Good Morning!

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM) evolved from the “Day of Unity” which was established in October 1981. It was initiated by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence to end violence against women and children. The “Day of Unity” soon became an entire week devoted to mourning victims, celebrating survivors, and connecting advocacy services with victims at the local, state, and national levels. 

In October 1987, the first DVAM was observed. That same year, the first national domestic violence toll-free hotline (1-800-799-7233) was established. Later with the expansion of the internet, the domestic violence website www.thehotline.org was launched. In 1989, the U.S. Congress designated October as National DVAM.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) tracks domestic violence crimes throughout Florida and by county. Domestic violence is predominantly a crime against women (1 in 4), but it is important to note that nearly 1 in 10 men are also victims.  

In 2020, FDLE reported 106,615 victims statewide. In Brevard County, 3,608 victims were reported, and in Indian River County, 492 victims were reported. FDLE emphasizes these statistics are of reported crimes, and that domestic violence is one of the most under reported crimes in our State.

If you or someone close to you is living in a domestic violence situation, local help is available. 

Brevard County:

The Salvation Army Brevard County Domestic Violence Program

Hotline: 321-631-2764 / Text: 321-450-4325

Website:  https://salvationarmyflorida.org/ncbrevard/ 

Serene Harbor, Inc. 

Hotline: 321-726-8282 / Text: 321-236-3211

Website: https://www.sereneharbor.org/

Indian River County: 

SafeSpace Domestic Violence Svcs., Inc.

Hotline: 772-228-7023

Website: https://safespacefl.org/

I consider it a great honor to represent District 17. Please share this link with your friends and family so they too, can sign up for the Mayfield Minute. 

If you or someone you know needs my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff and I are here to serve you.  

Statewide Update

Governor DeSantis Secures New Hurricane Ian FEMA Assistance for Brevard Residents

To be eligible to apply for federal disaster assistance under the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Individual Assistance Program, damage to your home or property must be the direct result of Hurricane Ian. The assistance program includes wind and flood damage. 

If you have property insurance or flood insurance, you must first file a claim with your insurance agency. If you are uninsured or if you have an insurance policy that does not cover the damage, you can apply for FEMA disaster assistance. 

Registration for FEMA assistance can be completed in one of three ways:  

• Calling 800-621-3362 (open 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., Monday thru Sunday) 
• Online at DisasterAssistance.gov
• Downloading the FEMA Mobile App

Applicants for FEMA assistance should have the following information ready when applying:

• Contact information (telephone number, mailing address, Social Security number)
• Household income
• Address of damaged home or apartment
• Description of damage or lost items
• Photos of damaged home and contents of the home
• Information about insurance coverage
• Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit of funds

First Lady Casey DeSantis Announces Toy Drive for Children Impacted by Ian

Last week, First Lady Casey DeSantis announced a toy drive for children impacted by Hurricane Ian, particularly for children in the most affected areas of Charlotte County and Lee County.  

“We want to do everything we can to make the recovery process easier for Floridians who have already been through so much,” said First Lady Casey DeSantis. “Our hope is that with this toy drive, families visiting the state’s Disaster Recovery Centers will find some sense of comfort. We are extremely thankful for our faith-based institutions and non-profits for their partnership in this effort to brighten children’s days.”

We are supporting First Lady DeSantis’ efforts and invite Brevard County and Indian River County residents to join us by dropping off toys, Monday thru Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Melbourne office, located in Melbourne City Hall, 900 East Strawbridge Avenue, 4th Floor. All toy donations must be new and unwrapped. I will ensure the toys are delivered to the donation sites in Charlotte County and Lee County. 

The generosity and compassion of District 17 residents never ceases to amaze me. Your contributions are greatly appreciated. Please contact my office at 321-409-2025 for assistance regarding the toy drive or other matters.  

Another Fentanyl Drug Trafficking Organization Shut Down by Attorney General Ashley Moody and FDLE

AG Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) shut down a major drug trafficking organization operated by gang members affiliated with Mexican drug cartels. Attorney General Moody’s statewide prosecutors are charging 25 defendants, including SUR-13 gang members, with multiple felony counts related to drug trafficking, violent criminal acts, and conspiracy.

According to an investigation by the FDLE, FBI, Homeland Security, and the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, members of the SUR 13 gang, also known as Sureños, operated a drug trafficking organization while currently imprisoned. Authorities seized in excess of 50 pounds of Fentanyl, enough to kill more than 11 million Floridians, approximately half of the state’s population.

“This case, combined with several other drug busts over the past few months, brings the total amount of Fentanyl seized in Florida to nearly 85 pounds, enough to kill everyone in 66 of Florida’s 67 counties,” AG Moody stated.

