Good Morning!

National Breast Cancer Awareness month is recognized in October annually. Sadly, one in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point during their lifetime. This devastating disease remains the most common cancer among women, accounting for 32% of newly diagnosed cancers. 

Although unprecedented treatment achievements have been made and despite the tireless and conscientious efforts of doctors, researchers, and non-profit organizations, the disease continues to impact families across the nation. According to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, “About every two minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.” 

In 2024, an estimated 42,250 women and 530 men in the United States will lose their lives to breast cancer.

While these statistics are grim, there is hope. Many advancements in research, prevention, early detection, and treatment are providing affected women a bright light at the end of this dark tunnel. 

• Improvements in early detection and treatment contributed to a 42% decline in the breast cancer death rate from 1989-2021
• Over four million women have survived breast cancer in the United States

The Florida Department of Health (FLDOH) recommends that all women over the age of 50 get a mammogram once every two years.

To determine if you are eligible for a free or low-cost exam through the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, call (321) 454-7131.  

I consider it a great honor to represent District 19. 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 Announces Emergency Management Warning in Advance of Tropical Storm Milton

On Saturday, October 5th, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order (EO) 24-214, an Emergency Management action, regarding the newly formed Tropical Storm Milton. The Executive Order covers 35 Florida counites including Brevard and Indian River. 

Tropical Storm Milton, the 13th named storm in the 2024 hurricane season, has formed in the Gulf of Mexico and is estimate to become a major hurricane before hitting Florida next week. 

According to the Tampa Bay Times, as of Saturday at 5:00 p.m., Tropical Storm Milton is forecast to intensify while moving northeastward toward Florida’s Gulf Coast and could make landfall Wednesday as a Category 3 hurricane or stronger.

The National Hurricane Center reported Saturday afternoon. Milton strengthened from a depression into a tropical storm within just hours, reaching sustained winds of 40 miles per hour. This storm is developing rapidly. 

Please visit floridadisaster.org regularly for the latest information and follow this link to “Know Your Zone” as evacuations may be declared.

Hurricane Helene Update and How You Can Help

Governor DeSantis announced that all school districts as of October 3rd are now operational. Unfortunately, at the time of this report, 16,413 Floridians remain without power. Power has been restored to 2,386,942 residents who were without power due to Hurricane Helene. 

Tragically, over 230 people have lost their lives due to the storm’s destruction in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. 

How You Can Help:

Last week, Governor DeSantis launched Operation Blue Ridge, through the Florida Division of Emergency Management, to rescue Floridians stranded or strapped in Western North Carolina. If you know of someone who needs rescue assistance, complete this formor call 1-800-467-7144 during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Florida Disaster Fund (FDF) is the state’s private fund overseen by Volunteer Florida. The FDF was initially established to provide financial assistance to our communities as they respond to and recover from disaster emergencies.

If you are interested in contributing to the Florida Disaster fund, click here.  

President Trump has also set up a www.gofundme.com account to support Hurricane Helene victims.

Additionally, the Red Cross is accepting donations. For more information, click here.  

AG Moody Announces “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2024”

Last week, Attorney General Ashley Moody and 11 other state Attorneys General called on Congress to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2024.

According to a release by AG Moody’s office, the destruction and life-threatening conditions caused during Hurricane Helene shows that bipartisan protections for AM radios in vehicles are critical—as electric vehicles and other new vehicles are being manufactured without the vital communication devices.

“Following devastation and loss in Florida and across multiple states in the wake of Hurricane Helene, it has never been clearer how vital it is to protect access to AM radio. I have personally heard on-the-ground stories of Floridians who lost power, access to internet and cellphone service during storms, including Hurricane Helene. AM radio signals remained functional. We must ensure access to AM radio signals; lives depend on it,” said AG Moody. 

Attorneys General from Arkansas, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia have joined in this initiative.

Read the full letter here.

Agency Highlight

Florida Department of Health

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is led by the Florida Surgeon General, Joseph D. Ladapo, MD, PhD. Dr. Ladapo is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the state’s chief medical expert.

DOH was first created by the state’s legislature in 1996, and the role of Surgeon General has existed since 2007. The mission of the agency is to protect, promote and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

One of the important functions of the department is to conduct research into public health concerns and report on the findings. These reports can include statistics on annual cancer diagnoses, violent death rates, behavioral risk factors, and a variety of environmental health factors. This data is provided at both the state and county levels to inform Floridians and community leaders on threats to public health.

