PARTY IN THE PARK!

Artwork by Mari Chael

It's time for a party!!

Join your South Miami Neighbors at Dante Fascell Park on December 15, 2019. We're going all out this time! We've rented both pavilions. We're bringing a bounce house and we've got music supplied by Banana Chant!

Becca Lago has done an amazing job putting this event together. From arranging for the pavilion rentals, the bounce house and finding the band, she's putting together what will be our biggest and best potluck party ever!




If you want to help out, Becca has a private Facebook group that you can join.
You can also contact her via email at info.somineighbors@gmail.com

What are you bringing to the potluck??? 

Check out our Meeting notes from October 21, 2019

Hi all,

Please check out our meeting notes to see what we discussed and what you might want to be a part of in the future.

South Miami Neighbors Minutes Oct 21, 2019,  at Planet 57

In attendance:

Holly Zickler, Annick Sternberg, Fabian Kahn, Gray Read, Mari Chael

Pablo Alvarez, FIU Biscayne Campus, Sr Journalism (South Florida Media Network) Emily Gorman, OrganizingRepresentative, Sierra Club/ Ready for 100 Campaign

1—Public Space Challenge Grant awarded to the South Miami Neighbors: Painting the Rainbow:

Tasks:

--Meet w Meg Daly and get a better feeling for Art Master plan & to facilitate volunteer participation, etc.

--Meet w Bo Droga, who can add perspective on the process, etc.

--Possibility of getting additional sponsorships for materials, labor, etc. Possible Sponsors &Community partners (the list can be expanded):

South Miami Hospital FNBSM

Grass River/ Fed Realty The Underline

Sherwin Williams along Underline Ace along the Underline

Rotary

CRA/ City of South Miami Chamber South

Red Merchants

2—Garage Sale Update:

Annick & Holly spoke at last commission meeting in support of a citywide garage sale day in resident’s yards. Although the resolution did not appear on the agenda, commissioners seemed supportive. If passed, the garage sale will be scheduled for 2020 because the holidays are upon us. Date of garage sale TBA once a resolution is approved.

3—Potluck on Dec 15, Dante Fascell Park. On the issue of corporate food sponsorships: the potluck is not a venue for this.

Task: Have info at the potluck to encourage growing membership in South Miami Neighbors ($15 per family) &sponsorships on projects: SoMi Rainbow Underline/ Alternative to College Fair/ Candidates Forum

Think about and prepare a more formal sponsorship to ask for participation in the future. Develop a procedure/guidelines.

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4—Alternative to College Fair: Application to South Miami Community Center pending. Anticipated to take place in March or May 2020. Participating institutions and trades can include Port of Miami, Jorge T Baker Aviation, Mc Fatter Technical College, Robert Morgan Trade School, South Miami Police, etc.

5—Tentative date for Candidates Forum: Monday, Jan 27, 2020, is available at the Elks Club (the venue for the last Forums). Fabian is our go-to guy. This year if we wish to have food (which is optional), the cost for cleanup is $200 (non-negotiable). Do we wish to forego food?

6—Emily Gorman, representing the Sierra Club discussed the Ready for 100 Campaign, Readyfor100.org. South Miami has committed to 100% renewable energy by 2050. The city has submitted a $300,000 grant proposal to the SE Sustainability Directors Network and will learn if they will receive it by the end of November. It will be used for implementation and consulting related to the 100% Renewable commitment and other citywide sustainability efforts. If they get the grant, the goal for the next 2 years will be to set its implementation plan. (6 cities already implementing this.)

Having open communication with the community, understanding the needs and the wishes of the residents is vital to the success of the program. The South Miami Neighbors could play an important role in the communication process. Helping to identify the needs and wishes of residents, organizing with other community organizations to tap into other groups of residents and tirelessly requesting/demanding from the city to recognize what residents want and updates on their decision making and progress. We could also help organize listening sessions and bringing in experts from other cities farther along in the process.

Gray will contact the City Manager to set up a meeting to ask what is the city’s timeline for this program and how they plan to keep the residents informed. Holly will join her for the meeting.

--can be a topic for discussion at Candidates Forum & a component for Lovable Cities discussion (Holly offered to host a potluck dinner on May 6^th or 7^th 2020)

--How can we cut electricity consumption? Seal doors, windows, roofing, plant trees, add insulation (program in place in CRA to insulate houses)

--FPL customers can organize; sign up for a purchasing program (Solar Together)

--There are 2 bills in Tallahassee targeting 100% renewables statewide

--Gray hopes the grant includes newsletter w topics: recycling, composting

--Idea: CRA as the pilot area because it includes public housing, private residences with onsite solar

7—This year let’s get out there and participate in Give Miami Day, on Nov 21, https://www.givemiamiday.org. And a thought: If we participate annually we can make our membership day concurrent w Give Miami Day. Update, need a real website and not a blog. We might need to budget for that in the coming year.

