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A Free bi-monthly publication about Historic Cocoa Village and surrounding area. Historic CocoaVillage is located in downtown Cocoa, Florida, minutes from Cocoa Beach and the Kennedy Space Center, and

less than an hour east of Orlando Florida. Published by Cocoa Village Publishing, Inc. © 2006 and sponsored byadvertising. On the Internet at www.cocoavillage.com/cvnews

November - December 2006

Art Vue Owners Visit Hollywood Vintage Collectibles

Foster Parents Needed in Brevard County

In The Village

as Oprah, Patricia Neal, Rue McClanahan, Barbara Eden

Larry Hagman, Kirk Douglas. One of his portraits of Patricia

Neal is on the back jacket of her book

An Unquiet Life. He’s published a book

Duke of Sicily and had his own silver

jewelry store before getting his doctor’s

degree in dentistry. Nicolosi lives by an

old Italian saying; If you stay focused and

keep your eye on one project through its

completion without being sidetracked,

success is sure to greet you.

Jan said “we had a great group at the

Emmy’s. Nic’s publicist, a photographer

and foundation member were all there.

We also had a personal assistant and limo

driver. We were like one big family and

everyone was just thrilled at Nicolosi and

his works. “We were invited to Spago

the night before the Emmys. That’s where

we met many of the nominees like Tony Shalhoub (MONK),

Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni (Law and Or-

der). Everyone was so nice and down to earth. We had

great conversations with everyone. Barbara Eden was one

of my favorites. She’s such a gracious lady.” Jan added.

The day of the Emmys was what’s known in the business

as a ‘hurry up and wait’. Jan explained, “Our

limo picked us up a little after noon and

Art Vue Galerie´, owned by Clark and Jan Moody were

thrilled when their gallery was the recipient of the Cocoa

Beach Area Chamber of

Commerce Business of

the Year award. Now,

the gallery is branching

out going to Hollywood!

Jan Moody, just re-

turned from Hollywood,

California after attend-

ing the Emmy Awards,

representing one of Art

Vue’s artists “Nicolosi”.

Nicolosi has been con-

tracted by Entertainment

Tonight (ET) and Para-

mount Studios to create

the portraits of nominees

from nine upcoming

award shows. Nicolosi, who has been in the gallery for sev-

eral years asked Jan to represent him while he concentrates

on his work for the award shows. The first stop was the

Emmys.

Nicolosi sold his dental practice in 1999 to pursue his heart’s

passion - his art. His paintings are reminiscent of Andy Warhol

with rich, warm colors and bold strokes. He’s known as the

‘celebrity pop-artist’ after creating portraits for celebs such

Antique Christmas ornaments can add an Old World or vin-

tage charm to your holiday decorating. Start a collection of

antique ornaments or even the ever growing popular 50’s

or- naments and look for pieces

throughout the year. This

way, you can bring Christ-

mas into your home all

year long!

I have always loved

Christmas and all the deco-

rations, but my vast collec-

tion started the year I married

my husband back in 1982. His

mother had given him the an-

tique ornaments from there

German side of the family.

These tiny glass houses and pi-

necones fascinated me totally. They

were so delicate and fragile. Since

then I have added hundreds to our

collection.

And as my husband will say my over whelming love of

vintage Santas is a little ridiculous have Santas from one

inch to 6ft tall and moveable. I have a full attic which over

one third is dedicated to housing my Christmas collection. I

no longer pull it all out. I leave some year round

in my antique shop in Cocoa Village called

Last issue’s photograph is

a parade marching west on

Harrison Street with the

well remembered Rubin’s

Brothers shop and it’s

signage on the right of the

picture. The photographs

for the last issue and this issue were found as copies in the archives of the Florida

Historical Society. The quality of the two images were less than other archive photo-

graphs that are original, but the content is interesting because it shows views of down-

town Cocoa around the 1930’s for the prade and the 20’s for the Indian River Garage?

For this issue, we would be curious about any stories about the building that was the

Indian River Garage, later another well remembered clothing store, and now the restaurant Ossorio. Email us at cvnews@coocoavillage.com or call 321-633-4990 with informaion, and

also if you have an interesting photograph related to downtown Cocoa that we we can use. For your viewing we have over thirty-three interesting mystery photographs available with

high resolution download on the Internet, www.cocoavillage.com/mysteryphotos. We also have a gallery with recent recent photographs at www.cocoavillage.com/gallery

There’s a new addition to the shops in Cocoa Village.

SnickerPoodles Bakery and Boutique for Dogs

is now open at 115 Maryland Ave. (across from

Murdock’s). Their phone number is (321) 634-

5050. They specialize in gourmet dog treats and

dog food, as well as any accessory, toy, or must

have that any dog might need. Next time you

take your dog for a stroll stop by and see Carole

and Valerie. The store is open until 7:00pm

weeknights, until 6:00pm Saturdays, and Noon

– 6:00pm on Sundays. Brings your dogs!

Also new to the Village is The Village Tobaccoria, located

nearly one in four foster children may be placed in out-of

county care facilities. The Child Care Association of

Brevard County, Inc. in partnership with Commu-

nity Based Care of Brevard County, Inc. has a

countywide Foster Care Recruitment Campaign.

If you are single or married and considering

becoming a foster care parent, please contact our

foster care recruiters Linda Marshall at (321) 504-

2047 or Melanie Jackson at (321) 634-3500for ad-

ditional information. “Be a star in a child’s

life…become a Foster Parent!”

Sadly, many of these children also have “wounded

souls”, due to heartless and abusive circum-

stances beyond their control.

There are approximately 300 children in

Brevard County that are in foster care due

to abuse, neglect or abandonment, but

there are only 179 licensed foster

homes available. Unfortunately, not

all licensed foster homes are accept-

ing children. Due to the lack of available fos-

ter homes,

According to the Florida Department of

Children and Families, there are thou-

sands of children who are unable to live

in their homes, because an adult or fam-

ily member has either abused or ne-

glected them. Unfortunately, these con-

ditions make it unsafe for children to live at home or even

sleep in their own beds. These children in crisis are new-

borns, toddlers, school age, and teenagers. They are

from all races, nationalities and income levels. Some

have medical or behavior problems and disabilities.

September - October 2006 Mystery Photo

Jan Moody and Nicolosi

November - December 2006 Mystery Photo

Village Cappuccino, located at 407 Brevard Ave. will present

Hot Cocoa Holidays December 15 – 17. The show will fea-

ture sizzling Christmas songs and mellow memorable mu-

sic. All tickets include the drink and dessert bar. Call Vil-

lage Cappuccino at (321) 632-5695 for show times and ticket

prices.

Starting in January 19, 2007, the Historic Cocoa Village

Association (HCVA) will begin a monthly event called Fri-

day Fun Fest. This event will be a themed event that will

feature family fun including entertainment. See the website

page www.cocoavillage.com/events for details or call Lorena

at (321) 631-9075.

at 10 Stone Street across from the gazebo. The Village

Tobaccoria offers cigars, ciga-

rettes, tobacco pipes, pipe to-

bacco, cigar cutters and punches,

lighters, ashtrays, personal humi-

dors, newspapers, magazines, bat-

teries, sodas, bottled water,

snacks, mints, and a Community

Bulletin Board.

Opening soon in the Village is Is-

land Escape Massage and Day

Spa at 412 Brevard Ave. (next door to Space Coat Crafters)

Mystery

Photo

November - December 2006Cocoa Village page 2

Hokey Pokey atThe Bath Cottage

How To Select a Day Spa “I would like to have my skin evaluated and start a skin

care routine, but where do I go?” The day spa business has

changed a great deal over the past 10 years. Remember the

“old days” when we went to a General Practitioner for al-

most all of our medical care? Now there are specialists in

every field of medicine. This is a good thing, but you have

to know which specialist to choose, so many times you go

back to your GP to evaluate your condition and send you to

the correct doctor.

The spa industry has diversified into

“ m e d i c a l spas”, “clinical spas”, “day spas”,

“therapeu- tic/wellness spas”, “destination

s p a s ” , “relaxations spas”, variations of,

a n d combinations of these.

Medical spas are by law under

the umbrella of a physi-

cian although the physi-

cian is not always

present at the facility.

