Mortgage Broker in Melbourne, FL

Humble gourds become works of art in the hands of the artists at the Florida Gourd Society's annual festival. It will be in Melbourne on Feb. 23-25.

Behold the modest gourd.

The fruit of the flowering plant species of the family Cucurbitaceae, the gourd has long been a staple in crafts and has made many a home for backyard birds, yet there is more to a gourd than a birdhouse. Just ask the gourd artists who exhibit at the Florida Gourd Society’s Gourd Arts Festival, Feb. 23 to 25 at the Azan Shrine Center, 1591 W. Eau Gallie Blvd.

The festival reveals what you can do with a simple gourd, as long as you have talent and creativity.

“As you wander on through the exhibition, you will see carved, painted, weaved, beaded and multiple gourds used to create sculptures,” said Therese Ferguson, one of the event’s organizers.

“This is the area that will amaze you if you haven’t been to a show before.”

Gourd masks, gourd jewelry, gourd purses, gourd toys, gourd musical instruments, gourd Christmas decorations are also all here, proving that gourds are indeed a versatile fruit with a definite artsy personality.

The Festival makes for a fun outing even if you are not a gourd aficionado such as Ferguson. Activities include demos during lunch hours, food served by the Azan Shrine kitchen, gourd growers and supply vendors, a gourd competition area, a make-and-take area for the kids and silent auction.

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Outside the building is Growers’ Row where visitors can pick out several gourds to take home to fashion their own gourdy art.

“We have growers from Georgia, South Carolina, Arkansas and Kentucky, as well as Florida home grown,” said Ferguson.

Florida’s Lambda Chapter of the American Gourd Society is one of 23 state chapters in the U.S. with the common goal of enjoying and promoting gourding as a hobby and art form. The Sunshine State is home to five “patches,” as local gourd groups call themselves, and one of them is here in Brevard. The local patch meets from 9 a.m. until noon the first Saturday of the month at Eau Gallie Public Library.

If you go

Gourd Arts Festival

Where: Azan Shrine Center, 1591 W. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23 and 24, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25

Admission: Free, but activities have additional costs

Website: flgourdsoc.org

Whether you're interested in music, theater, festivals or other local entertainment, FLORIDA TODAY has got you covered. Support local journalism by subscribing at Special Offers - USAToday Network.

Northrop Grumman officials are planning an expansion at the company's campus at Melbourne Orlando International Airport, where more than 5,000 employees work on an array of high-tech programs — including the U.S. Air Force's B-21 Raider long-range nuclear stealth bomber.

And America's first B-21 Raiders have entered low-rate initial production in Palmdale, California, after the first futuristic aircraft made its historic inaugural flight in November.

Northrop Grumman is exercising a lease option on 15.3 acres of airport-owned land along NASA Boulevard, stretching between the aerospace giant's campus and Satcom Direct, Melbourne Airport Authority records show. A Northrop Grumman spokesperson declined to divulge details on the upcoming expansion.

“They’re moving very quickly. We’ve already had meetings with them about the pre-planning process," Mark Busalacchi, airport director of business development, said during the Jan. 24 MAA meeting.

"I would expect you’ll see construction starting within six months," Busalacchi said.

Key lease terms for the 15.3-acre parcel:

All told, airport officials estimate the ground lease will generate about $7.5 million, not including CPI adjustments.

Greg Donovan, airport executive director, labeled Northrop Grumman's pending expansion "a very big win for us" during the Jan. 24 meeting. He also told board members, "a lot of questions are going to come up when you see the construction itself."

"It's a very sizable property. We're very pleased that Northrop Grumman continues to build their very successful operation here, and expand on that," Donovan said.

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Northrop Grumman's lease option dates to the Project Magellan transaction documents. In May 2014, FLORIDA TODAY broke the news that Project Magellan was the aerospace giant's bid to invest $500 million in new facilities and develop the Air Force's new stealth bomber.

Melbourne City Hall officials estimate Project Magellan added more than 2,000 jobs. Teams at Northrop Grumman's airport campus also work on the U.S. Navy's E-2D Advanced Hawkeye and Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) programs and the Air Force's Joint STARS program.

Thus far, Northrop Grumman has yet to submit plans detailing new buildings with Melbourne's community development department, said Cheryl Mall, city spokesperson. No information has been released on which programs will be impacted by the expansion.

During an October interview, Janice Zilch, Northrop Grumman vice president of multi-domain command and control, told FLORIDA TODAY the number of buildings at the Melbourne campus jumped from six to 17 between 2016 and 2022.

In a statement, Northrop Grumman officials said the B-21 Raider has entered low-rate initial production in California.

