Was it really a surprise December 8when a closed-door meeting of KendallFederation of Homeowner Associationsreplaced its long-established leadershipteam of Miles Moss and LawrencePercival? (Both vow they’ll stay active onthe Board).

There’s little doubt that dwindling inter-est in KFHA affairs developed in recentmonths until MDX saw fit to put upgantries on the Shula and Snapper CreekX-ways, drawing hollers and hoots from alot of Kendall folks.

Biggest KFHA attendance we can recallin 2010 nearly packed the room September27 when the ‘Roll Back Tolls’ movementbegan by independent request. Standing-room crowds during pre-election sessionsof KFHA do not count because politiciansbring supporters by the score, usually out-numbering the ‘public’ audience.

Among KFHA problems: personalinfighting, very likely in closed boardmeetings, crippling to any organization.KFHA has had its fill in recent years withmore than one individual or cause beingsingled out as a behind-the-scenes culprit.

The organization has also been criticizedfor posing to represent all homeownerassociations but supporting candidatesthrough a PAC committee that bears theidentical KFHA name. Legal separationdoesn’t justify the dual role. It’s just badPR.

There’s also the continuing issue of anorganization that likes to say it represents

“thousands of homeowners” but onlyattracts 15 or 20 bonafide members tomeetings. The public meeting December13 drew less than 10 people, despite a topicof interest to all homeowners advisingforeclosure prevention and procedures.

Both Moss and Percival should havebeen thanked for their efforts that havekept KFHA afloat, direct its beneficialactivities and act as its stewards, despitepersonality clashes.

After all, its meetings for the past yearhave been the only regular public forum inKendall now that Commissioners endedEast and West Kendall CommunityCouncil non-zoning meetings.(Continental Park’s HOA fulfills a like rolein East Kendall to make up for the loss ofthose citizen sessions).

So we wish KFHA, Lee Zimmerman,Don Kearns & crew a really Happy NewYear while we thank Miles and Lawrencefor their community service that all toooften goes unrewarded if not unrecognized,petty feuds and hurt feelings aside.

Like it or not, it’s the way things oftenget done in democracies to serve a greatergood. Those who kept the speaker’s plat-form intact deserve equal credit with thosewho may follow.

Lily Perez says she “lost the election”but “not the vote” when thanking KFHA inperson for its support at the December 13meeting, passing around a delectable trayof candied cupcakes. Can’t remember thelast time that any candidate, winner orloser, has done that in a post-election ses-sion. Lily’s gesture gets an appreciativenod of thanks from this corner (and thecakes were great, too).

‘Are the walls painted?’ asks MarthaBacker in a postscript to her oft-unan-swered plea to synchronize county trafficlights among other items on her holiday

wish list. “Well, some things did get done,”she adds. “We have sidewalks fixed, park-ing at a local park and if DPW wouldreplace the 144 street sign they put up withthe 143rd, it would be nice…actually saw acounty truck yesterday!” CountyCommissioners & DPW, please note!

Did you know amidst your holiday rushthat you are also in the middle of GlutenFree Baking Week (you read it here first!)?Thru December 25, Kendall’s recently-opened Portofino Coal Fired Pizza (11535Kendall Drive) offers a gluten-free crustoption for all pizzas and desserts. Now,what more can you celebrate?

Sppeaking of good eats, the just-openedMoe’s Southwest Grill (8746 Mills Drive)at The Palms in Town & Country Center isnow serving made-to-order burritos alongwith southwestern fare, the sixth to open inMiami. And, it sez here, there’s a gluten-free menu for kids!

So what’s ‘gluten’? We’ll save you aWikipedia trip that says “Gluten is thecomposite of a prolamin and a glutelin,which exist, conjoined with starch, in theendosperm of various grass-related grains.

Gliadin and glutenin (the prolamin andglutelin from wheat) comprise about 80percent of the protein contained in wheatseed. Being insoluble in water, they can bepurified by washing away the associatedstarch,” and adding: “…a food made fromthe gluten of wheat (is) made by washingwheat flour dough with water until all thestarch dissolves, leaving insoluble glutenas an elastic mass which is then cookedbefore being eaten.” I hear Aunt Yenta onceagain yelling: “Enuff already!”

Happy Holidays to you and all withinour Community Newspapers family circle.

Tought of the Day:

We are here to add what we can to life, not to get what we can from life.

— Sir William Osler

Richard Yager contributed to thiscolumn.

Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669-7355, ext. 249, or send emails to<michael@communitynewspapers.com>.

Kendall Gazette6769 S.W. 62 Avenue, South Miami, FL 33143 • Phone (305) 669-7355, Fax (305) 662-6980

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KFHA shakes up the commandDecember 21 - 27, 2010 COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM Page 5