The Many Emotions of Ron Swanson - Parks and Recreation

Make plans to attend and ENJOY! - 2015 OCPC Church Christmas Concert - Dec 5

Old Cutler Presbyterian Church (OCPC) presents its 2015 Old Cutler Church Christmas Concert on Saturday, December 5th.  Note that there are two showtimes:
4:00 pm - featuring the Children's Choir
7:30 pm - featuring the Orchestra

Enjoy an evening filled with the sights and sounds of Christmas during their annual concert performed by an array of musicians and vocalists from their choir, orchestra, worship band and children’s choir.

CLICK HERE for more information.

This is always a very popular event that is not to be missed. Attendees should plan to arrive early to guarantee a seat. 

This is a great Christmas event where you can enjoy outstanding performances with your neighbors, friends and family. Located at Old Cutler Presbyterian Church in the Worship Center. 14401 Old Cutler Rd. Miami, FL 33158. Saturday, December 5th at 4pm and again at 7:30pm. (Doors open 30 minutes before showtime) Free!

For more information, contact church office, 305-238-8121.

Baptist Health South Florida Turkey Day 5K - a healthy way to start Thanksgiving Day.

Earning that thanksgiving feast.  Thank you Baptist Health South Florida and all who worked so hard to make the Turkey Day Run 2015 such a success. There were two runs - a 5K and 10K. There was also a youth run held after the 5/10Ks.  Students from one of Palmetto Bay's local elementary schools, Coral Reef elementary, (members of the Coral Reef on the Run club) participated. Palmetto Bay was very well represented at the 2015 run.

Alexandra and I worked up our Thanksgiving appetite with the Baptist Health South Florida Turkey Day Run Miami.  We ran with thousands of our closest friends to start the day in a healthy way. 

 It was a wet Thanksgiving, but fun nonetheless. 

We look forward to participating in this event next year.  Alexandra and I participated in the 5K, though thousands competed in the 10K.

I do recommend picking up your race package in the days prior to the event rather than waiting for event day (photo left). It saves from the lines and confusion of race day.

CLICK HERE to view the official results of the 2015.

See you next year?

Happy Thanksgiving 2015 - to all: both home and serving abroad

Alexandra, Katherine, Meredith and I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving.

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 - and their needs are 365, not merely at holiday time. Giving should be a yearlong concern, and not just a last-minute photo op.

There is much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Alexandra, Katherine, Meredith and I wish you and your family the happiest of holidays.  We will be thinking of my brother who is apart from the family, extended as well as his own spouse, and children, as he is once again deployed overseas during this holiday time.

Take some time and say thanks to both those who serve our armed forces as well as their support system, their families who remain at home and continue to care for the family while our men and women continue to serve us in these challenging times. 

Photo from those Veterans presently serving overseas: Lt. Col. Flinn and the Army Reserve Engagement Cell at
the Kuwait Naval Base. Thank you all for your service to our country (photo taken Veterans Day 2015)

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)

You are invited - Sunday, 11/22 Bike Ride - Palmetto Bay with District 8 County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava and Mayor Eugene Flinn of Palmetto Bay.

Let's ride.  Please consider this your invitation (or excuse) to ride Palmetto Bay via bicycle this Sunday.  The meet up is 8:00 AM (thank you Vanessa!) and we roll from the parking lot of the Deering Estate Vistior's Center.

Sue Kawalerski of Bike 305 shows off a Miami-Dade County Bike Trails map - Palmetto Bay is 'on the map'! We are also proud to be a municipal partner of Bike 305.

Commissioner Levine Cava and I want to ride with you and explore the native areas found along the Old Cutler Bike Trail as well as generally in and around Palmetto Bay.

We will start at the Deering Estate visitors center and move through the village riding the sections of town that make Palmetto Bay and Miami-Dade County special.

This is an unstructured fun ride.  We expect to start the ride by 8:15 AM and be completed no later than 9:30.  This is a local ride, so feel free to jump in when you see us and break off and head home when and if you need to.

All types of bike are welcome, but please make sure that your bike is in good working order and be able to keep up a pace of 10-12 miles per hour.

Photos above taken from the Miami-Dade County 2015 "Ride to Work Day" event.

