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June 19 2021

Update on Heritage High School incident-Palm Bay

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Palm Bay, Florida,

We have learned of an incident at Heritage High School where a student was injured after being body slammed. Palm Bay Live has viewed the video and determined that the video is too graphic for us to show. We did solicit a update on the incident from Palm Bay Police Department. Here is the latest:

“16yo male victim was verbally provoking the 15yo male suspect, the suspect in turn violently body slammed the victim. The victim struck his head. The juvenile suspect was charged with Aggravated Battery and remains held for 21 days at JDC. The victim was stable at a local hospital.”

The above is an official statement from the Palm Bay Police Department.

June 16 2021

Business of the Month – Paddling Paradise Offers Numerous Ways to Enjoy Palm Bay’s Beautiful Waters and Nature

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Opened in 2018 and located on U.S. 1 at Turkey Creek in Palm Bay is Paddling Paradise, where you can rent paddleboards and kayaks and book paddleboard, kayak and Hobie Mirage Pedal tours. Equipment rentals include the paddleboard or kayak, paddle, and personal flotation device, but be sure to bring your own protective clothing and plenty of water. Paddling Paradise also has a store with clothing and paddleboarding accessories for sale, and they offer paddleboard and kayak storage. Events offered include sunrise paddles, eco tours, private lessons, SUP yoga, paint & paddle parties, birthday parties, and group team building. Whether you want a relaxing time floating across the water of Turkey Creek hoping to catch a glimpse of a dolphin or manatee, or if you’re looking for access to competitive water-based sporting events or anything in between, Paddling Paradise has something to offer you. Palm Bay Live spoke to the operator of Paddling Paradise, Dan Smith, to learn more about the business.

Tell me about your background and how you became so passionate about paddle boarding and water activities?

“I grew up in Melbourne, and traveled around the world, I surfed competitively growing up, and about 15 years ago I got into paddleboarding, and it’s just been amazing. It’s a way to get out on the water and enjoy, and I can surf on a paddleboard or just paddle flat water or I can race on it. And paddleboarding is really for everyone, brand new people can go out with just minimal training.”

Today’s kayaks have gone really high tech, haven’t they? They are made with high performance composite materials and feature advanced designs. Tell us about that.

“For sure! We are a Hobie dealer and we have boats that have the Hobie Mirage Drive pedal drive system which can be pedal paddled or sailed, and we both rent and sell these amazing watercraft. Purchase prices range from $1,500 to $8,000. They’re really fun!”

Paddling Paradise is a jumping off place for many activities such as Women on Water, the Turkey Creek Sanctuary Kayak Tour, and you’re active in other sporting events and competitions, right?

“Yes, we have something for everyone. And this past July we hosted the Amature Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Olympics first ever paddleboard event, and just recently paddleboarding was added as an official AAU event along with track & field, tennis and volleyball. And through our Paddle Sports League we will be promoting paddleboard events with clubs throughout Florida.”

What has it been like to operate through a pandemic?

“We were lucky and remained open the whole time, paddleboarding is an outdoor activity in beautiful Florida, and people were definitely interested in getting outside during the pandemic in a safe and socially-distanced way. Outdoor activities like bicycling and kayaking have been growing in popularity recently, so we were definitely luckier than some of the other businesses.”

On your Facebook page, you have pictures of paddleboarders and kayakers seeing dolphins and manatees up close. Does that happen often?

“Absolutely, that’s an everyday occurrence, and it’s amazing the diversity of the things that we do see. Dolphins, manatees, birds, all sorts of fish, and turtles too. And what you see varies depending on where in Turkey Creek you are. It really is amazing.”

What are your future plans for Paddling Paradise?

“We are definitely looking to get more youth into the sport. The main demographic for paddleboarding is women aged 35 to 55, but now that we are part of AAU and their 700,000 members, many of whom are youth athletes who will now have access to our paddleboarding events. And the moms are already paddleboarding, so this is a way for the moms to include the kids in their hobby. During the AAU event, we had three generations of women from the same family compete in the same race, and they each finished the race and won an award. So our goal is to grow the sport with youth and get the word out that anybody can enjoy paddleboarding. And once the kids paddleboard they love it!

Another important part of our future is that the City of Palm Bay is looking to further develop the property where our business is located, perhaps adding a restaurant and other things that will drive more traffic here. Paddling Paradise will continue to be here on the same property and looking to get more people out on the water to enjoy themselves!”

