Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Home » Home » WATCH: Viera East Community Development District Hosts Pieloch Dog Park Grand Opening By  //  December 13 FLORIDA – The Viera East Community Development District is proud to present the grand opening of the Pieloch Dog Park at Viera East Woodside Park on December 12 This park has been supported with over 7,000+ volunteer hours The park was financially supported by Mark Pieloch who founded a variety of businesses in the field of pet pharmaceuticals There are two dog parks which will be opening One park is dedicated to dogs 25 pounds and under while the larger dog park will be for dogs over 25 pounds The dog parks will include a hill with a bridge There will be Adirondack chairs for people to relax as well as enclosed benches under a historic oak tree Dogs will enjoy the opportunities of hills and run through under a beautiful shaded park The nature playground is still being worked on This Woodside Park will be an amazing place for your children and fur babies to all enjoy CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS Click Here to Sign Up for Text Alerts Three new members took their places Thursday on the Viera East Community Development District board of supervisors It was the culmination of a yearlong effort to oust three incumbents who supported an $11.3 million bond project proceeds of which were targeted primarily for upgrades to the Viera East Golf Club off Murrell Road The district owns and operates the 18-hole golf course Voters in the district this month elected Pete Carnesale Steve Colasinski and Rob Dale to the board of supervisors There were 7,524 eligible voters in Viera East Community Development District and more than 5,500 cast ballots in each of these three races The Viera East Community Development District is a special tax district governed by a five-member board of supervisors The other two incumbent supervisors were not up for reelection this year This district encompasses 2,825 acres east of Interstate 95 from Wickham Road northward into Rockledge there are about 11,000 residents within the district The Viera East Community Development District's population would be roughly equal to the population of Cape Canaveral seeking to redirect the community development district's financial focus away from the golf course and toward other projects in the district Carnesale said residents who live near the golf course had controlled the board for years and focused their efforts on improvements to the course the Viera East Community Development District board of supervisors unanimously voted to assess more than 4,200 households for 20 years for golf course improvements. Total bond gross assessments would have totaled $2,968 per home over 20 years Carnesale noted that most of the residents who spoke at that meeting opposed the project the bond amount was reduced to $6.2 million — or about $7.5 million A $3.5 million golf clubhouse project removed from the plan Colasinski and Dale mounted an aggressive campaign to oust the incumbents Reports filed with the Brevard County Supervisor of Elections Office show that Carnesale spent $3,117 on his campaign, Colasinski spent $2,532 and Dale spent $4,957 Much of the money went to pay for advertising The newly elected supervisors promised during the campaign to ensure that the Viera East Community Development District focus on more than the golf course; that there will be more of a focus on waterways trails and preserves in the district; and that residents have more of a voice in district business and it needs to be controlled," Carnesale said describing the board of supervisors as a "mini-city council" for Viera East Colasinski said the new supervisors already are working to reduce expenses for the golf course project even further At the board's four-hour-long meeting on Thursday board members discussed whether to scale back plans to replace all the bunkers on the golf course They also discussed how best to approach a $2 million project to upgrade the course's irrigation system the board discussed ways to better promote the golf course's restaurant to the non-golfing public as a way to generate more business — leading to more revenue for the Viera East Community Development District The new supervisors campaigned on a promise to seek to establish new amenities in the district a community garden and a miniature golf course And they already are starting to make progress on that work Dale said they have a "substantial five-figure contribution" lined up from Mark Pieloch founder of the American Muscle Car Museum in Melbourne to help fund a dog park at Woodside Park off Murrell Road in Viera previously has funded development of two dog parks in Melbourne Dale said construction of the Viera East dog park could begin as early as January Dale said the board also hopes to establish a monthly farmers' market and craft fair at that Woodside Park which also could include an array of food trucks They hope to establish an entertainment venue in Viera East for bands to perform The board also will focus in improvements to the waterways in the district including measures to help prevent fish kills such as those that hit the Auburn Lakes and Bayhill subdivisions in the summer About 80 people attended Thursday's board of supervisors' meeting which is about four times the number of people who usually attend Dale said many were golfers who wanted to see the new board's direction on the golf course project Dale said the new board members during the meeting were able to dispel rumors that they wanted to sell the golf course and wanted to push for development of a condominium project He said the new board members just want to rein in expenses and focus on projects throughout the district noting that his ticket's campaign theme was "Viera East Community Development District is more than just a golf course." The board on Thursday agreed to move meeting start times from 2 p.m to allow more residents who work during the day to participate in the meetings Dale said the board also plans to have more systematic input at its monthly meetings from representatives of the various homeowners' association within the district "We want to be sure residents have the first voice" in decisions by the district's board of supervisors "We're really there to serve the residents of the district." Board members unanimously elected Dale as chair Carnesale as vice chair and Colasinski as treasurer Viera East Community Development District supervisors are paid $4,800 a year and have four-year terms the Viera East CDD is responsible for construction operation and maintenance of infrastructure such as the golf course paved trails and sidewalks, and Woodside Park.   