Stories written by Gary Alan Ruse

Louise Lockwood honored by town council for her service

Louise Lockwood honored by town council for her service

The Cutler Bay Town Council presented a proclamation to longtime resident and community activist Louise Lockwood on Feb. 20 in the council chambers at Town Hall. With her husband, Jay Lockwood, by her side, she listened as the proclamation was read aloud, acknowledging her many accomplishments over decades of the area’s history. “Louise has always [...]

Miami International Film Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary

Miami International Film Festival celebrates its 30th anniversary

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Miami International Film Festival and during a press conference on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at the National Historic Landmark Freedom Tower in downtown Miami the program for the 10- day event beginning Mar. 1 was announced. Miami Dade College, which now owns the Freedom Tower (the former Miami [...]

Coral Reef HS student a winner in national video competition

Coral Reef HS student a winner in national video competition

David Scherker, an 11th grade student at Coral Reef High School, was one of three winners in a national anti-bullying video contest sponsored by the U.S. Government that received almost 900 submissions. Begun last fall, the competition’s results were announced on Feb. 1. His video, It Starts With One, as one of two receiving honorable [...]

Town conducting survey to assess seniors’ needs

Town conducting survey to assess seniors’ needs

To better serve the needs of senior citizens who make up a growing segment of residents, the Town of Cutler Bay will conduct a survey with the help of volunteers. On Jan. 29 town officials, program organizers and volunteers met for a first briefing at Town Hall in the council chambers. “As you know, the [...]

Program at Whigham Elementary gives pre--schoolers a Head Start

Program at Whigham Elementary gives pre--schoolers a Head Start

The Head Start program at Dr. Edward L. Whigham Elementary School is designed to help young children in lowincome families, with the goal of increasing their social, intellectual and emotional competence. Begun last year, the program at the school’s Primary Learning Center (PLC), located at 8035 SW 196 St. in Cutler Bay, is a comprehensive [...]

Village Mayor Stanczyk to host Town Hall meeting on Feb. 27

Village Mayor Stanczyk to host Town Hall meeting on Feb. 27

Village of Palmetto Bay Mayor Shelley Stanczyk will host a Town Hall meeting on Feb. 27 so the community can discuss with her the subject of “Your Tax Reserves – Vision and Priorities: Parks and Capital Projects.” The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Edward and Arlene Feller Community Room of the [...]

Officers Judge and Glasko earn Youth Crime Watch recognition

Officers Judge and Glasko earn Youth Crime Watch recognition

Two members of the Palmetto Bay Village Policing Unit, Officers Peter Judge and Patience Glasko, received weekly awards in early February from Citizens Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County for their work with children at Coral Reef Elementary. In 2012 they jointly won the Youth Crime Watch Advisor of the Year award. Both are pleased but [...]

‘Read to Learn Initiative’ targets children reading below grade level

‘Read to Learn Initiative’ targets children reading below grade level

The Southern Regional Literacy Community Planning Meeting took place on Wednesday, Jan. 23, at the South Miami- Dade Cultural Arts Center, 10950 SW 211 St. in Cutler Bay. Sponsored by The Children’s Trust “Read to Learn Initiative,” the purpose of the meeting was to inform community leaders, parents and others about an urgent problem in [...]

Council denies approval of proposed new Publix project

Council denies approval of proposed new Publix project

  The proposed 11-acre development project known as “Shoppes of Cutler Bay,” featuring a large new Publix Supermarket to be located on Old Cutler Road and SW 208th Street, was denied approval by a 3-2 vote of the Cutler Bay Town Council during its Jan. 16 meeting. Vice Mayor Ernie Sochin and Councilmember Sue Ellen [...]

Village Hall’s first retirements bring in new finance staffers

Village Hall’s first retirements bring in new finance staffers

Palmetto Bay, which has been incorporated for only 10 years, recently had its first ever staff retirements, both in the Finance Department, with new people joining the team. Marti Brasovan, who had been with the village for nine years, retired in November and Dorothy Henderson retired in December. Both retirees were honored at a village [...]

‘Winter’ comes to village as youngsters enjoy ‘Snow Day’

‘Winter’ comes to village as youngsters enjoy ‘Snow Day’

Palmetto Bay youngsters at the 3C’s Preschool of Christ Congregational Church got to do something on Jan. 18 that children rarely do in South Florida’s warm climate — enjoy a “Snow Day” with sledding and winter clothes. Roughly 13 tons of “snow,” or shaved ice, was dumped on the campus at 14920 SW 67 Ave. [...]

Town joins developer for drainage improvement project

Town joins developer for drainage improvement project

Arecently completed drainage improvement project should greatly reduce flooding that has long been a problem for Cutler Bay residents within the Lakes by the Bay, Laguna Pointe and Catalina communities. Local flooding in the roadway caused by any moderate to severe rains should be alleviated by the roadway and drainage improvements along SW 97th Avenue [...]

Chili Day in Cutler Bay draws record crowds

Chili Day in Cutler Bay draws record crowds

The town’s fourth annual winter event, “Chili Day in Cutler Bay” on Saturday, Jan. 5, was rated “a tremendous success” by Parks and Recreation director Alan Ricke. “We had larger crowds than ever before, an excellent band — the Andrew Morris Band — and about 10,000 samples of chili, salsa and cornbread provided by the [...]

Cutler Bay Business Association elects new board of directors

Cutler Bay Business Association elects new board of directors

The Cutler Bay Business Association (CBBA) elected its officers and board of directors at the end of December to serve during 2013. The group’s monthly meeting on Jan. 10 was the first with the new board in place. Jonathan Wilson, the new CBBA president, conducted the meeting and luncheon. The guest speaker was Anapaula Lagarriga, [...]