World Famous Vegan Body Builder Visits Cocoa Beach Dec 9 Tues Eve

Presentation: “Thrive on a Plant-Based Diet - Whole-Food Nourishment for Whole-Body Health" By Vegan Body Builder, Robert Cheeke
Free Admission
Dec 9, 2008 7:00 pm
Cocoa Beach Library
550 North Brevard Ave
Cocoa Beach 32931
As an athletic student, Robert ran Cross Country for Oregon State University and then picked up an interest in lifting weights and became a competitive Bodybuilder. Robert is now considered one of the most recognized Vegan athletes in the world. Robert has appeared in more than 1.5 million magazine issues, featured in more than 20 magazines from the US, Canada, Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom. Robert has also appeared in TV commercials for VegSeattle and PETA, and has been on a number of television news shows, radio interviews, and is featured on over 100 websites. Robert lives in Portland and continues to spread the vegan and high raw food way of life leading by example as an accomplished vegan athlete. Join us and taste healthy vegan and raw food provided by members of this event sponsor "Healthy Planet of Brevard" (HPOB) website: http://healthyplanetofbrevard.org/
Any questions, contact Vicki vmurfin@earthlink.com or 321-266-0586
Printable Flyer: http://cocoabeachevents.com/VeganAthlete/RobertCheeke.html

45th SPACE COAST ART FESTIVAL SET FOR THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

The 45th annual Space Coast Art Festival will be held over the Thanksgiving weekend on November 27-30 in downtown Cocoa Beach.
The event will feature 235 artists displaying their "works of art" in nine separate categories.

The weekend starts off with a 5K road race called the "Turkey Trot"on Thanksgiving morning at 7:30am from the Baliwick Mall (36 North Brevard Avenue) in Cocoa Beach. Registration for the Turkey Trot starts at 6:30am.

On Friday, November 28 there will be a "downtown street party" from 7:00pm to 11:00pm adjacent to City Hall on Minutemen Causeway. Artists will begin "selling works of art" in the downtown area near City Hall on Saturday, November 29 from 9:00am to 5:00pm and then again on Sunday, November 30 from 10:00am to 5:00pm with award winners being announced on Sunday. Also on Saturday, there will be a "student art show" for Brevard County students in grades from kindergarten through grade 12. Lot's of fun for the entire family!

Contact the arts festival office at 784-3222 for additional information

Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch Video Nov. 14, 2008

Space shuttle Endeavour launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 7:55 p.m. on Nov. 14, 2008. The lift off began a 15-day mission to outfit the International Space Station with equipment and supplies. The new gear will set the stage for doubling the station's crew to six from the current three.
Click on link for liftoff video:
http://anon.nasa-global.edgesuite.net/anon.nasa-global/ksc/ksc_111408_sts126_launch1.asx

Cocoa Beach seniors celebrate 7th Football win

Cocoa Beach seniors celebrate 7th win
BY CARL KOTALA • FLORIDA TODAY • November 15, 2008
The enormity of the moment hit Cocoa Beach High senior Cullen Brown when he heard the words of Minutemen coach Tony Piccalo just before the start of the second half.
"When our coach said these were the last two quarters of our high school career, it hit me," the tight end/defensive lineman said.
The Minutemen may not have been able to end their careers with a playoff run, but by beating visiting Doral Academy 28-14 Friday night, members of the senior class did achieve something they can talk about at their 10-year reunion. Cocoa Beach finished the season at 7-3, the first time since 1991 the school has won seven games in a season.
"You can never ask for something more than to do something that hasn't been done for almost 20 years," senior linebacker Matt Counts said. "There are a few games we'd like to get back, but we can't. It's our last game, I wouldn't have it any other way."
Counts and Brown both made key plays Friday night.
Brown recovered a Doral fumble at the Firebirds' 15-yard line, then caught a 7-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Christian Provancha on the ensuing drive to put the Minutemen ahead 21-14 just before the end of the first half. It was also the 11th touchdown pass for Provancha, tying the school's single-season record.
Counts, on the other hand, had a couple of big tackles from his linebacker spot, then helped seal the game when he intercepted a pass that had been batted in the air by fellow senior Jordan Bush.
While it was a night the seniors will always remember, a couple of underclassmen figured prominently in the victory as well.
Sophomore running back Sean Sims gained 165 yards on 25 carries and scored on touchdown runs of 28 and 3 yards. Junior R.J. Black also grabbed his seventh interception of the season and returned it 21 yards for a touchdown to put Cocoa Beach ahead 28-14 and make sure the seniors got a proper sendoff.
"They took huge strides this year to get this program to where it needs to be for county respectability," Piccalo said. ". . . Doral had some ball players. This was a big win for us."
It was also another sign that the Minutemen may be ready to take the next step.
"Our goal every year now, we've got to shoot and say playoffs -- playoffs," Piccalo said. "We're going to have a young team next year, but we've got a lot of good players coming back. They've got a lot of work to do. But we're excited."
Contact Kotala at 242-3692 or ckotala@floridatoday.com

