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Randy Rodriguez, Publisher/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 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 in 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 event and fireworks are still an annual event.
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. I am still a Realtor.
I can be reached on my cell at 321-863-7499, or the 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
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Amanda Mahaleris
I was born and raised in Port St. John, Florida. My childhood consisted of playing in the woods behind my house and riding my bike to Scoops. I attended Challenger 7 Elementary then Space Coast Jr./Sr. High when middle school was strictly in portables. Not too long afterwards, I returned to Challenger 7 as a speech therapist, working alongside many of my former teachers and getting to know many wonderful families in the area. After several years in public education my interests led me elsewhere. Today, I work as a dietitian for the Women, Infants, and Children program, where I help families make informed nutritional choices. In addition to my primary role, I also work with various non-profit organizations. I love working in community nutrition and my monthly article Food for Thought in Happenings is my way of bringing bite-sized and factual information to our community. So, whether you discover a new recipe to try or pick up a quick health tip, I hope you find inspiration to keep living a healthier life!
amandamahaleris@yahoo.com
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