Currently in bloom in our backyard oasis - our Callicarpa Americana, commonly called the American Beautyberry

We are often asked how we have come to enjoy so many native songbirds in our Palmetto Bay yard - the answer is proper planting.

What’s blooming today: our Callicarpa Americana, commonly called the American Beautyberry. Per Wikipedia- this is an open-habitat, native shrub of the Southern United States which is often grown as an ornamental in gardens and yards. American beautyberries produce large clusters of purple berries, which birds and deer eat, thus distributing the seeds.

I’m planning to take cuttings from this plant to add additional plants throughout our yard.

Remembering Bailey - as kids and their friends said about her: "The Goodest Dog!" She was a great pet that deserves some recognition.

 Baily was another of our family pets that deserves her due.  A very loyal pup who was a great family member. She was much needed her in Palmetto Bay - I headed President Harry S. Truman’s advice, “If you want a friend in this world, get a dog.” Politics in Palmetto Bay is often dog-eat-dog.

She passed away Friday May 2, 2025, quite unexpectedly and lived less than 11 years - far less than I would have expected or hoped. She passed away an hour before her veterinary appointment I made earlier in the morning and while I was preparing to take her - again - with no signs of any urgency. I figured we'd have her for at least another two, maybe even three years. No warning.

I am posting some family photos - pets are great. We have been bless with various pets, mostly rescues over the years.

“Heaven goes by favor. If it went by merit, you would stay out and your dog would go in.”
― Mark Twain

We are going to miss Bailey.

Family Bike Ride - Bike Coconut Grove - this Saturday, April 26 - 10:00 AM

I am forwarding information relating to a family friend bike ride - This event is a cooperative effort of Bike Coconut Grove, Friends of the Commodore Trail, the Coconut Grove Business Improvement District, and the City of Miami Police Department Coconut Grove Team.

The family-friendly bike rides with a special City of Miami police escort originally scheduled for April 16 and May 21 (both on Wednesday at 5 p.m.) have been rescheduled. Instead, there will be one ride on Saturday, April 26, at 10 a.m.

Meet at the Coconut Grove Playhouse parking lot on Main Highway and get ready to pedal Coconut Grove's streets with the City of Miami local law enforcement bicycling team.

The ride will begin at 10 a.m. and will take approximately 90 minutes. It’s free to all. To join, register here.

It's a great opportunity to spend quality time with your loved ones while enjoying a safe and organized bike ride. Don't miss out on this exciting event - bring your bikes, helmets, and smiles!

HAPPY EARTH DAY 2025

I may not be "cool" under current administrations, but it is more important than ever.  And it is a simple matter as well.  The late Paul Neidhart once remarked that LEED certified construction is simply quality construction that will save money in operating costs (high efficiency = cost operating savings).  So stop making it so political! Now where are we in regards to protecting our fragile ecosystem?

Do you know the approximate age of the Earth? 4.543 billion years. Yet today, 4/22/2019 is just the 49th Earth Day celebration. ACTING on Earth Day is more than just a movie night, it is taking action and participating, doing things differently, ending (sub)Urban Sprawl.

A brief history of Earth Day: The April 22 Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, and was first organized in 1970 to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution.

I am proud to have led Palmetto Bay and created more than a simple Earth Day Celebration, but set Palmetto Bay to be committed to Earth Day 24/7/365. We don’t just recognize a day, we are now in big, in such a big way, that we take a full week to celebrate. Green activities, all free to the public, have been going this past week. We continue to involve our youth in partnership with the local schools as they are going to inherit what we leave behind.

Palmetto Bay history: I was pleased to announce way back on Friday, July 20, 2018, that Palmetto Bay was certified by the FGBC as a Green City. This started the path to eventual Gold Certification so long as the subsequent councils continue to subscribe to the green footprints cast before them.

 

 

Participating in a python hunt to 
remove an invasive species

Today,  Tuesday, April 22, 2025, is an international Earth Day Celebration.  What, if anything, are you doing to mark this event?  We celebrated with our youth in many activities including the always popular (and educational) Lady Bug releases at area schools and at our Earth Week movie night.  We partnered with the Tropical Audubon Society on Kayak tours of Palmetto Bay's coastline. Earth Week themed movie nights, poster contests, community bike rides, so many activities that brought the community together.  Please feel free to CLICK HERE for past updates on Earth Day.  

Prior relevant blog posts: Some relevant posts on my personal blog include Invasive Species, creating a backyard oasis, Celestial Events: there have been many posts throughout this blog covering these topics and how they are relevant to our South Miami-Dade Communities. Please take the time to check a few out. It is all about my transparency. I am about preservation of Palmetto Bay. That means thinking differently, saving the 22 acres of the rapidly deteriorating Pine Rocklands at the Palmetto Bay Village Center.

