The Miami Laker print edition on April 17, 2015. The Original Northwest Miami-Dade Community Newspaper for the Town of Miami Lakes & Surrounding Areas.
24
A Look Inside: ■ Miami Lakes overcomes state budget cuts to keep adult classes open..............................2 ■ New owners open “The Bend,” a modern upscale ver- sion of former area lounge........5 ■ News and Notes of interest from the Town of Miami Lakes. See pages.......................6 and 7 ■ Main Street Players present Reefer Madness, The Musical starting on July 24................. 10 ■ Miami-Dade may increase rates for area special taxing dis- tricts.......................................10 ■ Pace High School students attend Notre Dame Vision Leadership Conference...........17 ■ Bob Graham Education Center 8th graders tour five Florida universities.............. 19 ■ Community Calendar, 11, School, sports and church news, 14-21, Classified ads.........21-23 Vol. 41 No 14 305-817-4078 MIAMI LAKES, FLORIDA JULY 17, 2015 The original northwest Miami-Dade community newspaper for the Town of Miami Lakes & surrounding areas James Parker retires from 11-year career at Miami Lakes Ed.Ctr... See Page 17 MIAMI LAKES FENCING CLUB enjoys a successful 2014-2015 season including honors won dur- ing the recent Sunshine State Games. (See story on Page 16.) M. Lakes Fencing Club ends season MIAMI-DADE COUNTY Mayor and County Commissioners recently honored Daylin Garcia, a PTSA board member for Bob Graham Education Center in Miami Lakes. During the June 30 County Commission meeting, District 13 County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr., presented Garcia with a certificate of appreci- ation for her valuable contributions to the education community. BGEC’s Daylin Garcia cited for educational contributions Miami Lakes Summerfest Concert set for August 1 Miami Lakes Cultural Affairs Committee invites the community to attend Summerfest 2015 for an evening of classical music starting at 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, at Miami Lakes United Methodist Church, 14800 N.W. 67 Avenue. The event is free and parking is available on the church property. Each year, Symphony of the Americas internationally renown- ed Summerfest hosts an interna- tional acclaimed foreign chamber orchestra joined by selected Symphony musicians for concerts throughout Florida and the Americas under the baton of Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese. This summer, the Symphony is hosting Arpeggione Chamber Orchestra of Austria in a return engagement after their 2007 resi- dency. Arpeggione Chamber Orches- tra of Hohenems is known for its virtuosity and first rate soloists whose passion to perform music inspires all those who witness it. Arpeggione plays both classical and contemporary works. Musicians of the ensemble are from countries throughout Europe, bringing a diversity of tra- ditions and an exciting freshness and complexity to its performances. Under the artistic direction of Professor Irakli Gogibedaschwili, during its 20-year history, the orchestra has performed more than 700 concerts in many parts of the world, including Europe, the USA, Central and South America, Brazil, Russia and Israel. For more information, contact Special Events and Committees coordinator Clarisell De Cardenas at decardenasc@miamilakes-fl. gov . ARPEGGIONE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA of Austria will be featured in the 2015 Summerfest Concert on August 1 at Miami Lakes United Methodist Church. Like and Follow Us Online TheMiamiLaker @TheMiamiLaker @themiamilaker www.miamilaker.com July 17, 2015 7/15/15 1:55 PM Page 1
Transcript
A LookInside:
n Miami Lakes overcomesstate budget cuts to keep adultclasses open..............................2
n New owners open “TheBend,” a modern upscale ver-sion of former area lounge........5
n News and Notes of interestfrom the Town of Miami Lakes.See pages.......................6 and 7
n Main Street Players presentReefer Madness, The Musicalstarting on July 24.................10
n Miami-Dade may increaserates for area special taxing dis-tricts.......................................10
n Pace High School studentsattend Notre Dame VisionLeadership Conference...........17
n Bob Graham EducationCenter 8th graders tour fiveFlorida universities..............19
n Community Calendar, 11,School, sports and church news,14-21, Classified ads.........21-23
Vol. 41 No 14 305-817-4078 MIAMI LAKES, FLORIDA JULY 17, 2015
The original northwest Miami-Dade community newspaper for the Town of Miami Lakes & surrounding areas James Parker retires from11-year career at MiamiLakes Ed.Ctr...See Page 17
MIAMI LAKES FENCING CLUB enjoys a successful 2014-2015 season including honors won dur-ing the recent Sunshine State Games. (See story on Page 16.)
M. Lakes Fencing Club ends season
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY Mayor and County Commissionersrecently honored Daylin Garcia, a PTSA board member for BobGraham Education Center in Miami Lakes. During the June 30County Commission meeting, District 13 County CommissionerEsteban Bovo Jr., presented Garcia with a certificate of appreci-ation for her valuable contributions to the education community.
Miami Lakes Summerfest Concert set for August 1Miami Lakes Cultural Affairs
Committee invites the communityto attend Summerfest 2015 for anevening of classical music startingat 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 1, atMiami Lakes United MethodistChurch, 14800 N.W. 67 Avenue.The event is free and parking isavailable on the church property.
Each year, Symphony of theAmericas internationally renown-ed Summerfest hosts an interna-tional acclaimed foreign chamberorchestra joined by selectedSymphony musicians for concertsthroughout Florida and theAmericas under the baton ofMaestro James Brooks-Bruzzese.
This summer, the Symphony ishosting Arpeggione ChamberOrchestra of Austria in a returnengagement after their 2007 resi-dency.
Arpeggione Chamber Orches-
tra of Hohenems is known for itsvirtuosity and first rate soloistswhose passion to perform musicinspires all those who witness it.Arpeggione plays both classicaland contemporary works.
Musicians of the ensemble arefrom countries throughoutEurope, bringing a diversity of tra-ditions and an exciting freshnessand complexity to its performances.
Under the artistic direction ofProfessor Irakli Gogibedaschwili,during its 20-year history, theorchestra has performed morethan 700 concerts in many parts ofthe world, including Europe, theUSA, Central and South America,Brazil, Russia and Israel.
For more information, contactSpecial Events and Committeescoordinator Clarisell De Cardenasat [email protected].
ARPEGGIONE CHAMBER ORCHESTRA of Austria will be featured in the 2015 SummerfestConcert on August 1 at Miami Lakes United Methodist Church.
Despite budget cuts, Town continues adult classesBy David L. SnellingThe Miami Laker staffThe adult satellite classes host-
ed by Miami-Dade Public Schoolshave been a part of Miami Lakessince 2003.
But the program, whichincludes Tai Chi, Yoga, paintingand arts and crafts, was placed onthe state’s chopping block and leftschool and town officials scram-bling for funding to resume theclasses that have become popularamong area senior citizens andpeople with disabilities.
After the state’s Adults withDisabilities and Senior Citizenswith Disabilities Grant fundingwas acutely cut from the budget,Miami Lakes is seeking privatefunding to keep the Hialeah AdultEducation Center communityclasses operating through July,while town and school officialsseek a permanent solution tounderwrite the program when itreturns from the break in
September.At a July 6 special meeting at
Town Hall, Council membersapproved Mayor Michael Pizzi’srecommendation to seek privatedollars to help run the program forthe month of July, or he wouldwrite a personal check to cover theexpenses if Miami Lakes can’tfind any suitable donors.
It would cost $2,500 to fund theclasses for July according to TownManager Alex Rey.
Rey confirmed the classes wererestarted on Monday, July 13.
The mayor said School BoardChair Perla Tabares Hantman andSchools Superintended Alberto M.Carvalho are exploring a long-term solution for funding, whileMiami Lakes looks for the moneyin the town’s budget for next year.
Among the 188 participants inthe classes at the Mary CollinsCommunity Center, 15151Montrose Road, about 60 percentof them are Miami Lakes resi-
dents, Rey said.He said the outside residents
are from Hialeah and nearby unin-corporated communities.
Lawmakers said it’s unfair thattown tax dollars pay for non-resi-dents to take the classes andrequested they should pay for thecourses themselves.
Rey said as part of the agree-ment with the School Board, themoney used to fund the classespay for all residents living inMiami-Dade, but Miami Lakescan charge people living inBroward County.
“We can talk to Hialeah and thecounty and ask them to subsidizetheir residents,” Rey said.
Rey said the $2,500 covers theinstructors’ fees for a certain num-ber of hours per week and miscel-laneous costs on a monthly basis.
The Adults with Disabilitiesprogram with the Department ofEducation Division of VocationalRehabilitation was appropriated$750,000 for next year by theFlorida Legislature, down fromthe annual amount of $10 millionthat was included in GovernorRick Scott’s recommended budget.
The severe cut in funding leftthe adult community classesthroughout the state of Florida injeopardy. With far less money,Hialeah Adult Education Centerprincipal Manny Gonzalez toldMiami Lakes the classes were can-celed beginning July 6.
Councilmember Tony Lamasaid the program seems to be tar-geted each year for no apparentreason.
“Each year, someone is tryingto chip away at the classes little bylittle by cutting the funding for aprogram which is important toeveryone,” he said. “It’s not onlyfor seniors but adults with disabil-ities.”
Vice Mayor Manny Cid said,“We want to make sure our seniorsare taking care of, especially ourdisabled population.”
RESIDENTS are pictured taking Tai Chi classes at the MaryCollins Community Center.
Educational World LearningCenter opens in Miami Lakes
By R.A. RomeroThe Miami Laker staffEducational World Learning
Center, the newest children’slearning center in the MiamiLakes area located at 16470 N.W.59 Ave., is hosting a grand open-ing celebration and Open Houseon Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m.to 6 p.m. Registration is free untilAugust 10.
The celebration will includetours of the center, a fire truckvisit, bounce house and music.Thefamily friendly event kicks off theEducational World LearningCenter’s first year serving localchildren. However, owner andfounder Beatriz Zahlene bringsover 12 years of experience inteaching.
Zahlene was formerly a teacherand reading coach and has taughtin public, charter, and privateschool settings. As a ReadingSpecialist, Zahlene set out to cre-ate a center with a love for readingand state of the art technology.Assistant director Sara Herrerabrings an additional 23 years of
experience in Early ChildhoodEducation and elementary schooleducation.
All teachers are FDLE back-ground Level 2 screened. All staffare certified in First Aid and CPRand staff members have eitherChild Development Associate cre-dential (CDA), and/or an associ-ate’s, bachelor’s, or master’sdegree in Early ChildhoodEducation.
