Know your holidays - Know your Grubers

You're welcome!

Future topics - look for a future controversial Christmas post: 
Is “Yippee Ki-Yay” a proper greeting at Christmas time?

Moving deeper into the Christmas season: Peanuts Gang : Christmas Song "Linus & Lucy"

Enjoy.  Merry Christmas.

Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives - HD Audio - Kicking off Christmas music season

A well known ear worm.   am now passing it on to you.

Enjoy.  Merry Christmas.

Happy Thanksgiving 2025 - and remember - the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is ready to assist with that holiday mean questions.

The holiday season is officially upon us!  Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

There is much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Alexandra, Katherine, Meredith and I wish you and your family the happiest of holidays.

Like millions of others across this great country, we will celebrate Thanksgiving, honoring a tradition older than the nation itself. The Continental Congress proclaimed that the "inhabitants of these states" observe a day of Thanksgiving back in 1782.  Ever since then we set this day aside to give thanks for all our blessings, and this year we have many things for which to be thankful.

Please also take the time to remember and help the less fortunate.  Many families and children are doing with less, Take the time to become involved in a local charity, with time, if not a donation. There are many ongoing charities that are looking for donations and volunteers.

Thanksgiving is the busiest traveling season of the year.  Please be aware and be safe.

One of my personal favorite quotes about a holiday:

On Thanksgiving Day all over America, families sit down to dinner at the same moment - halftime.

- (author unknown) 

Need last minute help with the holiday meal? The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line is ready to assist with that holiday mean questions.

• Phone: 1-800-BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372)
• Text: 844-877-3456
• Butterball’s Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest channels
• Visit Butterball.com to e-mail or chat live with the Turkey Talk-Line experts plus find trusted recipes, how-to videos and other resources.The backstory:

Every November and December since 1981, the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line’s professionally trained turkey experts have assisted millions of holiday cooks.

Your vote matters! Fat Bear week 2025 is underway. Do not miss out! Voting opens at 12 PM, Tuesday, 9/23/2025

We have reached that time of the year - FAT BEAR WEEK. This is an environmental education event.  Some of the largest brown bears on Earth make their home at Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Brown bears get fat to survive, and Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating their success in preparation for winter hibernation. 

 An annual favorite - (Information below lifted from https://explore.org/fat-bear-week):

Vote for the fattest bear of the year! Some of the largest brown bears on Earth make their home at Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Brown bears get fat to survive and Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating their success in preparation for winter hibernation. Matchups are open for voting September 23-30 between 12 - 9  p.m. Eastern / 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Pacific.

This is a single elimination tournament. For each match-up, vote for the bear you believe best exemplifies fatness and success in brown bears. The bear with the most votes advances to the next round. Only one will be crowned Fat Bear Week champion. Meet the bears, fill out your bracket, predict your fat bear winner, and campaign for your candidate. 

SDU NOTE: The contest is held by Katmai National Park & Preserve to promote public awareness about the wild brown bears of Alaska. Like scenic drives to see the changing leaves, it’s become a popular fall ritual in the United States and around the world.

The 2025 Fat Bear Week bracket:

CLICK HERE to view this official bracket online.

May the fattest bear win!

New litigation against Palmetto Bay. What now? Waiting for the relevant documents to go public.

 A lawsuit was fled by resident Alan Farquharson against the Village of Palmetto Bay. This suit was filed on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.  I am posting the docket to date.  The case has been assigned case number 2025-017648-CA-01 and has been assigned to Circuit Judge Mavel Ruiz.

I am waiting to see the specifics.  The public docket to date merely lists "Other Civil Complaint" as case type.  It also appears that Mr. Farquharson has filed this case pro se, acting as his own attorney (at least for now).

The filings should be posted online for public view sometime Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Working remote. Hudson River Chestertown NY 8 25 2025

Another beautiful day in the Adirondacks. 

Vice Mayor Merwitzer - working to bring back a resident-centric local government - Join him at Coral Reef Park - this Thurs 8-28 5:45 PM

Remember when our local government held actual community workshops on the budget? Too few still remember.

Vice Mayor Mark Merwitzer invites you to your park - Coral Reef Park - for the only up close and personal community conversation.

Per Vice Mayor Merwitzer: He is hosting a community conversation THIS THURSDAY and he needs YOU there.

Thursday, August 28th

5:45 PM - Sunset

Coral Reef Park Gazebo (near 77th Avenue)

Our village is bringing in more money than ever before, yet we're being told we can't afford police patrols and park hours that families depend on.

Meanwhile, the budget includes:

40% pay raises for council members

$3 million for a private pickleball facility

Guaranteed health insurance for council after we leave office

Does this make sense to you? It doesn't to me.

Come share your thoughts. Bring your neighbors.

Mark wants to work together with you, the residents, on solutions that put families first, because when residents like you show up and stay engaged, we protect the Palmetto Bay we all love.

The budget gets finalized in September. That's when we need you most.

See you Thursday at the park!

Call Mark directly at 786-309-6743

August 7 - Purple Heart Day. Remembering America's Veterans - special recognition for Purple Heart recipients

Palmetto Bay became the first South Florida "Purple Heart City" in 2016 - as per resolution 2016-40 that I was proud to sponsor as Mayor of Palmetto Bay.  It remains important to continue this recognition.

This is a national day of recognition. Purple Heart Day is observed on August 7 each year and is a time for Americans to pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who were either wounded on the battlefield or paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.

See Channel 10 News online: Palmetto Bay becomes first Purple Heart city in South Florida - Flag-raising ceremony held to commemorate honor, By Peter Burke - Local 10.com Managing Editor, posted: 1:22 PM, August 10, 2016.

See prior related post of August 12, 2016, Recognizing our Purple Heart Awardees. Palmetto Bay is now a Purple Heart City! where there are additional photos from this 2016 event

CLICK HERE to view other related posts recognizing our Veterans for their service.

Just for fun - Palmetto Bay Bird Feeder Cam - common grackles - bullies at the feeder cam

Just for fun.  No politics - just watching birds with elbows - looking to dominate at the feeder cam.