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Sheriff Training, Strawberry Fest, Rocket Launches, Mortgage Rates, Real Estate Deals! 🚀🍓🔥

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Sheriff Training, Strawberry Fest, Rocket Launches, Mortgage Rates, Real Estate Deals! 🚀🍓🔥

Sheriff Training, Strawberry Fest, Rocket Launches, Mortgage Rates, Real Estate Deals! 🚀🍓🔥
BCSO Training Boosts Deputy Readiness, Space Coast Strawberry Fest Returns, EEL Program Protects Hundred Acre Hollows, Rocket Launches & Mortgage Rates Drop Below 6%! 🚀🍓🌿🏠

Larry Fleckinger

Mar 5, 2026

Image Courtesy of BCSO

The Brevard County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) proudly welcomed 15 new deputy sheriffs completing the 25-L3 Basic Recruit Training Program.

 

This demanding course blends academic rigor with real-world skills, and the class celebrated a high 93.39% average.

 

Recruits mastered defensive tactics, vehicle maneuvers, and firearms training to ensure readiness for duty.

 

In an exciting move, a regional training complex is now under construction in Viera, set to open in May 2027.

 

This 45,000-square-foot center will become a central hub for enhanced law enforcement training, benefiting BCSO and neighboring agencies.

 

BCSO’s Equivalency of Training (EOT) program also provides certification pathways for out-of-state officers and military police, welcoming experienced professionals into Florida law enforcement.

 

These advancements highlight BCSO’s strong commitment to public safety and a highly skilled force for Brevard County.


Read More...

Image Created by AI

The Space Coast Strawberry Festival returns to Viera, Florida, on March 7 and 8, 2026, promising two full days of family fun and plenty of fresh strawberries.

 

Held at Space Coast Daily Park from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the event welcomes guests for just $7 each, with children under 2 admitted free.

 

Parking is available on-site for $5 per vehicle.

 

Highlights include the Miss Strawberry Fest Pageant, a cute baby contest, pie-eating competitions, and a vibrant arts and crafts area featuring local vendors.

 

Families can enjoy interactive shows by magician Bob Bohm and be captivated by the Gator Boys Alligator Show.

 

The fun zone offers kids bounce houses, slides, and a petting zoo, while food lovers will find classic fair snacks and irresistible strawberry treats straight from local harvests.

 

The festival remains a beloved Brevard County tradition, blending live entertainment, community spirit, and strawberry-themed excitement.


Read More...

Image Courtesy of Viera Voice, Jill Blue

Brevard County has unanimously approved the transfer of about 114 acres in Suntree to its Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program, ensuring permanent protection for the beloved Hundred Acre Hollows wildlife habitat.

 

Home to over 300 gopher tortoises and managed by a caring nonprofit since 2016, this area plays a vital role in local ecosystem health and environmental education.

 

Adding these lands to the EEL Program—which has preserved more than 28,000 acres since 1990—shields them from development and opens doors for new restoration efforts.

 

Local residents and conservationists widely support this move, seeing it as a strong response to ongoing growth and a commitment to preserving Suntree’s natural beauty.

 

Visitors can experience Hundred Acre Hollows most Sundays just before sunset, with all programs powered by volunteers.

 

This step strengthens Suntree’s environmental future for generations to come.


Read More...
 

Trivia Questionâť“

In 1969, NASA's Apollo 11 mission successfully landed astronauts on the moon. Who were the three astronauts on board for this historic event?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

 

On This Day in History — February 26

  • In 1770, the Boston Massacre took place, where British soldiers killed five colonists. This event heightened tensions between the American colonies and Britain.


  • In 1953, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin died after 29 years in power. His death led to a power struggle within the Soviet leadership.


  • In 1963, country music stars Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, and Hawkshaw Hawkins were killed in a plane crash in Tennessee.


  • In 1979, NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft made its closest approach to Jupiter, sending back unprecedented images and data of the gas giant.


  • In 2013, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died after battling cancer for several years. His death led to political uncertainty in the country.


