South Dade Updates. My best method for keeping everyone up to date on important matters affecting our community.
Friday, November 26, 2021
Kicking off the 2021 Christmas Season music - A Charlie Brown Christmas - Christmas Time is Here Song
Thursday, November 25, 2021
Happy Thanksgiving - 2021
The holiday season is officially upon us! Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving.
There is much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. Alexandra, Katherine, Meredith and I wish you and your family the happiest of holidays.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.
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)
Very truly yours,
Eugene Flinn
Monday, November 22, 2021
Preparing for this holiday week: Who remembers WKRP "As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly" Happy Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Nov 18, 2021 Update to POD of 9/20/2021. Non-native grass planted, appears to be no requirement to replace the lost canopy. More trees lost to the ax.
The tree loss extends beyond the SW 136th Street MEGA sidewalk project. 82nd avenue is joining the streets undergoing tree diets. It now appears as if no trees ever stood on the Northeast corner of SW 152 Street and 82nd Avenue. But there were - the Oaks were at least 50 years old. They survive many storms, including Hurricane Andrew in 1992, but they could not survive the chain saw.
Where is the tree maintenance / replanting program that Palmetto Bay once took pride in?
Answer? There are new policies at play that reflect the current priorities (or lack of) for this current mayor and council.
For background, see prior related post of Monday, September 20, 2021, POD. Monday, 9/20/2021. Time to grind some stumps and sweep more issues under the rug.
Photos from the prior post documenting what once stood there:
Saturday, November 13, 2021
Morning ride - Photos of the Day
The ay was flat smooth. Shore birds doing their thing, staying just out of reach. The water was clear, so you could see some fish close to shore doing their thing.
Friday, November 12, 2021
RIP Winter the Bottlenose Dolphin
One of our daughters texted us the bad news over night: Winter the Dolphin, star of 'Dolphin Tale', dies at 16, Bay News 9, by Cait McVey.
Winter captured the hearts of everyone with her story of the heroic efforts to save her life through a prosthetic fin. Winter the Dolphin made headlines national headlines in 2005 when she was rescued off the Florida coast and taken to the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. She was severely injured when she became entangled in a crab trap line. She later went on to star in the 2011 move Dolphin Tale. A very moving movie. This is not the ending that we hope for Winter.
RIP Winter.
The official statement from Clearwater Aquarium:
With heavy hearts, Clearwater Marine Aquarium announced tonight that Winter the Dolphin died at approximately 8 p.m. as animal care experts from around the country worked to treat her gastrointestinal abnormality. The CMA family is devastated.
During preparation for a procedure, the CMA Animal Care team observed that Winter’s behavior and vital signs were declining. The medical team tried several life-saving efforts, but she died being held by her caregivers.
“While we are heartbroken by Winter’s death, we are comforted knowing that our team did everything possible to give her the best chance at survival. We worked with specialists and marine mammal experts from around the country to provide her with the best care available. Our staff worked around the clock during this challenging time,” said Veterinarian Dr. Shelly Marquardt, DVM, CVA. “I’m honored to work alongside such dedicated and talented professionals who gave their all for Winter.”
The CMA team expresses our deepest gratitude to the thousands of people from around the world who sent caring messages for Winter. She truly inspired hope and was loved by millions of people worldwide.
Winter, we love you.
CMA will be closed on Friday to provide time for our staff to grieve. A grief counselor will be made available to the team.
Plans for a memorial for Winter, honoring the positive impact she made on the world, will be announced soon.
With heavy hearts, CMA announced tonight that Winter the Dolphin died at approximately 8 p.m. as animal care experts from around the country worked to treat her gastrointestinal abnormality. The CMA family is devastated.
— Clearwater Aquarium (@CMAquarium) November 12, 2021
Read more: https://t.co/23pbetCu1l pic.twitter.com/39KUcf2jpv
Red-whiskered Bulbul sighting. It has been a while
Spotted out front of the home. I apologize for not obtaining a photo, but these birds don't wait log and pose for photos.
The story behind the Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus) Information taken from the online audubon.org field guide (CLICK HERE to view more information)
When a few Red-whiskered Bulbuls escaped from an aviary in the Miami area in 1960, they found an environment perfectly suited to their needs. The climate was not too different from that of eastern India, where they had originated; and the suburb of Kendall, Florida, was heavily planted with exotic trees and shrubs, providing the bulbuls with abundant berries throughout the year. The birds quickly became established, but they have not spread much beyond Kendall.
