Happy New Year

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow.
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
— Alfred Tennyson

Couples danced the night away to the sounds of "Angelo Cianfrocco with Inside Out" at the New Year's Eve gala held at Titusville Elk's Lodge #2113.

      Tick-tock. Tick-tock. It is late at night. The hands on the clock move slowly, slowly, toward twelve.
      Then, suddenly, there is a great noise. Whistles blow. Horns toot. Bells ring. People shout, "Happy New Year!"
      It is the beginning of a bright new year. It is 2004.
      New Year's rang in once again with great cheer as, all across North Brevard, people celebrated the New Year like it was no other. They sang and danced, they prayed in churches, they banged on pots and pans, and they reveled in majestic confetti and balloon displays.
      More importantly to some, many people rang in the new year quietly, some shedding a tear, with a huge sigh of relief that they, and their loved ones, made it through another 365 days. They reflected on the past year, full of trials and tribulations, all the while holding on to the promise of a fresh, new start.
      North Brevard Beacon Publisher Laura Kelly, along with Advertising Manager Dianne "Lady Di" Simmons, visited celebrations all across town, capturing many of New Year's Eve festivities on film. Both agreed that the overall thoughts of old friends—and new—about the coming year were very enthusiastic. Everyone expressed high hopes of a better tomorrow, full of health, wealth and happiness, and all are looking forward to having a Happy New Year!

Kennedy Space Center enters 2004 with great expectations of things to come

NASA'S Year Of Sorrow, Recovery, Progress And Success

From STAFF REPORTS

      Expanding technological boundaries and blazing new trails are part of NASA-Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) daily endeavors, and 2003 comprised a full year of these achievements.
      The upcoming year is no exception, as KSC will continue demonstrating its leadership in 2004. Four expendable launch vehicles (ELV) will launch in 2004. Space Shuttle missions STS-114 and STS-121 are scheduled to launch no earlier than September. Both are International Space Station and developmental missions designed to test new return to flight safety measures.

Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis approaches Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) high bay 4. It is being towed from the Orbiter Processing Facility (OPF) to allow work to be performed in the bay that can only be accomplished while it is empty. Atlantis remained in the VAB for about 10 days, then returned to the OPF as work resumes to prepare it for launch in September 2004 on the first return-to- flight mission, STS-114.

      NASA's plans for 2003 were abruptly changed February 1 with the sudden and tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the brave crew of STS-107.
      Even while mourning the loss of our courageous astronauts, NASA's civil service and contract workforce began the challenging task of finding the problem, fixing the problem, and preparing to return Space Shuttles to safe flight. With the Columbia Accident Investigation Board's report and NASA's Implementation Plan for Space Shuttle Return to Flight and Beyond as guides, the agency is striving to return to safe and efficient human space exploration.
      The tragic Columbia accident did not disrupt NASA's quest for discovery. In the pursuit of our mission goals, they will continue to expand the International Space Station's capabilities, send robotic spacecraft to explore fascinating places throughout the solar system, use telescopes to find Earthlike planets orbiting nearby stars, and use satellites to help us better understand Earth's dynamic climate.
      "The NASA family faced many tough challenges in 2003," said NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe. "The loss of Columbia's crew, and two pilots involved in debris recovery efforts in East Texas, deeply affected each of us. I can't express how proud and grateful I am for the efforts of NASA employees, our contractors, and the thousands of others involved in helping us recover from the accident. It has been even more impressive to witness the efforts of all involved, as we move forward toward return to flight," he said. "We are facing the most critical and exciting time in NASA's 45 year history. The technical and cultural challenges, and changes the agency makes will guide the organization for the next decade. We will succeed and continue to lead the efforts to explore the universe through space-based research."
      In June, KSC Director Roy D. Bridges, Jr., was named director of NASA's Langley Research Center. James W. Kennedy, an engineer transplant from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and KSC's deputy director since November 2002, was appointed his successor. Dr. Woodrow Whitlow Jr., director of Research and Technology at NASA's Glenn Research Center since 1998, became KSC's deputy director.
      "As we celebrate [NASA's] 45th anniversary, and indeed 2003, we pause to both celebrate the tremendous successes that we have enjoyed as well as to reflect upon the tragic losses that we have all had to endure," said Center Director Jim Kennedy. "We are an Agency that is literally defined by the highest of our highsŠ We have had the highest of highs. We have also had to endure the lowest of lowsŠ While we mourn these losses and we are determined to learn from them, we cherish and we will never forget those who gave their lives and we promise to come back smarter, stronger and better than ever before."
      The accomplishments of 2003 reflect the positive attitude of the KSC employees and their belief in the NASA mission. The KSC workforce welcomes the new year with the determination to meet Center Director Kennedy's challenge to honor the memory of Columbia and her crew by doing their part to, indeed, make the agency smarter, stronger and better than ever before.
      And it is still one of the best places for North Brevard residents to be employed. In a first-ever comprehensive survey of 100,000 federal government employees on various aspects of job satisfaction conducted by the Partnership for Public Service and American University's Institute for the Study of Public Policy Implementation in 2003, NASA ranked first among all federal agencies in several categories related to employee satisfaction.
      Although KSC's perseverance was tested in 2003, this year's exciting milestones, as well as the Jan. 3, 2004, landmark successful landing of the first Mars Excursion Rover (MER), Spirit, confirm that the Center's excellence still prevails.

