Village of Pinecrest Aventura Mkt Council

At least three motions of congratulations are in order for the Coral Reef Bronco Pee-Wee cheerleading squad from Coral Reef Park and in this order. First while competing in the Greater Miami Pop Warner event at FIU Golden Panther arena November 7, they outperformed six other squads and took home the first place trophy.

Winning that event secured them an invitation to compete in the November 26 U.S. Regional Competition in Orlando. They performed before the judges along with fifteen other squads from Florida, Georgia and Alabama and outshined them all to win first place again. They are the first Pop Warner cheerleading squad from Dade County to ever win a Regional event and advance to the National Competition level.

The 1999 Pop Warner National Championships were held December 10 at Walt Disney Worlds' All-Star Sports Complex where the final 140 squads from over 5000 squads nationwide including squads from Hawaii and Guam converged. The Coral Reef Broncos Pee-Wee cheerleading squad again outshined the competition to finished Third in the nation. Again, CONGRATULATIONS to everyone involved in this volunteer organization for doing so well in these tough competitive events! Look for them, as well as all the divisions of Coral Reef Bronco Cheerleaders from Coral Reef Park to be marching in the Junior Orange Bowl Parade on Wednesday December 29, in Coral Gables.

The Westminster Christian School Varsity cheerleaders finish second behind Florida Christian School in the 1-A division of the Florida Athletic Coaches Association statewide athletic competition. This event took place Saturday, December 11 at the University of Central Florida in Orlando. Great job ladies!

Palmetto Bay resident Paul Niedhart was honored recently by the South Dade Branch of the American Red Cross of Greater Miami and the Keys. Niedhart was presented The Betty Alger Award, named for the late Redland resident who demonstrated unbelievable courage in her battle against cancer. The award is presented each year to a long time Red Cross supporter. Niedhart, owner of Curbside Florist and Gifts, has generously donated his time and talent for more than twenty-five years. Congratulations to him and a big "Thank You" for all his help in supporting this effort.

Perrine Elementary School is an expressive Arts Magnet School that offers Visual Arts, Dance, Music and Theatre. If your children are currently in third or forth grade and have an interest in one of these subjects they can apply to take these outstanding programs for the 2000-2001 school year. Transportation may be provided if needed. Contact the school at 305-235-2442.
Well it looks as though the infamous redundant sidewalk that begins and ends exactly where the existing one begins and ends on the south side of Coral Reef Park along 152 Street will be completed. I know that I received plenty of calls from people asking why must this sidewalk be built, but heck I asked the same question! Go figure. After a meeting with a few nearby residents, Coral Reef Elementary School officials, representatives from the Pop Warner Football and Howard-Palmetto Baseball-Softball league, Dade County Parks employees, manager and director, Commissioner Katy Sorenson and her aide, as well as other county employees, it worked out to be a trade off of the sidewalk for an expedited inside the park parking lot with some additional separate funding to help with the construction. Gee, I thought the Parks bond issue voted on a few years ago included money for additional parking at Coral Reef Park.

Although the final plans are not complete, preliminary proposals call for the new parking lot to be constructed along the west side of the swing-playground-tot llot area. Coral Reef Elementary donated a strip of land next to its portable classroom to help in this effort and everyone should say thank you to principal Micki Matthews. This new parking lot will hold about 65 vehicles. Some problems need to be worked out, including an opening for emergency vehicles, and a way should be found to keep it clear in case the need arises for emergency access to the fields. A turn-around area should be developed in case you pull to the end of the lot only to find no open spaces.

Other items were brought to the table like a few more toilets besides the existing two in the entire park presently accessible to ladies, as well as the location of the covered shelter that may be built.

Seems as though all the "squeaky wheels" complaining to County and park officials about the deplorable condition of the TotLot and surrounding area has finally produced action. The Tot/Lot area will be closed from December 13 until December 17 for repairs and renovations by sub-contractors. The special mulch around the playground will be replaced. This mulch lasts about eight to nine months and will supposedly be put on a maintenance schedule to get half the total capacity needed for the area replaced every six months from now on to stay ahead of the game.

After being Executive Assistant Director for six years and Executive Director for the past year and a half of the Perrine-Cutler Ridge Council Kerri Vaughn has resigned to pursue a career with Take Stock in Children, a statewide organization that provides scholarships for students. She will serve as director of development and continue to reside in the South Dade area. Best of luck to her on her new endeavor.

The Perrine-Cutler Ridge Council has chosen IL Pappagallo Restaurant, located at 16999 South Dixie Highway, to receive the Beautification Award for December. If you have a nomination for a business deserving of this award forward your selection to Perrine-Cutler Ridge Council, 900 Perrine Avenue, Perrine Fl., 33157.

The next Palmetto Bay Community Council Non-Zoning meeting will be held February 3, 2000, which falls on a Thursday at Southwood Middle School. The agenda has not been set yet but I will let you know next month.

I hope that each and everyone of you has a fine Holiday Season and a "Fun and Safe New Year." So until the new millennium and beyond I can still be reached at 305-253-2772, by fax at 305-253-1997, and on the E-mail trail by typing impact1@gate.net, .