Paddling Paradise

4220 Dixie Hwy – Pal

m Bay, FL 32905

(321) 258-4492

Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

Saturday -Sunday 8:00 am – 6:00 pm

https://www.paddlingparadise.com/

https://www.facebook.com/PaddlingParadise/

Paddling Paradise

June 15 2021

City of Palm Bay Announces Sustainability Action Plan Art Contest

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PALM BAY, FLORIDA

The City of Palm Bay Sustainability Advisory Board is hosting a contest to find the cover art for the City’s upcoming Sustainability Action Plan. We are looking for young artists to help us imagine what a sustainable Palm Bay looks like.

Sustainability means using limited resources responsibly so that future generations enjoy a healthy planet and have the water, energy, materials, and land needed to survive. This may include conserving water or electricity, using wind- or solar-powered energy, recycling, avoiding food waste, and caring for the environment.

The City’s Sustainability Advisory Board will select the entry that they feel best illustrates sustainability in Palm Bay. The winning artwork will be featured on the front cover of the City of Palm Bay Sustainability Action Plan and the artist will be recognized at an upcoming Board Meeting.

Contest Rules

Age requirement: Palm Bay kids 18 years of age and under are invited to participate.

How to enter: Applications can be submitted in person or sent in via email.

Submissions may be dropped off at City Hall located at 120 Malabar Road SE, Attn: Britta Kellner.

Submissions may be emailed to Sustainability@pbfl.org. Please send your artwork as a high-quality JPG or PDF file.

Applicant information: All submissions must include the name of the artist, their age, the name of their parent or guardian, and a contact telephone number and email address.

Artwork size: All artwork submitted for the contest must be 8.5 x 11”. All 2D mediums are welcome including pencil, crayon, marker, paint, collage, and digital art.

Deadline: The deadline to apply is Friday, July 30, 2021 at 5:00pm.

The winning artist will be required to fill out an agreement for display of artwork.

By submitting artwork to the Sustainability Action Plan Art Contest, all applicants grant the City of Palm Bay a non-exclusive perpetual license to reproduce images of the submitted artwork. All artwork submitted must be original and not a reproduction of copyrighted material. Any artwork found to infringe upon a copyright will be disqualified. Applicants may only submit one entry to the contest.

June 15 2021

The City of Palm Bay Seeks Public Input on Comprehensive Plan Update

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PALM BAY, FLORIDA,

The City of Palm Bay is seeking public input as it reviews and updates its comprehensive plan. Known as Palm Bay 2040 Vision, this effort will establish a set of objectives, goals, and policies that will help leaders guide future growth and development to ensure a high quality of life and a resilient community for future generations.

On June 29, 2021, the City will host a workshop to gather input from the public to help determine the goals and priorities represented in Palm Bay 2040 Vision. The meeting will be held in Palm Bay City Council Chambers, located at 120 Malabar Road SE, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. For those unable to attend the in-person meeting, the workshop will also be available virtually. Individuals interested in attending virtually may login at 6:00pm at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85127127911.

The City has launched a Palm Bay 2040 Vision webpage at https://smeinc.mysocialpinpoint.com/palm-bay-2040-vision. The website will be used to solicit additional public input through a survey, an idea wall feature, voting, and a capital expenditure exercise. Residents and community stakeholders are invited to visit https://smeinc.mysocialpinpoint.com/palm-bay-2040-vision and participate to make their voices heard as the City updates the comprehensive plan. Future public meeting details will also be posted on the website.

The comprehensive plan is a long-range plan that helps guide the City’s future actions through clearly stated goals, objectives, and policies. These policies inform local decision making and set the tone for future growth and development in the community. The City of Palm Bay is seeking public input to assist the 2040 Vision team in the development of goals, objectives, and polices and to understand the community’s preferences and desires for the future of the City of Palm Bay.

The City of Palm Bay is undergoing a period of rapid change. The City’s population is growing, new developments are sprouting throughout the community, and local employment opportunities are continuing to diversify. With new opportunities for growth appearing every day, the potential for the City of Palm Bay’s future is limitless. That is why the City is seeking ideas, perspectives, and expertise from the public to help determine what Palm Bay should look like in 2040. The resulting vision will be used to help guide the City of Palm Bay’s comprehensive plan update in 2021 and 2022.

April 30 2021

Live Boxing Returns to Palm Bay – Champions in the Making: “The Legend Continues”

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PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The number one boxing program in Florida, Palm Bay ROUND13 Boxing is partnering once again with Palm Bay Parks & Recreation to bring a live boxing event to the city of Palm Bay. The event will be held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 at the Tony Rosa Community Center, located at 1502 Port Malabar Boulevard in Palm Bay.

The event is being billed as Champions in the Making: “The Legend Continues” and marks the return of the successful boxing series to Brevard County. There will be 15 -20 action packed boxing matches presented by Palm Bay ROUND13 Boxing! Doors open at 3:00pm. Fights begin at 4:00pm.

