Photo of the day - family time at Tripp Lake

Saturday AM July 30, 2016 - Tripp Lake, upstate NY. 
Her first cast on a new rod.  Plastic worm. Success. Release.

Enjoying family time in many different activities.

Photo left - same fish 7-30-16 just before release. Photo right - similar success at the same lake 8 years earlier - how time flies!

Small Town USA - Warrensburg's Community Garden

It is always interesting to see what is going on in Small Town USA.  My ongoing research and comparing notes while on vacation.  Part of my personal process to bringing best practices and updated ideas on making things work best for our residents home to Palmetto Bay.

Things I like, places I enjoy in Warrensburg, NY (pop 4,255).

This is an outstanding example of a community garden - The Town of Warrensburg's Community Garden is located on their main street.  

Be like the Small Town USA!

Eugene Flinn, Mayor
Palmetto Bay

Photo(s) of the day - Family time away from Palmetto Bay - hiking with the family along the Shelving Falls Trail - Northern Water Snake

Family time in upstate NY - near Lake George - hiking with the family along the Shelving Falls Trail - stopping at the Shelving Rock Falls. Here we ran into this Northern Water Snake

We watched it picnic while we did the same:

Palmetto Bay - Neighborhood Walk for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Join us - this Tuesday, August 2nd - 6:00 to 8:00 PM

Your village council will be participating with the Village of Palmetto Bay Policing Unit and the Mangowood Community for a Neighborhood Walk for National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM, SW 152 Street and SW 84 Court.

Please accept our invitation to join us.

Eugene Flinn, Mayor,
Palmetto Bay   

Photos of the Day - good news in our village.

Two examples of good news in our Village.  The first is a village tweet documenting a random act of kindness from our residents expressed to our MDPD/Village Policing Unit.

As indicated in this above screen shot, we thank residents Elizabeth Schmekel & Jennifer Skelton who baked and delivered cookies to our village police.  

We join Elizabeth & Jennifer in thanking our officers.  Good deeds.

The second photo (below) is a welcomed sign of increased fire safety soon to located at the temporary fire station to be opened at 142 and Old Cutler Road (immediately adjacent to the planned permanent station 62). 

Good deeds, good things are going on all around us.  Thank you to those who are working hard to bring forward good deeds/good results.'

Keeping it positive!  Thank you,

Eugene Flinn, Mayor
Village of Palmetto Bay

Final approval from our County Commission- $7.5 million GOB grant APPROVED. More good news for Palmetto Bay

More good news.  Tuesday, July 19, 2016 - final county action / approval. Significant county grant - $7.5 million in GOB monies brought home to Palmetto Bay - This is a reimbursement type grant - paid back to Palmetto Bay after we provide proof of payment.  This money will be a "game-changer" for our area and will create significant improvement for our residents and area businesses. 

The full press release (July 19, 2016) from our district commissioner, Daniella Levine Cava follows below:

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONER
DANIELLA LEVINE CAVA
DISTRICT 8

www.miamidade.gov/district08/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                    CONTACT: Sean McCrackine

July 19, 2016                                            (305) 562-1301, mccras@miamidade.gov

County Approves Grant to Palmetto Bay for Downtown Revitalization

(MIAMI, FL) – Miami-Dade County Commissioners approved an Interlocal agreement with the Village of Palmetto Bay authorizing a $7.5 million grant to revitalize the area along the US1 corridor known as the “Franjo Triangle” at the July 19 commission meeting. The grant will help transform the area into a thriving mixed-use development of homes and businesses. The funds are coming from the Economic Development Fund (EDF) portion of the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond (GOB) program.

“This project prioritizes sustainable and transit-oriented development by building needed public infrastructure along the South Dade Transitway,” said Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava. “It will spur economic development and new jobs not only in Palmetto Bay, but throughout South Dade.  This is a major investment in our live-work-play strategy for our communities.”

