| The Mayfield Minute - September 21, 2025 |
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National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
In 1990, President George H.W. Bush officially proclaimed the month of September as Childhood Cancer Awareness month to highlight the need for support and research for innovative treatment and ultimately a cure. Cancer is the second most common cause of death among children ages 1 to 14 following only accidents. About 9,550 children in the United States will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, which is approximately 185 children per week.
Increased child participation in clinical trials, along with innovative new treatment methods, have led to promising increases in survival rates for childhood cancer patients. Today, the percentage of children who survive more than five years after their initial cancer diagnosis is 85%, an extraordinary improvement from the mid-1970’s when the five-year survival rate was less than 58%.
In a recent statement from the White House, President Trump said, “Our nation stands with the thousands of families who face the tremendous challenges of childhood cancer. We acknowledge their fortitude, faith, and unbreakable spirit—and we solemnly honor the memories of the precious young souls taken far too soon.”
In Brevard County, we are fortunate to have the Candlelighters of Brevard and the American Cancer Society working tirelessly in our community to support childhood cancer victims and survivors, their families, and caregivers. Additionally, these organizations raise funds for cancer treatment research and look forward to the day when the medical community finds a cure. We in the Florida Legislature share that goal and have recently allocated additional funds for pediatric cancer research.
I consider it a great honor to represent District 19. Please share this link with your friends and family so they too, can sign up for the Mayfield Minute.
If you or someone you know needs my assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My staff and I are here to serve you! |
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29 New Laws to Take Effect on October 1st
Twenty-nine of the new laws passed by the State Legislature and signed by Governor DeSantis during the 2025 legislative session are set to take effect on Wednesday, October 1st.
Some of these new laws are listed below, along with links to their respective bill analyses.
HB 113 – Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police
SB 150 – Abandoning Restrained Dogs During Natural Disasters
HB 253 – Offenses Involving Motor Vehicles
HB 437 – Tampering with an Electronic Monitoring Device
HB 687 – Driving and Boating Offenses
HB 757 – Sexual Images
SB 948 – Flood Disclosures
CS/SB 1198 – Fraudulent Use of Gift Cards
HB 1451 – Sexual Cyberharassment
SB 1804 – Capital Human Trafficking of Vulnerable Persons for Sexual Exploitation
To view the full list and read more about each new law, click here.
Two Local Organizations Receive State Grants for Apprenticeship Programs
Last week, the Florida Department of Education announced $14.6 million in awards through the Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant (PCOG) to fund 34 entities to start, expand, or operate registered apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs at Florida school districts, colleges, state universities, and private training entities.
"These programs give students the chance to train alongside industry experts and discover their strengths and step confidently into the jobs that drive Florida’s economy forward," said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas.
AAR Aircraft Services, Inc., with five Florida locations including one in Rockledge, will receive a $630,000 grant to begin a new apprenticeship program for occupations in Aircraft Maintenance Technician. SpaceTEC Partners, Inc. in Titusville will receive a $246,655 grant to expand their apprenticeship programs for occupations in Mechatronics, Advanced Machining, Advanced Manufacturing Fiber Composites, Additive Manufacturing, and CyberSecurity.
Since the Florida Legislature established the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant in 2019, over $105 million has been awarded to fund more than 350 proposals. Florida is home to nearly 800,000 K-12 Career and Technical Education (CTE) students, more than 480,000 post-secondary CTE students, and 22,444 registered apprentices and pre-apprentices.
FWC’s Florida Panther Conservation Pilot Program Takes Effect
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has announced the selection of 15 properties for the Florida Panther Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) Pilot Program.
The Florida Panther PES Pilot Program is designed to incentivize the eligible landowners by providing annual payments over a 3-year period to maintain or improve habitat conditions that benefit panthers.
“We’re encouraged by the response from landowners and the quality of the habitat enrolled in this program,” said Jennifer Goff, Deputy Director of the FWC’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. “Florida’s private landowners are essential for conservation in this state. Private lands provide healthy wildlife habitat and connect conservation lands across the landscape.”
The program received nearly 70 applications, from which 15 were chosen to participate. The selected properties cover more than 40,000 acres of valuable panther habitat. FWC will distribute over $519,000 to participating landowners. Thanks to conservation efforts such as the Florida Panther PES program Florida has increased from only 30 in the 1990s to over 200 in 2025.
For more information, click here. |
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Natasha Duran, Executive Director, Candlelighters of Brevard, Inc.
Our Constituent of the Week is Mrs. Natasha Duran, Executive Director of the Candlelighters of Brevard, Inc., a non-profit organization offering emotional support and financial assistance to children with cancer and their families in Brevard and Indian River counties.
Mrs. Duran was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey and moved with her family when she just a few months old. After graduating from the University of Central Florida in 2007, Mrs. Duran relocated to Brevard County to accept a position at Harris Corporation (now known as L3Harris).
