Rene Garcia  Hialeah Miami-Dade County Commissioner      “For me, the first day of school was always very exciting,” Rene Garcia said. “I wasn’t the best student, but I always went to school. I liked to talk a lot.       “The moment that stands out is that first day jitters of going in and trying to figure out what homeroom you were...

    A Cleveland man came to Miami Lakes and said he left with a golf memory for all-time.     JaMaaL E. Birkett, 74, made a hole-in-one on the par-3 5th hole at Miami Lakes Golf Club on July 8.      He was among 32 players from the Good Deeds International organization in Atlanta and the Majestic Gents from Chicago who were competing in a charity tournament.      Birkett’s...

        Two T-ball fields at Miami Lakes Optimist Park were renovated this year with a $50,000 grant from Major League Baseball and Scotts lawn product company, and the town and the Optimist Club unveiled them on Aug. 12.     Tykes began play that day on miniature versions of baseball fields. They could aspire to having a Major League Baseball career like that of Hanley Ramirez, an All-Star who played a...

The Miami Lakes Optimist 12U team took part in the 2022 American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame Invitational Tournament in Oneonta, N.Y. in July.  The team not only got to enjoy playing six baseball games and skills competitions, but also got a chance to tour the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in nearby Cooperstown, N.Y. From left: Samuel Velandria; Michael Santateresa; Emil Chavez; Khadyn Gates; Sebastian Gonzalez; Jacob...

    The Town of Miami Lakes introduced new Finance Director/Chief Financial Officer Kay Grant during the Aug. 9 council meeting.       Grant, 53, of Pembroke Pines, has worked in the town for eight years as budget manager and comptroller.        Town Manager Edward Pidermann said of Grant, “I knew who needed to be promoted from within.”       Departing...