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OCTOBER 12 - 18, 2010
Eugene Flinn most qualified for Miami-Dade Commission
Eugene Flinn is the clear choice for Miami-Dade Commission, District 8. Flinn topped the field of six candidates in the Aug. 24 primary election. For the Nov. 2 runoff, Flinn offers a solid record of accomplishment and leadership that has made his village a better place. His runoff opponent Lynda Bell, while gaining experience as the first woman mayor of Homestead, has not yet shown she has risen to the level of Flinn. Flinn’s record shows that he will be a good steward of tax dollars, local economy, environment, safety, and overall quality of life. As the founding mayor of Palmetto Bay, he has worked to provide residents high-quality services at very low tax rates. He can be counted on to do more of the same on the Miami-Dade Commission. Flinn is a lifelong resident of MiamiDade County. He has a long history of community service in area PTAs and other civic organizations. He has a done a remarkable job of both standing up to the county officials on the issues of incorporation and mitigation, and working collaboratively with them on issues such as sustainable growth, healthcare, transportation and bringing a “green corridor” to District 8. Among some of Flinn’s initiatives have been government ethics reforms, including the “anti-shakedown zoning ordinance” that requires public disclosure of any attempts to solicit or receive payment of compensation to individuals or groups in exchange for their support or silence on zoning issues. He has overseen successfully public construction projects such as storm water drainage improvements and traffic calming measures. He is committed to adding green space and improving the area’s quality of life. He also has championed measures to protect children against registered sex offenders, and provide added homestead exemptions for qualified low-
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FLINN, page 4
The ‘champ’ and the kids: Castroneves visits KRMC
Special transit pass, service for Komen Race participants BY KARLA DAMIAN
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Helio Castroneves (right) visits with the children and parents in the Kidsville pediatric unit of Kendall Regional Medical Center sharing stories about his time on the racetrack and Dancing with the Stars. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
BY VIVIAN CEPERO
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elio Castroneves, three-time Indy 500 champion and winner of Dancing with the Stars, took time from his fast-paced schedule to visit with hospital patients and staff on Sept. 30 at Kendall Regional Medical Center. Castroneves first signed many autographs for visitors in the lobby of the Emergency Room, and then visited
with the pediatric patients in the Kidsville unit. He spent individual time with each of the children, talking and joking with them, and he gave each an autographed toy racecar. “We are excited to have Helio Castroneves visit with our pediatric patients; the kids really enjoyed meeting Helio and he brought lots of smiles to their faces.” said Mauricio Sirvent, CEO of Kendall Regional Medical Center. “They will always remember the day that the racecar champ came to visit them.”
iami-Dade Transit is offering a special One Day Pass, enhanced rail service and free parking at Metrorail stations and Park & Ride lots for participants of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on Saturday, Oct. 16. Unlike previous years, participants of this year’s race will need to use an EASY Card or EASY Ticket loaded with a pass or monetary value to ride Metrorail. For race participants, MDT is offering a special One Day Pass, which is sold regularly for $5 that will be loaded on an EASY Ticket and sold at the discounted rate of $2 to event participants. These passes are available as part of the online race registration at <www.komenmiaftl.org>, or offline at TeamFootWorks. This discounted pass will be available in advance only at TeamFootWorks. Passes will be sold through Oct. 15 or while supplies last. Participants can call TeamFootWorks at 305-666-RACE (7223) to confirm if passes still are available. Race participants who are not able to obtain a discounted One Day Pass by Oct. 15 will need to pay the full fare to ride Metrorail. To avoid long lines, MDT encourages participants to purchase a loaded EASY Card or EASY Ticket prior to the race. EASY Cards and EASY Tickets can be obtained at EASY Card vending machines at Metrorail stations, the
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KOMEN RACE, page 4