They employ

the use of

Class II

med ica l

d e v i s e s

which are

invasive

and in-

clude laser

t r e a t m e n t

units, injectable

Botox and collagen, and intense light pulsed therapy. All of

these treatments are more expensive and generally require

repeated visits to maintain results. Many dermatologists and

plastic surgeons are distancing themselves from the term

“medical spa” unless they have actual spa facilities prefer-

ring to use terms such as “skin rejuvenation and laser cen-

ter.”

Clinical spas are businesses with no “frills”. They offer

skin care in a more clinical type setting, like doctors office;

no herbal tea offerings, wine or spring water and cozy atmo-

sphere. They employ the use of Class I devices that are non-

invasive; Microdermabrasion, LED light and elec-

trolysis, but generally are not the “pam-

pering” type of spa and not really re-

laxing. Multiple visits are needed to

see improvement and maintenance vis-

its are required.

Day spas are generally

stand alone facilities that

don’t include hair and

nail services although

many day spas have

these services near by.

They include a variety of thera-

peutic and relaxing treatments that can

include the entire body; massage, hot stone therapy,

wraps and foot treatments. They also focus on skincare for

Rosacea, aging, dehydrated, congested and clogged skin and

many use Class I devices on a more limited basis. You will

develop a relationship with your skin care specialist and will

only see this person for your care. They may also have holis-

tic information for Fibromyalgia and Candida patients.

Therapeutic/wellness spas employ the use of hydro-

therapy, Vichy showers, Ayurveda and more European, In-

dian and Asian treatments. They focus on mental and whole

body relaxation and a holistic approach to skin care.

Destination spas are in the hotels and resorts you find on

vacation. They are generally for relaxation and patrons should

only have non-invasion treatments as the skin care special-

ists there will not be seeing you on a regular basis. They

usually include hair and nail services along with massage.

Relaxation spas, in my opinion, are large facilities that

include every service under one roof; hair and nails, mas-

sage, body wraps and skincare and have a local following.

There is generally a larger turnover of personnel at these

spas and you may not see the same skin care specialist each

time unless you request them.

The determination of what facility you choose is based

on how you perceive your general skin condition,

what you are looking to improve and real-

istic expectations. Be certain that

your esthetician is knowledgeable

and caring and that you can trust

that person with your face; that they

have an excellent but reasonably

priced skin care product line. Skin care

should be a life long endeavor but for

most of us it doesn’t concern us until we

look in the mirror and wonder where all the

spots and wrinkles came from.

I am Victoria Taylor of Victoria’s Skin Renue’ Spa

here in the Village at 638 Brevard Ave. I have been in busi-

ness 3 years. My spa falls in the day spa category. If you

have any questions or would like to make an appointment,

please call me at 543-8571. (FB9716005)

The Bath Cottage in Cocoa Village is pleased to announce

the arrival of the newest fun dress up from Acting Out -

The Hokey Pokey Skirt. The Musical Hokey Pokey Skirt

is the recipient of the 2007 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio plati-

num award. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio is the only indepen-

dent guide to children’s media. Co-founded in 1989 by child

development experts Joanne and Stephanie Oppenheim.

Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Awards are given to

outstanding new products that enhance the play lives of

children.

Acting Out’s Musical

Hokey Pokey is

fun for the entire

family. Dancing

fun...that’s what

it’s all about!!!

This inter-

active dance

song has been

a favorite since

the 1940's. The Mu- sical Hokey

Pokey skirt is available in two styles. One

style is pink satin covered with colorful polka dots. The

second layer is purple crinoline for a full skirt, lined in hot

pink satin for itch free play. The second style is purple and

hot pink tulle with a polka dotted ribbon sewn through,

lined with satin for itch free wear. One size fits most three

to six year olds. Three AAA batteries included.

The Bath Cottage carries a great selection of musical skirts

and dresses as well as light up boas from this innovative

and fun company, Acting Out.

The Bath Cottage is open seven days a week, Monday

through Saturday 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM and Sundays

noon until 5:00 PM. The Bath Cottage is located at 425

Brevard Ave. in the heart of Historic Cocoa Village, 321/

690-BATH (2284).

November - December 2006Cocoa Village page 3Best Kept Secret

Ghost Tours Continue Vintage Collectibles cont. from pg. 1

Just this week a new customer came into Sonshine

Crafts…and exclaimed!! This store is the “best kept se-

cret” in Brevard County. Now, what did she mean by this?

Well let me

tell you -

S o n s h i n e

Crafts has

one of the

largest se-

lections of

“ u n u s u a l

and unique”

scrap book-

ing and

s t a m p i n g

supplies in

stock. Julie has been involved in the craft industry for over

30 years, and therefore has a large inventory of suppliers

to pull from.

Visit the website www.SonshineCraft.com and take ad-

vantage of the online catalogue. We are featuring special-

ized items that are not readily found in your mainline craft

stores, such as glossy cardstock,

rainbow inks, Moonglow Powders,

and a lot more.

One of the most informational

websites on the internet, for the

stamper and scrap bookers alike is

www.SugarloafProducts.com. They

have numerous instructional videos

and GREAT prices on all of their

stamps, markers, stamp pads, re-

inkers etc. For example: a set of 36

watercolor markers retail (on the

Sonshine Craft website) for $45.00. A set of 10 watercolor

markers by a different manufacturer retail for $28.00. That

is only one of the many values found at the Sugarloaf Prod-

ucts website, and guess what - you can find them all at

Sonshine Crafts in Cocoa, Florida, or on their website

www.SonshineCraft.com

The card making classes taught at Sonshine Crafts are

widely varied, and beginner scrap bookers and stampers are

welcomed in all the classes. A lot of the techniques taught

are ones that Julie has developed over

the years, mainly as spin-offs from

some of the expensive crafting tech-

niques widely known on the market.

Sonshine Crafts has a unique concept:

“Schedule Your Own Classes”. With

the busy schedules of today you may

have one 2 hour slot of time that you

would like to take a class. Look at the

many classes listed on the website -

call Julie at 321-633-7315 to see if

someone else has already booked that

timeslot. If the day and time are open - she will be happy to

teach you on a one to one basis the desired class you choose.

Remember you can purchase gift certificates for the crafter

on your holiday list. Gift certificates can be redeemed for

merchandise or for classes.

Visit the website www.sonshinecraft.com and sign up for

the weekly emails that contain specials, discount coupons,

and closeout prices. JOIN THE FUN!

Ghost hunters have been prowling the village each week-

end with the Village Ghost Tour since Sep- tember

first. The tour guests take a lei-

surely stroll through the village

hearing the unex-

plained episodes of

ghosts and supernatu-

ral mixed with a sprin-

kling of history and then con-

verge on Almost Antiques to

detect any ghostly activity

with energy detecting

meters.

“Our first tours have been fantastic,” said

Vickie Sagendorf, one of the co-owners of the tour.

“We couldn’t be hap- pier with the reactions of our tour

guests. They have been ecstatic with the stories and the per-

sonal attention we give them. One of them emailed the Co-

coa Village paper with her praise for our tour.”

“We are also very pleased with the response of the mer-

chants in the village. They have been very supportive. They

have contributed their stories and have made us feel most

welcome. Several have asked to be put on the tour. We want

to extend an open invitation to all the merchants to contact

us with your stories and we would be glad to put you on the

tour,” said Sherrie Hosmer, the other co-owner of the tour.

“One of the interesting aspects of the village that we have

learned since starting the tour is that Cocoa Village resides

in harmony with any kind of supernatural. There is a great

respect in the village for the unexplained. The village has a

natural tolerance for diversity. It gives us a good

feeling to be a part of this, “said Vickie

Sagendorf.

The tours will con-

t i n u e after the Hal-

loween season.

The cost of the

tour is $10 per

adult and $5

for children

ages 5 to 10.

T h e tours are family

oriented. For more information or to make a reservation call

321-536-3951 or 321-635-9925. Visit our website

www.villageghosttour.com to learn more about the tour.

“Antiques & Collectibles Too” And boo hoo if any sells.

And for the rest I rotate it each year. Come by and see my

collection at the shop. We are open Monday – Saturday, 10am

– 5pm.

I believe the growing interest in some Christmas items has

really shot the prices to record highs. On eBay the average

vintage feather Christmas sells for about $125 per foot. And

not to long ago I saw a vintage glass fish ornament sell for

over $75. There are a wide variety of ornament types, from

German, blown-glass ornaments to papier-mâché ornaments,

from goose-feather trees to an-

tique Christmas lights. I believe

almost anyone can find something

to fit their budget. And I think there

are still some good finds to be found.

