2010

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED for Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Keep Brevard Beautiful is recruiting volunteers for Brevard County coastal monitoring. Click here for more information

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED for a Brazilian Pepper Tree Removal Project on Saturday May 8, 2010

Keep Brevard Beautiful’s Chairman John Porter, Cape Canaveral Hospital and City of Cocoa Beach will be holding a pepper tree removal project on Saturday, May 8th along the North side of SR520 between Cape Canaveral Hospital and the relief bridge to Cocoa Beach.   There will be two shifts from 8:00 am to 10:00 am and 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.  We will be completing the project that we started in this area last August. 

Chairman John Porter invites you to help Keep Brevard Beautiful one project at a time.  Come out, bring a friend and help get rid of invasive Brazilian Pepper Trees and replace them with a breathtaking view of the Banana River Lagoon.

PLEASE FILL OUT & e-mail to Patbrownkbb@yahoo.com OR FAX to 631-2840 Attn: Pat Brown

Cocoa Beach Neighbor2Neighbor Project

More than 70 Cocoa Beach community volunteers have joined in a grassroots effort to lend a hand to neighbors in need.  Cocoa Beach Neighbor 2 Neighbor initiative is part of the Save our Neighborhoods group recently formed to investigate options for improvement to the overall community’s appearance.The Neighbor 2 Neighbor goal is to provide assistance to Cocoa Beach homeowners unable to clean up their yards, paint their house exterior, or to perform minor repairs to their residence…with NO cost to the homeowner. Neighbor 2 Neighbor hopes to improve the community one home at a time.If you want to improve your property but are unable to, because of physical limitations due to age, illness or other situations beyond your control, you may qualify for their help. To qualify for assistance:

• Applicants must provide proof of homestead exemption and permanently reside in their homes.
• Applicants must be unable to perform the needed cosmetic repairs due to age, financial hardship or physical impairment.

If selected, repairs will be performed at NO COST to the applicant.  The group hopes to begin its first project in April 2010. Those interested in becoming a candidate for assistance, or as a volunteer, should contact Jack Kirschenbaum at 321-258-6356 or respond to P.O. Box 1870, Melbourne, FL  32902. “It’s about giving and caring for those around us!”

Supervisor of Elections Informs Military & Overseas Voters That They Can Now Vote Electronically ~ The Brevard County Supervisor of Elections will be mailing 9,387 notices to Military and Overseas voters on March 26th, 2010 to inform them of the new changes addressed in the Military and Overseas Voters Empowerment Act (Move Act).  The Move Act, passed by Congress in 2009, permits Military and Overseas voters to receive mail/absentee ballots via e-mail or by fax.  Voters who vote via e-mail should note that their e-mail address will become public record.  Voters who choose to vote by fax will be waiving their right to a secret ballot.  Voters can track the status of their Mail/Absentee ballot through the Brevard County Elections website @ www.VoteBrevard.com. For more information relating to mail/absentee ballots, please call Karen Graham at (321)633-2127 or by e-mail kgraham@VoteBrevard.com

The Space Coast Art Festival Needs You!

The Space Coast Art Festival needs volunteers to coordinate the Margaret Heins Student Art Show to be held Saturday, November 27, 2010, as part of the 47th Annual Space Coast Art Festival.   Please call the art festival office at 784-3322 for more details or to volunteer.   Get involved in the art festival!  It's fun and rewarding!

Scholarship Offered by the Florida Association of Supervisors of Elections Viera, Fl- You may be eligible for a scholarship, if you are a Brevard County resident who is also a college junior or senior majoring in political science, public administration or business administration, journalism or mass communications at an accredited Florida college, you may be eligible for a scholarship.  The Florida Association of Supervisors of Elections is awarding three (3) scholarships valuing $1200 each to selected applicants. All 67 Florida Counties are members of this Association “In the economic situation we are facing today, it my pleasure to help out deserving college students,” said Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Lori Scott, “ I hope many applicants take advantage of this opportunity.” Applicants must be registered voters who have lived in Florida at least two years and must have maintained at least a “C” average during the past year. Other requirements, such as letters of recommendation and financial information, are listed on the scholarship application and in the scholarship guidelines, available for download at www.votebrevard.com

