Eugene Flinn | Mayor | Palmetto Bay FL - Hal Feldman and I discuss moving Palmetto Bay forward

Eugene Flinn | Mayor | Palmetto Bay FL - Democracy.com

Thank you Hal Feldman for your time and interest in meeting up with me at Lots of Lox, one of Palmetto Bay's local gathering places.

A Breakfast Chat with Former Mayor. Next Mayor? August 24, 2014

Click the link above to view our short discussion on moving Palmetto Bay forward.

Political advertisement paid for and approved by Eugene Flinn for Mayor, Palmetto Bay.

 

Photo of the day - Katherine's first vote!

The August 26, 2014, primary election was the first election that our daughter Katherine was eligible to vote.  Both her mother and I had to be there to witnesses this milestone. 

We vote at Precinct 810 where she was actually able to greet some of the very candidates she voted for.

Thank you all who took the time to participate in the August election. 

Hurricane Andrew landfall - 5 AM August 24, 1992. 22 years ago today

Has it been that long?  Where were you? It was a defining moment for our South Dade Communities.  The Burger King World Headquarters (now Palmetto Bay Village Center) was one of the hardest struck areas.

Life changed forever.
Andrew came ashore near high tide with a near 17 foot storm tide on August 24, 1992.  Bye, bye Burger King World Headquarters in (pre) Palmetto Bay, one of the featured corporate victims of the storm. I recall the huge damage to the Datran Center and the inability to navigate back home immediately after the storm.

Stats:

• Andrew was born as a result of a tropical wave which moved off the west coast of Africa wave and passed south of the Cape Verde Islands (Cape  Verde Storms are often known as the most intense) 
• Andrew became a tropical storm on August 17, 1992 and became a hurricane on August 22.  It strengthened to a strong category 4 hurricane the next day. 
• The central pressure was 922 millibars at landfall in southern Miami-Dade County. 
• Andrew caused an estimated $25 billion in damage in Miami-Dade County. 
• Andrew moved northwest across the Gulf of Mexico to make a second landfall in Louisiana as a Category 3 storm on August 26. 
• Andrew directly caused 23 deaths in the U.S. and indirectly caused 38 more. 
• 25,524 homes were deemed destroyed 
• 101,241 homes were damaged. 
• And, as a lasting legacy of Hurricane Andrew, Windstorm Coverage was created, eventually bringing us Citizen’s. Homeowner’s insurance has never been the same.

Our First 100 Days - the expanded plan for improving the success of Palmetto Bay by Eugene Flinn

Our First 100 Days - Democracy.com

Our first 100 days – The team approach to improving the success of Palmetto Bay – Building a greater sense of Community.
by Eugene Flinn

FDR coined the term, “First 100 Days,” and in that time, he passed fifteen bills which formed the basis of the New Deal.  My first 100 days will be critical to this community, and I have a solid record of experience in my eight years as Palmetto Bay’s founding mayor to bring our community together.

Politicians promise the world in every political campaign. This campaign for mayor has been no different. Each candidate promises to make our streets safe, protect our neighborhoods, and keep taxes low. Each has vowed to bring good government and transparency to village hall.

But the real measure of the candidate is not in what is said, but what is done. I have a solid record of establishing this village.  I will put my experience to work for us to guide this village through its next critical steps. I want to tell you exactly what will happen in the first 100 days of a Flinn administration. Working together and engaging our fellow residents and businesses, we will:

CLICK HERE to read the full plan.

CLICK HERE to view the posting of all candidates for Palmetto Bay mayor posted on South Dade Matters, including my abridged version.

Miami-Dade County - Miami-Dade County Elections - Absentee Voting

Miami-Dade County - Miami-Dade County Elections - Absentee Voting

NOTICE:  The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the August 26 Primary Election is August 20. THAT IS TODAY, Thursday. Click the link above (or CLICK HERE) to be directed to the official Miami-Dade County Elections website for complete information regarding requesting an absentee ballot.

Miami-Dade County voters may choose to receive an absentee ballot for a specific election, or for all elections in which they are eligible to vote through the end of the second regularly scheduled general election.

You have until 5:00 PM today (Thursday, 8/21/14) to submit your last-minute request for an absentee ballot.

Confidential Informant In FBI Sting Breaks His Silence « CBS Miami

Confidential Informant In FBI Sting Breaks His Silence « CBS Miami



Palmetto Bay's Michael Kesti speaks out on Channel 4:

Thank you The Cycle Mart - Shopping local Palmetto Bay - getting me back on the road

A bad day biking is not really better than a day at work.  The flat tires are occurring far too frequently along the old cutler bike trail. Today was yet another flat that led to a walk back (until the CRV arrived).  

I donated a lot of blood this morning to the mosquitoes.  I was ready to roll again after only 10 minutes at the Cycle Mart in Palmetto Bay (also where I purchased my current bike). 

Thanks team - I am back on the road for Sunday AM - This time with my emergency flat kit (note it strapped to my saddle).

Photo of the day. Eugene Flinn | for Mayor | Palmetto Bay FL

Eugene Flinn | Mayor | Palmetto Bay FL - Democracy.com

The greening of Palmetto Bay continues. Note the car in the photograph.

Notice anything unique about the car?  Thank you Powell family.

