The employees of Miami Lakes AutoMall collected more than 700 toys before Christmas for its 20th annual toy drive. The gifts were donated to Essie “Big Mama” Reed and her Team of Life charity in Fort Lauderdale, said Fred Senra, a partner in the auto business.      Shown in the photo from left are Carlos Gomez; Daniel Fonte; Fred Senra; Essie “Big Mama” Reed; Carlos Morales; Javier...

    Offices in the Lakes, a building on the east side of Miami Lakes, has a large variety of businesses inside.       Twenty-nine firms are located at 5969 NW 151st St.       The building is owned by the David Schaecter Trust, according to the Miami-Dade County Property Appraisers Office.      Horizon Properties advertises at the site as the property...

     A toy drive that began in November during the Main Street Festival of Lights was a partnership between the local Giving Gators charity, The Graham Companies and CBS-Ch.4 and Neighbors 4 Neighbors.      With some of the gifts collected for 200 children are, from left: Barbara Goleman Senior High School student volunteer Gabriel Gonzalez; Cathy Quintana, accountant at The Graham Companies; Giving...

     The Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce ended the year with guest speaker Mayor Manny Cid.       Cid shared the town’s accomplishments with 80 local business owners at the Miami Lakes Hotel on Main.       “This past year was a great year for our community,” Cid said during the luncheon on Dec. 14. “We broke ground on the largest infrastructure improvement...

     New businesses are popping up all around Miami Lakes.       Along Main Street and in three shopping centers, there are new restaurants and bars; niche shops and beauty services opening early this year.      The restaurants are serving new flavors and cutting-edge cuisine, some with a side of dancing.       Many of the business owners are locals who are...