This is why we are #PalmettoBayProud!
Oh what a night! Last night, we honored the best of the best in many ways here in Palmetto Bay. We started the evening recognizing our Teachers of the Year and Rookie Teachers of the Year of our spectacular Palmetto Bay schools. Mayor Cunningham reminded us that this year more than ever all our teachers in Palmetto Bay were “Teachers of the Year!” These dynamic instructors met a very specific criteria, including being active in their community and school, having a superior ability to foster excellence in education, displaying expertise in the subject taught, using innovative instructional materials, demonstrating leadership in the school district, state, and national level, among many other things. The winners of this prestigious award were as follows:

  • Martha Basulto - Coral Reef Elementary Teacher of the Year
  • Vic Garcia - Coral Reef Elementary Rookie Teacher of the Year
  • Elizabeth C. Halasz - Howard Drive Elementary Teacher of the Year
  • Dr. Emily Balcells - Dr. Henry E. Perrine Academy of the Arts Teacher of the Year
  • Zugeny Suarez - Dr. Henry E. Perrine Academy of the Arts Rookie Teacher of the Year
  • Ana Ortiz - Southwood Middle School Teacher of the Year
  • Nora Ruiz - Southwood Middle School Rookie Teacher of the Year
  • Nicole Swanson - Miami Palmetto Senior High School Teacher of the Year
  • Angela Lin - Miami Palmetto Senior High School Rookie Teacher of the Year
  • Timothy Jurkovich - Palmetto Middle School Teacher of the Year
  • Kristie Ladines – Palmetto Middle School Rookie Teacher of the Year

Thank you for making our Village a great place to learn!
We continued the evening recognizing all 31 exceptional Palmetto Bay residents that we celebrated, during Women’s History Month. These amazing women from all different backgrounds, races and ages have one thing in common, their commitment to our community. They have made significant contributions to our Village through the years. These beautiful women are our founding women, first responders, public servants, business owners, youth leaders, activists, lawyers, mentors, mothers and most importantly our superstars! Ladies, we salute you once again and thank you for making us Palmetto Bay Proud! Residents, if you want to learn more about each of these spectacular women visit our website and read their amazing stories.
Up next, we recognized the four 87th Avenue Bridge Task Force members for stepping up to the plate and taking on this challenge and serve our Palmetto Bay as volunteers. We are grateful for their depth of intricate knowledge on this situation and ability to have solution driving conversations. Carmen Viera Baker, Marcelo Zinn, AlJohn Farquharson and Joseph Miorelli, we thank you for demonstrating excellent composure, representing our Village with true professionalism, and dedicating your time and expertise to this timely community matter.   

Our recognitions continued with Claudio Reidi, for his outstanding commitment to Palmetto Bay and his hard work on the litigation case Yacht Club by Luxcom, LLC versus Village of Palmetto Bay. He prevailed in the Third District Court of Appeals and they upheld the Village’s zoning classification of E1 (1 unit per acre) on the former FPL site. Even though the case is not over, this is huge victory for us!

And last, but certainly not least in honor of Military Child Month, we recognized Lisa Lungaro and Laura Bodner Barrows. They are both grown children of military parents, that sacrificed so much growing up for their parents to serve our country. They are both exemplary employees of the American Legion dedicated to supporting the military veterans in our community. Mayor Cunningham invited all Palmetto Bay residents to visit the American Legion located at 16401 SW 90th Avenue in Palmetto Bay and shared how welcoming these two ladies make it feel every time she is there! Thank you both for serving the over 300 veterans in Palmetto Bay and their families. 

It was such an incredible evening, honoring so many of you! We are so grateful and proud to have opportunity to work, live and play with every one of you. Thank you for all you do for our Village.

#PalmettoBayProud #TeamPB
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