The Town of Miami Lakes Economic Development Committee chose new officers on Jan. 17.      Matthew Casamayor is the new chair; Jose Llano is vice chair and Romy Portuondo Remior is secretary.      The committee of volunteers helps foster a “well-rounded business climate,” the town website says.       The group also organizes business networking events.

     Victoria Spadafora’s classroom has gone to the dogs, the cats and even the guinea pigs.       Spadafora is the history department chair and head swimming coach at Monsignor Edward Pace High School.       For 18 years, she has also overseen the Miami Gardens school’s P.A.W.S. Club (Pace Animal Welfare Society).       Colleagues nominated...

     With 250 guests, law partners Jany Martinez-Ward and Greg Ward celebrated the 10th anniversary of their firm at The Temple House in Miami Beach.      The bash happened Dec. 17 and featured a private concert by singer Farruko (“Pepas”), who has won Latin Grammy Awards, and DJ Africa, the company said.       The Ward Law Group was founded in 2012 by the married couple with...

     The Knight Foundation named Christopher Norwood one of its 26 Arts Champions in 2022, an award that came with a $10,000 prize.      Norwood, 50, a consultant and founder and curator at Hampton Art Lovers Gallery in Overtown and a longtime Miami Lakes resident, chuckled about being designated one of the elites of the South Florida arts scene.      “It’s good for other...

     When more cows than people lived in Miami Lakes, residents of the burgeoning town formed the Miami Lakes Civic Association.      A community was rising out of the dairy farm owned by what came to be called The Graham Companies. The civic association, begun in 1964 and comprised of volunteers from those first families who were passionate about what the company was creating, devoted themselves to the...