Educational World LearningCenter cares for children begin-ning at age 1 up to Kindergartenand offers a free VoluntaryPrekindergarten EducationProgram (VPK), state of the artclassrooms including smartboards, bilingual education andsmall class sizes. The center fol-lows the Kaplan Early LearningCompany base program curricu-lum. Breakfast, lunch and snacksare provided for students as wellas after school programs such askarate, ballet, and hip-hop for anadditional cost.
The learning center’s mission isto capture the attention of childrenby motivating them in a way thatthey discover their abilities bydoing hands-on explorationthrough technology, music, art,physical education, play-time andacademic learning.
In addition to academics, thelearning center will provide sum-mer camps, after-school programsincluding homework help and par-ent’s “date night” child care dur-ing weeknights.
For more information onEducational World LearningCenter, contact the center at 305-822-8434 or visit www.education-alworld.net.
County Property Appraiserinvites residents to attend aone-on-one meeting July 30
Miami-Dade County PropertyAppraiser Pedro J. Garcia is invit-ing Miami Lakes residents to meetone-on-one with his staff toreview their exemption status andhave their questions or concernsaddressed.
The event is scheduled from 6to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, atTown Hall, 6601 Main Street.Attendees may qualify for addi-tional benefits that could helpreduce their taxes.
As the guest speaker at theMarch Miami Lakes Chamber ofCommerce membership luncheon,Garcia said during his first stint asproperty appraiser from 2008 to2012, he often had to give themayor and county commissionersbad news about Miami-Dade’sestimates of taxable values.
This year, he said it’s brighter.“This year, I should have somegood news,” he said.
The countywide taxable valuefor 2015 is $230,429,191,490, a9.4 percent increase from 2014.
“For the first time since 2007,every municipality in Miami-Dade County has seen a valueincrease,” Garcia said in announc-ing the July 1 preliminary certifi-cation of taxable values for 2015.
The taxable values allows the
taxing authorities, such as countygovernment, municipal govern-ments, the Miami-Dade SchoolBoad and Children’s Trust, tocommence the preparation fortheir budget for next year andadopt property tax rates.
Among the cities that experi-enced the most significant valueincrease in 2015 were Sunny IslesBeach (16.7 percent), El Portal(15.4 percent), Key Biscayne(15.3 percent), Miami Beach (13.3percent), Miami (13.1 percent),Surfside (12.4 percent) and IndianCreek (12.0 percent).
Property values increasesstemmed from new commercialand condos construction.
Among Miami-Dade’s 36cities, Miami Lakes is at No. 32with a 4.5 percent increase($2,691,096,427) in property val-ues from 2014.
The Notice of ProposedProperty Taxes (TRIM Notice)will be mailed out by August 24,which will provide property own-ers with detailed property tax andexemption benefits information.
For more information on theDade County Property Appraiser’sOutreach Events, contact RobertRodriguez at (305) 375-4789.
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:13 PM Page 3
PAGE 4 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
Here we grow again!New Children’s Dentistry Office
Council OKs committee request for FDLE probeBy David L. SnellingThe Miami Laker staffThe Miami Lakes Town
Council has asked the state’s toplaw enforcement agency to con-duct an independent investigationon a hit-in-run accident involvingthe mayor, who briefly left thescene after he crashed his car intoan oak tree.
At a July 1 special meeting,
council members, on a 5-0 vote,acted on the recommendation fromthe Miami Lakes Public SafetyCommittee to ask the FloridaDepartment of Law Enforcementto conduct an inquiry on the June15 accident that occurred at N.W.140 Street and 82 Avenue.
Councilmember Tony Lamawas absent.
Roberto Alonso Jr., the commit-tee’s chairperson, said more than25 residents attended the group’smeeting in late June and requestedthe probe to seek answers and acomplete transparency of Floridalaw for hit-and-run accidents.
“The committee wants thisreview in order to understand thelaw in an effort to provide guid-ance and education to our resi-dents,” Alonso said at the specialcouncil meeting flanked by mem-bers of the Public SafetyCommittee.
“This is critical to our commit-tee as the role of the Public SafetyCommittee is to educate our com-munity on safety issues and thereis much confusion due to the cur-
rent circumstances.”Alonso said state law requires
individuals involved in an accidentto notify the police and failure todo so results in a second degreemisdemeanor. The violation cancarry up to 60 days in jail and a$500 fine.
“As a committee, we must noweducate the residents on what to doin the event of an accident,”Alonso said. “Should they stay onthe scene or leave, and if theyleave will there be consequences.”
The independent review requeststemmed from the contentiousaccident when Mayor MichaelPizzi claimed he swerved to avoidhitting an animal and crashed his2014 Kia into a tree without call-ing the police, according to aMiami-Dade police report.
A security guard on duty nearthe vicinity heard the crash andsaw someone running from thescene and called the police, but thedriver was missing and blood wasdiscovered on the airbag, whichpromoted traffic homicide officersto respond to the area.
Pizzi returned to the accidentscene with a baseball cap on hishead, the police said.
According to Miami-DadePolice Lt. John Jenkins, Pizzi wasthe only person in the vehicle andhe refused medical treatment.
The police department, howev-er, took some heat because officersdidn’t give Pizzi a citation forleaving the scene of an accident orgiven a breathalyzer test to deter-mine if he was under the influenceof drugs and alcohol.
Jenkins said the officers fol-
lowed the proper protocol and themayor was cooperative during thetraffic accident investigation,which is ongoing.
Some Miami Lakes residentstook exception to the way thepolice handled the accident case,indicating the mayor used hispolitical power to shun the citationand a breathalyzer test.
Despite being advised by thetown attorney to recuse himselffrom the meeting, Pizzi chose tochair a portion of the meetinginvolving public comments fol-lowing which he turned the gavelover to Vice Mayor Manny Cid.
“I have nothing to hide,” hesaid. “But if my colleagues want tovote for an investigation, go rightahead.”
Some residents said the requestfor an FDLE investigation waspolitically motivated; others ques-tioned why Pizzi ran from thescene and to a friend’s house fortreatment with a fire station andhospital nearby.
Increasing their concerns wasthe WFOR Channel 4 news reportby Gary Nelson, who questionedPizzi during the town’s hurricanepreparedness event at Costco.
Pizzi told Nelson he had no rec-ollection of dining at Cancun Grillbefore the accident albeit therestaurant’s manager saying hewas there.
Pizzi claimed he was at TownHall meeting with constituents.
Councilmember Ceasar Mestre,who called the special meeting,said the investigation request wasnot a political attack on the mayor.
“There were too many inconsis-
tencies in this story,” said Mestre,a former police officer. “Why didyou leave the scene? Why did yourun? Enough people in this towndeserve an answer.”
Councilmember NelsonRodriguez, a Coral Gables fire-fighter, said when motorists areinvolved in a traffic accident theymust remain at the scene.
“Was the mayor injured or hurtbad and a fire station was near,”Rodriguez said. “That was a con-cern for me.”
Councilmember Tim Daubertsaid Miami-Dade Police DirectorJ.D. Patterson told him he didn’tmind an FDLE investigation aftermeeting with him about his depart-ment’s investigation into Pizzi’saccident.
“I believe, myself, nor the resi-dents wouldn’t trust his depart-ment,” said Daubert, who was amilitary policeman and a certifiedtraffic accident investigator byNorthwestern University. “He[Patterson] said it’s fine with himof having another law enforcementagency to investigate what hap-pened at that accident.”
Some residents say the requestfor a probe was a lack of faith inthe town’s police department. “It’san absolute disgrace to questionthe integrity of our police officersfor political reasons,” Pizzi saidbefore he left the meeting.
But Councilmember FrankMingo suggested otherwise.
“We want to make sure we havethe answers,” he said. “We’re notquestioning the police becausethey did everything they coulddo.”
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THE MIAMI LAKER JULY 17, 2015 PAGE 5
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Parents can take advantage ofthe new 10-day back-to-schoolsales tax holiday when they pur-chase school supplies and clothesstarting in August.
From August 7 through August16, items in stores will be tax-freeincluding clothing, footwear, wal-lets and bags that cost $100 orless, school supplies that cost $15or less, and the first $750 of thecost of personal computers and
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Back-to-School Sales TaxHoliday from August 7 to 16
‘The Bend’ becomes modern dayupscale version of former area lounge
By R.A. RomeroThe Miami Laker staffIt seems fitting that the restora-
tion of a former classic hotspot,Our Place Lounge and Liquors at6844 N.W. 169 Street just north ofMiami Lakes, would fall into thelaps of former patrons and currentarchitects to be transformed intoThe Bend Lounge.
The renovation of this laid backclassic was the brainchild ofMauricio Lacayo and OrlandoLamas, affectionately known bytheir staff and regulars as Mo andLandy, who frequented the origi-nal “Our Place Lounge” in theiryouth.
Lacayo and Lamas, both archi-tects and partners for their archi-tecture and design firm, FortisLamas Architects, and construc-tion company, Three CountyConstruction, reinvigorated theformerly derelict bar with their tal-ents in design and love for mod-ernized bars with roots in tradi-tion.
The Bend Lounge opened inFebruary and was named after thebig bend on the Palmetto that sitsright behind the lounge. Since itsopening, the lounge has alreadybeen named as Best Bar, West, bythe Miami New Times as part of areader-voted award.
The Bend’s appeal for thoseyoung and young at heart seems tobe a running motif throughout thelounge’s design and menu. Therenovations, aimed to breathe newlife into a neighborhood classic,give no impression of kitschythrowbacks and instead artfullycultivates nostalgia throughimpeccable design.
The wood paneling and vinylarmrests on the bar combined withlocal craft beer and youthfulcrowd together create a harmonyof old and new. Even the musicplaying overhead runs the gamutbetween the 70’s American rock
band, Kansas, to the 2000’sEnglish rock band, ArcticMonkeys.
This is not the first experienceLacayo and Lamas have with run-ning a lounge, both having ownedor co-owned lounges such as TheLocal in Coral Gables and TheSide Bar in Ft. Lauderdale.Gathering from their experiences,The Bend opened with an interest-ing take on craft beer. Currently,The Bend has 10 craft beers, eightof which are from local breweriessuch as MIA Brewery, BiscayneBrewery, Wynwood Brewery andGravity Brewery.
Lacayo and Lamas hoped toexpose people to new and interest-ing menu items at an affordableprice. Many of the beverages onthe menu are between $4 to $8.Lower prices doesn’t equate lowerquality as all the drinks are createdin the same template they werehistorically made to be enjoyedwith real ingredients, such as theGosling’s Dark ’n’ Stormy.