Applications should be submitted in the county in which the student is registered to vote.  Applications must be returned by Friday, March 19, 5 p.m., to one of the five (5) Brevard County Supervisor of Elections offices:
Titusville- 400 South Street, Suite 1-F, Titusville Fl 32780
Melbourne- 1515 Sarno Road, Bldg. B, Melbourne Fl 32935
Merritt Island- 2575 N. Courtenay Parkway, Room #126 Merritt Island Fl, 32953
Viera- 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Bldg C, Viera, Fl 32940
Palm Bay- 450 Cogan Drive, SE, Palm Bay, Fl 32909
For a mailed application or additional information, please call the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections at (321) 633-2124.

On Saturday, May 22nd, Keep Brevard Beautiful will be hosting the “Trash Bash Final Fling” at Fischer Park.   This is a showcase event which will:

• Allow for recognition of the ongoing support provided by Waste Management and the WM/KBB cooperative partnership which makes cleanup efforts possible
• Include the presentation of a competitive grant award to KBB from Waste Management
• Highlight community cleanup efforts including The Great American Cleanup, St. Johns River Cleanup and similar efforts
• Recognize Cocoa Beach Hometown Heroes who are dedicated to preserving the environment http://www.keepbrevardbeautiful.com/events.html

LORI WILSON PARK TO BE CLOSED ON MARCH 13th for
                            "COCOA BEACH WINE & FOOD FESTIVAL"
Cocoa Beach ~ Lori Wilson Park will be closed on Saturday, March 13th to make room for  the upcoming "Cocoa Beach Wine & Food Festival".    The featured entertainment will be the ever-popular band-group  "Three Dog Night".   Numerous local area restaurants will be showcasing their specialty cuisines which can be complemented by a glass of wine, also available for purchase during the fest.

Note for dog owners:  The Brevard County "Dog Park" will be closed all day on March 13th.  FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT: Please call (321) 633-1874

SIX AMENDMENTS SET FOR 2010 BALLOT

THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Feb. 1, 2010........Voters will decide on six proposed constitutional amendments this fall. Floridians will see questions on campaign finance, property taxes, growth plans and legislative redistricting come November.

Repeal of public campaign finance laws - The Florida Legislature voted in the spring to put before voters a proposed amendment that would repeal the public campaign financing for statewide campaigns. .

Homestead ad valorem tax - The Legislature is asking voters to provide an additional homestead property tax exemption for members of the U.S. military or military reserves, the U.S. Coast Guard or its reserves, or the Florida National Guard, who receive a homestead exemption and were deployed in the previous year on active duty outside of the United States. The exempt amount will be based on the number of days the person was deployed.

Property tax limit for non-homestead property – The Legislature also put on the ballot a proposal to limit the maximum annual increase in the assessed value of non-homestead property to 5 percent. It also requires the Legislature to provide another homestead exemption for people who have not owned a principal residence during the last eight years.

Hometown Democracy – The group known as Florida Hometown Democracy garnered enough signatures to place an amendment on the ballot that would require changes to local comprehensive growth plans to be approved by local voters at the polls. Backers say the measure would end what they call undue influence by local developers. However, opponents argue it would make it much more difficult for local governments to make even small, necessary changes for local community growth.

Redistricting – The group Fair District Florida collected signatures for Amendments Five and Six, which deal with the redrawing of legislative and congressional districts. The proposed amendment prohibits officials from drawing legislative districts that favor incumbents or political parties and sets up other requirements. Amendment Five deals with the Florida House and Senate seats and Amendment Six addresses Florida's congressional seats.
2/1/2010 - Independent and Indispensable
http://www.newsserviceflorida.com

