Spring is Springing All Over

Vol. 3, No. 5 7 April 2022

STREET RENAMED

Last month the City Commission passed a resolution to name a block of SW 62nd Place - from SW 62nd Terrace to SW 63rd Terrace - in honor of JoAnn Jeffery and James McCants. Click here to read a fine tribute to these two people and a description of what they have contributed to South Miami.

SOUTH MIAMI'S CHAMPIONS

The 9th Annual "Kick Cystic Fibrosis" celebrity kickball tournament took place Saturday, February 26th. Among those taking the field were the SoMi Untouch-a-balls, a team of 15 of South Miami employees. The Untouch-a-balls won the kickball tournament City Champion title.

Then, in March, the South Miami Ballers became the champions of the Tamiami Basketball League with a 7-2 season. The Ballers are ten young South Miami men between the ages of 10 and 12 who are well-coached by Angel Betancourt.

MIAMI GIRLS ROCK CAMP

For a couple of years, I volunteered as a counselor with Miami Girls Rock Camp (MGRC). The camp is focused on helping girl musicians become adept at playing in a rock band. It was fun for me to be there with the girls. And to my eyes, it was clear that the girls were having a lot of fun, too.

The camps' creators write:

"We have been invited back to the beautiful and historic church, Coral Gables Congregational UCC this summer, and will be providing instrument instruction in guitar, bass, keys, vocals, and drums. Campers will join a band, write an original song together, and perform on a professional stage! In the process, they practice team-building, communication, and leadership skills, while receiving encouragement to step into their power and take up space with loud, joyous noise!

We also get to revive all the other yumminess campers have grown to expect from MGRC: We will have a wide array of workshops, offer opportunities for creative exploration across multiple mediums, hear from visiting artists, and experience their live music performances.

Camp fees are $300 for the week, and full and partial scholarships are also available. Applications are due May 16th. Please be sure to get your application in ASAP, as we have limited spots available. You can find the application on our website, miamigrilsrockcamp.org.

Camp runs Monday, July 25th – Friday, July 29th with the grand finale showcase that weekend, either Saturday, July 30th OR Sunday, July 31st, TBA. Check out a breakdown of the anticipated camp schedule here."

ELECTRONIC RECYCLING

Leave your broken items that used to run on electricity or batteries at City Hall on Sunday, April 10, from 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. For more information call: 305-668-2510 or click here.

MARSHALL WILLIAMSON SCHOLARSHIP

Once again the Marshall Williamson Scholarship Committee is meeting to evaluate and select students who will receive scholarships for education beyond high school.

Applications are due by June 24, 2022. For all the details, click here.

This year the Committee will have almost double the funds it had last year to award. Thanks are due to the generosity of Patrick Robinson and Ravi S. Ramjit.

Patrick Robinson grew up in South Miami, played sports here, and went on to be a football cornerback on several teams, the last one was the New Orleans Saints. He has donated $10,000. Thanks go to former mayor Anna Price who suggested to Mr. Robinson that he contribute to the scholarship fund.

Ravi S. Ramjit is the founder of European Collison Center, a business in South Miami's industrial area. As in past years, he is donating to support the Marshall Williamson Scholarships.

The scholarships are earmarked for "residents of the City of South Miami who are high school seniors, college students, people wanting to attend vocational/trade schools, and previous Bowman Scholarship recipients. Current students must have a minimum grade point average of 2.5." One of the criteria that the Committee uses is the financial ability of the applicants to afford the education they want.

The scholarship details and application can be downloaded from the City's website. Or by clicking here.

I am very grateful to both of these generous supporters. I encourage other South Miamians to contribute to this fund.

NATIONAL WATER DANCE

There is a tradition of dance that celebrates the importance of water. This is this year's Miami celebration:

"Dancing Out of Time!" - National Water Dance/Miami 2022 -is a celebration of nature and a call to action, recognizing our collective responsibility as we are “running out of time” against climate change. Bringing together multiple dance companies, musicians, and visual artists this free participatory afternoon highlights the influence and importance of the Seminole and Miccosukee communities and their experiential understanding of the natural world of the Greater Everglades."

The rest of the article about Dancing Out of Time! is available here.

May your spring be beautiful!

May you stay healthy and keep safe!