As her first order of business Tuesday as the new chair of the Brevard County Commission District 1 Commissioner Rita Pritchett made her appointment of commissioners to various local and regional boards Pritchett appointed herself to the Election Canvassing Board and the Value Adjustment Board.District 2 Commissioner Bryan Lober was appointed to the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (as one of two appointees) the Public Safety Coordinating Council and the Tourist Development Council.District 3 Commissioner John Tobia was appointed to the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council (as one of two appointees).District 4 Commissioner Curt Smith was appointed to the Central Florida Expressway Authority the Indian River Lagoon Council and as alternate to the Value Adjustment Board.District 5 Commissioner Kristine Zonka — the new vice chair of the County Commission — was appointed to the Art in Public Places board the Economic Development Commission and as alternate to the Election Canvassing Board.All five commissioners serve on the Florida Association of Counties and the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization.Just after commissioners elected Pritchett chair she told Lober that he had "a most unusual year" as chair as the county worked through the COVID-19 pandemic.  Pritchett added that "I look forward to a much nicer year than we had in 2020."  Dave Berman is government editor at FLORIDA TODAY. His Political Spin column runs Sundays in FLORIDA TODAY.  Contact Berman at 321-242-3649 or dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman To subscribe: https://cm.floridatoday.com/specialoffer/ 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sonata Senior Living and AEW Capital Management have announced plans to develop Sonata Viera East a luxury senior living community in the master-planned community of Viera The 5.4-acre development site is located at 4206 Breslay Drive in Melbourne (adjacent to the Viera VA Outpatient Clinic) across the street from Sonata Viera West assisted living community Sonata Senior Living will break ground in November 2019 on the 133,000-square-foot community including 88 independent living and 30 memory care apartments was selected as the architecture firm and Certified General Contractors Sonata Viera East will expand Sonata Senior Living's inventory in Viera to a total of 200 assisted living providing a full continuum of care to Brevard County families "Sonata Viera East will take senior living to a level above and beyond the status quo," said Shelley Esden "Our focus is on creating not only a continuing care community but also a lifestyle experience underscored by infinite activities and programs designed to surprise and delight our residents." The new independent living community will offer a large selection of one and two-bedroom floorplans up to 1,250 square feet Each independent living residence will include a balcony or sunroom and access to Sonata Senior Living's signature resort-style amenities Amenities at Sonata Viera East will include multiple dining venues and lounges; a bistro bar; a zero-entry heated pool; movie theater; arts studio; library; game room; bocce ball court; off-leash dog park; beauty salon and spa; and wellness/fitness center Residents will have access to covered parking and lush landscaped outdoor areas for grilling The memory care development plans are based on Sonata's award-winning Serenades Memory Care which features a purpose-built design comprising two intimate neighborhoods surrounding a secure courtyard "Every aspect of our memory care community incorporates the latest innovations and technology in Alzheimer's and dementia care to promote the autonomy and independence of our residents," noted Esden Future independent living and memory care residents can reserve a spot now on Sonata Viera East's priority waitlist by calling 321-735-8850 Media Contact: Shelley Esden [email protected] 407-286-6490 (office) 407-937-8780 (mobile) Do not sell or share my personal information: More than 4,200 Viera East residents may be assessed for an $11.3 million bond for upgrades at Viera East Golf Club — including clubhouse renovations a new irrigation system and bunker renovations The Viera East Community Development District is a special tax district governed by a five-member board of supervisors "The district ultimately owns and operates the golf course It's an over-20-year-old facility at this stage," said Jason Showe "So the board feels there's some improvements that need to be made to keep it competitive in the golf industry as well as provide a nice place for the residents," Showe said The Viera East CDD board of supervisors will conduct a public hearing and vote on the $11.3 million bond at 6 p.m some residents say a sweeping majority of Viera East homeowners oppose the 20-year bond.  Tom Luckern is a homeowners' association board member in Hammock Trace comprised of 189 homes just north of Wickham Road Neighboring Hammock Lakes includes about 180 homes His total projected gross annual assessment: $241.15 I'll bet it would be 95% in disapproval of this Ninety-five percent — not 80%," Luckern said "And I think that would work right down the line in Hammock Lakes and beyond," he said Viera: Lion exhibit coming to Brevard Zoo's Expedition Africa loop in 2021 Viera: Wawa, Chick-fil-A, Texas Roadhouse plan to build along Viera Boulevard Viera East Golf Club is located off Murrell Road near Rockledge corporate limits The 18-hole course hosts more than 50,000 rounds of golf per year.  the bond would finance a $9 million list of infrastructure projects Golf course-related projects account for 94% of this sum "The bond will not be assessed to the residents until 2023 which is when their other bond series will be fully paid off So it's designed so that there is no assessment increase to the residents based on this bond issue," Showe said Jennifer De Vries created an online poll about the Viera East CDD assessments that drew 265 responses She said 89 percent of respondents opposed the bond "It's one thing if it was necessary work: if we needed to repair the streets But it's another thing when it's building a banquet facility for a golf course," De Vries said Before De Vries bought her home in May 2018 in the Durban Park neighborhood she called the Brevard County Tax Collector's Office and asked questions about her assessments She was looking forward to her assessments decreasing in 2022 "I didn't realized that these five people could decide to spend all our money when I decided to buy a house in the community," she said The proposed project list also includes a Woodside Park dog park playground and restrooms totaling $125,000.  operation and maintenance of infrastructure such as he golf course paved trails and sidewalks, and Woodside Park.  Neale is the South Brevard watchdog reporter at FLORIDA TODAY.  Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com The Viera East Community Development District board of supervisors approved an $11.3 million bond Thursday for improvements at at Viera East Golf Club — drawing hundreds of people to a public hearing owns and operates the golf course off Murrell Road The district's 4,200-plus households will be assessed for 20 years for clubhouse renovations ($2.9 million) bunker renovations and liners ($1.1 million) and other upgrades "These improvements will keep the day-to-day operations going for the next 20 keep the golf course viable," Tim Melloh these improvements will ensure that the property values do not decline and that the quality of life in the CDD is maintained that's why a lot of people bought into homes here," Melloh said numerous residents argued their property values will not be impacted by a golf course project The Viera East district stretches east of Interstate 95 from Wickham Road northward into Rockledge — boasting more residents than Indialantic Total bond gross assessments over 20 years will total $2,968 per home "If you had come in with a more reasonable project list Are you nuts?" Osprey subdivision resident John Pilley asked the board More: Viera East $11 million golf course bond generates opposition from residents More: Lion exhibit coming to Brevard Zoo's Expedition Africa loop in 2021 The audience packed the Faith Viera Lutheran Church multipurpose room standing room only during a public hearing on the bond After listening to comments from residents supervisors unanimously passed three bond-related votes with no discussion Viera East Golf Club was built in 1994. Melloh said the course turned a $55,000 profit during the 2018 fiscal year The $2.9 million clubhouse revamp will add a new kitchen along with larger restrooms and golf pro shop an attorney whose firm is based within the Viera East CDD warned the board that he represents "a boatload of businesses" that face the assessments He handed his business card to the Viera East CDD legal team after leaving the public-comment microphone told the board he represents a corporation that owns about 18 acres at the southeast corner of Murrell Road and Viera Boulevard He said some restaurants have refused to move to the property because of high CDD assessments Spira said he thinks bond is unconstitutional: "We should not be charged from a commercial standpoint for a golf course." Want to read our e-Edition? Here are some tips for getting the best experience.  There was a time when country club/golf club food was as good as it got in a suburban environment substantial American dishes with your friends or teammates Well, the quiet and elegant parts may be a thing of the past in many places, but at the Viera East Golf Club, the good and substantial parts have returned with the opening of the Hook & Eagle Tavern If you have dined at any of Hook & Eagle’s predecessors This is a whole new management team with entirely different and more inventive ideas about what should go on the menu at a public golf course’s clubhouse Go for the view, stay for the food: Restaurant review: Go to Pineapples in Eau Gallie for the view, stay for the gator chowder Restaurant review: Try the lobster fried rice at this immaculate Melbourne Thai eatery New Italian restaurant features Pasta alla Ruota: Restaurant review: New Italian restaurant is terrific and worth the drive to Palm Bay Forget the notion of oily hot dogs or dry burgers as the stars of the bills of fare you find appetizers such as homemade pimento cheese served with flatbread crackers celery and green beans ($6.99); or Reuben egg rolls served with Russian dressing (as it’s “signature,” we take that as homemade there is the “Slap Yo Mama” chicken sandwich ($10.49) onion and house-made pickles on a brioche kaiser roll and will someone please explain to Jersey girl here what a “brioche kaiser roll” is “Street eats” include Nashville Hot Chicken Nuggs ($7.49) “Nuggs:” It’s always good to see Millennial coolness including one that adds corned beef ($10.99) and Fat Elvis with thick bacon and peanut butter ($10.99) you read that right) is available after 4 p.m Fridays and it has received rave reviews from many; and there are coffee-rubbed Louis ribs ($14.99) as well as shrimp and grits ($14.99) We went for lunch and started with Hushpuppy Battered Shrimp ($8.49) served with remoulade hot shrimp in cornmeal batter that bore absolutely no taste of whatever came before it in the fryer My dining companion thought less of the Southern Cobb Salad ($10.99) which only in faint ways resembled a Cobb salad a Cobb salad was first made by Robert Cobb or chef Paul Posti around 1938 at Cobb’s Brown Derby Restaurant in Hollywood) usually laid out in lovely rows on top of the greens.  but the rest was very much akin to a chef salad rather than a traditional Cobb with no avocado but large (and fresh) wedges and slices of everything else had one of the best chicken and waffles ($14.99) lunches I’ve ever had to which pearl sugar lent a bit of crunch and the honey butter was perfect The chicken spoke miles about the restaurant half chicken breast — not a patty or portion control thing — but it clearly was marinated and perfectly and it did not require syrup or any other condiment We didn’t order dessert because we didn’t need to at this smart informal restaurant with fine service and a rollicking friendly ambience that includes a view of the greens It turns the notion of modern club food on its ear Online: www.hookandeagle.com complimentary mimosa with each adult entree; full bar with premium spirits; children’s meals; karaoke 5 to 8 p.m Restaurants are rated on a five-star system by FLORIDA TODAY’s reviewer The reviews are the opinion of the reviewer and take into account quality of the restaurant’s food Ratings reflect the quality of what a diner can reasonably expect to find To receive a rating of less than three stars a restaurant must be tried twice and prove unimpressive on each visit Each reviewer visit is unannounced and paid for by FLORIDA TODAY A rare establishment to which you’d be proud to take the most discerning diner atmosphere and service are routinely top notch A reasonably good place with food and service that satisfy While there’s nothing special about this establishment Join the conversation about food at facebook.com/groups/321FlavorWhereBrevardEats The rumors are true: Brevard is getting a Whole Foods Market "There is a Whole Foods Market coming to Viera FL," Veronica Delia with Whole Foods global public relations said in an email Thursday morning "We do not have any further details to share at this time but will of course let you know when we do." The confirmation comes after months of will-they-or-won't-they speculation and pleas from fans of the Austin just southeast of the Interstate 95 interchange The SJC Ventures website calls the project The Crossings at Viera and lists the projected opening date as 2024 Related: Mystery specialty grocery store, home improvement store, restaurants coming to Viera plaza Whole Foods, a subsidiary of Amazon, frequently shows up on lists of national brands Brevardians wish would open here which specializes in natural and organic foods Now it has more than 500 stores in North America and the United Kingdom Stacy-Ann Zeller of Merritt Island is among those who can't wait for the store to open She loves Whole Foods because everything is organic I don't have to read labels and wonder