No stamp of approval from Palmetto Island

Grant Miller

When most people think of Miami, their mind’s eye goes right to the hustle bustle of Miami Beach. But there’s another island much further south, known to few – an idyllic little spot on the Pinecrest map protected by slow-moving canals, the shade of banyans, and warm bonds between friends, neighbors – and their mail carrier.

Welcome to Palmetto Island, a neighborhood of just 70 homes along SW 70th Ave. and SW 69th Court. Whether you cross the bridge at SW 126th St. or slip over the canal at SW 133rd, life is good here. Has been for years. In fact on Palmetto Island is home of the largest Halloween street party in all of the Village.

But now, it would seem, this Floridian-version of “Mayberry RFD” is suddenly in crisis.

It appears that Postal Carrier Belkis Madera’s days of delivering mail here are being cut short. She greets you by name, she knows when you’re on vacation, and when you plan to return. She even loves your dog. Like the surrogate mom of this small haven of a community, Belkins is as sweet and humble as a slice of Aunt Bee’s pie.

So how could it be that the U.S Postal Service in all its wisdom even consider for a moment reassigning Belkis to another route. The residents of Palmetto Island say “No.”

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night – nor reassignment –

stays our courier from the swift completion of her appointed rounds. We say none of that shall take her from the people of Palmetto Island.


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