"Our team received the contract award after B-21 entered flight testing within the program baseline schedule. Our production representative test aircraft indicated readiness for production, achieving all flight performance and data requirements," the statement said.

"As the world’s first six-generation aircraft, B-21 forms the backbone of the future for U.S. air power, delivering a new era of capability and flexibility through advanced integration of data, sensors and weapons, and is rapidly upgradable to outpace evolving threats," the statement said.

Since winning the B-21 Raider contract award in 2015, Northrop Grumman assembled a nationwide team of more than 8,000 workers with more than 400 suppliers across 40 states to design, test and build the stealth bomber, according to a company fact sheet.

Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY (for more of his stories, click here.) Contact Neale at 321-242-3638 or rneale@floridatoday.com. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

If your tap water comes from the city of Melbourne, you might already have noticed it tastes a tad like a swimming pool.

Beginning Monday and continuing through Jan. 29, Melbourne water customers may notice a chlorine odor in their tap water. Water officials say it's still safe to drink.

Why is it happening?

The city typically treats the drinking water with chloramine formed from the combination of free chlorine and ammonia. But this month, the city is using free chlorine without any ammonia. That periodic chlorine boost provides more protection against microorganisms and helps ensure the water is safe.

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Is my water any less safe?

This month's change in water chemistry "will not affect the safety of water for drinking," city officials said in a press release.

“During this temporary period, customers may notice a chlorine taste or odor in their tap water,” Acting Public Works and Utilities Director Jennifer Spagnoli, said in the release. “These temporary conditions will not cause adverse health effects. The water will remain safe for drinking and other uses.”

Chlorine boost affecting customers in South Brevard

But should those on kidney dialysis take special precautions?

Yes. During the first and last week of this three-week period, as the water in the distribution system transitions from chloramine to free chlorine and then back, customers who use kidney dialysis machines should be aware that their water may contain chlorine, ammonia and/or a mixture of the two.

During the middle week, the water should contain free chlorine only.

What do I do if on dialysis or I own fish?

Fish owners, stores and restaurants with fish aquariums and holding tanks for fish and shellfish, along with hospitals, blood/dialysis clinics, or users of home dialysis equipment, may need to take action to maintain appropriate water quality.

These users are encouraged to contact an appropriate professional for guidance on how to use the equipment during this period. The temporary change in treatment may have adverse effects on dialysis machines and may be harmful to fish and aquatic mammals if not properly addressed.

What about everybody else?

No precautions are needed. You do not need to boil your water, buy bottled water or special filters. But if you are sensitive to the taste or smell of chlorine, you can collect water in a container and put it in your refrigerator for a few hours. This will allow much of the chlorine to dissipate.

Why do utilities use chloramines?

Chloramines are thought to result in fewer harmful byproducts. In Brevard, groups of disinfection byproducts called trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids periodically exceed federal long-term limits. The byproducts form when disinfecting chemicals such as chlorine react with organic matter in the water and are associated with increased lifetime risk of certain cancers.

Utilities use chloramines because it's cheaper than reverse-osmosis, ozone or ultraviolet light treatment.

Where else are there chloramines?

Different chloramines not usually associated with drinking water form in and around indoor swimming pools, which cause skin, eye, and respiratory problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The type of chloramine used in drinking water is called monochloramine. It's mixed into water at levels that kill germs but are still considered safe to drink, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Where does the drinking water come from?

Lake Washington provides two-thirds of the 19 million gallons of daily water the city of Melbourne supplies to 193,000 people. The other third comes from wells.

Who gets their drinking water from Melbourne?

Those who live within about a 100-square-mile service area that includes Melbourne, Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Melbourne Beach, Melbourne Village, Palm Shores, Satellite Beach, West Melbourne and unincorporated Brevard County south of the Pineda Causeway.

Where can I get more information?

Call 321-608-5700 or visit the city's Frequently Asked Questions Page.

#MelbourneFlorida rules. Literally.

In a list of the “most Instagrammable” cities in Florida, the Harbor City named after its counterpart in Australia ranked No. 12.

A study from vacation rental marketplace Florida Rentals found the most "Instagrammable" cities here, with the top city seeing more than 5 million hashtags (see below). Experts analyzed the number of Instagram hashtags for 400 of Florida’s municipalities. They combined hashtags for "[place]FL" and "[place]Florida" that were used for each Florida destination to determine and rank the most Instagrammed destinations in Florida.

Together, #MelbourneFL and #MelbourneFlorida totaled 498,254 hashtags, the study found.

“Florida is generally a visually appealing and photogenic state, making its destinations the perfect backdrop for Instagram photos and other social media posts," a spokesperson for Florida Rentals said in a study press release.

