There's a lot of people in our happy little town! The Pelican Porch Visitor Center has seen a steady flow of people escaping the northern weather, or visiting friends and family! In the last three months we have extended Sebastian hospitality to over 3,000 visitors in the center!

One visitor really stood out this last week, and I thought I would share his story. He arrived about 4:45 pm, on a Thursday afternoon, asking for information about the Historical Society and Mel Fisher Treasure Museum, which were both unfortunately closed. He carried a forty pound backpack, strapped across his back, with another smaller pack carried around his chest, I phone in hand and ear plugs installed. He was about 22 years old and English was obviously his second language, but we were able to communicate! He was from Denmark, arrived in Florida after passing through France, and his first stop in the USA was the parks in Orlando. Then he went south to Miami Beach, where else would a young man go for spring break? And then he had started working his way north. I asked if he had walked all that way, he said no, "Uber". I asked where he stayed (he didn't look like he slept on the side of the road), and he said AirBNB, he had a place in Micco for the night, and his next plan was Kennedy Space Center!  After some more conversation he was getting ready to head out and slyly looked at Patti and I and said, "my name is Sebastian". Instant photo shoot! He was compelled to stop here in his travels, and I am sure there was a "selfie" taken in front of the Welcome Center sign for the folks back home!   Each day is very different in the Chamber.

We are winding down with two more Concerts in the Park, one in April and one in May. Nineteen years of Concerts and the Series still draws residents and visitors to enjoy the ambiance of the Lagoon with all genres of music, all free to the public. It's a great collaboration between the Chamber, the City of Sebastian and our corporate sponsors, providing a mellow 

Our golf tournament is coming along, and we are seeking golfers, sponsors and t-signs for our Cinco de Mayo Tournament (nacho average tournament)! We are eager to experience the newly renovated golf course, last year's tournament was scheduled just prior to all of the improvements, so this year should be spectacular! Hope you will join us for the tournament and the after party at the Tiki Bar and Grill, tequila for everyone, with IRC Commissioner Peter O'Bryan as the master of ceremonies.

There's transition in the works, and I wanted to take the opportunity to wish my fellow Chamber Executive, Penny Chandler, Indian River County Chamber President, all the best in her next stage of life, after leading her chamber for 23 years! Penny and I have had 18 years of collaboration, and working together on behalf of the business community, and she has lead the way. Her list of accomplishments is long, and her support of our Chamber, and staff has been extraordinary. I feel blessed to have worked beside her and with her in fulfilling our Chambers mission.

We will join Laura LaPorte for breakfast in April, at LaPorte Farms, presumably with fresh farm eggs! Lunch is at Marsh Landing in Fellsmere, sponsored by Oculina Bank and our guest speaker will be from the Better Business Bureau. Then we will help Wesley Campbell with a ribbon cutting and Business and Pleasure at the newly renovated Sebastian Golf Restaurant and Sports Lounge at the Municipal Golf Course. Hope to see you at one of these events, or at the ribbon cuttings happening in April.

Have a prosperous month!