“I’m happy people are tryingdifferent styles,” said Lacayo. “Wewanted to introduce cocktails in an
approachable way and bring someof the interesting change that’sgoing on down south with darkerbeer styles and coffee or ‘cafecito’infused beverages which we offerhere.”
The Bend Lounge hosts ladies’nights on Wednesdays from 6 to 9p.m. with French champagne.Karaoke nights are Thursdaysfrom 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Addition-ally, a rear outdoor area with warmlighting, and an indoor arcadegame all complement the menuwith equally relaxing taste.
The Bend Lounge is open onweekdays from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m.,Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 a.m.and Happy Hour from open to 8p.m. every day of the week.
For more information visitwww.thebendmiami.com.
OWNERS OF THE BEND LOUNGE, (from left) MauricioLacayo and Orlando Lamas, restored the formerly derelict OurPlace Lounge into its current glory.
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:14 PM Page 5
PAGE 6 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
News and Notes from the Town of Miami Lakes
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Safety Tip of the MonthPresented by the Town of Miami Lakes
Public Safety Committee
Miami Lakes announced theaddition of Archery to the calendarof fall recreation programs.
Archery will be available forchildren, 7 yo 15 years of age, on
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to5 p.m., followed by archery foradults, 16 years and older, from 5to 6 p.m. at Optimist Park.
Registration will be available
online beginning August 19 at 6p.m. There is a one-time $20 reg-istration fee for this 16-week pro-gram and will be offered on a firstcome, first served basis.
Town offers Archery program for kids and adults Boating safety courses set forJuly and August in M. Lakes
Boaters of all levels can takewatercraft safety education cours-es from one of the most experi-enced experts in Miami Lakes.
The Town of Miami Lakes andthe U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliaryare hosting the Boating SafetyEducation courses for the remain-der of July and August, onSaturdays at the Mary CollinsCommunity Center, 15151 N.W.82nd Avenue.
From 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. onAugust 22, boaters will learnabout “Suddenly in Command,” a4-hour boating safety primer,which demonstrates the basics incase of an emergency, such aswhen a captain becomes incapaci-tated or falls overboard, or some-one purchased a new boat andsteps aboard for the first time.
From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July
25 and August 29, boaters canlearn about “Boating Safety,”including knowledge needed toobtain a Florida’s boaters identifi-cation card, knowing boating law,safety equipment, safe boatingtips, navigation and boating prob-lems.
The “Suddenly in Command”course is $10 per person and the“Boating Safety” class is $30 perperson.
The classes are taught by expe-rienced and knowledgeableinstructors committed to the high-est standards of the U.S. CoastGuard.
For more information or to reg-ister for these classes, pleaseEdward Zaret by email [email protected] or at 305-586-3564.
Neighborhood ImprovementCommittee schedules PublicForum for Wed., August 5
Miami Lakes NeighborhoodImprovement Committee (NIC)will hold a Community Forum at 7p.m. on Wednesday, August 5,inside the Council chambers atTown Hall, 6601 Main Street.
The meeting will include apresentation of the Town’s newmobile app “Lakes Life,” and willalso serve as the kickoff for LakeQuality Awareness Month.Information will be provided onthe best management practices tomaintain the cleanliness of lakes,and community service opportuni-
ties for high school students.This is the third year the Town
is celebrating August as LakeQuality Awareness Month. Thedesignation was established by theNIC in order to raise awarenessabout the quality of lakes inMiami Lakes, and to recognize theimportant role the lakes play in theTown’s public image and recre-ational life.
For more information, contactClarisell De Cardenas at [email protected], or 305-364-6100.
Miami Lakes Rocks! auditionsplanned for August 7 and 8
Miami Lakes Youth ActivitiesTask Force announced the 6thAnnual Miami Lakes Rocks!Music Festival will take place onSaturday, September 19, atOptimist Park, 6411 N.W.. 162Street.
The popular event was createdto provide an avenue of artisticexpression for town youth and topromote cultural and communityspirit.
Auditions are open for collegeage and younger artists from 7 to 9
p.m. on Friday, August 7, andfrom noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday,August 8, at the Mary CollinsCommunity Center, 15150 N.W.82 Avenue.
Bands of all genres are encour-aged to participate. To sign up foran audition timeslot, or to getmore information about the audi-tions, the music festival, or spon-sorship opportunities, contactLeisure Services manager KatyaLysak at [email protected], or call 305-698-9308.
Miami Lakes EducationAdvisory Board announced itisoffering free SAT Prep classes forstudents entering their junior andsenior year of high school.
The free program is open toMiami Lakes residents, is limitedto 20 students, and provided on afirst come, first served basis.
The final session will be held
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on August10-14, at Miami Lakes Town Hall,6601 Main Street.
All interested students mustregister. Send an email to JackieCalzadilla at [email protected] with the student’sname, phone number, address,school, grade, along with a copyof photo ID.
SAT prep classes set for August 10-14
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:15 PM Page 6
THE MIAMI LAKER JULY 17, 2015 PAGE 7
News and Notes from the Town of Miami Lakes
Veterans Committee MeetingThursday, July 16, 5:30 PMMiami Lakes Government Center, 6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, Fla.
Town Council Regular MeetingTuesday, July 21, 6:30 PMMiami Lakes Government Center, 6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, Fla.
Economic Development Committee MeetingThursday, July 23, 5:30 PMMiami Lakes Government Center, 6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, Fla.
Planning & Zoning Board MeetingTuesday, July 28, 6:00 PMMiami Lakes Government Center, 6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, Fla.
Public Safety Committee MeetingTuesday, July 28, 6:30 PMMiami Lakes Government Center, 6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, Fla.
Youth Activities Task ForceWednesday, August 5, 7:00 PMMiami Lakes Government Center, 6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, Fla.
Neighborhood Improvement CommitteeWednesday, August 5, 7:00 PMMiami Lakes Government Center, 6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, Fla.
Cultural Affairs Committee MeetingThursday, August 6, 7:00 PMMiami Lakes Government Center, 6601 Main Street, Miami Lakes, Fla.
In accordance with the provisions of F. S. Section 286.0105, should any person seek to appealany decision made by the Council with respect to any matter considered at these meetings, suchperson will need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made; which recordincludes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing specialaccommodation to participate in the proceedings should call Town Hall at (305) 364-6100, nolater than (2) days prior to the proceeding for assistance.
Please be advised that two or more Councilmembers may be in attendance at the aboveevents/meetings.
This Notice dated July 10, 2015at Miami Lakes, Fl.Majorie Tejeda-Castillo, Town Clerk
TOWN OF MIAMI LAKESNOTICE IS HEREWITH GIVEN that meetings of the Town Council of the Town of Miami Lakes, Florida, and its committees, have been scheduled for the following dates, times and locations:
Now is time for residents tocreate their online registrationaccount to make it easier to signup for Miami Lakes’ recreationprograms.
The Town offers the easieronline only registration process inplace of the onsite registration.Visit www.miamilakes-fl.gov/parkres to create a login to viewand register for the over 40 pro-grams offered by the Town for allages and skill levels.
Online registration for Fallclasses will begin in August,
including youth ballet, jazz, mar-tial arts classes, archery, adultpainting and Spanish classes.
Registration begins as follows:• Youth Programs – August 17
at 6 p.m.• Adult and Senior Program –
August 18 at 6 p.m.• Specialty Programs (Just Run,
Archery, and Smart Start) –August 19 at 6 p.m.
For help with creating anaccount, contact Mayra Duarte [email protected], or305-556-0771.
Town has online registrationopportunity for residents tosign up for recreation classes
Summertime was meant fortraveling but if residents are con-cerned about leaving their homeunattended, they can worry no more.
Issuing a Watch Order withlocal police is a simple way tohelp residents achieve peace ofmine while they are enjoyingtheir vacation.
Call the Miami Lakes PoliceDepartment located in Town Halland provide address, vacationdates and emergency contactinformation. Officers on duty willpatrol the area and keep an eye onthe residences.
For more information, or toissue a Watch Order, contact thePolice Department at 305-827-4020.
Watch orders canprotect property
Miami Lakes launches newapp – ‘Lakes Life Mobile’
Have you ever driven over apot hole, or walked over a brokensidewalk and wanted to report it,but just didn’t have the time?“Lakes Life Mobile” now enablesresidents to submit servicerequests such as pot holes andsidewalk damage right from theirphone.
Simply take a picture and theapp will find the location. Therequest is immediately routed tothe appropriate department, andthe person submitting the itemwill be notified the instant it isreceived and resolved.
Residents can also sign up toreceive event reminders and traf-fic and weather alerts.
This new award-winningmobile app, proposed by Coun-cilmember Tony Lama, can beused on all Apple and Androidproducts. With the app, the townlooks to boost citizen interaction,improve efficiency, and helpincrease response times for resi-dent and business requests.
“This initiative is about trans-parency, accountability, and bettercommunication with our resi-dents,” said Lama. “As a councilmember, it allows me to betterunderstand where we are doingwell and what areas needimprovements. For example, anincreased number of requests from
a particular park will help usreevaluate how we are deliveringservices. Is it an issue with a con-tractor? Are we understaffed?Should we augment services? Thisprovides us tremendous over-sight.”
With 90 percent of the popula-tion toting a cell phone, and morethan half using a smartphone, thephone is quickest way to connect.
“We also need to be aware ofthe changing demographics,”Lama said. “Millennials will soonhave a tremendous amount of buy-ing power. We want to attract themto Miami Lakes by providingthem channels of engagement theydon’t get in other municipalities.”
“Lakes Life” also allows usersto access the Town of MiamiLakes Marketplace, a tool for res-idents and visitors to discover themany services locally-ownedbusinesses provide which makesMiami Lakes a special communitywith a “hometown” feel.
“Lakes Life” users can alsoaccess the Town’s online businessdirector, track the Town’s Mooverbusses in real-time, and muchmore.
For more information about theapp, visit www.LakesLifeMobile.com for downloading instructionand a video tutorial of the appsmany features.
Miami Lakes Elderly AffairsCommittee is offering free fieldtrips to Miami Marlins gamesonce a month on Thursdays forresidents 55 years and above.
The bus departs from TownHall, 6601 Main Street and guestsshould arrive two hours beforegame time. ID is required to showproof of age.
