Town Hall

• Friday, 12/24: Closed
• Friday, 12/31: Closed 

Parks and Recreation

• Friday, 12/24
  • Community Center & Pool: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Beach Lifeguard Tower: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Saturday, 12/25: All areas closed.
• Friday, 12/31
  • Community Center & Pool: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Beach Lifeguard Tower: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Saturday, 1/1
  • Community Center & Pool: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.
  • Beach Lifeguard Tower: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Town Shuttle Service
Please note, there will be no Town shuttle service on Saturday, December 25 and Saturday, January 1, 2022.

There will be no recycling or garbage pick up on Christmas Day (Saturday, December25). 

Thank you to everyone who donated to our annual Holiday Toy Drive!

The toys were delivered to 25 families (53 children)  in need on December 21 and December 22 by Interim Chief John Healy,  Sergeant Jay Matelis, Executive Assistant Dina Goldstein and Parking Enforcement Officer Alain Acosta. The smiles on the faces of the children were priceless. Over 45 bags of toys were prepared, with each child receiving a bag of toys especially for them according to their interests.  

Special thanks to Surfside's own Sunny Toys & Gifts who assisted with the collection.



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Please help the Surfside Police Department spread holiday cheer to local Surfside families in need by donating new, unwrapped toys for children ages 1 - 13.

There are three ways to donate:

• Drop off a new, unwrapped toy to to the collection box in Town Hall near the Police Communications desk (9293 Harding Ave.).
• Make an online donation via Sunny Toys & Gifts.
• Purchase a toy using the Town's Holiday Toy Drive Amazon Wishlist.

Toys will be collected through Friday, December 17.

For more information, please contact Dina Goldstein at 305-861-4862 or dgoldstein@townofsurfsidefl.gov. 

The Town Hall COVID testing site administered by Curative will be closed on Saturday, December 25. Testing will resume on Monday, December 27. 

There will be no testing at Town Hall Friday, December 31 - January 2, 2022.

Many sites are closed on Christmas Day. Visit the Miami-Dade County COVID Testing information page for more.

Check out all of the dogs on the Surfside "Nice List"! Find your pooch's holiday photos.

View the Photo Gallery

This holiday season, make the most of the festivities by following these tips from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to keep you safe from cyber criminals. 

REMEMBER: 

• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers will advertise hot-ticket items, unrealistic discounts, counterfeit items and phish for personal information through seemingly legitimate surveys.
• Around the holidays, scammers will also lure victims through the purchase of pets. If an ad has excessive shipping fees, taxes and vaccination costs, think twice. These are often red flags. Set up an online video chat before you buy a pet...Or better yet, adopt!

PROTECT YOURSELF:

• Verify the website you're using to make a purchase. Look for official web addresses with "https:'//" and a padlock icon.
• Beware of companies using free email addresses. Check the spelling of company names and look for vendors who use company email addresses. 
• Use one credit card for online purchases to easily keep track of charges.
• Never make a purchase using public Wi-Fi.
• Keep your computer anti-virus software up to date.

IF YOU ARE A VICTIM:

• Contact the FBI IC3 at IC3.gov.
• Report the activity to the online payment service and your financial institution. 

Learn more by visiting the FBI website.

STAY SAFE AT HOME:

• Make sure to keep doors and windows locked at all times.
• Don't hide spare keys in mailboxes, in planters or under doormats.
• Ensure that dark areas and entrances have outdoor lights that are turned on after dark or are activated by sensors.
• Keep trees and shrubbery trimmed so they do not conceal doors and windows. Remember, overgrown foliage can provide a hiding place for criminals.
• Place gifts where they can't be seen from the outside. 
• Consider safe deposit boxes for coins and stamp collections, seldom-worn jewelry, etc. 
• Be sure to mail cards, checks or gift certificates from the Post Office or at a blue U.S. Postal Service collection box.
• Lock your vehicle and remove all valuables. Yes, even in your driveway.

STRANGERS AT YOUR DOOR

• Use caution anytime there is a stranger at your door. 
• Be suspicious of unexpected sales calls or deliveries. Ask for identification.
• Be aware of scams that criminals commit to take advantage of people's generosity during the holidays. 
• Investigate charities before making donations. Ask how the funds will be used.

LEAVING FOR THE HOLIDAYS

• Notify the Surfside Police Department by calling the non-emergency number at 305-861-4862 so police officers can keep an eye out while you’re away.
• Ask a trusted friend or neighbor to watch your home.
• Use timers for lights and radios while you're away.
• Remember to make arrangements for mail and newspapers. 

AFTER THE HOLIDAYS

• Don't advertise expensive toys, electronics, or other gifts received by the boxes left for garbage collections. Compress large boxes and place them in recycling bins for pick-up. 
• Add new items to your home inventory. Take photos or video of all items of value in your home and list each item's make, model, serial number and other information. 
• Engrave new items to help identify them in the event they are stolen. 

Six (6) Ways to Grinch-Proof Your Holiday Light Displays

1. Shut down at night
2. Set up surveillance
3. Crime-proof your yard
4. Consider bringing in valuable items at night
5. Stay connected
6. Report, report, report

Avoid Porch Theft: Tips to Protect Your Packages

1. Network with neighbors
2. Have packages delivered to work
3. Leave specific drop-off instructions
4. Install security cameras

Tips to Avoid Package Theft

1. Get a P.O. Box as your local post office
2. Set up notifications to track your packages
3. Install a security camera
4. Get your packages delivered to your office
5. Require a signature on delivery
6. Reschedule delivery or ask for a package hold when on vacation
7. Insure your packages
8. Ask your neighbors to grab your packages 

What to Do If You've Become a Victim of a Porch Theft

1. Check with your delivery company to make sure your package was actually delivered.
2. Know exactly what’s in the missing box.
3. If you see the thief, pay attention to what his or her vehicle looks like and its license plate number. Second to that, get the thief’s physical description – gender, approximate height and weight and what they’re wearing – so you can tell an officer.
4. Call 9-1-1 and ask for an officer to come to your home.
5. If you have a security camera on your home, provide a copy of the video to police. Ask your neighbors if their cameras captured the thief in action.

Where to Report Stolen Packages

1. USPS: File a Claim
2. UPS: Start a Claim
3. FedEx: Start a Claim
4. Amazon: Find a Missing Package That Shows As Delivered

Hurricane Season is quickly approaching and now is the time to prepare. For starters, make sure to assess all the trees and vegetation within your property. Beginning May 1st , Pubic Works will be placing a special emphasis on vegetation bulk collection as part of a the storm hazard mitigation plan. If needed, hire a licensed arborist to assess your trees and do all the necessary pruning. All trees must be trimmed to be “structurally sound” to withstand intense storms. You should also ensure that all power lines are free from vegetation, such as tree branches. The Town Code states that “Each property owner is responsible for hiring a qualified, licensed and insured contractor as necessary to maintain all trees on their property or within the right-of-way adjacent to their property, free and clear of power lines to prevent or alleviate the danger of the tree damaging power lines.”

Also, try to keep any outdoor items to a minimum so it is easier to bring them all inside should a storm approach. Solid Waste will be conducting additional bulk pickups for vegetation only. There will be no change to the established bulk collection program. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact Public Works.  If a storm is imminent, all household and garden materials to be discarded must be placed on the curb for pick up otherwise the Town might not be able to remove it.

We hope for a safe hurricane season and ask that you do your part in keeping yourself and your neighbors safe!