[Front Cover – Photo of a rocket launch at night over Space View Park, with City Seal, text, and graphics superimposed: Titusville Talking Points – January 2022; Nature, Space and Tourism – See what Titusville has to offer its visitors and residents. Page 9; Restaurant Guide of Titusville Logo – Plus: Get a taste of Titusville’s cuisine with this handy pull-out guide and map.]

[Inside Cover – Photo of the A. Max Brewer Bridge at dusk.] Caption: Looking west toward Titusville and the A. Max Brewer bridge, which leads from the city to the Canaveral National Seashore.

Be sure to check out

the City of Titusville website

 www.Titusville.com

[Graphic depicting the home page of Titusville.com, showing people doing recreational activities along the river, under a bridge.]

Watch city meetings and other programming on TitusvilleCityTV

Spectrum Channel 498 

AT&T U-verse Channel 99

Talking Points Staff: Jim Thomas – Managing Editor; Kurtis Korwan, Shane Daily, Wil Petty –Layout/Design/Photojournalism

Watch city meetings and other programming

City of Titusville Social Media

[Facebook Logo] cityoftitusville

[Twitter Logo] @Titusville

[Instagram Logo] @cityoftitusville

[YouTube Logo] CityofTitusville

[Photo of a rocket launch at night as seen from Space View Park.]

What’s Happening in Titusville

Here are the Newest Updates for What’s Going On in Town

The City of Titusville — located in East Central Florida — is a distinct coastal community, and one of the centerpieces of Florida’s Space Coast.  It is the only place on the planet where rockets launch, sea turtles nest, and soothing sunrises give way to inviting surf.  Titusville is The Gateway to Nature and Space, a place where ecology and technology exist in perfect harmony, surrounded by all the wonders and adventures that Florida has to offer.

Nestled between the St. Johns River and the Indian River Lagoon, we have picture perfect views of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and the Kennedy Space Center.   Within our city limits, we have ample parks and beautiful green space, yet we remain only minutes away from major tourist destinations such as Daytona International Speedway to the north; Orlando’s Disney and Universal theme parks to the west; the beautiful pristine beaches of the Canaveral National Seashore to our east; Port Canaveral, the world’s second busiest cruise port, to our south; and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex right in our own backyard.

Titusville is a growing community with a rich diversity of people, culture, and industry; home to myriad businesses and corporations of varying sectors who have staked out their futures in our city.  Our economy is thriving as new businesses flock to our city every month, and new housing developments continue to sprout up providing tremendous opportunities for people to live and grow their families in a vibrant waterfront town.

This publication is a free quarterly magazine which features highlights and updates on the construction, attractions, and amenities in town.  Please enjoy this issue, and we hope to see you in Titusville soon!

Feature Stories

Living in Titusville — pg. 1

Local Bike Trails and Map

Parks in Titusville

Titusville Playhouse

Boating and Marinas

Local Airports

Community Healing

Nature, Space & Tourism — pg. 9

Titusville’s Waterways

Port Canaveral

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Space Tourism

Rocket Launch Viewing Sites

Canaveral National Seashore

Space Coast Birding Festival

Explore Historic Titusville

Learning in Titusville — pg. 18

Eastern Florida State College, Titusville

Astronaut High School

Titusville High School

Business in Titusville — pg. 21

Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce

North Brevard Economic Development

New & Continued Projects — pg. 25

Completed Projects — pg. 28

Blazing Trails

[Photo of a bicycle parked along the railing at a marina, with boats moored in the background, with Trail Town logo superimposed.]

Titusville is the State of Florida’s 2nd Official Trail Town

In 2018, the City of Titusville was designated as Florida’s second official trail town by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Greenways and Trails Council. This designation was the culmination of several years’ worth of work to bring bike and pedestrian trails to the city.  

 The trail network came about after City of Titusville realized the importance of these trails to not only the community, but also to eco-tourism.  City leaders began taking earnest steps to provide amenities and safe passage for bicyclists and pedestrians by forming a trails committee, spearheading efforts to construct a bicycle & pedestrian bridge over Garden Street, and revamping downtown streets to be more cyclist/pedestrian friendly. This included the opening of a new downtown welcome center, complete with trail maps, restrooms, and staff to give out helpful info to visitors. These trails pass right through the heart of Titusville’s downtown, where dining, shopping, and exploration opportunities await.

   Today, Titusville is situated at the convergence of three paved, long-distance, multi-use trails: the Florida Coast-to-Coast Trail, the East Coast Greenway, and the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop. These trails connect Titusville to cities and states around the country, and offer an enjoyable ride through the heart of the downtown area.

WHAT IS A TRAIL TOWN? A Trail Town is a vibrant destination where people come together, whether that be through hiking, biking, equestrian riding or boating. Having multi-use trails helps citizens and visitors alike enjoy the amenities and unique heritage of the community, benefiting the town economically and socially.

[Coast-to-Coast Trail Logo] Coast-to-Coast Trail — a 250-mile trail spanning from St. Petersburg to Titusville which is 80% complete.

[East Coast Greenway Alliance Logo] East Coast Greenway — a 3,000-mile route that begins in Calais, Maine, and runs along the Eastern Seaboard to Key West, Florida.

[Saint John’s River to Sea Loop Logo] St. John’s River to Sea Loop — a nearly 260-mile trail loop that will cut through five Central Florida counties including Brevard, Flagler, Putnam, St. John’s, and Volusia. The trail is approximately 50% complete.

[Large map showing the North Brevard area, as well as the different bike trails and local tourist destinations and places of interest.]

Parks in Titusville

[Aerial photo of Sand Point Park and parts of Downtown Titusville. Inset photo of Sand Point Park Splash Pad.]

Recreational activities are in abundance in Titusville as the city boasts a total of 26 parks, sanctuaries, community centers, and open spaces for citizens and visitors to enjoy.   Several of these parks are along the Indian River Lagoon and provide ample viewing opportunities for rocket launches as well as wildlife such as manatees and dolphins.

Visitors and locals can enjoy a stroll along the river coupled with a history lesson at Space View Park and the U.S. Space Walk of Fame, where monuments to the U.S. space program are on display with the names of astronauts and ground personnel inscribed in honor of those who help take us to the stars.  There are multiple public playgrounds in Titusville for the little ones, including Fox Lake Park on the west side of town, and William J. Manzo Memorial Park along the river, which recently received all-new playground equipment.

Many parks along the river have public boat ramps for people to launch their watercraft out for fun on the area waterways.  There are multiple sports facilities located within the city, including, but not limited to: the Gibson Center with its lighted football fields; Chain of Lakes, with several lighted soccer and softball fields; and Isaac Campbell Senior Park, with lighted tennis courts, basketball courts, and a softball field.

One of the great amenities located in our Titusville parks is the Splash Park at Sand Point Park.   The 2,500-square-foot play area was opened in 2017 and provides kids multiple water features for playing and cooling off from the hot Florida weather.  The splash pad is free to the public and is 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer season, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the winter season; the pad is typically closed during December for its annual maintenance period.

Combined with the myriad walking and biking trails, Titusville has plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities for people of all ages.

[ Two photos of new playground equipment.]

Caption: New playground equipment at Manzo Memorial Park (Left), and Fox Lake Park (Right).

