Man upset after gift packages robbed - UPS delivery to Palmetto Bay front porch stolen

Man upset after gift packages robbed
WSVN Channel 7 reports that a Palmetto Bay family is furious after their Christmas packages were stolen from their front porch. Please view the story online and the video.  This report is a sobering reminder that the holidays are viewed by some as open season for crime by others.  Be careful year around, not just the holiday seasons.

 

CLICK HERE to watch the entire video report online, WSVN.  A surveillance tape is played that may aid in identifying the perpetrator.

As reported, "an expectant mother committing a crime in broad daylight."  The car is described as a Toyota Carolla, about 2 years old, either red or orange.

 

WSVN reminds everyone that if you have any information on this crime, call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS. Remember, you can always remain anonymous, and you may be eligible for a reward.

 

It is a good time to brush up on the efforts of the MDPD/Palmetto Bay Policing Unit’s Operation Lookout.  This is an ongoing campaign to make people more aware of suspicious events and provides proper conduct and contact points to encourage reporting suspicious activities. 

 

The MDPD/Palmetto Bay Policing Unit would remind everyone to report suspicious Activities by calling 911 in the event of an emergency or the non-emergency police number 4-Police (305-476-5423). CLICK HERE to view the official Palmetto Bay VillagePolicing Unit web page.

50 years ago today. Earth, our big “Blue Marble”

10 Stunning 'Blue Marble' Images of Earth

(CLICK HERE) to See the original 1972 photograph and nine newer versions from NASA

The photos provided through the above link were taken forty years ago today, on Dec. 7, 1972, by members of the Apollo 17 crew.  The photo would eventually become known as the "Blue Marble," famous just as the original "Earthrise" photo taken four years earlier by astronaut William Anders as part of the Apollo 8 mission in 1968.

The earthrise photo has been referred to as the most influential environmental photograph ever taken.

The excitement of space exploration, new discoveries and gaining new perspective on just how small our home, planet earth is. 

What a time to grow up in!

Anyone recall having this lunch box? 

Pinecrest’s Family Movie Nights next up this Friday, Dec 7

View Pinecrest's official event page (CLICK HERE) for full information from the Gardens Cinema web page.

(Info from the website) Come one come all to a fabulous time for the entire family including fresh popped popcorn, softdrinks, hot dogs, and other delicious snacks.  The evening will begin with an adventurous "flashlight tour" and will conclude with a featured film including the latest releases in a safe and magical environment for the younger audience.  Enjoy full theatre amenities...outdoors.  Make it a family tradition on Fridays at Pinecrest Gardens...Don't forget your flashlights for the tour!

December 7th     

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (PG)

Time:

6:30 p.m. Gates Open        

7:00 & 7:30 p.m. Flashlight Tour

8:00 p.m. Movie

Cost:

$5  General Admission

Great family health event – SUNDAY, Dec 9. Cutler Bay's 6th Annual Hometown Harvest Bike Ride

Cutler Bay is holding the 6^th annual Bike Ride this Sunday, December 9.  Join your friends and neighbors for a 10 mile, police-escorted bike ride through the Town of Cutler Bay. The ride begins at the Lakes By The Bay Park, located at 8551 SW 216th St (next to Whigham Elementary).

Registration begins at 10am, bike ride begins promptly at 11am. Helmets are required. Free helmets for riders 10-16 while supplies last. For more information, phone the Cutler Bay Parks Department at 305-238-4166 or CLICKHERE to view the flyer.

Pinecrest to hold Building & Planning Open forum. Looking to improve services.

CLICK HERE to view the event listing on the official Village of Pinecrest Website

Building & Planning Open Forum How Can We Improve Our Services? _______________________________________________________