To learn more about AG Moody’s announcement regarding the apprehension of criminal gang members trafficking Fentanyl, click here. 

Florida’s Legislative Budget Commission Adds $360 Million to State’s Hurricane Response Efforts

Legislators serving on the Legislative Budget Commission (LBC) unanimously approved a request from Governor DeSantis to transfer an additional $360 million into the $500 million Emergency Preparedness and Response fund. 

The request is due to the massive recovery and rebuilding efforts caused by Hurricane Ian in Southwest Florida and Central Florida.  According to Axios and Moody’s, “The preliminary damage totals would make Hurricane Ian the costliest storm in Florida history and second nationally to Hurricane Katrina, when adjusted for inflation.”

Florida is approved to receive 100 percent of recovery costs from the federal government for 60 days. The state expects to recoup almost all of the initial storm-response funding from FEMA.

In Memory of Nadene Cavaliere

Nadene Cavaliere

Nadene Cavaliere was the victim of a ruthless act of domestic violence. The Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce recently named their Community Leader Award, the “Nadene Cavaliere Community Leader Award.” T he Chamber has made it their mission to ensure her death was not in vain.  

On March 1, 2022, Nadene, an active member of the Greater Palm Bay Chamber and Branch Manager of Trustco Bank, lost her life at the hands of her partner. 

Originally from Ohio, Nadene relocated to Florida and graduated from Satellite High School. She earned a degree in Business Management from Eastern Florida State College and owned a marketing company for years until she joined Trustco Bank as Branch Manager in 2012. Nadene resided in Palm Bay and was a prominent member of multiple Chambers of Commerce serving as a dedicated ambassador for new businesses and businesses looking to expand in Brevard County.

Nadene had a passion for the “Brevard Children and Families in Need” charity, actively raising funds each year to improve the lives of homeless children. Colleagues and friends collectively describe Nadene as the one who brightened the room and made everyone feel loved. They said she touched the lives of many with just a few kind words and always with a friendly smile. Outside of her busy professional life, Nadene did find some time for fun as an avid motorcycle rider. She leaves behind a second family, her biker family, where she was highly respected and now greatly missed.     

To ensure Nadene’s legacy as a Community Leader continues, the Greater Palm Bay Chamber has established an advocacy program to recognize community members who have taken action to create awareness and combat domestic violence. Nadene’s mom, Carole, presented the inaugural “Nadene Cavaliere Community Leader Award” to Sandy Michelson, a survivor and advocate for the prevention of domestic violence.  

It is with a heavy heart that Senate District 17 recognizes Nadene Cavaliere. Her memory lives on in those who loved her and the incredible friends she made as an advocate for the Brevard business community.   

District Highlights

City of Melbourne Announces Hurricane Ian Debris Clean Up

The City of Melbourne has hired disaster debris contractors to remove vegetative debris (trees, limbs, palm fronds, brush, etc.) that resulted from Hurricane Ian. The debris contractors will be working to collect ONLY disaster-generated debris. The City expects the debris removal process to be completed by mid-November. Residents are asked to separate their vegetative disaster debris from any other materials.

To learn more about the debris collection, call 321-608-5080 or visit here. 

Indian River State College Continues to Soar in Enrollment, Defying National Collegiate Trends

According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, total college enrollment for Spring 2022 fell 4.1%, marking the fifth-consecutive national enrollment decline. However, this is not the trend at Indian River State College (IRSC) where Fall enrollment is up 8.9% at all campuses including the Vero Beach Mueller Campus.    

The number of first-time-in-college students attending IRSC has set a new record. With more than 3,200 students, this incoming cohort is 44% higher than the 10-year average of 2,242 students. More than one-third of area high school graduates are attending IRSC this Fall.     

In March 2022, the College rolled out the IRSC Promise program for students graduating from public and public charter high schools in Indian River County, Martin County, Okeechobee County, and St. Lucie County. It is a tuition-paid program sponsored by the IRSC Foundation and funded through generous donor philanthropy.

To learn more about Indian River State College, click here. 

Hiring Opportunities on the Space Coast

Career Source Brevard is hosting a Senior Jobs and Volunteer Fair event on Thursday, October 20^th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at One Senior Place (8085 Spyglass Hill Road, in Viera).

No experience is required. Participants will be able to speak with local organizations seeking seniors for various job and volunteer opportunities. The event is being sponsored by the AARP Back to Work 50+ Foundation whose mission is to provide seniors with new work and volunteer opportunities.

For more information, contact 321-751-6771.

Radial in Melbourne is set to hire 200 seasonal customer care agents for the holidays at its call center located at Babcock Street in Melbourne. Radial’s customer care centers work with retail brands such as Cole Haan, Hibbett Sports, Nautica, Payless, Puma, Rag & Bone, Tom Ford, and World Market.

