Happy Be Kind To Lawyers Day (Tuesday, April 13, 2021)

First thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.
William Shakespeare

Seriously - today (April 13, 2021) is "Be Kind To Lawyers Day" - We all should be kind to everyone every day. But sometimes people aren't kind and there are some cases where lawyers are called upon to resolve that situation.

So who is buying me lunch today? No flowers please.

In lieu of flowers, I suggest a donation be made to your favorite (or local if you do not have a favorite) pet rescue group.

HISTORY: “Be Kind To Lawyers Day” is celebrated the second Tuesday of April
Hey, I'm not making this up. Check it out on the Internet.

HOW TO CELEBRATE “Be Kind To Lawyers Day”: Suggestion posted below taken verbatim from “Days of the Year dot com”:

The best way to celebrate is to ensure that the lawyers in your life know how much you appreciate their tireless efforts. Take some time to really understand the struggles they face, and maybe send them a card or gift basket to make sure they know you empathize with their struggle.

Have you had a lawyer help you in a child custody case? Or in sorting things out with an unruly neighbor? Then maybe Be Kind To Lawyers Day is the time to make sure you send a little remembrance of what they’ve done.

It’s nice that lawyers now have a day. Thank you.

Eugene Flinn, Esquire

Want answers on the land purchase? Michael Miller interviews Dexter Lehtinen on April 12, 2021

Is there a reason why the current mayor, village council members, charter and officers and other staff failed to ask questions of those with the answers prior to the recent council action?

(Video credit: Community Newspapers - not claim made to their original work)

CONSTRUCTION ALERT - Howard Drive Shared Path project. Construction scheduled to commence July 12, 2021. Details and background provided

Here is a true “in the loop” update on the Howard Drive Shared Path project. Construction is scheduled to commence July 12, 2021. Details and background are supplied below.

Not much has been heard about the MEGA sidewalk since the fireworks erupted late in 2020. I have been provided a timeline from County sources that I am releasing here. CLICK HERE for background blog posts or review: September 29, 2020, Seeking updates on the SW 136th Street MEGA sidewalkproject. Is the grand Photo Op ceremony still on for Friday, October 2nd (SPOILER ALERT – it was cancelled and I am not in the loop as to whether it will ever take place). Also see October 30, 2019, Pinecrest Wins, Palmetto Bay loses. Pinecrest Council discusses material changes to 136 St Bike Lane. Palmetto Bay may be home to a 10 foot MEGA sidewalk instead of a shared project.

July 12, 2021: Anticipate commencement of the shared use path. The initial work will start Howard Drive Elementary in order to minimize any disruptions of class schedules for the upcoming 2021-22 school year.

Both Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest were notified on March 4, 2021, by Miami-Dade County that the start date for construction of the shared used path was July 12, 2021. The County anticipates the project will last 300 days – with substantial completion in 240 days.

All this flows from various meetings, including those listed below:

A November 7, 2019 meeting was held where Mayors Corradino and Cunningham both met with representatives from the County to review the project.

There was an October 23, 2019, meeting where the Pinecrest Public Works Director met with County representatives to discuss the issue with tree removal along the Pinecrest side of the right of way. The result of this meeting was that the County agreed that the trees on the Pinecrest side of SW 136 Street will not be disturbed.

September 23 and 25, 2019: Pinecrest Public Works Director met with Miami-Dade County and Palmetto Bay to discuss plans for the shared-use bike lane on SW 136 Street. Discussed centered around a revised approach that would involve construction of a shared use path along the entire length of 136 Street on the south side (Palmetto Bay) and nothing on the Pinecrest side. 

Further updates will be provided when and if received.

I'll admit it. I laughed out loud when I read the answer. Truly funny. Aaron Rodgers Final Jeopardy!: "Who Wanted to Kick that Field Goal?" + E...

When you are fully vaccinated. Now what? CDC provides updates on What you Can Start to Do & What You Should Keep Doing

 Here is the official information from the CDC (CLICK HERE to view the official CDC info page):

What You Can Start to Do

If you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You can gather indoors with fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or staying 6 feet apart.
• You can gather indoors with unvaccinated people of any age from one other household (for example, visiting with relatives who all live together) without masks or staying 6 feet apart, unless any of those people or anyone they live with has an increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
• If you travel in the United States, you do not need to get tested before or after travel or self-quarantine after travel.
• You need to pay close attention to the situation at your international destination before traveling outside the United States.
• You do NOT need to get tested before leaving the United States unless your destination requires it.
• You still need to show a negative test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States.
• You should still get tested 3-5 days after international travel.
• You do NOT need to self-quarantine after arriving in the United States.
• If you’ve been around someone who has COVID-19, you do not need to stay away from others or get tested unless you have symptoms.
• However, if you live in a group setting (like a correctional or detention facility or group home) and are around someone who has COVID-19, you should still stay away from others for 14 days and get tested, even if you don’t have symptoms.