Maybe it is the fact Christmas just

brings out the kids in us, but col-

lecting it is one of my favorite

things to do. Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays - Cindy

Theilacker

November - December 2006Cocoa Village page 4 Holiday Items at Space Coast Crafters

Do Not Disturb

Art Vue Owners Visit Hollywood cont. from pg. 1

Editor’s Note If you would like to submit an article,

photos, or advertising we can be contacted by

phone at 321-633-4990 or 633-4997, or email

cvnews@cocoavillage.us. Our mailing

address is PO Box 218, Cocoa, FL. 32923-

0218. If you would like to drop informa-

tion off at our office we are located at 625

Florida Ave, inside the Almost Antiques

Mall. The deadline for the January/Febru-

ary issue is December 15th.Disclaimer: Advertisers and sources of infor-

mation agree by submitting ads or information to

indemnify and save blameless Cocoa Village

Publishing from any and all liability, loss or

expense of any nature arising from them. Cocoa

Village Publishing assumes no responsibility for

unsolicited materials. This media is distributed

with the understanding that the information

presented is from various sources, from which there

can be no warranty or responsibility by Cocoa

Village Publishing as to the legality, completeness

and accuracy, except when otherwise stated in writ-

ing. Rights to information herein remain the

property of their respective owners and may not

be reproduced without appropriate authorization.

Copyright © 2006 by Cocoa Village Publishing.

The Bath Cottage in Cocoa Village is pleased to announce

the newest addition to their fine list of pampering products,

Do Not Disturb. With Do Not Disturb you can create your

own world of relaxation. Close the door on distractions,

take time from your day, soothe, calm, and rejuvenate.

This is YOUR time.

The new in home spa relaxation products include

the Sole Warmer Kit. The kit is made up of one

pair of microwavable booties in

purple gift bag with removable “Do

Not Disturb” door hanger, 4oz. of

lavender lotion and 6 plastic

sleeves.

“These Booties Aren’t Made For

Walking” Microwave your booties for up

to one minute and say goodbye to cold

feet. Create your own world of relaxation while

experiencing your own “at-home spa” ritual. Simply massage

your feet with your favorite lotion or oil, cover with plastic

bag, slip on the warm booties, place the Do Not Disturb

door hanger on your bedroom door, and tell others this is

YOUR time.

Ideal for anyone who suffers from poor circulation, tired,

overworked or dry, rough feet. Try warming your booties

before bedtime and wake up to rejuvenated soft feet.

With the Beauty and Her Bath kit you will wash that

stress right out of your day! Slip away into bath-

ing bliss with this beauty ritual. The

kit includes lavender terry cloth

bath pillow, fortune cookie shaped

fizzy (reveals words of wisdom and

inspiration), large mesh body sponge, lavender

floating candle and 2 oz. Lavender Spa Cream.

Just add the tub, and enjoy!

Mice, cats, teddy bears, skunks and squirrels are “holding

doors” throughout Brevard County! For sale in the Space

Coast Crafters Co-op these door stoppers, from 11" to 16"

are serving a useful and decorative purpose. Linda Hoffman

created the design 25 years ago and has been busy making

them ever since. he also “hides” air fresheners in cows,

pigs, angels, cats and mice and offers them for sale. Plastic

bag holders abound in the form of cows, pigs, elephants

and bears. Another creation of Linda’s are scissor holders

and eye-glass cases. All are expertly sewed and reasonably

priced.

At this time of year she has shelf-sitting reindeer dressed

for the season as well as adorable large Christmas stock-

ings with a whimsical cat or dog theme. She is also making

beaded ornaments in a variety of shapes and

sizes. Her recent offers are CD sun catchers

in the form of birds, sea horses, fish and

flamingoes.

Linda also displays and sells at local

craft shows, including those held in

Cocoa Village. At these fairs she

shows adorable oven towels to deco-

rate any kitchen. She also offers dif-

ferent “clothes” for the door stop-

pers so you can choose your favor-

ite and/or seasonal outfit Linda

fills special orders throughout the

year. Her cards are displayed at her space

in the Co-op for your convenience.

Linda began sewing at age 10. The second oldest of 11

children, 8 girls and 3 boys, she became the designated sew-

ing teacher to younger sisters. Linda and her husband Joe

have lived in Titusville for 17 years. She has been a

Co-op member for 10 years.

There are currently 38 local crafters in the Co-

op, offering one-of-a-kind, hand-made gifts for

any occasion including Christmas. The Co-op

is located at 410 Brevard Ave. and open daily

and Sat. from 10 to 6 and Sunday 12 to 6 p.m.

Currently there is a Christmas tree in the shop

filled with hand-made ornaments you can ‘pick

right off the tree” to purchase.

“The best part of this new line is the Aromatherapy Spa

Robe,” says Jan Stewart, co-owner of The Bath Cottage.

Enjoy luxurious comfort as

you snuggle up and relax

into this very plush and ex-

ceptionally soft, micro-fi-

ber spa robe, while experi-

encing the calming, sooth-

ing benefits of pure laven-

der. Discover a secret

pouch behind the collar that

holds a silk organza sachet

full of pure, French lavender buds. The robe also comes

with the signature “Do Not Disturb” door hanger.

The Bath Cottage is open seven days a week. Located at

425 Brevard Ave. in the heart of Historic Cocoa Village,

321/690-BATH (2284).

drove us to the Shrine Auditorium where the Emmy’s were

held. At 2pm, there was a ‘lockdown’. After that, no one

was allowed in except for the celebs who started arriving

around 5:30pm. Security was extremely high. My security

clearances had been granted several weeks before. We

waited in Mary Hart’s (from ET) trailer until called back-

stage to the ET booth where all the celebs were interviewed.”

Jan continued, “We met all the nominees who attended

that night plus many of the other celebs.

“Julia Louis-Dreyfus almost dropped her

Emmy when she walked in and saw the

huge portrait Nicolosi did of her. She

screamed “Oh my God - that’s me!!” and

gave us big hugs. She loved Nic’s work.

The entire cast of “The Office” took Steve

Carrell’s portrait down and started passing

it around saying they wanted to take it

now.”

Afterwards, “Cojo” who does the fashion

commentary with Joan Rivers came up to

Jan saying he wanted

to commission

Nicolosi for a work. Jan said “I thought

he wanted a portrait of himself, but he

explained he wanted one done of his

dog, Stinky.” Nicolosi often creates

animal portraits along with architec-

tural works.

Nicolosi’s work is on exhibit at the

gallery and where he’s been a huge hit!

They just sold a John Lennon piece to

a collector from San Francisco who wanted the work as an

investment. Every time Nicolosi does another award show,

his prices go up!

Asked about future shows, Jan said she’s looking forward

to the Golden Globes, Oscar Luncheon and of course, the

grand finale, Cannes Film Festival. All of Nicolosi’s works

for the award shows are on exhibit at the Hollywood Mu-

seum and will be shipped to Cannes to be auctioned off for

AMFAR. By the time

Cannes comes

around, there will be

around 140 portraits

Nicolosi created.

Jan said, “I’m very

happy to be included

in this whirlwind and

excited to be repre-

senting Nicolosi.

He’s a great person

and it’s been wonder-

ful to see how well

he’s been received by

all these celebrities. He’s also working on art pieces for the

new Broadway show “Legally Blond”. It’s wonderful see-

ing all his sketches and preliminary drawings and just being

a part. Clark and I are just thrilled for Nic and knew he was

destined for fame.”

Art Vue Galerie´ is located at 225 SR520, Cocoa Village

and is open 10am-5pm, Monday through Saturday. For more

information, or commission a piece by Nicolosi, call 637-

2787.

Jan Moody and Barbara Eden

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Cocoa Village page 5Advertising makes this paper possible, please thank our advertisers for their support!

* Thirteen popes were named Leo, including

Leo the Great, who prevented the Huns from

sacking Rome. Six emperors of Constantinople were

also called Leo. The continuing popularity of the name

probably stems for it association with the lion, long

considered the king of beasts.

* A species of starfish known as the Linckia columbiae

can reproduce its entire body that is, grow back com-

pletely from a single severed pieces less than a half-

inch long.

* More people are killed by donkeys annually than

are killed in plane crashes.

* After his death, Alexander the Great’s remains were

preserved in a huge crock of honey. Among the an-

cient Egyptians, it was common practice to bury the

dead in this manner.

* Jupiter is the planet with the shortest day: slightly

under 10 hours. However, its years are 12 times as

long as ours.

