Aging is inevitable, and for many, it signals the beginning of a new chapter - one where you cross off bucket list items and live life to the fullest, on your own terms. However, for some women, aging is a horrible prospect, filled with chronic fatigue, irritability, and inability to perform in the bedroom. If you're concerned about life in middle age and beyond, we've got great news: there are easy, proven steps that you can take to help stop the negative effect of aging.
Global Life Rejuvenation was founded to give women a new lease on life - one that includes less body fat, fewer mood swings, and more energy as you age. If you're ready to look and feel younger, it's time to consider HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and growth hormone peptides. These therapies for men and women are effective, safe, and customized to fit your goals, so you can keep loving life as you get older.
HRT, and growth hormone peptide therapies bridge the gap between your old life and the more vibrant, happier version of you. With a simple click or call, you can be well on your way to a brighter future. After all, you deserve to be the one in charge of your wellness and health. Now, you have the tools to do so - backed by science and applied by our team of HRT experts with more than 13 years of experience.
As women age, their hormones begin to go through changes that affect their day-to-day lives. For women, hormone deficiency and imbalance usually occur during menopause and can cause chronic fatigue, hot flashes, and mood swings, among other issues. Hormone replacement therapy helps correct hormone imbalances in women, helping them feel more vibrant and virile as they age.
Often, HRT treatments give patients enhanced quality of life that they didn't think was possible - even in their 60's and beyond.
The benefits for women are numerous and are available today through Global Life Rejuvenation.
As women age, their bodies begin to go through significant changes that affect their quality of life. This change is called menopause and marks the end of a woman's menstrual cycle and reproduction ability. Though there is no specific age when this change occurs, the average age of menopause onset is 51 years old. However, according to doctors, menopause officially starts 12 months after a woman's final period. During the transition to menopause, women's estrogen and other hormones begin to deplete.
As that happens, many women experience severe symptoms. These symptoms include:
The symptoms of hormone deficiency can be concerning and scary for both women and their spouses. However, if you're getting older and notice some of these symptoms, there is reason to be hopeful. Hormone replacement therapy and anti-aging medicine for women can correct imbalances that happen during menopause. These safe, effective treatments leave you feeling younger, healthier, and more vibrant.
The most common reason for menopause is the natural decline in a female's reproductive hormones. However, menopause can also result from the following situations:
Oophorectomy: This surgery, which removes a woman's ovaries, causes immediate menopause. Symptoms and signs of menopause in this situation can be severe, as the hormonal changes happen abruptly.
Chemotherapy: Cancer treatments like chemotherapy can induce menopause quickly, causing symptoms to appear shortly after or even during treatment.
Ovarian Insufficiency: Also called premature ovarian failure, this condition is essentially premature menopause. It happens when a woman's ovaries quit functioning before the age of 40 and can stem from genetic factors and disease. Only 1% of women suffer from premature menopause, but HRT can help protect the heart, brain, and bones.
For many women, menopause is a trying time that can be filled with many hormonal hurdles to jump through. A little knowledge can go a long way, whether you're going through menopause now or are approaching "that" age.
Here are some of the most common issues that women experience during menopause:
If you're a woman going through menopause and find that you have become increasingly depressed, you're not alone. It's estimated that 15% of women experience depression to some degree while going through menopause. What many women don't know is that depression can start during perimenopause, or the years leading up to menopause.
Depression can be hard to diagnose, especially during perimenopause and menopause. However, if you notice the following signs, it might be time to speak with a physician:
Remember, if you're experiencing depression, you're not weak or broken - you're going through a very regular emotional experience. The good news is that with proper treatment from your doctor, depression isn't a death sentence. And with HRT and anti-aging treatment for women, depression could be the catalyst you need to enjoy a new lease on life.
Hot flashes - they're one of the most well-known symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes are intense, sudden feelings of heat across a woman's upper body. Some last second, while others last minutes, making them incredibly inconvenient and uncomfortable for most women.
Symptoms of hot flashes include:
Typically, hot flashes are caused by a lack of estrogen. Low estrogen levels negatively affect a woman's hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls body temperature and appetite. Low estrogen levels cause the hypothalamus to incorrectly assume the body is too hot, dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow. Luckily, most women don't have to settle for the uncomfortable feelings that hot flashes cause. HRT treatments for women often stabilize hormones, lessening the effects of hot flashes and menopause in general.
