Latest news with #Viera
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Memorial Park Cemetery cleaned up for Memorial Day weekend
The Brief The Memorial Park Cemetery was cleaned up ahead of Memorial Day weekend. Earlier this month, the group cleaned off headstones. Saturday, they returned to the property to plant nearly 500 American flags. TAMPA - Volunteers banded together to clean up and beautify a previously neglected East Tampa cemetery ahead of Memorial Day. Memorial Park Cemetery on E Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd is a predominately African American site for hundreds of veterans and their families. The backstory Some served dating back to World War I. Others served while Jim Crow Laws were in place. Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera said, "I have to think that the people who served during that time who were African American, wanted to gain respect at home for folks like them." The property was in shambles up until last year. Many burial sites were unintelligible. He said, "Having this cemetery the way it was a few years ago was a disgrace to Tampa, it was a disgrace to our values." It was then mistakenly sold in a land auction. "The city of Tampa was preparing to buy it but apparently someone else purchased it so we as a city had to go back and purchase it from that owner," he added. READ: 28th annual Memorial Day Observance ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park & Museum The city has since given the cemetery a historic designation and used ground-penetrating radar to identify gravesites. Viera said upkeep of the cemetery is a top priority for a host of organizations. What they're saying "Every year we come out here, the firefighters, the Cemetery Society, the Veterans Treatment Court Mentors, Vietnam Veterans of America, different organizations and everyday volunteers come out here in Memorial Day month to clean up this cemetery," he added, "As a way of just making sure we honor those American heroes, those who died of natural causes and those killed in action." Earlier this month, the group cleaned off headstones. Saturday, they returned to the property to plant nearly 500 American flags. "People should, Memorial Day Weekend, Memorial Day do something for our fallen soldiers and our Gold Star families," he said, "We're home to a lot of heroes. Pay tribute to those heroes." CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Jennifer Kveglis. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trader Joe's applies for building permit in Melbourne
Melbourne could be getting a Trader Joe's in the future. An application for a building permit has been filed for the grocery store at 2221 Town Center Ave. That's at the Avenue Viera center. There is no known date for when construction would start. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Pringle joins The Viera Co. as associate counsel
Rachel Pringle, a graduate of Florida State University College of Law, recently joined The Viera Co. as associate counsel. 'Rachel brings relevant professional experience in several practice areas and a keen legal mind, which I am sure will serve to enhance the Viera legal department as we move forward and continue to build upon the strong foundations laid by our predecessors,' said Mark Boyd, senior counsel for The Viera Co. Pringle has experience in various practice areas, including environmental, land use, homeowners' associations and real estate law. As a Florida native, she has lived throughout Central Florida, settling in Melbourne in 2018. Since then, she has been active in many local professional organizations, working to strengthen relationships between residential homeowners' associations and local businesses. The Viera Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of A. Duda & Sons Inc., and manages commercial and residential development of Duda's non-agricultural property. The Viera Co. also is the developer of the master-planned community of Viera in Brevard County. The company's integrated real estate operations include Viera Builders, Viera Pools and Outdoor Living, Viera Commercial Properties, Duran Golf Club and Addison Village Club. The mission of The Viera Co. is to create vibrant, livable communities that are built with faith, integrity and thoughtful stewardship of the land. One Senior Place, the senior-focused information and resource center at 8085 Spyglass Hill Road in Viera is welcoming Dr. Melissa Burgos, who has joined the staff of Central Florida Spine & Pain. Central Florida Spine & Pain, led by Dr. Nicholas Giordano, operates inside One Senior Place as one of 47 service providers. Burgos is a board-certified, fellowship-trained pain management physician with a passion for helping patients reclaim their quality of life. She specializes in identifying and treating the root cause of pain — offering personalized, minimally invasive solutions for chronic pain, spine issues, joint discomfort and other issues. Fluent in English and Spanish, Burgos earned her Doctor of Medicine from the Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine. She then completed her residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the VA Caribbean Healthcare System. After her move to Brevard County, she completed a fellowship in interventional pain management, gaining extensive experience working alongside spine surgeons. "With a deep commitment to compassionate care, Dr. Burgos brings both advanced training and a hometown heart," Giordano said. "And as a proud native of Brevard County, she's excited to serve the community she calls home." For more information about the network of businesses or the dozens of events presented annually by One Senior Place, call 321-751-6771, or to access the online business directory, visit Alex Hadid has been promoted to forensic engineer II at Quality Forensic Engineering in Melbourne. Hadid joined the team at Quality Forensic Engineering (Qforensics) in 2023 as a mechanical engineer and accident reconstructionist, specializing in automobile collisions, tractor-trailer collisions, pedestrian accidents, black box analysis and product failure analysis. Hadid has a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering (2022, from the University of Florida). He recently passed the principles and practices exam, signifying his commitment to pursuing his licensure as a professional engineer. 'We are proud of Alex and his accomplishments with Qforensics,' said Brian Pfeifer, president and CEO of Qforensics. 