Star-Advocate from Titusville, Florida • Page 1

VOL. 41, NO. 37 wvw.floridatodav.com SERVING NORTH BREVARD Wednesday, Dec 27, 2006 The Star-Acivocate 71 Couple weds at Titusville Wal-Mart "I halfjoked about the idea of getting married at Wal-Mart because one of our assistant managers was an ordained minister." Don Rudisil employee, Wal-Mart V--" ''i tar '71 BY ERICA K. DANIELS FOR FLORIDA TODAY TITUSVILLE Stephanie Carter dreamed of a garden wedding. She would be surrounded by a variety of beautiful flowers, arranged to frame a picture-perfect day.

Don Rudisil made her dream come true, at Wal-Mart of all places. The unique ceremony was held in the garden department of the Titusville Wal-Mart, Dec. 14. Rudisil and Carter, both 22, have been store employees for four and three years, respectively. They didn't really notice each other at first, but last August they became friends, and it was a love story in the malting.

Donna Skattum, for FLORIDA TODAY Great appreciation. Joe Gas-sman gets a hug from Essence "We would talk after work. I had a crush on her, but I kept telling myself that it was nothing. "Then, I remember sending her an instant message telling her that I loved her. That's when I learned that she liked me too," Rudisil said.

The couple began their official courtship Jan. 24. "I half joked about the idea of getting married at Wal-Mart because one of our assistant managers was an ordained minis ter." It was no joke. Family, friends, and even a few Wal-Mart customers enjoyed the garden ceremony that was "A lot of us pitched in to help with the preparations. This is their home away from home," said Maryann Stilson, customer service manager.

Their guests agreed. "This is the best time to do it because we're always here," said Jackie Bennett, co-worker. at this year's Habitat For Humanity appreciation banquet. Ricketts and her family live in a home built by Habitat For Humanity volunteers. President of Erica K.

Daniels, for FLORIDA TODAY Garden wedding. Titusville residents Stephanie and Don Rudisil were married in the garden department of the Titusville Wal-Mart. Both are employees of the store. Habitat steps INSIDE down after CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION TITAN TOUCHDOWN five years BYDONNASKATTUM FOR FLORIDA TODAY When Joe Gassman signed on as director of operations for Habitat For Humanity in 2000, the organization was building eight to 10 homes a year in the southern Brevard County area. I By the time he steps down as president of the organization next year, Habitat For Humanity volunteers will be building between 25 and 30 homes a year throughout Brevard.

"There's no way I can con Erica K. Daniels, for FLORIDA TODAY Ready for Santa Angel Canseco, 5 months old, and his cousin, Orfa Roxanna Al-varado, 1, are waiting for their picture with Santa at The Children's Center. See more scenes around North Brevard, 30. tinue that pace and still be out in the public," said Gassman of his f- rfffi I A decision to step down as president. He will continue in his orig inal position as director of opera tions for the organization.

Gassman took over the reigns as president and chief executive officer five years ago, despite his discomfort with many aspects of the position. "1 lT-l I "I'm an operations person. I That's where my gift is. Being in the public eye all the time has '3 created a level of stress. I a very private guy," he said.

Which leads one to wonder why Gassman took the job in the first place. "I guess it goes back to the fact JJ that I enjoy a challenge. I saw that there was a need, and de Debi Beming, for FLORIDA TODAY spite what I wanted, you go where God needs you to be." Photos for FLORIDA TODAY Kim Gabriel, who served as Habitat's president for the 10 used as a training aid for students in the Brevard Community College aerospace technology program. Christmas spirit "Santa," played by Weston Bertot takes a moment from delivering gifts to visit the Royal Oaks Nursing and Rehab Center, 40. years before Gassman, said he was the right man for the job at Titan trainer.

The Titan 1 rocket was transported from Titusville High School to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, where it is being Cold war rocket lands at Canaveral as student aid It 4 i "1 4. 1. 1 Erica K. Daniels, for FLORIDA TODAY Rocket redux. Dr.

Al Koller, executive director of BCC aerospace programs, teaches students the dynamics of a Titan rocket booster that was donated to the program. From left are: Matt Schuermann, April Ballard, Melinda Daniel and Earl Humphrey. For the kids Kids from Pinewood Elementary the machine was too far gone to restore. But the story doesn't end there. Last September, The Titan 1 was transferred from the high school to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, where it is being used as a training aid for students in Brevard Community College's aerospace technol-ogy program.