if it's organic." She also likes the ease of Whole Foods' grab-and-go selections and its other prepared foods "I can stop there and a lot of my prep work has been done," she said "I can still go home and feel like I made the meal." Zeller said Whole Foods will be a plus for people relocating to the area from other states "They're used to seeing many of those kinds of chains around," she said that's always the first question: 'Where's my closest Whole Foods?'" vice president of community management and communications with The Viera Co. “We are thrilled that Whole Foods Markets is coming to The Crossings at Viera and know that the specialty grocer will be a huge draw for residents and visitors,” Jeff Garrison “We look forward to working on this project and bringing in several great tenants that will add value and high-end amenities to this top destination in Florida." Among the restaurants joining Whole Foods at the Crossings at Viera are Miller's Ale House and Chicken Salad Chick Related: It's official: Popular Orlando-based sports bar franchise plans Viera location Related: Chicken Salad Chick restaurant coming to Viera in 2024 in same plaza as Miller's Ale House FLORIDA TODAY Boys Golfer of the Year 2023Rarely does a high school golf team combine so much talent on one roster Shayaan Kim was one of several with a world of potential Kim is the 2023 FLORIDA TODAY Boys Golfer of the Year Kim and the Hawks dominated local high school golf during the season and he showed consistent strength in competition 30 at The Legends at Orange Lake Resort Golf Course in Kissimmee shooting a 69 to tie the low score for the FHSAA Region 2-3A tournament The Hawks ninth-grader helped his team to a third-place finish at the event and they continued on to the state tournament Kim started his postseason with a nine-hole 38 at Viera East two shots off the lead and tied for fifth in another of those logjams at the top At Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach on Oct three shots off the lead for the District 8-3A contest At the FHSAA Class 3A tournament at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills Following is the complete team of this season's All-Space Coast Boys Golf honorees: Bercea won the District 9-3A title at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach with a 74 He tied for fifth in the Cape Coast Conference with a 38 for nine holes Turin Duber, Freshman, VieraDuber shot a round of 75 at Sandridge Golf Club to finish as the District 8-3A runner-up He shot rounds of 77-73-77 at the 3A state tournament Kim shot 69 for the Region 2-3A tournament at The Legends of Orange Lake in Kissimmee to tie for the low score. He placed fifth in the district and tied for fifth at the CCC event Zachary McGoffin, Sr., VieraMcGoffin was the Cape Coast Conference runner-up with a nine-hole 36 at Viera East. He tied for third in District 8-3A Sisler was the Cape Coast Conference medalist, shooting 36 over nine holes at Viera East. He tied for third in District 7-1A at LPGA International's Jones Course Zhang placed third at the Region 2-1A tournament at Hawkstone Country Club in Gainesville, shooting a 71. He tied for ninth in District 7-1A The Viera High girls soccer team will face East Lake in the Class 5A state semifinal at Spec Martin Stadium in DeLand on Wednesday at 10 a.m Viera is looking to earn its third state championship They won back-to-back 4A state titles in 2015 and 2016 Here's a look at how the Hawks got here and more on their opponent So close: Edgewood girls soccer ends season as Class 3A state runner-up After putting together a strong regular season and winning the district championship The Hawks soared in their first game against Lakeland In its next two game, Viera defeated West Boca Raton 5-2, and won the regional final over Oviedo 2-1 Gianna Buysse has a team-high 19 goals and has tallied four assists Eva McMenemy-Hoang has scored 12 goals and assisted on six more this season Caroline Detwiler and Meghan Nadle are tied with McMenemy-Hoang for most assists with six Goalkeeper Kendall Mix has made 71 saves on the season Viera enters the state semifinals with a record of 16-1-1 and on a five-game winning streak dating back to Jan Who they are playingViera will play East Lake (16-2-4) out of Tarpon Springs the Eagles won their district championship game ahead of the state playoffs 1 seeded Sunlake 4-3 to advance to the state semifinals Gianna Low leads the Eagles in goals scored with 18 followed by Mia Quattrocki who has 13 goals to go along with 12 assists Winner of the game gets...A spot in the Class 6A state championship game With teams being reseeded in the state semifinals If the hawks win, they will play the winner of the No. 1 Ponte Vedra/No. 4 St. Thomas Aquinas game on March 2 at 10 a.m. at Spec Martin Stadium. Tickets to the game need to be purchased online with there being no tickets being sold onsite at the game EAST LANSING — Police officers involved in the shooting of a young Black man in a Meijer parking lot last month have been named in a use-of-force report In the April report submitted to the East Lansing Independent Police Oversight Commission officers Jose Viera and Jim Menser were listed as discharging their weapons Officer Jeff Horn also was listed as displaying his weapon which was discussed during Monday night's meeting of the commission said he and his client are confident the officers will be cleared of wrongdoing in the incident "This not about 'backing the blue' – the concerns of the community about social justice are valid and important," attorney Mike Nichols said in a written statement VanAtten – no one wanted to see him get hurt," Nichols said Patrick O’Keefe, an attorney for Menser East Lansing officers shot 20-year-old DeAnthony VanAtten twice in the Lake Lansing Road Meijer parking lot after responding to a report of a man with a gun The commission had a special meeting April 28 to discuss the shooting and video of the incident was released Thursday VanAtten was taken into custody by the Ingham County Sheriff's Office on Thursday He was later transferred to jail while being held on a probation violation warrant according to Michigan State Police, who are investigating the incident More: East Lansing police oversight commission has questions for police for Monday's meeting More: East Lansing police shooting: What we learned from Thursday's video release and news conference More: East Lansing police release video of officers shooting man in Meijer parking lot Nichols said Viera spent seven months with the Lansing Police Department before joining ELPD and has participated in community events including Shop with a Cop in December and the first annual egg hunt in the Pinecrest Neighborhood on Easter "The first thing that Jose said to me within about 5 seconds of meeting me within minutes of the incident was help me with 2 things – I want to make sure that my wife is OK and that the young man who was shot is OK,'" Nichols said in the statement.  