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...

U.S. Congress Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. 7400 SW 87th Ave., Ste. 270 Miami, Fla. 33166 305-596-4224 Twitter: @SenRubioPress Office hours in Miami: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla. 415 Clematis St., Ste. 201 West Palm Beach, Fla.33401 561-514-0189 Twitter: @SenRickScott Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami 8669 NW 36th St., Ste. 100 Doral, Fla. 33166 305-470-8555 Twitter: @MarioDB Office hours: Monday -...

The Dad’s Club of Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School will host a unique competition to benefit the school: A pig roast, called Pig Nic. The porkers will be cooked on Jan. 26 by 14 teams of amateur chefs who are parish members. The results will be judged by a panel that includes Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid; school Principal Barbara Picazo; former principal Ricardo Briz; Avian Guerra of the La Caja China company; Rodolfo Cabrera of...

The next business networking social in Miami Lakes is set for Wednesday, Feb. 19 at Cancun Grill. The gathering, from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., will be held at the restaurant in the Royal Oaks Plaza shopping center, at 15406 NW 77th Court. Sponsored by the town and its Economic Development Committee, the event is an opportunity to meet professionals after work who include top executives, business owners, investors and founders of startup...

The Giving Gators came through for kids in need at Christmas. Thirty-five students from 11 schools in Miami-Dade County submitted their wish lists, and the charity group filled all of the children’s requests for presents, said Daylin Garcia, the group’s founder. “Gifts were purchased and distributed to all students and siblings,” Garcia said in an email. “We also purchased gifts for their moms, dads or...