The community rallied, the police investigated and after almost a week, the statue of a beloved young hero has been returned to his family. Almost a week after it was stolen from the park that bears his name, the statue of Jake “Jakey” Orlando Duque was recovered and returned to the Duque family. The statue of the five-year-old was stolen on Aug. 8 from the park on the west side of Miami Lakes. On Aug. 13, the Miami-Dade...

The Miami-Dade County Library branch in Miami Lakes is closed for renovation. Patrons may visit the branch in Palm Springs North at 17601 NW 78th Ave. for classes. Many classes require registration, call for information at 305-820-8564 or padronc@mdpls.org. The branch is open 9:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday - Thursday; 9:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday -Saturday and closed Sunday Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing for Toddlers en dos idiomas Mon.,...

Aug. 19, 22, 26, 29 Summer fishing fun. The Town of Miami Lakes invites young anglers for its annual open fishing program at Miami Lakes Optimist Park marina. Bait and equipment are provided. Optimist Park Marina, 6411 NW 162 St. Program runs from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturdays. Free. Visit bit.ly/3QOn7RP to register.   Aug. 26 Business Networking Social. The Miami Lakes Chamber of...

A former Miami Lakes Optimist softball player is celebrating a win as part of the Special Olympics Florida softball team.      Emily Torres, 27, played on the silver medal-winning unified slow pitch softball team at the USA Games in Minnesota. Special Olympics unified sports feature people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.      Torres, who does not have an intellectual disability,...

Meet stylish Bianco, an 11-year-old Maltese owned by Eddy Paez.      Paez, who got Bianco from a neighbor, has owned him since he was a 10-week-old puppy.      “He was a little puffball,” Paez said. Bianco, which means white in Italian, is friendly; when he and Paez take their walks on the west side of Miami Lakes, he stops to greet everyone.      “He is...