Blanton Park

1300 Main Street, Titusville, FL 32796

Blue Hole Park

1300 Cheney Highway, Titusville, FL 32780

Chain of Lakes Park

2300 Truman Scarboro Way, Titusville, FL 32796

Dicerandra Scrub Sanctuary

4900 Melissa Drive, Titusville, FL 32780

Enchanted Forest Sanctuary

444 Columbia Blvd., Titusville, FL 32780

Fox Lake Park

4400 Fox Lake Rd., Titusville, FL 32796

Fox Lake Sanctuary

4400 Fox Lake Road, Titusville, FL 32754

Gibson Complex and Field

835 Sycamore St., Titusville, FL 32780

Isaac Campbell Sr. Park

701 South Street, Titusville, FL 32754

Kennedy Point Park

4915 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, FL 32780

Manatee Hammock

7275 S. US Highway 1, Titusville, FL 32780

Marina Park

501 Marina Rd., Titusville, FL 32796

North Brevard Walking Trail

1505 Holder Rd., Titusville, FL 32796

Parrish Park - Titusville

1 A. Max Brewer Memorial Pkwy., Titusville, FL 32796

Rotary Riverfront Park

4141 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, FL 32780

Sand Point Park

101 N. Washington Ave., Titusville, FL 32796

Sandrift Community Center

585 N. Singleton Ave., Titusville, FL 32796

Sherwood Park

1845 Robin Hood Ave., Titusville, FL 32796

Singleton Tennis Courts

655 N. Singleton Ave., Titusville, FL 32796

Space View Park - U.S. Spacewalk of Fame

8 Broad St., Titusville, FL 32796

Stuart Park

4260 Stuart Ave., Titusville, FL 32780

Titusville Veterans Memorial Fishing Pier

2 A. Max Brewer Memorial Pkwy., Titusville, FL 32796

Tom Statham Park

7101 S. US Highway 1., Titusville, FL 32780

W.W. James Park

330 Little League Ln., Titusville, FL 32780

William J. Manzo Memorial Park

3335 S. Washington Ave., Titusville, FL 32780

Wuesthoff Park

2000 Wuesthoff St., Titusville, FL 32780

For more information on the parks, contact Brevard County Parks and Recreation at (321) 633-2046 or go to: brevardfl.gov/ParksAndRecreation.

[The stage inside Titusville Playhouse.]

All the World’s a Stage

Contributed by: Steven J. Heron, Executive Artistic Director, Titusville Playhouse

Titusville Playhouse, lnc. was established on August 29, 1965.  It was created by combining two local theatre groups, THE MASK AND HAMMER PLAYERS and the TITUSVILLE LITTLE THEATRE.  One of the highlights in TPI’s history occurred in 1981 with the purchase of the old Florida Theatre in the heart of downtown Titusville. Following a massive fundraising drive and utilizing over $500,000 in private, corporate, civic and government donations and thousands of hours of volunteer labor, the Emma Parrish Theatre opened to the public on September 21, 1984.

Since 2011, Titusville Playhouse has experienced a re-birth.  With a new leadership team, TPI has transformed itself into a quality community theatre and box office sales have grown 400%!  We have recently completed our 6-year $1.8 million renovation of the theatre, and in 2020 the theatre acquired Shuler Auction house and other adjacent properties in Downtown Titusville.  Owning over 2.8 acres in Downtown, the Board of Directors and Staff are actively researching the expansion of the Titusville Playhouse into a multi venue community destination.  With a working title of the TITUSVILLE PLAYHOUSE ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT the new buildings will notionally offer our current historic Emma Parrish Theatre, a state of the art 500 seat theatre, a small intimate 150 seat black box, outdoor concert venue, and several group or event rental venues needed in Downtown Titusville.  

In January 2022, we will continue with our award-winning MAINSTAGE productions with the Broadway musicals KINKY BOOTS for the first time in Brevard County, DREAMGIRLS, A CHORUS LINE, and LEGALLY BLONDE, while on the Shuler Stage will be offering the play CONSTELLATIONS & musical 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

For more information, please visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com!

Titusville Playhouse’s mission is to provide enriching theatrical, artistic and social experiences to artists and audiences. We are committed to excellence in our productions and children’s educational programs and to making these programs accessible and enriching to the residents of Brevard County and the surrounding areas.

The Titusville Playhouse is committed to being a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. One where all employees and volunteers, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard. Our art and community are at the core of our institutional vision. We must ensure that the stories we share with our audience resonate with more than a single group. This intercultural and intersectional approach allows for a diverse audience to come together around a shared story and recognizable experiences. To have the broadest impact in our region, we must continue to expand our audience to include all of Central Florida, regardless of ethnicity, religion, geography, income or any other divisions.

[Photo of Titusville Playhouse’s theater building.]

[Background photo of boats moored at Titusville Marina, at sunset.]

Port of Call

At Home on the Water

Located on Florida’s intracoastal waterway and nestled along the banks of the Indian River Lagoon, Titusville has three unique marinas available to the boating community.  Whether it is to service, launch or dry dock a boat, Titusville Marina, Westland Boatyard and Kennedy Point Yacht Club provide boaters with a safe and secure location to moor and service their vessels. 

[Aerial photo of Titusville Marina and Indian River, featuring boats tied up at the docks.]

Titusville Marina 

The historic Titusville Marina is owned by the city of Titusville and managed by F3 Marina, a professional waterfront development and marina management company.  The marina has been a destination and launch site for boaters for generations.   Conveniently located on the north end of the city near downtown, Titusville Marina is a short commute for dining, shopping and exploring historic landmarks and parks. 

Amenities include fixed and floating docks, a newly remodeled Captains lounge and bathrooms, pump-out station and pump-out boat, gas and diesel fueling station, laundry facilities, WiFi and a ship store.

Westland Boatyard and Marina

Adjacent to Titusville Marina, Westland Boatyard and Marina features 55 wet-slips and 6+ acres of do-it-yourself upland dry storage yard, the marina is very popular among boaters looking to restore or maintain their vessels. Westland is also equipped with a travel lift which can haul boats as large as 60’ and 50 tons, in and out of the water with ease.

[A boat sits on a trailer. Photo: Westland Boatyard and Marina]

Other amenities include, restrooms and showers, laundry machines, a boater’s lounge and a pavilion.  Services available include: bottom painting, diesel/gas mechanic, outboard servicing & repairs, welding, rigging, fiberglass/gelcoat repair, and general refurbishing from outside contractors.

Kennedy Point Yacht Club and Marina

Moving south along the lagoon, Kennedy Point Yacht Club and Marina sits just south of Hwy 50 along US1. Founded in 1984, the club provides indoor and outdoor activities, including poolside gatherings, themed parties, dances, meetings and social occasions. They even have a manatee viewing area.

Amenities include dockage for boats up to 70-feet in length, 24/7 pump-out stations at every slip, full service laundry, showers, and swimming pool.  The club also offers an unobstructed view of NASA’s VAB and launch pads.

[Boats in a marina. Photo: Kennedy Point Yacht Club and Marina]

No matter where you decide to drop your anchor in Titusville, our marinas offer something for everyone. Whether you’re a visitor to the area or a local resident, these properties are there to help you enjoy living and playing on Titusville’s waterways. 

Tailspin

A Tale of Two Airports

[Photo of a P-51 Mustang flying.]

Titusville is home to two airports within our city limits: Arthur Dunn Airpark and Space Coast Regional Airport. Both airports serve the general public and offer various services for a wide range of clientele. Dunn Airpark is a non-towered airport, while Space Coast Regional maintains ATC operations from 7am to 8pm. Both airports maintain a Fixed Base Operator (FBO) to oversee services including fuel, hangaring, tie-down, parking and access to weather briefing tools.

Arthur Dunn Airpark (X21)

In 1924, the 40-acre field became part of the U.S. Airmail’s light station and emergency landing field for its airmail operations, until 1947 when the county purchased the property and re-named the airfield Arthur Dunn Airpark after a local City Commissioner.   

Today, the Airpark maintains a 3,000 ft x 70 ft paved runway (15/33) and a grass airstrip 1,800 ft x 100 ft (4/22) for lighter aircraft.

[Aerial photo of Arthur Dunn Airpark.]

Operations at the Airpark include the Skydive Space Center, where tourists and daredevils alike freefall from the nation’s highest jump of 18,000 ft.

[Photo: A skydiver descending with their parachute.]

Next door, the EAA’s local Chapter 866 (aka Smilin’ Jack) is a group of aviation enthusiasts, aircraft builders and pilots who meet monthly to exchange ideas and support of experimental aircraft construction. They also host a breakfast, that is open to the public once a month.

Space Coast Regional Airport (KTIX)

Originally constructed during World War II as a supplementary training airfield for the Sanford Naval Air Station. The two 5,000 ft x 150 ft runways provided a practice area for fighter and bomber pilots to test their skills during the war. After the war, the U.S. Navy and the War Assets Administration deeded the airport and land back to the cities of Titusville and Cocoa on April 18, 1947. The two cities then formed the Airport Authority to operate, maintain and oversee improvements to the land and airport.  

[Aerial photo of Space Coast Regional Airport.]

Today, the airport serves a range of aircraft from jets to light aircraft, providing aviation services for refueling, maintenance, hangar space and training.    

Space Coast Regional is home to several businesses, including U.S Aviation Training Center, Comp Air, Professional Aircraft Accessories, MAG aerospace, Space Coast Executive Jet Center, Spaceport Aviation Training Facility as well as the Valliant Air Command Inc. Warbird Museum.