Photo of the day - broke the 500 mile milestone for the new bicycle on 8/13/14

Alexandra and I enjoyed a great morning bike ride this Wednesday morning (8/13/14).  We took the Old Cutler Bike trail from Palmetto Bay down through Cutler Bay to Black Point Marina and back.

Photos of the day - the extended family is fully engaged! Thank you all.

I am so blessed with a supportive family.

Ready to walk. William is heading off to the Back-To-School Carnival.

William having some play-time fun at the Palmetto Bay Back-To-School Carnival. Good times!

Photos of the day - so far - Palmetto Bay campaign signs rolling off the press

Now beginning to go up around Palmetto Bay.  I had the opportunity to watch the Eugene Flinn for Palmetto Bay Mayor signs in production.  Call me at (305) 302-3713 or e-mail me at eugeneflinn@bellsouth.net to get one!  I appreciate your support.

 

Here is the legal: Political advertisement paid for and approved by Eugene Flinn for Mayor, Palmetto Bay.

Gator Rebhan is the FIU softball Coach.

Congratulations Gator!  FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced the hiring of Gator Rebhan as the FIU softball Head Coach on Friday, 8.1. CLICK HERE to read the official FIU release.

"Coach Rebhan is a proven winner," said Garcia. "Given the success he has had on the state and national levels, along with the early success he had last year as an assistant coach, it made the decision clear to us that he is the right person for the job."

 "I want to thank Pete Garcia and Julie Berg for giving me this opportunity," said Rebhan. "I've been a local coach in the area for over 20 years and am excited to be given the chance to lead this program. We have a great group of players and a lot of talent on this team. I think being a local coach will bring a lot of excitement to this program. Having been an assistant coach for the team last year, I have a great rapport with the athletes already and am extremely excited to begin."

I want to personally congratulate Gator who also worked with the Village of Palmetto Bay in its Softball programs at Palmetto Bay Park. We were honored to take part in thanking him and wishing him the best at a surprise party held in his honor on Tuesday, 8/5/2014.

Gator in center with (from left to right) Alexandra, Walter, Eugene and Jennifer Flinn

UPDATE: The snail we saw is NOT a Giant African Land Snail, but the banded tree snail - a beneficial local species

Good news. Not a Giant African Land Snail - its a beneficial snail, the Orthalicus floridensis, the banded tree snail- response from the Helpline Supervisor from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

This is an update on the Photo of the day / sighting from Sunday, 8/4/2014 - "is this the invasive Giant African Land Snail? Found Sun 8/3/14 on the edge of Palmetto Bay / Cutler Bay" (post immediately below. 

The full e-mail posted below.  Thank you for getting responding so quickly!

On Aug 4, 2014, at 10:41 AM, DPIHelpline <DPIHelpline@freshfromflorida.com> wrote:
 
Eugene,

That is not the giant African land snail, it's the Orthalicus floridensis, the banded tree snail.  It is the largest native land snail and is beneficial by cleaning trees.  It can get up to around 2.5 inches. 
 
Here is a link to our website that has a snail ID sheet, which you may find helpful:
 http://www.freshfromflorida.com/content/download/23825/485859/snail-id-sheet.pdf

Thank you for your concern and willingness to help FDACS with our efforts to locate and control the giant African land snail.  If you see any other suspect looking snails, please feel free to send in more photos or contact our helpline at 1-888-397-1517.
 
Sincerely,
Katie

Kathryn C. Shepard
Public Information Specialist II / Helpline Supervisor
Division of Plant Industry
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services 
(352) 395-4604
1-888-397-1517 Helpline
Kathryn.Shepard@FreshFromFlorida.com
PO Box 147100
Gainesville, FL 32614-7100

Photo of the day - is this the invasive Giant African Land Snail? Found Sun 8/3/14 on the edge of Palmetto Bay / Cutler Bay

The things you can see while taking the morning ride along the Old Cutler Bike Trail.  Is this (yet to be fully confirmed) a Giant African Land Snail that I ran across today, Sunday, 8/3/14, on the path at (theoretical) 18551 Old Cutler Road?

Is this, or is this not a Giant African Land Snail?

There are many places in Palmetto Bay where you can spot invasive species. Click on the label "Invasive species" to see the various articles.  This is the first time that I may have seen a Giant African Land Snail. See: Giant African Land Snail and Giant South American Snails: Field Recognition (a download able .PDF field identification resource)

I recommend reviewing the official Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services website: Giant African Land Snail

Scientists consider the giant African land snail (or GALS) to be one of the most damaging snails in the world because it is known to consume at least 500 different types of plants, and can pose a serious health risk to humans. These snails could be devastating to Florida agriculture and natural areas because they cause extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments. GALS are illegal to import into the United States without a permit. If you have seen one of these snails please contact the Division of Plant Industry (DPI) helpline 1-888-397-1517. 

Report any sightings. 

Photo of the Day - Promotion Day for Lt. Col. Walter Flinn. Congratulations.

Lt. Col. Walter Flinn with family at his promotion ceremony today (Saturday, August 2, 2014) at Ft. Benning, GA. Congratulations.

 

Lt. Col. Walter Flinn pictured at his promotion ceremony

with spouse Jennifer, niece Meredith and daughter Allison