What You Should Keep Doing

For now, if you’ve been fully vaccinated:

• You should still take steps to protect yourself and others in many situations, like wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet apart from others, and avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. Take these precautions whenever you are:
  • In public
  • Gathering with unvaccinated people from more than one other household
  • Visiting with an unvaccinated person who is at increased risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 or who lives with a person at increased risk
• You should still avoid medium or large-sized gatherings.
• If you travel, you should still take steps to protect yourself and others. You will still be required to wear a mask on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States, and in U.S. transportation hubs such as airports and stations. Fully vaccinated international travelers arriving in the United States are still required to get tested within 3 days of their flight (or show documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months) and should still get tested 3-5 days after their trip.
• You should still watch out for symptoms of COVID-19, especially if you’ve been around someone who is sick. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get tested and stay home and away from others.
• You will still need to follow guidance at your workplace.

Today is April 3rd, 2021. In honor of it being 4-3-21, I present music from the '80s: Europe - The Final Countdown (Official Video)

How long have we all waited to post this?

(Come on, it's a little funny)

BTW, this song is known as an "Ear Worm"

World Autism Awareness Day: April 2 - Light It Up Blue campaign

April 2 the day that people across the country and around the globe commemorate World Autism Awareness Day. It is a day of promise and a time for us to lend our hearts and minds to all who live with autism.

Living with a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects the entire family—parents, siblings, and in some families, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Meeting the complex needs of a person with an ASD can put families under a great deal of stress—emotional, financial, and sometimes even physical.

See one of my prior posts regarding past participation in World Autism Awareness Day: April 2 - Light It Up Blue campaign - for World Autism Awareness Day.

My time in a dunk tank at past Palmetto Bay picnic to raise money for Autism Speaks .

Palmetto Bay Village Hall - Lit up in blue for World Autism Day

The Light It Up Blue campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of autism. The initiative is generally associated with Autism Speaks (CLICK HERE to view the  "Light It Up Blue / Autism Speaks campaign site). It is intended to raise international awareness of autism in support of both World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month in the United States.
#autismspeaks #autismawareness #liub #lightitupblue #palmettobay

POD - Slowing down to appreciate the little things. Photos of bees enjoying their morning wild coffee in Palmetto Bay

Another post for the series: Remember and live by Rule #32 (Zombieland):

"Enjoy the Little Things”.

I wonder if the honey that is eventually produced will have the slight taste of coffee?

Sometimes you just have to stop and look at the blooms. Not all are as dramatic as the giant flowers such as Hibiscus or various orchids. They are no less important, and are quiet nice to view for those who slow down and "enjoy the little things"

CLICK HERE to read source material relating to Wild Coffee located in South Florida.

The Fauci-ouchie. 2nd and done! Jackson Health System rocks! Great people providing great service.

Done. Thank you to the Jackson Health System for taking care of my local family.

I commended the staff at Jackson South for how the treated my mother. Everything was set up well and everything moved much better than I dared to expect. We joked back in January that my mother can now do the grocery shopping for the rest of us once her immunization is complete (she cannot), but that I won't have to worry about bringing COVID home to her. (See prior related post of January 9, 2021, Great experience at Jackson South - took my mother for her COVID vaccine on Friday, 1/8/2020) 

I was not able to get an appointment at Jackson South when my turn came, so I took the first available which was located at the North Dade Health Center branch of Jackson Memorial Hospital. I was not disappointed. To the contrary, It was all good.

The drive was nothing. Add in the very slight wait time and I bet I was portal to portal in less time than most other facilities. I barely had a chance to sit during either visit. The Jackson team has this effort down to a well oiled process. And everyone has been professional, skilled and a pleasure to be around.

Alexandra was also vaccinated Saturday. Mothers have been set since the end of January (again, thank you Jackson South). Both our daughters are in process of their vaccinations. Our youngest is set for her initial dose on Wednesday (she is interning out of State, in a State where they have reached her age group). Our oldest has received her initial vaccination in Texas a few weeks ago thanks to the Chickasaw Nation and its effort to protect educators.

I am thankful that we have been vaccinated. But the sobering fact remained that no one is safe until we all are safe. the rest of the family remain at risk as we do not have the luxury of maintaining a sealed bubble at home.  

Thank you Jackson Health System and thank you Chickasaw Nation.

Small Bites - TPO Bridge vote Post-Mortem review. Please, don't bring up 'environmental studies' at the conflict resolution. Palmetto Bay is vulnerable on this issue.

Is the village council setting themselves up for a new round of embarrassment at the upcoming 'conflict resolution'? They are if they ask the County to perform an environmental assessment prior to proceeding with the C100 bridge. 