Space is limited. Reserve seat-ing on the bus one week inadvance of each of the field trip
dates by contacting Special Eventsand Committees coordinatorClarisell De Cardenas at [email protected], or 305-364-6100.
The upcoming games include:Thursday, July 30, Marlins vs.
Nationals, 7:10 p.m.Thursday, August 27, Marlins
vs. Pirates, 7:10 p.m.Thursday, September 24,
Marlins vs. Phillies, 7:10 p.m.
Senior citizen field trips setfor Marlins baseball games
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Boy Scout Troop 660 invitesnew members on Tuesdays
Scoutmaster Robert Beguiri-stain of Boy Scout Troop 660 wel-comes new boy scouts who are 11years old or at least 10 years oldand have finished the fifth grade.The troop meets every Thursdayfrom 7 to 8:30 p.m. at The MiamiLakes United Methodist Church,14800 Ludlam Road, in MiamiLakes.
The Boy Scouts of America isone of the nation’s largest andmost prominent values-basedyouth development organizations.The BSA provides a program foryoung people that builds charac-
ter, trains them in the responsibili-ties of participating citizenshipand develops personal fitness.
Troop 660 participates in excit-ing outdoor activities such ascamping, hiking and canoeing.The troop emphasizes fitness,leadership skills, helping othersand having fun. Scouts earn meritbadges after acquiring skills asthey move through the ranks withthe goal of becoming an EagleScout. Scouts participate in com-munity service activities.Attendees do not need to beMiami Lakes residents.
Record year for Farm Share includesfood for 500 families at Lakes event
Farm Share Incorporatedannounced a record-breaking yearof recovering and distributing32,804,399 pounds of food andserving more than 4,000,000households across Florida.
Miami Lakes town officials,County Commissioner EstebanBovo Jr., State RepresentativesManny Diaz Jr., Jose Oliva, FrankArtiles and Byran Avila, and StateSenator Rene Garcia, all played abig part of the organization’s suc-cess from July 1, 2014 to June 30,2015, by hosting a Farm Sharefood distribution event in May atthe Miami-Dade NorthwestDistrict police station in MiamiLakes.
Artiles has been setting upFarm Share events throughout thestate of Florida as well.
The elected officials and 100volunteers distributed food andother goods to more than 500 fam-
ilies thanks to the coordinatedeffort by those who wanted to feedhungry families.
Diaz directed traffic, whilepassing out corn and tomatoes andgreeted many of the families thatwere waiting in line.
“Farm Share does a wonderfuljob with these food distributionevents,” Diaz said at the event.“This means a lot to the families inour communities.”
Garcia was also on hand to passout food, as his volunteering workto feed needy families reflectedone of his goals as a state senator,as well as Avila, who orderedpizza for all the volunteers.
Town Councilmember FrankMingo was also unloading boxesof fresh food and fresh corn. “Thisis a great for the Town of MiamiLakes,” Mingo said. “It’s great tosee everyone pull together to helpout our residents.”
Farm Share has been feedinghungry families and preventingmillions of pounds of food fromgoing to waste since 1991. FarmShare is the only major food bankin Florida that does not charge theagency network consisting ofchurch food pantries, soupkitchens, homeless shelters, seniorcenters, and community centersfor any of the food provided. Allof the recovered food, includingan abundant supply of fresh veg-etables, is distributed to the com-munity free of charge.
The food distribution in MiamiLakes was put together with thehelp of the Florida Department ofChildren and Families and Oliva.
For more information aboutFarm Share or to donate, visit:www.farmshare.org or contactKristen King Jaiven at305.246.3276 or by email to [email protected].
OFFICIALS from the State of Florida, Miami-Dade County, Town of Miami Lakes, and Miami-DadePolice Department volunteered for the Farm Share event in June at the Northwest District policestation.
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PAGE 10 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
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Main Street Players present ReeferMadness, The Musical starting July 24
The Main Street Players presentReefer Madness, The Musicalfrom July 24 to August 9 onFridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.,and Sundays at 2 p.m., at the MainStreet Playhouse, 6766 MainStreet.
This campy musical comedy,under the direction of VanessaElise, takes a tongue-in-cheeklook at the hysteria caused whenclean-cut kids fall prey to marijua-
na, leading them on a hystericaldownward spiral filled with eviljazz music, sex and violence.
The musical features lyrics byKevin Murphy and music by DanStudney. Reefer Madness is asatire of the 1936 Americanexploitation film of the samename. The 1936 film (originallytitled Tell Your Children) wasfinanced by a church group, whointended it to be shown to parents
as a morality tale warning themabout the dangers of marijuanause.
The film gained cult status inthe 1970s among marijuana smok-ers, however, who found it unin-tentionally comedic. The musicalversion opened at the HudsonTheatre in Los Angeles,California, in 1998 and enjoyed abrief Off-Broadway run inSeptember of 2001. A Showtimefilm based on the musical wasmade for TV in 2005.
Tickets are $25 for adults, $20for seniors and $18 for students.For tickets and information con-tact the theatre at 305-558-3737 orvisit www.mainstreetplayers.com.
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Miami-Dade may increase rates forspecial taxing districts in local area
Due to a flawed accounting sys-tem that led to under billing forspecial taxing districts adminis-tered by Miami-Dade, MiamiLakes and Palm Springs North areamong the many cities and unin-corporated areas that may face rateincreases next year to offset $2million for security guard gate,lighting and public works services.
Among the 1,068 special taxingdistricts administered in 2016, 234of them could see a hike.
Last month, county commis-sioners called town hall meetingsin their respective districts toexplain the rate increases to their
constituents in a prelude to a pub-lic hearing at County Hall, whereMayor Carlos Gimenez apolo-gized for the mix up and said aninitial audit discovered the finan-cial gap after the former directorof the taxing-district division wasremoved and the agency was reor-ganized.
The rate increases will generatean additional $4.3 million in 2016,which is 35 percent more than the$11.9 million that residents in thespecial taxing districts would owewithout the new fees, the mayor said.
The possible rate increases forMiami Lakes include two special
taxing districts for guard gate serv-ices – Miami Lakes Section One,which is south of N.W. 154 Street,west of Montrose and Balgowanroads, north of Glencairn Terrace,and east of N.W. 87th Avenue; andRoyal Oaks Section One, south ofN.W. 169 Terrace, west of N.W. 82Avenue, north of N.W. 160 Streetand east of N.W. 87 Avenue.
The possible rate increases forMiami Lakes and PSN may bemodest, about $36 for the averageproperty.
County commissioners willhave a final vote on the proposedrate increases in September.
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Meeting & Class Calendar
Town of Miami LakesVeterans Committee July 16 5:30 pm M.L. Govt. CenterTown Council Meeting July 21 6:30 pm M.L. Govt. CenterEconomic Devel. Com. July 23 5:30 pm M.L. Govt. CenterPlanning/Zoning Board July 28 6:00 pm M.L. Govt. CenterPublic Safety Committee July 28 6:30 pm M.L. Govt. CenterYouth Activities T.F. August 5 7:00 pm M.L. Govt. CenterNeighborhood Improvement Committee
August 5 7:00 pm M.L. Govt. CenterCultural Affairs August 6 7:00 pm M.L. Govt. Center
(The following classes are free for Miami Lakes residents)Tai Chi M/TW/Th 9:00 am MCCCYoga (for adults) M/W 7:30 am MCCCYoga (for adults - Fee) T/Th 7:30 am MCCCLine Dancing Tu/Th 11:30 am MCCCPainting I & II Fri. 9 am/12:30 pm MCCCSpanish for Adults M/T/W/T 6:00 pm MCCCDominoes T/W/Th/Fri 6:00 pm RACCTable Tennis Tues./Thurs. 7:00 pm RACCJazzercize (fee) M/Tu/W/Th 5:30 pm RACC
Homeowners OrganizationsRoyal Oaks July 15 7:30 pm MCCCSerenity Point July 15 7:00 pm MCCCGramercy Park July 16 7:30 pm MCCCRegatta Pointe July 16 7:00 pm MCCCLoch Andrews July 20 7:00 pm MCCCLoch Isle July 20 7:00 pm MCCCLake Glenn Ellen July 21 7:30 pm MCCCLake Katharine Villas July 21 7:30 pm MCCCVilla Vizcaya July 22 7:30 pm MCCCLake Sandra July 23 7:30 pm MCCCThe Anchorage July 23 7:30 pm MCCCFountain Park July 27 7:30 pm MCCCLake Elizabeth July 27 7:00 pm MCCCLake Martha July 28 6:30 pm MCCCLoch Lomond West July 28 7:30 pm MCCC
Miami Lakes Clubs, Professional & Volunteer GroupsM.L. Garden Club July 27 7:00 pm MCCCM.L. Bridge Club Mondays 11:30 am MCCCMLCA Bridge Thursdays 11:00 am MCCCM.L. Quilting Club Tuesdays 11:15 am MCCCM.L. Kiwanis 2nd/4th Thurs. 6:30 pm Pampered ChefM.L. Toastmasters 1st/3rd Tues.7:00 pm ML Educational CenterM.L. Lions Club 1st/3rd Tues. 7:00 pm Denny’s HialeahMCCC is Mary Collins Community Center, 15151 N.W. 82 AvenueRACC is Robert Alonso Community Center, 16500 N.W. 87 Avenue
The Town of Miami Lakes, homeowners associations, professional andvolunteer groups have scheduled meetings and classes during July andearly August:
Miami Lakes Branch Library programs for July
MIAMI LAKES BRANCH LIBRARY’S Jessica Iglesias holds aLemur from Madagascar during the recent wildlife show. Thephoto was not correctly identified in the July 3 issue.
Miami Lakes Branch Libraryannounced the following pro-grams are available for the publicduring July:
Summer Reading Program:This year’s program runs fromnow to August 1. No matter yourage, all are eligible for a chance towin a fabulous prize. Just read orlisten to a book, attend a libraryprogram or download and listen toan eBook for a minimum of twohours a week. Visit the branch topick up an entry form with theofficial contest rules. The programis made possible with the supportof the Miami Dolphins Foundationand the Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library.
For Children and Families:Every Hero Has A Story:
What’s Your Super Power? –Children will learn about real lifeeveryday heros and what makesthem special. Limited to 25 partic-ipants and best for ages 7-12.Meets at 11 a.m. on Thursdays,July and 30.
