When the Village of Palmetto Bay wanted to add some high-quality theatrical events to its social calendar, they turned to Robin Barson and Jeannie Sensale, co-founders of Tandem Theatre Project. Barson, Sensale and their partner Rusty Allison are well known theater coaches/educators throughout the local public and private school systems. Their mission is to teach professional-level theater and help students decide if they are cut out for a life on the stage.
On March 4th, 5th and 6th their elite teen troupe will perform Much Ado About Nothing at Ludovici Park, making this a true Shakespeare in the Park experience. Jeannie Sensale says, “But there will be an interesting twist and all I can say is if you enjoy Star Wars, you’ll love what you see.” Robin Barson elaborated, “It was actually our teens who decided to do Shakespeare and to change it up a bit to make it more accessible and fun to children and adults alike.” The event will have a fundraising fee per person to help support the troupe going to London this summer to honor the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death.
Bring your whole family to Ludovici Park (behind the public library) at 17641 Old Cutler Road Friday and Saturday, March 4-5, at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 6, at 5:00 p.m. for this great evening of theater. Add to the night by bringing dinner or snacks to enjoy under the stars. A blanket might be a good idea too.
The kids who make up Tandem Theatre Project come from all over. They are primarily high school students, but some who have gone on to college stay onboard. All of them have dreams of hitting it big on stage. Tandem Theatre Project teens have already performed at local events in character, including the Wine on Harvest Moon event and an improv based on Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.
Robin Barson explains, “It is our goal to provide unique opportunities for these talented young acting students that go beyond the typical high school fare.” They have an ongoing partnership with the Deering Estate and the Florida Grand Opera. They’ve done shows at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center. But now they are partnering with Palmetto Bay to bring their talents to the community at large.
Mayor Eugene Flinn remarked, “It is our midsummer night’s dream that this is the just beginning of many theater events in our humble Village.” To that end, the Village has already booked Tandem Theatre Project for April 29th at Thalatta Estate for a professional evening of theater. They recently opened for the Grease drive-in movie night on January 30.
Three Palms at East Ridge
If you haven’t been to East Ridge recently, you don’t know East Ridge. For more than 50 years, East Ridge at Cutler Bay, has served as Miami-Dade County’s only life care community. Now, the brand new $70 million Three Palms at East Ridge health center takes the community to new heights in assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing and rehabilitation accommodations. Three Palms replaces the previous on-site skilled nursing facility, bringing a state-of-the-art health center to East Ridge residents and beyond.
“While located inside East Ridge’s 76-acre campus, the Three Palms world-class facility and services are open to anyone,” emphasized Rick Drew, Sales Director for East Ridge, “We are great at rehabilitation and are partnered with many medical providers in South Florida.”
While Three Palms is already operational, there will be opening celebrations on Feb. 17 (primarily for East Ridge residents), Feb. 19 (for area politicians, dignitaries and the press), Feb. 23 (for physicians, caregivers and those people in the medical community) and on February 24 for prospective clients and customers.
“On March 5th we will invite the public to come and see the entire operation, so they know what an amazing resource they have right in their own back yard,” explained Drew.
The community features 90 private assisted living apartments including studio suites and one- and two-bedroom residences in Palm Court; Palm Lane’s 31 private suites for memory care and Palm Terrace for the skilled nursing center with 74 private rooms. Each area is already about half full.
“Unfortunately for the public, residents love the privacy and charm of East Ridge so much, they sometime think it best kept a secret,” said Drew. “But we’ve worked hard to now share it with the world while still keeping it the special place that residents depend upon.”
Additionally, Three Palms accommodates home health services and medical offices, the community’s new dining room and bistro for independent living residents and laundry facilities. The facility is also LEEDs Certified and incorporates many sustainable, green features.
“The ‘secret sauce’ of Three Palms at East Ridge is that the residents helped dream and define the services and care that they would want should, and if, they needed skilled nursing help, assisted living and memory care,” explained Drew.
The Key West-inspired architectural design keeps with the previous additions to the East Ridge community, which include the fitness/wellness center, lifestyle activity buildings and renovated residential villas.
“We focus on eight components of wellness: social, vocational, intellectual, spiritual, physical, emotional, and environmental and health services,” said Drew. “The East Ridge philosophy recognizes the need for a change in the philosophy of care and one that will serve the growing needs for elder care. We are excited for the opportunities Three Palms at East Ridge will bring us to deliver on our philosophy.”
East Ridge is located at 19301 SW 87 Avenue and offers a continuum of care including independent living. For information, call 305-256-3564 for a personal tour or visit www.EastRidgeatCutlerBay.com.
Real Estate Update
With the stock market and election activity, home prices are in flux and you should know the true value of your home. Go to MiamiHal.com/myValue to receive a free, no obligation home evaluation. Only a neighborhood real estate expert who’s seen the inside of your home can give you an accurate value.
Hal Feldman (MiamiHal) is a Realtor with RE/MAX Advance Realty. You can contact him with your story ideas or real estate questions at www.MiamiHal.com, Hal@MiamiHal.com or www.facebook.com/MiamiHal.
