Palmetto Bay’s celebration 2014 picnic – an enduring legacy. Thank you volunteers, staff and fellow residents..

Come to Coral Reef Park on Saturday March 1, 2014, and join your friends and family in celebrating the 12th year of incorporation.  It is a time for celebration and family fun, as well as a time to remember how this event came charging out of the gate as a major village event from its very first year.  

I would be remiss if I did not give credit where credit is due, giving a huge “Thank You” to the special events committee set up under the original council, an outstanding group of volunteers.  The initial chair was Jacquie Sosa who was an anchor with Channel 10.  This position was held later by Jeanne Rothfield and finally Donna Coughlin, who served as our last chairperson.  The special events committee and staff, all working as part of the team under the initial village council, created events and interests including rides, city information, educational topics, wholesome family events, dunk tank -raising thousands of dollars at no expense to village taxpayers - for charity, & local school participation! Come on, who did not enjoy dunking me to raise money for charity?

The Parks Department, which has worked with our committee, continues to organize this event, even though there is no longer a citizen special events committee. Many people still volunteer Pat and Jim Gladieux still take charge of the ever-popular corn on the cob.

I look forward to the use of the I-Bus for the historic preservation committee’s tours, which were started under Palmetto Bay’s first Planning Director, Arlene Weintraub and the committee. We all enjoy watching the school children performing and of course, the staff of the Planning and Parks Department as well as our police work well to continue to make this event a success. I was proud to work with Palmetto High School to start the annual Mayor’s Cup game (can you name the winner and score from that historic first game?)

The yearly events have seen helicopters land in the field and firefighters come in their trucks, the start of the student safety and fingerprinting programs. The Voice of the Heat served in past years as emcee. Past years has seen well over 5,000 people for a picnic. We came in from year one with significant corporate donations from corporate neighbors including Starbucks, Home Depot, Dade Paper, local banks and Publix, we have had breaks on the food and coverage of costs through donations!

The efforts and impact that you and the Special Events Committee have been successful and has left an outstanding celebration legacy that continues through this day.  Thank you all who served at any time in the past on the Special Events Committee.

So please make sure you attend with friends and family on March 1. Look for me and say hi. Let’s continue the good will and let’s all work together to continue the vision of Palmetto Bay.