In this role, she specialized in community, corporate and university relations. Mrs. Duran worked directly for the Harris Foundation supporting hundreds of Brevard based non-profit organizations through grants, partnerships, employee volunteer programming, and staff leadership of the Harris United Way of Brevard Workplace Campaign. Mrs. Duran also played an instrumental role in leading Harris’ business and community partnerships with the NBA’s Orlando Magic Franchise and Youth Foundation.
In 2014, Mrs. Duran became the Executive Director of Candlelighters of Brevard, Inc. Months later, she was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus, a life-threatening autoimmune disease that caused significant damage to many of her major organs.
Since her diagnosis, Mrs. Duran has experienced chemotherapy, infusion therapies, countless procedures and surgeries, hospitalizations, and life altering side effects. However, it was the children of Candlelighters that taught her how to “fight like a kid” with childlike hope, humor, and heart.
"Despite the darkness of disease, light always finds a way to shine. It is through the generosity of our donors, the thoughtful leadership of our staff and Board of Directors, the selfless commitment of our volunteers and an entire community coming together to shine their light in service to the mission of Candlelighters," said Mrs. Duran.
Her compassionate leadership has not gone unnoticed. She was recently honored with Lead Brevard’s “4 Under 40” and the Melbourne Chamber’s “Woman to Watch” in recognition of her career achievements, public engagement, and community service. She is well-known throughout the county as a powerful advocate and fundraiser for the critical cause of childhood cancer.
This month, Candlelighters of Brevard is striving to reach a fundraising goal of $100,000 through their annual Operation Superhero Campaign in order to honor National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The campaign salutes cancer-stricken children as courageous superheroes in their war against the disease. Funds raised support the organization’s programs and services which provide families with emotional support and vital financial assistance.
In 2024, the organization served 375 individuals and provided $200,000 in reimbursements to families for inpatient and clinic visits, over $75,000 for water, gas, and electricity payments, and $39,000 to families in bereavement support after the loss of a child to cancer.
For more information about Candlelighters of Brevard, Inc., to donate to their Operation Superhero Campaign, and learn how you can get involved, click here.
SD 19 is grateful to Mrs. Natasha Duran for her leadership at Candlelighters of Brevard, Inc. and her enduring dedication to support children and their families suffering from a devastating cancer diagnosis. |
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Dr. Joe Lee Smith
Dr. Joe Lee Smith, a longtime Rockledge City Council member and respected educator, passed away on Monday, September 1st at the age of 89.
Dr. Smith served on the Rockledge City Council for 12 consecutive terms, including leadership positions as chairman and deputy mayor, before retiring in 2019. He also spent decades in education as a teacher, assistant principal, dean, and ultimately serving as provost of Eastern Florida State College’s four campuses.
Dr. Smith earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Florida A&M University and a doctorate from the University of Florida. He was also recognized for his athleticism with inductions into the Florida A&M University Sports Hall of Fame and the Space Coast Sports Hall of Fame.
He was active in numerous civic and humanitarian organizations. He received the NAACP Lifetime Achievement Award, in addition to many humanitarian honors. To this day, several local landmarks bear his name, including the Joe Lee Smith Recreation Center in Cocoa and the Dr. Joe Lee Smith Teaching Center in Melbourne.
Cocoa Mayor Mike Blake called him “a man with a billion-dollar smile,” someone who made everyone feel “comfortable, warm, accepted” regardless of background.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Altamese, two children, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
Dr. Joe Lee Smith will forever be remembered as a pillar of Brevard County, a man of wisdom, compassion, brilliance, and a friend who touched the lives of an entire community. |
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Latest Updates at Port Canaveral
Last week, I had the opportunity to tour Port Canaveral with the Senior Leadership team for a Port overview on new developments and capital improvement projects.
One important development was the $30 million rehabilitation of two of the Port's North cargo berths, ensuring that our regions fuel supply remains stable and resilient. The cargo berths are located adjacent to Seaport Canaveral, the largest fuel terminal in the state of Florida.
Port Canaveral is projecting solid growth in cargo and cruise operations for the remainder of the year and beyond. The port’s cruise line partners have committed to homeporting several new cruise ships including vessels similar to the Star of the Seas, one of the two largest cruise ships in the world. Meanwhile, demand for cargo transportation of critical commodities such as fuel, construction lumber, and road building materials continues to surge at the Port.
Space operations at Port Canaveral are also expanding with new land and building lease agreements, infrastructure expansion and improvements, and providing service as the homeport for commercial companies including SpaceX, Blue Origin, and United Launch Alliance as their launch and recovery operations continue to grow.
Port Canaveral remains a powerful economic driver in Brevard County contributing to nearly 44,000 direct and indirect jobs and over $6 billion in total economic impact. To view the Port's latest economic impact study, click here.
Space Coast Junior/Senior High School POW/MIA Remembrance Event
Last week, Space Coast Jr/Sr High School (SCHS) and Space Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (SFJROTC) hosted a campus ceremony in honor of National Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Recognition Day.
