Drawing the Green Line - environmentally friendly and practical proposals for the Tanglewood (entanglement) Park

A great interview with Hal Feldman on the MiamiHal Show - talking transportation and parks - especially the last-minute proposed Tanglewood Park, rapidly becoming known as Entanglement Park.

This proposed park has become quite controversial as of late.  This specific area was discussed as part of the resident-centric Parks Master Plan process that I led in 2007.  A rendering of the proposed park was discussed on the show (and posted below).  There was no interest and the proposal was not moved forward in 2017.  Residents adjacent to this property then began a process directed by Miami-Dade County to purchase this land.  And let's be clear - this process has occurred before including two properties on the west side of 77th Avenue, across from this proposed park.  Current village officials then woke up, saw that they were far behind in the process and spent $25,000 (without a procurement process) to hire experienced County lobbyists to intervene in the process in an attempt to wrest the land from the residents who had in fact followed the process. 

Here is the video from the show:

 

Here are the photos used in the interview:

Here are photos that did not make it to the show - Google Earth overview and 2 photos taken by me of a park Miami-Dade County created in the Falls area.

Thank you Hal!

The BBV - the Better Bat Videos - additional higher quality videos of Singer's Bats

I am posting 2 new higher quality videos of the Bats who have set up neighborhood pest control at the home of Council Member David Singer.

PRIOR RELATED POSTS: (CLICK HERE) to review prior posts relating to these bats.



The above is one of a series of videos recorded on Monday, July 8, 2019, by Hal Feldman with equipment supplied by David Singer. The equipment used included a wireless Endoscope Inspection Camera Borescope for iPhone.  

Stay tuned for more events at this home - requests have been made and there will be an open event soon.  

Watch this blog for more information.

One more video:

Palmetto Bay Restaurant updates. Welcome Greek House Kitchen. Palmetto Bay loses La Mora Italiana and La Maison de Bruno

Dine out? How often? Residents want restaurants, but you have to show local businesses the love (patronize our local restaurants) if you want them to locate and THRIVE here in Palmetto Bay.

Current score card for Palmetto Bay 2019: 2 local family owned restaurants have closed.  Greek House Kitchen has opened.

First - the new relocation/opening here in Palmetto Bay:.

Welcome to Palmetto Bay

Greek House Kitchen
17041 S. Dixie Highway
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
TEL: (305) 777 8910

Open 7 Days -- 11am - 10pm
https://greekhousekitchen.com/menu-1

Palmetto Bay losses. We will miss these restaurants.  Palmetto Bay recently lost two fine restaurants:

La Mora Italiana    
17225 S Dixie Hwy
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
https://www.lamoraitaliana.com/

          Now CLOSED


See Community Newspapers, October 8, 2017: La Mora Italiana Restaurant: 'great food, great family'

 La Maison de Bruno     
16701 S Dixie Hwy
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
https://lamaisondebruno.wixsite.com/mysite

            Now CLOSED

See Miami Hal, June 30, 2017: New French Eatery in Palmetto Bay (La Maison de Bruno) (note - review also ran in the Community Newspapers).

Please - Shop, dine, support our Palmetto Bay businesses. The proprietors put their all into making a go of it here. Palmetto Bay recently lost 2 family owned businesses that worked hard to make Palmetto Bay their home and serve our community.

“Restaurant For Lease” sign is up at the long closed Palmetto Bay location many patronized as Romanza. The Quality Inn is undergoing major renovations

This is not a mirage. A “Restaurant For Lease” sign is now up at the Quality Inn, the long time Palmetto Bay location of Romanza.  See my 2017 report: A sad day in Palmetto Bay - Romanza has closed - last day was Friday, April 28, 2017. and Hal Feldman's report of May 4, 2017, Trattoria Romanza Closes.

The public can see that changes are currently ongoing at the Quality Inn and it will obviously include a new restaurant. I am looking forward to a detailed report from our local real estate expert Hal Feldman on the multi-million dollar renovations and what updates we can look forward to at our local Quality Inn.

The Quality Inn restaurant location (as it currently exists) has remained empty since Romanza's 2017 closing, while Romanza eventually relocated near Miami-Dade College Kendall, at 10521 SW 109th Court (formerly College Park Inn) in June of 2018.  More information on Romanza's re-opening is contained in Hal Feldman's report of June 24, 2018: Romanza Rises.