The DOH also has dedicated programs and resources targeting specific health issues and demographics. To explore each program individually, click here. In addition to making these resources available to the public, the department also manages public health campaigns with the goal of informing citizens about what they see as the most critical health issues. Recent examples of public health campaigns include Tobacco Free Florida, Bright Expectations, and Cancer Connect.

I am proud to have been appointed by Senate President Kathleen Passidomo to Florida’s Cancer Connect Collaborative. It is an honor to serve on this board, which is organized in partnership with the DOH and the Agency for Healthcare Administration. The Cancer Connect Collaborative was designed to be an expansion of Florida Cancer Connect to analyze and rethink Florida’s approach to combating cancer.

DOH also provides and oversees licensure for all healthcare professionals in the state. These professional licenses cover a wide variety of fields including doctors, nurses, massage therapists, and many other careers in health care. They also provide the licenses for the state’s regulated medical facilities. Click here to learn more about each type of license the department offers, to verify a provider’s license, to apply for licensure, or to file a complaint against a provider.

DOH also helps Floridians request important documents including certificates for birth, death, marriage, and divorce. They can also assist with filling out the necessary forms to make any amendments to these documents. An example of this would be amending a birth certificate to reflect a legal name change or an adoption.

To provide services locally, each of Florida’s 67 counties has their own health department overseen by the DOH. If you need to visit or contact the Florida Department of Health in Brevard County, click here for a list of their offices and services. 

Constituent of the Week

Our Constituent of the Week is Shelly Gardner, a three time cancer survivor — one time breast cancer, two times Leukemia.

Ms. Gardner was raised in Waynesville, Illinois, a small farming community in the Midwest. She began working in the farming industry at the age of 12 and she credits the experience for her strong work ethic to this day.   

After high school, she attended Illinois State University where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. After college, she served as a Financial Controller for the Smurfit-Stone Corporation, Nestlé, and LIN Media. 

Ms. Gardner moved to Brevard County in 2010. She is the co-founder of Thermography of Brevard which is the only medical thermography practice specializing in breast cancer screening in Brevard County. Thermography of Brevard has been in business for eight years.

Thermography is not only for breast cancer detection. Thermography can detect dysfunction and physiological changes throughout the body, including thyroid dysfunction, liver, kidney, spleen, esophagus, uterus, ovaries, inflammation in the carotid arteries, systemic inflammation, DVT, and more.

Unfortunately, Ms. Gardner’s personal health care journey began with her own breast cancer diagnosis in her mid-30’s. She knows firsthand the hardships that cancer can cause — extended hospital stays, chemotherapy, job loss, and additional complications including heart failure, renal failure, early menopause/infertility, and neuropathy. 

Her illness did not end there, she was later diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukemia twice, the first time while pregnant with her daughter, Tegan, who she refers to as her miracle child. Ms. Gardner and Tegan had a lengthy fight at birth but both are thriving now almost 12 years later.

Sadly, Ms. Gardner has stated publicly, “I should not be alive with the things I have endured but attitude, faith, and purpose can never be underestimated.”

Due to her consistent illnesses, Ms. Gardner has been unable to work full-time, however she continues to serve the community and as a volunteer for the cancer support groups, Making Strides of Brevard and Making Strides of the Florida Keys. She also helps teaching at the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University at Calvary Chapel in Melbourne. 

In 2019, Ms. Gardner founded Stop the Pink, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit, with a mission to offer women experiencing financial hardship in Indian River and Brevard County access to thermography. She says thermography is painless, non-invasive, radiation free and compression free. Breast thermography has an average sensitivity and specificity of 90%. Also, thermography has the added benefit of detecting the first signs that cancer may be forming up to 10 years before any other procedure can detect it.  

“I feel passionate about educating women on preventing breast cancer,” stated Gardner. “I believe prevention is better than detection and want no woman to have go through what I have endured.”

For more information, contact Gardner at [email protected] or 321-345-0407 or on the web at www.StopThePink.org.

SD 19 is grateful for Ms. Gardner’s compassion, experience, and empathy in sharing her personal story and her launching of Stop the Pink for other women in our community and beyond. 

District Highlights

Cocoa Beach Chamber of Commerce – Best in Florida

At the annual conference of the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals, the Cocoa Beach Chamber was named as the best in the state in the category of $500,000 – $1,000,000 in annual operating budget.

