Family standing in lit holiday ornament at Night of Illumination event.

A New Year Brings New Opportunities

By George “Bud” Scholl, Mayor

(December 30, 2020) – We are entering a new year full of new opportunities. 2020 was unquestionably a most challenging year for our community and I am looking forward to the possibilities that 2021 will bring.

Finding the light in the dark is how we will move forward. We can choose to make the best out of our difficult situation. Let’s choose to dwell on the positive instead of the negative. Good things will still be happening every day. Babies will be born, birthdays will be celebrated, and hopeful students will graduate and face their next opportunity. These important life events will ensue despite our changing times. Take pride in your accomplishments and commemorate the special times in your lives whether they are in person with your household or via video with your extended family and friends.

January is typically the time when we set goals for the New Year. It may seem futile to draw up resolutions after our lists from 2020 went out the window in March. We do not know when we will return to a more ‘normal’ way of life, so how can we still set goals? Even though traveling and spending more time with friends and family are off the table right now, there are still more focused objectives we can work toward accomplishing. Learn that new skill you keep putting off, eat healthier meals, get more organized. Whatever your goals may be, we can find ways to check them off in 2021.

If you are looking for simple ways to give back to your community in 2021, make a resolution to support local. There are many businesses in Sunny Isles Beach within walking distance that offer a wide range of goods and services. Another easy, yet worthwhile resolution: pledge to be ECOMMITTED. There are many basic ways we can do more to be kind to our environment including using paper instead of plastic, recycling when in a city park, and stopping by one of our Fill A Bag stations along the beach to help keep our shore clean.

The optimist in me knows that we will come out on the other side as a stronger community. As I reflect on the past year, I am moved by the support from our community. Sunny Isles Beach has always been a special place and this difficult year has proven just how resilient we are. Our resolve is unbounded, and our strength is unyielding.

So, let’s choose to put our family, friends and neighbors’ health and safety at the top of our priorities. Let’s keep the community safe by securing our masks when out in public, practicing social distancing, and avoiding any areas with crowds. The case numbers are still rising from the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays; now is the time to keep your guard up.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year.