Friday, December 14, 2012 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Pinecrest Community Center 5855 Killian Drive Pinecrest, Florida The Building and Planning Department invites all parties (homeowners, developers, contractors, subcontractors, etc.) interested in the quality of the services the department provides to a structured Open Forum with the Building and Planning Department staff. The purpose of the forum is to engage in a productive discussion regarding Building Codes, Zoning and construction in general and in particular the regulation of these important activities in the Village. It is hoped that by engaging in an honest, sincere and constructive dialogue the forum will generate ideas and "out-of-the-box" thinking that can be used to improve the services that the department provides to constituents.  ______________________________________ Note that Palmetto Bay has completed a committee process, but the present Palmetto Bay village council still has not enacted the committee and staff recommendations. The Palmetto Bay Committee of the Whole meeting of December 12, 2012, would be an outstanding time for the new council to address the status in public.   Newly elected Vice Mayor John Dubois should ask that the status of changes suggested in the Palmetto Bay Building and Permitting Advisory Committee Final Committee Report be placed in the agenda for a public update. For more information: November 30, 2012, A holiday wish list for the new Palmetto Bay council #2.The status of the implementation of the new permit fee schedule and other recommendations of the Palmetto Bay Building and Permitting Advisory Committee Final Committee Report. April 14, 2012, Palmetto Bay's Building and Permitting Advisory Committee Final Committee Report has been completed and submitted to the Village Council. Where does it go from here? September 17, 2012, Palmetto Bay budget Review, part 2. Department of Building & Capital Projects __________________________________ I applaud Pinecrest for beginning this progress.  I ask however that this process not be a tease; that the process results in substantive updates that are PROMPTLY enacted, not left on a shelf for months or longer to wither away from council neglect.  Delays in enacting improved services and simplifying/reducing the permit fees costs homeowners both time (delays) and increased costs.

Santa Holiday event at the Deerig Estate At Cutler.

Santa Holiday event at the Deerig Estate At Cutler.

Story Time with Santa
Saturday, 12/8/2012

10:00 am to 12:00 pm
Stone House Ballroom
Free with admission to the Estate - $12 for adults & $7 for children (ages 4-14)
Free for Deering Estate Foundation Members

From the official Deering website (CLICK HERE to view the web page):
The Deering Estate welcomes guests of all ages for story time with Santa. Enjoy some of your classic holiday stories next to the enchanting christmas tree in the historic Stone House Ballroom. Children can have their picture professionally taken with Santa for an additional fee or parents can bring their own cameras and take their own photos for free. After story time, children can participate in an arts & crafts activity.

The Deering Estate also offers the following holiday events:

Deering Holiday Wonderland, Daily through December 31st.
Santa Story-Time on Saturday, December 15th.
Holiday Bay Cruise on Sunday, December 16th.

Please note that the Deering Estate at Cutler will be closed on Christmas Day.

Music to get you in the Christmas spirit

An alternative to songs like “Grandma got run over by a reindeer”:

And one of my personal favorites:

 

The Peanuts classics  are some of the best to get you in the holiday spirit. I like to find them on network rather than hunt for them on cable or on demand.

Question of the day:  What song best evokes holiday memories for you (any holiday)?

Want to participate in the third Annual Palmetto Bay Canal Association Holiday Boat Parade, Saturday December 15?

Waterfront homeowners should take advantage of the third Annual Palmetto Bay Canal Association Holiday Boat Parade when planning their own holiday parties.  The event is set for Saturday December 15. This is a fun family event privately organized by the Palmetto Bay Canal Association. If you wish to enter your boat into the parade, or for additional information, please e-mail Rainer Schael at rainer@rs-env.com or call (305) 799-8533.

The group is again collecting canned food along with local eatery “Hole in the Wall Pub.” There will also be an after parade party at the Hole in the Wall Pub. 

This is a wonderful community event that brings participants, friends and neighbors together in the holiday spirit, raises food for a good cause, and is supported both by members of the residential community as well as a local business.

The parade route will start Coral Reef Park and idle through the village. The boat parade will start about 15 minutes after Sunset. See prior post of Third Annual Palmetto Bay Canal Association Holiday Boat Parade set for Saturday December 15 for more information as well as photos from past boat parades. If you wish to enter your boat into the parade, or for additional information, please e-mail Rainer Schael at rainer@rs-env.com or call (305) 799-8533.

A great example of action, follow through, by the Village of Pinecrest on Neighborhood Protection.

Pinecrest has taken a stand for its residents. Now, it is time for Palmetto Bay elected officials to step up. Personally, I agree with Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner who opines that transit, not a toll road, would be the best way to relieve congestion on US1. Maybe the Palmetto Bay officials are 110% behind the plan to create the toll lane. We wont know until this issue is fully considered by the council and the time is now for proper consideration.

In my opinion, elected officials need to step in and take charge of shaping projects such as this toll road. Failure to act results in allowing the actions of others, outside of the village to make the substantive decisions yet to be made on this toll, and the impact this toll road will have on the future of Palmetto Bay. CLICK HERE to view a copy of Pinecrest resolution 2012-55, opposing the project.