“What an amazing honor for our Chamber and community. The Cocoa Beach Chamber is truly an exceptional organization,” said Skip Marsh, CFO of Community Health Services at Health First.

Congratulations to the Cocoa Beach Camber for a well deserved recognition.

Community Foundation for Brevard Recently Awarded Over $400,000 in Grants

The Community Foundation for Brevard (CFB) provides funding to non-profit organizations services and resources for causes and initiatives which benefit animal protections, arts and culture, education, the environment, health and wellness communities, senior care, disability services, and many other philanthropic organizations.

“We are proud to support this year’s grant recipients whose work will bring impactful change to Brevard,” said Donna Sewell, Director of Philanthropy for the CFB.

Ms. Sewell went on to say that the grants represent the generosity and vision of individuals and families committed to building a stronger, more compassionate community to provide opportunities for all.

The CFB has donated more than $30 million over the last 43 years in support of Brevard non-profits.

Some of the organizations receiving these generous awards are 211 Brevard, Inc., Aging Matters in Brevard, Brevard Cultural Alliance, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Inc., Brevard Zoo, Candlelighters of Brevard, Inc., the Early Coalition of Brevard, Helping Seniors of Brevard County, Inc., the Children’s Hunger Project, Titusville Playhouse, weVenture Women’s Business Center at FIT, and the Women’s Center of Brevard, among many other deserving non-profits.

If your are interested in participating in 2025 Competitive Grant process, please call 321-752-5505 for more information.

Melbourne High School Football Celebrates 100th Season

Melbourne High School played their first football game on October 3, 1925 according to Martin Cagney, historian of the program.

In addition to celebrating their 100th season, the Bulldogs will play their 1,000th game in school history on Thursday, October 10th at Lyman High School in Longwood.

“Having 100 years here and having that all take place is huge, because now we’re recognizing our heritage, and at the same time, we’re showing that there’s a future,” said Melbourne Head Coach David Kintigh.

“I think the milestones mean quite a bit,” Kintigh said. “I think they (the players) were shocked at first, because none of them really knew what was happening or going on. Now that they’re starting to look at it, it’s like ‘Hey, wow.’ They are part of a century. They are in the first century of this high school’s football program.”

To learn more about the iconic legacy of the Melbourne High School football team and their upcoming schedule, click here.

Upcoming Events

Monday, October 7th is the Last Day to Register to Vote in the November Election

The deadline to register to vote in the 2024 General Election is Monday, October 7th. Voter registration books must close 29 days before each election.

To register to vote using the State of Florida’s Online Voter Registration System click here.

Voter registration requires a valid Florida Driver License or State ID.

If you prefer to register to vote in person, you can print, sign, and return this document to any of the four Supervisor of Elections administrative offices.

Also, the deadline to request a mail ballot for the 2024 General Election is Thursday, October 24th by 5:00 p.m. You can request your mail ballot online here.

If you have any questions or are in need of assistance, please contact my office at 321-409-2025.

Boys and Girls Club of Central Florida Event on the Space Coast

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida will be hosting a Join Me: Faces of the Future breakfast on Friday, October 11th from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. at the Space Coast Convention Center (301 Tucker Lane) in Cocoa.

The event is free of charge but an RSVP is required to Erin Harvey at [email protected] or 407-625-4668. The event is expected to reach capacity and BGCCF wants to ensure everyone interested in attending has a seat.

Organizers describe the event as a brief program where attendees will meet the “faces of our community’s future and leave with a heart full of hope and inspiration.”

Boo in the Zoo

Each weekend during the month of October, the Brevard Zoo (8225 North Wickham Road) in Melbourne will be hosting their annual Halloween-themed event, Boo in the Zoo.

The event is from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday throughout the month. Attendees are invited to wear Halloween costumes and they can have their faces painted, enjoy trick-or-treat activities, and view the animals.

Each weekend will also include different performances by local artists. Click here for more information.

Regular admission to the zoo is the only cost to attend. Ticket prices are currently $32.95 for adults and $21.95 for children ages 11 or under. To purchase a ticket, click here.

26th Annual Melbourne Independent Filmmakers Festival

There will be a festival of independent short films taking place from Thursday, October 17th through Saturday, October 19th. The showings will be held at the Premiere Theatres Oaks 10 (1800 West Hibiscus Boulevard) in Melbourne.