The proposed development will transform Franjo Road into a pedestrian-friendly corridor and build the complete-street roadway network in support of the Village’s community vision for the area. The Village of Palmetto Bay conducted a series of community charrettes over a number of years and worked closely with Miami-Dade County to develop the revitalization plans.

“We are most appreciative for this slice of the GOB money,” said Palmetto Bay Mayor, Eugene Flinn. “This investment comes in an opportune time for Palmetto Bay,” he continued. “It is going to allow us to jumpstart and move ahead to realize the vision of the many residents who worked so hard on the 2004 charrette and the subsequent updates.”

Under a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Levine Cava and passed in February, Economic Development Funds can be recaptured from allocated EDF projects if they cannot successfully negotiate an Interlocal Agreement. In April, a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Levine Cava passed that put Palmetto Bay in line for these funds, which were officially awarded at the July 19^th meeting.

To view the meeting, please visit: http://miamidade.gov/wps/portal/Main/webcasting/

###

Is your life, or the life of a friend or loved one more important than poltics? I think so - here are the facts.

Sometime politics goes too far.  While there are some in our community that we expect no better than to continue to yell fire in a crowded movie house, we, as your elected officials, must conform to a higher standard.

Life-safety is one of the most important services provided by government.  The safety of the community is not to be trifled with.  It should be off the table for elections (unless the campaign is to INCREASE life-safety).  I would be less than candid if I failed to disclose that I am most put off by the ongoing politicization of location of fire service.

So here are some facts - facts in the form of two response time maps - prepared by MDFR, not Palmetto Bay.  These maps are #1 Response time without Station No. 62 and #2 Response Time WITH Station 62.

I am always available to discuses your concerns. For now, please review the response time and think about what it would be like to have a life-threatening emergency and be located in an area with response time >= 8:00 Minutes.  And note - that the times posted above are the AVERAGE times.

Photo update - MDC is one big step closer to an operational fire station at 142 and Old Cutler Road

North Fire Station location update - (from my July 6 post)
 
The temporary trailers are being delivered and set up as I post! (Wednesday, 7/13/16).  This is great news for the residents of South Pinecrest and East Palmetto Bay as we are one big step closer to an operational Fire Station on Old Cutler Road and SW 142 street.
 
Photos taken on Wednesday, July 13, 2016:

Thank you again to Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue, Mayor Carlos Gimenez and our County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava for championing this Fire Station; increasing County services here in Palmetto Bay. 

Should you have any questions feel free to contact my office - eflinn@palmettobay-fl.gov or my cell (305) 302-3713.

Here is a map to where the permanent fire station is being built:

Pokemon GO. In our Palmetto Bay community since July 5, (or maybe the 7th).

In case you hadn't noticed, there is currently a game going on throughout our community.  An app is available which is currently the worldwide-most popular APP - Pokemon Go. 

The game - Pokemon Go was released last week.  Here is what those Millennials are finding around Palmetto Bay - using the world-wide popular app to find them.  My daughter explains the game/APP as follows: "It's like Pokemon in the real world. You have to go out and about to find these pokemon and really enjoy the game and, eventually, you can battle against other people's pokemon in your area."

See CNET: Pokemon Go: Gyms, candy,pokeballs and everything else you need to know - The complete beginner's guide to Nintendo's wildly popular new game.  (July 8, 2016)- Pokemon Go is nothing like the Gameboy game you remember -- it's a free mobile game that lets you see Pokemon through the window of your phone as if they existed in the real world. Then, you can catch them. ("Gotta catch 'em all!")

It's also wildly popular: Pokemon Go was just released Tuesday* and it's already the No. 1 free app in the US iTunes App Store.

If you're an absolute Pokemon beginner, here's everything you need to know.

(BLOGGER’s NOTE: this article is merely to explain what is going on, trying to catch a new craze.  I neither recommend nor endorse Pokemon GO.) * Release date appears to have been July 5.

