By Harold Castedo-Garcia…. I have always had a problem with moderation. “Everything in moderation” is another way of saying “a little bit of everything” and “a little bit of everything” sounds like a whole lot. This is the biggest reason that dieters find themselves hitting plateaus and never seeing real results. They take some of everything in moderation.
I recently had a client who came to me and claimed he was ready to lose weight. He wanted to look the way he did back when he was a real lady’s man. Long story short, he did not lose very much weight at all. Meanwhile, he swore he did just about everything right. He just took little breaks every once in a while. He would have a chocolate bar maybe once a week. Not bad. He would have a bowl of ice cream every once in a while. He would also enjoy a pitcher of beer but only on the weekends. See the trend?
He may not have been having any of these things very often at all, but when combined, those high-calorie indulgences were keeping him from losing weight. So what do you do? Understandably letting go of your favorite foods is difficult, so you have two options if you want to lose weight. If you are not in any rush to lose the weight, have ONE anti-weight loss meal once a week. Call it your cheat meal of the week. The second option is for the strong-minded. Drop all of the high-calorie foods that are keeping you from your goals and once you have reached your goal, ease a couple of them back into your diet on occasion. So be sure to only have some things in moderation and hit the rest of your meal plan hard. You cannot make your body go back to looking the way it used to without changing the habits that got you to where you are now.
-Harold Castedo Certified Personal Trainer at Fitness Together South Miami.
The Westminster Warriors defeated the Ransom Everglades Raiders, 42-6, in the 2011 Homecoming game.
Kari De Ruiter, at age 55, has spent almost her entire life at Westminster Christian School.
Wearing many hats at the school — including health and physical education teacher, middle school athletic director, assistant to the athletic director and middle school girl’s basketball coach — De Ruiter of Cutler Bay says she is blessed to be a part of Westminster Christian School’s 50th anniversary celebration because she has been able to watch the school evolve from the beginning.
“I’m told I was a first grader when the school opened its doors on Sept. 6, 1961,” De Ruiter said. “I attended the very first day of class, stayed through my senior year, and after I went to college I came back in 1982 to coach and teach. I’ve been here ever since.”
De Ruiter’s grandfather, Jules Vroon, founded Westminster Christian School after it relocated from Shenandoah Presbyterian Church. It was initially only an elementary school and annual tuition back then was just $10 per student. Today, 50 years later, annual tuition for the high school is $16,000.
“It’s pretty incredible and a true honor to be a part of school that has such a rich history and has been able to maintain its roots for the last 50 years,” said sophomore Michael Martinez, 15, of Palmetto Bay, who has attended Westminster Christian since Pre-K.
During his time there, Martinez has been provided many opportunities, including earning college credit through advanced placement courses, joining band and winning several thespian competitions through the drama club. In the next three years leading up to graduation, he wants to be a mentor for incoming freshman and help lead a little brother/big brother group still in development. After graduation, he plans to attend Boston College or Stanford University and hopes to become a pastor.
He has two older siblings who also attended Westminster Christian School — a brother who went on to study biomedical engineering at the University of Miami and John Hopkins University, and a sister now majoring in anthropology at Princeton.
“We have many students whose parents, brothers and sisters and other relatives are Westminster Christian alumni,” said superintendent A.J. West. “We’re very much a family- centered school, one where the bonds made here traditionally continue into adulthood.
West said that many youngsters who have gone through Westminster Christian School now are successful attorneys, doctors, politicians and professional baseball players, including New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez. Add to that well-known Realtors such as Drew Kern and Mike Pappas, who still have close ties with the school today, several years after graduation.
Pappas, the president and CEO of the Keyes Company — a real estate, mortgage, title and insurance company — said his father was one of the school’s founding board members. He attended Westminster Christian from K to 12, married his high school girlfriend, also a Westminster graduate, and fathered five children, also all graduates from the school. Daughter Rachel is the current cheerleading coach for both the football and basketball teams.
“There is a strong sense of family with great parental involvement here,” said Pappas, a two-term member of the board of directors and three-term chair.
“Westminster is special due to its Christian foundation, which educates the whole person. It gives the child a renaissance experience, excelling in music, drama and arts, while being competitive in all sports and building a sense of service to our community.”
Pappas said orchestra instruction from elementary to high school, mission trips, multiple sports participation and strong college preparatory education allowed his children to go to excellent universities, including Boston College, Cornell, Wake Forest and Texas Christian.