Contact Bryce Airgood at 517-267-0448 or bairgood@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123. The 2024 Brevard County election season is in full swing A number of open seats and a deeper pool of candidates than in prior years virtually guarantees some new faces in office including some in major positions around the county It also means voters will have more to pay attention to as we move toward the August primaries and then again in November Republicans will head to the polls on Tuesday to vote in the Florida presidential preference primary although former President Donald Trump is the only candidate still in the race after Nikki Haley dropped out earlier this month after the Florida Democratic Party listed only President Biden as a candidate last fall Voters will have more choices in local elections this year While it's still early and the playing field can change here is an overview of the Brevard County races to watch so far along with some links — including ongoing election coverage from FLORIDA TODAY — to help you plan your Election Day Brevard County sheriffRepublican Sheriff Wayne Ivey has held arguably the most influential county-level political office in Brevard since he was first elected in 2012. He has faced only one other challenger since that time, easily defeating Democratic former Assistant State Attorney Alton Edmond in 2020 This year, he faces another Republican in former Brevard County Deputy Brian Potters. Potters was the deputy wounded in the deadly ambush-style shooting near West Melbourne in August 2021 that made national news Potters, who used to work for Ivey before retiring in 2022 and has never held political office, has made claims of poor and hypocritical treatment from the sheriff in the wake of the shooting Ivey broke his long silence against FLORIDA TODAY to rebut the accusations calling them "ridiculous and out of touch." Ivey is running on his record in office and long law enforcement experience to secure another term A long-shot win by Potters would would mean policy changes in Brevard's largest law enforcement agency and move the needle on the balance of political power in the county which could have impacts on future races elsewhere in Brevard Former deputy says Sheriff Ivey treated him poorly after shooting. Now he wants the job There are three open positions on the County Commission — enough to shift the dynamics of Brevard's major governing board for years to come That leaves Districts 1, 3 and 5 up for grabs. At least 11 candidates have lined up, including five for District 1 alone in North Brevard The Democrats have fielded candidates for each of the open seats and one District 1 candidate is running on a third-party ticket Assuming all the announced candidates qualify for the ballot all three races will see August primaries and be decided in November West Melbourne Councilman John Dittmore files for County Commission seat Republican state committeewoman files to run for Brevard County Commission Community activist Seigler is first official 2024 candidate for Brevard County Commission Robert Jordan announces District 1 County Commission candidacy for North Brevard Candidates lining up for appointment as District 5 county commissioner to fill vacancy Taranto to run for Brevard County Commission in South Brevard's District 5 in 2024 race Republicans Thad Altman and Dave Neuman file for 2024 Brevard County Commission race The results are unlikely to sway the balance of the board as what Brevard political party leaders have called its "conservative coalition" (a group that includes Susin) — School Board members Gene Trent Megan Wright and Katye Campbell — still hold the other three seats Two candidates file to run for Brevard school board in District 3 Mother of Viera High hazing incident victim files to run for Brevard School Board 'The youngest I've ever seen': Viera High School student, 18, announces school board run Debbie Mayfield is up against term limits after her first election to the Florida Senate in 2016 Her departure leaves a vacancy in the county's largest senatorial district Among them is Republican State Rep. Randy Fine who looks to extend his time in Tallahassee after he also terms out of the Florida House this year Fine will face off against Charles "Chuck" Sheridan and former Port Canaveral Commissioner Robyn Hattaway in a three-way GOP primary battle in August The winner is slated to face Democrat Vance Ahrens in the November general election Rep. Randy Fine announces 2024 run for Florida Senate Robyn Hattaway enters State Senate race against Randy Fine Randy Fine picks up Trump endorsement after breaking with DeSantis Fine and Republican State Rep. Thad Altman both step down this year due to term limits (but are seeking other offices: Fine for State Senate and Altman for County Commission) two Democrats and a Libertarian Party candidate Florida Reps. Chase Tramont (R-District 30) and Tyler Sirois (R-District 31) each have Democratic opponents they will face in November Robert Brackett (R-District 34) is currently unopposed Former Republican congressman Weldon to run for Florida House seat Palm Bay Republican enters race for Florida House District 33 seat Two more Democrats file for Randy Fine's District 33 Florida House seat in South Brevard Two more enter race for South Brevard House seat currently held by Randy Fine both termed out of their County Commission seats look to score other Brevard County offices Pritchett is challenging longtime Tax Collector Lisa Cullen Tobia, meanwhile, has his eye on the Supervisor of Elections office currently held by Gov who took over after former Supervisor Lori Scott retired in 2022 Property Appraiser Dana Blickley and Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller Rachel Sadoff are currently unopposed County Commissioner Rita Pritchett to run against incumbent Lisa Cullen for tax collector County Commissioner Tobia running for Brevard supervisor of elections in 2024 Bill Posey once again faces a multiple opponent race this time fielding primary challenges from three candidates within his own party The winner will face another three-way race in the general election against Democrat Daniel McDow and a non-affiliated candidate Among the Brevard cities that will hold local council elections this year and have announced candidates are Cocoa Other Brevard municipalities also will be listing candidates as the qualifying period gets closer Palm Bay and West Melbourne — already have announced candidates for mayor Melbourne and Palm Bay elections are for controlling majorities on the boards though many incumbents are currently unchallenged Contested elections so far include all the Palm Bay races; Melbourne mayor and City Council District 3; Titusville City Council District 2; and West Melbourne mayor With State Attorney Phil Archer stepping down after this year only Assistant State Attorney Will Scheiner — currently Archer's chief trial attorney — remains in the race for Brevard and Seminole counties' top prosecutor Blaise Trettis currently is once again unopposed