 

Space Coast Weekend Events:

March 5, 2026 - March 8 2026

Melbourne

Car Raffle Grand Drawing – American Muscle Car Museum
Thursday, March 5, 2026
A special charity event featuring the grand prize drawing for the Helping Seniors Car Raffle. Attendees can tour the museum and support local nonprofit services for seniors.
Event Link | Map

Brevard County Farmers Market – Wickham Park
Thursday, March 5, 2026
Weekly market featuring fresh produce, baked goods, local vendors, and handmade items at Wickham Park’s Regional Pavilion.
Event Link | Map

Strawberry Festival – Wickham Park
Saturday–Sunday, March 7–8, 2026
A two-day family festival celebrating Florida strawberries with live entertainment, food vendors, carnival rides, arts and crafts, and kids’ activities.
Event Link | Map

 

Viera

Local calendars, venues, and libraries to check this weekend:
Brevard County Libraries | The Avenue Viera Events | Space Coast Events Calendar

 

Palm Bay

City of Palm Bay Multicultural Festival – Fred Poppe Regional Park
Saturday–Sunday, March 7–8, 2026
A free community festival celebrating cultures from around the world with live performances, global cuisine, arts and crafts vendors, and a kids’ zone.
Event Link | Map

Live Music: Hail Mary – Space Coast Harley-Davidson
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Live rock music performance as part of Bike Week festivities with vendors, bikes, and food onsite.
Event Link | Map

 

Rockledge

Speed Dating: Melbourne & Cocoa Beach Singles (50s/60s) – BeachFly Brewing Company
Saturday, March 7, 2026
A fun social event designed for singles to meet new people in a relaxed brewery setting with structured mini-dates.
Event Link | Map

 

Indialantic

Local calendars, venues, and libraries to check this weekend:
Town of Indialantic Events | Brevard County Libraries | Space Coast Events Calendar

 

Satellite Beach

Local calendars, venues, and libraries to check this weekend:
City of Satellite Beach Events | Brevard County Libraries | Space Coast Events Calendar

 

Cocoa Beach

50’s Sock Hop – Cocoa Beach Country Club
Sunday, March 8, 2026
A nostalgic themed party with live music, classic 1950s attire contests, dinner, dancing, and retro fun supporting Cocoa Beach Main Street.
Event Link | Map

Gregory’s Comedy Club Shows
March 5–7, 2026
Stand-up comedy performances featuring touring comedians in an intimate club setting inside the Cocoa Beach area entertainment district.
Event Link | Map

 

Cape Canaveral

Bears on Deck Cruise – Port Canaveral
Saturday, March 7, 2026
A themed social cruise departing from Port Canaveral featuring music, drinks, and sunset views along Florida’s Space Coast waters.
Event Link | Map

 

Merritt Island

Meadmaking Workshop – Waffle Sauce Meadery
March 3–8, 2026 (multiple sessions)
Learn the basics of crafting mead from honey in this hands-on workshop covering fermentation, flavoring, and bottling techniques.
Event Link | Map

Free Aviation Career Seminar – 2FLY Airborne
Saturday, March 7, 2026
An informational seminar for those interested in aviation careers and flight training, featuring instructors and aircraft tours.
Event Link | Map

 

Port St. John

Local calendars, venues, and libraries to check this weekend:
Brevard County Parks & Recreation | Brevard County Libraries | Space Coast Events Calendar

T

itusville

Local calendars, venues, and libraries to check this weekend:
Playalinda Brewing Company Events | Brevard County Libraries | Space Coast Events Calendar

 

Mims

Local calendars, venues, and libraries to check this weekend:
Brevard County Parks & Recreation | Brevard County Libraries | Space Coast Events Calendar

 

