“Gatorblues” – Rockin’ blues with soul


“Stoney” Lead vocals, harmonica Tom “Smooth” Johnson Drums	Walt “Gator” Milden Guitar Dennis Lehto Bass

By Autumn Smith
“It’s the kiss of the crowdä” (Stoney) that is the driving force behind the Gatorblues band’s passion for playing, as well as the simple truth they love about the blues.
The Gatorblues band was formed in November of 2002 with their popularity rising ever since throughout Brevard County. These four musicians know how to show the crowd a good time and their obvious comraderie and respect for one another allow them to do what they love best – playing good music. All four members have been long-time musicians, touring with several well known acts before coming together here in Brevard.
The band is working on their second CD “Faces Made for Radio”, which is expected to be out by Christmas and will include several original tunes by the band such as “‘73 Van” written by Tom Johnson and “Drinkin Again” written by Stoney and Walt Milden.
Walt produces all of their music in his personal studio. His friend, Larry Greene, owns a recording studio in Palaski, NY and taught him the ropes to produce his own CD’s. Their first CD “Gatorblues” is as professional as it gets; I was amazed at the quality and clarity.
At the Downtown Street Party last Friday night (Aug. 1) you couldn’t help but notice the sounds mesmerizing the packed Showtime Deli and Tiki Bar.
Dennis Lehto has been with the band a little over a month now. Dennis, like all the other guys, considers the band to be “brothers”. They have a closeness sharing a mutual love, their music, that they can’t hide.
In a recent article in Brevard Live Magazine, Chris Long was quoted as saying “Gatorblues is a ‘show’ band that really knows how to entertain their audience.” This dynamic new band is taking Central Florida by storm, rocking packed houses from Daytona to Fort Lauderdale. Check their schedule on the internet and catch them locally before they hit the “Big Time”.
The band plays regularly at Showtime Deli and Tiki Bar, Titusville, The Redfish Inn,Titusville, The Beach Shack, Cocoa Beach, Captain Garrows, N. Cocoa, The Purple Porpoise, Indian Harbor Beach, and several other locations. You can find there schedule online at SpaceCoastLive.com/band/calender. And check out their website at www.gatorbluesband.com for other band information and to purchase CD’s.
“The audience allows us to do what we doäwithout them, there’d be no market for live entertainment.” - Walt
“Musicians have a talentäbe thankful that you have it and give it out to other people.” - Tom
“The blues is tough music to fake.” - Dennis

KSC to activate new security gates and open new roadway

From STAFF REPORTS
Kennedy Space Center (KSC) has completed the construction of two new security gates on State Road 3 and State Road 405, complementing the opening of the Space Commerce Park and a new roadway. The new roadway, named Space Commerce Way, will provide an alternate route for the general public between Titusville and Merritt Island. The roadway will be accessible to the general public 24 hours a day.
The new gates and roadway were scheduled to open Aug. 1. The new roadway will also serve north Merritt Island and other barrier island residents as part of the hurricane evacuation route.
“Since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, we’ve been at a higher level of security at the Center,” said Roy Bridges Jr., KSC director. “We are very happy that the moving of our security gates and the opening of Space Commerce Way will give Brevard County residents and area visitors easier access around the county without compromising security. It’s a win-win situation for all of us.”
The current security gates have been in existence since the early days of KSC and will be removed after their deactivation. The opening of the new roadway marks the beginning of a new era as Space Commerce Park, accessed via Space Commerce Way, anticipates its opening soon.

