For the past l2 years, local community organizers have made a dream come true for children and youth from Gifford and other underserved areas in Indian River County. Backpacks filled with new school supplies have been given to children to help prepare them for school and create a positive new beginning to their school year. Previously held at the Gifford Community Center, this year’s “Back to School” drive will be held at the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office due to the need for more space. The event will take place at 4055 41st Street, Vero Beach on Saturday, July 3l from l0:00 a.m. to l2:00 p.m. County Commissioner Joe Flesher will open the event introducing Freddie Woolfork of the Gifford Youth Activities Center. The l2th Annual “Back to School” is being coordinated by the Gifford Youth Activity Center, River Fund/Feed Everyone, By the River, the Indian River County Sheriff’s Department and the Visiting Nurse Association. Festivities include booths for activities and product samples, healthy food and snacks, music, face painting and a fitness program called ZumbaWorks.

 
All donations are accepted and appreciated. Requested items include paper, tablets, pencils, pens, 3-ring binders, erasers, folders with pockets and monetary contributions. 2010 distribution of backpacks will go to grades: K-2 (300), 3-5 (200), 6-9 (250) and grades l0-l2 (50 backpacks). “Back to School” is a highlight of every student’s school year, complete with surprises and much needed new school supplies.
 
“It will be a great day with music, food and face painting and that very special feeling all of us remember when opening a brand new box of crayons, a new backpack and the start of a new school year,” said Ananda Devi, The River Fund’s Feed Everyone Program Director.
Individuals and business may donate supplies at the following drop off locations:

– Let’s Fill 800 Children’s Backpacks with New School Supplies –
 
            Gifford Youth Activity Center
            Indian River County Sheriff’s Office
            Indian River County North and South County Libraries
            Gifford Church
            Living Lord Lutheran Church
            Westminster Presbyterian Church
            Comcast Vero Beach
            Eye Clinic of Vero Beach (Miracle Mile)
            Christ by the Sea
            Curves in Sebastian
 
Freddie Woolfork, development director at the Gifford Youth Activity Center said this is not only about distributing supplies, but also providing information about community services and encouraging literacy. “Everyone comes together to help kids in our area. Parents want to give their kids the best and that’s not always possible. We hope the kids are happy, the parents are happy and that the event is fantastic.” 
 
For more information or to donate, please contact Ms. Ananda Devi at 772-589-8334.

Popularity: 3% [?]

What: Vero Beach’s 2010 Biggest Loser Challenge is a 12 week competition geared for weight loss.

When: This program will begin on September 1st 2010 and end on November 24th.

How: Fill out our application located here on the message boards, email the event coordinator, or you may find them at many locations around Vero Beach. Once your application is processed and accepted you will receive an answer within 3 business days.

Fees: If accepted, program registration costs $10 a week for a single member, due at least 2 weeks in advance. Each additional family member is another $5 per week.

Registration fees will be used to provide you with a full nutrition and exercise program tailored to your needs and life, as well as the cost of operation and prizes.

Required Participation: The only participation that is required is a private weigh-in at a set time and place each week. Chances are if you want to win, the bare minimum won’t cut it. In addition to the weigh-in we will offer many more opportunities throughout the weeks for support. There will be a support group meeting each week to discuss diet concerns, new goals, triumphs, tips & tricks, or stumbles. That’s not all. Many other days of the week there will be exercise group meet-ups at any one of the local parks and recreation complexes.

Prizes: Each week there will be a unique challenge that offers a prize related to your healthy life efforts. That is 12 weekly prizes for participation and performance, and the grand prize for more weight lost is estimated $1000.

Event website: VBBLChallenge.webs.com.

Nicole Pierce – Program Coordinator

Popularity: 3% [?]

The Veteran’s Council of Indian River County celebrated Memorial Day as well as paid tribute to all of the men and women that have died while defending the United States of America and its allies abroad with Master of Ceremonies, Lt. Col. Eric “Rip” Wieler, USMC (Ret.).

During the ceremony a moment of silence and the placing of the wreath at the marker of Petty Officer 2nd class, Ronald Scott Owens, a Vero Beach resident who was killed in the attack on the destroyer USS Cole. Owens was also a posthumous recipient of the Purple Heart. Placement of the wreath was carried out by SSG Jack Main, US Army & Sgt. Brian Wright, USMC.

“Seventeen people died and 39 were injured in an attack on the American guided missile destroyer, USS Cole, in Aden harbor, Yemen, on October 12, 2000.” The attack had been orchestrated by Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaida network.

Some other featured events included the invocation by Charlie Cox, U.S. Navy CB’s who is the oldest living veteran in Vero Beach, Florida at the ripe old age of 100.

Patriotic Medley – Vero Beach High School Band, Band Directors, James Sammons & Page Howell

Bag Pipes – Michael Hyde, USMM

Special Music – Dolores mark Chambers, vocalist

Keynote Address – Col. Martin Zickert, USAF (Ret.)

21 Gun Salute and Taps – VFW Post 3918 Honor Guard

Benediction – Capt. Richard Flick, USN (Ret.)

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Vero Beach, Florida – Vero Beach High School, Class of 1990 has set a date
for their 20th reunion. Festivities will take place this summer, the weekend of July 9 th. Due to budget constraints, formal invitations will not be sent out. Organizers are hoping to spread the word via press release, word of mouth and various social networking sites. Immediate action is necessary if alumni want to attend.

Following are the details for the reunion:

Friday, July 9th – Old School Memorial Drive Thru, followed by cocktails at Waldo’s Restaurant at The Driftwood, 3150 Ocean Drive.