Tickets are now on dale and may be purchased through eventbrite.com (preferred), or by calling the event organizers at (321) 403-2595. General admission standing tickets are $15. Ringside/VIP tickets are $25. Kids 5 and under are free. A limited number of ringside/VIP tickets are available.

ROUND13 Boxing Club of Palm Bay is a 501c3 non-profit boxing club. For more information about this event or to become a sponsor, call (321) 403-2595 or email johnnyh1058@gmail.com.

April 28 2021

APRIL Business of the Month “Palm Bay’s Organic Girly” Cafe & Market Growing Despite COVID

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Organic Girly Cafe & Market offers organic, farm fresh, and health promoting products that are both delicious and gorgeously presented. Products in the market include keto (grain free) donuts, carrot top pesto, low calorie high probiotic water kefir, and organic honey, teas, and jams. The OG Cafe offers a flexible, seasonal menu using locally produced, farm-to-table ingredients, and favorites include keto waffles, wild salmon ceviche with yuca tortilla chips, and Cuban sandwiches using pasture raised pork. The Organic Girly is Dina Caballero, a resident of PalmBay, and we spoke to her about her passion for her products and her expanding business.

You have an interesting background, you were an EMT in the U.S. Air Force and also spent time as a Congressional staffer in a local district office. How did you become the Organic Girly?

“I believe that food is a priority when it comes to living healthy, and I started with health coaching for family and friends back in 2007 and 2008 to bring awareness about genetically modified organisms. Then, in 2019, I started selling my elderberry syrup at the farmer’s market and from there it really took off. I’ve been in Palm Bay for a long time and folks knew me and encouraged me to take the next step.”

Where did your passion for organic products come from? Elderberry and elderflower are big for you.

“It started in college, I was pre-med for a while and I took a class in food policy that made me realize that I could have more of an impact by working with the people around me rather than changing the laws in Washington. I found that if you really want to make change, it starts at the local level and not the national level, and so I started working on health things with my family and friends and their friends, and it kind of took off from there.

Your entire family supports your business, especially your sons Xavian and Alex. What is like running a family business?

“(Laughs) Oh my gosh, some days it’s a real challenge! It definitely keeps us close, we are always at the family dinner table together, and I love what it’s teaching my children about hard work and service to the community. You don’t just get stuff for free, you have to work. We work with local farmers and community members, and we support each other by working together. I love what that teaches my children.

You opened and then expanded during the pandemic, what did you do differently?

“Well, you can’t stop a virus, you just have to be proactive with your health, and we thought we could help by offering our healthy foods and products to people when they were more needed than ever. I feel like what we are doing is educating people about living healthily and making good food choices, and that’s important during a pandemic. Our focus is to help people and empower them and let them know they do have alternatives.

You’ve obviously enjoyed great support from Palm Bay, what has that been like for you?“

Oh, it’s wonderful, I love Palm Bay, I always knew I wanted my first store to be in Palm Bay! The outpouring of support from Palm Bay city officials has just been amazing. I live in Palm Bay, and I didn’t want my first store to be anywhere else, and I’d love to open another location in Palm Bay.

Tell us about you Saturdays, you are busy with farmers’ markets, right?

“ Yes, we host along with our partners a farmer’s market on the second and fourth saturday of each month, and Palm Bay Mayor Rob Medina recognized those two days as Palm Bay Farmer’s Market Days, and we very much appreciate his support and recognition. About 80% of the businesses there make the products they sell, many are local local farmers. So our Saturday’s are busy!

Is the Organic Girly donut the healthiest and most delicious donut in the world?

“(Laughs) Oh, my gosh, maybe! Those keto donuts are delicious, and I like making things pretty, that’s the girly part of the Organic Girly. If you can satisfy the visual and the taste buds at the same time, then you feel like you’re eating a real donut! 63 calories and only 1.1 grams of net carbs, for the unstuffed donuts, and only 2 grams of carbs for the stuffed donuts! And no sugar.

Café OG & Market

3200 Dixie HWY NE STE 3 & 4

Palm Bay, FL 32905

(321) 210-2030

https://www.facebook.com/organicgirly/

https://www.instagram.com/theorganicgirly/?hl=en

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April 28 2021

Brevard Local Toastmasters Chapter hosts productive mentorship seminar

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By Sarah Wyatt

Images by Darrell Scattergood

Palm Bay, FL— Florida International Talkers invites Brevard County residents and remote guests to a special Toastmasters program, “Keys to an Effective Mentorship.” The free event will be held Sunday, May 2 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Memaw’s BBQ Restaurant, 4916 Babcock Street NE in Palm Bay, as well as virtually on Zoom.com.