Mims/Scottsmoor Library Hosts Tribute to Mims Pioneer Woman

From STAFF REPORTS
The Mims/Scottsmoor Public Library will host Kay Davis in “The Life and Times of Selina Roberts” on Thursday, August 14, at 7 p.m. Davis, who is a curator at the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science in Cocoa, will portray Roberts in an inspiring salute to one of Brevard County’s spirited 19th century pioneer women.
Selina, who was born in England to a life of privilege and ease in 1852, married her husband Harry, a sailor, in 1872 and followed him to America. They settled briefly in New York but then moved to Waldo, Florida to join Harry’s brother who was working in a turpentine camp.
Shortly thereafter, the couple moved south to a homestead on the Indian River area at a place that would later become known as Mims. Selina’s first home in “Mosquito County” as Brevard was then known, was a one-room log hut that had a dirt floor, a palmetto roof, and no windows or doors. Her stove was an outdoor fire and the nearest water was a quarter mile away. At night the screeches of wildcats could be heard and bears and panthers roamed close by in search of food.
Selina bore three children in three years and, at first, had to educate them at home as there were no schools nearby. To supplement the family’s income from their orange groves, she made palmetto hats which she was able to trade for goods and services.
Despite a devastating orange crop freeze, the family was able to start over and eventually prospered. In 1888 they built an eight room house and in 1894 a packing house which the Roberts’ son later managed. Selina lived on until 1927 and toward the end of her memoirs wrote “The Lord has put my feet in pleasant places”. No doubt her positive and perseverant attitude saw her through her difficult times as one of Brevard’s stalwart pioneer women. Some of Selina’s descendants still live in this area.
For more information on this program which is free and open to the public, please call the library at 264-5080. The Friends of the Library will serve refreshments beginning at 6:30 p.m.
The Mims/Scottsmoor Public Library is located at 3615 Lionel Road just 2.8 miles north of SR #46 and one block east of US #1 in north Mims.

A Victory for All Florida Consumers

GUEST EDITORIAL

By Charlie Crist, Attorney General
Florida consumers won an extremely important victory this week when the Public Service Commission said a power company must give its customers the refunds they were promised.
By a unanimous vote, the Public Service Commission ordered Progress Energy Florida to pay the full amount, $23 million in refunds for the current year and up to $14 million in each of the next three years. In all, Florida consumers will share up to $65 million in refunds.
This decision directly affects about 1.4 million Florida customers, and it sends a strong signal to citizens throughout Florida that the State is on their side.
Progress Energy agreed to the refunds last year but was now arguing that it should only have to pay a fraction of the amount due. Public Counsel Jack Shreve and I filed motions arguing that the company should be required to keep its word and pay the full amount.
On its face the PSC decision only affects Progress Energy’s customers. But the ruling means so much more than that. It means utilities will know that they must keep the commitments they make to their customers and to the State.
Progress Energy entered into the agreement with the State voluntarily. So it was disappointing when the company tried to get by with a much smaller amount than called for in that agreement.
The PSC ruling gives the customers what they deserve and what they were promised. As I have said before, a deal is a deal and one side should not be allowed to go back on its word.
The ruling also sends a loud message that the State will take whatever actions are necessary to protect the interests of consumers. Time and again during his 25-year career as Public Counsel, Jack Shreve was a tireless advocate on behalf of Florida’s utility customers.
His retirement at the end of June didn’t stop him from participating in the case to ensure that the public’s voice was heard. The unanimous ruling in favor of consumers serves as a fitting exclamation point on Mr. Shreve’s distinguished career. He will truly be missed.
This victory for consumers would also have been impossible without the outstanding work of Solicitor General Chris Kise and Assistant Attorney General Cecilia Bradley. These two exceptional attorneys presented the PSC with a lock-solid case that made it easy for the commission to arrive at the proper conclusion.
Few things in my 11 years of public service have been as satisfying as working on behalf of consumers to make sure they are treated fairly by utilities. I am especially pleased by the close working relationship the Attorney General’s Office has established with the Office of General Counsel. Even though Jack Shreve is now retired, Florida consumers can rest assured that these two offices will continue to work closely together to protect the interests of Florida’s consumers.
Our citizens deserve nothing less.

