By Bob Welsh

‘The Sunny Isles Beach K-8 Community School Fund never sleeps.  Of course they start at the highest level when discussing participation with the Mayor of our great city.

It was Norman Edelcup’s initiative that started the momentum for a public school in Sunny Isles Beach.  He saw the younger families with children and formed a committee to investigate the feasibility.  He created the atmosphere that encouraged participation of developers, school board members, The School Construction Authority, and our own Commission to assist in getting that school built and open on time.

Mayor Edelcup has been advancing “Green Space” and acquiring park acreage since his stewardship of the city first started with the same dedication and acumen that he demonstrated during the fight for the school.  He is now concentrating on an initiative to restore the Historic Newport Fishing Pier, acquiring financial participation from the operator and partnership in the future operation of the Pier.

City services are at an all time high with the city shuttle services connecting to shopping malls in the neighboring communities.  We have beach accesses that are in walking distance from any residence in the city.  The ongoing projects to underground utilities, improve drainage, and replace sidewalks and paving is enhancing the safety and beauty of the city.  The wireless hotspots keep growing as we were selected as the top tourist destination in the United States by “Trip Advisor” for 2008.

Mayor Edelcup serves on many boards of directors for both non-profit and for-profit corporations.  He is a Founder of the Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation and has made significant contributions in support of the hospital.  He is now donating this $50,000 to the Sunny Isles Beach K-8 Community School Fund because of his clear understanding of the severe economic restrictions placed on our school in this atmosphere of budgeting disaster.

The Fund will be soliciting suggestions from the school community: teachers, students, administrators, and parents, for funding projects that would be impossible otherwise.  The Fund will also be contacting other community leaders, residents, and businesses to solicit their participation in realizing the vision of Mayor Norman Edelcup.