Yet another reason to plant food sources in order to attract and enjoy your own backyard oasis.
PRIOR RELATED POSTS:
March 18, 2021, Videos of the Day. Slowing down to appreciate the little things. 2 videos
March 11, 2020, Just for fun - backyard wildlife entertainment. Squirrel lunchbox.
January 29, 2020, Video of the Day - the sounds of morning in Palmetto Bay. Birds are singing and squirrels are barking
March 22, 2019, Bees plan on working through the weekend. Our Dombeya Seminole plant is "abuzz". POD
June 20, 2015, Photos of the Day - Mainland Marsh Rabbit
April 19, 2015, Earth Week - the events have begun in Palmetto Bay! Join us. Photos of the day - Bird Watching Workshop
Thursday, November 11, 2021
Thank you to those who have served Country. Today we honor our military Veterans.
I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and thank all US Military veterans for their service to our country. Everyone should take a moment to honor those who have preserved our freedom and protected all of our rights, including the right to vote. Veterans Day is a holiday honoring living military veterans. It is both a Federal holiday and is also recognized and observed by all 50 states.
History: President Woodrow Wilson first proclaimed Armistice Day on November 11, 1919. Other countries today also still recognize November 11th as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in honor of the Armistice treaty which ended WWI. The U.S Congress amended this act on November 8, 1954, making this holiday Veterans Day as we know it today.
Thank you to every man and women who has served our county as a member of our armed forcesMonday, November 8, 2021
Bike photo. Pick one version for photo of the day. A little fun. Filtered or natural?
Which one: natural - color or the filtered to black & white?
Email your choice to me at eugeneflinn@bellsouth.net winner to be announced.
Did you know that bike photos are a thing? Well apparently it is. Look to the various social media and look for hashtags including (but certainly not limited to the following):
#bikelife #cycling #mtb #biker #ride #cyclinglife #ciclismo #mtblife #roadbike #mountainbike #bikersofinstagram #bikelovers #bicycle #gopro #bikes #bikeride #bicicleta #road #bikers #pedal #cyclingphotos #cyclist #instabike #cycle
Of course, I also use (partial list): #BAAW #whyIBike #bikephotos #OldCutlerRoad #CyclingLife #PalmettoBayCyclists #doragravelingexplores #doraandthegravelingexplorers #BikesOfInstagram
Remember the Rules of (the movie) Zombieland:
# 1: Cardio
#18: Limber up
#32: Enjoy the little things
and, of course,
#36: Sunscreen
Enjoy what you do.
Sunday, November 7, 2021
Embracing our local environment. A 27 mile gravel ride with friends & family near and into Everglades National Park
This was just too nice a weekend not to be out riding South Florida.
![]() |
| Sat. ride route |
Saturday (11-6-2021): A nice 45 mile road ride through Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay, Pinecrest, Coral Gables, into the City of Miami (Coconut Grove)
Fun times. Bay views, the beauty of the Old Cutler area.
Sunday (11-7-2021): A change up for Sunday - meeting up with the gravel gang for a nature ride near and into Everglades National Park.
Sunday was a beautify cool morning to ride.
Thursday, November 4, 2021
We should embrace Ventanitas here in Palmetto Bay. It's a Miami thing, another way for the community to gather.
Why can't we embrace La "Ventanitas" here in Palmetto Bay?
FACT: Vicky's Bakery - a very popular business with 16 (or more) locations in South Florida decided to invest in Palmetto Bay. They have a business model (a very successful model) that includes Miami style ventanitas. Vicky's tried and was denied their request to properly equip their facility with one. Palmetto Bay officials nixed the request and Vicky's ended up with a counter inside the bakery. This is not the Miami-style traditional walk-up "ventanita" that Miamians have come to know and South Florida enjoy. CLICK HERE to read prior related posts, background on the Ventanitas issue here in Palmetto Bay.
We rode bikes to the Gables over the weekend for some sightseeing. We passed the Vickey's Bakery at 245 University Drive - just a mere block away from all the single family homes in the area (between Le Jeune and Salzedo Streets). Coral Gables is known as a municipality with strict zoning, yet the Gables allows Vicky's Bakery to have a ventanita - well within earshot of residential - both single family and multi-unit areas.