Service Clubs in Cocoa Beach

Cocoa Beach Optimist Club: Noon Mondays at Florida Seafood, 480 W. Cocoa Beach Causeway, 321-431-2210.

Kiwanis Club of Cocoa Beach: Noon Thursdays at Bernard's Surf, 2 S. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach, 321-799-1691.

Rotary Club of Cocoa Beach: 12:15 p.m. Wednesdays at the Cocoa Beach Holiday Inn, 321-799-3204.

Elks Lodge Cocoa Beach, FL No. 2387175 N Brevard AveCocoa Beach FL 32931-2931 (321)783-4705
Email: elkslodge2387@bellsouth.net

website: http://www.elks.org/Lodges/home.cfm?LodgeNumber=2387

Turkey-Free Thanksgiving Nov. 22

Healthy Planet of Brevard (HPoB) cordially invites you to a Turkey-Free Thanksgiving
Saturday November 22, 2008

Kiwanis Island Park Main Pavilion,

Merritt Island,
2 – 5 PM
Join HPoB, Brevard's own vegetarian organization, in honoring our blessings and the earth's bounty. We will provide the tofu turkey, stuffing, water and iced herbal tea. HPoB members are asked to bring a covered dish to share (no meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, Jello, marshmallows or honey). A $5 per adult donation is requested for non-members. Children are free.

Call Sharon Kelly with any questions about the event at 321-984-4032 or Cell 321-536-0790.

Cocoa Beach HS Minutemen Retain Surfboard

BY BRIAN McCALLUM • FLORIDA TODAY • November 8, 2008

The (Cocoa Beach High School) Minutemen (football team) were playing their final district game of the season with a chance to finish third out of six teams, a notch above perennial playoff presence Astronaut. They were going for a fifth road win in five tries, a feat unmatched in the 44 years of the school. And it was the game with district rival Satellite for the surfboard that represents beach dominance in Brevard County.

Maybe it shouldn't have been that close against a winless team, but Cocoa Beach (6-3, 3-2) was happy to pass the surfboard from player to player after the game in celebration of a 13-0 victory.

Satellite ended its season 0-10 overall and 0-5 in Class 3A, District 9.

"That's your rivalry game right there," Cocoa Beach coach Tony Piccalo said. "Our special teams, I think, were the key. We got three punts inside the 5."

But one offensive trip inside the 5 resulted in a fumble into the end zone and kept the Minutemen from building on a 7-0 first-half lead. Beating a rival made Piccalo smile. Committing four turnovers did not.

"I was just a little disappointed," he said of his halftime mood. "We haven't been making mistakes, and we haven't been turning the ball over."

Working in Cocoa Beach's favor were five Satellite turnovers. Matt Richard, Dillon Fleming, Jamie Longville and R. J. Black all intercepted passes.

"Satellite came out really big. It was a tough game, but we got it," said Black, who also caught four passes for 61 yards. "The defense did good shutting them out."

Sean Sims rushed 21 times for 205 yards, scoring the first touchdown for the Minutemen, the one that turned out to be the game-winner.

"The offensive line blocked really well. I saw the hole and just took it," he said. "We're glad to bring the surfboard back to Cocoa Beach."

A 17-yard Satellite punt got the visitors in position for the score late in the first quarter. Satellite appeared ready to take advantage of a fumbled handoff to even the score late in the second, but Richard's interception in the end zone killed that Scorpions drive.

Richard helped put the game away with 8:21 to play. He caught a pass on his own sideline that was in danger of interception. When the defensive back missed the ball, it left Richard alone to turn it into a 30-yard touchdown catch.

"It looked like he was coming directly for it," Richard said. "He had a hand right in my face, and Christian (Provancha) put it right in there."

Cocoa Beach will try for a seventh win -- something not achieved by the Minutemen since 1991 -- next week at home against Doral Academy.