Mood swings are common occurrences for most people - quick shifts from happy to angry and back again, triggered by a specific event. And while many people experience mood swings, they are particularly common for women going through menopause. That's because, during menopause, the female's hormones are often imbalanced. Hormone imbalances and mood swings go hand-in-hand, resulting in frequent mood changes and even symptoms like insomnia.
The rate of production of estrogen, a hormone that fluctuates during menopause, largely determines the rate of production the hormone serotonin, which regulates mood, causing mood swings.
Luckily, HRT and anti-aging treatments in Palmetto Bay, FL for women work wonders for mood swings by regulating hormone levels like estrogen. With normal hormone levels, women around the world are now learning that they don't have to settle for mood swings during menopause.
Staying fit and healthy is hard for anyone living in modern America. However, for women with hormone imbalances during perimenopause or menopause, weight gain is even more serious. Luckily, HRT treatments for women coupled with a physician-led diet can help keep weight in check. But which hormones need to be regulated?
Lowered sexual desire - three words most men and women hate to hear. Unfortunately, for many women in perimenopausal and menopausal states, it's just a reality of life. Thankfully, today, HRT and anti-aging treatments Palmetto Bay, FL can help women maintain a normal, healthy sex drive. But what causes low libido in women, especially as they get older?
The hormones responsible for low libido in women are progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone.
Progesterone production decreases during perimenopause, causing low sex drive in women. Lower progesterone production can also cause chronic fatigue, weight gain, and other symptoms. On the other hand, lower estrogen levels during menopause lead to vaginal dryness and even vaginal atrophy or loss of muscle tension.
Lastly, testosterone plays a role in lowered libido. And while testosterone is often grouped as a male hormone, it contributes to important health and regulatory functionality in women. A woman's testosterone serves to heighten sexual responses and enhances orgasms. When the ovaries are unable to produce sufficient levels of testosterone, it often results in a lowered sex drive.
Often uncomfortable and even painful, vaginal dryness is a serious problem for sexually active women. However, like hair loss in males, vaginal dryness is very common - almost 50% of women suffer from it during menopause.
Getting older is just a part of life, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for the side effects. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women correct vaginal dryness by re-balancing estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When supplemented with diet and healthy living, your vagina's secretions are normalized, causing discomfort to recede.
Uterine fibroids - they're perhaps the least-known symptom of menopause and hormone imbalances in women. That's because these growths on the uterus are often symptom-free. Unfortunately, these growths can be cancerous, presenting a danger for women as they age.
Many women will have fibroids at some point. Because they're symptomless, they're usually found during routine doctor exams. Some women only get one or two, while others may have large clusters of fibroids. Because fibroids are usually caused by hormone imbalances, hysterectomies have been used as a solution, forcing women into early menopause.
Advances in HRT and anti-aging medicine for women give females a safer, non-surgical option without having to experience menopause early. At Global Life Rejuvenation, our expert physicians will implement a customized HRT program to stabilize your hormones and reduce the risk of cancerous fibroid growth.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS, and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Endometriosis symptoms are much like the effects of PMS and include pelvic pain, fatigue, cramping, and bloating. While doctors aren't entirely sure what causes this painful, uncomfortable condition, most agree that hormones - particularly xenoestrogens - play a factor.
Xenoestrogen is a hormone that is very similar to estrogen. Too much xenoestrogen is thought to stimulate endometrial tissue growth. HRT for women helps balance these hormones and, when used with a custom nutrition program, can provide relief for women across the U.S.
Hormone stability is imperative for a healthy sex drive and for a normal, stress-free life during menopause. HRT and anti-aging treatments for women balance the hormones that your body has altered due to perimenopause or menopause.
HRT for women is a revolutionary step in helping women live their best lives, even as they grow older. However, at Global Life Rejuvenation, we know that no two patients are the same. That's why we specialize in holistic treatments that utilize HRT, combined with healthy nutrition, supplements, and fitness plans that maximize hormone replacement treatments.
If you've been suffering through menopause, is HRT the answer? That's hard to say without an examination by a trusted physician, but one thing's for sure. When a woman balances her hormone levels, she has a much better shot at living a regular life with limited depression, weight gain, mood swings, and hot flashes.
Here are just a few additional benefits of HRT and anti-aging treatments for females:
Hormone imbalance causes a litany of issues. But with anti-aging treatments for women, females can better process calcium, keep their cholesterol levels safe, and maintain a healthy vagina. By replenishing the body's estrogen supply, HRT can relieve symptoms from menopause and protect against osteoporosis. But that's just the start.