[Photo: A B-25 Mitchell named “Show Me!” in flight.]

The Valiant Air Command also hosts the annual Warbird Airshow, (postponed until 2022 due to COVID-19). The airshow has been an attraction to the area since 1976.   Featuring WWII aircraft, engaging in mock strafing, dogfights as well as aerobatic demonstrations.

Since WWII, both airports have created an opportunity for residents to become a part of the aviation community. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast enjoying the museum or a pilot in training with sky high ambitions, our two airports are a source of enjoyment and pride for everyone who looks up at the skies above Titusville.

Healing Families — Healing Communities

[Parrish Medical Center Logo]

[Aerial Photo of the old Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital, circa 1970s.]

Pillars of Healthcare Excellence

North Brevard County Hospital District, dba Parrish Medical Center (PMC) was founded in 1958 by the State of Florida. PMC began as a single-story, 28-bed hospital set within an orange grove on the banks of the Indian River.

The medical center was expanded to include 96 beds in 1966, renovated in 1981 and replaced with an $80 million, 371,000-square-foot facility in November 2002. The replacement hospital was among the first-of-its-kind to be wholly designed and constructed using evidence-based healing design earning PMC international recognition as One of America’s Finest Healing Environments®.

Parrish Medical Center has since served as a leader in providing therapeutic healing environments as part of its person and family-centered model of care, including adopting the healing design concept within each of its newly constructed outpatient Parrish Healthcare Centers. This design concept is now recommended by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as the preferred design approach for all hospitals.

In 2014, PMC was the first hospital in Central Florida selected as a Mayo Clinic Care Network (MCCN) member. In the following year, PMC became a part of the Mayo Clinic’s Teleneurology Program. PMC has pioneered many firsts in healthcare advancements within the region including being the first hospital in the region to work with Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, FL) and InTouch Health® to pioneer the Remote Presence (RP-7®) Robot system The collaboration enhances PMC’s Primary Stroke program, nationally certified for quality and excellence by The Joint Commission.

[Photo of original hospital, circa 1950s.]

[Photo of Jess Parrish Memorial Hospital, circa 1980s.]

Parrishhealthcare.com

Healing Families — Healing Communities

(Continued)

[Photo of Parrish Medical Center today.]

Nationally Integrated Care Certified

[Gold Seal Logo — The Joint Commission – National Quality Approval.]

In 2016, with the announcement of Parrish becoming the first nationally Integrated Care certified healthcare organization by The Joint Commission, Parrish Healthcare, a regional network of collaborative health service providers, was introduced.

Throughout its 60-year history serving Brevard, Parrish’s contributions to the physical, social, environmental and economic health and wellbeing of the community and people served is second to none. Through our county’s economic ebbs and flows, as well as the evolution and transformation of our nation’s healthcare system, Parrish has proven its resolve to its mission, vision and values:

• Mission: Healing Experiences for Everyone All The Time®.
• Vision: Healing Families—Healing Communities®.
• Values: Safety, Loyalty, Integrity, Compassion, Excellence, Stewardship.

Parrish Healthcare’s collaborative network includes:

• Parrish Medical Center, nationally recognized as One of America’s Finest Healing Environments®;
• Parrish Medical Group, a large multi-specialty group of employed physicians and providers located throughout Brevard County certified by the National Commission on Quality Assurance, and
• Parrish Health Network, a large, collaborative regional network of hundreds of independent physicians and providers, multiple insurance companies, The Children’s Center, Jess Parrish Medical Foundation, the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, and many other allied health services.

Inset:

Governance and Leadership

North Brevard County Hospital District, dba Parrish Medical Center (PMC), is governed by a publicly appointed nine-member board of directors. Of the nine seats on the board, three are appointed by the City of Titusville, three are appointed by the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners, and three are joint appointments by the City and the County.

[Photo of Robert L. Jordan, Jr.]

Robert L. Jordan, Jr., Chairman, BOD

[Photo of Stanley Retz]

Stanley Retz, CPA, Vice Chairman, BOD

[Photo of Elizabeth T. Galfo]

Elizabeth T. Galfo, MD, Secretary, BOD

[Photo of Peggy Crooks]

Peggy Crooks, Treasurer, BOD

[Photo of Herman A. Cole, Jr.]

Herman A. Cole, Jr., Member-at-Large

[Photo of Billie Fitzgerald]

Billie Fitzgerald, Board Member

[Photo of Jerry L. Noffel]

Jerry L. Noffel, Board Member

[Photo of Maureen E. Rupe]

Maureen E. Rupe, Board Member

[Photo of Ashok C. Shah, MD]

Ashok C. Shah, MD, Board Member

For more information visit parrishhealthcare.com.

[Aerial photo of Indian River Lagoon with Titusville and Sand Point Park in the distance.]

A Waterfront Community

Titusville sits along the shore of North America’s most biodiverse estuary.

Nestled between the St. Johns River and the Indian River Lagoon, Titusville is uniquely positioned in one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. These local waterways not only provide for a plethora of fun aquatic activities, but are also home to a rich array of plants and wildlife and play a crucial part in the local economy.

The Indian River Lagoon is the most biologically diverse estuary in North America, and has been designated an Outstanding Florida Water and an Estuary of National Significance. The site’s mangrove wetlands and salt marshes filter runoff, stabilize sediments, maintain water quality and protect shorelines from erosion. Over 2100 species of plants and 2200 species of animals live along its 156 mile shoreline. Visitors year round can spot vibrant exotic animals swimming in its waters, including manatees, alligators, pelicans, and dolphins.

Additionally, the Indian River Lagoon is a huge economic staple of the region. The lagoon supports several industries and accounts for hundreds of millions of dollars every year, including fishing, boat and marine sales, and citrus fruits. In addition to the various species of fish that can be caught in the lagoon, a local species known as the rock shrimp is bountiful, and plays a big impact on the local seafood industry.

Providing such ideal access to the water, the Indian River Lagoon is also the perfect home for numerous manufacturing companies who produce commodities such as boats, engines, and kayaks.   Many of these products are one of a kind, and can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

To the West of Titusville, sits the St. Johns River — the longest river in the state of Florida spanning over 310 miles long. It is also one of the only rivers in the world to flow North. Located further inland than the lagoon, this majestic body of water is also home to over 200 species of fish and other aquatic life.    

While many would classify the slow-moving waters and natural serenity of the St. Johns as a “lazy” river, locals who engage in the many pastimes of the river would call it anything but. Airboating, water skiing, and fishing are all popular excursions for adventurers looking to have a visit to remember.

These two extraordinary bodies of water are an integral part of the culture of Titusville. Locals love the wildlife that have come to call Titusville home, and dozens of hobbies and passions rely on this access to water to thrive. Fishing, kayaking, swimming, and kiteboarding are all popular activities that draw visitors from all over Central Florida.

Throughout the year, thousands of locals and tourists alike embark on bioluminescent tours in the Indian River Lagoon. This breathtaking journey features a night time trip across the lagoon, where colorful dinoflagellates and comb jellies fill the water with a beautiful, other-worldly glow. Kayakers can use their hand or paddle to interact with the plankton and create sparkles on their hand or arms.

While much of Florida’s culture ties directly in to its proximity to the water, we in Titusville have a distinct love for our local waterways and the enrichment it brings to our life every day.

Titusville’s Gateway to the Sea

[Port Canaveral Logo]

[Aerial photo of Port Canaveral with cruise ships at the piers.]

Port Canaveral Voted Best U.S. Cruise Homeport of 2021; scores world’s largest cruise ship.

Information from CANAVERAL PORT AUTHORITY and CRUISE HIVE — DECEMBER 28, 2021

The 2021 Cruise Ship Awards published by Cruise Hive has named Port Canaveral as the Best Cruise Homeport in the United States for the second time. The port had previously won the 2019 awards.  Port Canaveral defeated 17 cruise ports in the competition, and edged out rival Florida ports including the  cruise capital of the world — PortMiami — for the top spot.

The Florida cruise port is the second busiest in the world, with multi-day embarkations and catering to some of the largest cruise ships from the largest cruise lines in the world. The port has already welcomed the new Terminal 3 to cater to Carnival’s new LNG-powered mega-ships, resulting in increased capacity.