County-Wide / Space Coast

Local Live Music Across Brevard County
March 3–8, 2026
Bars, breweries, and restaurants throughout Brevard County host nightly live music featuring local bands across rock, country, jazz, and beach music genres.
Event Link | Map

```

 
Quote Of The Day

"Don't be afraid to chase your dreams, for it is only through pursuing what sets your soul on fire that you will truly find fulfillment and purpose in life."

 

🚀 Space Coast Rocket Launches (FL) 

March 5, 2026–March 8, 2026

March 5 – March 13, 2026

(Kennedy Space Center + Cape Canaveral Space Force Station · Eastern Time)

Below is the all-inclusive list of launches currently scheduled or publicly manifested on Florida’s Space Coast within this window.


Thursday, March 5, 2026

No launches currently listed for this day.


 

Friday, March 6, 2026

No launches currently listed for this day.


 

Saturday, March 7, 2026

No launches currently listed for this day.


 

Sunday, March 8, 2026

No launches currently listed for this day.


 

Monday, March 9, 2026 — 11:14 PM ET

Rocket / Provider: SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — SLC-40
Mission: EchoStar 25 (EchoStar XXV)

What they are launching:
A large commercial communications satellite designed to provide broadcast and connectivity services across North America.

What to expect:
This mission requires a higher-energy trajectory than typical low-Earth-orbit launches. After liftoff, the rocket will climb downrange over the Atlantic before performing an extended upper-stage burn to place the satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit.


 

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

No launches currently listed for this day.


 

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

No launches currently listed for this day.


 

Thursday, March 12, 2026 — 6:00 AM ET

Rocket / Provider: SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5
Launch Site: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station — SLC-40
Mission: Starlink Group 10-48

What they are launching:
A batch of Starlink broadband internet satellites headed to low Earth orbit as part of SpaceX’s expanding global internet constellation.

What to expect:
A typical Falcon 9 Starlink mission profile with first-stage separation a few minutes after liftoff, followed by orbital insertion and satellite deployment roughly one hour into the mission.


 

Friday, March 13, 2026

No launches currently listed for this day.

 

A once-abandoned gas station in Cocoa Beach now pulses with life as a colorful gastropub, blending its garage heritage with a lively, industrial vibe.

 

Located at 382 N Orlando Ave, this eatery attracts locals and visitors with inventive fare, from crabcakes Benedict and breakfast burritos to blackened mahi tacos and homemade ice cream.

 

The back patio—adorned with string lights and shaded seating—hosts live music and welcomes both families and pet owners, making it a true neighborhood hangout.

 

Inside, the split layout features an ice cream parlor beside a bustling bar and restaurant, all designed for fun and comfort.

 

Attentive, friendly staff, clear gluten-free and vegan options, and standout sides like yucca fries set this spot apart.

 

With breakfast from 7:30 AM and late-night hours, it’s quickly become a beloved favorite in Cocoa Beach’s fast-growing dining scene.


Read More...

30-year mortgage rates in Brevard County have dipped recently, with the average fixed rate now at 5.875% as of March 4, 2026.

 

This marks a noticeable drop from last week’s 6.07%, quickly catching the attention of local homeowners eager to refinance.

 

Refinance rates have followed suit, falling to 6.44% from 6.54% just two weeks ago.

 

This downward trend is prompting more residents to explore refinancing, aiming to reduce their monthly payments and capitalize on more favorable terms.

 

Uncertainty remains, however, as global events continue to impact economic conditions and future mortgage rates may shift unexpectedly.

 

Both buyers and homeowners are encouraged to stay updated and speak with local advisors to make informed decisions in this dynamic market.


Read More...

Brevard County Real Estate Market Snapshot (REPEATED)

Brevard’s market is acting more “balanced” than the frenzy years — buyers have more time and leverage, while well-presented, correctly priced homes still move.

📊 Prices: Mostly Steady, Slightly Softer

  • January 2026 median sale price: about $360,000, down roughly 0.55% year-over-year.
  • Zillow’s typical home value estimate for Brevard County is around $335,987, down about 3.8% year-over-year.
  • Condos/Townhomes: MLS reporting shows a median around $268,500 (about flat year-over-year).

⏳ Days on Market: Buyers Have More Breathing Room

  • Homes are taking longer to sell: around 88 days on market in January (up from about 77 days last year).
  • Translation: homes that are overpriced or not showing well tend to sit, while “turn-key + priced right” listings still get attention.

📦 Inventory: More Choices (Especially for Condos)

  • Condo/townhome inventory is elevated with an estimated ~7.8 months supply, signaling a more buyer-friendly segment.
  • New listings are rising and pending sales have picked up, suggesting motivated buyers are still out there — they’re just being more selective.

đź§­ What This Means Right Now

For Sellers: Pricing strategy matters more than ever. The market is rewarding homes that look great online, show well in person, and are priced to today’s competition.

For Buyers: You typically have more time to negotiate inspections, repairs, and terms — and you may see more price adjustments on listings that started too high.

📌 Quick Local Tip

If you’re thinking about making a move in 2026, the biggest advantage is strategy — not speed: sellers win with presentation + pricing; buyers win with strong financing and smart negotiation.

New Construction Homes in Brevard County, FL — Prices Still Dropping, Buyer Incentives and Lower Interest Rates!

(STILL THE BEST DEALS)

View ALL New Construction Homes In Brevard! https://NewHomesBrevard.com.

 

For Sale-Coming Soon!

Located In Active Gated 55+ Community With Clubhouse & Pool

Great 2nd Home or Retirement Home
New Roof, Recent A/C 

Reach out and "Let's Make A Deal" 
Larry 321-693-0771 or FindLarry@gmail.com

See Price, Photos & 3D Tour by Clicking Here!

đź’ˇ Answer to Trivia Question:
Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins
 
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The Space Coast Spotlight is your go-to source for everything happening in Brevard County, FL — from local news and events to restaurant highlights, community stories, and insider tips. Stay connected with the people, places, and experiences that make the Space Coast shine.

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