September 10, 2023 - Mayfield Minute

Mayfield Minute - September 10, 2023 - Mayfield Minute_Remembering 9/11/2001

Good Morning!

This week, our nation will remember the deadliest terrorist attacks in American history. The horror unleashed on our nation within just a few hours the morning of September 11, 2001 took the lives of 2,997 unsuspecting, innocent American civilians in New York City, Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC.

That same evening, President George W. Bush addressed the atrocities in televised remarks to the American people stating in part:

"Great people have been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today, our nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America -- with the daring of our rescue workers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could."

Throughout District 19 and all of Florida, we have Gold Star families who have tragically lost brave sons and daughters in acts of terror and war. Many of those young men and women enlisted to courageously defend and serve in the United States military as a result of the September 11th attack on our homeland.

May we always remember their selfless sacrifice and heroic patriotism and the loved ones who continue to suffer without them everyday.

I consider it a great honor to represent District 19. Please share this link with your friends and family so they too, can sign up for the Mayfield Minute.

If you or someone you know needs my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff and I are here to serve you!

Statewide Update

Stay Informed: Hurricane Lee Reaches Category Five Status

This is just a reminder to follow the track of Hurricane Lee as it makes its way through the Caribbean over the weekend and early next week. Hopefully it will stay well East of Florida, but it is always better to be prepared.

If you have not already signed up for alerts from the Brevard County Emergency Operations Center or Indian River County Emergency Operations Center, please do so.

You can also sign up for alerts from Florida's Emergency Operations Center here.

AG Moody and the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers Team Up with America’s Most Wanted to Further Statewide Crime Fighting Initiatives

While other states deprioritize the rule of law and defund police, Governor DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody have been unstoppable in holding criminals accountable, and in rewarding the first responders who place their lives on the line to serve and protect others.

AG Moody and the Florida Association of Crime Stoppers (FACS) have joined with “America’s Most Wanted” and “In Pursuit with John Walsh” to identify, pursue, and prosecute criminal offenders, with the help of everyday Floridians, by launching the **TIPS anonymous crime tip line.

The prior TIPS line required anonymous crime reporters to look up one of the 27 specific regions' Crime Stoppers numbers. Now, by simply dialing or texting the six-key tipline on a cellphone, citizens are automatically routed to the nearest regional Crime Stoppers responder.

To encourage anonymous reporting, the maximum allowable award amount has increased from $5,000 to $9,500 for tips.

Over the past 30 years, Mr. Walsh and American volunteer crime fighting reporters have helped to capture over 1,200 fugitives—including 17 criminals on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.

In Florida, victims and witnesses are highly prioritized, and criminal behavior is strictly prosecuted.

Constituent of the Week

Retired Sergeant First Class Juan Santiago

Our Constituent of the Week is Retired United States Army Sergeant First Class Juan Santiago.

At a time when our nation is remembering the terror and heroism of September 11, 2001 and the branches of our military are struggling to keep up with recruitment goals, it is important to recognize one of our own, right here in Brevard County, who has made a commitment to “Never Stop Serving.”

He is well known for his recruitment of the next generation of young soldiers, funding his own trips to be present at their basic combat trainings when their families could not attend. Sergeant Santiago meets with many local businesses and families, attends

student assemblies, career days, awards ceremonies, graduations, and sporting events at all of Brevard County’s 16 major high schools in an effort to share his message of the importance of service to our nation.

He was born and raised in Puerto Rico (PR), and at age 19 he joined the United States Army at Fort Buchanan in PR. His challenges were immense. While entering the pre-basic training program, he was learning to improve his English language skills, and building

his own personal military discipline in preparation to complete combat training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina. He succeeded. In the early 1960’s he participated in military exercises in Cuba, followed by five consecutive tours in Vietnam.

Sergeant Santiago was in one of the first graduating classes (early 1970’s) from what is now the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) at Patrick Space Force Base, and worked in the EO for many of his 22 years on active duty.

He received numerous commendations when working as a General Schedule Recreation Specialist (RS) and was promoted in recognition of his swift action in saving the life of an Air Force Major General, who suffered a heart attack while working out at the US Army Headquarters in Europe.

Back in the US, working as a RS at the Perry Point VA Hospital in Maryland, he was commended several times and received a Special Contribution Award for responding to an explosion and fire saving many lives. He is also a two-time Purple Heart recipient.