The Matinee on Saturday will feature only films made locally in Florida, and there will be a “Rising Star” segment highlighting young filmmakers in Florida. All profits from the festival will be donated directly to the No Limits Academy, a non-profit Christian School for physically disabled children ages six to 21.

Click here to view ticket packages. The schedule of films that will be presented is available here. 

Mathew’s Hope to Hold Fall Vintage Market

Mathew’s Hope will be hosting a vintage market at the Trinity Oaks Event Venue (830 Forrest Avenue) in Cocoa on Saturday, October 12th from 4:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 13th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This market is free to attend and will include access to over 50 local vendors selling vintage goods. Live music performances and food and drinks will be available.

For more information, click here.

Contact Information

Melbourne Office 

900 East Strawbridge Avenue

Melbourne, FL 32901

(321) 409-2025

Tallahassee Office

400 Senate Office Building

404 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

(850) 487-5019

Staff:

Yvette Campbell

Kelli Lane

Good Morning!

Hurricane Helene

Last week Florida’s Big Bend and Gulf Coast regions were hit by category four Hurricane Helene.

Sadly, at the time of this report 58 people including 11 Floridians lost their lives due to the devastating storm. The fatalities easily could have been double or triple if not for the pre-storm preparation led by Governor DeSantis, the Department of Emergency Management, and the brave and courageous first responders who risked their lives to save others.

Hurricane Helene made landfall approximately 10 miles west-southwest of the city of Perry (52 miles southeast of Tallahassee) with over 140 mile per hour winds. Hurricane Helene was over 500 miles wide and caused damage and destruction from Naples to Tallahassee. With landfall near Perry, the effects are significant as the city and surrounding areas are still recovering and rebuilding from the two previous Hurricanes, Idalia and Debby.

Governor DeSantis said initial assessments and reports indicate the damage from Hurricane Helene is greater than both Hurricane Idalia and Hurricane Debby combined. Moody’s Analytics initial estimate is that the storm has caused $15 billion to $26 billion in property damage.

As of Saturday morning, power was restored for 1.9 million residents and 457,000 remain without power (See FPL update below). Over 12,000 miles of roadway has been cleared from debris by 807 “toss and cut’ crews and over 1,400 bridges were inspected within the first 36 hours since landfall. Over 1,000 rescues missions have taken place along the Gulf Coast.

Seven Florida ports remain closed awaiting Coast Guard inspection of the channels leading to and from the ports. Port Canaveral experienced minimal damage and disruption, and normal operations for cruise and cargo transit resumed early Friday morning.

If you or your family need assistance following Hurricane Helene, feel free to contact our office at 321-409-2025 or visit the Brevard County Emergency Management Recovery Page.

I consider it a great honor to represent District 19. 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

Florida Power & Light Update on Power Restoration

As of Friday evening, FP&L reported restoration of power to 85% of impacted residents within 24 hours of Hurricane Helene making landfall. The company confirmed 95% of affected customers in Brevard, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Lee, and Volusia counties have power restored. The remaining 5% should have had their power restored by end of day, Saturday.

FP&L crews are working 24 hour shifts to restore power, clear debris, and to repair downed powerlines and poles. The company serves approximately 12 million Florida customers. In a press conference on Saturday, September 28th, Governor DeSantis announced that less than 50,000 of FP&L customers are still without power and they are mostly located in the hardest his areas.

For more information, please visit www.FPL.com

New Laws Taking Effect October 1st

On Tuesday October 1st, 34 new state laws passed during the 2024 Legislative Session and signed by Governor DeSantis will take effect.

For a full list of laws going into effect this week, click here.

Below you will find underlined links to some important bills that may have an impact on your family. If you have any difficulty navigating the Senate website, please contact my office at 321-409-2025 and we will assist you.

–     HB 403: Specialty License Plates

–     HB 549: Theft

–     SB 718: Exposures of First Responders to Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogs

–     SB 758: Tracking Devices and Applications

–     SB 764: Retention of Sexual Offense Evidence

–     SB 1036: Reclassification of Criminal Penalties

–     HB 1049: Flood Disclosure in the Sale of Real Property

–     HB 1235: Sexual Predators and Sexual Offenders

–     HB 1365: Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping

–     HB 1389: Digital Voyeurism

–     SB 1628: Local Government Actions

Florida Swim Voucher Program

A new program was launched last week which will provide vouchers to eligible families to assist with the price of swimming lessons for their children. Participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children ages one to four.