I was fortunate to be among the regular customers who shared some fond memories of Romanza at their closing night of Friday, April 28, 2017.  A great, and sad, evening.  Proprietors Chef Fernando Cortez and his wife Ana Maria ran a very popular restaurant in Palmetto Bay.

 Photos above left and right from Romanza Palmetto Bay closing April 28, 2017

Everyone has missed Romanza and speculations/requests constantly arose relating to each and every mixed use development that came before the Village: “Would Romanza be able to relocate there?”

We look forward to see what opens in that location and the overall renovations to the Quality Inn.

Eugene Flinn

Going for a World Record - and supporting #Wheelheroes - Jon Eggert Gudmundsson

World Records can be set just about anywhere - not just at the Olympics.  We have a local trying to set one right here in our own neighborhood -Jon Eggert Gudmundsson.

Photo: Miami Hal

Do you want to know more about that runner / bicyclist seen around town with the GoPro on his head? There is no reason to be alarmed – watch for a potential world record that may be achieved here in Palmetto Bay / Cutler Bay areas.  Be on the lookout for Jon Eggert Gudmundsson – he is a giant of a man who is currently running and cycling in our areas.  People are curious as to what this guy is doing with a video camera on his head. You can rest assured that he is not dangerous. What he is doing is attempting the longest triathlon in the world Guinness record supporting #wheelheroes.

You will see Jon around Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay running and cycling next few months. Here is the MiamiHal article describing what he is doing: South Floridian’s Quest for Guinness Book of World Records, February 11, 2008, by Miami Hal, Hal Feldman

“Run Jon, Run” Please spread the word so people will not be afraid of him – and be sure to root Jon on to break the record.

Good luck Jon - I wish you success on this endeavor. 

Traffic Circle Safety - Please take the time to view this creative video by Mark Merwitzer, Jackson Ribler & Justin Merwitzer. Edited and produced through the talents of "Miami Hal" Feldman.

Our Palmetto Bay youth stepped up and prepared this outstanding video.  

This is outstanding work by Mark Merwitzer, Jackson Ribler & Justin Merwitzer. 

Edited and produced through the talents of "Miami Hal" Feldman. 

Drive safe Palmetto Bay.

Here are some stills from the effort, filmed Sunday, 8/13/2017:

 

Update on how voting No on Amendment 1 is actually PRO SOLAR

I am proud to have authored the resolution put before the Palmetto Bay Village Council recommending residents to vote NO on (State Constitutional) Amendment 1 - The resolution passed by a 3 - 2 vote.  Most if not every other municipality that has passed this resolution has passed it unanimously, but that is another story for another time. 

I represented Palmetto Bay at Pinecrest Gardens on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, where Village of Palmetto Bay resident and artist Xavier Cortada along with Cutler Bay Solar Solutions' Raul Vergara explained why voting NO on AMENDMENT 1 is actually pro-solar.

Art Presentation: Let the Sunshine in Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay & Cutler Bay

Teamed with Cutler Bay Solar Solutions, Xavier Cortada painted three solar panels with suns, each named Let The Sunshine In. The idea is to raise awareness of the right way to vote on the Amendment by temporarily placing these panels in public spaces within Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay.

Xavier Cortada has created a "friendly competition" that pits the three municipalities against each other to see which populous will have the highest percentage of NO VOTES on Amendment 1.(This is obviously another 'friendly competition amongst the sister cities where we all win.) The winner will get first choice of the art. Xavier Cortada will then award each of the art pieces for permanent installation, renaming them Let The Sunshine In Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and Pinecrest.

Pictured below are three art pieces set as gifts for the three municipalities- art intended to help people understand and appreciate the sun and its renewable energy possibilities.

Click on the headline to read Hal Feldman's update: Attention Floridians: VOTE NO on Amendment 1

Traffic assessment update - field & recording work - Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Village Officials were back out along assessing village traffic issues on Wednesday, September 30, 2015.  This is a collaborative effort organized by the Village Manager, Ed Silva who is working with Miami-Dade County to address 87th Avenue and its spill out onto the neighborhood streets.  I attended on Wednesday, with Cornice Patterson, our Director of Public Works; Joe Corradino, our Village Traffic Consultant and our incoming Village Police Commander Lt. Serralta.  We went high tech on documenting the ongoing traffic issue with the use of a drone (pictures included below) operated by Hal Feldman.
 

Sunrise exposes huge volume of cut through traffic on 84

Traffic circle

 The traffic circle is pictured above.  Traffic is presently backing up along 168 street to the intersection at 82nd Avenue, backing up down to and through the circle.  