Home Depot Kid’s Workshop– A hands-on workshop where par-ticipants can learn to create andbuild something for their homewith easy to use tools and materi-als. What you make, you keep!Registration is required for ages 6-12 and programing limited to 25participants. Program made possi-ble by the Miami Lakes HomeDepot at 11 a.m. on Thursday, July23.
Build-A-Coaster – Explore thebasics of physics, energy, force,friction and electricity in anapplied, thrilling way as you learnhow engineers build roller coast-ers and power cities. Programmade possible by the Town ofMiami Lakes Education AdvisoryBoard for ages 7-12 at 3 p.m. on
Saturday, July 18.Saturday Matinee at the
Library - A family friendly film,“Up,” will be shown at 3 p.m. onSaturday, July 25.
For Teens:Tween Book Club – A chil-
dren’s book club for ages 8-12 thatmeets once a month to discuss thechosen book. This month’s title is“39 Clues: Maze of Bones” byRick Riodan. Meets at 10:30 a.m.on Saturday, July 25.
Unmasked! Matinee - TeenClub presents a series of films cel-ebrating heroes, real or fictionalfor ages 13-19 years at 3 p.m. onWednesdays. The scheduleincludes “The Avengers” on July15, “Final Fantasy: AdventChildren” on July 22, and “JusticeLeague: Flashpoint Paradox” onJuly 29.
Teen Club - Teens meet to playvideo games, watch anime, drawor discuss books at 6 p.m. onTuesday, July 28.
For Adults:Escape the Ordinary with
Arts and Crafts - Make extraordi-nary art with ordinary materials.Registration required for ages 18years and up at 1 p.m. on Monday,July 20.
Book Discussion Group - Thismonth’s title is “The Fort” byBernard Cornwell at 6 p.m. onTuesday, July 21.
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart’s Outreach – A member ofRep. Diaz-Balart’s staff will visitthe library to discuss federal issuesor any problem a constituent mayhave with a federal agency from2:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday,July 22.
Miami Lakes Branch Library islocated at 6699 Windmill GateRoad and is open Monday andTuesday from noon to 8 p.m., andWednesday through Saturday,from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The branchis closed on Sundays. For moreinformation, call 305-822-6520.
Popular local restaurant, TheRanch House, has new owners
By R.A. RomeroThe Miami Laker staffRussell and Nick Govey, a
father and son duo have partneredto take ownership of The RanchHouse, located at 1548 West 84Street in the Palm Springs LakePlaza just south of Miami Lakes.
The Ranch House has longbeen a staple restaurant stop forlocals and in addition to theAmerican, comfort-food style cui-sine it is known for serving andwill continue to serve, under thenew ownership guests can expectan expanded menu and upgradedquality. The Goveys are currentlyworking on introducing a craftbeer program and have introducedappetizers in addition to theirbreakfast, lunch and dinnermenus.
The Ranch House, which is a
hybrid between a diner and restau-rant, has been open since 1977 andis known as the “original” ranchhouse. While the originality of therestaurant will stay in tact, smallchanges will continue to improveupon the original design.Speciality menu items are a hostof steak and seafood dishes. TheRanch House now also offers over80 different beers and a dozenwines.
“It’s nice to have that customerbase that has been coming here foryears and we hope to continueserving them while expanding themenu for new guests,” said NickGovey.
For more information visit TheRanch House Restaurant Co.online on Facebook or call 305-821-8200.
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:19 PM Page 11
PAGE 12 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:21 PM Page 12
THE MIAMI LAKER JULY 17, 2015 PAGE 13
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PAGE 14 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
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PACE HIGH basketball players pose for a group photo withcampers on the last day of the basketball Spartan Boot Camp
Pace basketball team’s off-seasonfeatures camps, university tourneys
By Rene D. BasultoSpecial to The Miami LakerEven coming off of their highly
successful 2014-2015 seasonwhere they went all the way to theregional finals, MonsignorEdward Pace High School’s boysbasketball team has stayed busy inthe summer with trips to universi-ties across the Southeast and thebasketball Spartan Boot Camp inJune.
All of this summer activity iscommon for the Spartans, accord-ing to their head coach AnthonySerro. He explained that the campsand university tournamentsallowed for off-season adjust-ments after the graduation of keyplayers and for new players to getacclimated to their team.
The Spartans basketball teamwas invited for the second straightyear to a camp held by StetsonUniversity in DeLand, Florida.After touring the Stetson campusand having several of its playerstake part in an elite camp, the teamplayed in a weekend-long tourna-
ment, winning several gamesagainst teams from high schoolsacross the Southeastern UnitedStates.
After returning home, the teambegan running two weeks of thebasketball Spartan Boot Camp forcampers ages 6 through 15. Pacecoaches and the players them-selves taught campers and ledthem through fun basketball activ-ities, ending each day with aprayer of “Our Father” and chanti-ng “Family!” together. The camp,now in its fourth year, has alwaysattracted many passionate youngcampers. “I’ve never seen a groupof kids who wanted to play asmuch as these campers these pasttwo weeks,” said Serro.
The Spartans hit the road againfor a camp at the University ofSouth Carolina from June 13-14.On the drive up, they stopped atthe University of North Florida toget a campus tour and meet withthe UNF basketball coaching staff.At USC, the team won numerousgames in a tournament stacked
with elite high school teams invit-ed by the university.
The final destination for theplayers was Gainesville for aninvite-only camp at the Universityof Florida. The Spartans learnedabout the history of the two-timeNCAA National Champion Gatorsbefore playing in their last tourna-ment of the summer. The Spartansran wild on other high schoolteams, making it all the way to thetournament finals for their bestperformance of the off-season.
The Spartan players say theyhave already seen the fruits oftheir summer labor pay off.“Everyone on the team is gettingtime to shine,” said Pace juniorZackery Alvarez. “We’re playingmore as a team.”
After all of this hard work,Serro says that he expects his2015-2016 team to have anothergreat season and lead the state ofFlorida in scoring for a thirdstraight year.
The Miami Lakes OptimistClub will be holding registrationfor the 2015 Fall baseball andsoftball season from 9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m., on consecutiveSaturdays, August 8, 15 and 22, atMiami Lakes Middle School,6425 Miami Lakeway North.
The Optimist Club welcomesreturning and new players to playin an exciting season. New play-ers must bring a copy of theirbirth certificates to the registra-tion, which costs $145 per person.Only cash and checks are accept-ed.
The Optimist Club is askingfor more volunteers and coachesto participate in the baseball andsoftball season. Sponsors are alsowelcome.
For more information, callBaseball Commissioner LuisRojas at 305-505-5475 or MiamiLakes Optimist Club presidentJim Hamilton at 305-216-9615.
Optimist Club setsbaseball/softballsignup in August
DARNELL FLUCKER (center), recipient of the Coach RickQuintanilla Scholarship, is pictured with Coach John Murillo(right) and Peter Quintanilla (left), father and brother, respective-ly, of the late Rick Quintanilla.
Goleman student receives 4th annualCoach Rick Quintanilla scholarship
Darnell Flucker, a student atBarbara Goleman Senior HighSchool, was named recipient ofthe Coach Rick QuintanillaScholarship. The scholarship isawarded to football players whonot only play well on the field, butalso show honor, courage and
commitment. In the face of adver-sity, Flucker pressed on and con-tinued attending practices all thewhile coping with his mother’s ill-ness, a blood clot in her lung.
“We are so proud to hand outthe 4th Annual Coach RickScholarship award, and this year itwent to a young man that exempli-fies what this award is all about,”said Coach John Murillo, father ofthe late Rick Quintanilla. “Today,Darnell’s mom is doing much bet-
ter. I truly believe Darnell Fluckerwill go on to do something specialin the world and honor the legacyof Rick Quintanilla.”
Flucker will be reporting toWebber International Universitythis fall where he will continue hisstudies and go on to play football.
For those interested in con-tributing to the scholarship, con-tact Coach John Murrillo at 305-975-8963.
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:23 PM Page 14
THE MIAMI LAKER JULY 17, 2015 PAGE 15
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Shula’s Athletic Club’s ThriveProgram is hosting an hour longon-going nutritional coachingseries with a foundational belief:Don’t diet.
The nutritional series, which
takes place every Tuesday at 6:30p.m. and is free to the community,focuses on losing weight, experi-encing and maintaining life-longdiet changes, and to introduce sim-ple, realistic improvements to
daily eating habits.Shula’s Athletic Club is located
at 15150 Bull Run Rd. in MiamiLakes. To reserve a spot, contactJose at 305-820-8025.
Shula’s Athletic Club holds free nutritionclasses open to the public every Tuesday
PSN Little Giants baseballteam wins Hammocks title
PALM SPRINGS NORTH LITTLE GIANTS 8-and-under base-ball team won the Hammocks Alliance Tournament. It was theteam’s second championship this Summer. The Little Giantswon the South Florida All-Star Alliance Summer tournament inWest Kendall in late June. The team finished the regular season11-1 and a tournament record of 16-3, for an overall perform-ance of 27 wins and only four loses. Next season, the LittleGiants will be moving to a new league and division. The youngerkids on the team will stay down in 8-and-under, while the olderkids will move up to 9-and-under-kid-pitch in the Premier TravelLeague. Raul Billini, the Little Giants coach, is a Miami Lakesresident.
LAURA LOU, a junior mem-ber at Shula’s Golf Club,recently won the JackNicklaus Junior Golf Event inthe age 13-15 category withrouds of 85 and 78. LastApril, Lou won the 5th AnnualHonda Classic Junior Par 3Challenge, played at PalmBeach Par 3 Course. Lou’sfather, Cesar Lou, said“Laura has worked very hardon her irons and short gamewhich she honed each after-noon on The ChampionshipSenator Course at Shula’sGolf Club.”
Miami Lakes junior golfer Laura Louwins Jack Nicklaus age 13-15 tourney
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:24 PM Page 15
PAGE 16 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
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Miami Lakes Fencing Clubrates in Sunshine State Games
The Miami Lakes FencingClub features competitors whopractice three days a week atMiami Lakes Methodist Church,14800 Ludlam Road.
The group recently competedin the Sunshine State Games inWest Palm Beach, where headcoach and trainer Javier Andinoand assistant coach Gary Cardenasled their team to a good rating foroverall performance during thetournament.
“Our youngest club member is9 years old and our most senior isover 70,” Cardenas. “We are acompetitive club and have trav-eled throughout Florida for tour-naments. We have even been toPuerto Rico and El Salvador tocompete in international events.