Find examples of Instagram-worthy pics of Melbourne below and see how it fares against the other "most Instagrammable" cities in Florida.

What is the most 'Instagrammable' city in Florida?

Orlando took home the crown as the most Instagrammed destination across the state, with an average total of 5,423,004 hashtags.

"Orlando is home to some iconic, and Instagram-worthy attractions, including Mills 50, adjacent to downtown Orlando, which has the most murals of any neighborhood across the city," organizers of the study wrote.

Orlando also is the home to several world famous theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and some beautiful beaches including Daytona Beach and Clearwater Beach.

What do the Top 5 ‘most Instagrammable’ cities in Florida look like?

The study highlighted the top five cities and their statistics. Outside of Orlando's top spot:

What are the Top 20 most 'Instagrammable' cities in Florida?

The most posted about cities in Florida are:

What is the least 'Instagrammable' city in Florida?

The data reveals the least posted about destination in the state is Belleair Shore, located south of Tampa in Pinellas County. The study found it only has 4 hashtags.

The quiet, laidback beach community has a population of roughly 109 people on it. It has about 55 private homes on it, making it one of the smallest communities in the state.

Why are Florida cities the perfect background for selfies and candid photography?

In a press release, a spokesperson with Florida Rentals explained why everyone, from tourists to locals, are eager to post their Florida pride: The Sunshine State’s vast coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, boasting some of the most beautiful, scenic beaches in the country.

Locally, Brevard County has 72 miles of ocean coast, not counting some of the beautiful views along its rivers.

"Florida's tropical and subtropical climate means people can enjoy warm and pleasant weather throughout majority of the year — and, of course, sunny weather is great for Instagram photos," the release states. “Whether it's due to its stunning natural scenery, vibrant beaches, beautiful architecture, or quirky food and drink hubs, Florida’s strong aesthetic appeal makes it one of the best spots for capturing that Insta-worthy snap.”

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

New location celebrates grand opening and offers improved convenience for Florida Space Coast patients

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Trulieve Cannabis Corp. (CSE: TRUL) (OTCQX: TCNNF) ("Trulieve" or "the Company"), a leading and top-performing cannabis company in the United States, announced the relocation of a medical cannabis dispensary in Melbourne, Florida.

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The new location at 1921 Alma Drive, less than one mile from Interstate 95, offers greater convenience to patients in southern Brevard County. Trulieve will host a grand opening celebration at the new location beginning at 9 a.m., Friday, October 20, with partner giveaways, music, specials, discounts, and opportunities to register for upcoming patient education sessions.

"We are committed to finding the most convenient locations to best serve our Florida patients," said Trulieve's Chief Executive Officer Kim Rivers. "This relocation improves our ability to offer our broad assortment of products and first-class customer service to the Melbourne community."

The new Melbourne location will be open 9 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Sundays. Trulieve offers statewide home delivery, convenient online ordering, and in-store pickup. Veterans receive 20% off every order when they show their military ID, and all first-time guests are eligible for a 60% new customer discount at any Florida Trulieve location.

Designed to meet every customer's needs, Trulieve's portfolio of popular in-house brands includes Alchemy, Co2lors, Cultivar Collection, Modern Flower, Momenta, Muse, Roll One, Sweet Talk and Trekkers. Customers also have access to beloved partner brands such as Alien Labs, Binske, Black Tuna, Blue River, Connected Cannabis, DeLisioso, Khalifa Kush, Love's Oven, Miami Mango, O.pen, Seed Junky and Sunshine Cannabis, all available exclusively at Trulieve in Florida.

For more information, or to learn how to become a registered patient, please visit Trulieve.com and connect on Instagram or Facebook.

About TrulieveTrulieve is an industry leading, vertically integrated cannabis company and multi-state operator in the U.S., with established hubs in the Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest, anchored by leading market positions in Arizona, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Trulieve is poised for accelerated growth and expansion, building scale in retail and distribution in new and existing markets through its hub strategy. By providing innovative, high-quality products across its brand portfolio, Trulieve delivers optimal customer experiences and increases access to cannabis, helping patients and customers to live without limits. Trulieve is listed on the CSE under the symbol TRUL and trades on the OTCQX market under the symbol TCNNF. For more information, please visit Trulieve.com.

Facebook: @TrulieveInstagram: @TrulieveTwitter: @Trulieve

Investor Contact Christine Hersey, Vice President of Investor Relations+1 (424) 202-0210 Christine.Hersey@Trulieve.com

Media ContactPhil Buck, APR, Corporate Communications Manager +1 (406) 370-6226 Philip.Buck@Trulieve.com

SOURCE Trulieve Cannabis Corp.