* Pennsylvania received its nickname “The Keystone

State” because it was in the middle of the 13 original

colonies. Six are to the north and six are to the south.

* Americans eat less than one serving of fruit and only 1

1/2 servings of vegetables per day. About 45 percent reported eating no fruit in a day, and one in nine said

they didn’t eat either fruit or vegetables.

* In medieval Europe, alchemists mixed powdered gold into drinks to “comfort sore limbs,” one of the

earliest references to arthritis.

* Rhubarb is named after the Volga River. In Greek, the name of the Volga is Rha, and barb means “uncul-

tivated.” Rhubarb is thus a wild plant that grows along the Volga.

* The original American Pledge of Allegiance was published in the September 8, 1892, issue of “The

Youth’s Companion” in Boston. For years, the authorship was in dispute between James B. Upham and

Francis Bellamy of the magazine’s staff. In 1939, after studying the controversy, the United States Flag

Association decided that authorship be credited to Bellamy. Curiously, the phrase “under God” was not in

the original pledge and wasn’t added until June 14, 1954.

* Bill Gates formed a company to sell a computerized traffic counting system to cities, which made $20,000

its first year. Business dropped sharply when customers learned Gates was only 14 years old.

* Privacy invasion and the need for heightened protection is not a new problem for film stars. In the 1920s,

cinema idol Rudolph Valentino was forced to take drastic security measures because fans continually in-

vaded his home and pilfered his belongings as mementos. A 9-foot-tall stucco wall and huge flood lights

were erected at his Benedict Canyon mansion to keep female fans out. Additionally, three Great Danes, two

Italian mastiffs, and one Spanish greyhound ran loose through the courtyard and terrace as sentries.

* The flower of the Calla lily is 8 feet high and 12 feet wide. It is grown in Sumatra.

* In New York City, Consolidated Edison has more than 80,500 miles (129,524 kilometers) of underground

electrical cable in the city. Some of the power is purchased from Hydro-Quebec, a sprawling series of hydroelec-

tric dams that harness the power of the La Grande River in northern Quebec and Ontario.

* Japan is one of the most competitive soft drink markets in the world. Approximately 1,000 new soft drinks are

launched in Japan every year, of which only a small number survive. There are more than 7,000 different soft

drinks sold in the country.

* The United States would fit into the continent of Africa three and a half times.

* Three Whigs have served as President of the United States: William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, and

Millard Fillmore.

* Aristarchus, a Greek astronomer living about 200 B.C., reportedly was the first person to declare that the Earth

revolved around the sun. His theory was disregarded for hundreds of years.

* In the late 1970s, Coca-Cola Co. boycotted the NBC late-night comedy show Saturday Night Live” for several

years. The giant soda company was retaliating against a frequent character of comedian John Belushi’s, a Greek

restaurant owner, who repeatedly said to customers, “No Coke Pepsi,” thus saying the rival company’s name

dozens of times throughout each skit.

* At the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, Richard Blechyden, an Englishman, had a tea concession. On a very hot

day, none of the fairgoers were interested in drinking hot tea. Blechyden served the tea cold and invented iced

tea.

* There are earthworms as short as one-twenty-fifth of an inch and earthworms as long as 11 feet. The earthworm

has no lungs; it breathes through its skin. Some earthworms have as many as ten hearts.

* A bronze cat, believed to be 2,300 years old, was one of the most popular sculptures in the Egyptian Wing of the

Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Despite its popularity for nearly 25 years, a few museum offi-

cials had reason to doubt the statue’s authenticity. After X-raying the 15-inch-high figure and scanning a small

portion of it with an electron microscope, the museum reluctantly declared in 1987 that the sculpture was “in all

probability a modern forgery.”

* The shoebill stork, native to Africa, is often compared to a statue. The bird will stand perfectly still for long

periods waiting for fish to come to surface in the water.

* The Romans had three words for kissing: basium was the kiss exchanged by acquaintances; osculum, the kiss

between close friends; and suavium, the kiss between lovers.

* The kakapo is a nocturnal burrowing parrot of New Zealand that has a green body with brown and yellow

markings. Its name is from Maori and means “night parrot.”

* When commercial telephone service was introduced between New York and London in 1927, the first three

minutes of a call cost $75.00.

McDonald’s fast-food restaurants have been operating in the Middle East and Africa since 1992. The success

was especially evident when 15,000 customers lined up on opening day in 1994 in Kuwait City. The line at the

drive-thru window was seven miles long.* London’s Millennium Dome, the largest of its kind in the world, is

over one kilometer in circumference and covers over 80,000 square meters.

* A quality, fully-faceted round brilliant diamond has at least 58 facets. These are important for the maximum

sparkle and brilliance of the stone.

* Chicago’s Wrigley Field is one of the oldest and most cherished ball parks in the United States. The American

tradition of singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the beginning of each baseball game started at Wrigley Field

during the first game of the 1918 World Series. The ball park is affected by wind conditions more than any other

major league park. Breezes off Lake Michigan favor pitchers, but winds blowing toward Lake Michigan make

home run hits easy. It is the only park where it’s more difficult to hit a homer down the foul line than to hit one

50 or so feet out in fair territory, because the bleachers protrude into the outfield.

* The giraffe’s heart is huge; it weighs 25 pounds, is 2 feet long, and has walls up to 3 inches thick.

* The hippopotamus has skin an inch-and-a-half thick, so solid that most bullets cannot penetrate it.

November - December 2006Cocoa Village page 8 Where Ghosts and Monsters Lurk

Florida’s Finest Chocolate

Sculptor Nina Yang To Visit The Pear Tree

After taking the Cocoa Village Ghost and Monster’s Tour,

you’ll believe that ghosts and monsters are real and that truth

is indeed stranger than fiction. Presented

by Brevard Tours (BrevardTours.com),

this 90-minute walking tour spans as-

pects of Cocoa history from the 1500s

to present day. The history of Cocoa Vil-

lage is wild and edgy as patrons will

quickly learn.

Russell Sanders, owner of Brevard

Tours, admits that the tour subjects ini-

tially sound a bit incredible but he’s

proud of the presentation. “We’ve suc-

cessfully provided a unique experience

for everyone from the patron who wants

to be easily charmed to the one who

wants to closely examine every fact. It’s

a dynamic time during which you’ll

learn of ghosts, police conspiracies, leg-

ends of Indian curses, lost treasures, and

warnings of dens of monsters in our midst.” It’s a bold claim

and he admits the tour will have its cynics but he’s ready to

back up the tour’s speculation to even the most devout skep-

tic. He attributes the faith that tour participants emerge with

to the strength of the tour’s material.

“After all,” he says, “if you tell

people who have lived here that

there are real swamp monsters

lurking on the edge of civilization

you get everything from a polite

smirk to outright disbelief. When

the tour is done, nobody disbe-

lieves and there are a lot of people

who are concerned.”

Other parts of the tour are just

plain fun and the details often sur-

prise people who have lived in Co-

coa for years. They’re all true and

most were gleamed from inter-

views with long-standing Brevard

citizens who watched Cocoa Vil-

lage change over more than 80

years. The Ghost and Monsters

Tour presents aspects of the supernatural but it also presents

the conventional history of the region in a way that takes

you back to those early times. Its one thing to read about

what Cocoa was like during the late 1920s. Its an entirely

different matter to talk with the people who actually walked

its streets during that time.

The tour was spawned as something to give the weekend-

ers something to do. Russell developed the idea over a year

ago. After engaging in the same routine activities, he de-

cided that someone ought to create a unique experience for

both the local citizens and the area’s visitors and Brevard

Tours, Inc. was born.

The Cocoa Village Ghost and Monsters Tour is the

company’s first offering and will soon be accompanied by a

daytime Histories and Mysteries Tour Walking Tour that

focuses less on the supernatural and more on the intrigue of

Cocoa Village. The daytime event will be far more exten-

sive and include lunch and a boat excursion on the river.

Patrons can take the Cocoa Village Ghost and Monsters

Tour on Thurs, Fri, or Sat nights at 7PM or 9PM by meeting

at the old clock in Cocoa Village, at 316 Brevard Ave, at the

gazebo in Myrt Tharpe Square, next to the Dog n’ Bone Brit-

ish Pub and across from Osorrios. The cost is $13 for adults

and $8 for children. Details about the tour, including dis-

counts, can be found on www.BrevardTours.com or by call-

ing 321-627-9194.