“Next year, we are targeting tomake it to one of the Nationaltournaments that are held through-out the United States by the U.S.Fencing Association, which is thegoverning body for the sport in theU.S.”
One of the group’s brightestyoung stars is Alex Cardenas,Gary Cardenas’ son, who has beenfocused on epee as his primaryweapon and has been winningmedals consistently over the pastthree years. This past year, heturned 13 and was able to competein open events, which are com-prised of fencers of all ages(above 13) and skill levels.
“He is currently focusing onobtaining his first national rankingin epee,” Cardenas said.
Fencers are rated in one of 6
categories which are A, B, C, D,E, and U, with U unclassified andA being the highest rating attain-able.
“I am primarily focused onepee and gained my E rating in2014, but I also actively practiceand compete in foil and saber aswell. I am classified as U in thoseweapons, but have won medals inall three weapons in unratedevents,” Alex Cardenas said. “Weare one of a few pairs of parent-child fencers in the South Floridaarea, so it's a unique sport in thefact that it offers an opportunityfor both parent and child to trainand compete alongside and some-times against each other. Youwon't find that in baseball, foot-ball and soccer.”
The Miami Lakes FencingClub hosts five tournaments a yearin Miami Lakes with the next onescheduled for Sunday, October 18and Sunday, November 22 at theRoberto Alonso CommunityCenter at Royal Oaks Park, 16500N.W. 87 Avenue.
Last year, the first event drewalmost 100 fencers from through-out Florida, as well as some thattraveled in from Puerto Rico andColumbia.
Coach Andino is a certifiedmember of the U.S. FencingCoaches Association and has com-peted on the national team for hishome country of Honduras.
The Miami Lakes FencingClub practices on Monday,Tuesday and Fridays from 7 p.m.to 9 p.m. at the church.
Did You Know?Fio Marquez’ random acts of kindness!
By Amanda BerengeurSpecial to The Miami LakerThe thought of a stranger pass-
ing out thank-you cards for peoplesimply being themselves is pleas-antly out of the ordinary, but for23-year-old Miami Lakes residentFiorella Marquez, random acts ofkindness like this are just steppingstones on her journey towardsmaking positive impacts on peo-ples lives.
Marquez, known affectionatelyas Fio, has a degree in psychologyand is currently working on hersecond degree in sociology.Fueled by her deep passion forknowledge and helping others,Marquez has dedicated herself tothe mission of boosting confi-dence and self-worth. Whether itbe a child of eight-years-old or anadult of 30, Marquez aims to makea difference in peoples lives.
Along with her full timeschooling, Marquez has managedto build an online communityfocused on the betterment of one-self through their own eyes. Hergoal is to be that shoulder you canlean on, that voice of wisdom thatreminds you that though toughtimes may come, there is a light atthe end of every tunnel.
Why is Marquez so dedicatedto her cause? It wasn’t long agothat she was made to believe shehad no purpose in life. Strugglingwith depression, Marquez wasteased and harassed by those whoshe believed to be closest to her.On her website, FioEffect.com,she recounts her hardships indetail. For almost a year she would
receive phone calls, e-mails, andtext messages from her peers call-ing her ugly, fat and worthless.
“I began to think I was goinginsane, I blamed everything onmyself, I began to convincemyself that I deserved every singlebad thing that was happening tome,” recounts Marquez.
Despite this hardship, Marquezmade it though her struggle anddevoted herself into making sureno one would have to experiencewhat she did. She started her web-site where people could write toher about whatever was on theirminds. There was no judgement orridicule, simply an ear to listenand an open heart to understand.
As time progressed, Marquezbegan to get letters from her read-ers and other individuals whobelieved that her strength helpedthem get through their own roughtimes. Marquez also hosts a freesupport group once a month whereindividuals of all ages can gatherand speak freely about whatevermay be troubling them.
Marquez also put together anevent earlier this year she titled “Iam Woman.” Here, she arrangedfor some of the ladies whohad been reaching out to her tohave their hair and make-up done,gave them gifts and even had aphotographer take their pictures.
“I’ve had low self esteembefore so I thought about whatwould make me feel beautiful anddesigned the event around that,”said Marquez.
In early June, Marquez wentaround to hospitals and local
Miami Lakes restaurants andhanded out thank-you cards tostrangers. The cards had words ofencouragement such as “You arestrong,” “You matter,” “You'reworth it,” and “You are beautiful.”She handed these notes of opti-mism to nurses and waiters andeven left some on cars in parkinglots. Her goal was to make asmany people feel as appreciated asshe could, an act of kindness sheplans on repeating.
Marquez’s list of goals is quitevast and includes traveling theworld as a motivational speaker,becoming a mental health coun-selor for children and getting herdoctoral degree, just to name afew. Marquez believes thatalthough bad things may happen,there is always a positive outlookon life and every day she strives toreach her message of love andunderstanding to all who are will-ing to listen.
FIORELLA MARQUEZ
M-D Water/Sewer Dept. promotesJuly as ‘Smart Irrigation Month’
The Miami-Dade Water andSewer Department (WASD) ishelping county residents savewater and money by celebratingJuly as Smart Irrigation Month.
July is a peak time for outdoorwater use, making it the perfecttime to promote efficient wateruse.
“This July, take a few minutesto identify ways that you and yourfamily can become more water
efficient and still maintain beauti-ful yards and landscaping,” saidWASD director Lester Sola.
One way residents can savewater and money is to take advan-tage of the Miami-Dade Water andSewer Department’s free evalua-tions of single family homes’ irri-gation systems. The evaluationwill provide homeowners withdetails on how to make their irri-gation system more water-effi-
cient. Homeowners who imple-ment the recommendations andprovide verification of the retrofitswill qualify for up to $500 inrebates a year.
Homeowners do not need toimplement all recommendations atonce to be eligible for rebates.They can implement the retrofitsfor what works best for their sys-tem and their budgets.
Outdoor irrigation accounts forup to 50 percent of water use inFlorida, and up to 50 percent ofthe water applied to lawns is lostto evaporation; some householdsmay lose up to 70 gallons of watereach day. In order to conserve asmuch water as possible, Sola said,“We must be vigilant especiallywhen watering our lawns to makeevery drop count.”
For more information on theirrigation program and other waterconservation programs, go towww.miamidade.gov.
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THE MIAMI LAKER JULY 17, 2015 PAGE 17
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Monsignor Pace High Schoolstudents attend Notre DameVision Leadership Conference
MSGR. PACE HIGH students (from left) Joshua Felipe, Chrisand Amy Velez, Matthew Schaffer, Ruben Masters, Sofia Lama,Nathan Bonet, and Tristan Luzod became the fifth Pace groupin as many years to attend the Notre Dame Vision youth leader-ship conference at Notre Dame University from June 15-19.
By Rene D. BasultoSpecial to The Miami LakerEight students from Monsignor
Edward Pace High School becamethe next set of future Spartan lead-ers to attend Notre Dame Vision, aCatholic leadership conference forhigh school students held at theesteemed Notre Dame Universityin Indiana from June 15-19.
Sofia Lama, Amy Velez, ChrisVelez, Tristan Luzod, MatthewSchaffer, Joshua Felipe, RubenMasters, and Nathan Bonet werethe fifth group in as many years tobe sent by Pace to the conference.They were chaperoned by Pacetheology teachers Patricia Stoutand Nelson Bonet, who accompa-nied the group on their long jour-ney and met with them for break-fast every morning in the NotreDame dining halls.
For five days, the group spenttheir time with their fellow atten-dees living in the university’sdorm rooms and being mentoredby Notre Dame undergraduates.As part of Notre Dame Vision, thegroup and nearly 100 other highschool students from across thecountry took part in workshopsand group discussions, performedskits and musicals, and receivedlectures from national-knownspeakers to strengthen both their
leadership skills and their relation-ship with God. Attendees also cel-ebrated mass in the university’sfamed Basilica of the SacredHeart.
Though Pace High has sent stu-dents to Notre Dame Vision forfive consecutive years, this wasthe first time that incoming fresh-men took the trip. Ruben Mastersand Nathan Bonet, sons of Pacetheology teachers Dr. DavidMasters and Nelson Bonet, sur-prised their parents by asking ifthey could attend the conferenceof their own volition. While thesetwo students are already a part ofthe Pace family, Notre DameVision also let them grow closer totheir future upperclassmen, forg-ing bonds that will last throughouttheir four years at high school.
One of these upperclassmenwas Matthew Schaffer, a Pacesophomore, who says he joinedthe program since it seemed like itwould be an interesting new expe-rience. He enjoyed the confer-ence’s very social environmentmost of all and found himselfdeeply affected by the religiousexperience.
“I know more about God andmy relationship with him becauseof this program,” said Schaffer.
your hometown news.305-817-4015
James Parker retires after 11-yeartenure at M. Lakes Education Center
By R.A. RomeroThe Miami Laker staffLongtime Miami Lakes
Educational Center (MLEC) prin-cipal, James V. Parker, announcedthe 2014-2015 school year wouldbe his last full year as principal,having previously enrolled in theeducation system’s DeferredRetirement Option Program(DROP) which named his lastworking day in February 2016. Anew principal has not yet beenannounced.
Parker, a principal known forhis approachable attitude andannual head-shavings when thestudents accomplish their consis-tent “A” school grade, is a manwith high hopes and expectationsfor a school that has receivedseven consecutive “A” grades.When asked whether the schoolcan continue to improve he saysyes without missing a beat.
“This school is a very, verygood school,” said Parker. “But itcan become a great school withcontinued improvement.”
Parker has been a large part ofthat continuous improvement dur-ing his 11 year tenure at MLEC,steering the helm that has seenacademic growth in grading andprograms despite increasingly dif-ficult standards. However, highstandards are commonplace inParker’s life.
Apart from education, Parker’scareer in the military for surgicaltechnology and his work in gradu-ate school to earn his Master’sDegree in Health Occupation
Medicine, speak to an innate andself-imposed rigor, one that hasdriven Parker to his current leader-ship role. At long last, Parker isready to have new adventures afteraccomplishing much in the way ofteaching and leading. He hopes toexplore his nation with his wife,now having the opportunity totravel.
Despite a path leading to newchapters, Parker expresses a bittersweetness about his retirement.
“I will miss my job. I will missthe interaction with students andstaff. I’ll miss hearing about
accomplishments and I’ll miss theenergy of a learning environ-ment,” said a solemn Parker. Hepauses, lost in thought, surroundedby awards, photographs, and year-books that reflect a decade of ful-fillment. “I want to thank theadministration, faculty, and stafffor their support, encouragementand advice during my tenure fromthe very bottom of my heart.”
