Festival. Thousands of people will attend the five-day event. Hundreds of prizes are given away, and the contest features live music, plenty of food, and name entertainment. Trips and surfboards from board manufacturers are awarded, and inside the Surf Museum, Surfrider Foundation will have an Antique Surfboard show. Antique boards will be available to buy, sell, and trade. Saturday, September 3 - competition begins at the Cocoa Beach Pier at 8:00 AM. For details, follow this link!

Zoo bargain!

This is quite the good deal! Just on Tuesdays, and just for September, you can get in the zoo for just $2 !!!!! IF you are a member, you get in FREE !! Children under the age of two are also FREE!! That saves you $8.25 (twelve & under) to $11.75 (teens & adults) !! So, if you ever wanted to try out the new Treetop Trek, now is the time to do it! For more on TT, click this. And if you'd like to read the interview with someone who has been there, done that, click here. But even if you have no desire to climb around and sweat - the animals are cute! Read on...

Luck

9000 flights cancelled, hundreds of thousands without power, and -sure, we've been there- but I sure am glad we're not there now.

OBX

I think I speak collectively when I say that the thoughts of those of us on the Space Coast, who realize the bullet we dodged, are with the people and wildlife who reside on the Outer Banks.

Surfer Heaven

"These are the kinds of storms that separate the men from the boys," exclaimed Jayme Noe, owner of Cocoa Beach Surf & Skate. "We pray for this kind of thing. This is what we live for." "It's going to be absolutely epic Friday and Saturday," Noe predicted. But that was not the case Thursday night when the ocean looked like a washing machine on 'Heavy duty' cycle. "It's all closed out, and there are large rip tides," complained Nola Yates, an employee at Balsa Bill Surf Shop in Satellite Beach. "A lot of people are looking, but few are going out." Earlier in the day the waves were rideable, however. A Florida News Journal report stated: "We saw about 30 surfers at Paradise Beach in Melbourne, and found some had come from as far away as New Jersey and Texas. Brevard County Lifeguards reported they had not made any rescues and called it lucky. "
The beaches on PAFB property were closed but didn't deter a few surfers. At around 5 p.m., two surfers were seen being tossed around at the south end of the OC, by the radar. And, further north, two highschoolers were asked to come in by PAFB Security.

Wed. Aug 24 - sunset - anticipation

As much as my heart goes out to The Outer Banks, Virginia Beach, Ocean City, Atlantic City and whoever else lies in Irene's path - these are the times I could (and do) just watch the amazing show that is Mother Nature. SO lucky to live on the shore! Remember, if you happen to see any tiny turtles...their nests are deep but they their covering may wash away...help them. Read how.

Surfers savor stormy seas

Can't wait! Not to surf, mercy no - just to watch and admire! Waves up to 12 ft! You just never get to see that here. Unfortunately, that usually brings with it beach erosion. And rip currents. Hopefully neither will happen and those of us 'wannabe waterbabies' watching on shore will have a show to remember! Thanks, Irene! Wanna know how the waves form, read here!

Waitin, wishin and hoping

Surfers from all over Florida will be arriving in droves soon...hoping for something they don't usually find around here (okay, except sometimes at the Inlet). Hope they find what they came for and avoid rip tide mishaps...

Surfrider turns 27

Surfrider turns 27
The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. Does that mean you have to be a surfer to join? Heck, no! This writer, trust me on this, is not a surfer. But she is most at peace when strolling the water's edge. And that's what counts. Read about Surfrider and what they do. If you can't surf, who cares?!? Do what I do, send a check. Maybe you can volunteer. Check them out - there is a chapter in Sebastian and one in Cocoa Beach, too. If you care about the seashore, any seashore, step up and help take care of it.

Is it time?

For those folks who experienced the triple whammy in 2004, it's hard to take those cute little 'projected path' warnings seriously. 2004 was what most consider 'a once in a lifetime senario' that is highly unlikely to happen again in our lifetime. Therefore, we have gradually slipped back into our 'ho-hum' mode when hurricane season rolls around.

For those that prefer to check in with a forecast center on a regular basis, rather than wait (like yours truly) until Jim Cantori is enroute to the Space Coast, you might check out the Weather Underground website. In 2004, they nailed every one of the storms that nailed us! Their little projected paths and 5-day forecasts were right on the money. Check them out.