In addition to a failed onside kick to start the game, the Scorpions tried something unusual on offense. They lined up with three players split to each side and just two linemen sandwiching the center.

On the first play in the formation, quarterback Bryan Shahlamian ran for 15 yards. After that, not much offense resulted.

"We knew they were going to do some things and try to create some offense," Piccalo said. "Our defense did not break."

Contact McCallum at 242-3698 or bmccallum@floridatoday.com

Turkey Free Thanksgiving Nov. 22, 2008

Healthy Planet of Brevard (HPoB) cordially invites you to a Turkey-Free Thanksgiving

Saturday November 22, 2008

Kiwanis Island Park Main Pavilion, Merritt Island

2 – 5 PM
Join HPoB, Brevard's own vegetarian organization, in honoring our blessings and the earth's bounty.

A $5 per adult donation is requested for non-members. Children are free.

"This event is open to members and friends of Healthy Planet of Brevard, and prospective members."

Call Sharon Kelly with any questions about the event at 321-984-4032 or Cell 321-536-0790.

Blue Angels Air Show Kennedy Space Center

FLORIDA TODAY • Nov. 6, 2008

Been thinking about visiting the Kennedy Space Center? If so, this is the weekend to go. It's time for the second annual space and air show, featuring the Navy's Blue Angels, as well as other fabulous aircraft.

The show will be from 12:30 to 4 p.m., Nov. 8, 2008 with buses departing from the KSC Visitor Complex starting at 10:30 a.m., with continuous service throughout the day. Admission is $15/$12 for children in advance, $20/$15 the day of the show. If you want to tour the Space Center in addition to seeing the air show, admission is $38/$28 in advance; $53/$40 day of show.

For more information, call 449-4400 or visit http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/. While you're there, you'll get the chance to meet and greet astronauts and purchase autographs and memorabilia. Proceeds from the Astronaut Autograph and Memorabilia Show benefit the Astronaut Scholarship Fund. Call 455-7012 or visit astronautscholarship.org. If you're looking to hear some great jazz, Gicomo Gates, Nancy Kelly and Terry Myers will be performing a tribute to Louis Prima and Keely Smith. Show are at 8:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Heidi's Jazz Club, 7 N. Orlando Blvd., Cocoa Beach. Tickets are $35. Get back to nature Saturday night with a Moonlight Stroll at Erna Nixon Park, 1200 Evans Road, West Melbourne. Admission is $3. Enjoy the moon and starlight, and listen to some soothing music by local talent as you stroll along the park's trail. One word of warning: Don't try to park at Erna Nixon's small lot. Instead, park by Pole No. 4 on the west side of JC Penney at the Melbourne Square mall. A shuttle will run between the lot and the park. If you're feeling like a big spender — or feeling like listening to someone sing "Big Spender," Surfside Playhouse in Cocoa Beach will open "Sweet Charity" this weekend. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 23. Tickets are $18, $15 for seniors/military and $10 for students. Call 783-3127 for more information. For more on what’s happening this weekend, visit floridatoday.com/entertainment.

Free Movies in the Park Cocoa Beach 6 pm Sat Nov. 8, 2008

Cocoa Beach Library November 2008 Events

Scrapbooking with Dana Wilkens, Wednesday, November 5th at 1:00 PM in the Jane von Thron Room.

Make Christmas Cards and Gift Tags. Cost is $5.00. Register at the Sign-Up table.

Flintlock Muskets, Women, and George’s Tactics in the Revolutionary War with Historian Dabney Davis, Monday, November 10th at 3:00 PM. Dabney Davis is the quintessential Southern gentleman, a wickedly funny storyteller with a wide range of anecdotes at his command. His collection of 18th Century Flintlock muskets and historical memorabilia will be on display.

Create an Autumn Bracelet with Bev McNally on Wednesday, November 12th from 1:00-4:00 PM in the Jane von Thron Room. The Autumn bracelets are on flexible beading wire and crimp beads with either a toggle clasp or a magnetic clasp. The glass beads are Fall tones, with ambers, browns, oranges, olivine and black with gold or copper beads. Fairly easy. Limited to 10 participants. Cost $12.00. Register at sign up table.

Open Mic, Wednesday, November 12th from 6:00 – 8:30 PM. Perform music, either original or cover tunes, or recite original poetry or stories. Time is limited to 10 minutes per participant. Show up, sign up, and play! Part of a new Open Mic series which will take place every 2nd Wednesday.