This is more than a video game, bringing people outside.  The game has its risks.  Those distracted on the hunt are subject to the typical types of accidents that can be caused by distracted driving waking biking,  of course, as reported on channel 7: "Ankle injuries, mishaps with revolving doors and walking into trees have been among the painful results." - See 7 News, Miami - Players in hunt for Pokemon Go monsters feel real-world pain, July 8, 2016

Pictured above are what you can find in our community (all Pokemon pictured below were 'found' in Coral Reef Park on Thursday, July 7), that is, if you are properly equipped for the hunt.

Happy hunting for those who engage in Pokemon GO.  But please, be mindful of your surroundings.  Be aware, be safe - and have fun!

Blood donations requested. Any reason is a good reason to donate.

Please join me in donating blood this Tuesday, July 12 - 11 AM to 5:00 PM at Perrine Elementary School.

This is an opportunity to act rather than #hashtag. I am pleased to be blood donation eligible at this time. I plan on donating. Can you/will you?

Note that you can also give at any number of ongoing donation sites of the location, date or time don't work for you. It is not important where you give, just that you give. You can give for these children. You can also give in honor for the Orlando or now Dallas terrorist acts. There are no bad reasons. All reasons are good reasons. Just give.

The Village of Palmetto Bay forwarded the request for blood donations as follows: Residents, neighbors, and friends... In wake of the terrible accident that occurred on July 4th, the family of Devin Bennar is in need of A+ blood (O blood may also donate). If you are able to help, please come out to the blood drive on Tuesday, July 12 from 11 am – 5 pm at Perrine Elementary School.

Please share and help us spread the word!

Thank you,

Eugene Flinn, Mayor
Village of Palmetto Bay

Exciting updates on the South Fire Station location - new site.

We are moving closer to closing on a South end Palmetto Bay Fire Station!

I had a very productive meeting today at Village Hall.  I continue to work hard to close on the efforts started back in the earliest days of Palmetto Bay. ‪#‎TeamPalmettoBay‬.

Thank you Mayor Carlos Gimenez, County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava and the hard working reps of MDFR. Working together will result in increased life safety service in the Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay & Cutler Bay areas.

The map shared with me today on the proposed new location for the fire station in the southeast region of our Village. This location is situated on the west side of Old Cutler Road directly North of SW 184th Street. They are in the process of selecting an appraisal firm to continue negotiations to purchase the property. With this location we will have complete coverage of the entire Village within the guidelines established by the fire department for acceptable response times.

Here are the maps shared with the village council earlier today:

Update on the north station:  Additionally, MDFR has indicated that the temporary trailers for the station on Old Cutler Road and SW 142 street should be delivered to the site within one week.

Should you have any questions feel free to contact my office - eflinn@palmettobay-fl.gov or my cell (305) 302-3713.

Happy Independence Day - 2016 - Have a safe and fun 4th!

Alexandra, Katherine, Meredith and I all wish a very Happy Independence Day to you and your families! 

CLICK HERE to view my prior e-blast of information concerning Palmetto Bay Independence Day Celebration, including links to fireworks safety and taking care of your pets during this holiday.

 This is a holiday to celebrate, the day we celebrate the birth of our great nation, the creation of the greatest system of freedom and democracy. All of this occurred due to the great physical and financial sacrifice of the founders of this nation, the brave men and women of yesterday and today who have sacrificed so greatly to ensure the traditions bestowed by our remarkable founders. We owe them vigilance, and the willingness to defend the democracy they have passed on to us.

Independence Day has been celebrated since 1776.  But do you know the year that July 4 officially made a Federal Holiday?  Would you believe 1941? Check out the History.com page regarding July 4, for additional information.

Let us continue to look to a future that belongs to all of us - a future that ‘we, the people’ have the power to create.

Please be smart if you plan on being your own pyrotechnician CLICK HERE and review the "Fireworks Safety" brochure put out by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Fire Prevention Division. Have fun and be safe.

Happy Independence Day – 2016.

Eugene Flinn, Mayor

Palmetto Bay 

I have posted various photos (below) from the 2015 Fourth Of July Celebrations held in Palmetto Bay - Mangowood and the 'Downtown Palmetto Bay' fun and fireworks event.