Business Bulletin Bob Socks

By BOB SOCKS

The Great Outdoors

A wonderful article in this past Friday’s USA TODAY Newspaper, Life Section D, listing the top RV resorts in the United States. According to the 2003 trailer life campgrounds, RV parks and Services Directory, The Great Outdoors was awarded a perfect “10”, or the best of the best, in all categories. This is a great tribute to the park owners and will definitely increase business at The Great Outdoors this winter season. Congratulations.....

Lets gamble

Roll the dice----Southeast Vacations is betting on Central Floridian’s penchant for gaming.
The Largo based tour operator is launching new flights from Melbourne International Airport to casinos along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast. Service begins October 28 with four flights a month. Three-night packages to Gulfport, Biloxi and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, are available, or travelers can opt for an air-fare-only rate..

Orlando Sanford International Airport

Jetsgo, a low-cost Canadian airline will begin offering nonstop service between Sanford and Toronto. The flights will operate on Saturdays, using 160-seat Boeing MD-83s. The starting price for one-way flights is $149 Canadian, or just under $100 in U.S. dollars.

Port Canaveral news

With three quarters of the fiscal year under its belt, the Port Commission has the following to report: operating revenues in excess of $27 million dollars or 15.2% over the same reporting period of a year ago. Total revenue passenger count for the nine month period is 3,036,123 or over 8.1% over last year.
Total gross tonnage is up 15.8% at 3,673,029 tons.
Comparative bottom line total net income is even more spectacular being up 58% at $5.7 million year-to-date.

Space news

Former astronaut Capt. Winston Scott has been named executive director of the Florida Space Authority. Scott was most recently associate dean of the Florida A & M University-Florida State University College of Engineering. Scott replaces Ed Gormel, who retired.

Business license report – July 2003

Total business licenses issued: 34
Breakdown as follows:

Home based business – 17
Staging–PODS–1
Trash hauler–1
School–1
Deli/Bait/Tackle shop–1
Nursing care–1
Retail Sales–2
Nail salon–1
Vehicle towing–1
General contractor–2
Drafting–1
Fitness center–1
Check cashing service–1
Restaurant –1
Insurance agency/Brokerage–1
Mobile vendor–1

Downtown street party

This past Friday night, all of Titusville seemed to be mingling on the streets of old downtown Titusville, watching, listening, and eating. By my count, approximately 800 locals saw the clogging, listened to the J.T. Shealy country/gospel band, walked the streets and ate at the various restaurants who welcomed the influx of guests. Everyone seemed to have a good time with lots of old friends meeting and greeting. Plus the bonus was great weather, with not a drop of rain.....

Major real estate deal

The 183-unit Royal Oak Colony Apartments, located at 3645 Barna Avenue in Titusville sold for $6 million dollars, or $32,800 per unit. The seller was

Strictly my opinion

In just several weeks, the highly anticipated report from the NASA Investigation Committee will be released and will be read over the long labor day holiday by congress, NASA, and the general public. It will be a very difficult read, and the aftermath will be most unsettling.
NASA will be forced to change, or it will not be given an opportunity to survive as we know it.
NASA can expect a pummeling over its treatment of the shuttle as a routine, or “operational”, vehicle. Previous foam incidents were observed as curiosities but not thoroughly investigated. The thinking seemed to be, if the shuttle survived one foam impact, it’ll survive them all.
The NASA culture will have to change. NASA has lost two of the five orbitors. This is not a record to be proud of. With three vehicles left, there is no longer any room for error. If the shuttle program would be shut down, which is certainly a possibility, we would be without a manned space capability for at least six years, and would have to rely on the Russians to supply, man, and maintain the International Space Station.
So look to your local library at the end of the month for what may very well be the “read of the year”.

The battle of Riveredge Drive is beginning to heat up. Based on the public comments at the last city council meeting on June 24th. Over two and a half hours of comment were given to the council, principally by the residents of Riveredge Drive, and most of the agenda items regarding Riveredge Drive were tabled until Tuesday, August 12th. Its going to be interesting and for those of you who live close to to the Riveredge Drive area, be prepared to take cover.

