Tourism gradually rebounds in Titusville

Shuttle launch as seen from kayaks on the Indian River Lagoon

Shuttle liftoffs are one of many attractions bringing hundreds -- even thousands -- of tourists to the North Brevard area.

From STAFF REPORTS
The first eight months of 2001 were grand for area hotels. Occupancy was up 10 to 20% over the previous year, and hoteliers were excited about future bookings.
Then everything stopped. Between September 11th and December 31st, all the rewards and profits of the year were dissipated and revenues finished in the negative growth column.
The first quarter of 2002 has seen increases in both occupancy and rate. According to the Brevard County FLASH Report, Titusville is still down 2.8% from the same period last year, but is fairing better than Cocoa/Cocoa Beach (down 8.8%) and Melbourne/ Palm Bay (down 6.5%).
When airports and airplanes were deemed unsafe, travelers got into their cars and drove to visit friends and family. Interstate 95 was the Titusville hoteliers' best friend. On any given night, 200 or more families took Exit #79 and stayed overnight in Titusville without advance hotel reservations. Then they dined, shopped and bought gas before returning to the highway to continue their journey.
Visitors to Central Florida began looking for attractions other than crowded super theme parks. Even our beloved Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex suffered meager attendance. The quiet call of nature got louder and louder.
Birders and wildlife watchers have found North Brevard to be the premier area to enjoy these fast-growing leisure-time activities. From Port Canaveral to Volusia County, the Great Florida Birding Trail sites (32 in Brevard County and 50 within a one-hour drive from Titusville) lure visitors from the US, Canada and Europe.
The annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival is recognized as one of the top four festivals in the US. Participants are actively involved in five days of field trips and seminars led by nationally recognized scientists and wildlife experts.
The festival has grown from 200 registrants in 1997 to over 3,000 in 2001 and contributes significantly to the economy and to the year round promotion of North Brevard as a mecca for nature lovers. Many festival registrants return during the year to bird on their own, observe wildlife, kayak, fish, horseback ride in the Florida scrub, take guided boat and land tours, and just enjoy the area.
Fishing and cruising are becoming more important to Titusville as a source of tourism dollars. There are two major fishing tournaments each year and many smaller contests that attract anglers from all over the States. Port Canaveral is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, bringing travelers from every state and country to North Brevard, where they usually stay an extra two days to enjoy the "Real Florida."
If you would like to become involved in tourism in North Brevard, attend the regular meeting of the Titusville Area Visitors Council at 3 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the Chamber of Commerce conference room, or call 267-3036 for more information.
May is National Tourism Month. In recognition of the designation, the Tourism Development Council will hold its annual Tourism Day luncheon on Thurs., May 9, at the Kurt Debus Center at Kennedy Space Center. TAVC is the sponsor of the event which is open to the public. The cost is $20. Call 868-1128 for reservations.

An airboat ecotour on the St. Johns River Horseback riding on Canaveral National Seashore beach

Horseback rides and airboat rides bring travelers from every state and country to North Brevard seeking ecotourism adventures.

Sparks Furniture's icon 'Old Joe' to be sold at public auction

From STAFF REPORTS

Old Joe at Sparks Furniture

Dorman Sparks wheels famous 'Old Joe' oout to his regular spot, letting customers know they're open for business.

If you've ever traveled southbound on Washington Ave. (U.S. 1) in downtown Titusville, chances are good that you've spotted the Indian sitting in the wheelchair in front of the antique furniture store--and maybe even had to do a double take to see if he was real.
"Old Joe" has become famous over the years, as he has been a part of Sparks Furniture & Antique Store for over 25 years. Old Joe has opened and closed the business, sitting outside the storefront every day the store has been opened. He has never missed a day; except the two times he was kidnapped. He has been a curiosity and icon to many people.
Part of downtown Titusville for over 30 years, Sparks Furniture will be closing. Dorman Sparks, known in the downtown community as "Sparky," has sold his building--and Old Joe must go.
Longtime friend of Sparky and Old Joe, Cliff Shuler is looking forward to the honor of finding him a new home. Old Joe will be auctioned, along with the remaining contents of the antique store, on Sat., May 25, at 10 a.m.
The auction will be held at Sparks Furniture, located at 211 S. Hopkins Ave. Cliff Shuler Auctioneers & Liquidators, Inc., another business that has been downtown for many years, has been contracted to conduct the auction. Serving Florida for over 25 years, their licenses include: Auction-eer, Auction Business, Auto Dealer & Federal Firearms.
For more information on the auction, visit Shuler's website at http://www.soldfor.com or call 267-8563 for a free brochure.

