A wife and mother, a saleswoman, a Republican politician and an early leader in Miami Lakes government. Mary Collins lived all of those roles and left a lasting legacy on the town. She died May 28 at the age of 93, her family said. Collins served on the first council after the town incorporated in 2000 and fulfilled three terms. She was known as the “Godmother of Miami Lakes” according to stories in The Miami Laker...

When Alexander Brito isn’t helping to shape the next generation of football players or creative writers, he’s writing. Brito, 32, an English teacher at Barbara Goleman Senior High School and the offensive line coach for its football team, recently published his debut novel, “Creatures of Habit” with Current Words Publishing. “Creatures of Habit” is the story of Yovanni Guerra, told through journal...

Elsa Reus of Hialeah Gardens, who is vice chair of the Miami Lakes Cultural Affairs Committee, has traveled through much of Europe since she retired in 2024. Most recently Reus, 75, journeyed to Italy in May with a group tour to the southern area known as the “heel” of that country. Stops included Osuni; the domed Trulli limestone houses of Alberobello in Puglia, a UNESCO World Heritage Center, and Matera, ranked as the...

Kids in the Loch Ness neighborhood near Windmill Gate put aside their screens for a couple of Sundays each month and grab a bucket of colored chalks instead. They transformed community sidewalks into their own art gallery, with Batman and Godzilla themes, said Ibis Mendoza, a member of the Loch Ness Homeowner’s Association. While the kids are expressing themselves, parents have an opportunity to get together, she said. “They...

There is a new opportunity to serve veterans in Miami Lakes: The American Legion Post 144 Auxiliary. Members will visit the Miami VA Medical Center, sell poppy flowers to raise funds for activities, volunteer with the American Legion and mentor girls, President Jill Cavanaugh Green said. Currently there are 16 adult members and two junior members who are teenagers. Cavanaugh Green is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where she served as a...