Before the pandemic, Port Canaveral was hosting nearly 5 million revenue cruise passengers annually, which is set to keep growing in the future. The port has a total of seven terminals, with several recently undergoing renovations.

In other exciting news, Royal Caribbean International has announced its new, highly anticipated ship, Wonder of the Seas, will homeport at Port Canaveral beginning November 2022. Set to become the largest cruise ship in the world when it debuts in March 2022, it measures in at 1,188 feet long, 217 feet wide, and features 18 decks and 2,867 staterooms. Wonder will sail 7-night itineraries to the eastern and western Caribbean once she becomes fully operational.

[Photo of a cruise ship.]

Caption: The next world’s largest cruise ship, Wonder of the Seas. (Image courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)

The Gateway to Space

 [Photo of the External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters, standing at the entrance to the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit.]

Caption: Full-sized External Tank and Solid Rocket Boosters loom over the entrance to the Space Shuttle Atlantis® building. (Photo: KSCVC)

International tourist destination — Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex — sits right in Titusville’s backyard.

Florida is known as a world destination for tourists with its more than 825 miles of beautiful beaches, and numerous theme parks and thrill rides that span hundreds of acres each.   While Orlando may have the mouse house and the movie studio park to boast about, Titusville has the distinction of hosting one of the most unique tourist attractions in the universe — the ONLY place on Earth where humans took off in a rocket, and set foot on the moon.

Sitting just six miles east of Titusville, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex continues to be a major destination for millions of people each year, travelling from all over the United States and other parts of the planet to see where history was made, and where the future is unfolding before our very eyes.  Tourism at the Cape had a humble beginning in 1963 when NASA decided to allow citizens to tour the launch complexes for the first manned launches, and over the next several years, grew to include a Visitor Information Center, bus tours, and eventually launch hardware and rockets.

Today, the Visitor Complex is home to multiple exciting exhibits including one of the last remaining (unlaunched) Saturn 1B and Saturn V rockets, myriad space artifact displays, space suits, themed experiences, and the grand lady herself, Space Shuttle Atlantis®.  Visitors also have the opportunity to meet and talk with actual astronaut living legends, up-close and in-person, at multiple presentations and dining opportunities.  Guests also have multiple options to go behind the scenes at an active space launch facility on the various guided bus tours to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

Mission Zones

The Visitor Complex is organized into sections dubbed as “Mission Zones” which allow guests to weave their way through the story of the U.S. Space Program in chronological order: Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Shuttle, and beyond!

Zone — Heroes and Legends

Immediately upon entering the complex, guests come face-to-face with the early days of America’s space program via the large sculpted façade of the original Mercury 7 Astronauts.  From here, their journey begins.

Heroes & Legends Featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall Of Fame® Presented By Boeing®

The thrills and dangers of America’s earliest space missions come alive in this awe-inspiring journey designed to spark thought about how humans define a hero.  See artifacts from the dawn of the space age including a Redstone rocket suspended overhead, the Sigma 7 capsule and a unique close-up look at the Gemini 9 capsule.

[Photo of a large projection wall showing video of Earth, with people watching the show.] Caption: Inside the Heroes and Legends Theater. (Photo: KSCVC)

U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®

Envisioned as a place where American astronauts are remembered and honored, visitors can learn about the lives of space heroes through compelling displays. Created by the Mercury Seven astronauts,

The Gateway to Space

(Continued)

[Photo of the entrance to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.] Caption: The entrance to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex leads directly to the Heroes and Legends building and the iconic Rocket Garden. (Photo: KSCVC)

the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame® inductees are selected by a special committee of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation.

The Rocket Garden

Guests have a chance to walk among giants as they navigate among several actual rockets spanning the days of the early un-manned flights, through the Apollo program, military and commercial satellite launches, and soon, today’s commercial space launches.

Zone — Behind the Gates

One of the biggest attractions dating back to the earliest days of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex are the multiple bus tour options available to guests.

Standard Bus Tour (Included with Admission)

Guests can go behind NASA’s gates to see the past, present and future of America’s multi-user spaceport before making a stop at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, which sits just over three miles across the Banana River from Launch Complex 39B.

Special Interest Tours (Additional Charge)

For an additional charge, guests have the option to pay a little extra for exclusive stops throughout Kennedy Space Center or Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

At the time of publication, bus tours are limited to direct-travel to and from the Apollo/Saturn V Center, due to precautionary measures in response to COVID-19.

Zone — Race to the Moon

While on the bus tours, guests will get to stop at the Apollo/Saturn V Center — a large facility which pays homage to the heroism of America’s missions to the moon.  Here they will see artifacts from the Apollo missions and the people who made them happen.  There is also a recreation of the 1968 Apollo 8 launch inside the Firing Room.  Afterward, guests can walk under one of the few remaining Saturn V rockets in existence — displayed horizontally in all its 363-feet of engineering glory.  Also on display is the Apollo 14 capsule “Kittyhawk.”

Zone — Shuttle: A Ship Like No Other

A trip to Kennedy Space Center would not be complete without the chance to get up-close and personal with the last space shuttle orbiter to ever fly in space, Atlantis.  Inside the Space Shuttle Atlantis® building, guests will see the orbiter as if she were still in orbit; payload bay doors open, Canadarm extended, and s digital display of Earth flowing by behind her.   Also located inside are more than 60 interactive exhibits celebrating the history, technology and impact of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.  

There is also a full-size recreation of the Hubble Space Telescope, astronaut training simulators, the Shuttle Launch Experience® simulator, and Forever Remembered — a memorial honoring the astronauts of Space Shuttles Challenger and Columbia.

Zone — NASA Now + Next

Be immersed in the science of current missions to the ISS and upcoming missions to explore deep space, travel to the Red Planet, and beyond.

• NASA Now - Learn about America’s multi-user spaceport, missions to the ISS and commercial space operations.
• Journey to Mars: Explorers Wanted - Discover NASA’s plans to explore the Red Planet.
• Mars Rover Vehicle Navigator® - See the newest concept vehicle dubbed MRVN®, designed for navigating Mars.

Other Attractions:

Aside from the zones, there are multiple other attractions, exhibits and experiences available to guests of all ages. These include the iconic IMAX Theater, the new Planet Play — a fully immersive multiple-story indoor play area for children ages 2-12; and the Space Memorial which honors fallen astronauts.

Enhanced Experiences:

Aside from the more in-depth bus tours which can be purchased, there are other programs that are available for guests to choose from as add-ons to their space experience.   For information on these extras, check out the website at KennedySpaceCenter.com.

Coming Soon: Gateway

Opening March 2022, guests will experience the interstellar travel of tomorrow while celebrating what is happening right now within our space program — complete with a space-flown SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

[Photo: Sunlight reflects off the glass and steel structure of a new building labeled “Gateway.”]

The Visitor Complex also has several dining facilities with myriad choices of meals and snacks, as well as multiple shopping venues to grab a special space souvenir — including the Space Shop, the world’s largest store dedicated to space memorabilia.

There are also opportunities to watch a real launch, live and in person at the Visitor Complex, if you happen to schedule your trip around NASA’s and its commercial partners’ launch calendar.

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closing only for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Presently, there are safety precautions and policies in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so for up-to-date information on safety requirements, venue closures, times, ticket prices, or more, be sure to go to KennedySpaceCenter.com.

[Photo: The Space Shuttle monument at Space View Park in Titusville.]

A Walk thru Space History

American Space Museum gives local perspective of the space race.

Titusville’s culture has been shaped by its rich and distinct history, from the days of the early agricultural industry, to the modern era of space exploration. Space has always been a big part of Titusville’s identity, and the relics of the early space race you can find here in our own downtown are a proud testament to the past.

The American Space Museum & Space Walk of Fame showcases many items and artifacts which have been donated by individuals, astronauts, space workers, NASA, and space company contractors involved with Titusville’s extensive space-related past.  This non-profit organization is dedicated to the preservation of the space program’s history and the education of future generations about the sacrifice and cooperation necessary to build the early space program.  An eclectic collection of fascinating memorabilia is sure to wow visitors with a glimpse back in time, including shuttle launch consoles, gear and equipment from actual missions, and galleries paying tribute to the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs.

[Photo: Decommissioned launch control stations inside the museum.] Caption: A retired launch control console from the Space Shuttle Program on display at the American Space Museum.

