The year in review - and a look ahead

Deck

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.

Pinecrest Section

As for Pinecrest’s election season, it started with former Mayor Gary Matzner deciding against reelection after overseeing the completion of some big-ticket items like the library and community center that opened this year. Elected to his post was former state Rep. Cindy Lerner, who had led the charge against forcing homeowners on well water to switch to county water.

The backbone of the Miami-Dade water and sewer system in Pinecrest is scheduled to be finished in May, with possible additional lines coming in thanks to project savings. Lerner has pledged to find a way for residents to keep their well water indefinitely if they so wish.

Also making its debut in 2009: a webcast of Village Council meetings and Lerner’s mayor’s advisory councils, starting with an education committee that is scheduled to start meeting this month.