“I am proud to launch the Florida Swimming Lesson Voucher Program. This program will provide swimming lessons by certified instructors at no cost to eligible Florida families who have one or more children four years of age or younger,” said Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez. 

“Local organizations will partner with the State of Florida to equip children with critical life-saving skills that can help them stay safe in the water when it matters the most. The Florida Swimming Lesson Voucher Program reaffirms our administration’s commitment to the safety and well-being of children in and around water,” she added.

For more information on the voucher program or to find out if you are eligible, click here.

Agency Highlight

Division of Emergency Management

This past week our State experienced a devastating Category 4 storm, Hurricane Helene.

Under the leadership and direction of Governor Ron DeSantis, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (Division) is responsible for the planning and response to both natural and man-made disasters. 

These disasters range from floods and hurricanes to incidents involving hazardous materials or nuclear power. The Division prepares and implements a statewide Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and routinely conducts extensive exercises to test state and county emergency response capabilities.

The Division is the state’s liaison to federal and local agencies on emergencies of all kinds. Division staff members provide technical assistance to local governments as they prepare emergency plans and procedures and conduct emergency operations training for state and local governmental agencies. Part of their mission is coordinating, collaborating, and communicating with all community stakeholders for a more resilient Florida.

The Division maintains the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee which serves as the communications and command center for reporting emergencies and coordinating state response activities alongside county emergency officials. Additionally, the Division operates the State Warning Point, a state emergency communications center staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The State Emergency Response Team (SERT) is also overseen by the Division. SERT serves as an inter-agency organization authorized by law for the purpose of assisting locals in responding to and recovering from disasters. The SERT is comprised of Sections, Branches, and Emergency Support Functions (ESF). These entities work closely with one another to fulfill resource requests from local entities requiring support before, during, and after a disaster.

Kevin Guthrie is the Executive Director for the Division, appointed by Governor DeSantis in 2021. Mr. Guthrie has more than 30 years of experience in public safety and emergency management in the state of Florida. 

Prior to serving as Executive Director, Mr. Guthrie served as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Director for the Division. His primary focus includes coordinating response efforts among all state agencies, counties, and municipalities ahead of natural and man-made disasters to ensure that Floridians are prepared.

Before joining the Division, Executive Director Guthrie spent the first 23 years of his career as a Police Officer and Emergency Preparedness Coordinator with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, and later served as the Public Safety and Emergency Management Director for the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners. He then went on to serve as the Assistant County Administrator for Public Safety for Pasco County where he was responsible for all Emergency Services, Fire/Rescue and the 911 Communications Center.

For more information on Florida Division of Emergency Management, click here.

Constituent of the Week

This week for our Constituent of the Week we are highlighting John Scott and the critical role he holds as Director of Brevard County Emergency Management. Director Scott’s position cannot be overstated as we observe the danger to life and property our neighbors to the West Coast and North to the Big Bend dealing with as a result of the latest natural catastrophe, Hurricane Helene.

A native of Florida and Brevard County, John Scott has worked for Brevard County’s Emergency Management Department for 12 years. He was named Director in January 2021 after serving prior in the department as homeland security coordinator, operations coordinator, and operations manager.

The Brevard County Emergency Operations Center is the most activated site in Florida due to the numerous launches and potential hurricane threats in our area.  

This past week in preparation for Hurricane Helene, Director Scott regularly provided updates on storm preparations, status of schools, public transportation, and community services messages from the EOC.

Throughout his career, Director Scott has responded to local, state, national, and international disasters including floods, wildfires, the COVID-19 pandemic, the Haiti Earthquake, Deep Water Horizon oil spill, radiological space launches, and countless tropical storms and hurricanes.

Previously, Director Scott worked for Monroe County (Florida Keys) Emergency Management as the Senior Planner, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management as the Region 7 Coordinator. He holds the designation of Florida Professional Emergency Manager from the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association, where he served seven years on their Executive Committee, including two terms as President. 

Director Scott led Brevard County’s emergency management team in the longest continuous activation in Brevard County during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. He managed vaccination efforts, logistical resources, and created the “pop-up pantry program” utilizing existing churches and community organizations to deliver meals to residents experiencing shortages of food and financial resources.

He has earned countless local, state, and national recognitions and served on many boards and councils citing his leadership experience in critical emergency management operations, crisis planning, and major disaster response and recovery.

Director Scott graduated from Rockledge High School and the University of South Florida. He and his wife, Bobbie of 20 years, reside in Rockledge with their beloved dog, Storm.