"We felt good about donating the rocket," said Barbara Iwa-nicki, immediate past president of the Kiwanis Club of Titusville. "We recognize the historic and economic impact that the space program has on Titusville and were pleased that the rocket could be put to use that way." "That rocket represents one big gift to education," said Al Roller, Ph.D.,executive director of BCC aerospace programs BY ERICA K. DANIELS FOR FLORIDA TODAY TITUSVILLE The Titan 1 has a storied history. One of the countrs earliest intercontinental ballistic missiles, the missile quickly became a symbol for American military might during the Cold War. One particular example, while it never left the ground, has logged plenty of miles only to end up educating rather than destroying.

Once a beloved landmark at Titusville High School, the missile was displayed in front of the school from 1971 to 2005. However, time and weather took its toll, and the missile fell into disrepair. The Kiwanis Club of Titusville established the Save the Rocket Foundation to raise money for its restoration, but receive other donated artifacts Head Start program enjoy "Babes from the space program. in Toyland" at the Emma Parrish Theatre in Titusville, 40. "I know there is a whole lot of hardware lying around in people's garages.

We could benefit tnenme. "Joe's gift with the staff and our families is that he doesn't tell us how to do something and doesn't give things to the families," she said. "He encourages all of us to work through the challenges and situations. He shows our families what they have to do, not what we will give them." "When I first came onboard, we could sell a house, land and everything for $37,000," Gassman said. "Five years later the cost has risen to $86,000.

Pay levels haven't changed, we're working with the same clients, so now, someone I would have said yes to five years ago I may have to say no to, or find creative ways of sayingyes. "We are on the verge of exploding. We're a valid solution to meeting some of the affordable housing needs for low-income families, and we can do more. When I took over as president I knew this day was going to come. That the affiliate was going to grow and we would need a director of operations and a president who can go out and be in the public eye, someone to tell our story and be our messenger." Gassman notified Habitat's board of directors that he was stepping down as president in July and expects his replacement to be named next year.

The new president "will be working with resource development, to be an advocate. We're supposed to be a grass roots voice for low-income families in need of affordable housing. That message needs to be out there more and more," he said. Gabriel added, "This is not a See HABITAT, 2G from that sort ofthing, he said. andSpaceTEC.

"People can get education from textbooks, but technicians also need hands-on training. They need real things to play with. Koller said. "When you take a student to look at a real rocket, they perk up and pay attention. It's like watching football on television versus being in the stadium.

That's the value of this rocket." Koller said he would like to SpaceTEC is a national cen ter for training and certifying aerospace technicians. If you would like to donate artifacts from the space program, con tact Koller at 730-1020 or visit Web site http:lilypie.com i Minis Volunteer Fire Department seeks new vehicle The department is request ing assistance from the com munity to raise the extra funds. The Star-Advocate is published on Wednesday by FLORIDA TODAY, a Gannett Inc. publication. Mark Mikolajczyk, Publisher and President Terry Eberle, Executive Editor Tom Clifford, Managing Editor Michael J.

Coleman, Chairman MAIL: P.O. Box 419000, Melbourne, a 32941-9000. FAX: 242620. NEWS EDITOR: Eric Garwood, egarwoodbrevard gannett.com 242-3759 ADVERTISING: 242-3808 CIRCULATION: 259-5000 DEADLINE FOR NEWS ITEMS IS 14 DAYS PRIOR TO PUBLICATION. MVFD is currently having a fund drive asking residents for donations.

help of a $118,750 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Wildland Pumper will boost the capabilities of the department at the scene of structure fires and add a new tool with which to fight brushfires. Its smaller size will allow firefighters faster maneuverability and easier access to places larger equipment cannot enter. "The Mims Volunteer Fire Department is now working with American LaFrance, and expects to place the order for the new rig soon," MVFD spokesman Don Slayman said, adding the truck should be at work locally early in 2007.

However, even with the grant money, the fire department is extremely under funded and needs an additional $20,000 to purchase and equip the new truck. Truck a needed new machine to fight brushfires BY MAUREEN TEMPLE FOR FLORIDA TODAY MIMS The Mims Volunteer Fire Department decided to buy a new pumper truck, with the "We really need the community's support this year to help bring this Wildland Pumper to North Brevard, Slayman said. Donations may be mailed to the station at 2476 Taylor Ave nue, Mims, FL 32754. EEEEEB funRTYTTPPl Brfy ZZ7 V' -I,.