Florida’s Finest Chocolates is off to a fabulous start. People

are finding the most unique chocolate shop around. All

chocolates are made in FLORIDA by professional

chocolatiers. Custom orders are welcome.

Florida’s Finest Chocolates just completed an order

for 100 beautiful gift boxes of chocolate for the

christening of the Navy’s newest subma-

rine in King’s Bay, GA. The recipients

were delighted.

FFC offers truffles,

caramels, fudge, taffy,

chocolate covered coffee

beans, hot cocoa mix and a lot

of other goodies. Are you

looking for a unique party idea?

FFC also hosts private chocolate p a r t i e s .

Call Regina at (321) 636-9406 to arrange a get to-

gether for friends and/or co-workers.

Remember – Our chocolate melts in your heart, not in

your palm.

My name is Nina Yang and

I am a sculptor for Franz Col-

lection Inc.

I was born in 1962 and grew

up in the countryside of Tai-

wan. I enjoy sculpting, yoga,

dancing, music, and cooking.

My parents are loving and

good people. I have 2 elder

brothers. In childhood, my

brothers and I often played

with neighbors in the garden.

I love being among the

beauty of nature as it offers

me wonderful feelings of har-

mony and fulfillment.

Although our family was not rich, my mother worked to

earn money by raising chickens and making clothes. With

some of the money earned my mother often bought

storybooks for me and I was inspired by the beautiful draw-

ings in the books. My brothers and I often made crafts by

hand, such as dolls and small

cars, using natural materials.

My eldest brother specialized

in creating cartoon characters

that made us happy and pro-

vided us much enjoyment.

In high school, I entered an

art school. There I had the op-

portunity to participate in ac-

tivities such as dance, painting,

and playing in a band. Those

activities encouraged me to

pursue a career in the arts. After graduation, my mentor in-

troduced me to a giftware sculpture studio. I worked there

with excitement and I sculpted a lot of art from outstanding

Chinese and foreign designers.

Four years ago I began work at Franz Collection Inc. Be

-fore that, I had heard about the talented team led by Mr.

Francis Chen. I admired their work and was

excited to be a part of this highly regarded

design team. From my experience working at

Franz Collection Inc. I have learned the emo-

tional sentiment giftware brings to people

from all walks of life. I truly value the role I

play artistically interpreting the beauty of

nature through the Franz Porcelain Collection

for people worldwide to enjoy.

Meet Ms. Nina Yang at the Pear Tree, Sun-

day December 10th from 1- 4pm. Nina is go-

ing to only a few states and stores and The

Pear Tree in Cocoa Village is one of them.

The Pear Tree is located at 310 Brevard Avenue. For more

information call 321-632-5432.

November - December 2006Cocoa Village page 9

Jon MillerAttends Conference

How To Handle Holiday Stress

Lighting Design Tips You Can Use to Feng Shui Your Home

Jon Miller, owner of Jon’s Fine Jewelry in Cocoa Village,

recently attended a series of educational seminars, work-

shops and courses at the Independent Jewelers

Organization’s Fall Buying & Seminar Conference held in

Reno, Nevada. Miller also had the op-

portunity to preview the lines of

more than 150 top manufacturers and

jewelry designers who exhibited their

merchandise, some of which is exclusive

t o Master 1JO Jeweler members and is not

a v a i l - able from any other stores in this area. Miller

then carefully selected many unique and exciting items for

the Fall season that are sure to delight customers. “Attend-

ing the IJO Conference gives us a competitive edge over

our competition by keeping us up to date with what is cur-

rently going on in our industry.” stated Miller.

IJO is an international buying group and educational orga-

nization of independent retail jewelers with almost 900 mem-

bers worldwide, its group buying power enables members.

Jon’s Fine Jewelry is located at 215 Brevard Ave. in Cocoa

Village. Their phone number is (321) 631-0270.

(ARA) - Cousin Bob, his wife, five kids and their Great

Dane will be visiting the week between Christmas and New

Year’s. You drew your boss’ name for the office gift ex-

change. And you still have no idea what to give your very

picky mother-in-law. Can you say “holiday stress?”

Americans have nearly as many sources of stress

as we have places to holiday shop — from cell

phone use to job worries and family issues. And

the holidays can be a particularly stressful time of

year for many, as we try to juggle the complicated

reality of life with our idealized image of what the

holidays should be.

“Stress can lead to feelings of fatigue, helpless-

ness, or even hopelessness and depression,” says

Dr. Robert Berkow, editor in chief of Your Health

Now, a consumer health magazine published by

Merck & Co., Inc. “Studies have shown that people

under a heavy burden of stress are also more likely

to get sick.”

It is important that people experiencing symptoms

of stress know that it can be managed. Here are

some of the most reliable, proven and effective ways to

handle situations that may cause you stress:

* Push past procrastination. Avoiding tasks that are unpleas-

ant or for which you feel incompetent simply creates more

stress - a vicious circle. Still having failure to launch? Make

a list of what you need to do and start with the easiest item,

so you don’t feel you’re heading into a massive undertak-

ing.

* Be assertive. Sometimes we get in over our heads because

we don’t feel able to say no when the boss asks us to take on

more responsibility or the local charity asks for leadership.

But there’s often more

room for negotiation

than you might think.

* Put your rage in writ-

ing. Getting your feel-

ings down on paper re-

duces their intensity and

can help you gain a

calmer perspective.

When you’re finished

writing, tear up the pa-

per and throw it away.

The key is that no one

will ever see it, which

allows you to put down

things that you wouldn’t

write otherwise.

* Revel in relaxation. There are many techniques: Guided

imagery is a technique in which a CD provides a recorded

voice to take you on an imaginary journey to tranquil set-

tings. You’ll be asked to engage different pleasant sensa-

tions as you imagine sights, sounds and people. At the Cleve-

land Clinic Heart and Vascular Institute in Ohio, surgical

patients are given guided imagery CDs to listen to before —

and even during — their operations. Such recordings ease

stress and are linked with fewer complications, faster re-

covery and less pain.

Progressive muscle relaxation involves slowly tensing and

then releasing muscle groups one at a time, starting with the

muscles in the toes and finishing with those in the head.

Popular forms of meditation in the United States include

transcendental meditation (repeating a mantra, a single word

or phrase) and mindfulness mediation (focusing your atten-

tion on moment-by-moment thoughts and sensations).

Other techniques worth trying: yoga, massage, spending

time at a spa or taking a vacation.

* Laugh a little. Humor usually involves interacting with

friends and family or recalling times when you were with

others - and research suggests that having a good social net-

work helps to take the edge off tension.

* Seek a skilled counselor. To really clarify what’s stressing

you and get help to modify your responses, talk with a so-

cial worker, psychologist, psychiatrist or minister.

To learn more about the effects of stress and other health

conditions, visit YourHealthNow.com. To sign up for a free

subscription to this bi-monthly consumer health magazine,

call (888) MERCK-38 (888-637-2538). Merck publishes

Your Health Now as a free service to the community.

Courtesy of ARA Content

(ARA) - Traditional Feng Shui utilizes the five elements of

wood, fire, earth, metal and water as remedies to energetic

issues in a house or building. The basic concepts are

simple: use common sense in furniture placement, keep

it free of clutter and make sure the room’s flow or ar-

rangement allows for conversation.

Feng Shui works in every facility: residential, com-

mercial, healthcare, or restaurant.

Lights are powerful feng shui cures. Light itself is

considered an important feng shui asset in any envi-

ronment.

The experts at YLighting share a few easy-to-grasp

fundamentals on feng shui and lighting design:

* Soften sharp corners of a room using accent lighting. This

increases the energy flow and creates a relaxed atmosphere.

* Chandeliers should not hang

above a chair. In fact, a person

should never be expected to sit di-

rectly below a hanging object.

* Floor lamps can be used in any

number of ways. They are practi-

cal for illuminating a dark section

of the room and can be feng shui

“fixes,” shining upward to lift a

sunken room or stimulating chi

flow in a wealth corner.

* The living room is a yang room. The yang quality is em-

bodied by the activity and brightness, which are ideal for a

family or entertaining.

* Mirrors should be used behind the stove when our back is

to the kitchen entrance

while cooking, on the

wall in front of you upon

entering the main door-

way, or at the bottom of

a steep stairs to slow

down the Chi going

downstairs. (Chi is the

nonbiological self - our

spirit or essence).

For more lighting design

tips, log on to

www.ylighting.com.