Quote of the Week:
“A government is the only known vessel that leaks from the top.”
James Reston

The Buzz around town is ...

Adair Beauty Salon in Mims says to come visit hair stylist "Niccole" formerly from Karen Sue Beauty Salon.
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Curves new location, 1527 Singleton Ave. at Dairy Plaza will be open Mon., Aug. 11. The first 100 members will receive 66% off the service fee.
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Rent a mailbox at The Mail Center for 6 months and get (1) month free. See ad.
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Central Barber Shop says to hurry in for your back to school haircuts.
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There’s live entertainment every Fri. & Sat. at Show Time Deli and Tiki Bar.
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Do you have curly hair but would like to have permanently straight hair? Go see Andrea at Jeannette Adrian Salon & Spa for a Thermal Str. 8 Straightening System.
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You are invited to an open house at Titusville Ballet and Jazz Center in Searstown Mall Sat., Aug. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. See ad and plan to go in and sign up for fall classes.
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Call the Pet Masters about obedience classes that will last for eight weeks.
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Go visit the Greenwood Gallery on Garden St. for all your art decorating needs. Helene has been serving our community for over 25 years providing unique art, gift items, jewelry, framing and being a teacher of art to many.
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Need to organize your closets? See the Cabinets Plus ad and call them for professional help.
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Due to a fire, The Floor Store has moved two doors down to 3424 S. Hopkins Ave. New samples are arriving everyday. They want to thank their loyal customers for being patient and it’s been their pleasure to serve Titusville for 20 years.
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J. R. Clift, photographer and owner of Future Memories Photography is proud to announce the opening of his new studio, located at 3474 S. Hopkins Ave., next to Central Barber Shop.
Previously working from his home, the new studio offers many additional opportunities for "studio Style" individual, family, senior and business portraiture. Of course, his location sessions are always available for weddings, sports, dance, pets, martial arts and other special events.
Future Memories is currently offering special package pricing for High School Seniors. Regular studio hours are posted and other times are available by appointment. Give him a call at 267-9222.
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Jan Paul Fashions in Searstown Mall has moved to Unit 8 next to Titusville Ballet & Jazz. They have custom clothing, do alterations, jewelry and other accessories plus much more.
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Boutique Plus now has all new clothing for women and men. They now have men’s boxer underwear up to waist 70".
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Star Dance Academy in Sand Point Village invites you to register for fall classes. They are now offering Modern Dance and have Pre-K classes for ages two years and up. Look for ad for more details.
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Century 21 Flag Agency, Inc. is proud to announce that realtors Jamal Sultan, Alice Galligan and Steve Roberts have joined their team of real estate professionals. See the ad for more details.
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Asian House, (formerly Ping On), at 407 Cheney Hwy. has been remodeled inside and out and is now serving Chinese, Japanese and have a sushi bar. Be sure to use their coupon for 10% off your total bill.
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Join John Hublers Premium Pre-owned Vehicles for their grand opening. See the ad to receive $10 in gas.
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Sand Point Senior Living is a wonderful place to call home! Stop by today and see why. They offer an open house to you and your loved one at any time between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. If you would like to tour and enjoy lunch please call Kathy Blankenship at 321-383-6000.
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A hearty welcome to Titusville to Action Bait and Deli. The owners, John and Joanne have a $1.00 off coupon for you. They feature Boar’s Head provisions and Sunshine sub rolls. See their ad.
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Mark Gaskell is having a great grand opening for his dealership at the new location, 603 S. Washington Ave., next to City Hall. Check out the cars and enter the contest. See ad for more details.
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Needing to look more professional at that new job interview? Kai Keach at Nails by Kai, 3435 S. Hopkins Ave., can help you. Check out her ad and see what she means.
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Remember, there’s a new street light at Titusville High School's entrance for everyones safety; also, be careful, this is back to school week.

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