The museum is operated by the U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation, who also constructed several monuments at Titusville’s Space View Park, a 2.63-acre community river park. Benches, boardwalks, and foliage line the park which borders the Indian River. The U.S. Space Walk of Fame Foundation also constructed beautiful artistic sculptures which portray the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, and Space Shuttle programs. These monuments are dedicated to the workers and astronauts of their associated program. There’s also an “In The Line of Duty” memorial monument dedicated to those who lost their lives in the service of space exploration.

The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10am – 5pm, with no reservation needed; however, guided tours are available by reservation. You won’t regret seeing this unique, once-in-a-lifetime look at one of the many things that truly makes the Space Coast a place like no other on Earth.

[Photo: Mercury 7 monument at Space View Park in Titusville.] Caption: Above - The monument dedicated to the original Mercury 7 Astronauts, complete with bronze plaques featuring the astronauts’ hand impressions.  Below - The Space Shuttle Program monument with names of personnel who contributed to the success of the program. [Photo: monuments with space program workers’ names engraved.]

[Photo: Artist rendering depicting a lighter-than-air balloon lifting a capsule high above Earth.]

Into the Stratosphere

Space tourism company to open facility in Titusville as aerospace industry expands in area.

TITUSVILLE, Fla. (Dec. 18, 2021) — Space Perspective, a burgeoning space tourism company, has announced they have selected Space Coast Regional Airport in Titusville, Florida as the location for the company’s future worldwide campus and manufacturing complex.  The $38 million investment is expected to create 240 new jobs by 2026, and will include the construction of a 120,000-

square-foot manufacturing building, which is slated to be fully operational within the next two years.   The expected annual salary for these jobs is approximately $80,000 plus benefits.  Space Perspective presently operates at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch and Landing facility.

Space Tourism is a fast-growing segment of the industry and has gained more and more notoriety lately, as seen October 13, 2021, when Captain Kirk himself — actor William Shatner — launched on a suborbital flight from Texas, courtesy of Blue Origin.  The expansion of space tourism in the Titusville area is just another example of how the aerospace world continues to grow and thrive in our area.

For the past several years, aerospace investment in the Titusville area has increased exponentially.   Part of that investment comes from defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin — which moved its ballistic missile program headquarters to Titusville in 2020 — but also includes the commercial space program that is rapidly expanding in the area.

Blue Origin, which has invested over $250 million on its New Glenn rocket manufacturing center and other facilities in Space Florida’s Exploration Park near Kennedy Space Center, is set to spend another $1 billion on expanding its facilities.  This latest project, labeled Blue Origin’s “South Campus,” according to reports in Florida Today, will nearly double the size of lands already leased by the company from NASA.

Blue Origin, which employs over 700 people in North Brevard, is expected to build its 322’ New Glenn rocket at its “North Campus” industrial complex, with a targeted launch timeframe of 2022 – 2023.

In 2021, Lockheed Martin also expanded their Orion spacecraft manufacturing capabilities when they converted the former US Space Camp building into the STAR (Spacecraft, Test, Assembly and Resource) Center.  The 18-month, $20 million renovation increased the company’s capabilities to support NASA’s missions to the moon, Mars, and beyond.  The STAR center created 75 new jobs to start, which will likely expand in the future.

In recent weeks, Terran Orbital has also announced they will make a $300 million investment to create a manufacturing plant at Kennedy Space Center.  The company’s expansion is expected to create over 2,000 high-paying jobs, and is another example of how the Space Coast — and Titusville — will continue to be on the forefront of humankind’s venture to the stars.

See a Live Launch

[Background photo: A rocket launches at night.]

Titusville is unique in that it lies just a few miles across the Indian River Lagoon from Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — the world’s busiest spaceport.   As NASA prepares to launch its Artemis Program SLS rocket, and SpaceX and United Launch Alliance continue their crewed-and un-crewed launches, living and visiting Titusville affords people a great vantage point to watch a launch.  

There are several locations up and down the Titusville shoreline to get a view of a launch, but honestly, you’d be able to see, hear, and feel it from anywhere in the city.   All you have to do is look up!

If you really want to see the rocket go from the ground, through the clouds, and off into the final frontier, here is a list of some of the primo launch viewing spots around town:

• Kennedy Point Park - Located along US 1, south of Cheney Hwy. (SR 50).
• Kirk Point Park - Located along US 1, south of Knox McRae Dr.
• A. Max Brewer Bridge - Located in North Titusville near Sand Point Park.
• Municipal Marina - Located along    US 1, north of Garden St. (SR 406).
• Parrish Park - on the east side of the river along SR 406 at the A. Max Brewer Causeway.
• Rotary Riverfront Park - Located along US 1, north of Knox McRae Dr.
• Sand Point Park - A 30-acre park on the shore of the Indian River, located at the juncture of US 1 and the A. Max Brewer Causeway.
• Space View Park - Space View Park is located at the east-end of Broad St., less than 15 miles directly across from the launch pads.
• William J. Manzo Park - Located along US 1 just north of Country Club Blvd.

Fun in the Sun at Playalinda Beach

[Photo: People walk along the beach.]

One of Titusville’s biggest attractions is Playalinda Beach, a 24-mile-long beach along the Canaveral National Seashore. The shore is home to more than 1,000 plant species and 310 bird species, and is the longest undeveloped beach on the east coast of Florida. This makes it the perfect destination for locals and tourists alike who want to have a fun, relaxing day in the sun.

Sight-Seeing

Open from 6am - 6pm in the winter and 6am - 8pm in the summer, Playalinda Beach offers a beautiful view of the Atlantic, unobscured by construction or development. Visitors of Playalinda love it for its serene, undisturbed natural feel and quiet, peaceful charm. While many of Florida’s beaches have been developed with hotels, shops, and food stands, Playalinda is a breath of fresh air with uncontested views.

[Photo of a boardwalk leading to the beach. NPS/Photo Stanley]

The drive out to the beach crosses into the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Sightseers will easily spot turtles, gators, and exotic birds as they drive through the beautiful preserve. There’s even a visitor center for those who want to explore a little more of the refuge, which consists of over 140,000 acres and hosts more than 1,500 species of plants and wildlife, including 15 federally listed species. The visitor center is open seven days a week from 9am - 5pm.

[Photo: Crowds watch a rocket launch from the beach.] Caption: A SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch viewed from Playalinda Beach.

For those who want a little more, the path includes a detour out to Black Point Wildlife Drive, which is a 7-mile, one-way drive through shallow marsh impoundments and pine flatwoods. It’s an excellent place to see waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, and raptors, and sometimes visitors will catch a glimpse at alligators, otters, bobcats, and various other wildlife.

Playalinda offers magnificent views of rocket launches from the Kennedy Space Center. Located within 5 miles of the launch, the beach is one of the closest locations to the site on the Space Coast. Additionally, it offers a nice walk down the beach and plenty of space to set up camp for a comfortable launch-viewing experience!

Additionally, Playalinda will soon become the epicenter of Titusville’s multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trails. The Coast-To-Coast Trail, which starts in St. Petersburg, will complete its 250 mile journey at Playalinda Beach. The Coast-To-Coast Trail also overlaps with the St. Johns River-To-Sea Loop, a 260-mile trail underway in northeast Florida, which runs through five counties and encompasses part of the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway.

Fun in the Sun at Playalinda Beach

(Continued)

Fishing

While the Space Coast is already a superb place to cast your line, Playalinda is a local fishing spot that has become something of a fan favorite. Our pristine beach is the perfect place for surf fishing, with no shops, condos, or restaurants along the shore to distract you from your beautiful natural surroundings.

Playalinda is also home to a slew of different fish, with Whiting being the most common catch year-round. Pompano are also a popular catch in the cooler months of the year, along with Bluefish, Black Drum, and Croakers.

Sea Turtle Nesting

Many Titusville residents eagerly await the annual sea turtle nestings in the summer months. Between May and October, biologists monitor between 5,000 and 13,000 nests. More sea turtles nest on Canaveral National Seashore than any other National Park unit, making it an extremely popular tourist destination and an exciting annual tradition for locals. During the months of June and July, visitors can sign up for a FWCC permitted Turtle Watch program where the mother turtles can be seen swimming up to shore, laying her eggs, and returning to the ocean. Reservations begin every year on May 15th. For more information, call (386) 428-3384 ext. 0.