2009

CITY OF COCOA BEACH NO LONGER WILL ASSIST RESIDENTS IN THE REMOVAL OR RELOCATION OF NUISANCE WILDLIFE
Prompted by a "change in policy" whereby the Brevard County Animal Services and Enforcement will no longer respond to raccoon and many "nuisance" wildlife calls because of budget cuts, the City of Cocoa Beach likewise will no longer assist residents in the removal and/or relocation of "nuisance" animals. Effective immediately, the City of Cocoa Beach will discontinue the renting and/or loaning of animal trap-cages for removing or reloacting "nuisance" animals from residential and/or business properties. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, relocating "nuisance" wildlife to another property is prohibited by law.  There may be cases under certain circumstances whereby landowners can make arrangements using a properly licensed trapper to remove such wildlife, however, trapper service fees and a permit will more than likely be required.  Please contact the regional Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission office at (352) 732-1225 for more information.
The public should continue to contact the Brevard County Animal Services office at (321) 633-2024 to report sick or injured wildlife, or incidents involving bites, scratches or other injury to people or pets as a result of wildlife encounters.  

If you haven’t read the newspaper or watched TV lately, you may not know: Brevard County has launched a grass-roots letter-writing campaign to President Obama, asking him to Save America’s Space Program. When then-candidate Barack Obama visited Titusville in August 2008, he pledged to give NASA the support it needed to reach ambitious goals, ensure that the space program does not suffer when the Shuttle goes out of service, make sure that those who work in the space industry in Florida do not lose their jobs when the Shuttle retires, speed the development of the Shuttle’s successor, and close the gap. Now the recommendations of the Augustine Commission have been submitted to the President, and he will soon make the determination of how to fund NASA, and whether to continue the human space exploration program.

A website called www.SaveSpace.US has been launched, a Facebook group called “Save America’s Space Program” has been created, and a Twitter account called SaveSpace is tweeting.

How can you help?

·        Write a letter to the President (samples are available on the www.SaveSpace.US website)
·        Become a fan of “Save America’s Space Program” on Facebook, and suggest it to all your Facebook friends.
·        Follow @SaveSpace on Twitter, and re-tweet the messages.
·        Forward this email to your home address, and then send it to all your friends and family.
·        Tell everyone you meet about this important effort.
Don’t delay -- deadline is October 31.

Due to budget cuts, New Library Hours - Effective October 4, 2009
Sunday 1PM - 5PM,
Monday 10AM - 6PM,
Tuesday 9AM - 8PM,
Wednesday 9AM - 8PM,
Thursday 10AM - 6PM,
Friday 10AM - 6PM,
Saturday 9AM - 5PM

On September 30, 2008 the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009 was approved, appropriating funds for recovery from 2008 disasters.  Federal requirements limit the use of these funds to assistance for infrastructure and public facilities, commercial revitalization and housing activities directly related to disaster relief, long-term recovery and mitigation, all projects must have a completion timeframe of two-years.

On Monday, September 28, 2009 at 2:00 P.M. the Brevard County Housing and Human Services Department will hold a Special Meeting to determine the impact of Tropical Storm Fay and Brevard County’s recovery needs.  Representatives from municipalities within Brevard County’s incorporated and unincorporated areas are encouraged to attend and bring information pertaining to proposed projects, (which should include, but not limited to; CDBG eligibility, estimated budget, projected timeframe for completion, proof of Tropical Storm Fay damage, and that no other funds are available to assist with these proposed projects).  The meeting will be held at the Viera Government Center, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Building C, Florida Room, 3rd Floor, Viera, Florida, 32940. For more information go to the Department of Community Affairs web site at: http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fhcd/cdbg/disasterrecovery.cfm

Space Coast League of Cities and Waste Management Annual Scholarship

The Space Coast League of Cities and Waste Management, Inc., annually co-sponsor a $2000 scholarship for students of public administration in Florida. Application Deadline is October 16, 2009. Application

3rd National Night Out - August 4, 2009, 5-8PM

Freedom 7 Senior Community Center
5000 Tom Warriner Boulevard
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931-2055
(321) 783-9505
E-mail: admin@freedom7seniors.org

Freedom 7 Senior Community Center Fundraiser FRIDAY, March 27, 2009 from 2pm to 5pm 
Location: Freedom 7 Senior Community Center
Inside the Cocoa Beach Country Club

Nomination for 8 Over 80
YES! I am delighted to nominate a respected leader for the Brevard 8 Over 80 Recognition Ceremony @ Hot Night in the City – Friday, June 5, 2009. Please return this form to:  Angela Bush-Freedom 7 Community Center
5000 Tom Warriner Blvd Cocoa Beach, FL 32931  no later than Monday May 18, 2009.