Music on a Sunday Afternoon presents Robert Roulette and Friends, Sunday, November 16th at 2:00 PM. Rowlette, who heads up the 'Outta Sight Band', has played many times at the library, including our 50th anniversary, as well as accompanying the popular Austin Church. Enjoy contemporary, rock and blues.

For more information please visit the Library Website http://www.cocoabeachpubliclibrary.org/

Slater Invitational Surfing Competition, Nov. 7-9 at the Cocoa Beach Hilton.

Story/Photos By Ingrid Matta and Kirsten / ASP
Slater Invitation Coming Soon, Very Soon!By Ingrid Matta The talents of world class surfers in one-on-one seldom seen competition is the top feature of the Sean and Skippy (Stephen) Slater Invitational Surfing Competition, Nov. 7-9 at the Cocoa Beach Hilton. This rare event, along with skateboarding demonstrations, entertainment, and the chance to help raise funds and awareness for one of the world’s most crippling and deadly diseases – skin cancer – promises to be one of Brevard’s need-to-be-there events. “It’s a chance to get world class talented surfers from this area and beyond together, and have them compete, which they don’t always get to do,” says veteran surfer Sean Slater, brother of world famous Kelly Slater who will also be beachside, and of course, in the water. “It’s cool to get everyone together who grew up together, whether they made a living at surfing or not,” he adds, “with everyone focusing on the surfing. This contest is going to be different says Slater with the focus mostly on some spectacular surfing. There will be only 2-3 guys in the lineup at one time. “Not many, if any, contests do man-on-man anymore,” he says. There will be 36 guys in each division; 12 heats of three, with around $10,000 to disburse to winners. All-time surf greats will be there like Kelly Slater, his brothers, CJ Hobgood, Shay Lopez; Dean Rendazzo; Todd Holland; Sean O’Hare; Brian Hewitson; Gabe Kling; the Jones Brothers; Kyle Garson and more. There’s a newly added long board division with many East Coast heavy hitters, Slater promises, along with raffles; tents, booths; art; and skateboard demonstrations. To top it all off, the Hilton is kicked in as full-out host with its Tiki Bar, beach chairs, and plenty of parking. All three days promise some spectacular surfing, skateboarding, and fellowship – all for a great cause. Kicking off these festivities will be when Rusty’s at the Port hosts the kick off street party (open to the public), Thursday, Nov. 6, complete with musical entertainment beginning at 6 p.m. Three bands will perform, along with regular dining at Rusty’s, and information on the contest and the World Skin Cancer Foundation. The bands playing include Heart One Tribe, Junkie Rush, and Super Villans. Friday through Sunday there will be surfing all day, with Sunday featuring the area’s youngest ‘groms’ in the lineup as the festivities focus on family. And it’s family that inspired the Slaters and Drew to create the contest. “We all grew up together, surfing,” says Slater. “We’re all friends, and really family.” Drew, president of the World Skin Cancer Foundation, has battled skin cancer for the last years. He founded the not-for-profit group in Cocoa Beach to educate the public about the detrimental effects of unprotected sun exposure. For more information, check out the WSCF website: http://www.worldskincancerfoundation.com/

NASA to assist company developing lunar lander

NASA to assist company developing lunar lander
The Associated Press
November 1, 2008
COCOA BEACH - A private firm aiming to win a $30 million contest to send an unmanned, robotic rover to the moon will receive technical help from NASA under a deal reached this week with the U.S. space agency.NASA will provide design drawings, technical data and engineering support to Odyssey Moon Ventures, which is developing a coffee table-sized lunar lander in an effort to win the contest sponsored by Google Inc.The bulk of the Google Lunar X prize will go to the first private company that can land a robotic rover on the moon and beam back a gigabyte of images and video to Earth.Twelve teams are competing for the prize.
Odyssey Moon will pay the U.S. space agency $500,000 over two years.The Cocoa Beach-based firm hopes to have its first unmanned mission to the moon in three or four years. It will use a design framework already developed at NASA's Ames Research Center."Think of us more as a FedEx model, or Lunex, you might call it, it's logistics," said Bob Richard, CEO and founder of Odyssey Moon. "Our business is getting to the surface of the moon. The type of truck it is, we don't really care. In this case, since trucks don't exist, we have to build our first one."The firm's proposed lunar lander will be able to carry 100 pounds of cargo. Other prize contestants are discussing a similar agreement with NASA."We're open to working with any organization interested in leveraging our designs," Sid Sun, a project manager at Ames Research Center.