District 19 is grateful for Director Scott’s ongoing leadership in crisis preparation, emergency management, and recovery efforts throughout Brevard County and the state of Florida.

District Highlights

Ballard Park Coastal Cleanup

Community members came together last week to participate in a volunteer cleanup of Ballard Park. The park is located along the water at 924 Thomas Barbour Drive in Melbourne. In total, 25 volunteers participated collecting more than 815 pounds of trash.

Ocean Conservancy and Keep Brevard Beautiful organized the event in their ongoing joint mission to protect our natural resources.

If you would like to volunteer at the next cleanup event, visit the volunteer page on the Keep Brevard Beautiful website.

Viera Hospital Opens New Labor and Delivery Unit

While celebrating the grand opening of their new labor and delivery unit last month, Viera Hospital learned they earned the highly coveted five-star overall rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the second year. Viera Hospital is one of only 15 hospitals in Florida and one of 381 hospitals nationwide to receive the distinction.

To earn the rating, hospitals are evaluated on 46 criteria divided into five categories including patient experience, safety of care, mortality, readmission rates, and timely and effective care.

In addition, Viera Hospital celebrated the healthy birth of their first baby born in the new labor and delivery unit the same week.

“It doesn’t get any better than that,” said Lance Skelly, Systems Director, Corporate Communications at Health First.

The new unit will handle labor and deliver care patients from Cape Canaveral Hospital and surrounding area hospitals.

Upcoming Events

Downtown Melbourne Putta Palooza

On Saturday, October 5th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Melbourne Main Street will be hosting their first Downtown Melbourne Putta Palooza event. Check-in takes place at Hotel Melby’s rooftop bar (801 Strawbridge Avenue) in Melbourne and your putt-putt round of golf will end at Chumley’s Depot (1929 Depot Drive) in Downtown Melbourne.

Approximately 15 local businesses are participating in the Putta Palooza event, and each will have unique putting greens for you to try your luck at a hole in one.

Tickets are priced at $30 for an individual and $100 for a team of four. Entry will include all necessary golf gear and two drink tokens for those over the age of 21. If you sign up individually you will be placed on a team.

To purchase tickets and view the list of participating merchants, click here.

59th Annual Space Coast Art Festival

The Avenue Viera (2261 Town Center Avenue) in Melbourne is hosting the Space Coast Art Festival which will feature 50 local artists as well as a showcase of student art.

The festival will take place Saturday October 12th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday October 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event is free to attend, and most of the art displayed will be available for purchase. There will be a children’s section where kids can create their own art to take home.

For additional information on the event, click here.

“Opening Doors for Women” Fundraiser Hosted by the

New Life Mission

New Life Mission, a local non-profit organization, is hosting a fundraiser to benefit homeless women in our community. The event will be held Thursday, October 10th from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the American Muscle Car Museum (3500 Sarno Road) in Melbourne.

Tickets are limited and available now for $125 per individual or $200 per couple.

Admission includes drinks, appetizers, entry to the museum, and an opportunity to learn more about the work being done by New Life Mission.

Since 2009, New Life Mission has equipped homeless mothers with the skills and knowledge to transform their families in a Christ-centered environment. Through education, accountability, and goal advancement, our organization empowers families to become self-sufficient.

Click here to learn more and to buy tickets. Space is limited, please RSVP by Tuesday, October 1st to secure your ticket.

Melbourne Police Department Ribbon Cutting and Open House

The Melbourne Police Department will celebrate the opening of the City’s modern new police station on Thursday, October 10th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The building will be named the Joseph Pellicano Law Enforcement Center, in honor of Officer Joseph Pellicano who was tragically killed in the line of duty.

Officer Pellicano’s “End of Watch” was October 17, 1986, when he was struck by a vehicle while directing traffic at a house fire on Sarno Road. Officer Pellicano had worked at the Melbourne Police Department as a Patrol Officer for 3 ½ years at the time of his death.

This event will be free of charge and is open for all who would like to attend. The station is located at 250 West Nasa Boulevard in Melbourne near the Melbourne Airport.

Contact Information

Melbourne Office 

900 East Strawbridge Avenue

Melbourne, FL 32901

(321) 409-2025

Tallahassee Office

400 Senate Office Building

404 South Monroe Street

Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100

(850) 487-5019

Staff:

Yvette Campbell

Kelli Lane