Florida Department of Agriculture will be inspecting trees in the Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and Coral Gables communities for a new insect pest

BE ALERT and advised - Florida Department of Agriculture will be inspecting trees in the Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and Coral Gables communities for a new insect pest beginning today, May 22 and expected to last through May 24.


2:00 PM update posted below.

Note that the purpose of this alert is due to the fact that teams will be approaching homes and looking into yards (with homeowner notification)

Dear Fellow Palmetto Bay resident,

I received notification late yesterday that Florida Department of Agriculture will be inspecting trees in the Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest and Coral Gables communities for a new insect pest.  Our Palmetto Bay Police advise us that these area inspections will begin today, Tuesday, May 22 and are scheduled to run through Thursday May 24th.  

These are official survey crews led by the Florida Department of Agriculture who will knock at your door and identify themselves to you should these teams need to inspect any trees on your property.

I do not have full details of the pest survey, but I was advised separately and unofficially that it is a pest that affects palm trees. 

Please contact our Village Police if you see anything suspicious. Our police will check in and assist.  The non emergency number is 305-476-5423 (305-4-Police)

Let's continue to work together through positive efforts and dialogue. 

CLICK HERE to view the short civic alert posted on the official Palmetto Bay web site.

CLICK HERE to view the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Plant Inspection page - note - general information only, not specific to this survey.

Thank you.

Your Mayor, 

Eugene Flinn

UPDATES ON THE PEST INSPECTION

2:00 PM Update: Pest Identified: Phantasma Scale Pest Alert.

Thank you to Palmetto Bay Tree Board Member Don Pybas for tracking this down - info:  
https://www.freshfromflorida.com/content/download/79840/2332158/Pest_Alert_-_Fiorinia_phantasma.pdf

 

Thank you Members of The Rotary Club of Perrine-Cutler Ridge/Palmetto Bay. Tree Planting ceremony held at West Perrine Park

The Rotary Club of Perrine-Cutler Ridge/Palmetto Bay continues its work to make a difference.  Here is another update on their service.

I am very proud of the community service provided through the members of The Rotary Club of Perrine-Cutler Ridge/Palmetto Bay. I was honored to participate in the tree dedication ceremony held on Saturday, May 19, 2018, along with County Commissioner Dennis Moss. This project dovetails with the Miami County Million Trees effort.

The Rotary Club of Perrine-Cutler Ridge/Palmetto Bay has donated over $10,000 to programs at West Perrine Park as well as making it one of the locations for the Rotary International Tree Planting Challenge.  Rotary International President Ian Riseley challenged all 1.2 million Rotarians to plant trees, one for all 1.2 million members of Rotary International. 

35 trees were donated/planted by the Rotary Club of Perrine-Cutler Ridge/Palmetto Bay in West Perrine Park.

Thank you Members of The Rotary Club of Perrine-Cutler Ridge/Palmetto Bay.

Thank you blood donors. I met some great, generous people on Friday May 18

Giving the gift of life! Thank you to those who where able to donate.

I met some great people at the Palmetto Bay blood drive held on Friday, May 18, 2018. Thank you to all of those who took the time to stop by and give the gift of life. This is so meaningful to people who require transfusions, undergo surgery or suffer an accident.

Again, thank you to those who rolled up their sleeves and donated.

Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety. Participating in the "Dead Serious" campaign.

On Friday, May 18, it was my privilege to represent Palmetto Bay in the first meeting of County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava's "Dead Serious" campaign.

Pinecrest, Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay were present through elected officials and concerned residents who participated with Miami-Dade County, district 8. Miami-Dade County Parks, TPO, Bike 305, Everglades Bike Club, FDOT, Police and UM. Everyone working together.

Great collaboration & commitment to pedestrian and cycling safety. We’re creating an action plan for more education, infrastructure, enforcement and uniformity. #DeadSerious #VisionZero #completestreets #community

Miami-Dade Transportation Planning Organization
Miami-Dade Parks Miami-Dade County Government Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works Miami-Dade Police Department FDOT South - Miami Area Bike305 University of Miami Cutler Bay, Florida Palmetto Bay, Florida Village of Pinecrest Peggy Bell Eugene Flinn WIOD Miami's Community Newspapers

Palmetto Bay Update - e-mail released Thursday, May 17, 2018

Another Village Update was released on Thursday, May 17.  CLICK HERE to view the entire update.

