Community Corner

🌱 How will Blue Origin’s wastewater permit affect Merritt Island’s future?

Coming up on the Merritt Island Patch calendar: Haunted Trail at Rotary Park

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Tuesday December 23rd Patch AM
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What's up Merritt Island! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How will Blue Origin’s wastewater permit affect Merritt Island’s future?
  • Could Merritt Island homeowners really stop paying property taxes someday?
  • What did Artemis II astronauts rehearse inside Merritt Island’s VAB?

Also on today's calendar: MTI Country Fest 2026.

Find out what's happening in Merritt Islandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one magnet say to the other magnet? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Merritt Islandfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Breezy this morning, with a high of 79 and low of 58 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 79, low: 56.
  • Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. WFIT Local & State News - December 22, 2025 (wfit.org) — Merritt Island residents are learning that OSHA found no legal violations in the recent hospital crane collapse, even as probes into two other companies continue. At the same time, state regulators will hold a post-holiday public hearing on Blue Origin’s Merritt Island wastewater permit extension, giving locals a chance to question how industrial discharges are handled near home.
   

2. WATCH: Should You Pay Taxes on a Home You Own? Florida's Property Tax Debate on the Space Coast (spacecoastdaily.com) — Merritt Island homeowners are watching a new Tallahassee debate over possibly eliminating property taxes on primary residences, which could dramatically change long‑term housing costs. The proposal, still only an idea, raises big questions about how local services like fire and police would be funded, how much residents might save over decades, and whether home values across the Space Coast could shift.
   

3. Artemis II crew conduct launch day rehearsal at Kennedy Space Center ahead of Lunar mission (primetimer.com) — NASA’s Artemis II astronauts are stepping through full launch-day rehearsals at Kennedy Space Center in Merritt Island, practicing everything from suiting up to boarding the Orion spacecraft. Their work inside the Vehicle Assembly Building helps verify systems, communications, and crew readiness for a 2026 lunar flyby mission that will launch from our own Space Coast backyard.
   

4. Marine scientists celebrate rare mom and calf whale sighting near Merritt Island (wusf.org) — Critically endangered North Atlantic right whales, a mother and calf, were recently spotted just off Merritt Island, putting this rare species literally in local waters. Marine scientists are urging boaters here to slow down, especially since the pair is outside the usual protected speed‑limit zone, and they’re also watching federal debates that could weaken key whale protection laws.
   

5. Arrests In Brevard County: December 21, 2025 – Suspects Presumed Innocent Until Proven Guilty (spacecoastdaily.com) — Brevard County booking records for December 20–21 include at least one suspect who both lives in and was arrested in Merritt Island, along with others from Titusville, Palm Bay, Melbourne, Cocoa, and nearby communities. All individuals listed are presumed innocent while they await trial on charges ranging from DUI to battery and drug possession.
   

📸 Around Merritt Island

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Merritt Island

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★ Featured events ★

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Other local events
    Saturday January 17
  • MTI Country Fest 2026
    Veterans Memorial Park , 555 Fortenberry Rd , Merritt Island
    1:00 pm

📣 Merritt Island Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Please share & repost to help reunite this lost cat!
    Samba was LOST on December 20, 2025 in Merritt Island, FL 32953 near arney Court Cul-de-sac, Merritt Island, Florida Sharing for a neighbor. For the… (Nextdoor Sunset Lakes)
  • Good morning Merritt Island, something that always weighs heavy on my heart at Holidays, does everyone have food to eat, are children opening up gifts Christmas morning, are their people alone for Holidays, I'm not rich by any means but I can do
    what I can to help a child or older person, or family, how can any of us sit down & eat a great meal, enjoy family, and not think of someone less… (Nextdoor Merritt Ridge - Bel Air)
  • Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Merritt Island. Apply here.
  • ABM Industries posted a job opening for Janitorial Cleaner in Merritt Island. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Merritt Island here.

Ok Merritt Island! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I find you very attractive!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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