National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive

From STAFF REPORTS
It is once again time to open your hearts--and open your pantries--to help feed our neighbors in need. Thanks to the caring efforts of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), helping others has never been easier!
On Sat., May 11, leave non-perishable food items in or around your mailbox, and your Letter Carrier will collect the donation while making normal deliveries. The food you donate will be taken to a nearby post office for boxing, and delivered to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida for distribution. More than 58 emergency food pantry programs serving individuals and families in crisis will receive the food within just a few days.
For ten years, the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive has been the largest single-day food drive in America. With your help, we can ensure that more people than ever before can be helped through this very important activity.
Our community has only just begun to recover from the economic downturn of 2001, and local emergency food pantries are experiencing 25-40% higher numbers of clients needing help than expected. The summer months can be especially difficult for low-income families and others struck by personal hardship. The children of such families are especially at-risk of being hungry, since they do not benefit from school lunch assistance programs.
It is the hope of Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida that all Central Floridians will remember that no one should be hungry, and that hunger is a problem that has a cure.
Please, be a part of that cure on May 11th.

Fred Krupski

New Occupants of McDonnell Douglas building will make good neighbors, citizens of community

Quite by accident I discovered that a week before the papers were signed and newspapers reported no decision was yet made on the contract for Knight LLC to buy the former Tomahawk missile plant, the deal would be closed. I did not spill the beans because there were still some final details that had to be wrapped up before all the signatures were on the contracts. I told the guys I would keep my trap shut–which is not my inherent nature being a natural loudmouth... especially when I have a scoop.
It was one of those strange things that just happen by chance–or being in the right place at the right time.
In this case it was while I was on the riding mower cutting our grass when I noticed a van slowing down in front of the house. After stopping, three men got out and walked toward the post that held a "for sale" sign with a cylinder containing the realtor's photos and specs on our home.
Although I do not normally invite prospective buyers inside unless an appointment has been made with our agent, I made an exception this time because these people looked legitimate.
I invited them into the house, and in the course of the conversation discovered that I was talking to C. Reed Knight, Jr., the company's managing director, and two of his executives who were scouting the area looking at homes.
Talk about serendipity!
I realized then that the gun-maker was serious about his expansion into Titusville and that a public announcement would be forthcoming, prior to the mid-May expectation.
One of Knight's key people may soon be the new occupant of our Fawn Lake home–and others are sure to follow– which should make local sales agents salivate. While about 50 people will be transferred from Vero Beach initially, the company expects to increase that number to about 250 with local hiring and anticipates that that figure should grow to 450 to 500 within three years.
Good news for our community with jobs paying an average yearly wage and benefits totaling about $35,000.
According to Knight, its headquarters will move to Titusville, while they will maintain some manufacturing operations in Vero Beach.
Before making the decision to relocate here, Knight was looking at several sites outside the state, and close friends say he wasn't bluffing. The difference was in securing state assistance from the governor's participation, area economic development authorities, and state Reps Bob Allen and Randy Ball who worked with Knight for months. The final straw was the County Commission vote, which was critical.
In exchange for staying in Florida and bringing jobs to the unused plant, Knight could save almost $1.7 million in property taxes during the next 10 years. That money will be used as the required local match for the state's Qualified Target Industry Program which provides a tax rebate of about $3,000 for each job created.
Knight Enterprises makes rifles and accessories, including a system that allows a flashlight, scope, night-vision and global-positioning equipment to be mounted on a weapon. However, the bulk of the company's sales are from firearm accessories.
Knight's need for the additional space is driven by increased demand for firearms and accessories as a result of Sept. 11. The products are in high demand in the fight against terrorism, Knight said. The company disclosed that their annual sales are presently about $25 million–and are growing.
I wonder if some of the new workers will be tempted to personalize the weapons with messages directed toward terrorists as they did in the plants during World War II. Something like: "This baby is for you Osama–Yo Mama!"

Move underway to draft former councilman Woody Rice to challenge Titusville Mayor Ron Swank

While Alfonso Guiterrez has withdrawn his candidacy for City Council, siting other candidates, including former council member Cheryl Lawson-Young and Paul Secor, former president of the Chamber of Commerce, have announced their candidacies for Jeff Rainey's seat, another announcement may be on the horizon–one that may create a horse race in the mayoral election.
A group of citizen activists, business leaders and others are urging former councilmember Woody Rice to seek the nomination. A lifelong Titusville resident, Rice is a former business owner, downtown political activist, and currently employed with an engineering firm. No stranger to politics, supporters say Rice would be a welcome addition and an asset to a council composed of staunchly growth-directed officials, who would include Conrad Eigenmann, Chris Broome and Ken Ward.
Just when you think it will be a dull, uneventful election year, the pot gets stirred and the race gets exciting!