Global Life Rejuvenation's patients report many more benefits of HRT and anti-aging medicine for women:
If you're ready to feel better, look better, and recapture the vitality of your youth, it's time to contact Global Life Rejuvenation. It all starts with an in-depth consultation, where we will determine if HRT and anti-aging treatments for women are right for you. After all, every patient's body and hormone levels are different. Since all our treatment options are personalized, we do not have a single threshold for treatment. Instead, we look at our patient's hormone levels and analyze them on a case-by-case basis.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we help women rediscover their youth with HRT treatment for women. We like to think of ourselves as an anti-aging concierge service, guiding and connecting our patients to the most qualified HRT physicians available. With customized HRT treatment plan for women, our patients experience fewer menopausal symptoms, less perimenopause & menopause depression, and often enjoy a more youth-like appearance.
Growth hormone peptides are an innovative therapy that boosts the natural human growth hormone production in a person's body. These exciting treatment options help slow down the aging process and give you a chance at restoring your youth.
Sermorelin is a synthetic hormone peptide, like GHRH, which triggers the release of growth hormones. When used under the care of a qualified physician, Sermorelin can help you lose weight, increase your energy levels, and help you feel much younger.
Human growth hormone (HGH) therapy has been used for years to treat hormone deficiencies. Unlike HGH, which directly replaces declining human growth hormone levels, Sermorelin addresses the underlying cause of decreased HGH, stimulating the pituitary gland naturally. This approach keeps the mechanisms of growth hormone production active.
Ipamorelin helps to release growth hormones in a person's body by mimicking a peptide called ghrelin. Ghrelin is one of three hormones which work together to regulate the growth hormone levels released by the pituitary gland. Because Ipamorelin stimulates the body to produce growth hormone, your body won't stop its natural growth hormone production, which occurs with synthetic HGH.
Ipamorelin causes growth hormone secretion that resembles natural release patterns rather than being constantly elevated from HGH. Because ipamorelin stimulates the natural production of growth hormone, our patients can use this treatment long-term with fewer health risks.
One of the biggest benefits of Ipamorelin is that it provides significant short and long-term benefits in age management therapies. Ipamorelin can boost a patient's overall health, wellbeing, and outlook on life.
When there is an increased concentration of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, there are positive benefits to the body. Some benefits include:
Whether you are considering our HRT and anti-aging treatments for women in Palmetto Bay, FL, we are here to help. The first step to reclaiming your life begins by contacting Global Life Rejuvenation. Our friendly, knowledgeable HRT experts can help answer your questions and walk you through our procedures. From there, we'll figure out which treatments are right for you. Before you know it, you'll be well on your way to looking and feeling better than you have in years!
866-793-9933
Marsha Matson 1. Why are you running for this seat in Palmetto Bay government? “My mission is to protect and improve residents’ quality of life. I was elected in 2018 to fight for safer neighborhoods, better parks, and more open spaces, and to keep taxes low, stop overdevelopment, and find traffic solutions. I am not finished.”2. What do you consider the most urgent issue for village residents? How will you tackle it? “Overdevelopment is the most urgent issue. Overdevelopment is taking...
Marsha Matson 1. Why are you running for this seat in Palmetto Bay government? “My mission is to protect and improve residents’ quality of life. I was elected in 2018 to fight for safer neighborhoods, better parks, and more open spaces, and to keep taxes low, stop overdevelopment, and find traffic solutions. I am not finished.”
2. What do you consider the most urgent issue for village residents? How will you tackle it? “Overdevelopment is the most urgent issue. Overdevelopment is taking away the quiet village lifestyle we all love. It is one of the primary reasons for the traffic gridlock nightmare. I have voted against and will continue to vote against any high-density development project.”
3. Why do you consider yourself to be the best person for the job? “I have a proven results-driven attitude, coupled with government experience, community activism, and two decades of teaching government at the University of Miami.”
4. What closing statement do you want to make to our readers? “I ask residents to look at my voting record and at the various innovative policies I have sponsored (www.marshamatson.com). Based on my record, I humbly ask residents to honor me with their votes on Nov. 8.” Her campaign website is www.marshamatson.com.
Russell Thomas Jones (Note: Mr. Jones did not respond to our interview requests, so this information was compiled from his campaign website.)