The National Championship tags are in!

Purchase them for $5 to benefit the Cocoa Beach Seaside Lions Club.


Contact: Donna Spencer, Secretary, 321 - 783-8894

2008

SPACE COAST AREA TRANSIT ANNOUNCES 
HOLIDAY SERVICE SCHEDULE
Today, Space Coast Area Transit announced the following changes to its fixed route bus service for the upcoming Christmas Holiday: 
·        Wednesday, December 24, 2008 – All fixed route bus service will operate on Saturday service schedule, with all routes ending at 6:00 p.m.
·        Thursday, December 25, 2008 – No fixed route bus service will operate.
·        Friday, December 26, 2009 – All regular fixed route bus service will resume. 
Questions or requests for further information should be directed to our Bus Information Line at 321-633-1878 or 321-952-4672 for South Mainland residents or log on to www.RideSCAT.com.  

Check out the new Cocoa Beach Art Show Poster.

President Bush's Proclamation "NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2008, as Patriot Day. I call upon the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, as well as appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Patriot Day. I also call upon the people of the United States to observe Patriot Day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and remembrance services, to display the flag at half-staff from their homes on that day, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. eastern daylight time to honor the innocent Americans and people from around the world who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001."

Sand and up to 10 sandbags per address will be available free of charge for residents and businesses within the City limits of Cocoa Beach. Sand and bag distribution will be activated when weather forecasts put Cocoa Beach within the potential 5-day path of a tropical storm or hurricane. During a busy storm season, weather events may make unpredictable both the demand for and availability of supplies.  Please call 868-3372 to confirm the hours of operation.

For your information, you can subscribe to multiple City E-news updates (http://www.cityofcocoabeach.com/subscribe/)

The latest addition to this page: Subscribe to E-Agendas for Commission and Boards. 
Subscribers can the Board, whose agenda they wish to subscribe to, receive agendas by e-mails, and be able to populate their calendars with appointments for the meetings. 

Neat stuff!  Subscribe!

Space Coast League of Cities and Waste Management Annual Scholarship

The Space Coast League of Cities and Waste Management, Inc., annually co-sponsor a $2000 scholarship for students of public administration in Florida. Application Deadline is October 17, 2008. Application

BREVARD COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES BEACH ADVISORY

PRECAUTIONARY BEACH ADVISORY

Health Department Issues Precautionary Advisory for Brevard County Beaches.

Tropical Storm Fay may have damaged infrastructure in the area resulting in possible septic and sewage system spills and overflows. Beach water contact may pose an increased risk of disease, particularly for susceptible individuals.  There may also be debris on beaches and in water that could cause injury.

Therefore, as a precaution, we advise not swimming at  Brevard County beaches until a bacteriological survey shows that the beaches are safe and the county beach managers can assess the debris/injury potential.  Bacteriological survey results should be completed by August 27, 2008.

For more information, please view our internet website at www.Floridashealth.com/beachwater, or contact the Brevard County Health Department, telephone 321-633-2100