Bureaucratic insensitivity, stupidity not dead in housing authority

Just when it appeared that Frank Chavers, executive director of the Brevard Family of Housing Authorities, was quietly biding his time until retirement and would no longer be controversial and retain his predilection for dumb decisions, he surfaces again.
This time he is rationalizing the reason his agency filed an eviction notice on an 81-year old World War II veteran from his subsidized apartment–because he failed to pay $6.34 for plumbing repairs. That's a couple of washers, I think.
James Provensano could have been evicted from his studio at Garden Apartments, but the decision was rescinded before the lease termination date, thanks to a friend who paid the six bucks on his behalf because Provensano was in a nursing home at the time.
This poor man had a leak from a kitchen drain. The problem was fixed...but then months later the notice of eviction came. It doesn't matter that he never saw the original bill, according to Chavers, who called the eviction "straightforward," adding that if a repair is because of negligence or caused by a tenant, "they have to pay for it."
At one time Chavers was in control of the Titusville Housing Authority until problems surfaced that compelled the city to become independent of the county organization–and his leadership.
So while the 81-year old Provensano was in the Melbourne nursing home trying to remain alive, unaware of the unpaid bill, one would think that some nit-wit working for Chavers (or Chavers himself) would find six bucks in the cigar box and take care of the plumber, then be repaid by Provensano when he recuperated.
But these people don't work this way. A rule is a rule, period.
No wonder people get furious when they're treated like children by an administration and staff of an authority who have absolutely no compassion–and no common sense.

Business Bulletin Bob Socks

By BOB SOCKS

Mac-Dac building is sold!

Knight's Enterprises of Vero Beach has purchased the McDonnell-Douglas Building for $12 million. They expect to bring in 200 jobs to start off with, increasing to 500 jobs over the next several years.
They also are looking to lease out a portion of the building to other businesses that wish to share a large manufacturing area. The building has 645,000 sq. ft. on 454 prime acres. It also is one of the few facilities in the country to have nuclear storage capabilities.
This property has been for sale for over 7 years and was sold for far less than the asking price back in 1995.

What else is new in Titusville?

River Landing: across from Jalopy's, a 4 unit luxury townhome project, already sold, although the builder will sell his unit and build to your specs.
Speedway: corner of Garden St. and N. Park Ave. Demolition of the existing store, an existing doctor's office to the east, and a residential duplex to the north. The new store will be a 3,362 sq. ft. convenience store with gas pumps.
Another Speedway: located at the site of a Shell Station on Hwy. 50 at the entrance to Lowe's. Shell will be demolished and a new 3,830 sq. ft. convenience store with gas pumps will be erected in its place.
Rio Vista Patio Homes: across from Searstown Mall. Site work is almost complete and construction should begin shortly. This will be an 8-lot patio subdivision.
The Hammocks - construction has begun on an expansion of the mini-warehouse expansion located on Hwy. 50, across from the Hamlet subdivision. Plans call for four additional proposed storage buildings, totaling 39,821 sq. ft.

Major construction project

New Life Christian Fellowship is building a new church facility on south U.S. 1, across from the entrance to the Titusville airport. BRPH Construction Services, Inc., of Orlando, will provide design/build services for the new church facility. The design incorporates a fellowship hall in the building's front lobby, including a coffee shop, bookstore and a radio station. The 45,000 sq. ft. facility also includes a large kitchen, game rooms and a computer-equipped homework room where students can study. The project is valued at $3.6 million and is expected to be completed in December.

Recent real estate transactions in North Brevard

A home at 3760 Raney Rd. in La Cita sold for $449,000.
A home at 1940 Tranquility La. sold for $260,000.
A home at 3110 Sandalwood La. in Hickory Forest sold for $195,000.
A home at 3115 Knox McRae Dr. sold for $172,000.
A home at 773 Plantation Dr. in the Great Outdoors sold for $165,000.
A commercial building at 1000 Cheney Hwy. sold for $160,000.
A home at 4855 Yew Ct. sold for $152,000 (Sherwood area).
A home at 960 Cypress Ct. sold for $149,000 (Oaktrails at Meadowridge).

Titusville Business License Report

Total licenses issued in April 2002–37.
Breakdown is as follows: Home-Based Business - 20; Retail - 3; Beauty Salon - 1; Business Office - 2; Nail Salon - 1; Landscaping - 1; Produce Store - 1; Computer Services - 1; Restaurant - 1; Carnival - 1; Janitorial - 1; Online Auctioneer - 1; Vending Machine Dist. - 1; Catering - 1; Boat Dealer/Maint - 1; Business Consultant - 1.

Quote of the Week:
"One man lies in his words and gets a bad reputation; another in his manners and enjoys a good one." –Thoreau

The Buzz around town is ...