Part- and full-time job positions with day and evening shifts are available throughout the holidays. Opportunities for seasonal part-time staff to become full-time employees after the holiday season ends are also available. 

No experience is required and Radial says they will teach employees “everything they need to know” to help new hires excel as customer advocates. To apply for a Radial job, visit radial.com/careers and select Melbourne, Florida in the drop down menu.

The HealthcareX Virtual Job Fair is taking place on Monday, October 24^th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The job fair is designed for current health care professionals seeking new career opportunities. Over 40 companies are participating and interviews may be conducted on the spot. 

If interested, register here at least five days in advance. You will then receive login credentials. Once registered, you can learn about the participating companies, view their available positions, and sign up to speak with a recruiter/interviewer.

The Manufacturing Showcase and Job Fair will be held on Tuesday, October 25th from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Brevard Public Schools (BPS) Adult and Community Education Center located at 1225 Clearlake Road in Cocoa. The event is hosted by the Economic Development Commission of the Space Coast and BPS Adult and Community Education. 

Participants will learn about skills training, scholarship opportunities, and meet local manufacturers looking for talent for immediate hiring.  Organizers advise candidates to “dress for success” and have copies of your professional resume.

Advanced registration is encouraged as the event is expected to draw many applicants. Click here to save your place at the Manufacturing Showcase and Job Fair.  

All of the above events are free of charge. We wish all job seekers and those pursuing advancement in their careers the best of luck!

Upcoming Events

EFSC Cosmetology Salon is Open to the Public for a Limited Time

The Cosmetology Salon located on Eastern Florida’s Cocoa Campus will be open to the public beginning Tuesday, October 18th on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

All services are performed by EFSC Cosmetology and Facial program students. Services include haircuts, hair coloring, manicures and pedicures, facials and more.  Students benefit from the hands-on experience working in the salon and are supervised by a licensed professional esthetician.

Appointments are highly encouraged as space is limited. Services may be available on a walk-in basis if a time slot is open. Credit card and debit card payments will be accepted. Cash payments are also acceptable with bills of $20.00 or less. 

Appointments can be arranged by calling 321-433-7550. To find out more about the services offered and pricing, visit easternflorida.edu/go/salon.

Operation Brevard JROTC

The Junior ROTC Raider Challenge Cadets are collecting items desperately needed for Hurricane Ian impacted areas of Southwest Florida. Items may be dropped off at the Veterans Memorial Center located behind the Merritt Square Mall weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. 

The JROTC Raider Challenge will meet at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Park on October 22nd and November 5th to sort items and prepare the donations for delivery. 

This past Monday, October 10th, the first supply bundle was delivered to the VFW / FEMA reception facility in Lee County. Supplies were then distributed to the most devastated areas of Ft. Myers. 

To contribute to the collection and learn more about the list of items needed, please call 321-453-1776 / 757-871-6576 or visit Operation Brevard JROTC to the Rescue.  

Halloween Trunk or Treat Events Begin Early in Vero Beach

Beachland Elementary School, located at 3350 Indian River Drive East, Vero Beach, is hosting their 2nd Annual kid-friendly Trunk or Treat event on Thursday, October 20th at 6:15 p.m. The event is free of charge, costumes are encouraged, and participants should bring a bag or pumpkin to collect Halloween treats.  

For more information, call 772-473-0250 or email [email protected].

The IRC Intergeneration Recreation Center, located at 1590 9th Street Southwest, Vero Beach, is hosting a free Trunk or Treat event on Friday, October 28th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., followed by a “Monster Mash” Dance Party with food, fun, games, and contests. Costumes are encouraged.

The IRC Intergeneration Recreation Center is a multi-purpose sports facility located in South Indian River County. For more information, visit here.

The HOPE for Families Center, located at 720 4th Street, Vero Beach is hosting their 2nd Annual Trunk or Treat event on Friday, October 28th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thirty-five decorated vehicles loaded with treats will be parked on site for children and families to safely visit and collect Halloween candies. 

The HOPE for Families Center provides opportunities to assist families seeking to end homelessness and gain self-sufficiency through education, and achievement of a living wage and permanent housing.  For more information, contact 772-567-5537 or [email protected].

Contact Information

Melbourne Office 

900 East Strawbridge Avenue

Melbourne, FL 32901

(321) 409-2025

Tallahassee Office

330 Senate Office Building

404 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

(850) 487-5017

Vero Beach Office

Administration Building B

1801 27th Street

Vero Beach, FL 32960

(772) 226-1970

Staff:

Kelli Lane

Yvette Campbell

Joshua McWilliams