Courtesy of ARA Con-

tent

November - December 2006Cocoa Village page 10 Try a Refrigerator Makeover for Better Health

Tis The Season - For a Headache At The Pear Tree

(ARA) - Have you ever really analyzed what’s in your re-

frigerator? Unless you’re trying to lose weight, probably not.

But if you’re one of the 20 million American who suffer

from frequent heartburn … a common symptom of acid re-

flux disease (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD)…

or even if you suffer from occasional acid reflux symptoms,

it wouldn’t be a bad idea. Lifestyle changes may benefit

people with acid reflux dis-

ease.

While foods themselves

don’t cause reflux disease,

they may aggravate the con-

dition. Ingredients and

foods made with chocolate,

alcohol, peppermint, and

perhaps onions and garlic

can contribute to acid reflux

events. Other potential re-

flux triggers can include

fried and fatty foods; cof-

fee and tea, both caffeinated

and decaffeinated; pepper;

spearmint and carbonated

drinks. Additional foods can be associated with reflux events,

such as citrus fruits, mint flavorings, spicy foods, and to-

mato-based foods like spaghetti sauce, chili and pizza.

“Remember, how people react to different foods is very

individual,” says Cecilia Pozo Fileti, a registered dietitian

and fellow of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). “If

your food’s talking back to you, start a log to find your heart-

burn triggers. Changing your diet can make a difference.”

So grab your shopping list and jot down these healthy op-

tions:

* Milk and dairy products: Low-fat buttermilk, skim or low-

fat powdered milk or soy milk; and low-fat cheeses and yo-

gurts. Replace ice cream with sorbet.

* Meat, poultry, fish, dry beans and nuts: Lean cuts of beef,

pork, poultry, fish, eggs and soy.

* Drinks: Herbal, caffeine-free or non-carbonated drinks and

water.

* Dessert: Sherbet ices and fresh fruit.

“Try citrus or high acid fruits and vegetables in small doses.

Isolate each fruit or vegetable to see if it’s a trigger food for

you. See how your body feels

afterwards. Limit the use of

oils, butter, mayonnaise and

full-fat cream cheese. Switch

to lower fat versions and keep

to teaspoon-type portions,

with a daily goal of less than

8 teaspoons per day,” says

Fileti.

Living with acid reflux dis-

ease doesn’t mean you need

to give up the things you like

to eat, but you may need to

modify your recipes. Try this

beef stew makeover:

Beef Stew

A recipe that bypasses potentially troublesome ingredients

like tomatoes, onions, and garlic without sacrificing robust

flavor. Great for family or company and especially great

during cool weather.

1/2 pound round steak, trimmed of fat, 1/2 teaspoon olive

oil, 1 can (14 ounces) fat-free beef broth, 1 large celery rib,

sliced, 1 bay leaf, 2 quartered red-skinned potatoes, 1 cup

baby carrots, 4 ounces baby Portobello mushrooms, sliced,

1/2 tablespoon cornstarch, 1/4 cup cold water, 1/4 teaspoon

dried thyme

Cut beef into 1-inch cubes. Warm the oil in a large, deep

nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef cubes.

Cook and stir until browned. Reduce heat to medium. Add

the broth, celery, and bay leaf. Cook and stir to mix well.

Cover and simmer one hour, until beef is tender.

Stir in potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and thyme. Cover

and simmer another 10 to 15 minutes until vegetables are

tender. Discard the bay leaf.

In a small dish, stir the cornstarch into water until com-

pletely dissolved. Add the cornstarch mixture to the stew.

Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened.

Serve piping hot with a slice of cheese toast and a small

salad.

Makes 2 servings; Per serving: 468 calories, 48 grams pro-

tein, 45 grams carbohydrate, 5 grams fiber, 11 grams fat, 3

grams saturated fat, 102 milligrams cholesterol, 796 milli-

grams sodium, 107 percent vitamin A, 47 percent vitamin

C, 5 percent calcium, 31 percent iron, 43 percent zinc.

In addition to your refrigerator makeover, here are some

simple lifestyle changes that can help ease your symptoms:

* Raise the head of your bed. Just stacking pillows won’t

help, so try putting a foam wedge under the top part of the

mattress, or use wooden blocks to prop up the legs at the

head of the bed.

* Wait three hours after eating before lying down.

* Eat small meals throughout the day.

* Eat in a calm, relaxed place, where you can sit down while

you’re eating.

* Don’t wear tight-fitting clothing.

* Don’t smoke.

* Exercises such as walking, swimming, tennis, golf and

bicycling are all great ways to keep your body feeling good.

Check with your doctor before starting any exercise pro-

gram.

* Achieve and keep your healthy weight.

If you have persistent, frequent heartburn two or more days

a week, despite use of over-the-counter medications and diet

changes, it may be time to see your doctor.

Courtesy of ARA Content

You’re running that last minute errand, traffic is stalled, one of the kids is yelling in the back seat, your cell phone is

ringing, and to make all this worse, you feel the beginning of one of those really bad headaches. How did this happen? You

felt fine this morning, and this is supposed to be a fun time of year. Many headaches are caused by neck, back, and even

facial muscle tension. Backs that are strained from poor posture or sitting in one position too long will tighten, causing

neck muscles to tighten also. Gritting your teeth will tighten the jaw and the many muscles of the face and scalp. When

muscles are tight, they restrict the blood and oxygen flow, which will cause pain in that area. What are some ways to

relieve tight muscles? Stretching is a great way to unknot and relax. A tennis ball rolled around the shoulders can work

wonders. A hot bath or shower will melt away tension.

And when you really need that extra help, get a massage.

Nothing works quite as well to reduce muscle tightness in

the whole body. And for added benefit, have an

aromatherapy massage to enhance your feeling of well-

being and give you total relaxation.

For more information and appointments, call Naomi at

321-917-8785 or email moonlightvirgo@yahoo.com or

Doreen for aromatherapy products and classes at 321-632-

1221 or visit www.naturespirit.com (MM15442

MA38000)

Tami Durkee, proprietor of The Pear Tree in Cocoa Village

recently met with met Mr. Francis Chen, founder and CEO

of Franz. With her husband, John, they were able to chat

with Chen, who briefly outlined the personal philosophy

behind his company. Inspired by the aesthetic of ancient

Chinese porcelains, Chen presents a contemporary take on

tradition. “We speak to ourselves through the beauty of

things,” he said. “I talk to myself through music and other

artistic things. We put our hearts into the style when we are

designing, and our designs give the ‘idea’ of the natural ele-

ment. We don’t need to show a true representation of a flower,

butterfly or peacock to have the beauty of its essence speak

to us.”

Speaking of Franz’

new jewelry line,

Chen went on, “The

jewelry is a natural

extension of porce-

lain decorative ac-

cessories. Home ac-

cessories bring

beauty to the home,

but when a woman

goes out, she can take the beauty with her through the jew-

elry.”

Tami Durkee, owner of The Pear Tree in Cocoa Village

‘loves’ Franz porcelain. “We’ve carried Franz since The Pear

Tree re-opened in 2004. In fact, I bought it from the first

catalog, before we even saw it in person. I simply fell in

love with the designs and quality.”

Francis Chen And Tami

November - December 2006Cocoa Village page 11Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanza

Dates In Cocoa History

Hanukkah

Hanukkah, which means “dedication” and is also referred

to as “The Festival of Lights”, is a Jewish festival which

begins on the Hebrew date of the 25th of Kislev and lasts

eight days, t h r o u g hthe 2nd of Tevet.

The most important

Hanukkah ritual is the candle

lighting. Jews light candles in

a special candleholder called a

“menorah” or a “hanukkiah”.

Each night, one more candle is

added. The middle candle,

called the “shamash”, is used to

l ight each of the other candles and it is lit

every night. Therefore, on the first night of Hanukkah,

t w o candles are lit (the shamash and the

candle for the first night) and on the

l a s t night, there are nine lit candles.

It is traditional to eat foods fried in oil during Hanukkah.

Some common foods are potato latkes and “sufganiot”

The Beginning of Christmas Celebrations (Christ’s

Mass):

The earliest Christians believed that celebrating birthdays

was heathen and unholy, but sometime during the fourth cen-

tury these attitudes changed. Because the bible didn’t actu-

ally specify the date when Jesus was born, Pope Juleps I of

the fourth century designated December 25 as the official

date for the feast of Jesus’nativity. This celebration of

Jesus’birth soon became widespread and touched the hearts

of many. The very first Christmas carols ever w r i t t e n

were composed by the Christians of this period

The Christmas Tree

In the 16th century, it was common for the

people of Germany to decorate fir trees with

roses, apples, and colored paper. They

would have these trees inside and out. It

is also believed that Martin Luther, a

famous religious reformer, was the first

to light a Christmas tree with candles.