There’s also an annual sea turtle festival celebrating the occasion in Downtown Titusville. This family friendly event includes a slew of turtle themed activities, such as arts and crafts, face painting, dance groups, and much more. The event is accompanied by a Thirsty Turtle Beer Brawl Kick Off Party for adults the night before, and an Indian River Lagoon Clean Up the morning of.

Surfing

Playalinda is a hidden gem when it comes to surfing. While you won’t find massive tides coming ashore, Playalinda is known for consistently decent waves on northern swells and an incoming tide. The Canaveral National Seashore is huge, spanning 13 different parking areas, so the water is never crowded and there is always plenty of room to catch a wave.

Florida’s Go-To For Birding

Every year, thousands of birds flock to Florida to enjoy a reprieve from the cold northern winter, and every year thousands of eager birdwatchers follow! This year marks the 25th Annual Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival, taking place in Cape Canaveral February 2 – 6, 2022.  The SCBWF is one of the largest birding festivals in the United States, featuring world class photographers, field trips, workshops, presentations, and, of course, bird watching!

Florida is rich in native populations of wildlife and birds, but it is also along a busy route for migrating birds stopping over for the winter. Florida’s Space Coast – home to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Canaveral National Seashore, and Kennedy Space Center, is one of the best birding locations in the United States because it is situated at the convergence of two zones — temperate and tropical — creating a natural diversity of unique habitats that attract varied bird species. The festival invites bird watchers of all ages, from beginners to veterans, to attend and catch a glimpse of the magnificence of nature.

Titusville provides birdwatchers and enthusiasts numerous opportunities to get up close with nature and view birds and wildlife in their natural habitats.

• Blue Heron Wetlands area in South Titusville;
• Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, east of Titusville;
• Betty Salter Trail at the Great Outdoors Plantation Manor, off State Road 50;
• Fox Lake Sanctuary, West Titusville;
• Blackpoint Wildlife Drive;
• Parrish Park off A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway;
• Enchanted Forest, State Road 405;
• Chain of Lakes; and more!

Enjoy the outdoors and cool weather as you explore the natural beauty that Titusville and the surrounding area have to offer. For a full list of field trips, presentations, and activities, visit scbwf.org.and support the sponsors that make the whole event possible!

Explore Historic Titusville

• 57 stories about historic Titusville
• 5 historic Titusville “tours”
• Historic imagery
• 3 FREE ways to explore!
  1. DOWNLOAD the FREE mobile app (search: Explore Historic Titusville)
  2. VISIT the website (history.titusville.com)
  3. GET the full-color book (available at City Hall)

[Image of the website homepage.]

[Collage of photos: 1) Inside an old store in Titusville, circa 1890s; 2) Outside an old building, circa 1960s; 3) Outside St. Gabrielle’s Church, circa 1920s; 4) Outside downtown bank, circa 1910s; 5) Elevated photo of the Old Walker Hotel, circa 1920s; 6) Men on deck of a fishing trawler, circa 1900s.]

[Aerial Photo of Eastern Florida State College’s Titusville Campus.]

Eastern Florida State College

[EFSC Logo]

Eastern Florida State College’s Titusville Campus, located off U.S. 1 in north Titusville, offers courses leading to Bachelor Degrees and Associate in Arts and Associate in Science Degrees. The 120-acre campus is adjacent to the Indian River Lagoon and Chain of Lakes Park. The campus serves about 2,000 students including dual-enrolled students from both Titusville and Astronaut High Schools.

[Photo: EFSC students on campus.]

The Titusville Campus boasts outstanding biological science, chemistry, and computer labs as well as a greenhouse for horticulture projects. The Student Center provides excellent support services that complement the academic environment. A Learning Resource Center, Academic Success Center, and Fitness Center are also available for use by all students. Additionally, Brevard Public Schools operates an Adult Education Center on campus grounds.

The campus is well positioned to add career and technical programs to address the workforce needs of a rapidly growing aerospace sector at Kennedy Space Center and the region’s high technology companies.

[Photo: Two EFSC students doing coursework.]   

The dedicated faculty and staff at the Titusville Campus strive to ensure all students have a safe and exemplary academic experience to help them reach their personal and professional goals.

[Photo: Three EFSC students outside on campus.]

[Background aerial photo of Astronaut High School.]

[Astronaut High School Logo]

War Eagles

Empowering students in an ever-changing world.

Opening its doors in 1972, Astronaut High School was built to serve the students of north Brevard County and help ease the overcrowding of Titusville High. Astronaut High was constructed to accommodate all the departments, administration, and classrooms under one roof. Today, AHS has 1,060 students enrolled in grades 9 through 12.

[Aerial photo showing the football stadium at AHS.]

Astronaut High’s mission is to provide a safe, supportive learning environment where students can excel academically and socially based on their individual goals, interests and needs. AHS offers two academies within the school: the Health Sciences Academy — offering courses for students interested in the medical field and providing them with an opportunity to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA); and the Fine Arts Academy, which offers curriculum to students who are interested in the arts such as music and theater.

In addition to the two academies, AHS offers many other academic programs including: the Advanced Placement Program, AVID Program, Duel Enrollment with Eastern Florida State College, Business Management Analysis, Construction, Digital Media, Food Science, Journalism, Army JROTC, Science Research, Welding and an annual Post-Secondary Education Decision Day Celebration.

Over the past five years, Astronaut has seen an increase in the graduation rate, a 95% pass rate for the Certified Nursing Assistant Program, and the school library was recognized as one of the top ten in the state.

Some of the special programs and activities offered by AHS include: Astro Drones, Books with a Bite, Buddies Club, Chamber Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Concert Band, Drama and Musical Theatre Productions, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, German Honor Society, Homecoming Parade and Bonfire, HOSA, Interact & Anchor Service Clubs, International Thespian Honor Society, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Robotics, Science National Honor Society, Senior Processional Parade, Student Government Association, Science Research, Theatre 810 – Black Box Theatre and Ukulele.

[AHS football player runs with the ball during a game.]

War Eagle Pride extends to sports, where the school has seen State Championship victories in boy’s and girl’s cross-country, track and field, wrestling, volleyball, softball and tennis.  Astronaut also holds the record for most wins in the annual cross-town rivalry football game against Titusville High School.

Among its notable alumni are NFL players such as: Cris Collinsworth (1977) of the Cincinnati Bengals; J.T. Hassell (2014) of the New York Jets; Wilber Marshall (1980) of the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins; Aaron Walker (1998) who played for the 49’ers, the Baltimore Ravens, and more.  Other graduates of notoriety include Dr. J. Dean Cole, orthopedic surgeon and medical device inventor; and Daniel Tosh (1993), a stand-up comedian and TV Host.

[Photos of Chris Collinsworth and Dany Tosh.]

From the classrooms to the athletic fields, War Eagle Pride soars through the staff and students, creating a positive environment and preparing them to become the next leaders and innovators.

[Background aerial photo of Titusville High School.]

[Titusville High School Logo]

Terriers

Blazing the path for a quality education.

The earliest school in North Brevard consisted of a one room school house on LaGrange Rd., serving just 17 students.  As Titusville began to grow in the mid-1800’s, the need for a larger and more adequate facility emerged. Titusville Elementary and High School took on many shapes and locations, serving grades 1 – 12 in the first half of the 1900’s.  By the 1930’s The school had moved to its present location, and a building was annexed to house younger students, which was known as Riverview Elementary until 1970.  Today Titusville High has grown into a premiere education center for the 21st century.

[Photo: Old schoolhouse with children and teachers, circa 1880s.] Caption: (Right) 1888, First public school. Located on LaGrange Rd.

[Photo: Old, large school building, circa 1920s.] Caption: (Below) 1920’s, Titusville School, later Riverview Elementary, now the site of City Hall.

Over the last 20 years, Titusville High School has seen some major changes to the campus, including the two-story Dorothy S. Wise Instructional Building; the Science, Art and Health Occupations Building; the Fine and Performing Arts Building; a Cafeteria; Gym; Media Center; a new administration office, as well as a new football stadium completed in 2007.

Titusville High’s current enrollment is 1,165 students, encompassing grades 9 through 12.  The students have the opportunity to take Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses in Automotive, Culinary Arts, Cybersecurity, Digital Design, Dispatch (Police, Fire, Ambulance), Medical (Patient Care), and TV Production. Titusville High has the highest number of CTE certifications in Brevard county.