In his parting words of wisdomParker said, addressing his school,“Keep that MLEC team spirit. Andnever forget that the students arethe most important focus.”
POPULAR M.L.E.C. PRINCIPAL JAMES V. PARKER
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:25 PM Page 17
PAGE 18 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
After School
Care
In Memoriam:Ellen Frances Pease, 72
Former Miami Lakes resident,Ellen Frances Pease, 72, passedaway peacefully at her home inHiawassee, Georgia, on FridayJuly 3, surrounded by her lovingfamily. Pease was born onDecember 15, 1942 in Ellenville,N.Y., daughter of the late MartinBraterman and late MollyWindreich Braterman, and step-daughter of the late EleanorBraterman.
Pease began her career as anEnglish teacher at Miami BeachHigh and continued as a GuidanceCounselor, ultimately retiringfrom Palm Springs NorthElementary School. Pease’s natu-ral compassion and interest inpeople made her the confidant ofmany, and strangers quicklybecame friends.
Pease and her husband, Louis,were long-time residents of MiamiLakes and members of TempleBeth Emet in Pembroke Pines.Pease remained active inHiawassee over the years, volun-teering with the town’s CountyChamber of Commerce.
Surviving Pease are her lovinghusband and best friend of 48
years, Dr. Louis Edwin Pease ofHiawassee, daughter and son-in-law, Meredith and Mica Maddryof Atlanta, sisters Linda RuthBraterman and Patricia Kearns ofLewis, Delaware, and LaurelWilson of Scarsdale, N.Y., andnumerous relatives and friends.Mountain View Funeral Home ofBlairsville, Georgia, is in chargeof arrangements. Loved ones arewelcome to sign the family guestbook and send condolences onlineat www.mountainviewfuneral-home.com.
ELLEN FRANCES PEASE
Barbara Goleman’s Fine Arts Dept.showcases ‘Arts Under the Stars’
STUDENTS present their murals at an unveiling during BarbaraGoleman High School’s Fine Arts Showcase.
The Fine Arts Department atBarbara Goleman Senior HighSchool held a Fine ArtsShowcase, “Arts Under the Stars”on May 12, for students, facultyand staff. The showcase consistedof musical performances, dramat-ic skits, live anime caricatures,on-the-spot painting and ceramicproductions, student art exhibi-tions student poster giveawaysand a firstever murals unveiling.
The event, sponsored and ledby art teacher and Fine ArtsDepartment head Charles Humes,along with the participation ofteachers Rick Rothal, ZacharyChambers, and Jeanette Galup,had a large turnout. This was thefirst event of its kind to featurethe artistic talents of students atGoleman.
In addition to the various artactivities and productions takingplace, two mural unveilings wereheld in the hallways of the finearts building. One mural was cre-ated by Michael Ruiz del-Vixoand the other by students CarlosAbad, Matthew Bradley andJoshua Diaz. There is a burst of color on the
walls of the Sardiñas Art Galleryat St. Thomas University.
Color, Color and Color, a col-lection of paintings by BlancaDaw, is now on exhibit at theSardiñas Art Gallery, the gallerynamed in honor of St. ThomasUniversity’s beloved late FatherJorge Sardiñas, the architect of theUniversity’s Chapel of SaintAnthony and former art professorat St. Thomas.
Born in Argentina and trainedas an architect, Blanca Daw cre-ates dramatic poetic visions usingbold, strong blocks of colors. Thechromatic elements of her paint-ings combined with strong, defin-itive shapes tend to stop the view-
er and grab attention.“The rich palette creates an
emotional impact,” explainedSardiñas Gallery Director andCurator Gail Casale. “The paint-ings are clean, arranged, anddetailed with harmonious shapesand complex areas of color.”
Daw has exhibited throughoutthe United States and her piecesare showing in private collectionsthroughout the world. A portion ofthe proceeds from the sale of art-work is used to support theSardiñas Art Gallery. The SardiñasGallery features works from theUniversity’s private collection, aswell as traveling exhibits fromlocal, national and internationalartists.
St. Thomas University’sSardiñas Art Gallery featurespaintings by Blanca Daw
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:26 PM Page 18
THE MIAMI LAKER JULY 17, 2015 PAGE 19
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Bob Graham Education Center eighthgraders visit five Florida universities
BOB GRAHAM EDUCATION CENTER students are pictured around the University of Florida’sseal on their annual college road trip.
Fifty Bob Graham EducationCenter (BGEC) eighth graders vis-ited five Florida universities inearly June. As members ofBGEC's innovative after schoolclub, The COUP (College OffersUnlimited Possibilities), the schol-ars learned the value of exploringcolleges and careers in order to
make more informed decisionslater in life.
This was the second annualCOUP College Road Trip, whichvisits University of CentralFlorida (Orlando), University ofFlorida (Gainesville), FloridaState University (Tallahassee),University of South Florida
(Tampa), and Florida Gulf CoastUniversity (Fort Myers) to have avariety of college experiencesover a three-day period. The tripincluded guided campus visits,admissions presentations, dininghall meals, and residence halltours.
Pace principal Ana Garcia’sfamily’s Journey of Faith
By Rene D. BasultoSpecial to The Miami LakerOn May 9, Bryan Garcia was
ordained into the priesthood byArchbishop Thomas Wenski in aceremony held at St. MaryCathedral. For Father Bryan, itwas the culmination of years ofservice towards Christ and thebeginning of an even deeper rela-tionship with God and his commu-nity.
Like many Catholics, FatherBryan’s faith was nurtured atCatholic schools as he graduatedfrom Immaculate ConceptionSchool in Hialeah in 2002 andMonsignor Edward Pace HighSchool in Miami Gardens in 2006.However, Father Bryan and hisfamily’s ties to Catholic educationrun even deeper. He was particu-larly blessed to have his parents asprincipals at both Immaculate andPace.
His mother, Ana Garcia, is theprincipal of Pace High School, aposition she has held since 2004.Ana Garcia is a product ofCatholic education and a Pacealumna herself from the Class of1980.
His father, Eddy Garcia, alsograduated from Pace in 1980. Heis currently the principal of St.Louis Covenant School inPinecrest, where he started in2013. Before he was the principalof Immaculate Conception Schoolin Hialeah for 13 years.
The Garcias’ influence on theirchildren’s faith is immeasurable,especially for Father Bryan.
“My parents and grandparentswere always great examples offaith and trust in God even in theface of difficulties in their lives,”said Father Bryan. “When I decid-ed to enter seminary formationtowards the priesthood, they werenothing but supportive of me andmy decision to answer the Lord'scall to serve him and his people.”
Father Bryan says that while hegets more questions from his fam-ily now about theology and moral-ity, he is still just “Bryan” to them.He said, “As my brother Stevenoften reminds me: ‘You may be‘Father’ to everyone else. But forme, you will always be ‘brother’first.”
His siblings have also givenback to the community throughtheir faith. His older sister JeniseGarcia-Subveri, who graduatedfrom Immaculate in 1999 andPace in 2003, worked as a teacherat both Immaculate and St. AgnesAcademy in Key Biscayne. Hisyounger brother Steven graduatedfrom Immaculate in 2006 andPace in 2010. It was at Pace thathe began serving as a Eucharisticminister, which he continues to dotoday.
It’s only fitting that the dayafter his ordination was Mother’sDay, when Father Bryan celebrat-ed his first ever mass at his homeparish and school as a child,Immaculate Conception Church.The entire Garcia family was inattendance. He is now theparochial vicar at St. AndrewCatholic Church in Coral Springs.
FATHER BRYAN GARCIA gives his first blessing to his parents,Ana and Eddy Garcia, after his ordination into the priesthood onMay 9. (Photo courtesy of Tom Tracy and Marlene Quaroni ofthe Florida Catholic.)
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:26 PM Page 19
PAGE 20 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
Elevate Church6250 Miami Lakes Dr. EastTelephone: 305-823-3888
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AMERICAN MONTESSORI SOCIETY“Within our own specially prepared environment a child’s abilities and
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Former Pace High School studentsvisit Haiti on 12-day mission trip
By Christy PiñaSpecial to The Miami LakerA group of missionaries from
the organization Amor en Acción(Love in Action), made their wayto Haiti on June 17 for a 12-daymission trip in Môle St. Nicolas, asmall town in the northwesternpart of Haiti. Five missionariesincluding Brittani Garcia, ChristyPiña, Jonas Erthal, JoaquinPannunzio, and Paulina Rios wereaccompanied by mission leadersRaquel Lauture and Pace CampusMinister Andres Novela.
The organization planned to runa summer camp for the local chil-dren. Camp days in Môle St.Nicolas were spent teachingalmost 200 children different les-sons from the Bible, providingmeals, and playing outdoor games.Each missionary was assigned oneclassroom and had at least oneyoung adult leader from the townassisting them.
The group Amor En Acción(Love in Action) stayed true to itsmoniker by creating a safe learn-ing environment fueled by love.
“This year’s summer mission toHaiti was moving, eye-opening,and a manifestation of the univer-sal language of love” said Rios.“Oftentimes people believe thatmission trips mostly impact thepeople that are visited however,mission trips impact the mission-aries almost as much, if not more,than the people they visit.”
“The mission to Haiti was acomplete success as well as anincredibly humbling experience.
The community members of MôleSaint Nicolas were very welcom-ing while cooperating with us inorder to ensure that the summercamp would be an amazing weekfor the children” said Erthal.
Returning missionaries were
surprised and moved when thechildren remembered their names.The missionaries and the people ofMôle are looking forward to nextsummer when they can all cometogether again.
THE CHILDREN of Môle St. Nicolas, Haiti, gather together forworship with former Pace students and missionaries as part ofa 12-day summer camp hosted by the organization Amor enAcción. (Photo by Christy Piña)
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HELP WANTEDPart Time Church Secretary.
Work Tuesday and Thursday, 9 am to 3 pm during the summer. Hours may increase after Sept. through early Spring. Applicant must be pro-ficient in Microsoft Office 2010. Will maintain church web page and be assigned other duties by the Pastor.All general secretarial skills are re-quired. The Pastor will interview allcandidates. Send applications [email protected] is located at 18400 NW 68 Ave., in Country Club of Miami. Tel-ephone 305-821-5841.
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GUS MACHADO SPEAKS AT ST. THOMAS UNIVERSITY.