What is the problem here? Who is threatened by this? This looks like a great community gathering place where people can meet and discuss the issues of the day - whether it is a bridge, who is going to save 22 acres of sensitive pineland, traffic, recent trends toward increases in property taxes and fees on electrical service, or what is killing the animals in the park areas.
Perhaps that is the problem - keep people separate, not talking about what is really going on under this current administration here in Palmetto Bay.
Distractions. Palmetto Bay needs to get back to being business and community friendly. Let's work to bring the community together over blowing dog whistles and needlessly dividing our community.
Just my humble opinion,
Eugene Flinn
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Its easy to participate - Love to Ride Florida challenge - Part of Florida Mobility Week
Fellow cyclists
Monday, November 1, 2021
Shared Path safety in Palmetto Bay - make your own. We have our answer – there is no enforcement, no protection, for users of shared paths. This is why it is safer to ‘take the lane’ in Palmetto Bay.
Nope – Sunday afternoon is off loading time for commercial trucks that find it easier to take the shared path than find the proper loading zone. It appears to be a daily occurrence here in Palmetto Bay. See: October 30, 2021, Another blatant violation. The dates may change, but the violations remain the same. Shared path – ha! It’s a delivery / parking zone.
I ask you, would you allow children to walk or ride bikes and scooters around trucks in a loading zone? Of course not. Then why would you allow multi-paths to be used as a parking/unloading zone, especially at a time and on a day when you expect children to be riding this shared path?
![]() |
This is getting boring (it is presently unsafe). Perhaps the unique report would be “hey, no safety issues with any Palmetto Bay Shared Paths today. See: October 24, 2021, Special post - Video of the day. The Old Cutler Trail: a shared path. Would you walk or ride through a loading zone? No. But then why would you use a shared path as an unloading zone? Is there any enforcement?
Another day, another violation on a shared path in Palmetto Bay. This is a safety issue.
Is there any village enforcement? Do any of our current
elected officials concern themselves with providing a handicapped accessible
path? Obviously there is no concern for the ADA any longer in Palmetto Bay.
Saturday, October 30, 2021
Another blatant violation. The dates may change, but the violations remain the same. Shared path – ha! It’s a delivery / parking zone.
When was I last apprised that the Old Cutler Trail was blocked by a motorized vehicle? Last week. See: October 24, 2021, Special post - Video of the day. The Old Cutler Trail: a shared path. Would you walk or ride through a loading zone? No. But then why would you use a shared path as an unloading zone? Is there any enforcement?
Is there any village enforcement? Do any of our current elected officials concern themselves with providing a handicapped accessible path? Obviously there is no concern for the ADA anymore in Palmetto Bay.
The car parked squared in the center wasn’t enough. The icing on the cake is the wide open door. The driver was nowhere to be found. There was plenty of parking off the path. This appears to be a deliberate choice.
Shame on the current Palmetto Bay mayor and council.
You want shared paths? Then enforce rules that make paths safe. It is not up to cyclists to police the paths like a pack of 'boomer Karens'. The SW 136th Street Path is not even complete and already … it’s a parking space! Seen on SW 136th Street on Friday, October 1st, 2021. Hey, Sue, I guess the cyclists have more room in the lane when the cars 'take the path'! See: October 2, 2021, Special post - Photo(s) of the day. Reader submitted photos of the Palmetto Bay designed shared path. Or is it a car park?
Friday, October 29, 2021
Have a happy and safe weekend. A Florida cold front coming - another reason to get out and enjoy the outdoors. No excuses, enjoy!
A cold front up north = snow
The same cold front in Florida = temperatures below 80.
The question is not "what am I going to do this weekend." The appropriate question is "how many miles will I ride".
We are blessed with outdoor weather year around. Don't squander the time! Get out and enjoy our South Florida native environment.
I wonder if Dr. Seuss was a cyclist?
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
by Dr. Seuss
Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any
you'll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you'll head straight out of town.
It's opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.
And then things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!
Thursday, October 28, 2021
Update – why the Ventanitas are important. This issue is becoming more about truth in government than what kind of coffee you drink and where you get it.