The event featured a memorial walk with more than 90 cadets carrying the POW/MIA flag in continuous motion around the track for the entire school day. The cadets were joined by more than 70 students, community leaders, and SCHS administrators. The event also included a remembrance ceremony and performances of the National Anthem and TAPS.
SCHS has been recognized by the State of Florida as a Purple Star School of Distinction for its strong partnership with the local military community. This was evident by the crowd of supporters paying tribute to the POW and MIA Veterans who sacrificed their lives for the freedom and liberty of all Americans.
Coordinated Effort in Cocoa Leads to Arrests and Removal of Methamphetamine and Fentanyl
Tips of suspicious activity from concerned neighbors prompted law enforcement to launch a detailed probe into a neighborhood in Cocoa. After initial investigations, the Cocoa Police Department's SWAT team swiftly executed a search warrant on the suspicious property and apprehended two individuals suspected as major distributors of illegal narcotics.
During the apprehension, one of the suspects attempted to flee the scene but was stopped by Cocoa Police K9 Kyra, working alongside her handler Officer Delos Santos. Investigators seized substantial quantities of illegal narcotics including methamphetamine and Fentanyl.
The Cocoa Police Department credited the success of the operation not only to its officers and specialized units but also to alert residents. “When residents share what they see, we’re able to take action,” a department spokesperson said. “Together, we can make our neighborhoods safer and stronger.” |
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Coastal Conservation Association Space Coast Annual Banquet and Auction
The Space Coast Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) will host their annual banquet on Thursday, September 25th from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at the Melbourne Auditorium (625 East Hibiscus Boulevard) in Melbourne.
Individual tickets cost $115 and include a one-year membership to CCA Florida, an open bar, an oyster bar, appetizers, and dinner. The banquet will also feature a live auction of international and domestic travel packages, a silent auction, and raffle prizes. The dress code for the event is resort casual.
Founded in 1991, the Space Coast Chapter of CCA has 650 members whose work includes oyster restoration, marine life studies, conservation efforts, and the preservation and protection of the Indian River Lagoon.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
2025 Space Coast Walk to End Alzheimer's
The 2025 Space Coast Walk to End Alzheimer's will take place on Saturday, September 27th at Cocoa Riverfront Park (401 Riveredge Boulevard) in Cocoa. Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. and the ceremony begins at 9:00 a.m. The walk starts immedicately following the ceremony.
All participants are required to register. The event is open to all ages, free of charge, and donations are encouraged. All funds raised through the Walk to End Alzheimer's further the care, support and research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association.
Approximately seven million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease including more than 580,000 in Florida, and 17,600 in Brevard County. The disease impacts entire families with an estimated 11 million family members and friends providing unpaid care for a loved one.
For more information and to volunteer, donate or register online, click here or contact
13th Annual Viera Voice Harvest Festival & Scarecrow Auction
Viera Voice will host the 13th annual Viera Harvest Festival will be held on Saturday, October 18th at Woodside Park (1703 Crane Creek Road) in Viera. This event is family friendly and free of charge.
The Viera Harvest Festival will feature a hay maze, pumpkin patch, costume contest for kids, live music, refreshments, and more.
Additionally, in the weeks leading up to the Harvest Festival, businesses and nonprofits throughout Viera, Rockledge, and Suntree will participate in the Scarecrow Stroll contest by displaying hand-crafted scarecrows. On Wednesday, October 1st, the map of participating organizations and the link for the public to vote on the best scarecrow will be available at Viera Voice Magazine.
The winners of the Scarecrow Stroll contest will be announced at the Viera Harvest Festival on Saturday, October 18th, and the scarecrows will be sold in a silent auction benefitting the Florida Wildlife Hospital. For more information on the Scarecrow Stroll, click here.
Children can also participate by building their own Scarecrow at home and bringing it to the Harvest Festival to enter into the separate Kids Mini-Crow contest. For more information, click here.
Great Pumpkin Rescue Events
Brevard County Parks and Recreation Department will host two Great Pumpkin Rescue aquatic events. The first event will be on Saturday, October 4th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at McLarty Park Aquatic Center (790 Barton Boulevard) in Rockledge. The second event will be held on Saturday, October 11th from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Dr. Joe Lee Smith Park Aquatic Center (419 Washington Avenue) in Cocoa.
Participating children will be given a number which corresponds to a floating pumpkin in the pool. Once their pumpkin is rescued, they will be directed to the decorating station. Prizes will be awarded for each age group, and all participants will receive a treat bag.
The Great Pumpkin Rescue event is open to children ages 4 to 15. The cost to participate is $6, and advance registration is required.
For more information and to register, call (321) 302-1658 or email at Debbie.Bowling@BrevardFL.gov. |
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Contact Information
Melbourne Office
900 East Strawbridge Avenue,
Suite 408,
Melbourne, FL 32901
321-409-2025
Tallahassee Office
400 South Monroe Street,
302 Senate Building,
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
850-487-5019
Staff
Yvette Campbell
Christian Chesnut
William Gooden
Kelli Lane |
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