The Miami-Dade Police Department has new director. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez appointed Deputy Director Alfredo “Freddy” Ramirez III as the top cop on Jan. 8. The town of Miami Lakes has a $8.7 million contract with the agency. Ramirez replaced Juan Perez, who retired after a 29-year career in law enforcement. Ramirez earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Miami in 1994 and joined the...

The Miami Lakes Garden Club is hosting the Miami Waterkeeper at its next meeting on Jan. 27. Laura Chaibonsai is program director with the organization that monitors the conditions of area waterways. She will speak at the Mary Collins Community Center in Miami Lakes. During a 40-minute presentation, Chaibonsai will describe how to identify, document and report problems with lakes, canals, Biscayne Bay and the Atlantic...

The Church of the Epiphany Episcopal 15650 Miami Lakeway North Miami Lakes 305-558-3961 Misa en Espanol: 9 a.m. Sunday Eucharist: 10:30 a.m. Children’s Sunday School: 10:15 a.m. Escuela Dominical: 12:15 p.m. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 8201 NW 186 St., Hialeah 305-205-4956 Sunday service: 9 p.m. Sunday Spanish service: 11 a.m. Tuesday: youth activities for Spanish speakers: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday: youth...

Special projects at area schools that ranged from gardening, robotics and mental health awareness to theater and cheerleading received grants from the town of Miami Lakes’ Education Advisory Board and the Miami Lakes Town Foundation. The Education Advisory Board’s academic enrichment grants are designed to develop programs to improve learning and are funded by taxpayers, the town said. Bob Graham Education Center won three...

A quiet Sunday afternoon in Miami Lakes was shaken up by booming bass drums as the University of Florida’s Marching Band strutted along Main Street for a pep rally on Dec. 29. The band -- 365 members, including musicians, cheerleaders and baton twirlers -- were in town with the team before the Orange Bowl on Dec. 30 at Hard Rock Stadium. The Gators met the University of Virginia’s Cavaliers. The score was not known at press...