IT'S MY TURN

By BOB SOCKS

      I am going to use my space this week to tell you about a special couple that had terrible misfortune on Christmas Day.
     Al and Clarice Curfman were coming out of church after midnight mass at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Hickory N.C., when they were both struck by a car. Clarice was killed instantly and Al was critically injured, but is recovering.
     I had the great pleasure to know Al, Clarice and their family for over 30 years, here in Titusville. I was the first person they met when they came to Titusville from Williston, North Dakota, back in 1969. They moved here from the far north to purchase and operate the Karmelkorn franchise in Miracle City Mall.
     Their presence in the mall continues to this day as their son, David, and daughter-in-law, Pam, continue to operate Dave's Restaurant, formerly Orange Julius, as they have for over 32 years.
     Al and Clarice were wonderful people. Caring and hard-working, their family attitude permeated throughout the mall for many years. Clarice was always making something special, and had a warm smile and a good word for all who patronized her over the years.
     Clarice, we know you are looking down on Titusville and wishing your best to us, and we say thank you for being part of our lives for so many years.

KALEIDOSCOPE

Christmas in Savannah a journey into elegance, history

By FRED KRUPSKI

      My wife decided to do something different during the holidays, and when she suggested we make reservations at Savannah, Georgia's Riverfront Hyatt Regency for four days beginning Christmas morning, I was delighted with her plan and immediately approved. And why not? I'm not nuts.
      I suppose it came about as a result of my constant praise of the city that she has never seen, but one in which I spent countless weekends from the middle 1970s to the early 1980s, and witnessed much of its restoration firsthand.
      I fell in love with this beautiful southern city—its charm, food, and unique inhabitants—during this period. A history buff, I was fascinated with the rhythmic pattern of the streets, battery of parks and squares (about 21), and its homes reflecting the federal, and later antebellum architectural integrity of the Revolutionary and Civil War periods.
      One has only to look to Savannah to study a master blueprint for restoration; a city of 150,000 that has been a model, and has been very fashionable among travel writers.
      It was the city where cotton once ruled supreme, but is now a mecca for tourism. And this includes Factors Row, a name now lost to Factors Walk, a level just beneath Bay Street. In fact, when one walks along Bay Street, many buildings appear to be two stories high, but are actually five stories when viewed from River Street. Stone ballast was used to build steps leading down to the river. The once useful balconies are being refurbished now that the new esplanade has come to the waterfront. Those stones were brought by sailing ships and placed from City Hall and other locations from Bay to the waterfront.
      To illustrate this, if you haven't been there, I'd have to say that negotiating those steep steps can be a problem, (especially with Sue's bad knee), but they remain one of Savannah's most distinguishing features.
      We were on the sixth floor of the seven- story Hyatt, which affords a spectacular view of the Savannah River. On a wall was a light that flicked on when a large cargo ship approached—our cue to immediately open the drapes and rubberneck.
      One morning Sue had the binoculars trained on a window of a passing freighter. After a moment she turned to me laughing: "There's a man on the ship with binoculars looking at me!" Luckily she was almost dressed. One could call this "The View From Pompey's Head," referring to the book and movie made in the 1960s, its story opening with a man taking a train from New York to "Pompey's Head"— which was supposed to be Savannah. Writers have taken great poetic liberties with the town—many not true.
      Before and after the publication of "Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil," Savannah was, and is, a tourist must see. The restoration is a blueprint for sanity.
      How did it happen?
      This grand design and planning has been going on for 40 years while the real beginning was in 1732 that found James Edward Oglethorpe protecting the English settlement from the Spanish in Florida. Oglethorpe came to the site aboard a small ship along with 115 colonists, carrying the high hopes and deep anxieties of an odd assortment of conscientious Englishmen, bound together by a common idealistic purpose where the basic strength was a rare understanding of human values.
      What later set Georgia apart to give it the grand design was another reason: the spirit expressed in the Latin motto of the Trustees—"Not for self, but for others." Oglethorpe and the trustees laid out a plan for the city, one that thankfully remains largely the same as it was over 300 years ago.