“My family chose Palmetto Bay for its small-town charm and strong sense of community, now I am running to serve our community. As a husband and father of two young daughters, I am committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe. As a product of Miami-Dade public schools, and a small business owner with over 30 employees, I am committed to building a strong, vibrant economy.
My belief in servant leadership has led me to serve on the PTA Board of Perrine Elementary, the executive board of the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America, and as a professional member of many local trade organizations. As your councilman, I will work tirelessly to protect both your interests and improve your quality of life.”
ISSUES Traffic — Fight to implement traffic calming initiatives which will improve traffic conditions in Palmetto Bay while also protecting our neighborhoods.
Public Safety — Support our local public safety officers and ensure they have the tools and resources to effectively protect our neighborhoods. Sidewalks/Street Lighting — Improving existing sidewalks throughout the village by repairing broken and uneven sections as well as adding new sidewalks and street lighting where appropriate to improve walkability and safety.
Road Maintenance — Support increasing the resurfacing/maintenance schedule for existing roads throughout the village.
Parks — Improving our existing parks by adding family friendly features such as additional playgrounds, splash pads, and walking trails as well as supporting the acquisition of new land for parks.
Flood Mitigation — Work to further increase the village’s CRS rating through FEMA to further reduce flood insurance rates throughout the village.
Golf Carts — Increase the accessibility of golf carts throughout the village, including adding golf cart trails and dedicated parking at local parks. Campaign website is https://www.voterusselljones.com/.
EIBS was born in 2017 as a pilot to increase inclusion and diversity in the educational system and to develop the capacities and abilities of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), among other diagnoses, in South Florida.Until June of this year, EIBS was operating mainly with private schools, but this summer, it opened the first owned location in Palmetto Bay. This new facility will allow the team to reach and support more children and young adults with their tutoring needs, social skills and life skills development, among many...
EIBS was born in 2017 as a pilot to increase inclusion and diversity in the educational system and to develop the capacities and abilities of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), among other diagnoses, in South Florida.
Until June of this year, EIBS was operating mainly with private schools, but this summer, it opened the first owned location in Palmetto Bay. This new facility will allow the team to reach and support more children and young adults with their tutoring needs, social skills and life skills development, among many other services, no matter the school they attend or if they are homeschooled.
“We are delighted to have our place in Palmetto Bay officially. This is a big step for us, one
we have been dreaming and working for since day one,” said Mari?a Alejandra Mejia, EIBS founder and director, who is, with her husband and son, a resident of Palmetto Bay.
“Creating awareness and fostering acceptance of neurodiversity is at our core, and being able to do it on and for my city and the surrounding is a priority for us. One of our goals is to create a community of families where we can enhance our kids and youth’s lives through education and social gatherings, special events, and engagements. Our kids deserve a joyful and fulfilling life, so we need to work hand in hand with the community and especially the parents to make it happen.”
Around 1 in 54 American children, approximately 135,050, have been diagnosed with ASD, demonstrating a large proportion of families in need of support. When raising a child with autism, there are various factors to consider, from resources, including schools and sensory gyms, to the monetary and legal aid parents may be provided with, all of which change state by state, according to a recent article from Autism Parenting Magazine.
Autistic and neurodiversity strengths and abilities could bring our society innovative ways to solve problems and create new solutions; neurodiverse abilities need to have a space in our community. As Francesca Happe? states, “further research on special skills and talents in autism, therefore, has the promise of finding routes to increase talent beyond those with autism, as well as providing new insights to help recognize, respect and release the ‘beautiful otherness of the autistic mind.’”
EIBS will continue advocating for neurodiverse individuals and families, inspiring acceptance, encouraging change, and supporting each of their students to fully develop their abilities and talents, now from their own space in Palmetto Bay and through the schools they support.
“Registration is open, and new families are always welcome. Our website is up to date with information parents or guardians may need. We are also planning an open house to show our center and connect with the community at large,” Mejia said.
For more information visit www.eibscorp.com/.
Less than 12 hours after a raging fire destroyed the popular Grande Tiki at Golden Rule Seafood—a family-run seafood market and restaurant that has been an institution in the South Dade community since 1943—the neighborhood icon was back open for business with a full-service market, reopened indoor dining, takeout and curbside service, live music and a slew of exciting new summer menu items for its loyal patrons.The fire, which the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue determined was started by illegal fireworks, broke out just be...
