Ghosts and witches and superheroes, oh my! We all know that times have changed, but one of the odd shifts in traditional Americana is Trick or Treating. Years ago (better make that decades!) kids dressed up in their costumes and went out with Mom and Dad to walk around the neighborhood and get candy, caramel apples and other treats from the neighbors they knew nearby. Back then it was not uncommon for 40 or 50 youngsters and their parental chaperones to drop by, but that has steadily declined over the years and the numbers are now down to pretty much zero. Even though Halloween is now more popular than ever and sales of costumes for adults and kids along with decorations and themed party accessories are breaking records, the old style trick or treating is mostly gone. Probably due to the increased population density and more people moving in or out, most folks don’t even know the people in their neighborhoods anymore. Safety concerns are another factor. Most trick or treating is now done at places like malls or special events, such as Palmetto Bay’s new ‘Monsters in the Park’ event on October 31 at 6 p.m. at Coral Reef Park, 7895 SW 152 Street, or Cutler Bay’s ‘Halloween Haunted House,’ Cutler Ridge Park, Saturday, October 26, from 6 to 9 p.m. These are safer, controlled environments and look to be a lot of fun for kids and parents alike.
Palmetto Bay Meetings: There’s a Committee of the Whole (COW) Workshop scheduled for October 16, and the next Regular Council Meeting will take place on November 4. These meetings are held at 7 p.m. in Village Hall, 9705 E. Hibiscus Street, or you can watch them on cable TV (WBAY) or on the village website streaming video. For more info call Village Hall at 305-259-1234.
Green Thumb? The next meeting of the Palmetto Bay Garden Club takes place on October 22 at 7 p.m. in the Edward & Arlene Feller Community Room, part of the library complex at Ludovici Park, 17641 Old Cutler Road. The club meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month from now through May of next year. For more information about the garden club, call Richard Dorn at 305-724-3528.
Cutler Bay residents… The next Council Meeting is on Wednesday October 16th at 7:00 p.m. at the Town of Cutler Bay Council Chambers at 10720 Caribbean Boulevard. You may also want to check the town’s official website, <www.cutlerbay-fl.gov>, for Cutler Bay’s Fiscal Year 2013-14 Adopted Budget, which was just posted there on October 8th. Not only that, but the website has some helpful info for drivers regarding Old Cutler Road Median Detours. Check it out.
Local talent… “Bring It Home Miami” is an original program at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center celebrating South Florida’s home grown talent. It launches with “Viva Broadway” on Saturday, October 19 at 8 p.m. and features famed Miami native Jon Secada and a host of talented performing artists with a connection to South Florida, all done through the newly established District Stage Company. Each artist will showcase a piece that relates to the overarching theme of “home.” The professional cast will be accompanied by a group of local Miami-Dade County high school theater students who auditioned to participate in the project as well as by some of Miami’s finest working professional musicians. Tickets are $35-$55 and can be purchased by visiting <www.smdcac.org> or calling the Box Office at 786-573-5300. The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center is located at 10950 SW 211 Street in Cutler Bay.Thought of the Day:
Thought of the Day:
If you want to make enemies, try to change something.
— Woodrow Wilson
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