      But it was almost destroyed. Not by the Civil War, or General Sherman, as was Atlanta, but by poor trusteeship on the part of city fathers—then and up until the 1950s. One such site was Ellis Square, a bustling, colorful "City Market" in a grand and spacious building that became a shabby parking garage. I was told that it will soon be torn down and replaced by something resembling the original square. But there were other mistakes in planning, like the three small squares on Montgomery Street that were destroyed.
      However, thanks to many stalwart Savannahians, the original plan is wonderfully unimpaired.
      That demolition of the City Market in 1954 awakened a few residents to what was being irretrievably lost, and there followed a move to stem the destructive tide. After the destruction of the old market came a realization.
      First, a few individuals pointed the way, then many others, including concerned groups, actually saved the historic city. One, the Savannah Foundation, came into being to save many old homes and mansions, and the spirit became contagious. Old Savannah is now very much a part of the present.
      I was often present during the restoration, and over those years learned a great deal of its history, people, pride and lifestyle of its residents, including local politicians eager to take credit. If I could live anywhere else, it would be Savannah—although no longer affordable for many people...including the Krupskis.
      When I was there I watched as home prices rose in value from a few thousand dollars to more than a million. The beautiful row, semi-detached town houses in the historic district, along with the mansions with their carriage houses in the rear, are typical of the successful reclamation efforts. The streets around the parks are sheltered by live oaks that often meet above to form an evergreen canopy. And around February the azaleas are in full bloom all over the place.
      It's an interesting eclectic mix of true mansions with high and low stoops, paired houses and brick, stucco and frame homes of assorted design, size and period.
      One home we were particularly interested in was the Mercer House. Sadly, we weren't permitted to take a tour because the current owner occupies it—unlike its previous owners.
      We purchased a watercolor painting of the home—framed it—and it now hangs in an alcove at home.
      The Mercer home is featured on the tours, but the tour guides don't tell the whole story.
      The home was built by songwriter Johnny Mercer's great-great grandfather, and is located on Monterey Square. Johnny lived at 226 East Gwinnett Street and never lived in the house. This wonderful two-story mansion was the focus of the book written by Berendt, and draws thousands of visitors. In fact, Savannah has become a venue for several movie location shots over the years, including the Six Pence Bar, where we stopped for lunch and some English goodies.
      Later we balanced that with great Shepherd's Pie and Irish Stew at Kevin Barry's Irish Pub, on River Street, while listening to a great Irish entertainer and topping off dinner with great Irish coffee. And, speaking of the Irish, bet you didn't know that not only is the place a party town with great food and dining, it's also the site of the third largest St. Patrick's Day parade. How 'bout that! We found the food to be great everywhere we dined, and not as pricey as we were told it would be.
      One restaurant not to miss while you're in Savannah is Elizabeth on 37th. This turn of the century house, shrouded by live oaks and Spanish moss, is the site of one of the most elegant dining establishments in the city. When we pulled in front in our taxi, we could not believe it was a restaurant. No signs. Nothing to indicate we were about to enter one of the finest restaurants—not just slightly out of the historic district, but of the entire city.
      You could die for (not from) the oysters alone. It is also (they say) a place for frequent star sightings because its reputation has extended past Georgia's borders since 1980. We also dined at The Pirates House, Johnny Harris Barbecue and others, but the Pirates House has quite a history, dating back to the time when drunken patrons were dragged down stone steps to the docks a block away and shanghaied aboard sailing ships to ports unknown before they sobered up.
      Savannah can boast some other things as well. It is the site of America's first golf course built in 1796. (A little more trivia.)
      The only disappointment was the Riverboat (fake paddlewheel boat) tour, where we spent about an hour looking at nothing but warehouses. To be fair, it was probably the wrong time of year; too cold for dinner or the moonlight entertainment cruises. I would suggest the carriage or walking tours if you ever get up there.
      And if you haven't—you should put it on your travel calendar. It's only about a five-and-a-half-hour drive, and when you arrive you are in another world.
      Titusville and Palm Bay are seeking ideas to retain older areas of historic significance. The place to begin is Savannah. The people to talk to are those responsible for the magnificent restoration.
      They've learned from their mistakes.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

