Miami Lakes Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez was among 17 elected officials from three South Florida counties who graduated on December 15 from the Good Government Initiative’s Leaders of Excellence Program. Founded by former Miami-Dade County Commissioner Katy Sorenson, the program is designed to provide elected officials with skills and knowledge they can apply to their public service. Elected officials participate in training...

  Miami Lakes area residents who receive curbside waste collection service from Miami-Dade County can now recycle their Christmas trees by taking them to one of the county’s Trash and Recycling Centers or the West Miami-Dade Home Chemical Collection Center. All trees brought in for recycling must be free of tree stands, lights, ornaments, tinsel and other decorations. The trees will be converted into mulch, available to residents...

  More than 450 new, unwrapped toys were collected for Miami Lakes’ Holiday Toy Drive. The initiative, spearheaded by Councilmember Tim Daubert, benefited the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program which aims to ensure less fortunate children throughout the country  experience the joy of Christmas. Donations came from residents, business owners, Town staff and attendees at the Holiday Senior Social. Two large...

  Democrat Gwen Graham, a Tallahassee attorney and the daughter of former U.S. Senator and Florida Governor Bob Graham, unseated two-term Republican Rep. Steve Southerland on November 4 becoming the first women ever to win the 2nd Congressional District seat. Graham won with 50.6 percent of the votes. She pledged to be a “strong voice” for her constituents as she addressed supporters. “I am going to work hard every...

  House Speaker Steve Crisafulli has named Representative Jose Oliva of Miami Lakes to serve as chairman of the House Economic Affairs Committee for the 2014-2016 Legislative Term. “Representative Oliva is a true leader in the Florida House,” Crisafulli said in making the announcement. “Strengthening our economy is the most important issue for Floridians, and as a business man, he understands what it takes to create...