Free Moments of Joy workshop

Can You Answer "yes" to any of these questions?- Are you concerned about the well-being of an adult family member?
- Do you help with shopping, housekeeping, rides, bathing, dressing or supervision?
- Are you concerned about someone who isn't taking care of him or herself?
- Are you using your own sick leave or vacation time to help or care for someone?

If so, you are a family caregiver. You are doing a tough, yet rewarding job. You the person you care about can get help at the Moments of Joy workshop being held June 24, from 2-3:30 pm at the Dharma Studio (3170 Commodore Plaza).

This event aims to offer specialized support for anyone caring for a senior, anyone 55+,  as well as for anyone who would simply like to learn ways to stay healthy throughout life.

Learn techniques for creating moments of joy. Although we cannot control if a day will be exactly as we hoped for ourselves and for those we love, we can create perfectly wonderful moments that bring smiles, and joyous memories, experiences, and health.

Within this workshops, you will be provided with information on community resources, stress relief activities, and intergenerational activities that can bring the whole family closer.
All are invited and the event is free to the public.

To register for the event, e-mail arttherapycs@gmail.com or call 305-767-9949.

This event is brought to you by the Florida Art Therapy Association and a CVS Community Grant.

Schools honored for Going Green

Last month, Dream in Green (DIG) rolled out the "Green Carpet" at its 7th Annual End-of-Year Awards Ceremony to honor the winning schools of this year's Green Schools Challenge (GSC) Program. The event marked the culmination of the GSC's 10 month curriculum and celebrated teachers, students, administration and facility staff and the success of their green school initiatives.  This stellar event was attended by GSC teachers and their guests, Miami-Dade County Public Schools VIPs, Miami-Dade County, DIG Board members and some Community Partners - Growums, Global Inheritance,  The Marlins Foundation, USGBC, Everblue, and Office Depot. Above, AJ Morales, DIG board member, addresses the audience.


This year's awards and prizes were given to 55 elementary and secondary GSC schools in 15 Award categories: Monthly Challenges (Energy & Climate Change, Waste Reduction & Recycling, Water Conservation, Green Buildings, Green Transportation and Green Careers), Top Energy Savers; Facility Manager, Curriculum Integration, Eco-Summit, Student Leadership, Innovation in Education, Honorable Mentions, Best Independent Schools, and GSC Finalists. Above, Lesmarie Nicholson and Karla Utting, DIG staff, enjoy the luncheon.

This years' winners received DIG's distinctive trophies, using artist Raisa Miranda's unique recycled-paper trees, and Greenometer certificates. 

You can see the photo set and the winners from the ceremony at the Dream in Green Facebook page here.

Below, Greg Hamra of Everblue, one of the Community Partners, awards the Green Careers Monthly Challenge Winners.

City Views; Bay Views; It's Grand Bay Plaza

Grand Bay Plaza

Unit 615 ready for immediate occupancy

This well appointed office with bay and city views won't last long! 1,133 RSF - $32/SF. Reception area, 2 window offices, kitchen, open support area, Brazilian cherry wood floors, phone system and service in place and available, server network in place and available, furnished or unfurnished. Two parking spaces included. Large shared conference room directly across the floor. Full service building.

View the complete listing: http://www.loopnet.com/lid/18204556

Advertise your property in the Grapevine Showplace Showcase. Pricing here.

The leaf blowers were not banned, yet

The City of South Miami never made a decision on the leaf blowing ban.

“There’s no point in putting a law on the books until you know what the fine is, how is this going to be enforced, who is responsible for going out” and enforcing this ordinance, Commissioner Valerie Newman said.

That does make sense, but it would have been great if someone made a stand. Just this morning, I was awakened by some moron across the street using a leaf blower, I don't think it was even light out yet, or maybe the rain just made it appear dark, but he was already at it.

We talk about going green all the time, and yet the people who literally deal with green and nature, continue to use these loud gassy things. 

I really don't think the good old fashioned rake and a bag (I know, plastic, not very green) is going to drive up landscaping costs. Do you? They just end up blowing the crap in the street or in the neighbors' yards anyway with the leaf blowers. Drive up Tigertail one day, watch them. The Peacocks make less of a mess.

An easy dinner; Grove-style

Well, not sure if it's Grove-style, but I did get the items here in Coconut Grove and I prepared it in my Coconut Grove kitchen, so I guess that makes this Macaroni and Cheese meal, Grove-style. I barely boil water, not that I can't cook, it just doesn't interest me, and yet I find cooking shows and food and restaurant shows soothing and interesting to watch. I love Top Chef, and I watch various shows on the Travel and Food channels. Here is an easy macaroni and cheese meal, something different than the usual in the Kraft box. I am actually eating this as I write, that's the plate I am eating from right above.

Last weekend I saw this tv show where they went around the country visiting restaurants that only offered mac and cheese dishes; each restaurant had a bunch of different recipes on the menu, but they were all mac and cheese. One stood out in my head, it was mac and cheese with lobster. There were other ingredients and special cheeses and stuff, but the chunky lobster pieces in the mac and cheese looked so good.

The next day I happened to be at The Fresh Market here in Coconut Grove and right there next to each other was the shrimp bar, which they have set up with different style cold shrimp and the hot bar, which usually has things like turkey burgers, meat loaf, pot pies and yes, mac and cheese. And sort of like the old Reeses commercial (you got your chocolate in my peanut butter; no, you got your peanut butter in my chocolate), I bought the mac and cheese and the shrimp and married them!

I heat them both up together, in the microwave, but you can do it on the stove or regular oven and the beauty is that the shrimp gets hot along with the mac and cheese, so it's all the same consistency and temperature. Another great thing is the extras that come with the shrimp -- red and green peppers, onions, olives, and other things, so it all mixes in well and it's really great. I have done this a few times already, I am going to try it with lobster next time.

Orchids and Onions Party coming up

The Urban Environment League's Annual Orchids and Onions Party and Meeting is Wednesday, June 19 at the Coral Gables Museum (285 Aragon Avenue).

Onions (sort of like Raspberry awards) will be going to Governor Rick Scott for his continued assault against environmental regulations and good planning; The Epic Hotel Group for allowing a "sales trailer" (now a yacht clubhouse) to block the Miami Riverwalk and MDX for proposing to enable sprawl by expanding toll roads and highways as opposed to supporting transit.

Orchids (the good award) are going to a number of people, a few being Arva Moore Parks for preservation of our architectural and cultural legacy; Arsenio Milian for his contribution to environmental education and natural areas; Ruth Greenfield for being a dedicated activist for the community, for green space and for the Urban Environment League and Sallye and Jim Jude who will receive the Lifetime distinguished members award from The Urban Environment League.

There are many others receiving Orchids.

The event is from 6 to 9 pm. Suggested donation is $20 per person or $35 with new membership; Drinks and snacks included.

Please RSVP Urbanenvleague@gmail.com

Barnacle Old Fashioned 4th of July

The Barnacle Historic State Park and The Barnacle Society will be holding their usual July 4th activities which take place from 11 am to 4 pm.

Each year,  the grounds, and house, go back in time to an old fashioned style holiday. The old house is covered in bunting, there are plenty of games and activities for the family, there is live music, food and you are also encouraged to bring your own picnic if you like, but they do sell barbecue, also.

Admission: $5 ages 12 and up; $3 ages 6-11; under 6 free. 

The Barnacle Historic State Park is located at 3485 Main Highway.