Less than 12 hours after a raging fire destroyed the popular Grande Tiki at Golden Rule Seafood—a family-run seafood market and restaurant that has been an institution in the South Dade community since 1943—the neighborhood icon was back open for business with a full-service market, reopened indoor dining, takeout and curbside service, live music and a slew of exciting new summer menu items for its loyal patrons.
The fire, which the Miami-Dade County Fire Rescue determined was started by illegal fireworks, broke out just before 10 p.m. on July 4, 2022. While many were on their way home from July 4th celebrations, neighbors and passersby called 911 and posted countless videos on social media of Golden Rule Seafood’s tiki hut engulfed in flames. The entire Grande Tiki dining area was lost in the fire, which housed 100% of the restaurant’s in-house dining since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, no one was injured and firefighters were able to contain the fire to just the Grande Tiki—leaving the entire building, market, kitchen and outside garden in operational condition and able to open for business at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5.
While the Grande Tiki is closed and undergoing plans to rebuild, Golden Rule Seafood has reopened its inside dining for the first time since COVID-19 and added seating to its lush back garden. The market is gearing up for lobster season on August 6, and to encourage guests to keep coming to the restaurant, the owners have plans to add weekend live music to the garden area and are already launching a menu of summer specials. Making light of a sad situation, guests can also look forward to “smoky” dishes and cocktails in the very near future.
Debuting this weekend, the summer specials will include mouthwatering “teasers” like fresh Black Mussels steamed with garlic and wine and topped with a truffle Parmesan or Tuna Poke Bites that top fried rice cakes with fresh tuna poke and a drizzle of spicy mayo. As for entrées, Golden Rule’s loyal fans love the Surf & Turf Burger with shrimp, crispy fried onions and a house-made cheese sauce on a rosemary focaccia roll, and the Shrimp & Crawdad Melt, which smothers shrimp and crawdad tail with four cheeses (cheddar, jack, American and mozzarella), is sure to be a hit. Looking for something a little lighter? Try the Summer Peach Salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, Bermuda onions, cucumbers, goat cheese, candied walnuts and roasted peaches served with a peach-glazed salmon. Finish it all up with the dessert of the season, Roasted Peach Stuffed French Toast with Nutella, roasted peaches and vanilla ice cream, and you won’t be disappointed.
Of course, an indulgence like this deserves a cocktail, and Golden Rule Seafood’s summer specials have some new drink additions guests will love. Rum drinkers can opt for the Biscayne Blue with Flor de Caña rum, Tito’s vodka and Blue Curaçao or the Fisherman’s Sunrise with RumHaven Coconut Rum and orange, pineapple and passion fruit juices. Cool down with a Southern Peach Tea with Woodford Reserve bourbon and freshly-brewed, peach-infused sweet tea, or try the Sunshine Mojito with Grey Goose White Peach and Rosemary-infused vodka and simple syrup. Finally, the Strawberry Lemonade Martini has a sweet combination of strawberry-lemongrass vodka, strawberries and fresh-squeezed lime juice.
For most businesses, a fire like this would be a devastation worth closing for. But for Golden Rule Seafood, it was a rally cry that brought the community together to help save a true neighborhood gem—one that kept that community going throughout the COVID-19 pandemic because of its great food, great camaraderie and safe, outdoor dining.
“We have been overwhelmed by the love and support that our community has offered since the fire,” said Courtney Reeder, Operations Director of Golden Rule Seafood. “The love has been palpable. We’ve had fellow businesses in Palmetto Bay bring us tables and chairs, neighbors help us clean up the mess and constant phone calls from customers, family, organizations and friends. We know we will rebuild, and our Palmetto Bay community is a huge part of our inspiration to do so.”
Golden Rule Seafood first opened in 1943 as a general store, became a seafood market in the 1980s and, in 2014, expanded to include a full-service restaurant specializing in locally-inspired comfort food. The addition of the Grande Tiki in 2017 grew the restaurant exponentially, filling the outdoor area with diners almost every night of the week—especially when the pandemic made outdoor dining a premium. Seafood lovers go to Golden Rule Seafood for blue crabs (they’re caught fresh by local fishermen each morning), Florida stone crabs, snapper, grouper, mackerel, mahi-mahi, Key West pink shrimp, oysters shucked in house, lobster and some of the best seafood from around the world. Golden Rule Seafood is a fixture in the Palmetto Bay community, and has been owned by the same family for over 50 years.