By BOB SOCKS

Orlando Sanford International Airport

      OSIA announced Friday that TransMeridian Airlines will be operating non-stop service to Oklahoma City, beginning Feb. 11, with same day service continuing to Las Vegas.
      The airport also reported that TransMeridian will begin service from Sanford to Harrisburg, PA, on Feb. 28.
     TransMeridian, based in Atlanta, already has flights from Sanford to Chicago, Syracuse, NY; Toledo, OH; and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Port Canaveral News

The first of eight four-story-tall panels‹the largest public arts project in Brevard County‹was installed on December 16 at the new parking garage at Port Canaveral. Created by nationally renowned local artist Margo McKnight, the 66-foot by 48-foot panel depicts marine life. The actual art only costs a total of $35,000 for all eight panels, but installation was another story. That tab comes to $420,000. Rodney Ketcham, chairman of the Canaveral Port Authority, says cruise passengers will be pleased.
     "It's preferable to putting massive advertising there."

     Port Economic Data - November 2003

• Total cruise passengers up 15%
• Cargo tonnage up 21%
• Total cruise revenue up 30%
• SunCruz passenger count up 73% (new larger gaming vessel)
• Sterling passenger count down 16% (ship in drydock for 1 week)
• All figures are comparing Nov 2003 to Nov 2002.

Other Port Facts:

• Cruise Terminal 10 is now being utilized four days a week.
• Cival and Marine, Inc., two concrete silos, have been progressively rising on the north side and are now readily visible.
• Tropicana is returning to the Port after a 30 year absence.
• Economically, Port Canaveral continues to be one of the leading cruise ports in the world.

This and that

• Repaving of Garden Street will begin shortly.
• o Walgreen's has purchased the Riverside Bank Building on the corner of Harrison and Barna. The bank will be torn down and a new Walgreen's will be built, using the lot to the east as well. Riverside Bank will build a new bank on the lot to the west of Walgreens, on Highway 50.
• The Hughes property on U.S. 1 and the river, from the NASA Causeway north, has been sold and closed. On this property will be built a mix-use property of condos, townhouses, homes, and commercial. This property has been for sale for many years.
• The condos on the Poe property, corner of Indian River Ave. and Hwy. 406 (beach road), is slated to begin construction this month. As I understand it, one building will be built to start, with construction to take about 1 year plus.
• The land at the northeast corner of Park and Harrison has been sold to some out of town investors. Look for a major commercial project to be built there later this year.
• Bruster's Ice Cream store is built, and site work is being done at this time. Look for this store to open within a month. It's located on Hwy. 50, across from K Mart.
• Two major retailers have optioned land on Hwy. 46. As things grow in south Mims, look for major announcements on those options.