Some say that this idea originated as

he was walking home one dark winter

night very near Christmas time. He was

struck by the beauty of starlight shining

through the branches of a small fir tree out-

side of his house. He decided to try to duplicate the scene by

using candles attached to the branches of his tree inside the

house. In Great Britain, the Christmas tree was not used much

until the 19th century, and was brought to America (Penn-

sylvania) by the Germans in the 1820’s.

An artificial spider and web are often included in the deco-

rations on Ukrainian Christmas trees. A spider web found

on Christmas morning is believed to bring good luck.

America’s official national Christmas tree is located in

King’s Canyon National Park in California. The tree, a giant

sequoia called the “General Grant Tree,” is over 90 meters

(300 feet) high. It was made the official Christmas tree in

1925.

Santa Claus

St. Nicholas was bishop of the Turk-

ish town of Myra in the early fourth

century. It was the Dutch who first

made him into a Christmas gift-giver,

and Dutch settlers brought him to

America where his name eventually

became the familiar Santa Claus.

O t h e r Christmas Tidbits

Norsemen offer us a beautiful symbolic myth about

mistletoe. The story goes that Mistletoe was

the sacred plant of Frigga, goddess

of love and the mother of Balder,

the god of the summer sun.

Balder had a dream of death, which

greatly alarmed his mother, for

should he die, all life on earth would

end. In an attempt to keep this from

happening, Frigga went at once to air, fire, water,

earth, and every animal and plant seeking a promise that no

harm would come to her son. Balder now could not be hurt

by anything on earth or under the earth. But Balder had one

enemy, Loki, god of evil and he knew of one plant that Frigga

had overlooked in her quest to keep her son safe. It grew

neither on the earth nor under the earth, but on apple and

oak trees. It was lowly mistletoe. So Loki made an arrow tip

of the mistletoe, gave to the blind god of winter, Hoder, who

shot it, striking Balder dead. The sky paled and all things in

earth and heaven wept for the sun god. For three days each

element tried to bring Balder back to life. Frigga, the god-

dess and his mother finally restored him. It is said the tears

she shed for her son turned into the pearly white berries on

the mistletoe plant and in her joy Frigga kissed everyone

who passed beneath the tree on which it grew. The story

ends with a decree that who should ever stand under the

humble mistletoe, no harm should befall them, only a kiss, a

token of love.

Nearly one in four people said they have more headaches

during the Christmas season than any other time of the year.

Of those surveyed, 75 percent said that not having enough

time caused them to have headaches; 73 percent said crowds

and traffic created their headaches; and 51 percent said skip-

ping meals gave them headaches.

In southern France, some people burn a log in their homes

from Christmas Eve until New Year’s Day. This stems from

an ancient tradition in which farmers would use part of the

log to ensure a plentiful harvest the following year.

December 26th was traditionally known as St. Stephen’s

Day, after the first Christian martyr, but is now more com-

monly known as Boxing Day. This expression came about

because money was collected in alms-boxes placed in

churches during the festive season. This money was then

distributed to the poor and needy after Christmas. It’s thought

the Boxing Day was first observed in the Middle Ages. It

found renewed popularity in the 19th Century when the lords

and ladies of England presented gifts in boxes to their ser-

vants on December 26th in appreciation of the work they

had done over the Christmas celebrations. If December 26th

falls on a Saturday or Sunday, Boxing Day takes place on

the following Monday.

In some parts of Ireland, December 26th is known as the

Day of the Wren, or Wren’s Day. On this day, crowds of

people take to the roads dressed in motley clothing, wearing

masks or straw suits and accompanied by musicians. The

Wren once common all over Ireland. In some areas, the

Wrenboys are called Mummers and the festival has a strong

English influence, incorporating characters like St. George.

It seems that birds have great prominence in Irish mythol-

ogy, having been seen as inter-

mediaries in pre-Christian

times between this world and

the next.

Kwanza

Kwanza is an African-Ameri-

can feast celebrated from De-

cember 26th to January 1st. A

relatively new holiday, created

in 1966 by Maulana (Ron) Karenga, Kwanza does have a

rich tradition rooted in many years of African culture and

history. Kwanza literally means “first fruits of the harvest”

in Swahili. It is not a religious holiday, nor does celebrating

Kwanza mean giving up the celebrations of Christmas or

Hanukkah. Instead, it’s a week-long celebration full of cer-

emony and symbolism, following a well-organized “sched-

ule.” On each night, a candle is lit and one of the Nguzo

Saba, seven core principles, is discussed.

November 1, 1934 New City Hall occupied.

November 2, 1917 Postal rates increased to 3 cents except

for local letters and letters to certain countries.

November 6, 1919 Famous Sea Plane NC-4 passed over Co-

coa. Its wing spread was 126 ft and was 68 ft long.

November 14, 1918 City Council passed a resolution put-

ting Cocoa in the Eastern Time Zone.

November 15, 1885 First service of First United Methodist

Church held at City Point.

November 17, 1878 St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Founded.

November 25, 1956 St Marks’s Episcopal Day School

opened.

November 27, 1961 Cocoa House demolished.

December 1, 1957 Nineteen people met at Old City Hall to

organize and hold the first services of Cocoa Presbyterian

Church.

December 4, 1961 Mrs. Louise Gibbon, the first woman

elected to Cocoa City Council lead the ticket with 262 votes.

December 11, 1919 A flying machine at Cocoa was taking

up passengers at $15.00 each.

December 20, 1962 A & P Store opened on the corner of

Pineda and Dixon.

Workshops to Be Held at Nature’s Haven

Classes Offered at Public Library Annual Toy Drive

Disclaimer: We can not assure the accuracy of the provided public

information nor do we represent the City of Cocoa, Historic Cocoa

Village Association , or Cocoa Main Street. If you have an event you

would like to have listed please email it to events@cocoavillage.com or

fax 321-633-4997. Advertisers and sources of information agree by sub-

mitting ads or information to indemnify and save blameless Cocoa Vil-

lage Publishing from any and all liability, loss or expense of any nature

arising from them. Cocoa Village Publishing assumes no responsibility

for unsolicited materials. This information is distributed with the un-

derstanding that the information is from various sources, from which

there can be no warranty or responsibility by Cocoa Village Publishing

as to the legality, completeness and accuracy. Rights to information

herein remain the property of respective owners and may not be repro-

duced without appropriate authorization.

Space Coast Postcard Club

meets in the Alma Clyde-Field Library

first Sunday of each month

at 2pm. Call (321) 690-0099

for more information.

Jazz in the Gazebosponsored by contributing merchants

Fridays, 11:30am - 1:30pm, weather per-

mitting

November 18th The Library of Florida

History presents the Saturday Lecture Series beginning at

2pm. Robert Snyder will speak about the book “Commer-

cial Photography: The Burgert Brothers of Tampa”. The Li-

brary is located at 435 Brevard Ave. The event is free to the

public and refreshments will be served. For more informa-

tion call the library at (321) 690-1971.

December 2-3 Historic Cocoa Village Association presents

the Holiday Craft Fair. 10am-5pm Call Lorena at 321-631-

9075 for more information.

December 09th The Library of Florida History presents the

Saturday Lecture Series beginning at 2pm An Authors Round

Up is scheduled. There will be authors on hand to discuss

their books and to autograph them for the book lover on

your holiday shopping list. The Library is located at 435

Brevard Ave. The event is free to the public and refresh-

ments will be served. For more information call the library

at (321) 690-1971.

December 16th The Library of Florida History presents the

Saturday Lecture Series beginning at 2pm Nick Wynne will

present, “Florida Stories”. The Library is located at 435

Brevard Ave. The event is free to the public and refresh-

ments will be served. For more information call the library

at (321) 690-1971.

January 13th The Library of Florida History presents the

Saturday Lecture Series beginning at 2pm. Kathy A. Fleming

will speak about “St. Augustine Lighthouse”. The Library is

located at 435 Brevard Ave. The event is free to the public

and refreshments will be served. For more information call

the library at (321) 690-1971.