Credibility is important. Facts are facts. Palmetto
Bay would rather engage the social media crisis managers rather than taking the
issue on responsibly. I was shopping for
my mother earlier this week at the Publix located at 7805 SW 40th St (some may remember this
location as where the Tropicare Drive In Theatre and weekend swap meet were once
located). The photos of the walk up windows at Publix is what is being debated in Palmetto Bay:
FAIR QUESTION: Who sees a threat in a ventanita? What problem was being solved in enacting the ban on walk up window sales?
After looking at the pictures and after
assessing the controversy created, what Palmetto Bay officials may want to now say
is: Oh, you wanted a ventanita, we thought you wanted a walk up sales window!
Why didn’t you say so in the first place?
But seriously, a ventanita is simply a walk up window. Vicky’s Bakery asked for one and was denied - that is an undeniable fact. Vicky’s Bakery is an established local business with several locations in Miami-Dade County, one with a successful track record that is willing to invest by opening at what has recently become a revolving door location.
It's not easy to bring in a local business with a solid tract record. It is much easier to drive them off. Long time locals will
remember that Vicky’s Bakery is now located where Ranch House, Flamingo’s,
Coopers and others once tried to make a go of it. Why can’t this current mayor
and her administration try to encourage the
success of a new business? Why do they have to make it hard to both
open as well as operate a business here? Are they that excited about new
businesses that they want to see more revolving doors?
HINT: There is a
problem if you are cutting a grand opening ribbon every few years at the same
location.
Let’s look at the fiction being spun in order to
deflect from the issue; the claim that
--- one can get Cuban coffee in Palmetto Bay – so what? Who said you can’t
buy or drink Cuban coffee in Palmetto Bay? I can and do get it, both at home and
out. That has never been an issue. However:
The truth and the issue: You can’t get your
coffee (of any variety) or any other item when purchased through a walk up
window. A ventanita is a walk up
window.
The spin put out by the village officials as
well as their social media allies is both ridiculous and disingenuous
Again,
take the time to view as this just a 21 second video clip – watch it for
yourself.
Can we just see this current mayor and council own up to the issue and make it right?
Are the mayor and the council unaware as to what
they voted on or are they desperately dog paddling for air to deflect, deny and escape what they
have done?
More people are now watching this current mayor
and council and that is good. We will continue to separate fact from fictional spin. This
is government and it must be held to the standard required in the Village
Charter. See September 23, 2020, Palmetto Bay Charter - Citizens' Bill of Rights - requires
Truth in Government by our elected officials and employees.
Stay tuned. Demand truth in government.
For more background and additional details, see the prior related post of October 26, 2021, Facts are important. Claims from Palmetto Bay elected officials and staff, stating that Ventanitas are not “banned”, do not appear to line up with the experience of Vicky’s Bakery, the updated ordinance or staff presentation at the hearing. Read/see for yourself.
Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Facts are important. Claims from Palmetto Bay elected officials and staff, stating that Ventanitas are not “banned”, do not appear to line up with the experience of Vicky’s Bakery, the updated ordinance or staff presentation at the hearing. Read/see for yourself.
Credibility is important. Facts are facts. Are the mayor and the council unaware as to what they voted on or are they desperately dog paddling for air to escape what they have done?
What am I talking about? Well, it has been the talk of Miami, starting with the article in the Miami Herald - ‘Either stupidity or racism’: Is Palmetto Bay really trying to ban Cuban ventanitas? By Samantha J. Gross and Carlos Frias, 10/22/2021: Miami Herald subscribers can read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/restaurants/article255188817.html#storylink=cpy
The facts are telling. The herald quotes a staffer who denies that Ventanitas are banned alleging that:
“They have never been prohibited, and they are not prohibited now,” Community and Economic Development Director Maria Pineda told the Miami Herald. “We just have to take a look at parameters, just like we look at parameters for outdoor seating.” Ventanitas can be pivotal to Latin bakeries’ success.
Hold on there – is this true? So then does Vicky’s Bakery have a Ventanita? The Herald reporters checked in with Vicky Bakery CEO Pedro Cao who stated that:
Vicky Bakery had to work around a Palmetto Bay rule that didn’t allow for a walk-up window when it opened its village store two years ago. The owners had to build a window 2 feet inside the building, behind double doors, hurting visibility from the street, Cao said. (bold emphasis added)
There are many who would argue that a window placed 2 feet inside the building is NOT a Ventanita.