Cocoa Beach Fire Department Achieves Prestigious National Rating The Cocoa Beach Fire Department has recently been rated as one of the top 40 fire departments
in the State of Florida, and in the top 600, nationwide. In April, the Insurance Services
Organization (ISO) conducted a review of the Cocoa Beach Fire Department and subsequently awarded it a “Class-2” rating. Prior to this latest review by the ISO, the Cocoa Beach Fire Department had a “Class-4” rating. The ISO is an independent company that evaluates communities and provides insurances companies with ratings for fire departments on a nationwide basis. By classifying a city’s ability to suppress fires, ISO helps communities evaluate their public fire-protection services. The program provides an objective, countrywide standard that assists fire departments in planning and budgeting for facilities, equipment, and training. By securing lower fire insurance premiums for communities with better public protection, ISO’s Public Protection
Classification program provides incentives and offers rewards for communities that
choose to improve their firefighting services. Presently, the City of Cocoa Beach is the only community in Brevard County with a Class-2 level of a rating. Class-1 represents exemplary public protection and Class-10 indicates that the area's fire-suppression program doesn't meet ISO's minimum criteria. For further information about the ISO rating program, please contact Deputy Fire Chief, G.C. Wine, Cocoa Beach Fire Department at phone: (321) 868-3328; pager: (321) 232-9618; or by e-mail at: gwine@cityofcocoabeach.com ~~~ CONGRATULATIONS C.B.F.D. ~~~

Residents and Businesses came together August 5, 2008 to celebrate National Night Out. National Night Out is a crime/drug prevention event sponsored by the City of Cocoa Beach. NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to: Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness; Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs; Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Check out photos of the event: National Night Out

Elder “Fall Prevention” Event On Tuesday, June 17, 2008, the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, the Brevard Commission on Aging (BCOA) and the Greater Palm Bay Senior Center (GPBSC) will be hosting an Elder “Fall Prevention Event at the GPBSC from 4:30-7:30 p.m. In Support of the National Older Americans Month theme: “Working Together for Strong, Healthy and Supportive Communities”, the BCOA will be partnering with the City of Satellite Beach, the City of Palm Bay, the Community Services Council of Brevard, Health-First Aging Institute, Parrish Main Street Senior Consultation Center, Wuesthoff Hospital, the Senior Resource Alliance, and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs to bring this Communities for a Lifetime Program to Brevard County residents.
The event will consist of a Fall Prevention Health Fair and a first responder “Fall Simulation”.  The highlight of the evening will be an Elder “Fall Prevention” Best Practice presentation adopted from the City of Satellite Beach.  This presentation will include education of fall risk factors, referrals to community exercise programs promoting strength and balance, medication review, and home modifications to reduce fall hazards which are the leading cause of injury and hospitalization among adults over the age of 65.  (RSVP recommended)
Elder “Fall Prevention” Event, June 17, 2008, 4:30 p.m.  – 7:30 p.m., Greater Palm Bay Senior Center, 1275 Culver DR. NE, Palm Bay, Please RSVP for Presentation and Dinner at tammy.harris@brevardcounty.us or 321-633-2007 to Tammy Harris, BCOA Planner, Brevard County Housing and Human Services Department

National Night Out

Spring Break Camp - A Day Camp for Children. Will be held April 7 - 11 from 9:00am - 4:00pm with Late or Early Care Available. For more information please call 868-3274

Help Clean Our Beautiful City. Participate in Trash Bash - April 19, 8am to Noon.

The Cocoa Beach Aquatic Center will be offering American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Classes. Registration will begin in April 2008. Call 868-3227 for more information.

The Cocoa Beach Aquatic Center will be offering American Red Cross Swimming and Water Safety Courses. Registration will begin in May 2008. Call 868-3240 for more information.

January 19, 2008, 8am - 4pm, at the old library site, behind Cocoa Beach City Hall, Free to Residents, Electronic Waste Recycling.
Acceptable waste: personal computers, fax machines, printer and toner cartridges, serves, hards drives, read more about acceptable electronic waste...

Please Note: Effective January 19, 2008 - Bright House Government Programming Channel to move from Channel 99 to Channel 199 and for digital customers to Channel 1. No Cable? Watch City Meetings on the Web! Click on the Government and Meetings on the Web tabs

Bright House Networks will begin Transmitting the Government Channel in a digital format. In order to view this channel, either a television set with a digital tuner, or a digital cable box will be required. Read Annoucement.

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5th Annual Sea Oats Bargain Sale - Brevard County 's Natural Resources Management Office and Keep Brevard Beautiful, Inc. will be selling Liner size sea oats in packs of 96 for $48.00 while supplies last. Click here for the Order Form.

Past Years Announcements