Titusville High also offers Advanced Academic Placement including: AP courses, AP Capstone Diploma, Dual-Enrollment, and is a Collegiate High School.  A total of 29 Dual-Enrolled students graduated THS with their AA Degree during the 2019 – 2020 season, as well as multiple National Merit Scholarship Finalists, including AP International Diploma Candidates.

The Titusville Terrier spirit looms large over the school with a history of achievements that extends to the playing field. The Football team had many winning seasons, most notably the back-to-back state wins in 1982 and 1983; the Girls Volleyball State wins in 1981 and 1983; Boys Cross Country State wins 1968, 1971, and 1977; as well as the Girls Bowling State Championships in 2014.

Some notable alumni include:   Joe Deforest (1983), Football Coach NC State and USC; Michaela Hahn (2011), Professional Soccer Houston Dash; Mitzi Kremer (1986), 1988 US Olympic Bronze medalist; and Daniel E. Diesel (1976), who was an honor student that lettered in nine sports and received a football scholarship to Tennessee Tech.  Diesel (pictured right) had a 35-year teaching and coaching career with THS, and is now the Mayor of Titusville (2020 – present).

[Photos: Student Dan Diesel playing football for THS, circa 1975; Titusville Mayor Daniel E. Diesel today.]

Titusville High continues the longtradition of hosting myriad social and academic clubs, including the National Honor Society, Speech, Mu Alpha Theta, Interact, Key Club, Spanish Club, Robotics Club, and Student Government to name a few.

Titusville High School’s 133-year history continues to grow alongside the city’s thriving new tech, manufacturing and health industries, turning out the next generation of leaders, builders and dreamers.

Connecting People to Opportunity

The Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce has been a part of our community for nearly a century.

The Chamber’s legacy of support for small business is well known by many. Much of the daily work of a good Chamber of Commerce, though, is largely unseen and unheralded—helping people who relocate get acquainted and connected to local people and local businesses, helping to plan a ribbon cutting for a new enterprise, helping visitors find their way to good experiences and happy stories to pass along to their friends and neighbors back home.

The heart of the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce is about these daily actions, connecting people with what they need to know, forging paths to businesses’ front doors, helping locals meet other locals who become part of their support system, their business, their lives.

The Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to be an agent of connectivity. But it takes a great deal of knowledge to be effective connectors. Chamber staff and some dedicated volunteers and a greater circle of friends of the Chamber work together to help extend that support. They are dedicated to being on the cutting edge of developments in the area, and always know how to make a new friend and help a citizen, or help find a resource who does know if they don’t.

The Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce is led by a dedicated Board of Directors and experienced, professional leadership.

Key committees include: Education Committee, Governmental Affairs Committee, Membership Development Committee, and the Titusville Area Visitors Council.

[Photo: Marcia Gaedcke]

[Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce Logo]

Take the Downtown Farmers Market, for example.

The Farmers Market, a twice-monthly event in historic downtown Titusville from August 2021 to Dec 10, featured local vendors with fresh produce and food items.

Through a special program of the City of Titusville (utilizing some of their American Rescue Plan fund allocation) and organized and administered by the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce, tokens to spend for food items at Farmers Market were made available to Titusville families and households who were financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

[Graphic: Downtown Titusville Farmers Market, with photo of fruits and vegetables.] Caption: Dollars distributed to date through the Downtown Farmers Market = $188,540.

Forging Strong Relationships Means Listening To People.

Take the Longest Table, for example.

The idea of the Longest Table is the opposite of many dinner parties. For this special event, the idea is to come and sit with someone you don’t know—to put yourself with people who may think differently than you, have different experiences and perspectives. Sitting together, over good food and good conversation, prompted by questions about the directions you would like to see the community grow or improve, offers surprises, insights and alternatives, and forward possibilities.

This annual event puts upwards of 200 people together sharing a meal, sharing ideas and opinions.

[Titusville Longest Table Logo] Caption: Titusville.org

Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce

Take Taste of Titusville, for example.

The soul of a Chamber is its support for its businesses. This annual event brings locals out in great numbers, helps restaurants and other local providers connect with new customers and reconnect with old.

[Taste of Titusville Restaurant Bingo Logo]

Building on the success of the Shop Early. Shop Safe. Shop Local. initiative, and because of continuing pandemic conditions, this past May the Chamber created a month-long TASTE OF TITUSVILLE celebration with significant social media support.

Taste of Titusville was bigger than ever, with Restaurant Bingo and prizes. Instead of a one-day event of sampling, participants enjoyed a full month of flavorful exploration!

Rebooting in Titusville

Over the past two years, the Titusville Chamber of Commerce led the charge to get business-ready for the changes the pandemic brought, giving away 30,000 reusable cloth face masks to 165 businesses, creating the REBOOTING in TITUSVILLE microsite, where our businesses promised to take the necessary precautions to provide safe conditions on premises, and these Take The Pledge businesses were promoted, while a portion of the Rebooting story also focused on helping people coming here Visit Safely.

[Circular graphic: Take the Pledge, Our Pledge…Your Safety, in this together. Rebooting in Titusville & North Brevard.]

Always analyzing what they accomplish, the Chamber staff provides statistical information from key indicators, and the numbers say that the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce is a vital part of the solution, over the past trying timeframe and in setting us up for continued avenues of support.

See significant increases in usage/interactions in support of Chamber Members. Comparing to the prior year, the 2021 online MEMBER REFERRALS nearly doubled — from 2,1341,268 in 2020 to 4,526,797 in 2021 — direct referrals to our local businesses through the TITUSVILLE.org MEMBER DIRECTORY.

[Graphic depicting multiple statistical figures in boxes: 4,526,797 referrals through online directory; 29,704 click-throughs to member social media; Click-through to member websites = 8,612; 12,915 Map to member locations displayed; 128 emails sent from potential customers; Welcomed 73 new members; Ribbon cuttings conducted = 19; 16,534 coupons viewed; Facebook followers = 7,930 (between three pages); Direct contacts made with members = 8,440; Electronic subscription growth = 290.]

North Brevard Economic Report

Troy Post, North Brevard Economic Development Zone

The region of North Brevard is an area of East Central Florida that encompasses the City of Titusville, as well as the surrounding communities of Mims, Scottsmoor, and Port St. John. Over the past several years, this community has experienced significant economic growth in not only the aerospace sector — due to its proximity to Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — but also in other sectors as well.  Multiple out-of-state businesses have made the decision to relocate to the Titusville area to take advantage of the economic incentives provided, bringing thousands of jobs to the area.

New Business Developments

More than 2000 jobs expected to be created by Terran Orbital.

[Graphic of satellites in orbit, with Terran Orbital Logo.]

Terran Orbital, one of the world’s leading providers of small satellites (also referred to as CubeSats), recently announced plans to build a new 600,000 sq. ft. facility at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. The new manufacturing center, projected to cost $300 million, will be built on property near the former Space Shuttle Landing Facility, an area managed by the state’s aerospace and spaceport development authority, Space Florida. The project is expected to create more than 2,100 direct new jobs in Brevard County over the next few years.

Terran Orbital combines satellite design, production, launch planning, mission operations, and in-orbit technical support to serve a diverse customer base that includes military, civil, and commercial clients. The manufacturing complex that the company plans to build in North Brevard will enable Terran to manufacture “nanosatellites,” compact apparatuses approximately the size of a shoebox, but equipped to do almost everything a conventional satellite can, for a substantially lower cost per unit. The new facility will feature 3-D printing and additive manufacturing technologies to permit rapid space vehicle delivery to Earth’s orbit, as well as capabilities to produce and fabricate the highest quality, most technologically advanced printed circuit board assembly.

Additional information about the company and its plans for satellite production in North Brevard can be found at www.TerranOrbital.com.

The addition of more than 2,000 new jobs to the North Brevard area in the coming years is expected to also create additional jobs throughout the community. Using the Regional Input-Output Modeling System (or, RIMS II) developed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis,, the Terran project is also expected to create 2,542 indirect jobs (those created by suppliers of materials/services/goods used in the construction / operation of Terran’s manufacturing center).

To view the full economic impact report, follow this link at the NBEDZ website: www.nbedz.org/reports.

GO2 Weapons, Inc. expanding manufacturing in Titusville.

[Photo of an armed soldier, with GO2 Logo superimposed.]