'Having investigated over 180 accident cases, Alex continues to refine his skills and expand his knowledge to assist our clients along the Space Coast.' Quality Forensic Engineering is a full-service, forensic engineering firm, providing engineering support to clients in the areas of accident reconstruction, biomechanics, fire investigations, patent litigation analysis, premises liability, product liability and tire failure analysis. Its forensic engineers support clients throughout the United States To learn more about Qforensics, go to or contact Hadid at 321-574-6002. Todd Hickman, a professional with 45 years in the automotive-repair industry, recently joined Empire Auto Care, 2124 Palm Bay Road, Palm Bay, as a service writer. Hickman's background includes two decades as a mechanic, and 25 years as a service adviser and manager. He also is a master automotive technician with advanced-level certification and service consultant certification through the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence — distinctions he has held for more than 40 years. Prior to joining Empire Auto Care, he was the mechanical service manager at Glenn's Tire and Automotive in Melbourne. 'The opportunity to grow with a newer store and help build a strong customer base is an exciting challenge,' Hickman said. 'I'm passionate about delivering great customer service — being reliable, trustworthy, and making sure every customer understands and prioritizes their vehicle's needs.' Empire Auto Care is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month. Empire Auto Care also operates a location in Fort Lauderdale. If you have a Business Newsmakers item you'd like to publish, please email details to Wayne T. Price at wtpkansas@ or contact him at 321-223-0230. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: The Viera Co. names Pringle as associate counsel
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. DeSantis' idea to eliminate property taxes may come with risks
The Brief Governor Ron DeSantis came out in support of banning local governments from collecting property taxes. DeSantis says that change would require changes to the state constitution, but any proposal should be bold since people need relief. Opponents warn that eliminating local property taxes would leave governments without enough revenue to finance police departments and schools. TAMPA, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis says he backs the idea of banning local governments from collecting property taxes. He made the comments on social media first, then reiterated them during a stop in downtown Tampa on Monday. "Do you think it's fine that you buy property, you buy a home, you own it outright, free and clear, and yet you have to continue to pony up money to the government just for the courtesy of using your own property?" said DeSantis. READ: Florida Gov. DeSantis announces I-75 expansion, $70B in road improvements, new Buc-ees Dig deeper According to a study by the Florida Policy Institute, local governments in Florida collect $42.7 billion in property taxes annually, or about $2,000 per person. Property taxes generate just under a fifth of the revenue for local governments and half of the revenue for school districts. The report's author, Dr. Esteban Santis says that property taxes finance so much at the local level that without them, the state would have to double its sales tax rate from 6% to 12% to maintain local services. READ: Gov. Ron DeSantis hits Byron Donalds, boosts wife in Florida governor speculation According to Santis, removing property taxes would not only hit lower-income families hardest but also be a less reliable source of revenue because consumer demand ebbs and flows. "It's going to make it harder to forecast and plan for the school districts in particular," Santis said. The other side Tampa City Councilor Luis Viera says the state is wading into treacherous territory. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube "This is something that we have to take seriously and begin to speak out on," said Viera. He points out that local governments, like the City of Tampa, use property taxes to fund police officers and firefighters. READ: Cold case cracked: Murder suspect arrested in 1997 beating, stabbing of Tampa man Promising lower taxes is a favorite pastime of politicians, but so is promising strong public safety, according to Viera. "I'm a public official who's always very proud to support our police," said Viera. "And this is a time where you'll take hits for wanting to fund the police in a proper way, because that's what property taxes do," said Viera. What's next DeSantis posted that a constitutional amendment would be needed to eliminate, reform, or lower property taxes, but the boldest amendment should be put on the ballot with a chance of reaching 60% public support. "People do need relief," said DeSantis. "The homestead exemption is not enough for people. Their assessments are going up. They're having to pay more, and we don't we don't want to see that." READ: Many Florida condo buildings could lose state-run insurance coverage under new bill. Here's why One state senator has proposed a bill that would analyze different options for eliminating or making dramatic changes to property taxes. The Source FOX 13's Evan Axelbank collected the information in this story. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Yahoo
Police make arrest in hit-and-run crash involving 10-year-old pedestrian
Police have arrested a man and accused him of hitting a 10-year-old child with an SUV in East Haven last month and taking off from the scene despite multiple witnesses trying to stop him. The hit-and-run crash occurred on Jan. 14 shortly before 4 p.m. when police and firefighters responded to the area of 655 Main St. on the report that a pedestrian was struck while trying to use the crosswalk, according to Capt. Joseph M. Murgo of the East Haven Police Department. Murgo said police quickly determined the vehicle involved was a 2018 Honda HR-V. The driver reportedly struck a child in the crosswalk and took off through a parking lot without stopping or slowing down. The vehicle was last seen on Eastbound Frontage Road. According to Murgo, witnesses to the crash tried to intervene and were unable to stop the driver. The child was treated at the scene and was later taken to Yale New Haven Hospital for injuries not considered life-threatening. Murgo said video surveillance in the area showed one of the witnesses to the crash waving his hands and chasing down the Honda following the collision. Police later found that the vehicle was registered to 69-year-old Serafin Reyes Viera of New Haven. When investigators spoke to him, he acknowledged that he cut through a parking lot on Main Street but said he did not recall striking anyone, according to Murgo. Authorities obtained a warrant for Viera's arrest before making arrangements for him to turn himself in, Murgo said Friday. He faces charges of failure to yield to a pedestrian and evading responsibility resulting in injury. Viera is free on a $2,500 bond and is scheduled to appear in New Haven Superior Court on Feb. 26.