Brevard Zoo hosts Open House for teachers

School is back in session and Brevard Zoo is ready to assist teachers at both the zoo and in the classroom. On September 1 the zoo will host an Open House from 5:30 - 8 p.m. More than 25 exhibitors will be on hand with lesson plans, classroom decor, and field trip suggestions. And, of course they will have wonderful 'freebies' ! Entertainment will include light refreshments, a beer tasting (!) provided by World of Beer, and Timmy Vee of WA1A will provide music. To register, please send an e-mail to edregistrar@brevardzoo.org. Include teacher's name, school, county, and email address. Deadline to register is August 31! Take advantage of this! To find out about the teaching kits the zoo has for teachers to borrow, follow this link.

Beach clean-up Sunday

Keep Brevard Beautiful has scheduled a beach clean-up Sunday, Aug 21, at Bicentennial Park in Indian Harbor Beach (just south of Satellite .... across from Martesa). Time is 8-12 and don't forget the sunscreen!

Harley stunts

3rd Gear Amateur Stunt Show

All Day Event Saturday Aug 20, 2011
Come out for a day of excitement - Amatuer Stunt show - come and show
us what you got!! Food and music - Music by Bret V, Engineer & DJ
Tantrum. Also music from some of your favorite local bands. Dyno -
horsepower competition (brought to us by Cycle Ops) -let's see who
has more horsepower a Harley or a Streetbike. BEER OLYMPICS!!!
(person with the most beer at the end of the obstacal course wins) Full
bar brought to you by Uno's (*drink responsibly) Tattoo's by Ink Spot!!!
Tattoo contest (men & women) Vendors --(if your not already attending
and would like to please contact Debra @ 321.259.1311 for information.
Ford will be there to present their new Harley truck.
Location: Space Coast Harley Davidson

Bark at the Park

The Central Brevard Humane Society, in conjunction with the Brevard County Manatees, will be hosting the 3rd Annual Bark in the Park on Friday, August 19th, at Space Coast Stadium, located at 5800 Stadium Parkway in Viera. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Come enjoy an evening at the ballpark with your dog! Watch the Brevard County Manatees take on the Tampa Yankees while visiting pet vendors, participating in fun raffles and much, much more. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and watch the action from the grass berms around the outfield fence. Cost to attend the game is $5.00 per person and $2.00 per dog. All animals must be on a leash and have proof of current shots along with a county tag.

The Central Brevard Humane Society (CBHS) will be there at the event with shelter dogs, and will also provide the public with fun educational information about responsible pet ownership. There will also be CBHS merchandise there for purchase.

Proceeds from this event will help to raise awareness and financial support for the thousands of unwanted and abandoned pets that visit the Humane Society each year, who need a safe and loving “forever” home. Remember -

Don't breed or buy while homeless (& dumped off) die !!!

2012 Runaway Country Music Fest tickets

For those who watched the Country Music show on TV last night, you are probably wondering if there will be another Runaway Country Music Festival next year.....well, the answer is yes! And you can buy early bird tickets now - unless, of course, you'd prefer to see who will be performing. The date is May 4-6 and yes, tickets are on sale. The location will again be Wickham Park but the set-up will be a little different. The same person is organizing the event and he promises to reveal exactly who will be performing 'late this summer' - whenever that is!

Pizza deal !!

Back to School Basics (School Supply Drive) at Pizza Gallery~~~ Daily from Aug. 15 - 31 !!
Donate $10 worth of school supplies and receive a voucher for a free personal gourmet pizza!
All donations will go to children at the Master's Workshop after school program. Must show proof of purchase/reciept to receive voucher. See this link for a full list of suggested supplies. And for those considering the purchase of a backpack, read about the backpack that is safe for the back at this link. Location: Pizza Gallery & Grill 2250 Town Center Ave. Viera, Florida

NO tax holiday Aug. 12-14 !

For those that think the 'no tax holiday' is just for school kids - think again. The following items are also tax exempt:
...Hair accessories (scrunchies, clips, etc)
...Belts
...Handbags a/k/a purses
...Wallets
...Scarves/wraps/ties for gents
...Aerobic/Fitness clothing
...Baby clothes
...Backpacks/Bookbags
...Bathing suits
...Hats
...Shoes - including athletic - & any inserts you use! (Cleats, inc!)
...Boots (except ski boots)
...Socks/slippers/hose/pantyhose
...Suits/slacks/skirts/jackets/shirts/blouses/jeans/dresses
...Sleepwear/Robes & Underwear/Lingerie
...Umbrellas
...Jackets & raincoats & Sweaters
...Work clothes and uniforms
...Diapers & Diaper bags & Baby clothes & Bibs
...Formalwear (Gowns & Tuxes)
...Gloves for work or garden
...Costumes