GO2 Weapons, Inc., a high-precision machining company and gun manufacturer, has expanded into a 15,000 sq. ft. industrial building in Titusville’s Spaceport Commerce Park, a structure that formally housed the firm Intelli-Fuels. GO2 makes a variety of machining parts and semi-automatic rifles for civilian and military use (primarily for Special Forces units – the company routinely displays its wares at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference), distributing its products through a dealer network that consists of retail sites across the southeast U.S., and in Utah.

The company also offers original equipment manufacturing (OEM) services to other industry partners. Go2 Weapons employs approximately 15 people at its Titusville facility. To learn more, visit www.Go2weapons.com.

GenH2 liquid hydrogen equip. manufacturer locating their HQ in Titusville.

[Artist rendering depicting the new manufacturing plant.]

GenH2, a company that manufactures infrastructure components and fueling stations for liquid hydrogen systems, has purchased the 10-acre former Eckler Industries property along U.S. Highway 1 in Titusville, for conversion into a new, state-of-the-art manufacturing center, headquarters, and research lab. GenH2 plans to spend approximately $35 million to completely redevelop the buildings and the property. Financial assistance for the project was provided by the North Brevard Economic Development Zone (NBEDZ), with technical assistance…

North Brevard Economic Report

(Continued)

…provided by the Economic Development Commission (EDC) of Florida’s Space Coast. The real estate deal was brokered by Rocket City Real Estate; Rush Construction will serve as general contractor.

The company anticipates serving a growing demand in the electric car and truck industry, utilizing liquified hydrogen to charge fuel cell batteries in these vehicles. In California alone, the company anticipates the placement of more than 2,000 charging stations. According to company president Cody Bateman, that trend is expected to continue in 15 additional states over the next five to ten years.

GenH2, which also has offices in Arizona and Texas, anticipates hiring 35 to 40 employees over the next two years, and eventually reaching 100 employees at the Titusville site; the average wage for these jobs is forecast to be $50,000.

Amazon set to build distribution center in Titusville-Cocoa area.

[Photo: Amazon distribution center.]  

A new $13 million Amazon distribution facility is being planned for Cocoa, FL, that could serve as a “last-mile” distribution center for Amazon, according to recent media reports in the Orlando Business Journal. The project site, which encompasses over 28 acres, is located near Grissom Parkway, along the southern boundary line of the North Brevard Economic Development Zone. If the project goes forward, the initial facility would likely contain approximately 200,000 sq. ft., and employ more than 300 people. Additional information on the developer can be found at www.seefriedproperties.com.

Amazon’s Last Mile team is the division responsible for getting packages from delivery stations to a customer’s doorstep. The company has been growing its last-mile delivery activities in recent years, in an effort to increase delivery speeds for Amazon-shipped products and packages. A recent article in The Wall Street Journal highlighted the company’s efforts to multiply the number of fulfillment, sorting, and other delivery facilities across the U.S. in the coming years.

Local Real Estate Market

[Photo: For Sale sign in front of a house.]

According to the Space Coast Board of REALTORS, “Closed Home Sales” (single family homes) for October of 2021 were up 3.9%, with 1,069 units closed, compared to 1,029 units a year prior (October 2020). “New Pending Sales” were down, by just -3.1% over the previous year, with “New Listings” – an indication of available housing stock – also down, by -5.2%. The median sales price for a Brevard single family home continued to climb, up by 19.3% (to $327,000), compared to last year during the same period, when the median sales price was $274,150. “Months’ Supply of Inventory” of homes for sale was down, by a significant -33.3% to just one month, a decrease from 1.5 months during October 2020. For additional information on key economic statistics for the North Brevard area, please visit www.NBEDZ.org and www.SpaceCoastMLS.com.

Employment numbers for Titusville show marked improvement over past year of COVID-19.

The table below shows the latest economic statistics for the northern part of Brevard County, Florida (principally the communities of Mims, Port St. John, Scottsmoor, and Titusville), according to seasonally unadjusted figures from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

New & Continued Projects

Kentucky Fried Chicken

[Photo of car wash presently located at future location of restaurant.]

A site plan is under review for a 1,542-square-foot restaurant located at 4670 South Street.   The project includes demolishing the existing car wash on the property.

U-Haul

[Photo of U-Haul facility with trucks on site.]

A site plan is under review for a 38,387-square-foot self storage center located at 2060 Garden Street.

Renzetti New Building Addition

[Photo of an industrial building.]

A site plan is under review for a 11,920-square-foot new manufacturing building located at 8800 Grissom Parkway.

Comfort Suites

[Comfort Suites Logo]

Site permit has been issued for a 68,922-square-foot, 122-room hotel located at 4830 Helen Hauser Boulevard.

Massage Envy

[Photo of the Massage Envy storefront.]

A new massage parlor and skin care boutique is preparing to open at Titus Landing.

Mutter Office Building

[Photo of the yellow building under construction in Downtown Titusville.]

Site and building construction continues for a 2,316-square-foot office building located at 346 S. Washington Avenue.

AOTC Office Building

[Photo: A building under construction.]

Site construction continues for a 9,600-square-foot office and storage building located at 1540 Armstrong Drive.

Verona Subdivision

[Photo: A newly-constructed house.]

Site work for phase 1 is complete, and construction continues on the single-family homes. Site construction also continues for Village D, which consists of 79 single-family homes on 121 acres. The preliminary plat/site plan is under review for the third phase, Village B, which will consist of 174 single-family homes on 117 acres. 

Tranquility Bay

[Artist rendering of the subdivision’s main building and community pool.]

Site construction continues for a subdivision consisting of 99 single-family homes located at the northeast corner of US 1 and SR 405.

Titusville Medical Office

[Photo: A building under construction.]

Site and building construction continues for a 5,285-square-foot medical office located at 2335 S. Washington Avenue.

Vystar Credit Union

[Photo: A new bank building nearly complete.]

Site and building construction is nearing completion for a new credit union and demolition of the former Eckerd’s located at 1809 Cheney Highway.

Enterprise Rent A Car

[Photo: An old car dealership with a uniquely-shaped canopy roof.]

A site plan has been approved for site related changes to the property located at 1026 S. Hopkins Avenue for a car rental business.

Fox Lake Hammock

[Photo: A concrete block house under construction.]

Site construction is complete, and home construction has begun, for the 61-lot, single-family home subdivision located along SR 405 just north of Fox Lake Road.

Nu-Vision Professional Office

[Photo: An office building under construction.]

Site and building construction continues for a 3,965-square-foot office building located at 105 Pinedo Drive.

BRAGG

[Photo: A building under construction.]

Building construction continues of a new 9,221-square-foot warehouse and office located along Chaffee Drive.

Brooks Landing

[Plan drawings depicting a subdivision’s layout.]

Site permits have been issued for a 143 single-family home subdivision located north of Jay Jay Road.

Scobie Park Improvements

[Photo: Shoreline along the Indian River Lagoon, with an historical sign nearby.]

Scobie Park improvements are underway, which include a pervious walkway to the water and landscaping which includes mangroves. The improvements will be funded with a Space Coast Tourist Development grant in the first quarter of 2022.

Launch Federal Credit Union

[Photo of a bank under construction.]

Site construction continues for a 3,796-square-foot credit union located west of Singleton Avenue and South of Garden Street.

Important City Numbers

Completed & Open

Chipotle

[Photo: Chipotle Restaurant storefront, with “Opening Soon” stamp overlay.]

The new Chipotle restaurant will be opening very soon at Titus Landing.

Cafe’ Paradiso

[Photo: Café Paradiso storefront, with “Open for Business” stamp overlay.]

A new restaurant featuring Cajun, Creole, Caribbean, and Cuban cuisine has opened at 16 Main Street.

Paradise Grille

[Photo: Paradise Grille restaurant storefront, with “Open for Business” overlay.]

A new restaurant featuring BBQ and grilled meats, artisan sandwiches, classic sides, and delectable desserts, has opened at 106 Main Street.

Leaf Lounge

[Photo: Leaf Lounge storefront, with “Open for Business” stamp overlay.]

A new cigar lounge recently opened in Downtown Titusville, at 317 South Washington Ave.

[Back Cover – aerial photo of Sand Point Park, three apartment buildings, and Downtown Titusville.] Caption: City of Titusville, 555 South Washington Avenue, 321-567-3775.; Titusville.com; Hashtag Launch from Here.