Happenings Writing Staff

• Randy Rodriguez, Editor

• Maureen Rupe

• Rose Padrick

• Ken Carson

Randy Rodriguez, Owner/Editor

Originally born up north in Daytona Beach, I’ve lived in several cities in Florida while growing up. I arrived in Brevard County courtesy of the US Navy and, being on enlisted pay, moved to Port St. John in 1984. On Fay Blvd. Two lanes. Virtually no traffic. No street lights. No city water. No schools. No cable. No video store. One neighbor. My, how the times have changed.
HAPPENINGS was born in a fit of fury: 1) at the county, for planning to add a sewer system that would have added around $15,000 to every homeowner’s debt for their home at a time when the median price was in the $50’s. It would have been financial death for the residents living here. And 2) at the Florida Today for not printing a word about it. We were an insignificant community located between real cities and so, were of no news interest. We were, however, of great interest to the Port St. John Home Owner’s Association, a very active, very vocal group who stood and fought for the residents in PSJ.
Along the way HAPPENINGS founded and adopted the Port St. John Christmas Parade in 1990, and it continues today. Also, with help from the American Legion, PSJ Jaycees, the PSJ Seniors, the PSJ Home Owner’s Assn., PSJ Kiwanis and several extraordinary volunteers, we started the 4th of July fireworks displays i 1993 as the Community Blast. All but the American Legion are gone now, but we created Thunder Over the Indian River with those extraordinary volunteers and the fireworks shows continued every year until 2014.

Amidst the community work, a little work for profit was required to pay the bills. I’ve been a Realtor since 1985, most of it at Happenings Real Estate. Happenings Real Estate has recently merged into Berkshire Hathaway-the Property Place. I am still a Realtor. I can be reached on my cell at 321-863-7499, or  he Happenings desk is 321-633-7499.

Yes, I was really in China on vacation. The Great Wall was awesome!

Maureen Rupe

Born in Northamptonshire, England
33-Year United States Resident, 20-Year Brevard County Resident, United States Citizen
Married to Bob Rupe; Bob was 24 years in the Air Force and currently works for United Space Alliance at the Kennedy Space Center
1 son & 5 grandchildren that say their grandmother is not like normal grandmothers