For additional background, see:

Reminder - US1 Express Toll Lane Project meeting Wednesday, posted 11/12/2012.  Information has been provided. The issue is how this new council will feel about neighborhood protection and the impact of the proposed changes to US1 will have on Palmetto Bay. 

The project discussion was featured in the Miami Herald, Nov 16, 2012, South Dade residents skeptical of proposed toll road.  

By the way, officials are not presently talking about a 'nominal fee' to drive the proposed “Lexis Lane”.  The presentation disclosed that MDX is talking about tolls of about 80 cents per mile during rush hours (more than 836), or 10 to 20 cents at other times, depending on demand.

Community activists in the Pinecrest area have been wary the study could result in an unsightly toll road that would bring more cars looking to avoid Florida’s Turnpike. Where are the Palmetto Bay activists?

What are surrounding quality of life activists concerned about on this project? Quoting from the Herald article:

Jane Walker, a resident in West Kendall said the proposed “toll-a-coaster” could harm property values in Pinecrest and Cutler Bay.

“This would be a visual scar through the area,” she said.

Resident and neighborhood leader Holly White said she is concerned that the new toll road would bring cut-through traffic into the surrounding neighborhoods.

“It’s could be very dangerous for our children and disruptive to our neighborhood,” White said.

There were also concerns from residents that having a toll road would also just bring more cars to that area, which would defeat the purpose of easing traffic.

As I said above, Palmetto Bay is now on the clock to provide some leadership on this issue. Let’s see if the new council wants to take up this issue or let the project define the future of our area.

A holiday wish list for the new Palmetto Bay council | Palmetto Bay. The 2013 Palmetto Bay council has a chance to go positive this upcoming year.

A holiday wish list for the new Palmetto Bay council | Palmetto Bay
Click the headline above to read the entire holiday wish list for the new Palmetto Bay council posted online, Palmetto Bay News

There is an opportunity for new and positive beginning in Palmetto Bay. There are two new members and three current members who saw voters turn out both incumbents. It is time to return to public inclusion and most importantly, time to move forward in a positive manner in 2013.

I laid out my positive suggestions for the two new council members as well as suggestions for the entire 2013 council.  I remind them that this is a 5 member council. Each member has the same right to make or second motions, to agenda and sponsor or co-sponsors resolutions and/or ordinances. There are 5 votes – one per member, each equal to all other votes.

Most important to set the council up for success in 2013 is that it is time for a comprehensive discussion on current projects. My concerns  (a partial list) that I would like to see finally addressed include:

1.The status of two fire stations that the original Palmetto Bay village council worked with Federal, State and Local (County Commission and Fire Department) officials.

2.The status of the implementation of the new permit fee schedule and other recommendations of the Palmetto Bay Building and Permitting Advisory Committee Final Committee Report.
3.Should Palmetto Bay purchase bayfront land that is currently available?
4.It is time again for a village-wide strategy session. Goals need to be set. ... Pinecrest recently completed a major update to its strategic plan. It is time for Palmetto Bay to do the same.
5.A public meeting needs to be held on the Franjo Triangle and US1 Island zoning district area.
6.The future of committees needs to be discussed.
7.Greater transparency on appointment to village boards and committees.

Happy Holidays to all and lets all work together for a positive Palmetto Bay in 2013.

Holiday Events at the Deering Estate

CLICK HERE to view the official Deering Estate at Cutler web site providing additional details.

Celebrate the holidays at the Deering Estate at Cutler with an exciting line-up of events for the entire family to enjoy!

Please note that the Deering Estate at Cutler will be closed on December 25th.

 
This Friday, November 30, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM: Tree Lighting Ceremony featuring the Yuletide Carolers and the "Little Twinklers" from the Greater Miami Youth Symphony Preparatory Program
$12 for adults & $7 for children (ages 4-14); Free for Foundation Members.

Deering Holiday Wonderland
Daily, Dec. 1 -31, 2012 10 am-4 pm
Free with Estate Admission

Santa Story-Time & Kids Crafts
Satuday, December 8 & December 15, 2012
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Free with Estate admission; Free for Foundation Members.
Santa Claus will be visiting the Deering Estate for story-time in the historic Stone House Ballroom. Children can also participate in holiday arts & crafts activities.