Important safety tips  and guideline ["plagiarized from another site (Miami Bike Scene) - hey, it's well-written]:
    Bring front and rear safety lights, it's required by law.
    Stay in the right lane unless making a left turn.
    Don't be loud and obnoxious.
    Ride carefully and considerately.
    Do not pass the ride facilitators.
    Always bring a tube, a pump, and any tools you need.
    Bringing a cell phone and cash is a good idea, too.
    No alcohol consumption at the meet up location and/or during the ride.
    Do not filter forward past stopped cars at a red light.
    Do not litter or vandalize any property.
    Do not ride on the sidewalk.
    Always perform an "ABC Quick" Bike Check to ensure that your bike is in safe working order.
    Yield to emergency vehicles, pedestrians, and buses.
    Don't be late.

My cell phone - for anything last minute or otherwise - (305) 302-3713 -

We look forward to the ride!

Eugene Flinn, Mayor
Village of Palmetto Bay.

What might we see? Posted below are some random photos from past personal rides and some of the people and characters I have come across.

 

Busy, rainy, event filled-weekend. WHEELS, DARE Art Festival pushed through the rain, Food & Rock cancelled

November 13, 14 & 15 was a very busy weekend impacted by rains all weekend.  The WHEELS Big Bash was forced to shut down early on Saturday due to torrential rain. A nice ride made very wet - the WHEEL Bike Train that stated/ended in South Miami, running down the South Dade Bike Trail, onto 168 Street, west through Larry & Penny Thompson Park, onto and south through the Black Creek Trail to Black Point then up through Cutler Bay, Palmetto Bay, and through Pinecrest on the Old Cutler Trail back to South Miami.  

Tree down on the busway/bike lanes -Top 11/13, bottom, on 11/14

Victor Dover and UBER execs - announcing UBER POOL Ride Share.

 

 Alexandra and I attended two events Friday evening held at the Tropical Audubon House in South Miami - The Ceci Watson Exhibition, Opening Reception held as part of the South Miami Art Walk (a must do) and the WHEELS Friday evening reception. (also pictured, Amy Creekmur and Amy Donner at TAS/Exhibit) - GO Green!

Alicia Bravo, Director, Miami-Dade Transit speaks to WHEELS attendees

 

(above left) Bike 305's Sue Kawalerski shows off the new BIKE 305 Bike trails/routes map.  (above right) WHEELS events listing.

Rain led to an unfortunate early end - the Bike Bash was an outstanding event. Looking for another one.

The Rain impacted other events in Palmetto Bay as well - our Palmetto Bay Policing Unit's DARE Art Show.

The DARE show did go on through the Saturday and provided fun and crafts for those who attended.

The 4th Annual Food and Rock festival was forced to cancel the event.

(Notice posted on the Village official Facebook site): EVENT CANCELLED - Palmetto Bay was hosting Florida Rock Star's 4th annual Palmetto Bay Food & Rock Festival TONIGHT at Ludovici Park Amphitheater however, due to inclement weather, the event has been cancelled. Sorry for the inconvenience

Nov 12, 2015 - appearing before the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation

I was honored to appear before the Miami-Dade Legislative Delegation on Thursday, November 12, 2015.  This meeting marked a transition as Senator Anitere Flores, (R 37) completed her term as delegation chair.   The new chair for this coming year is State Rep Jose Felix Diaz (R 116). This is part of ongoing local hearings where our local legislative members hear for their constituents.  Nov 12 was a busy day as almost 100 people testified at this public hearing which focused on education, economic development, agriculture and natural resources. 

I meet regularly with our local representatives, whether it is by telephone, or in person both locally or in Tallahassee.  We are privileged to have a very responsive Miami-Dade County Legislative delegation.

Eugene Flinn, Mayor
Village of Palmetto Bay

Photos of the Day - serving (dinner) to those (and their families) who served - Veterans Day 2015

The Village Council was honored to serve dinner as our Veterans Day salute to the members and families of the American Legion, Post #133, in Palmetto Bay.  I have taken the liberty of posting a few photos.  We were also joined by our District 8 County Commissioner, Daniella Levine Cava.

 

 

 

 

Thank you to all who have served our great country.

Very truly yours,

Eugene Flinn