The Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust recognized students from Lawton Chiles Middle School for their work in the Homeless Sensitivity Poster and Essay contest. Alicia Jerez, shown at left, is an eighth-grader who won 2nd-place. Ashley Aleman, right, who is in seventh grade, received a 3rd-place ribbon. With art teacher Lilian Gonzalez, center, they were honored May 25 at the Stephen P. Clark  Government Center in downtown Miami....

 It was seeing a cake decorating class at a Michaels store that inspired Rosie Cunill to leave her job as a medical assistant.      “I came home, and I told my husband I was going to change my career,” Cunill said.      But her beginning efforts, well, as she said, “If I show you the picture of my first cake [you’d] fall over. It was horrible.”      After...

The Helping Hands column profiles the town’s 12 volunteer committees and advisory boards that promote various causes in Miami Lakes and help town government serve the community. Their activities are funded by the town budget and by ticket sales from some events. Committee: Elderly Affairs Committee  Founded: Nov. 14, 2006 Chair: Dottie Wix  Vice Chair: Lourdes Corvo Treasurer: Rosario Navarro Secretary:...

  Miami Lakes K-8 Center Social Studies teacher Jennifer Simeon will travel to Washington D.C. this summer to study at the Supreme Court Summer Institute.       The program is open to 60 educators who teach seventh-through-12th grade social studies or law-related courses.       They will study recent Supreme Court cases in detail, according to a media release from Street Law...

    Miami Lakes residents who need school supplies may pick up a free backpack, supply kit and more during a giveaway on Sat., June 24 at Miami Lakes Town Hall.      Presented by Mayor Manny Cid and the Giving Gators charity, supplies will be distributed to the first 200 students who arrive at 6601 Main St. from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.       Sponsors are Headquarter Toyota; Mathnasium; Miami-Dade County;...