Miami Dade College’s North Campus President Fermin Vazquez tells freshmen to dream big when they come to campus.       Hearing that challenge, student Sean Matias brought Vazquez one of the largest ideas the educator has heard to date: to build a fully functional roller coaster, nicknamed Project Thresher.       “I always do a calling out to the students to consider...

      Rob Waterfield occasionally shares his nature photos with readers of The Miami Laker that he takes while working as a part-time, first tee starter at the Miami Lakes Golf Club. The dragonfly, above, is one of the swarms of the graceful insects that appeared in town over Memorial Day weekend.      Dragonflies can consume hundreds of mosquitoes per day, according to Smithsonian Magazine. They may fly...

     Oreo is an English Spot Rabbit who belongs to Isabella Encalada, 8.  The rabbit lives with her grandparents Florita Hidalgo-Gato and Erik Hidalgo-Gato in Miami Lakes. Florita Hidalgo-Gato gave Oreo to Isabella as a gift last fall after she made the honor roll at school.       Isabella lives with her mother Aylen Hidalgo-Gato in Palm Springs North.      Isabella named her rabbit...

     U.S. Army Cpl. Frank V. Benak is finally at rest.      Decades after being killed in action during World War II, he was interred April 12 at Vista Memorial Gardens in Miami Lakes.      Benak, from Scottville, Mich., enlisted to fight the Japanese during World War II. He was killed in action on Dec. 5, 1942, outside of a village in Papua, New Guinea.      The 24-year-old...

    About 60 children attended the Cultural Affairs Committee’s Paint a Picture for Mom annual event held at the Miami Lakes Farmer’s Market on May 11, said Elsa Reus, the Committee’s chair for the project.       The young artists sat beneath a marquee to work on their canvases. Shown in the first photo are students from Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School’s National Honor...