IN THIS ISSUE:  

NEW - this e-blast

• Summer Camp - registration is now open for Camp Palmetto Bay - June 11th - August 3rd from 8 AM - 6 PM at Coral Reef Park. 
• Traffic / Safety Town Hall Meeting - Wed., May 30, 2018 - beginning at 7:00 PM
• Lt. Gary King continues to improve. Our Village Police recognized by Doral Mayor and Council. 
• May is Military Appreciation Month. Recognitions presented.
• What is your vision for our Village parks? Update, maintain, reduce or add? REVISED Save the date - Parks Master Plan meeting date confirmed for June 2nd - 9 AM proposed start time until noon, location to be determined. Updates will be provided - it takes a village. 
• Community Yard Sale - Sunday, 20th, Coral Reef Park, 9 AM to 2 PM. 77th Avenue Parking Lot.
• Blood Drive - Friday, May 18th, Village Hall - 12:30 to 2:30 PM
• Link provided to download the 2018 Miami-Dade County Hurricane Preparedness Guide. Your friends at the Village of Palmetto Bay want you to be prepared for the 2018 Hurricane Season.You can download the 2018 Miami-Dade County Hurricane Guide 

REMINDERS - UPCOMING

• Important links for hurricane preparedness.
• Save the date - What is your vision for our Village parks? Update, maintain, reduce or add? Save the date - Parks Master Plan meeting tentatively set for Saturday, June 2nd - 9 AM proposed start time, location to be announced. Updates will be provided.
• May is National Military Appreciation Month - The 6 National Observances during National Military Appreciation Month.

Next Traffic/Safety Town Hall Meeting rescheduled to Wednesday, May 30 - join us

You are invited!  Please make plans on attending and participating on Wed., May 30.  Note this date was moved back a week, in part, to allow for the Miami-Dade School Board to send representatives (if available) in order to discuss traffic issues surrounding area schools.

Council Member David Singer and I will be holding our next Traffic/Safety Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.  Our Town Hall Meetings have been well attended and robust.  We do not shy away from working to find and engage new strategies to deal with issues throughout the village.  Our Town Hall meetings have brought multiple neighborhoods and individuals together which resulted in the CITE program.  So now we have it, what are its prospects and how can you bring it to your neighborhood?

We want to thank the participants of our Traffic Safety Town Hall meeting held last March 12, 2018. The council chambers was filled with fellow residents who brought forward their concerns for their neighborhoods.  Our Village Police were on hand taking notes and preparing "pink sheets" which will be used to set up special enforcement details throughout Palmetto Bay.  Your voices were heard loud and clear.  Council Member Singer and are fully supportive of life-safety and traffic enforcement measures.  The CITE program came about because of you, our residents, and your support. Please see my May 1, 2018, blog post regarding CITE: Palmetto Bay Cracks Down on Speeders and Stop Sign violators - its about safety. "CITE": Comprehensive Improvised Traffic Enforcement Initiative

Our Town Hall Meetings have been well attended and robust.  We do not shy away from working to find and engage new strategies to deal with issues throughout the village.  Our Town Hall meetings have brought multiple neighborhoods and individuals together which resulted in the CITE program.

There is more to come on safety initiatives.

Attend, participate.

Public Services Team hard at work on next step forward - safety lighting at the Mangowood crosswalk

1:30  PM Update:  Detour had ended by 1:00 PM.  It doesn't look like much.  I am going to wait to see how these first-step crosswalk lights look in the evening.  

11:00 AM original post: Detours going on mid day on Tuesday, May, 15, 2018, in Mangowood - at 82nd Avenue and 148th Street.  Work is going on - permanent solar powered LED lighting is being placed in the road to illuminate the crosswalk in the evenings.

See a prior post of Oct. 25, Mangowood Crosswalk - updates - potential modifications presented to area stakeholders 

I am committed to introducing the same successful improvements made to this crosswalk to other crosswalks within our Village.  Consider this the "pilot" program.

We are waiting upon final approval for the complete plans.  There are additional items, including additional yellow flashers, signage and other cross alert flashers that are being prepared for placement into this crosswalk.  

I will continue to keep everyone advised.  

Your Mayor,

Eugene Flinn

 

(photos credit - Eugene Flinn, 2018)

Happy Mother's Day - 2018

Today is the day we honor our mothers. This day should last the entire year. 

CLICK HERE to see my e-blast of my 2018 Mother's Day Message.

Happy Mother's Day to all our mothers, grandmothers and those who are honored to be great grandmothers.