Sergeant Santiago remembers his days as a promising pitcher in his youth, and to this day he is a lifetime member of the Association of Professional Ball Players of America. He won his 1997 World Series Ring working in the Florida Marlins’ minor league operation, and was also chosen as the Marlins’ Minor League Complex Employee of the Year in 1998.

When not working, he can be found “cruising the stands” talking to Veterans at the Brevard County Stadium during Marlins’ Spring Training and minor league games.

Baseball is a passion of his as well as preparing the next class of military leaders. He is fluent in Spanish and English, and conversational in Vietnamese, Italian and Portuguese which has helped him in recruiting and mentoring new students to the military. He participates in graduations at Patrick Space Force Base and works closely with Army Recruiters from Brevard and Osceola Counties.

When he meets with students and family members, he speaks about life goals, good citizenship and service, and embodying the Army Values of Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage.

He has also spent over 200 hours supporting inter/intra-high school Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) competitions, judging drill teams at the Brevard County

Sheriff-sponsored Space Coast Conference Championship, and coaching USAREC Future Soldiers at physical fitness and leadership reaction challenge events.

Many of you reading this today know Retired Sergeant First Class Juan Santiago as a “Soldier for Life" and for his induction into the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame Society.

In District 19, we remain grateful for his service to our nation and his enduring commitment to recruit and excite the next generation of military leaders right here in our community.

To view all of his recognitions, click here.

Remembering Jimmy Buffett

1946-2023

Island rock singer, songwriting legend, and entrepreneur, Jimmy Buffett, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 1, 2023 at the age of 76. He was surrounded by his wife of 46 years, family, friends, his beloved pack of dogs, and his favorite songs playing in the background.

Jimmy was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1946 in Pascagoula, Mississippi and was raised in Mobile, Alabama. He lived in Key West for decades. From the panhandle to the Space Coast, and the Florida Keys, you would be hard pressed in Florida to meet a neighbor or a tourist who didn’t have a special Jimmy Buffet, parrot head, or Margaritaville

memory.

His first number one hit is the classic “Margaritaville,” which he famously said he started on a cocktail napkin in Austin, Texas, and finished while sitting in a traffic jam on the Seven Mile Bridge.

Jimmy said, “If you’re lucky enough at some point to put your thumb on the pulse of something that people can connect with...it’s an amazing and lucky thing to happen to you, and that happened with ‘Margaritaville.’”

He began his career by creating music that exemplified the life he wanted and ultimately, the life he lived. Jimmy introduced a new multi-generational music genre which celebrated a laid-back island lifestyle, mixed with the best of rock and roll and reggae.

His career spanned over 50 years including performances in ‘hole-in-the-wall’ type pubs in Key West to sold out mega-arenas across the nation and internationally. He has more than 350 songs to his credit.

Jimmy was an tireless advocate for manatee protection even spearheading the "Save the Manatee" license plate. He was also an outspoken protector of the Everglades and Florida’s waterways, and served as a board member of the Everglades Foundation.

“His talent and adoration for the Everglades and Florida’s way of life will remain unmatched,” the foundation said in a statement.

In his honor, Governor DeSantis ordered the American and Florida flags to be flown at half-staff from 5:00 p.m. September 7th to 5:00 p.m. September 8th in Key West and Tallahassee.

He was a best-selling fiction and non-fiction author and a successful entrepreneur with his Margaritaville Restaurants and Resorts, Latitudes 55+ Communities, and his Land Shark beer ventures. Privately, with dignity and grace, he courageously battled a rare form of skin cancer for four years.

He will be greatly missed by all. To view his obituary, please click here.

District Highlights

First 3D-Printed Affordable Homes in Central Florida will be Constructed in Melbourne

Last week, Space Coast Habitat for Humanity (SCHFH) and the Macedonia Community Development Corporation (CDC) announced that their organizations will become the first to build affordable single family homes in Brevard County constructed with 3D-printed technology.

The inaugural project will build two 3D-printed homes on adjoining lots in Melbourne. The projects have come to fruition with support from the City of Melbourne, through the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds, a Wells Fargo's contribution of over $300,000, Apis Cor's milestone 3D-printing technology, and other community partners.

“We are so honored and excited to lead this transformative, game-changing effort to create affordable, resilient homes for families in need,” said Anna Terry, Executive Director of Space Coast Habitat for Humanity. “Using robotic technology developed here on Florida’s Space Coast, we hope to usher in the future of quality home construction that costs less to build and maintain,” she added.