Haven't figured out what to get for Mom this year for Mother's Day? In addition to ads throughout the News Observer this week, be sure to check out these special sections:

See the News Observer Dine Out & Entertainment Guide and make plans to treat Mom to a special meal on her special day.
Browse the ads in the special Antiques, Gifts, Crafts & Hobby Shops section to find unique gifts for Mom.
The Merchants on S. Hopkins Ave. section is chock full of wonderful gift ideas for Mother's Day.
Look for Miracle City Mall's section for all kinds of great Mother's Day gift ideas.

* * *
Are you wondering who owns Steamers Sushi & Raw Bar? Why, it's Meredith and Jim Rhodes--the owners of MJ's Saloon on Hopkins Ave. as well.
Steamers will be open in about two weeks serving lunch and dinner. They will also be open for Mother's Day from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m.
* * *
Mark your calendar! There will be a free diabetes testing fair at Sego's Home Medical Equipment on Wed., May 15, from 9 a.m. to noon. If you have any questions before the test, call 268-0179.
* * *
Linger Awhile is celebrating 17 years in business! They specialize in antiques, American quilts, artist teddy bears, linens, country furniture, Debbee Thibaults, collectibles and more.
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Singleton Golf Center says to buy one (1) bucket of balls and get Mom one free thru Sat., May 18.
* * *
We did a story in the last issue about restaurants in downtown Titusville. Fred forgot to mention Your Place Restaurant, which serves a wonderful breakfast and lunch--they pack the customers in too!
Also downtown, on Main Street, is Veranda's Tea Room and Patti Cakes, open Thurs., Fri. and Sat.
* * *
Renaissance Grille is offering lunch cards! Buy five (5) lunches and get the sixth free! And, no, they are not closing.
* * *
Sand Point Senior Living, 1800 Harrison St., is an independent and assisted living facility. They offer a complete service package, including housekeeping, dining, activities, transportation, maintenance and more.
See their ad in this edition, then call them for more details.
* * *
Correction...Riverdeck Lounge is having a Male Revue on June 4. Advance tickets are $10--$15 at the door--so get your tickets ahead of time and save!
* * *
Come and meet the new owners of Titusville Exxon during their grand opening on Sat., May 18. Giveaways and food will be served.
For your convenience, they have a refreshment center and offer full service to pump your gas. They also repair all vehicles, and specialize in repairing CJ Jeeps.
* * *
Fuzzy's Tavern invites you to their 1st-Year Anniversary Party and Customer Appreciation Day on Sat., May 18, starting at 2 p.m., featuring free food and music by Chuck Bob Carnes.
* * *
Persinger's Waterfalls are the waterfall guys at 3312 S. Hopkins Ave. They custom-build original, lightweight waterfalls you can use on your porch, in your yard, or by the pool. You can even put fish in them and turn your waterfall into a fish pond! Stop by today and see their beautiful work...
* * *
Scooter's Bar is having karaoke with Take II Karaoke on Mother's Day with free food and roses for the ladies.
* * *
Go into Stephen's Jewelers for Mother's Day specials. Look for their ad in this week's edition for discounts and savings.
* * *
Adair Beauty Salon in Mims is looking for hairdressers to lease booths. Call Pat.
* * *
Are you planning a family reunion? Best Western Space Shuttle Inn has discount rooms and dinner rates, a picnic area, free local calls and a free continental breakfast. Call them for more details.
* * *
Notice to all veterans ... Oaklawn Memorial Gardens and Mausoleum is offering specials for veterans and their spouses. See their ad for more information.
* * *
Townsend's Gifts & Collectibles has unique gifts and home accessories for Mom on Mother's Day--and any other occasion for that matter! Stop in and check out original designs by Ann Townsend.
* * *
Look for Linda Jan Paul Fashions' ad for all the services they offer. Located in the Searstown Mall, they are planning to have space for weddings services in their store soon.
* * *
Debra's Kids' Resale & Exchange has a large variety of baby furniture and children's toys. Stop in and take a look...
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You can get made-to-order Mother's bracelets at Raintree Arts & Crafts Supply Center, or make them yourself! They also have interesting watches made with bead bracelets. Stop in and check them out!
* * *
The Great Outdoors has all kinds of golf specials going on. See their ad in this edition--and save!
* * *
After many years of planning to open a restaurant, sisters Mary Ann Martin Smith and Binnie Martin Hembree will be opening one this month in the old Po' Folks building. But why did they name it The 9th of April?
They needed a special name... something different. Their parents were married on the 9th of April in 1941, so in honor of J.B. and Annie Martin, the restaurant was named.
Many family recipes will be offered on the menu. Also featured will be Harold's Barbecue of Atlanta, Georgia, so stop in and enjoy a taste of the South.
The 9th of April is located at 1538 S. Washington Ave.

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