for Brevard and Seminole public defender This year's elections include a slate of judicial races including six circuit judgeships and four County Court seats with announced candidates There are also two races for Port Canaveral commissioner and three for the Viera East Community Development District All incumbents in the port and Viera races are running unopposed at this point State Attorney candidate drops out, leaving Scheiner unopposed as Archer plans retirement Eric Rogers is a watchdog reporter for FLORDIA TODAY Contact Rogers at 321-242-3717 or esrogers@floridatoday.com Home » Home » East Coast Christian Center Set to Break Ground on New Permanent Facility in Viera May 5 By  //  April 26 FLORIDA – East Coast Christian Center has been a fixture in the Brevard County community for over 30 years and their portable campus in Viera has been faithfully setting up in different Viera locations for the better part of a decade East Coast Viera is planting deep roots as they break ground for a permanent facility at 10 a.m A satellite campus of East Coast Christian Center in Merritt Island East Coast Viera began as a small portable campus meeting in the pre-dawn hours every Sunday morning to set up a sanctuary and nurseries in what used to be the Rave theaters the Viera campus relocated to Viera High School a move that created ample opportunities to form strong community partnerships East Coast Viera has coordinated many community outreaches a back-to-school event where participants received a backpack full of school supplies; Serve Day where members gathered at different locations around the county to clean up and serve local schools and other community-serving non-profits; food drops where members of the community could come to stock their pantries; holiday celebrations where families could bring their children for safe and fun events such as Easter egg hunts East Coast Viera has worked hand-in-hand with Veterans Affairs and other local outreaches to provide a network of help and hope to those who need it The new campus will be located at 3475 Viera Blvd. East Coast Viera will continue its work partnering with local schools and businesses For more information on East Coast Viera, visit their website at ECCC.US their Facebook at East Coast Christian Center or on Instagram at @EastCoastChristianCenter You can also join them on Sunday morning at Viera High School at 9:15 and 10:45 a.m Have you been to or just heard about the Bellevue Christian Church You will easily find the non-denominational church in Downtown Pittsburgh in Bellevue It is a church for ordinary people and preaches about everyday life and living the way of Jesus Christ Sunday is always a great day for the worshippers and the service starts at 9:00 to 10:30 am You can also enjoy an online session that starts at 10:30 am Worshippers also get a chance to request prayer and start motivated and blessed codified recipes and definitions and elevated the professions of preparing and serving food eliminates the tension of the day and awakens and refines the appetite.” culture does have what Merriam-Webster describes as fish or vegetable stock as a base and often containing pieces of solid food.” It is especially favored at this time of year Café Margaux in Cocoa Village has been honored for the tomato and basil bisque it has served for a generation has brought its 70 varieties to Palm Bay/West Melbourne and will open a third store soon So popular is the soup flight at Hook & Eagle Tavern in the Viera East Golf Club that last weekend chef James Thompson almost ran out of bowls for his new flights “I’ve been featuring the choice of three soups out of a selection of broccoli cheese roasted tomato bisque and Guinness beer cheese,” Thompson said with a laugh launching it before (I) the supplies I needed to facilitate it We had a really busy night Saturday and I had just enough bowls.” Hook & Eagle now has more than its share of bowls Those renowned for their soup or potages include: It is nothing like the usual pizzeria fare but a vegetable-filled meal in its own right Details: 586 State Road A1A, Satellite Beach, 321-978-2242, avitalianmarket.com/restaurant-caterings Bean Sprout | VieraAt least two FLORIDA TODAY types love tom kha and one of them is multimedia storyteller Rob Landers who considers Bean Sprout’s the best in the area Details: 2221 Town Center Ave, the Avenue Viera, 321-632-8999, beansproutviera.com What precedes a fine steak better than a fine French onion soup? Continental-flavored CuiZine’s is hot, onion-packed, crouton-floated and gooey-cheese-topped, as most diners would have it.  “Divine!” said Jim Neil, a mainstay in our 321FlavorWhereBrevardEats group on Facebook One reason the well-established lunch joint is popular with a clientele that includes health care legal and banking professionals is its homemade soup Two varieties are available each day the restaurant is open Details: 7695 N. Wickham Road, Suntree, 321-426-7575, eatz-eatery.com Heidi’s always has had an extensive menu of European and American specialties some drive to the beach for the beautifully presented It was a favorite when Eddie and Heidi Deleuil operated the place Details: 7 Orlando Ave., Cocoa Beach, 321-783-4559, heidisjazzclub.com/menu More restaurant news: Looking for ambience? Find it at this waterfront Merritt Island spot FLORIDA TODAY food editor Suzy Fleming Leonard will be the first to tell you: She hates cooked carrots add cream and Lello's blend of spices and seasonings and even a confirmed carrot hater will fall in love Details: 2025 Murrell Road, Rockledge, 321-305-5933, lellosmenu.com Niki’s started as a Greek-American restaurant Its avgolemono — lemon-chicken soup — remains its traditional one of the better versions to be found in the area Details: 570 Fla. A1A, Satellite Beach, 321-773-8696. https://nikisrainbow.restaurant More restaurant news: Longtime Satellite Beach restaurant has new owners, glorious gyro A restaurant located directly on the Indian River Lagoon with “fish” in its name should have a great soup and this one has a seafood gumbo that has earned plaudits “The seafood gumbo wins the gumbo contest,” said Scott Kingston “(It is) scratch-made from quality ingredients and just thick enough to be gumbo Details: 5185 U.S. 1, Grant, 321-727-7007, oldfishhousebarandgrill.com Ask about New England-style clam chowder and Shells’ thick “THE BEST,” wrote Angela Blackford Ritchey and that explains why it has won chowder contests Details: 1490 W. New Haven Ave., Melbourne, 321-722-1122, shellsofmelbourne.com even if I have no idea what some of that stuff in there is but special is very special.” Intended for two people it contains big won tons with lots of roast pork Details: 6450 N. Wickham Road, Suntree, 321-425-4638, telychineserestaurant.com The menu at chef Ercan Enkinci’s new restaurant describes its wild mushroom chardonnay soup as “creamy and rich,” and it is that with the earthiness of the mushrooms and the wine-touched liquid apparent “I crave its fresh ingredients