Incumbent Vice Mayor Ernie Sochin, who had served first as the councilman for Seat 2 since the town incorporated and then as the town’s vice mayor won reelection in the November 6 Cutler Bay race by getting 7,985 votes to challenger Ed Wolmers’s 3,423 votes. That’s roughly 70 percent of the 11,408 folks who turned out to vote, braving the long lines that were common around south Florida and the rest of the state.
When we asked Mr. Sochin what he’d like to say about winning he replied, “Just to thank all the people that worked so hard to get me elected and the great opportunity that I had, because of the long lines of early voters, to actually talk to perhaps over a thousand voters and find out what they liked or disliked about Cutler Bay. Mostly liked, which I guess helped get me re-elected.”
Congratulations to Ernie for his victory, and also to longtime resident Ed Wolmers for a good race and for getting involved, which is what community is all about.
There were also a number of Town Charter amendments on the lengthy ballot, but we’re still sorting those out and contemplating the impact they’ll have.
Birthday salute! Town Councilwoman Peggy Bell just celebrated a birthday on November 10, so belated birthday wishes, Peggy.
Drop everything! Southland Mall is having its fourth annual “Black Friday Balloon Drop” on Friday, November 23, at 8 a.m. The day after the Thanksgiving holiday is traditionally known as ‘Black Friday,’ and on that day, hundreds of balloons filled with store coupons, movie passes and mall gift cards will descend from the rafters in four separate locations inside the mall: Sears Wing, Center Court, JC Penney and Macy’s Wings. This year, radio station 97.3 FM The Coast will be broadcasting live onsite from 7 a.m. to a.m. The mall is also awarding a $500 mall gift card on Black Friday. People can enter the contest by visiting Southland Mall’s Facebook page before November 18th.
“The Balloon Drop has become a tradition at the center and is held yearly on Black Friday as a way of rewarding our shoppers during the holidays,” says Maggie Anzardo, marketing director at Southland Mall. “And don’t forget to visit Santa! Families are invited to bring their children to take photos with Santa from November 17th through December 24th in the Center Court.” Southland Mall is located on South Dixie Highway and SW 205th Street. For more info call 305-235-8880.
And don’t forget the Annual Fall Festival of St. Thomas Lutheran Church, located at 17700 Old Cutler Road, on Saturday, November 17th from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be local craft vendors, a hotdog & hamburger café, homemade baked goods, a rummage sale, raffle and silent auction, all benefiting Habitat for Humanity, Lutheran Services Of Florida, Camillus House and Miami Bridge Youth & Family Services Inc.
Just days before Art Basel 2012, a special art opening and wine tasting event will take place at Wine by the Bay in Downtown Miami on Saturday, December 1, at 6:00 p.m. “Transitions” examines the connections between organic and construction through the works of three artists: Miami-based, Japanese-Argentinean artist Valeria Yamamoto; Colombian sculptor Claudia Hakim; and Iraqi-German painter Fahar. A similar connection can be derived from the vineyards of the California landscape where wines reflect the personality of the state while drawing inspiration from afar.
Location: Wine by the Bay, 888 Biscayne Blvd. at the Marina Blue condominium, Miami. The Media and Community are welcome at this free event, but space is limited and RSVP is required. Email info@winebtb.com or call 305- 455-9791.
Thought of the Day: The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do.
— Walter Bagehot
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