Looking for Work?
Most Vulnerable Jobs Over the Next 10 Years

Profession	Employed Today	Employed In 2015
Financial Underwriter	23,560	14,300
Computer Programmer / Software Engineer	905,370	569,974
Paralegal / Legal Assistant	179,330	47,000
Telemarketers	461,890	379,750
Travel Agent / Reservation Clerk	199,700	168,754
Data Entry Keyers	459,720	339,452
Typists	257,020	210,750

By DIANNE SIMMONS

Check out the ad for Nataucha's Hair & Nails and use their coupons to get a lift perm or texture line cut.
* * *
New China Buffet has been renovated and is celebrating their grand opening at 702-A Cheney Hwy. See their ad for details.
* * *
Becky Caneva was the winner of Diversified Computers' yearly Christmas computer giveaway. They sell & repair computers, plus they can upgrade your computer.
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Is quitting smoking your New Year's Resolution? Holistic Family Health Clinic is offering stop smoking therapy. See their ad and receive $5 off.
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Bobby Mutter Realty is now open at 4217 S. Hopkins Ave. Realtor Barbara Doughtie has joined Bobby's staff. Call them or stop by their office for all of your real estate needs.
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Be sure and use Joy Buffet's coupon to save $1 off breakfast, lunch or dinner.
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Let William Tumblin & Associates help you with your tax preparation for personal, partnership, estate, or corporation. See their ad and call for an appointment.
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Realtor Julie "Jules" Hart wants you to know that she is also a mortgage broker for Florida Casa Realty located at 6811 Highway N. A1A, Cape Canaveral. Check out her ad and call for help to either sell your home or look for a new home.
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The Potpourri Patch at The Gaslight Mall is featuring electric fragrant melt warmers, plus country furniture & collectibles. The art studios inside the mall feature beautiful artwork by Karen Zoller, Peggy Gunnerson, and R. Merrill Gordon. Stop in and see!
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Chet & Suki are back at the newly renovated Asian House, and are serving Chinese and Japanese food. Dine in and enjoy being waited on. They have lunch specials everyday from $3.99.
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You can get your prescriptions filled in minutes at The Medicine Shoppe in Mims. Take advantage of their "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" coupon in their ad.
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Jeannette Adrian Salon & Spa is now offering 10-minute bronzing bed visits. See the ad for more info and make an appt. to visit their beautifully renovated salon and spa.
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If you're looking for realtor Steve Tsoukalas, you can find him at Help-U-Sell at 4460 S. Washington Ave. Call him for assistance in buying or selling.
* * *
R & J Koi & Water Gardens, 4545 S. Hopkins Ave., is having their "Build-A-Pond Day" on Saturday, Jan. 10. See their ad in this issue and call for more details.
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With the coupon, two can play unlimited golf‹and have dinner‹ for just $39.00 at the Great Outdoors Golf Club.
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Armstrong Chiropractic at 1915 Knox McRae Dr. is now open 5 days a week with the help of Dr. Bill Davis.
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Conrad Pools, Inc., at the Royal Oak Plaza on Knox McRae Dr., has a special on liquid chlorine. See their ad for heat pump and gas heater specials.
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Hines' Furniture stocks mostly new furniture and can order most any furniture from catalogs if you're looking for a special item.
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Robert K. Ross, CTP can help you to get fast cash from your income tax return. Look for his ad and call today.
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Show Time Deli & Tiki Bar has $1.50 bottle beer everyday. Stop in for lunch or dinner.
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Mary Lewis, clothing consultant and owner of Boutique Plus, has clothing for women and men up to 9X. See the ad for more details.
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Get 50% off the service fee a free designer bag when you join Curves. Look for their ad for their 3 convenient locations.
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John Conrad's Pool Supply wants you to enjoy the aesthetic relaxation your pool can provide with their variety of atmosphere enhancers including pool fountains, multi-colored pool lighting, yard and patio decorations and more.
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Planning a wedding? Let Best Western Space Shuttle Inn help with all the arrangements. Check out their ad for a tour and wedding consultation.
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Liz Kinch is the new owner of Broadwaves Beauty Salon (formerly Rose & Co.), and is offering a special to new customers. Buy one haircut and get one haircut free! Call for an appt. and let her know that you read about her in "From the Grapevine" to receive your savings.

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