Sydney and Melanie Collado, granddaughters of long-time Miami Lakes residents Hugo and Maria Hilde Muniz, enjoyed visiting the Mayor's Cafe during spring break. They brought their Flat Stanley school project with them. The girls attend Embassy Creek Elementary. Melanie (left) and Sydney (right) are pictured with cafe owner Mayor Manny Cid.

Miami Lakes Branch Library announced the following programs that are available for the public during April:For Children and Families:Movies and Stories for Kids – Watch favorite movies with family and friends. Movies being shown this month are “Brave,” “Dolphin Tale,” “Disneynature Earth,” and “WALL-E.” Events made possible by the Town of Miami Lakes Education Advisory Board at 3 p.m. on Wednesdays, April 17 and 24.Talking is Teaching. Talk,...

On the weekend of March 22-24, Mater Lakes FBLA members competed at the State Leadership Conference with 16 students winning trophies and qualifying for the National Leadership Conference in San Antonio, Texas this summer. The winners included a first place, Introduction to Business Presentation, Joshua Villamizar, Gabriel Ramirez and Sabrina Arcila. Second place Computer Game and Simulation, Jeremiah Thony, Julian Arevalo and John Zamora....

Miami Lakes K-8 Center (MLK8) seventh- and eighth-grade students had the opportunity to explore the foundations of United States history on their recent study trip to Boston, Massachusetts on March 15-17. The students and their chaperones got a first hand look at what life was like for native American tribes and early pilgrim settlers while visiting Plimouth Plantation.Their experience jumped forward in time as the group walked the Freedom...

Miami-Dade’s fire chief, Dave Downey, is calling it a career.Downey said he is retiring because of the government Deferred Retirement Option Program which allows him to take the maximum amount allowed under his pension.“I entered the DROP program five years ago and I can’t turn back,” he said during an exclusive interview with The Miami Laker. “I don’t want to leave but I don’t have a choice.”Downey has spent 37 years as a firefighter, six...