“My life has its strong roots in the Westminster culture,” Pappas said.
To commemorate its golden anniversary, Westminster Christian School has conducted several celebratory anniversary events, including:
• A historical showcase on the anniversary of the “Historic First Day of School” on Sept. 6. Club 1961 coordinated the event that included more than 1,000 alumni and featured memorabilia, historic photographs, yearbooks, school publications and a timeline of highlights of the past 50 years.
• Homecoming Weekend, Nov. 3-5.
• The Westminster Christian School Athletic Hall of Fame Induction and Dinner on Nov. 3, which recognized the 1973 state championship men’s track team, the 1992 and 1996 national championship baseball teams, and more than 60 members of the Athletic Hall of Fame and all varsity level coaches.
• The Westminster Christian School Ladies Luncheon on Nov. 4 featured faculty member and alumni mother Dr. Claudia Springer, who spoke on the role of women throughout Westminster’s history.
• Campus tours and a kickoff of the Homecoming game against Ransom Everglades School on Nov. 5. Alumni from each decade worked with current students to create decade-themed floats for halftime to honor the anniversary.
• Still to come is the 50th anniversary gala “A Time to Believe” on Mar. 24, 2012 at the Four Seasons Hotel. About 500 guests, including parents, alumni and alumni parents, are expected to attend. Proceeds from the event will help fund plans to replace the current elementary school campus.
West said the anniversary events have served as both a “walk down memory lane” and a path leading to future memories yet created.
“These celebrations are proof positive that we intend to be around for another 50 years,” he said.
West Kendall insurance agent Jorge Peña has devoted musch of the past six years of his life to helping grow the business community in West Kendall.
In January, Peña will reassume the position he held for the first four years at the West Kendall Business Association (WKBA) — chair. The former president and founder of the WKBA, Peña, an insurance agent with Aflac, will take over as chair for one year when current chair Frank Irizarry steps down at the end of December.
For Peña, taking over the reins of the WKBA again is something he proudly accepts.
“It is truly a joy for me to accept this position and return to grow and expand the association to greater heights,” Peña said. “We’re all volunteers here but we are all very passionate about what we do at the West Kendall Business Association, which is attract new businesses to the area.”
Peña is no stranger to leading business associations.
A graduate of Coral Park High School and alumnus of Miami Dade College’s Kendall Campus, Cuban-born Peña first ventured into production design and printing for The Miami Herald and managed his own printing company in Coconut Grove before joining the Coconut Grove Chamber of Commerce as a member of the board of directors and eventually as a trustee.
Peña then became an active board member of Chamber South. By this time, he already had switched from printing to the insurance business.
A West Kendall resident, Peña wanted to promote his insurance business closer to home and founded the WKBA. When the association formed in 2006, the nonprofit organization, formerly known as the Tamiami Airport Business Association, boasted 13 members. The group grew to about 100 members in its first year and now boasts more than 300 members.
“Before this association existed, West Kendall had no representation, no chamber of commerce, nowhere to meet and do business,” Peña said. “There were no businesses in the area, no stores or restaurants. Everyone used to go east to Dadeland, Pinecrest and South Miami to do their shopping.”
But Peña said that all started to change when London Square was built.
“Now suddenly we have all these stores and restaurants in the area and we’ve become more self-sufficient as a community,” Peña said. “We’ve changed the traffic patterns. Instead of driving east, more and more people are now staying in the area.”
West Kendall is roughly bounded by SW 56th Street to SW 152nd Street and everything west of Florida’s Turnpike extension. The area has attracted about a quarter of a million residents and has the most public schools in any concentrated area, Peña said. Kendall- Tamiami Executive Airport is the center point of the West Kendall area.
The WKBA recently conducted its sixth annual West Kendall Business Expo at Lexus of West Kendall at SW 136th Street and 137th Avenue next to the airport.
The expo, aimed at drawing new businesses to the area and new members to the association, previously took place at Signature Gardens before it was sold and closed at the end of 2010.
It is one of several events the WKBA conducts annually to attract new blood to West Kendall, including monthly networking luncheons every second Tuesday of the month at alternating member businesses and every last Thursday of the month at the Grand Salon at Killian Palms Country Club, 9950 SW 104 St.
“The West Kendall Business Association has certainly done a lot of good for the community and much of that is attributed to the leadership of its founder, Jorge Peña,” said Miami-Dade County Commissioner Joe Martinez, whose district includes West Kendall. “Jorge is a beacon of not only the association but of the West Kendall business community he helped develop. I have no doubt he will help the association accomplish many more great things next year.”
