Life in the City
‘Younger Generation’
By Bari Auerbach

Big news about the groundbreaking of the new Sunny Isles Beach public school is serving to highlight the city’s booming population of young families now becoming year-round residents. The advent of a “younger generation” is also creating signs of the times you may have noticed around town...

*Used to be “early bird specials” were all the rage in Sunny Isles Beach – but now “Happy Meals” and “Kid Menus” seem to be taking over...So don’t be surprised if the next time you go to your favorite restaurant, the host is dressed like Ronald McDonald; the tables have coloring books and crayons; the chairs have snap-on trays; and instead of Chicken Provencal, the chef’s special is Chicken Fingers!

*You know the median age of residents is getting younger when local stores start selling more Pampers than Polident; car dealers can’t keep minivans in stock; one of the city’s biggest events is “Family Fun Day”; and at Sunny Serenade concerts, there are more requests for Britney Spears hits than Sinatra classics.

*More signs of the “younger generation proliferation” are City Commission resolutions approving the purchase of a swing set for Town Center Park; construction of a little league baseball field at the park adjacent to the new school; and a special presentation by the Sunflower Society donating funds for children to attend the city’s summer camp program...So what could be next?? Maybe a Toys’R’Us occupational license request; an offer by the Cartoon Network to pay for broadcasting on SIB Cable Channel 77; and the announcement that Barney will be making a special appearance at the city’s 10 th anniversary celebration!

*Just ask area realtors and they’ll testify to the fact that Sunny Isles Beach is fast becoming one of the most desirable hometowns for families with children...In fact rumor has it Brad and Angelina may adopt even more kids and then build a new oceanfront luxury development so they can have plenty of living space - plus rent out condos to other family-oriented celebs like Madonna.

*While kids and seniors are decades apart, one thing they have in common is going to bed early – so “electricity conservation” could make Sunny Isles Beach an environmentally conscious role model city!

The groundbreaking of the K-8 public school is ultimate evidence that a whole new younger generation is here to stay...but wouldn’t it be nice if one of the required classes was Sunny Isles Beach history? After all, if it wasn’t for “elders” who led the drive for incorporation and continue to support progressive initiatives, there wouldn’t even be a city let alone a “first class” school!

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