WAZE may have helped to create the cut through situation - now look

See prior posts regarding traffic (and WAZE), including: Is WAZE adversely impacting our local Palmetto Bay traffic, an individual's gain at expense of entire neighborhoods? Research is ongoing. (9/13/15); and additional online materials:
WAZE - reading update. links to articles regarding Waze and small neighborhoods (9/14/15) 

PLEASE NOTE: This is all part of an ongoing process and this is an interim update on what is happening.  Efforts continue on all fronts through the listed departments in cooperation with Miami-Dade County.  I will continue to keep you advised.

Palmetto Bay Earth Week Celebrations 2015 - HiamiHal Reports - Photos and video report

Photo Story -includes photographs from:
Palmetto Bay's Tree Give-Away
Bike-B-Que sponsored by Cutler Bay and Palmetto Bay
Palmetto Bay's final Ladybug Release and Movie Night (Rio 2)

Palmetto Bay's Earth Week Celebrations 2015

Video posted below

Home selling seminar - April 28 - 6:30 PM

If you’re even thinking about putting your home up for sale, don’t miss Miami’s Community Newspapers’ complimentary seminar “Learn the Secrets of Selling Your Home”. A panel of local experts, led by Palmetto Bay's own Hal "MiamiHal" Feldman, will educate you about the many facets of selling a home, how to avoid pitfalls and maximize your profit.

Don’t leave the sale of your most valuable asset to chance. During this free evening event, you’ll hear from professionals with nearly 125 years of combined real estate experience about what to expect and how to make the smart move at every turn. The esteemed panel will consist of agents, appraisers, inspectors, attorneys and title agents. Learn the facts about each step of a real estate transaction so you’re 100% ready and in the know.

Your expert panel includes: Hal “MiamiHal” Feldman (RE/MAX Advance Realty), Elena Kemper (EWM), Joe Hernandez (AKG Home Inspections), Philip Spool (Certified Real Estate Appraiser), Barry Simons (Real Estate Attorney) and Title Agent Steve Medina (HBG Title).

To expedite the RSVP process, you are highly encouraged to go to www.miamihal.com/hssrsvp RIGHT NOW! Seating is limited.

2015 Palmetto Bay Food and Country Music Festival - the Hal Feldman wrap up

A great time was had by all who attended the 2015 Florida Rock Stars "Food & Country Music Festival"

- see Hal Feldman's report - links below.

Florida Rock Stars will return in November for their 4th annual Palmetto Bay Food & Rock Festival. You can check for advance tickets here.

Held April 4, 2015, the Palmetto Bay Food & Country Music Festival featured Jade Sanders, Cutler Stew, Rough Shot, Grayson Rogers and County Line Road. There was great local food and vendors showing their wares...

Read the complete story at: http://www.miamihal.com/hals-blog/201...

Hal Feldman, Realtor® Video report posted below.

Miami Hal’s video - Palmetto Bay candidate’s forum held 9/30/14

CLICK HERE to view the full Miami Hal site. Over the past six years, Hal "MiamiHal" Feldman, a Realtor and resident of Palmetto Bay has covered our community events in video, newspapers and on his own blog (www.miamihal.com) to educate and enrich fellow Villagers. He covered the Candidates' Forum LIVE on the web (real time 9-30-14) as well as posting the video on-demand (CLICK HERE) for those of you who could not attend. Hal deserves much appreciation for his commitment to our community.

Let's get grass roots on this effort. Join the community effort to get it done - Miami Hal's Blog.

  YES, We Need A New Firehouse In Our Community

Yes, it takes a village ... Join Hal Feldman, myself and so many others who are joining together to go grassroots to make additional fire service in Palmetto Bay a reality.  

 

Read his Miami Hal's blog post, Hal: "When something is important and communication is key to its success, I jump into action. Just such a case is the need for a new fire station in our community."

I recently send this out through an email trail, but several community activists thought it would also be good to post here.

PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO SUPPORT A LIFE-SAVING EFFORT

If you agree with the information below, simply FORWARD IT to your neighbors and to the following Congressional staff member collecting support letters for Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen:

Forward this email to Joshua.Salpeter@mail.house.gov

Please view Hal's post.  Please get involved. This fire station will serve more than merely Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay. It will serve as important back up and additional service for the Falls, Cutler Bay and Coral Gables.