Gus Machado pledges $5 million toSt. Thomas’ Business School building
St. Thomas Universityannounced that prominent busi-nessman and philanthropist GusMachado recently pledged $5 mil-lion to the university, the singlelargest gift to date for the Catholicschool, that would provide the cor-nerstone of the construction fund-ing for the new state-of-the artSchool of Business building.
St. Thomas alumnus and trusteeand business executive Jorge Ricohelped jumpstart the university’sambitious project with a $1 mil-lion pledge.
The school will recognizeMachado for his contribution andbusiness leadership by naming thenew building Gus MachadoSchool of Business at St. ThomasUniversity.
For more than 30 years,Machado has been a recognizedentrepreneur, successful executiveand philanthropist in the SouthFlorida community. A formermember of St. ThomasUniversity’s Board of Trustees,Machado came to the UnitedStates from Cuba in 1949 andattended military school in NorthCarolina.
A visionary businessman, heowned a series of car dealershipsuntil he acquired his first franchisein 1982, Gus Machado Buick.Today, he is president of GusMachado Ford and continues tolead his company to multi-citysuccess. Machado, and his wifeLilliam, are a major force inFlorida philanthropy, supportingmany charitable organizations.
“Supporting our future businessleaders means the world to me,”said Machado. “Being able to
make that happen at St. ThomasUniversity, a university that has areputation for providing an excel-lent educational experience anddeveloping the next generation ofethical business leaders – is anopportunity I am very pleased tobe a part of.”
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Teen driving classat Miami DadeCollege on July 31
Miami Dade College’s (MDC)School of Justice will offer theAdvanced Teen Safety DrivingProgram on Friday, July 31, atNorth Campus, 11380 N.W. 27Avenue.
The course, from 8 a.m. to 6p.m., will give students the toolsto handle the complex situationsthat driving in a crowded urbanenvironment can present.
Open to drivers 16-21 yearsold with at least six months ofdriving experience, will includeclassroom training for vehicledynamics, presenting distractedand impaired driving, and vehicle safety.
All instructors are current orretired law enforcement officerscertified by the State of Florida.Classes are limited to 20 studentswith a Florida-issue driver’slicense. Cost is $150 per studentand includes all materials and avehicle to practice.
To reserve a spot or for moreinformation, contact LisaGuinovart at 305-237-8012.
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:27 PM Page 21
PAGE 22 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
WE SELL MIAMI LAKESSERVING MIAMI LAKES
FOR OVER 25 YEARSRANKED MIAMI LAKES TOP PRODUCER
FOR 2001-2014. RANKED 1% NATIONWIDE.
Arturo Rodriguez, P.A.
305-827-4521Broker-AssociateMaria Victoria
Zarate-Rodriguez
305-308-9482Realtor-Associate
artrodriguezrealestate.comResidential Real Estate “Owned and operated by NRT, LLC”
“Professional Service, Educational Guidance and a Proven Track Record.”
10485 N.W. 130 Street - Hialeah Gardens Estates4/5 home, just remodeled incl: Marble floors, wood/ granitecabinets/vanities, impact French doors, Gaze-bo with kitchen,full cabana bath, marble patio deck, circular drive. Greathome for entertaining. Reduced to $700,000.
16260 West Troon Circle - M. Lakes Loch Lomond3 bedroom home on corner lot. Recently painted. Impact win-dows/doors. Tile floors, wood cabinets, screened pool, largecovered patio for entertaining. $569,500.
910 N.W. 202 Lane, Pembroke PinesLocated in the Preserve at Chaple Trail. This 3/2 home has a remod-eled kitchen with Granite countertops, tiled floors, built-in custom fishtank, high volume ceilings, roof 4-5 years new. Community has clubhouse with pool, tennis and racquetball courts. $350,000.
14601 Lake Candlewood Court - Miami Lakes5 bed., 2 1/2 bath home on double lot, outdoor kitchen withcommercial oven, hurricane shutters, impact windows. wholehouse generator with 1K Gal. propane tank, 2 Tiki Huts, 2new A/C systems. Reduced to 525,000.
6945 Gleneagle Drive - Miami Lakes Loch LomondLakefront home, 5 bed., 5 baths, plus office, over 5,500 sq.ft.,undergoing total renovation. New roof, impact windows,doors. Ski lake. $1,350,000.
9013 N.W. 163 Terrace, Miami LakesThis well maintained 3 bedroom, 2 bath Miami Lakes home has tiledfloors in the entire house, California Closets, accordion Hurricane pan-els, fenced yard, circular driveway, and a one-car garage.For Rent. $2.300 per month.
• Gated entry, on-site fitness studio, pool, half basketball court, bark park and 1.5 acre lake
• Schools: Bob Graham Education Center (K-8),and Barbara Goleman Senior High School
15958 N.W. 82 PlaceREDUCED $679,000
Stunning property totally redone. High impactwindows and doors. Non slippery marbledriveway. Energy efficient lights, surroundsound, crown molding, extensive customwood work throughout. Top of the l ineappliances including Titan water heater. 2new A/C units. Built in exterior BBQ area andCBS enlosed walls for privacy.
MIAMI LAKES
ROSA NELL HAMMERBroker/Associate(305) 898-9315
ALLAN PELAEZBroker/Associate
(786) 301-9520
Miami Lakes Realty & Welcome Center • In The Lobby of Don Shula’s Hotel
6850 Main Street Miami Lakes, FL 33014 • (305) 822-9800
2600 Diana Drive #202$265,000
Completely remodeled condo professionallydecorated. Nice open kitchen with granite countertops. Crown molding, new A/C & water heater.Amazing views of the intercoastal. Bathroomstastefully redone, large walk-in closet withorganizers. Amenities include boat slips $3 perfoot), meeting room, storage room, heatedcommunity pool. NO pets. Unit can be rented 6months of the year. CO-OP.
HALLANDALE
8830 N.W. 191 Street$425,000
Builder’shome with a lot of extras. Oversized lotwith north/south exposure, back covered porch,light concrete on the second floor. Amazing viewo f t he l ake . P rope r t y has 15 SEER energyefficient A/C, approx. 6 years old. One bedroomused as laundry room, however water hookupavailable in garage. Gas stove, dryer and waterheater.
8563 Ardoch Road$325,000
Great townhouse in gated community on westside of Miami Lakes. 3/2 two-story lakefrontproperty overlooking the fountain. Two bedroomsdownstairs. Hurricane shutters, covered patiowith awning. Large walk-in closet in master.Roman tub with amazing view of Lake Carol.Property needs updating but has lots of potential.Tree lined community within walking distance to10-acre park.
MIAMI LAKES
SOLD
PENDINGPENDING
MIAMI LAKES LAKES ON THE GREEN PALM SPRINGS NORTH
Your HometownRealtors
Serving Miami Lakes And The
Surrounding Areas For Over 50 Years!
15145 N.W. 90 CourtREDUCED $345,000
Immacu la te p roper ty we l l ma in ta ined by i t soriginal owner. 3 bedroom, 2 bath one-story gemwith a one-car garage. Roof is only 5 years oldand recen t l y p ressu re washed and sea led .Freshly painted exterior. Brand new driveway(2014). Gas stove and water heater. Motivatedseller.
17300 N.W. 82 Avenue$260,000
Great starter home in Palm Springs North. Wellmaintained property with lots of room forexpansion and room for a pool. Roof wasreplaced in 2005. Remodeled kitchen withupgraded plumbing and new cabinets.Refrigerator is less than 1-year old.
R E A L E S T A T E C L A S S I F I E D
Eddie Rodriguez, Broker/OwnerRE/MAX Unique RealtyLake Katherine Shopping Center6167 Miami Lakes Dr. East, Miami Lakes, FL 33014
305.822.7444
RE/MAX Realty 1Design District
4100 NE 2nd Avenue, Suite 310 Miami, FL 33137
305.822.8216Website: www.wesellfloridanow.com
RE/MAX Unique Realty & RE/MAX Realty 1
Photo is courtesy of remax.com
“Selling or Buying put My Experience to work for you Today!”
27 years of experience SELLING Residential and Investment properties
Stunning one-story townhouselocated in Miami Lakes, withrelaxing lake view, unique 9,231sq.ft. corner lot plus front view ofDon Shula’s Golf Course. Threebedrooms, two baths, tile floor,large screened-in patio, deck toaccess lake, new roof, and fullylandscaped. Ready to move in!
Serving your Miami Lakes Neighborhood
If you would like to know the value of your home intoday's real estate market, call me. I would be happyto give you a FREE market analysis!
HABLO ESPANOL
JHOBANNACASTILLO P.A.
Selling or Buying Your Dream Home?Let me help you!(786) 201-9979
14100 Palmetto Frontage Rd., Suite 210, Miami Lakes, FL 33016
•1st Time Buyer •Refinance•VA & FHA Loans
•Jumbo Loans •Foreign National
•Reverse MortgageCRISTINA DEL CALVORegional Sales Director(305) [email protected] NMLS 384953
NMLS 1125655
July 17, 2015 7/15/15 2:29 PM Page 23
PAGE 24 JULY 17, 2015 THE MIAMI LAKER
The
CHEVROLET
SEVEN DEALERS ALL IN ONE LOCATION!
16600 NW 57th AveSOUTH SIDE OF THE PALMETTO EXPRESSWAY (SR 826)
EXIT 826 AT NW 57TH AVE (RED ROAD)
1-866-782-8208
Visit Us Online: MiamiLakesAutomall.com Like Us: facebook.com/MiamiLakesAutomall
FOR MIAMI LAKESRESIDENTS
$300HometownDiscount!
Discount off any new or used car purchase from Miami Lakes Automallafter price negotiation. Must provide proof of residence in Miami Lakes.Must present ad. Limit one per purchase. See dealer for completedetails.
INTRODUCING OUR NEWZIPP LUBE SERVICE
$17.95• OIL & FILTER CHANGE
• TIRE ROTATION• SAFETY INSPECTION
Excludes synthetic oil and diesel engines. Some makes and models may beslightly more. Limited to 5 quarts of standard oil. Expires 7/31/15
Miami Lakes Automall has teamed up with Adazzles Hair Salon &Supply for the “Forward in ‘15” Make over program. Every monthtwo deserving people will receive a full makeover including hair,makeup and a new wardrobe free of charge. Take a look at ourlatest recipients!
Neighbor & Miami LakesAutomall GM, Fred Senra,Invites You To Experience TheHometown Difference!
