A major shipment of 26,000 lady bugs recently delivered to a south Miami-Dade nursery are the main attraction of Palmetto Bay’s third annual Earth Week Celebration, which continues through Apr. 24.

These “ladies in waiting” have been laying dormant in a secure refrigerated location for release at six local schools this week to demonstrate the important role they play as “nature’s pesticide.”

While students at Perrine Elementary, Howard Drive Elementary, and Christ Fellowship Academy have released a total of 10,000 of these colorful beetles, three more schools are scheduled on Apr. 22, Earth Day.

“Ladybugs are a member of the beetle family that feed on aphids, mealybugs, scale insects, and mites, all of which can decimate local plants,” said Patricia Kyle, manager of Galloway Farm Nursery. “That’s why we stock them, as a natural — and fun — way for people to protect their gardens from intruders.”

Ladybugs respond to cooler temperatures by slipping into a motionless, dormant state. Upon exposure to warm temperature, such as sunny mornings in South Florida, they spring to life and begin their work.

Kids learn this valuable green-friendly lesson through classroom instruction leading up to the hands-on distribution of ladybugs in their schoolyards during Earth Week, lead by Mayor Eugene Flinn and members of the Palmetto Bay Village Council.

“By appreciating the Earth and by knowing how it is changing, we can make responsible life decisions — and enlighten our children to do the same,” Mayor Flinn said.

The remaining supply of ladybugs are scheduled for release on Earth Day at Coral Reef Elementary (9-10 a.m.), Alexander Montessori (10-11 a.m.), and Winhold Montessori (11 a.m.-noon). Earth Day was established as a celebration intended to inspire awareness of and appreciation for the Earth’s environment.

In the U.S., Sen. Gaylord Nelson met with President John F. Kennedy and urged the recognition of Earth Day. Since January 1970, many countries decided that a global observance needed to be recognized; therefore, Apr. 22 is recognized as Earth Day each year. This year, hundreds of millions of people in more than 180 countries are expected to participate in Earth Day activities.

Despite recent concerns over the financial stability of the Jackson Health System, plans for the new Jackson South Community Hospital still are on track, according to Robert G. Cuming, vice president and chief administrative officer of the hospital.

In a presentation to members of the Economical Development Council of South Dade (EDC) in Palmetto Bay on Apr. 13, Cuming assured them that work on the expansion and renovation of the facility, located at 9333 SW 152 St. (Coral Reef Drive), continues and that the improved hospital will have a positive impact on the community.

“There will be greater access to medical services locally, and we will be hiring approximately 80 people in addition to the 700 we already employ there,” Cuming said.

The expansion will result in 157,000 square feet of new construction and 23,000 square feet of renovations. There will be 48 new private rooms designed with soothing interiors and 12 new critical care beds. The Emergency Department will double its capacity, with 20 additional ER bed spaces and with emergency cardiology services. An expanded outpatient facility will ease access to diagnostic services such as imaging and gastrointestinal procedures.

Cuming said that the first phase of the emergency room expansion should be ready by August, with the second phase following in November. Work on the “Tower” section of the complex is expected to be completed by August 2011.

The complex will feature seven new operating room suites equipped with stateof- the-art systems and technology, and there also will be a new pharmacy and a new cafeteria with outdoor eating areas, as well as a new central energy plant. Cuming said that the present facility continues to function while construction is underway, and that although construction contractor trailers take up a lot of the parking spaces in the front, there still is plenty of parking on the north side of the complex, accessible from SW 150th Street. He urged everyone to avoid parking on the east side in spaces belonging to businesses there as it may result in their cars being towed.

Laura Lagomasino, business development director for Jackson South, who ran the PowerPoint presentation for the meeting, said afterward that a prime reason for the expansion plans going forward, even in difficult times, was the county’s desire to keep the two important auxiliary facilities (Jackson North and Jackson South) open for the benefit of the communities.

“So Jackson Health System reexamined everything and worked out a solution,” Lagomasino said. “And I think that the North and South facilities will balance things out with Jackson Memorial, which is a public hospital and teaching center as well.”

Cuming closed his remarks with high praise for the staff of Jackson South, who already have been treating patients in the area for years and continue to do so. “The men and women who work in that hospital are phenomenal,” Cuming said. “Jackson purchased the facility, formerly Deering Hospital, in July of 2001. Many people that I meet there were employees at Deering, so they bring a wealth of experience and institutional memory about the hospital, and that’s a very valuable component of the care that they provide to our community.”

The new concession stand close to the baseball field and other sports areas in Coral Reef Park is ready to open, but won’t be just a shack to get hot dogs and hamburgers during games.

The “Park View Café” is a spacious, beautifully designed building with a large overhanging roof providing shade agnd shelter for tables along its veranda. It will have a more extensive menu including a number of healthy food items, and will be open during the summer months from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“It’s not just for games,” said Kirk Hearin, Palmetto Bay Parks and Recreation manager. “It will be a great spot for visitors and office workers to get away to and have lunch while they enjoy the beauty of the park or watch people having fun. Work on the concession building began roughly a year ago, and with construction, painting and other details now complete, the “Park View Café” may be open by the time you read this, certainly no later than the first week of May.

Hearin also said that the park’s Wi-Fi system, which had been out of operation for a time, is now reinstalled, so park goers can use their laptops while they enjoy the café’s food and view.

As part of Palmetto Bay’s Earth Week activities, the Southern Cross Astronomical Society (SCAS) participated with the village in two locations, according to village spokesman Bill Kress and Barb Yager, SCAS outreach director.

“Monday I did an astronomical program for about 25 fifth graders in their Perrine Elementary School Library and displayed Spaceweather and NASA photos,” Yager said.

“Tuesday I did another one hour program for 125 students from first through sixth grade in the large vestry of Christ Fellowship Church, at 8900 SW 168 St. Then they all lined up to see my NASA and astronomical photos before going to the large chickee outside to line up for safe solar viewing where Mike Smith, SCAS’s solar expert, had his large 11-inch diameter telescope aimed at the Sun with the professional filter that protects our eyes from UV rays to prevent blindness.”

Although minimal activity occurred on the solar surface, Yager reports that she displayed a large poster showing the Sun and the protective magnetic field that surrounds Earth, and that she fielded lots of questions from some very bright students.

Bill Kress said he was impressed with the presentation.

“This was the perfect turnkey event for the village,” Kress said. “The SCAS provided a great program for the kids that fit in with Earth Week activities and we were pleased to have them participate.”