Prior to the innovation of 3D-printing and robotic technology, Habitat for Humanity averaged approximately nine months to complete a home for a family in need. The new 3D-printing format is expected to cut that time frame from nine to three months.

To build the homes, SPHFH and Macedonia CDC selected construction technology company, Apis Cor, which has developed a proprietary 3D-printing technology and materials to “print” interior and exterior walls using advanced robotics and cement compounds. Their cement compounds provide better protection against common Florida hazards including mold, termites, and moisture brought on by excess heat, humidity, and storms.

SCHFH reminds interested participants that the affordable housing program is not just a ‘give away.’ Eligible recipients include single and dual parent families, elderly residents, people with disabilities, and Veterans. Each partner family pays a less than average down payment to receive a 0% interest rate 30-year mortgage. They must complete 'sweat equity labor' in the form of volunteerism for county-wide Habitat projects, and attend 300 hours of homeowner education and financial responsibility classes to qualify for a home of their own.

For more information about the partnership between SCHFH and Madedonia CDC to provide new 3D-printed affordable housing, click here.

Upcoming Events

Algae Harvesting Barge Coming to Indian River Lagoon to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms

Brevard County's Natural Resources Management department and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) will debut the AECOM “Algae Harvesting Ship” during a launch event on Wednesday, September 13th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Front Street Civic Center (2205 Front Street) in Melbourne.

This event highlights the dedicated efforts of the Save Our Indian River Lagoon program and FDEP in spearheading advanced strategies to address nutrient overload and harmful algal blooms (HAB). Attendees wishing to tour the barge should wear closed toed shoes.

Over the next few months the Algae Harvesting vessel will be mobilized to pre-determined "hot spot" areas in the Indian River Lagoon to remove algae and nutrients from the water to curb growth and prevent future algal blooms.

Visit the Save Our Indian River Lagoon website to learn about the program.

ANEW Life International, Inc. Ribbon Cutting

The Melbourne Chamber will be celebrating ANEW Life International's new Drop-in and Resource Center (1555 North Harbor City Boulevard) in Melbourne on Wednesday, September 13 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The ribbon cutting will take place promptly at 7:30 p.m. Local artist and collaborator, Derek Gores of the Eau Gaullie Art District, will be holding a live "hands on" custom art experience that all guests will have an opportunity to participate in.

ANEW Life International will hold a second special Grand Opening event on Friday, September 15th from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the same location.

ANEW International helps survivors of human trafficking expunge any criminal record for crimes they were forced to commit while being trafficked. They work to raise awareness, educate the community to identify human trafficking, reduce recidivism and provide a safe haven for recovery.

For more information or to contribute to ANEW Life International efforts to end human trafficking and help victims in recovery, click here.

Unveiling of New Wedding and Special Event Venue at the Historic Heritage Center in Vero Beach

On Sunday, September 17th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., the iconic Heritage Center (2140 14th Avenue) in Historic Downtown Vero Beach will unveil its new wedding and special occasion venue. Organizers say the new venue is aligned with the Center's long established charm, elegance, timeless architecture, and is the ideal site and backdrop for all special events.

Visitors will have a unique opportunity to explore the venue's fully transformed indoor / outdoor spaces, renovated patio, and women and gentlemen lounges. To celebrate the unveiling, the Heritage Center has partnered with over 15 hand-picked local food, beverage, and service vendors.

There is a $6.00 fee to attend if you register in advance here or you can pay upon arrival on site for $10.00.

2023 Space Coast Walk to End Alzheimer's Disease

Registration for the 2023 Walk to End Alzheimer’s -- Space Coast opens at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23rd at the Cocoa Riverfront Park (401 Riverdege Boulevard) in Cocoa.

The 2022 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures Report from the Alzheimer’s Association projects that almost 750,000 people in Florida will have Alzheimer’s dementia by 2025.

This is staggering statistic impacting families across our entire state. The Alzheimer’s Association is working tirelessly through their Florida chapters and across the nation to support research, slow the progress of the disease, and ultimately develop a cure.

I’m honored to participate again this year in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s event. Funds raised directly contribute to advancing progress to a cure and research efforts for those suffering from the debilitating disease, and to support the caregivers selflessly providing care for their loved ones.

To register or for more information, contact Mindy Nadeau at 386-748-8527 or by mlnadeau@alz.org.