The Miami Herald archive
112 articles from 1988 to 2011, reporting on Gary Matzner as it happened: the campaign to found Pinecrest, the effort to save Parrot Jungle, his term as mayor, and his work in healthcare law. Each article appears as printed, with a full transcription beside the page.
Founding Pinecrest
The founding of Pinecrest- Village of Pinecrest? Homeowners talk it over Frustrated with the county's bureaucracy and limited services, a group of lawyers living in the Pinecrest area have begun a grassroots campaign to incorporate.
- Residents fear being in middle Incorporation may miss Kendall enclave
- Are we getting what we pay for? Pinecrest ponders Many folks living in Pinecrest want their own city, even if it means paying more for services.
- Pinecrest: 'You get what you pay for' Many are in favor of pulling away
- To incorporation fans, numbers don't add up Metro-Dade employees and Pinecrest incorporation leaders differed Monday night over whether the wealthy area would have to raise taxes if it forms its own city and enhances services.
- To incorporation fans, numbers don't add up A Metro-Dade study says if Pinecrest incorporates, residents will end up paying for it.
- The dash for incorporation As cities multiply, Dade is ever more divided
- S. Miami eyes grab for land Taking advantage of secession fever, the South Miami City Commission has set in motion a plan that would gobble up parts of the East Kendall, Pinecrest and Westchester incorporation proposals.
- Alternative: Villages with council that get services from county As fear grows about the effects of more Dade neighborhoods forming cities, a compromise to incorporation is floating around County Hall: the creation of Metro villages.
- 'City limits' for Pinecrest are redrawn Southern boundary is moved north
- Proposed boundary for Pinecrest redrawn The final boundaries of the proposed city of Pinecrest have been shortened from the south and expanded to the west.
- Metro to allow Pinecrest to vote on whether it will become a city Yet another pocket of Dade County took a significant step toward cityhood Thursday when the aspiring Village of Pinecrest was given the green light to take a vote on its future.
- Condition to incorporation OK'd The Metro Planning Advisory Board wants county commissioners to approve a countywide revenue-sharing plan before any community decides to form its own city.
- Will county approve revenue sharing? Plan would help less affluent areas
- Dade poll challenges case for secession Basic services OK, most say
- Poll: Dade residents satisfied with basic government services Dade residents are fed up with rampant growth and traffic in their neighborhoods, but satisfied with basic government services like police, fire and trash pickup.
- Vidal: Slow plans for creating cities Further studies called for
- Political policing Pinecrest hopes patrol boosts incorporation
- Hired cops make a political point Pinecrest touts incorporation
- Police group attacks Pinecrest vote A week before Pinecrest residents vote on incorporation, opponents have come out of hiding to sway the election against forming a city.
- Pinecrest advocates raise $8,515 Donations fueling incorporation effort
- Pinecrest advocates raise $8,515 Donations fueling incorporation effort
- Foes: Ad said we supported Pinecrest incorporation A paid political advertisement listed hundreds of Pinecrest residents who support incorporation in their community - and a few angry people who don't.
- Split decision in Dade vote on new cities Destiny vetoes idea, Pinecrest says yes
- Voters split on cityhood Yes: Pinecrest; No: Destiny
- Next step: naming a panel to draft Pinecrest charter Now that Pinecrest voters have approved a city of their own, they must decide the rules they want to live by.
- Pinecrest turnout as high as in presidential race The idea of forming a village of Pinecrest got many people out to the polls last week.
- Pinecrest nominees go before Metro Five Pinecrest residents have been nominated to form the commission that will write a charter for the proposed municipality.
- E. Kendall exploring city-hood Infighting, apathy among the obstacles
- Pinecrest will inherit 3 of 4 parks The soon-to-be village of Pinecrest will have at least three parks under its control, but one of the most popular parks in the area could remain with the county.
- Metro delays creation of Pinecrest Old influential Coral Gables and the new, about-to-be-influential Pinecrest appealed Tuesday to the Metro Commission.
- Pinecrest taking shape as a city 3 areas to vote on joining Gables
- Pinecrest taking shape as city; areas to vote on Gables option Pinecrest's election, boundaries and charter committee were approved last week by Metro commissioners - after some political arm-twisting.
- Cutler Bay area to stay in Pinecrest After hearing from several Cutler Bay residents last week, Metro commissioners quashed a movement for the Pinecrest neighborhood to join Coral Gables.
- Group forms in opposition to cityhood A group of Pinecrest homeowners have formed an association to rally support against incorporation before the March 12 charter vote.
- Pinecrest group rallies against incorporation More than 80 homeowners worried about the possible incorporation of Pinecrest attended a meeting of the Concerned Home Owners of Pinecrest Tuesday evening to hear alternatives to the area becoming its own city.
- Pinecrest: To be or not to be a city? Pinecrest voters will decide Tuesday if they want to form their own city, with its own government and police force - and most importantly, control of its own tax base.
- Charter approval finalizes Pinecrest incorporation Voters will elect a council on April 23
- Five file to sit on Pinecrest council In the fledgling race for the Pinecrest council, five people already have qualified to run.