January 19th The Historic Cocoa Village Association pre-

sents Friday Fun Fest. Each month will feature a themed

evening of family fun. For more information call (321) 631-

9075 or visit www.cocoavillage.com/events

January 20th The Library of Florida History presents the

Saturday Lecture Series beginning at 2pm. “Railroads in

Florida” will be presented by Gregg Turner. The Library is

located at 435 Brevard Ave. The event is free to the public

and refreshments will be served. For more information call

the library at (321) 690-1971.

February 3rd The Library of Florida History presents the

Saturday Lecture Series beginning at 2pm.Robert Cassanello

from the University of Central Florida will discuss, “The

Jim Crowing of Florida Streetcars and the Origins of the

Modern Civil Rights Movement” The Library is located at

435 Brevard Ave. The event is free

to the public and refresh-ments will be

served. For more information call the

library at (321) 690-1971.

February 17th The Library of Florida History presents the

Saturday Lecture Series beginning at 2pm. Leonard R.

Lempel from the Daytona Beach Community College, will

discuss “Origins of the Civil Rights Movement in Daytona

Beach”

March 03 The Library of Florida History presents the Sat-

urday Lecture Series beginning at 2pm. This will be a Mos-

quito Beaters Panel Discussion. The Library is located at

435 Brevard Ave. The event is free to the public and refresh-

ments will be served. For more information call the library

at (321) 690-1971.

factory sense heightens the whole-body consciousness, al-

lowing the 1 limbic system to lead the healing ways through-

out the entire body. Aroma-therapeutic essences trigger the

mechanics of the brain in a most primitive yet totally sci-

entific fashion. In this workshop we will explore

how the natural "essential oils of blos-soms,

fruits, seeds, leaves, roots, barks and

twigs help us to balance

ourselves in body, mind,

soul and universal spirit.

There is no cost for this

workshop and we recom-

mend you attend this one before

taking other workshops.

December 13, 2006 “Aromatherapy for the

Holidays” Celebrate days gone by. In this workshop we will

explore how aromatherapy can be used to create and enhance

the holiday atmosphere of your home/office using a variety

of the most popular holiday scents. Nature's Haven, 602

Brevard Ave. Cocoa Village. Cost $15 This includes a dram

bottle of our special “Holiday Blend”.

December 20, 2006 “Natural Perfumes and Aphrodisiacs

for Sensual Body Anointment” Nature is full of

sensual delights. Flowers and seeds, in par-

ticular, lend the mystique of their

unique virtues by providing luscious, fra-

grant, substances that intertwine with the

personal body chemistry to evoke inner

emotions such as love and romance. Such

arousal of the body, mind, soul and uni-

versal spirit, promotes a vitality that is ex-

tended with increased well-being and inner

energy. In this workshop we will explore how

the high level of vibrations influence the interac- tions

of universal attraction and create and/or enhance a state of

euphoria. The cost of this workshop is $15 that includes a

dram bottle of your choice of selected Nature’s Spirit blends.

December 27, 2006 “Spiritual Enlightenment of the En-

ergy Centers with Chakra Body Anointment” Through our

search for enlightenment, we may expand our thoughts and

actions upon this earth. Synchronizing the 7 main energy cen-

ters helps us to focus and provides harmony in this physical

reality by aligning our higher consciousness to dimensions

that are mystical and enigmatic. In this workshop we

will explore how these synergistic blends work to per-

mit spiritual healing and whole body

alignment. You will personally experi-

ence using all your senses to direct your

energies toward the balance of self and

awakening the power within. The cost of this

workshop is $35 that includes complete set of

dram bottles of the Nature’s Spirit Chakra Anointing

Blends.

All workshops are held at Nature’s Haven located at 602

Brevard Ave. in Cocoa Village. (Across from City Hall) For

more information call (321) 632-1221 or visit

www.naturespirit.com. Please call for times of workshops.

ADULT PROGRAMS & EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER 2006

Special Adult Programs

November 21 & 28, 10:00 a.m. - WATERCOLOR CLASS -

Watercolor artist Pearl Ollie is back to share her talent and

techniques at a weekly watercolor class at Central Brevard

Library in Cocoa! Students will create original works of art

ranging from portraits to still-lives to landscapes and sea-

scapes, with a focus on learning techniques. If you are inter-

ested in exploring your artistic side, this is the class for you!

All levels are welcome, from beginning to advanced, to try

one class or attend weekly. The cost is $10, or $5 for stu-

dents with their own supplies. To sign up or for

more information about supplies or scheduling, call

Central Brevard Library at 633-1792.

November 20 & 27, 1:00 p.m. -

LEARN TO KNIT Are you looking

for a hobby you can do anywhere?

Try this knitting class for students

of all abilities at the Central Brevard

Library in Cocoa. Start by learning

simple stitches or progress imme-

diately to dog sweaters, children’s

hats and mitts, or children’s sweat-

ers. Children 10 or over welcome

when accompanied by an adult. $5/class, if you have your

own size 6 or 7 needles, or $9.50 including needles. Space is

limited; call 633-1792 for reservations.

November 21, 9:00 a.m. - PROPERTY & FORECLOSURE

RESEARCH Thinking of buying or selling real estate, find-

ing out what your property is worth, or researching foreclo-

sures? Central Brevard Library staff can show you how to

use the County’s Property Research Website, flood maps and

other resources to aid your decision-making. This free class

will be offered at the Central Brevard Library in Cocoa.

Registration is required by calling 633-1794.

November 30, 7:00 p.m. - MAKING YOUR EVENT SPE-

CIAL: TIPS TO MAKE YOU AND THE EVENT SUCCESS-

FUL Where do you start when your civic group wants to put

on a fundraiser, or you want to create the perfect party for

that special occasion? Whether you want to have a private

party for 20 or a gala for 200, good pre-planning is the key.

Join our speaker, Betsy Vosburgh, at the Central Brevard

Library in Cocoa for a lively discussion of what you need to

do to create a memorable event. Vosburgh, owner of Brevard

Events, has been an event planner and consultant for more

than 15 years, both at the corporate and independent level.

At this free program, she will share some of

her ideas with you on how to get from “I’d

like to...” to actually making the event hap-

pen. Call 633-1792 for directions or more

information.

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMS

November 16, 4:00 p.m. - THANKSGIV-

ING CELEBRATION Make some harvest

table accessories with stamping and a leaf

pin. Enjoy some cookies and cider. Please

pre-register by calling 633-1795. Ages 5

and up

November 18, 3:30 p.m. - HIP HOP WITH

PANDORIA Shake rattle and roll to the beat. Please pre-

register by calling 633-1795. All ages.

CHESS CLUB - Join us for a chess challenge. Ages 5 and

up. Tuesdays @ 4:00 p.m.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:00

and 10:30. Ages 3-5 years. Themes for November are: Mice

Are Nice, Who am I? Turkey Tales and Sleepy Bears.

TODDLER TIME: Wednesdays 10:00 and 10:30. Ages 22 -

36 months. Please Pre-register. Themes for November are:

Mice Are Nice, Who am I? Turkey Tales and Sleepy Bears.

No programs Thanksgiving week.

The holidays will shortly be upon us, once again! For nine-

teen years we have distributed gifts to low- income families

with children in our community. This year marks our 20th

toy drive. It is a community effort. Each year we solicit sup-

port from those who recognize the importance of giving back

to the community and are making a difference in their par-

ticular field or industry.

The Cocoa Police Department’s

2005 Toy Drive was a success

because of businesses and

people like You! Fortunately,

we were able to provide gifts for

700 children in our community.

Again, this success would not have been possible without

the help of businesses and people like you. We would like to

make this year even better than last!

We will be taking applications for Christmas gifts for fami-

lies with children in our community from October 2, 2006

through November 17, 2006. Distribution of gifts will be

December 18 - 22, 2006. Our officers take great pride in

selecting the gifts, packaging them up and delivering them

during this time. The look on the face of the children, when

we appear on their doorstep with a 33 gallon trash bag of

gifts thrown over our shoulder - rather than down the chim-

ney is priceless!

We are asking for your support, again. We would greatly

appreciate donations of new toys or money. Monetary dona-

tions may be sent to Cocoa Police Department- Toy Drive

2006, at the address listed above. The children on our wish

list range in age from newborn to 13 years old.

This type of program sends a strong message to our com-

munity, indicating that people still care and is willing to help.

Thank you for your past support of our program and we hope

we can count on you this year. Whatever you can do will be

greatly appreciated.