Golden Rule Seafood is located at 17505 South Dixie Highway, Palmetto Bay, FL 33157. For more information about the seafood market and restaurant, visit www.goldenruleseafood.com or call (305) 235-0661. Make sure you follow @goldenruleseafood on Facebook and Instagram for updates about the fire, the Grande Tiki rebuild, new menu items and upcoming events.
PALMETTO BAY, FL — With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, Patch looked to Yelp for the 10 best Irish bars in the Palmetto Bay-Cutler Bay area.Here is Yelp's top 10 and that's no Blarney:1. The Irish Times 5850 Sunset Dr South Miami, FL 33143Phone number 305-667-41142. ...
PALMETTO BAY, FL — With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, Patch looked to Yelp for the 10 best Irish bars in the Palmetto Bay-Cutler Bay area.
Here is Yelp's top 10 and that's no Blarney:
1. The Irish Times 5850 Sunset Dr South Miami, FL 33143Phone number 305-667-4114
2. Miller’s Ale House - Miami Falls13603 S Dixie Hwy Palmetto Bay, FL 33176Phone number 305-259-8844
3. Hole in the Wall9821 SW 184th St Palmetto Bay, FL 33157Phone number 305-233-3225
4. Irish Sports Tavern13067 SW 112th St Miami, FL 33186Phone number 305-382-1516
5. Little Hoolie’s Sports Bar & Grill13135 SW 89th Pl Miami, FL 33176Phone number 305-252-9155
6. Scully’s Tavern9809 SW 72nd St Miami, FL 33173Phone number 305-271-7404
7. Red Lobster 8705 SW 136th Street Miami, FL 33176Phone number 305-233-8994
8. Flanigan’s Seafood Bar & Grill Suniland Shopping Center Phone number 305-378-4000
9. Bougainvillea’s Old Florida Tavern7221 SW 58th Ave South Miami, FL 33143Phone number 305-669-8577
10. World Of Beer9010 SW 72nd Pl Miami, FL 33156Phone number 786-623-3522
We, the undersigned members of the original Village Council, respectfully request that this Village Council enforce The Shannon Melendi Act. We enacted this ordinance after careful deliberation which included hearing personally from the late Shannon Melendi’s family. Shannon, a college student who worked as a scorekeeper at youth softball games, was raped, murdered, and dismembered by a man who worked as an umpire. The emotion and testimony were heartbreaking and reinforced the necessity of finding out what type of person is working ne...
We, the undersigned members of the original Village Council, respectfully request that this Village Council enforce The Shannon Melendi Act. We enacted this ordinance after careful deliberation which included hearing personally from the late Shannon Melendi’s family. Shannon, a college student who worked as a scorekeeper at youth softball games, was raped, murdered, and dismembered by a man who worked as an umpire. The emotion and testimony were heartbreaking and reinforced the necessity of finding out what type of person is working near children.
It was the obligation of the original Village Council to do everything possible for the safety of our children. It should remain the obligation of the current and successive councils.
Why is this ordinance so important? It takes a Village to raise a child. We believe that every child is important. Please review the “Whereas” clauses of Ordinance 08-10, known as the Shannon Melindi Act to understand our purpose in enacting this Ordinance as well as why we remain strong advocates for it.
It is our understanding that the Council intends to change the name of the ongoing weekly Farmers’ Market to a “festival” in an attempt to circumvent the provisions of this Act, so that vendors who are exposed to children in our parks do not need to have background checks. Changing the name does not change the fact that this is an ongoing weekly event where children are drawn to the parks and come into direct contact with these vendors. We have to wonder who the Council seeks to protect by not requiring background checks.
The State of Florida, through the Jessica Lunsford Act, requires background checks of school staff, volunteers, and even single-day event visitors such as presenters at their schools. If one of us wanted to volunteer at our own child’s or grandchild’s school, we would have to submit to a background check. Why should children within the Village of Palmetto Bay parks not be protected to this same extent? Are transient popcorn vendors less likely to be human traffickers than PTA moms?
This is not the time to act as if human trafficking or violence on children is not an issue. It is also not the time to play politics at the expense of children’s safety.
Respectfully submitted, as members of the original village council and strong supporters of The Shannon Melendi Act:
Signed by,
Former Vice-Mayor Linda Robinson
Former Councilman Paul Neidhart