- Pinecrest hopefuls have common beliefs 4 political novices seek District 1 seat
- Pinecrest's first mayor will definitely be a lawyer Pinecrest's first mayor should have no problem understanding whatever legal challenges the new village faces.
- Pinecrest elects village's first mayor Evelyn Greer, the person most responsible for the incorporation of Pinecrest, was elected the village's first mayor on Tuesday.
- Pinecrest voters return to the polls for runoffs As newly elected Mayor Evelyn Greer prepares to lead Pinecrest's first government, the leaders of the Village's incorporation movement could capture three of the council's remaining four seats.
- New village's leaders are sworn in A couple of surprises occurred during the swearing in of Pinecrest's first four District Council members Wednesday night at Pinecrest Elementary School:
- New village's leaders are sworn in A couple of surprises occurred during the swearing in of Pinecrest's first four District Council members Wednesday night at Pinecrest Elementary School:
- Village special election faces Tuesday deadline Charter changes to be decided
- 10 years later, town is a suburban dream In its first decade, the South Miami-Dade village has become known as a family-oriented municipality, with pricey homes and high-achieving schools.
- How a decade makes a difference Council members are proud of what has been accomplished in the village's first ten years and are excited about future projects.
- Celebrating in style Young girls screamed and carried on as KC and the Sunshine Band entertained thousands of people at the village's 10th-anniversary celebration
- Clean charter unprecedented act No changes to the charter will be made, a special commission has decided.
- What it took to make a village Municipal milestones
- A village in time Pinecrest's early residents recall a time when kids played in the woods and windows were blacked out to avoid the German navy's notice.
Parrot Jungle and Pinecrest Gardens
Parrot Jungle and Pinecrest Gardens- Group aims to buy old Jungle land Pinecrest residents have formed a nonprofit group to drum up support and raise funds for the ultimate acquisition of Parrot Jungle.
- Figuring out who will be king of the jungle Pinecrest group wants property to stay public
- How to preserve Parrot Jungle? We don't live in Pinecrest but close to it.
- Group to evaluate Parrot Jungle site The Village of Pinecrest has agreed to create a Parrot Jungle committee that will evaluate the use of the property in the event the village can purchase it.
- Group will consider fate of Jungle land Pinecrest has formed a committee that will focus on what to do with the Parrot Jungle property after the village buys it.
- Save The Parrot Jungle Run Document type: Building Community public service announcement, not a staff article.
- Pinecrest ponders: Should we spend? Village considers Jungle grounds, trailer park area
- Park's future sought Residents discuss ideas, noise an issue
- Parrot Jungle fans flock to park for a final look As Parrot Jungle gets ready to move out of Pinecrest to new digs on Watson Island in December, people are flocking to the historic bird attraction to catch one last glimpse of the local landmark.
- A jungle first, then the parrots Attraction gets lush plantings
- Village critical of Parrot Jungle With less than a week to go before Pinecrest closes on the Parrot Jungle property, village officials say they're not happy with park owner Bern Levine.
- Event to open Pinecrest park The village of Pinecrest will celebrate opening day at Pinecrest Gardens, formerly Parrot Jungle, from 10:30 a.m.
- Critics: Park hijacked for rich Miami-Dade County taxpayers paid $4 million to acquire and preserve the old Parrot Jungle property for a public park. Critics say they didn't get what was promised.
- Matzner ready to start his job as new mayor Pinecrest's new mayor, Gary Matzner, says he is ready to tackle the job head on - without any worries.
- Mayor wants fee for park eliminated Pinecrest's new mayor attempted to fulfill one of his campaign promises this week when he proposed eliminating Pinecrest Gardens' admission fee.
- Village may drop park entrance fee The Pinecrest Village Council Tuesday debated dropping the entrance fee at Pinecrest Gardens to encourage attendance and named a park after former Mayor Evelyn Greer.
- Admission fee is eliminated Getting into Pinecrest Gardens, the former Parrot Jungle Property, is now free - thanks to a Village Council vote Thursday.
- Mayor: Money, traffic among year's priorities Pinecrest Mayor Gary Matzner made his priorities clear in his State of the Village address: money for Pinecrest Gardens, solving traffic problems and finding a home for skateboarders.
- Council discusses plans for future Pinecrest residents and council members, at separate meetings, jotted down a few ideas about what they would like to see for the village's future.
- Gardens may house restaurant, ampitheater Pinecrest Gardens could get a new restaurant, picnic area and concert amphitheater as proponents push to upgrade the former Parrot Jungle facility and make it the town center.
- Gardens may house restaurant, ampitheater Pinecrest Gardens could get a new restaurant, picnic area and concert amphitheater as proponents push to upgrade the former Parrot Jungle facility and make it the town center.
- Council pressing on to secure land Two communities are at odds over a proposed park, but the Village Council decided to forge on with plans to acquire the land at issue.
- AM radio station gets green light Pinecrest residents soon will be able to tune in to a city-operated radio station for hurricane and traffic updates and news on community events.
- Best of times lie ahead for popular park Attendance is up at Pinecrest Gardens, despite delayed improvements and additions intended to turn the park into the village's 'downtown.'
