Are you ready for the 4th, Cutler Bay residents?

It’s that time of year again, folks. The 47th Annual Cutler Bay – Whispering Pines 4th of July Celebration is right around the corner, and it’s one of the oldest (and some would argue the best) of the local Independence Day events. It takes place on Friday, July 4th (of course) at Whispering Pines Park, which is on Ridgeland Drive, one block west of S.W. 87th Avenue.

It is pure old-fashioned small town fun and festivities, with a parade of home made floats and decorated bikes, costumes, local groups, schools and friends and neighbors, gathering to celebrate America’s birthday in traditional style. There’ll be hamburgers, hotdogs, drinks, snow-cones, watermelon and other things, with music and even raffle prizes. For the kids there’s a water slide and a bounce house.

Parade registration starts at 8:15 a.m. in the school parking lot, with the staging and judging to follow. The parade starts at 9:00 a.m. and wends its way around the lake to end up back at the park, for the awards, food and fun.

This great annual event is presented by the Town of Cutler Bay, the Whispering Pines Civic Association and the Whispering Pines Woman’s Club and they always do a great job of it. And folks, another of the traditions of the 4th of July celebration is…no long speeches from the politicians, so go and enjoy!

Speaking of politicians, there’s another event a few days sooner where you’ll want to hear them speak so you can decide which one you want to vote for come November.

We hear from Steve Zarzecki of Concerned Citizens of Cutler Bay that the group is hosting a candidate forum on Tuesday, July 1, from 7-9 p.m. It’s the first of four candidate forums to be conducted by the Concerned Citizens group this year and this one will bring together all the candidates for State Representative, District 114 to discuss the issues and answer questions. Anyone interested is invited to attend. The meeting is in the Friendship Hall of the Cutler Ridge United Methodist Church, 20740 Old Cutler Road, in Cutler Bay. “Admission is free,” says Steve. “Coffee and donuts will be served. All are welcome.”

The Concerned Citizens of Cutler Bay is a non-profit civic organization whose avowed purpose is to “Promote Community Awareness and Citizen Involvement.” Their meetings are conducted in a friendly roundtable environment. For more info call Steve at 305-255-4351.

Mark this on your calendars! The Town of Cutler Bay is updating its Transportation Master Plan and since they are in the process of “evaluating the entire transportation system,” they need residents’ input. The next workshop meeting is on Monday, June 30, at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Hall Council Chambers at 10720 Caribbean Blvd., Suite 115. There’ll be another session on Wednesday, July 9, at 7:00 p.m. at Cutler Ridge Park, 10100 SW 200 Street. For more info contact the Public Works Dept. at 305- 234-4262 or visit the town’s website at www.cutlerbay-fl.gov.

Scam alert! The crooks are at it again, according to J. Russell George, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration. George says that TIGTA has received reports of over 20,000 contacts of individuals placing phone calls to taxpayers and fraudulently claiming to be working for the IRS. These scammers try to throw a scare into people by telling them that they owe money, usually thousands, and that they will go to jail if they don’t pay up immediately by providing debit or credit card information over the phone. Sadly, some people fall for it, and the crooks have reportedly raked in more than $1 million already. The IRS doesn’t work that way, so if you get a call like that, even if your caller ID device says “IRS” on it, even if they know the last four digits of your Social Security number, it’s a scam. Just hang up on them and call and report the incident to TIGTA at 800-366- 4484. You can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.FTC.gov. Add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments in your complaint. Read more about tax scams on the genuine IRS website at www.irs.gov.

Thought of the Day:

If there’s no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government.

— Emiliano Zapata

Gary Alan Ruse contributed to this column.

Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669- 7355, ext. 249, or send emails to Michael@communitynewspapers.com.


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