Peña hopes through aggressive marketing of the association, the WKBA’s membership will grow to at least 400 members by the end of 2012.
“It can be done,” Peña said. “Many exciting things will happen next year, none of which I can reveal now. But I can tell you I’m happy to lead this association in the coming year and hopefully attract more members in 2012.”
Seraphic Fire will present “O Holy Night, Christmas With Seraphic Fire” at the South Miami Dade Cultural Arts Center on Dec. 17.
Intersecting imagination with tradition, South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center (SMDCAC) and Seraphic Fire present “O Holy Night, Christmas With Seraphic Fire” on Saturday, Dec. 17, at 8 p.m.
Tickets at $25, $15, $10 and $5 are available on CultureShockmiami.com. A $5 discount on orchestra level seats is available for students and seniors. SMDCAC is located at 10950 SW 211 St. in Cutler Bay. For tickets call 786-573-5300 and for information visit www.smdcac.org.
O, Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining!, Adolphe Adam’s timeless carol, has signaled Christmas for countless listeners across the ages. This spectacular holiday program will feature arrangements of O Holy Night and Silent Night by Seraphic Fire’s artistic director Patrick Dupré Quigley, as well as a combination of classic carols, gorgeous motets and Gregorian chant. Now a South Florida holiday tradition, Seraphic Fire’s Christmas concerts always sell out.
“O, Holy Night” is a stunning choreographed musical experience in which the singers envelop the audience with candlelit processions and carols sung from all sides of the venue. Now a gem among South Florida’s cultural institutions, Seraphic Fire has garnered high praise since its inaugural season 10 years ago.
The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, designed by an internationally acclaimed design team that includes Arquitectonica International Inc. (architects), Fisher Dachs Associates, Inc. (theater design), Artec Consultants Inc. (acoustics), and AMS Planning & Research Corp. (theater management), provides, for the first time, a state-of-the-art cultural venue and community gathering place in the southern part of Miami-Dade County.
The center features prominent works of art created by Miami artist Robert Chambers who was commissioned by Miami-Dade County’s Art in Public Places program to design a kinetic light wall and sculptures for the theater. The center is an integral part of the economic and cultural development of the area, offering quality artistic programming and community accessibility.
The South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center is managed by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, with funding support from the Office of the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners. The Center is dedicated to presenting and supporting arts and culture and providing access to the arts to the entire Miami-Dade County community.
South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center serves as a showcase for the performing and media arts, welcoming people from all backgrounds and economic means. The facility includes a 966-seat state-of-the-art theater, which features a fly tower, orchestra pit, front of house spaces (box office, lobby, concessions, etc.) and back of house support spaces (dressing rooms, storage and work areas, administrative offices, etc.). The site also includes an activities building which houses lab/ experimental theaters, and may be used for classrooms, rehearsals, and small-scale performances. A beautiful outdoor plaza allows for festivals, art shows, and other outdoor activities. The concert lawn “back yard” slopes to the Black Creek Canal, and can host outdoor concerts, performances and events.
Mexican actress/comedienne Angelica Vale and singer PeeWee hosted the gala event.
Celebrities and more than 200 guests at the second annual “All the World to One Child” cocktail gala on Friday, Oct. 21, planted seeds of hope for the thousands of orphaned and abandoned children living at the Friends of the Orphans network of homes in Latin America and the Caribbean.
By the end of the evening, at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, nearly $50,000 was raised in support of Friends of the Orphans.
Following a red carpet entrance by the evening’s hosts, singer PeeWee and Mexican actress/comedienne Angelica Vale, actress and guest of honor Angelica Maria, actress Laura Zapata, international model Blanca Soto and broadcast journalist Neida Sandoval, the guests were treated to a sultry fire dancer performance, culinary delights by the chefs at AJoy Wallace catering and cocktails courtesy of Bacardi USA.
Guests then made their way to the upstairs ballroom and enjoyed delectable food stations that included sushi, fresh made risotto and sliced churrasco steak with signature chimichurri sauce. Wine was provided generously by Agostón Wine.
PeeWee and Vale hosted the evening’s festivities, introducing Aurora Zacarias of Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos Mexico, who shared her touching and inspirational story of resilience and success, defeating all odds as a young orphan to become a successful businesswoman and traveler.