- Pinecrest plant expert keeps storms in mind The village horticulturist has his hands full with Pinecrest Gardens, a lush city park hit hard by last year's hurricanes.
- Pinecrest plant expert keeps storms in mind The village horticulturist has his hands full with Pinecrest Gardens, a lush city park hit hard by last year's hurricanes.
- Mayor's master plan Matzner to address the village's drainage, water and sewage issues
- Funds budgeted for park, library and new center Village officials discussed a mediation meeting with a developer and hiring a lobbyist, and adopted a $44 million budget Tuesday.
- Ground broken on leisure library A new library and community center, scheduled to open next year, will offer wireless Internet access, arts and crafts classes and a gym.
- Soccer fields, playground are approved Another park will soon be built with two soccer fields.
- N.Y.-style deli to make debut The Village Council approved a restaurant at Pinecrest Gardens and new regulations for open-house signs, and gave local vendors a leg up for village contracts.
- Pinecrest mayor to deliver address Mayor Gary Matzner will give his annual State of the Village address Tuesday. He is expected to focus on improvements to sewage and Pincrest Gardens.
- Contractor wins bid for park The Village Council selected the winning bidder who will make improvements at Flagler Grove Park and approved a cut in local taxes for most homeowners.
- A Place to Gather The Pinecrest Community Center is opening its doors to provide fitness, games and classes as the city continues to improve Pinecrest Gardens, the old site of Parrot Jungle.
- Mayor won't run again, saying his goals are met Pinecrest voters will elect the third mayor in the village's history in November, after Mayor Gary Matzner announced Wednesday he will not run for a second four-year term.
- Banyan Bowl could be an arts venue Pinecrest Mayor Gary Matzner has appointed a special committee to look into the possibility of using the Banyan Bowl at Pinecrest Gardens as a performing arts venue.
- Library will be beacon for learning Librarians are now for the new Pinecrest Branch Library that is scheduled to open in early October. Coming up: New libraries for Kendale Lakes, Palmetto Bay, and Naranja.
Mayor of Pinecrest, 2004–2008
His term as mayor- Activist unopposed for mayor Pinecrest activist Gary Matzner will be the village's new mayor, and Gail Serota will fill a council seat because no one chose to run against them this week. A third seat will be up for grabs Nov. 2.
- Village's property tax rate unchanged The Village of Pinecrest approved its budget Tuesday, keeping the same tax rate and spending money on improving village parks and services.
- Harter claims council seat School volunteer Nancy Harter narrowly defeated bank executive Dwight Hill at the polls Nov.
- Council discusses plans for future Pinecrest residents and council members at separate meetings jotted down a few ideas about what they would like to see for the village's future.
- Annexation would save sun, add taxes Pinecrest is considering annexing land just north of its boundary to prevent it from becoming a high-rise haven.
- Well-wishers high and dry Thousands who rely on wells have no power for the pumps
- Low-noise generator is approved The Village Council allowed a local car dealership to install a generator to run its business when there are power outages, despite some residents who opposed the plans.
- Water project deal on table Pinecrest is now considering a compromise - helping pay costs - so the city can proceed with the controversial county water project.
- Mayor strives for consensus amid quarrels Pinecrest Mayor Gary C. Matzner helped found the village and now is tussling with some tough - and controversial - issues affecting his community.
- In Need of Help Village of Pinecrest residents rally around their police to give them more benefits
- Police vote to approve new contract Pinecrest police and the village council came to an agreement over a benefits dispute.
- Matzner decides it's time to move on The village's second mayor will not seek another term, saying he has achieved his goals and is ready to move on.
- The year in review - and a look ahead We recap the year that was in Pinecrest, Palmetto Bay, Cutler Bay and the surrounding communities and look to some of what will come up in 2009.
Healthcare Law
His legal career- Hayt Hayt Matzner & Ziskind adds two partners Hayt Hayt Matzner & Ziskind, a 14-lawyer health care firm, has added two partners: Gene Samuels, former general counsel for Humana Inc.
- Help wanted and found Wanted: A litigation department to flesh out a full-service law firm.
- 391 in Florida make the 'best lawyers' list Lawyer, lawyer, on the wall, who's the top-ranked of them all?
- To their health Health care lawyers are no longer playing adviser as their clients make deals.
- Here's proof that mentorship works Someone once said that mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.
Family and Community
His life and work- New partners, new name Relevant first bullet under a shared subsection heading in Rosalind Resnick's PROLOG column, **Proposal to study Florida Bar withers away in the Legislature**.
- Eric Matzner: Temple Judea announcement Descriptive archive label, not a printed article headline.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters: Board of Governors listing Descriptive archive label for a relevant roster excerpt.
- Despite some setbacks, village doing just fine The mayor and police chief gave their annual reports to the Village Council on Tuesday. The council also discussed the construction of its future library and community center.
- Florence Matzner MATZNER, FLORENCE, 89, peacefully passed away at her family's home in Pinecrest on Wednesday March 4, 2009.
Articles are transcribed from the original scans. Most transcriptions are a first pass; each article page notes its review status and links to the original page on Newspapers.com.