Saturday, July 10th – Family Bar-B-Q at Jaycee Park beginning at 10:30 a.m., 4200 Ocean Drive.

Saturday, July 10th – Reunion Dinner at The Moorings Club from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m., 100 Harbour Drive

Cost for the reunion is $65 per person or $130 per couple. Checks are immediately needed in order to keep our reservations at The Moorings. Checks can be made out to: VBHS Class of ‘90 reunion.

Contact information:
Robb Falana VBHS1990@gmail.com
VBHS Class of ‘90 Reunion
c/o Melissa Sinni
2026 Alta Meadows Lane #905
Delray Beach, Florida 33444

Popularity: 1% [?]

Charter High Students to Perform at By the River Affordable Living Community for Low-Income Seniors

-Public Is Invited to Attend-

On March 21, 2010, Indian River Charter High School’s Performing Arts Department is taking their production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat on the road. The performance officially opens April 1st and runs through April 3rd at The Theater Guild in Vero Beach but the cast of Joseph is taking two of the more popular numbers, Any Dream Will Do and Song of the King, to the residents and guests of By The River. The public is invited to attend the performance at 2:00 p.m. at By the River, located at 11070 Ganga Way off Roseland Road in Sebastian. Guests may also take a tour of this new affordable, independent residential community for 41 low-income, frail seniors ages 62 and over.

“When I was acting full time, I would often perform at senior living homes because, as a performer, you cannot find a more receptive audience,” said Michael Naffziger, Director of Theatre for IRCH. This ‘preview performance’ will allow the students to test out their ’stage legs,’ start a buzz about the show, and most importantly, provide fun and engaging entertainment for the residents of By The River.”

By the River offers a full spectrum of programs designed to keep seniors active and engaged in life, including intergenerational activities, volunteer opportunities, art and music classes, health lectures, fitness plans, yoga and day trips. Area seniors are welcomed to attend many of the programs offered.

For more information or directions to By the River, please call 772-388-5858 or visit www.ByTheRiver.org

Popularity: 1% [?]

As the 5th annual Florida Supercon grows closer, dozens of exciting new guests have been added from the worlds of Comic Books, Anime, Animation, Sci-Fi, Video Games, Horror, Comedy and more! In addition to the exciting new guests that have been added, a new website has been launched to support the event. The new website can be viewed at www.supercon.tv

Florida Supercon (FSC) returns to Miami for its 5th year as it takes over the entire Doubletree Miami Mart Airport Hotel and Convention Center. South Florida’s Comic Book, Anime, Animation, Video Game and Sci-Fi / Fantasy Festival is set for Friday, June 18 through Sunday, June 20, 2010. The 5th FSC will be the largest yet, with almost 150,000 square feet of event space, plus more guest celebrities and artists than ever before!

Florida Supercon is a three day festival that includes celebrity guests, comic book publishers, artists, writers, vendors, Q&A’s, parties, costume contests, anime programming, cosplay, panels, photo shoots, live music, video games and more. The event kicks off at 12:00PM, Friday, June 18 and the fun continues almost around the clock until 6:00PM, Sunday, June 20.

Over 80 guests have already been announced for FSC 2010, and that number continues to grow every week. Some of the guests already lined up for FSC 2010 include:

Comic Book artists and writers such as Ariel Olivetti, Bill Sienkiewicz, Khoi Pham, Rafa Sandoval, Dennis Calero, Brad Walker, Paul Gulacy, Fred Van Lente, Filip Sablik, Georges Jeanty, Dick Giordano, Dustin Weaver, Steve Kurth, Shawn Crystal, Joe Jusko, Allen Bellman, Clayton Henry, Derec Donovan, Alex Saviuk, Pat Broderick, Rob Hunter, Greg “Dark One” Williams, Vinnie Tartamella, Dick Kulpa and more!

Anime and Animation voice actors like Troy Baker (Naruto, Code Geass), Richard Horvitz (Invader Zim), Larry Kenney (Thundercats), Brittney Karbowski (Xenosaga, Pani Poni Dash), Dana Snyder (Aqua Teen), Charles Fleischer (Roger Rabbit), Brad Kesten (Charlie Brown), Angela Lee-Sloan (Lucy in Peanuts), Stacy H. Tolkin (Sally in Peanuts) and more!

Legendary Filmmakers Lloyd Kaufman and Hershell Gordon Lewis.

Movie and TV Celebrities such as Tia Carrere (Wayne’s World, Relic Hunter), John Wesley Shipp (The Flash), Charles Fleischer (Back to the Future II), Julie McCullough (Growing Pains, The Blob), Louise Robey (Friday the 13th the series), Rebecca Staab (Fantastic Four), Michelle Lintel (The Black Scorpion), Sinn “Kizarny” Bodhi (WWE) and more!

Musical Guests like MC Frontalot, Robbed By A Flute, Sci-Fried, The Pursuit, Murderous Rampage and more!

Cosplay and Entertainment Guests such as the 3000 Brigade (Smash Bros. Show), Supercon Championship Wrestling, Wasabi Anime, Outland Armour and more!

Stand Up Comedy Guests like Lisa Corrao, The Revenge of the Nerds Comedy Show, Julie McCullough and more!

Additional guests can be found at on the Florida Supercon website at * www.supercon.tv *

This years FSC will have dedicated programming tracks for each of the genre’s being celebrated. Some of the amazing events include:

Popularity: 1% [?]