Welcome Back, Hunting Island!

Click here to view this email in your browser Special Edition: Hunting Island Reopens A Message from the Director - Welcome Back Old Friend It's been a long eight months for the South Carolina State Park Service, especially Hunting Island State Park. Read along here as Director Phil details his perspective on the impact of Hurricane Matthew on one of the state's most treasured assets.  The Latest on Hunting Island As the past few months have proven, Mother Nature is a powerful, dynamic force. The conditions at Hunting Island State Park are constantly changing. To keep up-to-date on the latest information, check out our website here. This page will continue to be updated over the coming months.  June Programs at Hunting Island Hunting Island is getting back into the swing of things, and that includes programs! Everything from fish printing to guided tours of the lighthouse can be found on this month's program schedule. Click here to find out more information about all the park has to offer this month! Staying at Hunting Island The cabin at Hunting Island has been fully renovated, and the campground at Hunting Island is scheduled to open in late June.  Did you know you can make reservations for these facilities up to 13 months out?  Click here to check availability and book your stay! Support Hunting Island A great way to help support Hunting Island State Park is to support the park's retail efforts- like this t-shirt that commemorates the lighthouse still standing strong after the storm. Click here or visit the Nature Center or lighthouse store to get your Hunting Island gear!

Can’t wait to see you!

June 2: The Jean P Jam Band FREE

	~presents~

	featuring THE JEAN P JAM BAND Friday June 2, 6 - 9 PM: FREE Normandy Fountain Normandy Drive & Rue Vendôme Miami Beach

	Jean Almatas (“Pokito”) is a talented singer/ songwriter, bringing to us deeply rooted music, who expands what we know as world music. The band has played in several Festivals such as Bob Marley fest, One Love Nutri fest, Bay Jama Fest in Islamorada in the Keys, and Grand Opening Big Nite in Little Haiti. Jean brings the essence of music to everyone from all ethnic backgrounds. Pokito calls his music "Rootsy Juicy." Table service is available from local restaurants. Music courtesy of KCC Productions. Click here for a video of the band at MOCA

Tito Puente, Jr at Arts Garage June 2-3

~Presents~ Tito Puente, Jr. and His Latin Jazz Ensemble Birthday Celebration! June 2 and 3 at 8 PM         Be prepared to mambo the night away as Tito Puente, Jr. brings his phenomenal band to Arts Garage. Tito is determined to nurture the musical legacy left by his father, Tito Puente, Sr., Latin jazz Mambo King, and he does so with charm and grace. The comparison is inevitable – in his looks, his joy, and his music. Crowds who were lured to venues by his father now return to see his son and to once again participate in the high voltage celebration that takes place on stage. “A dazzling show filled with charisma, flair and all the right dance moves. His skill at playing, singing and dancing was undeniable… Tito Puente Jr. shined with a talent that was all his own.” -The Examiner “Tito Puente Jr. heats things up” -Fox News Tickets are $30-$40-$50 at artsgarage.org BRING YOUR OWN … WHATEVER! The theater boasts cabaret style table seating, where patrons can bring their own food and drinks, including alcohol. Music courtesy of KCC Productions Click here for a video of Tito

You're Invited: North Beach Yard Community Meeting

Join Us! Thursday, June 8, 2017

Hurricane Season is here, are you ready?

Hurricane Season: Plan and Prepare

The 2017 hurricane season officially begins today and runs through November 30.  Forecasters at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center say that the Atlantic could see another above-normal hurricane season this year. According to their predictions, there will be a 70 percent likelihood of 11 to 17 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 5 to 9 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 2 to 4 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher). An average season produces 12 named storms of which six become hurricanes, including three major hurricanes.  The City of Miami Beach wants to ensure the safety of all of its residents and visitors, and urges everyone to have a hurricane plan. The city is prepared - are you?       Download the 2017 Miami Beach Hurricane Guide for tips on how to stay safe this hurricane season, visit our hurricane webpage and watch our hurricane special below.

The Ricky Report

The Florida legislature came very close to legalizing casinos in South Florida during last week's legislative session. As a precautionary measure, Commissioner Malakoff and I have sponsored legislation that will prohibit gaming in Miami Beach once and for all. A casino in Miami Beach would tarnish our City's brand and quality of life by adding to traffic congestion, increasing negative social costs, and threatening high-value industries. Instead of promoting casinos, Miami Beach should continue to promote and encourage productive industries like the arts, education, and technology. Click below to read my previous op-ed on mega-casinos in South Florida.

Miami Beach has 15 newly-minted firefighters on duty. These men and women have trained tirelessly for the past 6 months to join our Fire Department. I had the privilege to join them on the morning of their graduation ceremony for their last challenge before their swearing in ceremony. The recruits had to finish a 51 story stair climb up the Portofino Tower in full gear (60 lbs). Click to watch the video of our climb! I look forward to working with these brave men and women in the years ahead. Congratulations to the new members of the team on joining America's best Fire Department!

Great things are in store for North Beach! I am proud to sponsor the City's efforts to bring the Wynwood Yard to North Beach. The Wynwood Yard began as a culinary incubator for young chefs to test out new food concepts. Today, the entrepreneurial hub also serves as a community nexus for Wynwood. Della Heiman, the creator of the incubator, is excited to bring this innovative concept to the North Beach neighborhood. The North Beach Yard will add cultural, food/ beverage, and health/ wellness amenities to the North Beach community. Ocean Drive is our City's largest and most popular tourist destination. In order to keep both our residents and visitors safe, the Ocean Drive Association recently created the Ocean Drive Block Patrol to provide additional security and Goodwill Ambassador services. If you're on Ocean Drive, look for their yellow shirts and say hello! The Ocean Drive Block Patrol is working closely with our Police Department's dedicated Ocean Drive Police Squad and our Code Compliance Department to ensure a clean and safe Ocean Drive for all to enjoy!

The Miami Beach Gay Pride Week was a huge success this year! The week-long celebration of the spirit and culture of the LGBTQ community culminated in a parade that attracted over 25,000 people. This year 74 fully decorated floats entered the parade with over 3,000 participants. Thank you to SAVE for inviting the Miami Beach City Commission to ride on their spectacular float and congratulations to Celebrity Cruises for winning best float!

In March, I traveled to the Southern Hemisphere to run in the Antarctica Marathon. Besides providing me a great fitness challenge, traveling to Antarctica allowed me to see the effects of climate change firsthand. It was an alarming experience to see how melting ice sheets thousand of miles away affect us here on Miami Beach. As the Earth warms, these massive ice sheets melt into the ocean, causing sea levels to rise, which jeopardizes our coastal community!