Why do I say this? After all, I am an unabashed enviro. Hmmm, Well, Palmetto Bay recently built a bridge over a different section of this same C100 canal system. It was just built a Coral Reef Park, a place where many people go to view the birds, fish and other wildlife living in that specific section of that canal. 

May I see a copy of Palmetto Bay’s environmental study performed prior to initiating construction on that Coral Reef bridge? 

Who here watched the Special Council Meeting of Monday, March 22, 2021? Please tell me I heard the council discussion incorrectly. Or did I hear correctly, that Palmetto Bay officials proposed requiring the county to go through an environmental study prior to building the bridge over the C100 canal, due to the fish, birds and other wildlife that is seen in the area?

I suggest that Palmetto Bay decline to raise any issue of requiring an environmental study. You are seriously exposure on this point and will only embarrass yourselves. It is not that it is not a good idea, but you will be showing yourselves once again to being total hypocrites and lack of concern for the environment by once again holding others to a higher standard that you all hold yourselves. 

Is this another case of Palmetto Bay’s current leadership’s practice of ‘do as we say and not as we do’?

Background: See, March 5, 2020, Palmetto Bay officials – acting as if “permits are for the little guy”: building a bridge without a permit – caught, now on hold, waiting for the permit. WTH (heck)??? Follow up on the issues.

How well did Palmetto Bay do on maintaining environmental barriers during the construction of the bridge at Coral Reef park? See the photo below:

See prior related post of March 1, 2020, This is no way to bridge a community. Both banks are a mess at Coral Reef Park as we near the annual community celebration.

My Cousin Vinny - Disclosure - Thank you to the residents of Palmetto Bay, still part of Miami-Dade County. Grassroots are actually bringing home the results, but that’s won’t stop the current mayor and council from taking credit.

Let me break the news to everyone here and now: Miami-Dade County won’t be giving Palmetto Bay anything they aren’t giving any other municipality or that they haven’t offered before. There is no ‘threat of litigation’ hanging over the County’s head (it is not the sword of Damocles hanging over the head of the County). The County has one of the biggest (and most qualified) law firms in the state – and much of it is in house. It is second in size only to Palmetto Bay’s vast list of panel and in house lawyers (OK, that was tongue in cheek), but you get the idea.

For the County, it would have been easier to negotiate when there was actually a threat of loss or delay before the TPO. But current Palmetto Bay officials would rather spend significant time, effort, tears and tax dollars to play out their fantasy roles. As the County may say; "we have phones, call us, we'll discuss like rational people". But no, my sources tell me that our current mayor, nor any other member of the village council made the rounds at County Hall to try to discuss matters before they came to a vote.

Our village is looking much like a fictional backwater township [and currently enjoys the same level of credibility (or lack of)].  It reminds me of the hilarious disclosure scene in the classic film "My Cousin Vinnie" when newbie attorney Vinny Gambini spends a day with the prosecutor and returns triumphantly to his hotel room with a box containing the prosecutor’s files. He is so proud over his victory (the concessions he obtained). That is until his girlfriend Mona Lisa Vito calls him out, informing him (after reading the Georgia State evidence code) that the prosecutor gave him the files – because he had to.   Yes, this is a funny scene, but what is not so funny is that it is currently playing out before our eyes (and at our tax expense) here in Palmetto Bay. I can hardly wait for the mayor and council to crow about the ‘complete street, the bike lanes, nice landscaping, or no-right turn signs, or even more 4 way stops as if they got it under (no) threat of litigation through the empty ‘dispute resolution’ process.

We need a “Mona Lisa” to call out the Palmetto Bay officials who are desperate to take credit for anything these local officials can call their own. As Mona Lisa would say, “that’s very impressive finessing.”

Mona Lisa Vito: Don’t you wanna know why Trotter gave you his files?
Vinny Gambini: I told you why already.
Mona Lisa Vito: He has to, by law, you’re entitled. It’s called disclosure, you dickhead! He has to show you everything, otherwise it could be a mistrial. He has to give you a list of all his witnesses, you can talk to all his witnesses, he’s not allowed any surprises.
[Vinny has a blank look on his face]
Mona Lisa Vito: They didn’t teach you that in law school either?

How long do the residents humor this bunch of Palmetto Bay officials? Maybe things will get serious around budget time. 

BOTTOM LINE: Palmetto Bay will get items from the County that the current Palmetto Bay elected leaders will attempt to repackage through their expensive public relations firm as ‘concessions from the county’ but in the end the Palmetto Bay mayor and council members should be thanking the village residents. The County won’t be offering anything because of our local leaders, but to the contrary, it will be in spite of the current Palmetto Bay officials. Palmetto Bay residents remain residents of Miami-Dade County and you can bet that County officials will not allow the Palmetto Bay residents to suffer because of our current lack of Palmetto Bay municipal leadership.