By Bari Auerbach

‘Lots to be Thankful For’
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, everyone’s thinking about eating turkey and watching football - but what about reflecting upon the plethora of things city residents are thankful for? Here are just some of the assets enticing people from all over the world to make a “pilgrimage” to Sunny Isles Beach….

Thanks for the Improvements: The city’s budget includes funding for ongoing capital improvements, new parks plus many more great municipal assets…In fact, the list of improvements is so long, even Santa may not be able to match all the “gifts that will keep on giving” for many years to come.

Thanks for the Great School: Parents and kids are still celebrating the A grades earned by the Norman S. Edelcup K-8 Sunny Isles Beach School now expanding to add more classrooms….Rumor has it, a “customized” curriculum may soon be introduced featuring classes like “Tanning 101”; “Condo Board Meeting Etiquette”; and a class that should be mandatory for such a diverse community: “International Relations.”

Thanks for Traffic Safety: The city is always stepping up efforts to keep Sunny Isles Beach streets safe – but ever wonder if it would just be easier to make it mandatory for every citizen to ride the city’s shuttle bus?  This could result in a lot less traffic and instead of paying for expensive gas, you could buy an even bigger turkey for Thanksgiving dinner – or better yet – have it gourmet catered from the Epicure market!!

Thanks for All the Fun: Concerts, movie nights, trips, sports programs and special holiday events are always being planned by the city’s Cultural and Community Services Department that has inadvertently tapped into the secret to world peace: Parties like the recent “Booogie by the Beach” promoting unity with an unbeatable weapon: Free food!

Thanks for the Technology: Now that parks in Sunny Isles Beach have wireless Internet access, it’s easier than ever to log on to the city’s high-tech website (sibfl.net) and keep up to date on important city news, meetings and special events. You can find just about everything you’re looking for – except a great date…so if you’re single, you may want to email a suggestion that the city add a link like “Sunny Perfect Match.com”

Thanks for the Progress: Overall, residents agree they enjoy life in the city known as “Florida’s Riviera” where luxury now reigns supreme. So when you’re stuffed from all the turkey and it’s the fourth quarter, just look outside your window and join in reciting this apropos mantra: Every day is Thanksgiving Day in Sunny Isles Beach!