Finally, on a silly, but fun note, no special day is complete without viewing Google's special Earth Day animated doodle on the Google site.

Happy Earth Day – 2025!

Eugene Flinn

(Lack of) Leadership 101 - allowing the community to be ravaged by infighting rather than bringing people together

“Sooner or later everyone sits down to a banquet of consequences.” 

– Robert Louis Stevenson.

They say elections have consequences.  We are seeing it play out locally.  Bully politics at play. Palmetto Bay is definitely not a "Bully Free Zone".   See a prior related post: May 9, 2024, Palmetto Bay News - Op-Ed: Rudeness and bullying should not be the norm in Palmetto Bay By Marsha Matson, Village of Palmetto Bay Councilmember, District 3 -May 8, 2024

Yet we the taxpayers are destined to fund another lawsuit - all because the mayor and council refuse to avoid pettiness. 

What am I talking about? Well, in case you missed it:

For more insight provided in an opinion blast by the Palmetto Bay Neighbors Alliance: "They Hate You For Choosing Mark  CLICK HERE for the complete blast - here is an excerpt:

Mayor Cunningham's ally, Councilman Steve Cody, didn't like your answer. So he filed a lawsuit claiming Mark wasn't properly sworn in. Our Village Attorney has said many times that Mark's oath was completely valid. The village even paid over $6,000 of your tax money to hire another expert who said the same thing.

Our Village Attorney didn't mince words. He warned that "Steve will be lucky to stay out of jail when this is over" because of his "toxic vitriol" and "fabrications." The Village Attorney has been a lawyer since 1979. He knows what he's talking about. Meanwhile, Mr. Cody is a suspended attorney by the Florida Bar and is ineligible to practice law.

Don't be fooled. The oath story is just a smokescreen. Mayor Cunningham and Cody want to erase your vote.

They're not really fighting Mark. They're fighting you. They hate that you chose someone Mayor Cunningham didn't pick. They hate that you wanted change. They think they know better than you about who should lead our village.

Cody's legal filing, which he’s trying to get a ruling on, claims Leanne Tellam is still Vice Mayor. Tellam was Mayor Cunningham's preferred candidate and lost the election.

Lets see where this leads us and how much in will cost, both in tax dollars as well as further aggravation to our community.

Thank you readers! Reader submission provides Palmetto Bay Council portraits. Triggers.

 I know this will egg some on, but I love the response received to the Cardinal photos.

Rubber ducky above, but problems below - proof that the Muscovy Duck has become domesticated here in Palmetto Bay!

This is ducking good! I’m quacking up. My reader warns to watch out for the quacks on the council. 

Please note: NO disrespect intended to the ducks - rubber or Muscovy

Cardinal season - photos of the day

My first time ever being cornered by a female cardinal (or greeted - it is all a matter of perspective). Such an interesting bird. 

I enjoy our Palmetto Bay oasis - we have maintained our entire yard to remain friendly to and actually attract native wildlife.

Pet friendly - SAVE program for Palmetto Bay seniors!

 Thank you Vice Mayor Merwitzer, Council Member Patrick Fiore and Marsha Matson (sponsor):

As announced by the Vice Mayor:

The Village council  just passed the SAVE program for Palmetto Bay seniors! If your furry friend needs emergency vet care, SAVE can help with up to $250 back in your pocket.

Big thanks to Councilwoman Marhsa Matson and Councilman Fiore for supporting this program, which shows that we care about our seniors and their animal companions.

The council-approved program allows seniors to bring their vet emergency bill, ID, and Social Security letter to City Hall to qualify for reimbursement.

For more info, please feel free to email me at mmerwitzer@palmettobay-fl.gov

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

  lá sona ú Pádraig

From History dot com:   St. Patrick’s Day

Every year on March 17, the Irish and the Irish-at-heart across the globe observe St. Patrick’s Day. What began as a religious feast day for the patron saint of Ireland has become an international festival celebrating Irish culture with parades, dancing, special foods and a whole lot of green.

March is Bike Month in Florida. Palmetto Bay is a great place to ride. This would be another great weekend to get out and ride!

 The weekend is here. The question in never 'what do I have planned for the weekend?' 

This will be another great weekend to get out and ride with family and friends. The question is 'how many miles will I get in?'

OK, I guess you could ask me 'gravel or road' but often that answer will be "both" if I am fortunate to ride both Saturday and Sunday. I do like to put a 'positive "spin"' on things.

Have a great weekend. Enjoy our outdoors.

BARNES & NOBLE - COMING SOON TO PALMETTO BAY

Exciting - if you're a fan of reading. But it is more than just books; it is also a gathering place (most often for people who like to read).

Coming soon to the former location of Old Navy - 13605 So Dixie Highway, Palmetto Bay, FL 33176 (Colonial Palms Plaza - across from the Miller's Ale House and Panera Bread)