For home and office:
...Calculators
...Transparent tape
...Blank computer CDs
...Markers/Pens
...Scissors
...Glue

The catch: No single item can cost more than $75. Questions? www.myflorida.com/dor

Up to speed

Yahoo News reported this morning that of the 15 most dangerous cities to drive in (gauge is fatality #s) within the USA - Florida can claim 4 spots, including the top two. For us, Orlando is closest, coming in at #2 (We can blame tourists for that). Jacksonville is #11 (Blame the never-ending construction) and St Petersburg is #12 (We can blame old people there). And the top slot goes to Ft. Lauderdale. For all of I-95, I choose excessive speed and impatience as the cause. You can widen it, fix what needs to be repaired, but you can't fix attitude.

This is the Beltway, in or darn close to Arlington, VA - rated the safest place to drive in the USA. The traffic is horrific, no matter the hour, and the only reason more people aren't killed there is because it's impossible to travel fast. There are fender-benders in the thousands but no-one can go fast enough to have a serious impact. I rest my case!

Fleetwood Mac !

There are still seats left for the Classic Albums Live Fleetwood Mac show at the King Center on Saturday, August 20 at 8 p.m. CAL does a wonderful job and has some very talented musicians.
Read about them here!

Turtles hatching

Baby turtles hatching on the beach! If you see empty shells (like below), take a minute to scout the area for babies. They tend to wander like the little guy above, who insisted the water was to the west! He eventually had to be taken to the Sea Turtle Preservation Society (read about them at this link).
This is what hatched shells look like. If you see a turtle nest that has hatched, scout the area for misguided babies and if the nest is still intact, make sure the babies have a clear path to the water. Fill in any holes (sand castles that the creator has left behind) because the babies don't see them in the dark and they fall in and can't get out ( and die). Large numbers of big birds and gulls, all of whom prey on the babies, have been observed by hangars this week. With all the third world countries digging up the eggs to sell on the black market, we in Florida need to help our little endangered friends.

Space Coast ties to Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Cows aren't jumping over the moon in this year's Ohio State Fair butter sculptures, though the exhibit does have a space travel theme. The fair revealed on Tuesday that the usual cow and calf made of butter are accompanied this time by a butter space shuttle and astronaut. The American Dairy Association says the refrigerated display pays tribute to the shuttle program's 30-year legacy. The project took 475 hours and used 1,550 pounds of butter, about 6,200 sticks. The 158th Ohio State Fair opens tomorrow.

Why not !!

8/12-8/14: The AAU National Surfing Championship offers a chance to surf against world-class surfers at the Slater Brothers Invitational. The event will be held behind Coconuts on the Beach in downtown Cocoa Beach. This annual event welcomes amateur surfers of all ages to compete, as well as high school, college, and open surf teams composed of four-person tag teams. Competitors battle it out for 8 invitational slots that are up for grabs each year for The Slater Brothers Invitational, which is scheduled for October 27-30.Invitations go to the finalists in both the open shortboard and open longboard divisions. The invitations are personally handed-out to the finalists at the awards ceremony. To learn more, visit: www.aausurfing.org or www.slaterbrotherssurfcompany.com

Justa thought...

Spent some time yesterday, on a flight from D.C., with a family of seven (5 children), who were on their way to a cruise on the new Disney Dream. The parents were excited and the kids even more so. As we chatted, my mind couldn't help but to do a quick calculation:
...Cost of drive from their home MD to airport in DC
...Cost to park vehicle at airport for 5-6 days
...Cost of plane tickets for family of seven
...Cost of rooms for one night (they came a day early)
...Cost of cruise for seven
...Cost of rooms for one night (they return to Port in the evening)
...Cost of meals for seven for days not on cruise
...Souvenirs - 5 children!!!

In summary, this family wasn't batting any eyelashes over the cost of their vacation! And I couldn't help but think of the Cove Marketplace. Perhaps, since the draw of the shuttle launches is no longer there, we should create something else - besides tents - for families like this one who have the means to come and spend money in our backyard...

The Cove is a great idea but 1) It is too far from the ships, and 2) It isn't impressive. Maybe we should put a little money into a similar project closer to the ships. This family elected to spend the part of their day - prior to leaving for the Port - in Orlando "for something to do"! I vote we offer people 'something to do' while they 'wait for their ship to sail'. People are flying into Orlando earlier in the day, or the day before, and don't board ships until 5 p.m. or so - why not have them spend their money here instead of Orlando??????