For more than two decades, anyone who attended a municipal meeting in Miami Lakes would see a tiny woman stand at the podium from which she’d challenge council members on their decisions about taxes, policy and adherence to the town charter.      That self-appointed advocate for Miami Lakers was Mirtha Mendez, who died Sept. 14. She was 78 years old.      On a night in August, 2023...

Oct. 2 The Smiles Mixer Specialty Smiles’ annual happy hour, connect with doctors, professionals and team members to network, enjoy cocktails, giveaways and hors d’oeuvres. Attendees can donate new toothbrushes, toothpaste or floss for hygiene kits to be donated to the Coral Gables Children’s Dental Clinic. Each donation earns a raffle entry. Specialty Smiles Orthodontics, 8140 NW 155 ST. 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Free. RSVP at...

     How well do you know your friends and neighbors?      We’re starting a new column called “Who’s that cute baby?” to test readers’ familiarity with their fellow Miami Lakers.      The toddler shown in the photo was about a year old when his picture was taken. He suggested the column and so is our inaugural baby.       This should be an easy...

     The Freedom Tower, a Spanish Renaissance-style building in downtown Miami, is a national historic landmark that turns 100 this year.      The 17-story building has been home to two newspapers and from 1962 - 1974, was the site of the Cuban Assistance Center, where thousands of refugees received asylum paperwork, food, health care and money.        “The Freedom Tower, I always...

     The Cultural Affairs Committee presented attorney and author Christina Diaz Gonzalez, who spoke about her books at Town Hall on Sept. 4. Her novel for young readers, “The Red Umbrella,” is based on her family’s experience during Operation Pedro Pan.       It was an exodus of more than 14,000 children who were sent alone in the early 1960s from Cuba to the United States by families...