Is a Ventanita important?
“About 25-30% of a bakery’s business comes from the walk-up window, said Vicky Bakery CEO Pedro Cao, who has a franchise in Palmetto Bay. Often the window is a major draw for people driving by who see it and decide to pop in for a quick coffee or pastry. “
So who is reporting or telling the truth? What was said at the meeting? What was presented in writing?
It appears that their purpose was very specific. It says that all sales shall be inside the establishment and walk up sales windows shall not be permitted. It is the use or consumption of merchandise that shall not be permitted except by conditional use approval. So this looks to be very clear that in the B 1 limited business district, the walk up windows are specifically banned.
A conditional use application would not apply as “…walk up sales windows shall not be permitted.” It does NOT say that walk up windows require conditional use approval. Nope - “not permitted.”Page 35 from the agenda is pictured at the bottom wiht an excerpt posted to the right. A 21 second video clip of the staff report is embedded below. Please watch the excerpt. The 21 seconds are VERY important. What I hear is that staff is clearly stating that walk up windows are banned consistent with council request. Again, walk up window, as opposed to drive through windows. Please listen for yourself.
If not the B-1 zoning district, then how about the B-2 zoning District? B2 also includes a ban as walk up windows are not listed uses (items 1-14 additional to those uses permitted in the B1 district). Walk up windows are not listed under accessory uses or conditional uses (limited to items 1-4). "Prohibited uses include all uses that are not specifically listed in the section." I don’t see how or where Ventanitas are permitted in either of these zoning districts.
Facts are facts. What did the ordinance say? Here is the applicable page from the zoning hearing where this ordinance was approved on second (and final) reading. It was approved 5 – 0. It will be important to review the final ordinance, signed into law by the mayor and clerk as well as the meeting minutes. You can be sure that all these documents will be reviewed by the public with a very detailed fine tooth comb.
For now, I see a ban, no chance for a conditional use, and a
need to totally revise this inartfully prepared ordinance. I see that Vicky’s
Bakery in fact does NOT have a Ventanita in direct contradiction of the
statements made to the Miami Herald Reporters.
Everyone is watching this current mayor and council. We will separate fact from fictional spin. This is government and must be held to the standard required in the Village Charter. See September 23, 2020, Palmetto Bay Charter - Citizens' Bill of Rights - requires Truth in Government by our elected officials and employees.
Stay tuned.
Monday, October 25, 2021
Apartment People - a serious issue slipped in within the jokes. Applicable to "Ventanitas"?
This episode was a trigger - I've heard code words used in Palmetto Bay - "renters" or "Ventanitas" and then hearing they had nothing against "renters" but rather, "we simply are a Village of owner occupied." Nice try, but not entirely true.
This video takes it to another level - and comes out swinging stating what some people stop short of saying, at least what they say publicly. What they think may be another matter.
Sunday, October 24, 2021
Special post - Video of the day. The Old Cutler Trail: a shared path. Would you walk or ride through a loading zone? No. But then why would you use a shared path as an unloading zone? Is there any enforcement?
Another day, another violation on a shared path in Palmetto Bay. This is a safety issue.
I ask you, would you allow children to walk or ride bikes and scooters around trucks in a loading zone? Of course not. Then why would you allow multi-paths to be used as a parking/unloading zone, especially at a time and on a day when you expect children to be riding this shared path?
This is yet another example as to why I fight for bike lanes, not shared paths. Multi-paths are too easily misused by vehicles for either parking or even driving. And please, I've heard that I should call the police, not post on social media. Not buying that. I'm out riding, not patrolling. We have police patrolling. In my opinion, this is a clear and obvious violation of the multi-path (no motorized vehicles) as well as an affront to the ADA.
You want shared paths? Then enforce rules that make paths safe. It is not up to cyclists to police the paths like a pack of 'boomer Karens'. The SW 136th Street Path is not even complete and already … it’s a parking space! Seen on SW 136th Street on Friday, October 1st, 2021. Hey, Sue, I guess the cyclists have more room in the lane when the cars 'take the path'! See: October 2, 2021, Special post - Photo(s) of the day. Reader submitted photos of the Palmetto Bay designed shared path. Or is it a car park?


