Aurora was later serenaded by singer PeeWee, who uplifted the crowd with his voice. Guest of honor Angelica Maria was later surprised with the second Friends of the Orphans Humanitarian Award with a presentation of a Phil Fung painting in her likeness. The actress has been a long-time supporter of Friends of the Orphans and other organizations that support disadvantaged children around the world.
Once the presentation concluded, guests took to the dance floor with the deejay sounds of the evening and at one point were escorted around the room by samba dancers in full carnival dress. The silent auction and raffle — which included a Cartier watch, several Tiffany jewelry items, exotic vacation packages, and artwork by international renowned artists — were major attractions.
“The outpouring of support for Friends of the Orphans was obvious at the gala with our sold out attendance and incredible number of celebrity guests who all shared a common bond and goal that evening, to improve the lives of the children that benefit from our organization’s network of orphanages, hospitals and community outreach programs in nine countries throughout Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Ana Martinez, Regional Development Manager, Friends of the Orphans Southeast Region.
For more information on Friends of the Orphans, visit the website at www.friendsoftheorphans.org or call 786-286-2656.
Eduardo Padrón, president of Miami Dade College, (left) welcomes Bill and Melinda Gates, co-chairs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bill and Melinda Gates, co-chairs of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, visited Miami Dade College (MDC) on Nov. 10.
MDC, the nation’s largest campus-based institution of higher education and one of the most respected, was one of four cadres of community colleges that received a planning grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation earlier this year. The grant will be used to identify and implement innovative solutions to increase the number of college graduates across the nation.
“The Gates Foundation has shown tremendous commitment to increasing postsecondary graduation rates,” said Dr. Eduardo Padrón, president of Miami Dade College. “They know that students will have a hard time in today’s marketplace without an affordable, flexible postsecondary credential that gives them a marketable skill.
“It was my pleasure to have Bill and Melinda on campus so they can see the difference we are making in students’ lives, and how their foundation can bolster these efforts.”
The co-chairs toured the Wolfson Campus where they met with the college’s leadership, toured its new state-of-the-art Miami Culinary Institute, enjoyed lunch at the Institute’s popular Tuyo restaurant, and spent time with students.
2011 has been a banner year of national recognition for MDC for its completion and student achievement initiatives. In addition to the Gates Foundation, the college has received special grants from and has been lauded by the most important and prestigious organizations in higher education including the Lumina Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation, Kresge Foundation and the Aspen Institute, to name a few. All these awards go toward further expanding MDC’s trailblazing MDC3 Student Success and Completion Initiatives.
Thomas Paul Muhl’s own history is as colorful and amazing as his artwork.
Painter, writer and designer, Muhl was born in Budapest, Hungary. He made his debut as an artist in high school by drawing uncomplimentary caricatures of his teachers during class. Fortunately for him, his art teacher intervened and saved him from expulsion.
During World War II, he and his mother were confined to the Budapest Ghetto, where he witnessed the atrocities committed by the Hungarian Nazis. Miraculously, his family survived the war.
As a young adult, he found employment in an art studio run by the Hungarian army where he painted billboard-size portraits of political heroes of Bolshevik history. The political climate was changing and Muhl soon realized that he could not abide by the rules of the regime.
Following the 1956 revolution, he and his family made a dramatic escape across the Hungarian border into Austria. From there he immigrated to England and then to the United States where he worked as an award-winning creative director for prominent advertising agencies and created film scripts for documentaries and television.
The events of his life and harrowing escape are all documented in his acclaimed book, Retouching Stalin’s Moustache. He describes his life as an artist, as a survivor of 20th Century Europe under both fascism and communism, and then one who copes with survival in America in a life complicated by further twists and turns of fate.
Living in South Florida since 1974, Muhl has dedicated his art to depicting the beauty and richness of the tropical environment.
The artwork of Thomas Muhl will be on exhibit at the Alper JCC Futernick Family Gallery, 11155 SW 112 Ave. The opening reception on Sunday, Dec. 11, from 1 to 4 p.m., is free and open to the community. Muhl’s painting will be on exhibit and his book for sale during the reception. Call 305- 271-9000, ext. 265, for other gallery times.
The holiday shopping season is again upon us and, unfortunately, it is always a peak time for crimes such as home burglaries, thefts, robberies and even muggings.
Especially in these tough economic times, I want to share some valuable tips that can help prevent you from becoming the victim of a crime during the holidays, particularly since this week marks the start of our busy shopping season.