“Being a successful mentor, as well as learning from one, are skills that are important in the business world,” says Deborah Wilde, chapter president. “We welcome the public to attend, either at the restaurant or online. This is a significant professional and academic topic.”

Following the keynote speech by Wilde, members and guests will enjoy an impromptu speaking activity. Public relations chair Rachael Assignon, who has served in several roles with the group, will assist with the presentation.

“Mentorship is valuable for both the student and mentor,” says Assignon. “It’s a win-win.”

For more information about the program, email Deborah Wilde at dtm.debbywilde@gmail.com or call 321-427-7771.

Florida International Talkers meets the first and third Sunday of each month from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Memaw’s BBQ Restaurant, 4916 Babcock Street NE in Palm Bay, as well as virtually. For more information about the club or for the Zoom address, please visit fitalkers.toastmastersclubs.org.

Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of meeting locations. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, the organization’s membership exceeds 313,000 in more than 14,650 clubs in 126 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people of all backgrounds become more confident in front of an audience. For information, please visit www.toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on Twitter.

: Images by Darrell Scattergood

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: Images by Darrell Scattergood

April 28 2021

Palm Bay-Armed Robbery Investigation

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The Palm Bay Police Department needs your help! On 04/23/2021 at 12:37AM, an unknown male suspect entered the Burger King at 1164 Malabar Road. Once inside, he demanded money from the register implying he had a weapon. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of currency, the male fled the area. No injuries were reported.

If you can identify the suspect in the below video, please contact the Palm Bay Police Department at 321-952-3456. Those with information can also anonymously contact Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477) to provide information.

Video footage from a surveillance camera is available below.

Armed Robbery Investigation

The Palm Bay Police Department needs your help! On 04/23/2021 at 12:37AM, an unknown male suspect entered the Burger King at 1164 Malabar Road.

April 28 2021

City of Palm Bay Releases Floodplain Management Report

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PALM BAY, FLORIDA – The City of Palm Bay recently released the 2021 Floodplain Management Plan Progress Report. The report is an integral part of the Community Rating System (CRS) that lowers flood insurance rates for local residents by 15%. A copy of the plan is made available to the public through the City’s website or can be picked up at the Building Department, located at 190 Malabar Road SW Suite 105.

The Floodplain Management Plan Progress Report summary includes the status of projects that help reduce flooding hazards within the geographic boundaries of Palm Bay. The Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) combined with the Public Works Standard Operating Procedures for Stormwater and Floodplain Management and the CRS community outreach activities are used to provide the optimum flood protection for the citizens of Palm Bay.

The report is submitted to the Insurance Service Office (ISO) for recertification and includes information regarding the recent steps taken by the City of Palm Bay to decrease citizen’s vulnerability to future economic and environmental costs caused by natural disasters.The strategy outlines ways in which the City develops, monitors, and maintains a local plan for hazard mitigation and post-disaster redevelopment. It highlights recent projects that have been completed to meet those goals including new road paving and drainage system upgrades, culvert replacements, and overall improvements to the City’s infrastructure specifically relating to flood prevention.

The CRS promotes activities sponsored by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). These activities help to give communities incentive to promote flood protection public works projects and community awareness to local flood hazards. This is Palm Bay’s fourth year as a CRS Class 7 community, giving residents a 15% reduction in their flood insurance premiums.

The City of Palm Bay will continue to implement the recommendations and ongoing objectives detailed in the countywide LMS, and update citizens on the status of the newly revised January 29, 2021 Coastal Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Additionally, the City will continue to attend Melbourne Tillman Water Control District meetings and maintain an active role in the St. John’s River Water Management District, as well as the Florida Stormwater Association. Community outreach activities will continue along with the release of public information on matters relating to flood protection.

April 27 2021

Palm Bay PD gives update on Traffic Fatality

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PALM BAY, FLORIDA – Update April 26, 2021- After reviewing surveillance footage and speaking to witnesses, it has been determined that this crash was not a hit and run. The black Mercedes was the only vehicle to make contact with the white Nissan. Investigators have also located the Chrysler 300, which is dark gray in color. The investigation is ongoing with speed most likely being the contributing factor. Charges are still pending and any updates will be provided as they become available.

This release serves as an update to the fatal traffic crash that occurred this past Saturday evening, April 17, 2021. Traffic Homicide Investigators are looking for the owner and/or driver of the pictured Chrysler 300. The driver of the vehicle is a person of interest at this time. Should anyone have information about this vehicle, they are urged to contact the Palm Bay Police Department at 321-952-3456 or contact Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.

This is still in active investigation. No charges have been made yet. Any updates will be made available once they are received.