Ten new Eagle Scouts join the ranks in ceremony

We hear from Major Gregory Truitt, Commander of the Village of Palmetto Bay’s Policing Unit and also the troop leader of Boy Scout Troop 457 that the Eagle Court of Honor was held on Saturday April 26 at the Kendall United Methodist Church. The special event celebrated the elevation of 10 Boy Scouts to the Rank of Eagle Scout due to the successful completion of their Eagle Scout projects and meeting other requirements. Achieving this prestigious top level in scouting were Nicolas Casteillo, Carl Gallo, Christian Goodin, Cameron Guilford, Jared Lavon, Brian Lopez, Austin Montes, Trent Moreno, Simon Stebbing and John Truitt. Palmetto Bay Mayor Shelley Stanczyk, Pinecrest Mayor Cindy Lerner and Congresswoman Ileana Ros- Lehtinen all spoke at this special event.

And speaking of the Palmetto Bay Policing Unit, it is now offering its weekly RAD/KIDS personal empowerment training part of the Village’s Summer Camp program. You don’t have to be enrolled in the rest of the summer camp to participate, and this is a great program to safeguard your kids. It’s free, and classes will be held weekly at Coral Reef Elementary School, Mondays through Fridays, June 9 – August 1, 9-11 a.m., for kids ages 5-12. You can register your youngsters at Palmetto Bay Village Hall or at Coral Reef Elementary weekdays. Children must be picked up immediately following class. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a RAD/KIDS certificate. Call Officer Patience Glasko at 305- 278-4016 or Officer Peter Judge 305-278-4018 for information. There are photos from last year’s program on the Village’s Facebook page.

Got a green thumb? Then you may be interested in the village’s new Responsible Gardening Workshops. The free series of informative sessions is presented by Palmetto Bay resident and Master Gardener Terri Stephen, in partnership with the University of Florida/Miami-Dade County Extension office. The first is on Friday June 13 at 6 p.m., titled “From Garbage to Compost,” and covers composting your kitchen scraps and yard trimmings, benefits for the garden and environment, reducing your waste and a hands-on demo. The next is on Friday July 11 at 6 p.m., called “We’re not in Kansas anymore.” It covers right plants, right place; our unique soil; native plants; “why don’t my plants thrive?” and zone 10 gardening. Then on Friday, August 8, also at 6 p.m., is “Creating a Butterfly Garden,” with help on choosing the right flowers, plant selection and placement, food plants for butterflies, hands-on planting on-site, maintenance and upkeep. Finally, on Friday, September 12, at 6 p.m., is “Raised Bed Gardening,” covering how to build a simple but effective bed, benefits of a raised bed, tips on planning, building and irrigating, high yield produce and prepping for the fall season planting. It all takes place at Thalatta Estate on Old Cutler Road. For more information, call 305- 259-1234 or visit www.Palmettobay-fl.gov.

Whiz! Bang! Boom! Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone, but we hear that for the first time ever, the Village of Palmetto Bay is going to have their very own special July 4th Independence Day celebration, with food trucks, contests, bands, a beer-garden, and a giant fireworks display! It will take place in the “Downtown” area near Village Hall with parking and shuttle buses and more….all to be announced later in greater detail.

Got a mind for money? The village council plans to appoint five members of the community to the newly formed Financial Advisory Board, which will advise council members on financial matters. Applicants must be residents of the Village and have a background in finance, a strong desire to serve the Village, and a little free time every few months. There are five available seats on the Financial Advisory Board, which was formed in May. The Financial Advisory Board serves the village council by reviewing financial matters relating to Village operations and is bound by the State of Florida Sunshine Laws. Do you have professional experience in the area of finance? The council is looking for CPAs or former CPAs, and CFOs or former CFOs of public companies or those with other areas of expertise. They will provide assistance and alternate points of view for use in considering the financial operations of the Village. Interested? Submit an application and resume to the Village Council. For more information, please contact Village Hall at 305-259-1234.

Thought of the Day:
An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.
— Benjamin Franklin

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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