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Parrish Medical Center Board Member (2001 – Present), Reappointed in 2005 till 2009 - Appointed by Brevard County Commission
North Brevard Medical Support Board (2000 – 2001) - Appointed by Brevard County Commission
Parrish Medical Center, Port St. John Clinic Liaison Committee (1999 – 2001) - Building Committee for Port St. John Medical Center Built in Port St John on U.S. 1 - Appointed by District 1 County Commissioner Truman Scarborough
Brevard County Charter Review Commission Member (1997 – 1998 /2003 – 2004) - Year-long Review of the Brevard County Charter for New Proposals or Changes to Current Charter
Brevard County 2001 Redistricting Committee - Review every 10 years defining Brevard County District Borders
Elected Port St. John Dependent Advisory Board (1996 – 2001) - Planning & Zoning Board for Port St. John area - Initiated this board as Port St. John Homeowners Association President
President, Brevard Partnership for a Sustainable Future (2002 – Present) - Elected by Members - Currently over 30,000 members, including Barrier Island Protection and Preservation Society, Cocoa Beach Citizens Action Committee, Florida Native Plant Society, Conradina & Sea Rocket Chapters, Friends of the Scrub, Healthy Planet of Brevard, League of Women Voters of the Space Coast, Marine Resources Council, Save the Manatee Club • Surfrider Foundation, SAVE the St. Johns River, Sea Turtle Preservation Society, Sierra Club Turtle Coast Group, Space Coast Paddlers, Space Coast Audubon Society, Space Coast Progressive Alliance, The Friends of Enchanted Forest, Inc, Brevard Nature Alliance, Friends of the Carr Refuge, and Individual Members - Florida Nonprofit Corporation which Serves as a Coalition of Diverse Groups Devoted to Establishing and Maintaining an Economically and Environmentally Sustainable Future for Brevard County.
Marine Resource Council Board of Directors (2004 – Present) - Invited after Vote by Members
Port St. John Homeowner’s Association - President (May 1995 - April 1997) (May 1999 – April 2000) - Vice President (July 1998 – April 1999) - Board Member (1989 – 2000) Land Clearing, Landscaping, and Tree Protection Task Force (2005 – 2006) - Appointed by District 5 County Commissioner Jackie Colon - Year-long Review of Land Clearing, Landscaping, and Tree Protection Ordinances, for Recommended Changes, and Combining Ordinances into One Ordinance
Brevard County Land Development and Procedures Committee (2003 – Present) - Appointed by District 1 County Commissioner - Revision of Land Development Ordinances and Policies
Space Coast Women League of Voters - Board of Directors (2000 – Present) - Chair, Natural Resources Committee (2000 – Present)
Port St. John Library Board (1994 - Present)(4 times Chair) - Appointed by District 1 County Commissioner Truman Scarborough - Lobbied for a library and recent extension
Port St. John/Canaveral Groves Municipal Special Taxing Unit Advisory Committee (1994) - Ran Campaign for Successful Self-Imposed Tax to fund Community Center, Recreational Facilities and Purchase of Fay Lake Wilderness Park - Served as model for Brevard County Parks Referendums
St. John’s River Water Management District Desalination Ad hoc Advisory Committee (2004 – 2005) - Appointed by St. John’s River Water Management District - Opposed a Desalination Plant on the Indian River Lagoon due to Environemental Impacts; Supporting a Desalination Plant at the Cape Canaveral Port using Seawater to Solve Central Florida’s Water Shortage
Brevard British Club President (1989 – Present)
Port St. John Citizen Observation Patrol (COP) (1996 – 2001) - As Port St John HOA President helped to Initiate PSJ Program and acquire the PSJ Community Police Unit
Brevard County District 1 Transportation Advisory Committee (1997 – 1999) - Appointed by District 1 County Commissioner Truman Scarborough
Brevard County Gun Discharge Task Force (1994) (To Stop Random Shooting into Residential areas adjacent to Fay Lake Park and eventually asked for a Referendum to buy the Park. Passed (82%) - Appointed by the Brevard County Commission
Brevard Visioning Steering Committee (1995 – 1997)
Port St. John/Canaveral Groves Interstate 95 Interchange Committee - Lobbied for I-95 Interchange near PSJ for 12 Years
Founding Member United Scleroderma Foundation, Brevard County Chapter (1992 - 1995)
Executive Board Member, Space Coast Progressive Alliance (2004 – Present)
Small Area Plan, Port St. John/Canaveral Groves Interchange (2005 – Present) - Appointed by District 1 County Commissioner Truman Scarborough - Lobbied Brevard County for 15 Years to Initiate a Health Study on the Combined Pollution from Port St. John Power Plants; Achieved in 2005, Preliminary Study Report showed Potential Health Effects of Residents. In 2006, Due to Preliminary Results, County Commission Voted to Commit $800,000 for Expanded Study
Writes monthy articles for Happenings Newspaper and the League of Women Voters of the Space Coast Newsletter.

Rose Padrick

Born in inner city New York I moved at an early age to Angel City in Merritt Island, attending Merritt Island Elementary school and Edgewood Jr. High. I moved back to New York briefly, returning to Florida to marry and raise my children. I have been blessed with a bunch of children and a pile of grandchildren which is where Rose's Room was born... Shaving time from my 40 hour a week job and busy weekends to write isn't easy. Rewarding myself with a 'Grammy fix'- grabbing a hug or a walk on the beach with one or more of my 19 grandchildren – keeps me in stories…and in smiles. Rose's Room is meant to share a smile… encourage readers to relive or make a memory… remind readers that in the end, family is all we really have and it should be cherished.
Rose Padrick www.rosesroom.com rosepadrick@gmail.com

Ken Carson

Ken Carson, self proclaimed food critic, writes "Out On The Town" for HAPPENINGS newsletter.

Born up in the south, Knoxville, Tennessee. Raised up in the most northern Southern state, Prince Georges County, Maryland

U.S. Air Force Veteran, Langley AFB, Va. & Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany.

12 years as a Quality Inspector on LA Class fast attack subs & Nimitz Class Aircraft carriers at Newport News Shipbuilding, VA.

Came to Florida in 1993 for employment at the Cape and in search of warmer weather (can't stand the cold) and have been living in PSJ ever since.I've been at the Cape since 1993, except for a short stint at Wallops after shuttle layoffs. I'm currently on the Engineering Services Contract.

Attended Florida Eastern State College when it was called Brevard Community College.

For enjoyment, I love to eat and restore antique cars, trucks and motorcycles.