and unique flavor,” Kelly Brandon Hedges told 321 Flavor Details: 2435 Metfield Drive, Viera, 321-499-1188, urbanprimefoods.com Get with the program: Join nearly 60,000 fellow food lovers in @Florida_Today’s Facebook group, facebook.com/groups/321FlavorWhereBrevardEats Home » Home » BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Specialty Organic and Natural Grocery Store Earth Fare to Open in Viera By  //  June 29 a specialty organic and natural grocery store and full-service supermarket will open this winter on Viera Boulevard and Murrell Road in Viera The 26,000 square-foot store will be part of the Viera East Village Shopping Center currently being redeveloped by The Benchmark Group Earth Fare has demonstrated rapid growth in Florida with four new stores opening in the state in the last 12 months “We are extremely excited to be bringing such a quality natural and organic grocery operator as Earth Fare to the Viera market,” said Martin DelleBovi Director of Real Estate of The Benchmark Group “We have looked at several different opportunities to redevelop this center into its next life cycle and we are thrilled that by being patient we were able to secure Earth Fare This provides us the opportunity to completely renovate the entire center and complete the build out of the additional outparcels.” Earth Fare has been among the leaders in the healthy foods grocery industry for more than 40 years by continually developing innovative programs and campaigns that make it easier for shoppers to take back control of their health through their food choices Earth Fare has maintained a unique Food Philosophy that informs every product offered in the store This Food Philosophy is exemplified by a rigorous set of Quality Standards which ensures that all products sold are free of high fructose corn syrup and are never administered antibiotics or growth hormones “Americans everywhere deserve a place where they can shop confidently knowing that every product in their cart is free from harmful ingredients or chemicals that we know are not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.” said Earth Fare President and CEO Frank Scorpiniti DelleBovi and the Benchmark Group in order to bring our unparalleled commitment to helping the vibrant Earth Fare’s 750+ private brand food products are all sourced using only non-GMO ingredients and new products are being added to the shelves each day the new store will also feature Earth Fare’s Heirloom Juice Bar freshly prepared bottles for the person on-the-go Shoppers will also find a wide variety of Clean featuring ready-to-go and prepared foods including the salad bar Shoppers can enjoy a homemade meal without the work whether dining in the indoor and outdoor café with free Wi-Fi or taking it home CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS When you write a Golf Advisor course review now through December 31 your review will be entered into Golf Advisor’s Rate to Escape: Maui Sweepstakes for a chance to win a five-star trip to Maui One Grand Prize winner and guest will travel in an AVIS rental car for six nights/ seven days of accommodations with the latest gear from OGIO to play on the finest fairways in Maui We’re also giving away 12 Golf Advisor Swag bags to lucky reviewers The coronavirus pandemic has spared no aspects of life from major changes Loyal reader Mac brought up a great question: "Just curious regarding the posting of scores while playing under the 'elevated cup' scenario It seems to me that a score played under this condition should not be posted for handicap purposes I have not seen a ruling from the USGA or any dialogue on this issue and assume that the score would not be a valid score for posting purposes." The United States Golf Association (USGA) has indeed weighed in on several aspects of the game that have needed to be temporarily changed as the pandemic progresses Mac's question revolves around the concept of a ball being "holed," which has the following definition in the Rules of Golf: In order to minimize the potential for infection several golf courses have placed various objects at the bottom of cups - PVC piping sections of foam pool noodles and more - so that a ball that enters the cup sits up high enough that it's not necessary to graze the flagstick with one's hand by reaching for a cup all the way at the bottom (In some cases, courses have raised the cup above the surface of the green this means that on many of the courses that remain open the ball will remain partially above "the surface of the putting green." So it's not considered holed per the Rules definition above That means a round played this way can't be entered for handicap purposes the USGA temporarily modified the Rules to allow for new definitions of a ball having been holed "In these specific cases, provided guidance from health and governmental officials is being followed," reads the release "a temporary measure is in place within the United States to accept scores played under these conditions for handicap purposes using the most likely score guidelines even though the player has not holed out." So, Mac, you are actually allowed to post scores for rounds played under coronavirus-altered cup conditions...provided that the course in question is observing an active season In addition to this release, the USGA has published a comprehensive list of COVID-19-related recommendations and FAQs here When they changed the rule that it was ok to putt with the Flag Stick in.. it now makes perfect sense to post scores with pool noodles in place Now if we can get the USGA to allow carts out ( 1 person per cart ) maybe we can have some fun again and the Golf courses can make some needed Revenue You can use a shopping cart in a grocery store hey everyone golf is back but you can't actually get the ball in the hole bc its not safe Whats next rolling a bowling ball into stationary pins and you can just imagine how many you knocked down and call it a strike I'm excited because the Ames course I play with elevated cups now announced due to the flowers around the green and the potential of attracting murder hornets It is considered good if you just put it on the green sometimes I pretend to remove a loose impediment from the sand but then I sink a finger to see if the sand is cool underneath I bought some knock off Calloways from this Jackhammer from Ankeny I did buy his putter and I have had good luck with the new elevated cups I chipped one from off the green yesterday and hit I never had understood how to enter the correct scores for handicapping Do I enter scores after everry round played or just when I feel like it I play in Ames Iowa and I like the elevated cups I played with a guy on Sunday at this goat track in Ames Iowa He kept slamming the ball into the elevated cup and bumbled around the course shooting a 80 something and wouldn't shut up about how good his putting was He wanted me to have a beer with him after word and I said no thanks I don't think you should post if it's a raised cup Viera's portfolio of grocery stores is growing.  