"A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take."               - Cardinal Meymillod

I have been blessed in so many ways in terms of a wonderful family, good health, a successful job and much, much more. It all started with my mother. She taught me to kind, be respectful to my elders, to persevere, to be humble and to stand up for myself, for what I believe in, for children and, most of all, for those who cannot stand up for themselves. 

The roles our mothers have played in creating a beautiful and vibrant community cannot be overstated. Beyond their own careers and successes, their love and attention can be seen throughout our communities in the quality and success of our youth. 

On this special day, we also must remember and thank the mothers whose sons and daughters are serving in our nation's armed services. Please also remember the mothers who shoulder the burden as a single parent as their loved one serves our great county.

Happy Mother's Day!

Eugene & Alexandra Flinn

Palmetto Bay congratulates Mary Pettit for her distinguished service - retiring from the Deering Estate Foundation

Palmetto Bay congratulates Mary Pettit. The presentation was made at the May 10th Members Cocktail party - as a surprise to Director Pettit.  The Member's Event was yet another great event held at Palmetto Bay's Backyard on the Bay - Miami-Dade County's Deering Estate.  Are you a card carrying member?  I am, you should be too. One of the many perks is admission to the annual Deering Seafood Festival. Enough said on that point alone!

It was my honor to present an official proclamation this week to Mary Pettit who retires from the Deering Estate Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Palmetto Bay landmark. 

Mary Pettit has served as Executive Director for the Deering Estate Foundation since 2007. Under her leadership, the Foundations’s assets grew from under $50,000 to more than $8 million, and the annual operating budget grew steadily from under $100,000 to nearly $1 million.  The 100 Ladies of Deering were formed, the recruitment and development of staff, and the volunteer Board of Directors are some of Mary Pettit’s greatest achievements along with the relationships that she has developed with the Deering Estate family, including the Village of Palmetto Bay.

Based thereupon: I, Eugene P. Flinn, Jr., Mayor of the Village of Palmetto Bay, together with the Village Council do hereby congratulate and express our heartfelt gratitude to MARY PETTIT for her leadership and dedication to the Deering Estate Foundation for the past 10 years.  We wish her a happy retirement with her family.  I urge all members of the community to join with me in congratulating Mary Pettit on her retirement and recognizing the important contributions she has made to the Deering Estate Foundation and the surrounding communities.

Free sunscreen is now available at all Village Parks! eco-friendly "Sunstation USA" dispensers at Perrine-Wayside, Thalatta Estate, Ludovici, Coral Reef and Palmetto Bay Parks

We believe in Sunshine here in Palmetto Bay, but we also believe in protecting our park users from the harmful effects of the sun.

Free sunscreen is now available at all Village Parks! Palmetto Bay cares about our park visitors, so we've installed touchless, all-natural, eco-friendly "Sunstation USA" dispensers at Perrine-Wayside, Thalatta Estate, Ludovici, Coral Reef and Palmetto Bay Parks. 

Remember, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. With Florida's intense UV rays, be sure to take advantage of this SPF 30 protection, and enjoy the great outdoors!

Monday, May 14, 2018 update:

I am posting the ingredients as requested - CLICK HERE to view the

All-Natural SPF-30 Broad Spectrum Sunscreen

Sunstation All-Natural SPF-30 Sunscreen
Drug Facts:
Uses: Helps prevent sunburn.
If used as directed with other sun protection measure (see directions), decreases the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging caused by the sun.

Active ingredients -    purpose

Titanium Dioxide       Sunscreen
Zinc Oxide                   Sunscreen

Other Ingredients:


Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe Vera Gel) Juice, Aqua (Deionized Water), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Extract, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil, Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Butter, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Xanthan Gum.

Lt. King continues to improve. Doral Recognizes our Palmetto Bay Policing unit and the Miami Dade County Police Department for their service

Update on Palmetto Bay resident, Doral Lt. Gary King.

It was an honor to be present at Doral city council chambers on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, when  Mayor Juan Bermudez and the Doral City Council recognized our Palmetto Bay Policing unit and the Miami Dade County Police Department for their brave actions and service the night Village resident / Doral officer, Lieutenant King was shot in his driveway. 

Lt. King is doing much better from when we visited him (and his family) in the hospital, Jackson South.

 Above left, with Lt. Gary King locally, out for breakfast, Gary still has not lost his sense of humor

 Above right, with Mayor Bermudez in the Doral Mayor's office.

Congratulations to Doral PD on their 10 year anniversary. Congratulations to Lt King and his family for their recovery.

We support our police!