THINGS TO DO AT HOME
• Be extra cautious and lock your doors and windows at all times.
• Don’t display gifts and other valuables near windows or doorways where they can be seen.
• If you go out in the evening, leave at least one light on and the radio or television so that the house looks occupied.
• If you go out of town, get an automatic timer for your lights. Ask a neighbor or trusted friend to watch your house and perhaps park their car in your driveway from time to time.
• Contact the post office and request that your mail not be delivered during the days you will be away. Your carrier will deliver your “held” mail upon your return or you may choose to pick it up at your designated post office branch.
• Newspaper deliveries should also be placed on hold while you are away so they do not pile up and alert passersby that your house is unoccupied.
• After Christmas when the gifts have been unwrapped, break down the boxes and fold them so as the words are on the inside.
• Don’t put the boxes “as is” out on the curb for the trash collectors as this just advertises your newly acquired electronics and other valuables that are now in your home.
TIPS FOR SAFE SHOPPING
• Always stay alert to your surroundings and the people around you. Avoid areas wherein there are people “hanging around” in parking garages, parking lots, or the outside of stores. Notify the police or security personnel.
• Try to shop before dark if possible and coordinate shopping trips with a friend if you plan to be out late.
• Park your car in well-lit areas and never in dark areas, no matter how convenient the spot might be.
• Always lock your car doors and windows even if you are only gone for a few minutes. It takes a thief only seconds to steal a car.
• Keep packages and other valuables out of public view, preferably locked in the trunk. If you place recent purchases in your trunk and want to continue shopping, move your car to another area. If thieves are watching, they could very easily pry your trunk open and steal your purchases.
• Have your keys in hand when you return to your car, and always check the interior of your car before you unlock the door to get in.
• To discourage purse-snatchers, don’t overburden yourself with packages.
• Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a check or credit card whenever possible.
• Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Women should carry their purse under their arm with the strap across their body and men should keep their wallet in an inside jacket pocket and not a back trouser pocket.
• Finally, be sure to teach your children to go only to a store clerk or security guard to ask for help if they should become separated from you while in a store or shopping mall. They should never go into a parking lot alone.
I wish you and your family a safe and wonderful holiday season.
Katherine Fernandez Rundle has been the Miami-Dade State Attorney for 15 years and is a pioneer in the creation of innovative programs to help prevent crime and provide rehabilitative opportunities to eligible offenders. For information, call 305-547-0535.
It has been 50 years of community service for the Howard Palmetto Baseball and Softball Association. The HPBSA has done as much or more than any other organization in this community to give our kids and their parents a place to gather and have fun, make lifelong friendships and to play ball.
The HPBSA is will host a 50th anniversary reunion party on Friday, Jan. 13, and I want to alert everybody in advance so you can make arrangements to attend. We will honor all of the coaches, players, league officials and others who have had an affiliation with the organization over the years.
If you want to attend the event or have any old photographs that we may use, please email howardpalmetto50@gmail.com or search on Facebook, keywords “Grant Miller.”
I just can’t get past wanting to get revenge on my ex. There’s an old saying: “The best revenge is a good life.” There is a reason why you got divorced. Remember what that is and ask yourself, “Do I still want to let my ex control me?” Whoever angers you, controls you. Let it go and live your new life.
I have these bouts of loneliness. What can I do?
Be proactive. Make a list of things that make you feel good and nurture your soul. Keep it handy so when loneliness rears its ugly head, you can pull it out and do a couple of the things you listed. Also, keep your emotions in perspective. Divorce is a process and feeling lonely is part of that process; nothing more, nothing less. Don’t personalize the feeling. Loneliness has nothing to do with your self worth, but it is about going through a change; a change that is always for the best.
Now that I’m a single parent, I’m overwhelmed all the time. Why?
You are still carrying on as when you were married. When you were married, maybe your spouse helped with the children’s daily activities, money wasn’t an issue, you had more time to yourself and you could be Super Mom or Dad. Well, now it’s just you and you are still trying to be Super Parent. Making sure the holiday decorations are up, birthday parties are in place, the house is clean, laundry is done, bills paid, and don’t forget that now you have the pressure of getting a job, managing on less money and the emotional ups and downs. Whew, no wonder you feel overwhelmed. Accept that your situation has changed and just because you can’t do it all, you are still a terrific parent. Don’t feel guilty, change with the times. Give yourself permission to do less. You will be teaching your children flexibility and resiliency.
