"Shade Palmetto Bay" with 325 Free Trees 

The 2nd Annual "Shade Palmetto Bay" free tree give-away happens tomorrow, Jan. 21 (10-noon) at Ludovici Park (behind the Palmetto Bay Branch Library) -- while supplies last. It's a fun event for the whole family and a great way to celebrate Arbor Day. Beautify your yard while boosting the tree canopy of our community. Complimentary sun glasses for kids also are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Tree planting instructions and tree care instructions will be provided on-site by the Village's Tree Advisory Board. Be sure to bring your photo ID showing you are a Palmetto Bay resident. Check out these photos from last year's event. Special thanks to event sponsors:

• Jackson South Community Hospital
• GroundKeepers, Inc.  
• Heritage House Boys Suits 
• MiamiHal Feldman  
• Nature's Power Nursery 

Westminster Student Wins Poster Contest

There must be something special in the soil at Westminster Christian School to sprout forth another first-place win in the Village's annual Arbor Day Poster Contest. Fifth-grader Annie Perez took top honors this year among five participating schools with her artistic interpretation of the contest theme, "Trees Are Terrific." For her effort, the Village Mayor, Council, and Tree Advisory Board hosted a tree planting in the WCS schoolyard. In the shadow of the tree that was planted recognizing last year's poster contest winner, Mayor Shelley Stanczyk announced the top three winners of 2012:

• 1st Place: Annie Perez of Westminster Christian School
• 2nd Place: Amber Nolan of Coral Reef Elementary
• 3rd Place: Annie Delgado of Perrine Elementary Elementary

Winning entries are posted on the Village Facebook and will be on display at the Village Municipal Center. Special thanks to participating Board members: Rick Cohen, John Dubois, Bryan Fraind, and Bill O'Leary.

January Council Meeting Update

At the January Council Meeting, the Mayor and Village Council enjoyed a visit from several young volleyball stars, as Palmetto Bay presented a Proclamation to both the Westminster Girls and Palmetto Senior High Girls teams for their recent victories. They also recognized the efforts of Palmetto Bay resident Andrea Collins for receiving the Youth Volunteer Award from the American Cancer Society. See Facebook for photos.

In Regular Business...  

Tennis Anyone? Our Village is proud to have the service of its long-time tennis pros who have entered into a temporary independent contractor agreement to ensure that those who want lessons can still get professional instruction -- and those of us who just want to play and have fun will find courts available for rent. And, in keeping with the month's Arbor Day theme, the Village Council authorized a $50,000 contract with SunCoast Nursery and Tiki Huts to provide right-of-way landscaping within the Village. More trees means more beauty -- although it's hard to imagine a more beautiful Palmetto Bay.  

Mayor Shelley Stanczyk, Vice Mayor Brian Pariser, and Councilwoman Joan Lindsay will be representing the Village at Miami-Dade County Days in Tallahassee next month. Here's the legislative package they will be working on, while meeting with other elected officials and members of the Florida Legislature:

• Seeking support to fund and undertake the restoration and permanent hardening of canal banks within Palmetto Bay;
• Supporting a Miami-Dade County Resolution that urges legislation to establish penalties for violation of local laws concerning absentee ballots;
• Opposing the depopulation of Citizens Property Insurance Windstorm Pool;
• Supporting establishing a level playing field for all public schools by extending the current statutory flexibility afforded charter schools to traditional public schools;
• Supporting a ban on cellular phone texting while driving; and
• Submitting an Agency Report that concerns FPL's Turkey Point siting application and transmission line corridor, further recommending denying the application or, in the alternative, providing for conditions.

Two ordinances passed for first reading - public hearing scheduled for Feb. 6:

• Permitting Alcohol beverage sales on Sundays by those establishments currently permitted to sell alcoholic beverages; and
• Regulating political signs and personal expression signs.  

Regarding the election of Nov. 6, 2012, the Village Council passed an Ordinance that was requested by Miami-Dade County Elections that moves the Village's qualifying date from Aug. 10-24 to the new dates of Aug. 6-17. This move was needed to insure our soldiers and residents over-seas receive ballots in time.

One Ordinance adopted that may give some pause is the Ordinance that eliminates the laws that govern the use of fire arms at our Parks. Don't worry - State laws are in effect that cover all the bases. Apparently, too many Florida cities were adopting varying and sometimes conflicting laws so the State forced all cities to remove their laws so that the State Law could be the law of the land. Most of the Council expressed concern over this matter; however, it was out of their hands -- the State passed a law that would personally fine any elected official that doesn't comply.