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Great Turnout at Today's All America Park Potluck

Here are a few photos from today's potluck at All America Park. We had a great turnout with old friends and new and everyone brought wonderful dishes to share. Some of our City Commissioners and the Mayor were also in attendance.

Help shape the Parks and Recreation Master Plan!

The South Miami Department of Parks and Recreation has scheduled two public workshops to get input on the city's parks and recreation master plan. At the workshops, Miller Legg (the consultant hired by the city) will conduct a discussion of goals and objectives so that residents can discuss the community's needs.

Both workshops will be held at South Miami City Hall (6130 Sunset Drive). The first will be held Thursday, June 25, at 7p.m., and the second will be on Saturday, June 27, at 5p.m.

Residents are strongly encouraged to fill out the Parks and Recreation Residents’ Survey, which is available online at www.southmiamifl.gov. This quick (15 minute) survey allows you to give input about the future of our parks and programs.

Parks and Recreation announces summer camp, ballet and swim classes, and free movies in the park!

Ok, the headline kind of says it all. South Miami Parks and Recreation have announced their 2015 Summer Camp, ballet classes, swim classes, and three free outdoor movies. Summer 2015 is going to be great in the City of Pleasant Living!

More information below the break…

Ludlam Trail Charrette Follow-up Presentations April 23 and 29

This Thursday and next Wednesday, Miami-Dade County Commissioners Sosa and Suarez are convening follow-up meetings to discuss the Ludlam Trail Charrette with their constituents. Both meetings begin at 6pm.

two more opportunities to speak in support of the Ludlam Trail

South Miami neighbors are invited to come speak out in favor of the Ludlam Trail at two upcoming meetings. On Monday, October 20, the county Planning Advisory Board will discuss the value of transforming the old railway right of way into a six-mile linear park. That meeting begins at 2 p.m.

On November 19, the Board of County Commissioners will take up the subject at their meeting. Both events will be held in the County Commission Chamber at 111 NW 1 Street, Miami.

Bike-B-Que in Palmer Park this Saturday

Cycle with your family and friends to Palmer Park for a free barbeque, on Saturday, March 22 from 11:00am to 1:00pm!

Murray Park pool moves forward

At a recent meeting of the ERPB, the much anticipated Murray Park Pool was presented. It is exciting that the pool is moving forward in an expeditious manner so that everyone can finally go for a swim!  The design includes a kid's splash fountain, a shallow wading area leading to a lap pool, a small building with showers, bathrooms and a food concession, and perimeter fencing separating the pool from the remainder of Murray Park. While it is hopeful that the pool could be open year round (it will have heating), the current plan is to have the pool open only during the summer months.  That is why the City should consider how the pool can be designed to reap maximum benefits from elements of the pool's facilities.  For example:  the restrooms, showers, snack bar, and splash fountain can be used year round.  

Also, what will folks be seeing when the pool is not in operation?  How can the view to the pool be a postcard image of, say, a lake framed by beautiful landscaping year round?  Can the pool be a destination for special events such as weddings, etc?   Currently, there is chain link fencing proposed at the pool's perimeter.  Is chain link giving the right impression, and is such high fencing necessary? Can a lower security fence be obscured by landscaping and trees opening up to the view of the lake pool?

Other cities have endeavored to make their pools beautiful oases of leisure, such as neighboring Venetian Pool.  Let's build a pool facility worthy of being a postcard image of South Miami!

Join us in Planting Trees Along Miller Road

Please mark your calendars for our upcoming Tree planting project at 9 am on Saturday July 13. We will be planting 23 Cassia bakeriana trees (w/ beautiful pink flowers in spring) and 13 large Live Oak Trees along Miller Road between 58th and 59th Avenues.  The large trees will be installed by a contractor but we would appreciate your help to install the smaller trees. Even if you aren't healthy enough to dig holes we would love to have you there just to show your support.  This project is a collaboration between Miami Dade County, TREEmendous Miami, the South Miami Green Task Force and members of South Miami Neighbors. Hopefully this will be the first of many projects.  If you have any projects in mind where you would like to see more Trees, understory plants and the birds and butterflies that accompany them, please let us know and we can work on them together.  A reminder will be posted before the planting with any additional details.

Community pool to begin construction

standard community news item, in this case an update on the pool (perhaps about the groundbreaking date), with links to earlier posts on the same topic and to whatever city or official web resources are out there