The holidays are coming. How do I handle this?
If your family had a tradition, continue to do it. There’s something to be said for consistency. If at anytime the kids mention the void of their dad or mom, acknowledge it and talk about it. If you’re sad, your kids will be sad. Continue on as usual and maybe invite some friends over to help with the void. If the kids ask to do something different, make the change fun with a positive slant. Remember, as the parent, you set the tone. They will follow your lead or emotions.
Debbie Martinez is a Certified Divorce Life Coach. She has given workshops on divorce and women’s issues and has offices in South Miami. For more information, go to www.thepowerofdivorcecoach.com
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U.E.P.A. POR COLOMBIA es un grupo de jóvenes colombianos residentes en Miami (Fl) que surgió en el año 2006 para promover expresiones artísticas y culturales colombianas en territorio estadounidense. U.E.P.A significa Unión, Educación, Progreso y Arte porque pensamos que sólo a través de la conjunción de estos conceptos podremos ayudar a construir un mejor país en la distancia.
En U.E.P.A hemos realizado eventos junto con el Consulado de Colombia en Miami como por ejemplo las “tertulias culturales”, en donde jóvenes artistas han tenido la oportunidad de exponer su pintura o tocar su música. En estos eventos hemos exaltado el arte colombiano y hemos sentido cómo la comunidad colombiana en Miami se ha unido en torno a estas manifestaciones culturales.
Deseamos seguir fomentando estas expresiones y por esto queremos invitar a toda la comunidad colombiana en Estados Unidos a reunirse este diciembre en dos eventos:
1. Noche de las Velitas, con el propósito de promover nuestra tradición con la comunidad Colombiana en Miami, Fl.
Lugar: Consulado de Colombia en Miami. 280 Aragon Ave. Coral Gables, Fl, 33134.
Fecha: jueves 8 de diciembre, 2011
Hora: 5:30pm a 8:00pm
2. Fiesta con el propósito de recaudar fondos destinados a la reconocida fundación “Colombianitos”
Lugar: El Sitio. 3480 Main Highway, Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Fecha: miércoles 14 de diciembre, 2011
Hora: 9:30pm a 3:30am
The second annual “Holiday by the Bay” takes place on Saturday, Dec. 3, and offers Palmetto Bay families a chance to get into the holiday spirit with a number of attractions and activities for adults and children.
It runs from 4 to 9 p.m. at Ludovici Park, 17641 Old Cutler Rd. in Palmetto Bay, in the open area adjacent to the library.
Fanny Carmona-Gonzalez, village Parks and Recreation director, said the event has a lot of things for people to enjoy.
“It’s a great family night for everyone to come out and have a good time,” she said. “There’s going to be music and holiday cheer. There will be food vendors and arts and crafts vendors.
“We have carnival rides for the kids; we have arts and crafts for the kids to make little ornaments for Christmas. Santa Claus is going to be there and the kids can have their pictures taken with him.”
Admission is free, as are the carnival rides. People can design their own Christmas cards there and kids can write letters to Santa as well, to be posted in a special mailbox for the purpose. “The letters will go straight to the North Pole,” assures Carmona-Gonzalez.
Close to a dozen schools will be participating and providing music for the event, and helping out in a big way are sponsors TotalBank, South Motors Honda, District 8 County Commissioner Lynda Bell, and C3TS Engineering/Architecture.
Bill Kress, village communications manager, said he is impressed by the transformation the event brings to the park, and by the help of so many in the area.
“It really highlights how beautiful this park is, and we go to great efforts to turn it into a winter wonderland,” Kress said. “They really do a nice job, decorating trees, putting in lighting. The park really is stunning. It’s so beautiful to start with, but this takes off with the holiday decoration.
“We’re very happy that we’re able to bring in some heavy-hitter community sponsors. The commissioner’s office is partnering with us for this event, which is the first time.”
Kress said that the village was sending out postcards to all households inviting residents to the event. One side of the postcard has a message from TotalBank.
“With their sponsorship we were able to offset the production and postage costs,” Kress said. “It’s the only way we were able to do it. We want this event to be the signature holiday event in South Dade.”
For information call Village Hall at 305- 259-1234.
I have always had a problem with moderation. “Everything in moderation” is another way of saying “a little bit of everything” and “a little bit of everything” sounds like a whole lot. This is the biggest reason that dieters find themselves hitting plateaus and never seeing real results. They take some of everything in moderation.