is coming to the Viera East Shopping Center late this year An official opening date has not yet been announced The shopping center is located at Viera Boulevard and Murrell Road.  "We have looked at several different opportunities to redevelop this center into its next life cycle and we are thrilled that by being patient we were able to secure Earth Fare," said Martin DelleBovi executive vice president of The Benchmark Group which oversees development of the Viera East Village Shopping Center.  Earth Fare offers a variety of products The North Carolina-based grocery chain also has grab-and-go products of homemade meals The grab-and-go portion of the store will be called the Viera Kitchen the new facility will also feature a "Heirloom Juice Bar," where guests can pick up a smoothie The store has catering and delivery services as well.  The company's website states the store promises its food is free of added hormones artificial colors and artificial preservatives.  “Americans everywhere deserve a place where they can shop confidently knowing that every product in their cart is free from harmful ingredients or chemicals that we know are not conducive to a healthy lifestyle.” said Earth Fare President and CEO Frank Scorpiniti has seedless watermelons on sale for $2.99 boneless skinless chicken breasts for $3.99 a pound get-one free organic strawberries for $5.99 More: Walmart grocery pick-up to expand, a must try for busy moms More: Instacart grocery delivery starts today Other Florida Earth Fare locations can be found in Gainesville Palm Beach Gardens,Tallahassee and Seminole Earth Fare opened its first store in Asheville Earth Fare is setting up shop about 6 miles from The Fresh Market Brevard's only other national upscale grocery store chain The Fresh Market is located in Suntree on North Wickham Road and opened in September 2015 Rumors of a Trader Joe's coming to Merritt Island surfaced in 2017 after Commissioner Jim Barfield announced the company would take over the former Barnes & Noble location on State Road 520 The store hit a roadblock with the building and no updates have surfaced since.  Contact trends reporter Jessica Saggio at Jsaggio@floridatoday.com 321-242-3664 or follow her on Twitter @jessicajsaggio.  Home » Home » Earth Fare Now Open in Viera Offers More Certified Organic and Non-GMO Produce Than Any Other Supermarket By  //  January 10 WATCH: Earth Fare is set to open this winter at 5410 Murrell Road in Viera. Earth Fare has been on a mission to bring healthy food to everyone for more than 40 years the Viera Earth Fare will include a full-service Heirloom Juice Bar and Café BREVARD COUNTY • VIERA, FLORIDA – If you’ve driven past Viera East lately, you may have noticed construction and a “Coming Soon” sign for Earth Fare—the newest grocery store to arrive in Viera The new Viera Earth Fare, located at 5410 Murrell Road in Viera, opened Wednesday morning and had over 500 people show up for the grand opening North Carolina-based Earth Fare has been on a mission to bring healthy food to everyone for more than 40 years it’s a passion,” said Earth Fare president and CEO Frank Scorpiniti and our entire team is passionate about providing communities with better access to healthier What a way to have a grand opening—over 500 people showed up before 7AM!✂️ — Cocoa Beach Chamber (@_CBRCC) January 9, 2019 It’s easy to question the authenticity of terms like “healthy” and “natural” these days The roots of its Food Philosophy started more than 40 years ago in a tiny storefront in Asheville The modest shop offered a simple selection of bulk foods and wellness items It was the town’s first natural food store and it had an ambitious mission: let people take control of their health with real food Earth Fare grew from a storefront into a full supermarket at a time when convenience and cheap food ruled and artificial ingredients were on the rise in the food industry The need to better define “real food” became apparent Earth Fare rose to the challenge and began to define its Food Philosophy starting with the ban of hydrogenated oils The boldness of the Food Philosophy worked – it turned out that people didn’t want to eat fake ingredients the company’s philosophy continued to evolve and now mandates that high fructose corn syrup and artificial colors and flavors are all banned from the store’s food products “Earth Fare’s Food Philosophy creates the cleanest assortment of the best-tasting food compared to any other grocery retailer in North America,” said Rich Ramey “We are proud to provide the healthiest assortment in a convenient Shopping at most grocery stores these days isn’t as simple as picking up your favorite items At Earth Fare, they read the labels so you don’t have to. Its list of banned items, called the “Boot List,” regulates the brand’s Food Philosophy and has grown to include over 100 ingredients which you can find at earthfare.com/BootList With so many banned ingredients out of the way Earth Fare has plenty of room for healthy food Front and center of the store is the produce department it carries the most Organic and non-GMO in the industry and the Organic integrity goes even further; the fresh vegetable “wet” wall is sprayed with only filtered reverse osmosis water and team members take care to separate Organic when stacking A commitment to Organic and non-GMO is evident throughout the store all 1,000-plus Earth Fare private brand food products are made with only non-GMO ingredients The store boasts more than 4,000 additional non-GMO items storewide and a wide assortment to meet other dietary needs as well The meat and seafood department carries an impressive array of grass-fed beef and 100 percent sustainably-sourced seafood And if the store doesn’t have the catch you’re looking for a big jump from their first humble 1,200 square foot storefront an extensive prepared foods department awaits with a fresh salad and hot bar and ready-to-go packaged meals (Insider Tip: the store offers $5 Whole Roasted Chickens every Monday!) Last but not least is the bakery with a gorgeous display of fresh-baked goods Earth Fare offers this wide array of healthy food at an affordable price with even more savings available through their Healthy Rewards loyalty program and a Weekly Email Flyer “The Viera community deserves a place where they can shop for their families confidently knowing that their carts are full of only the healthiest and we are thrilled to provide that confidence,” said Scorpiniti the company launched the Live Longer With Earth Fare campaign after the National Center for Health Statistics revealed that life expectancy for Americans in 2015 declined for the first time in more than two decades the driving force behind Earth Fare’s steadfast commitment to making clean healthy food accessible to all is a genuine desire to empower consumers to take back control of their health through their food choices CLICK HERE for more information about Earth Fare, coming soon to 5410 Murrell Road in Viera