Each year, the American Legion presents awards to approximately 30,000 students for demonstrating character traits that the group calls American ideals: courage, honor, leadership, patriotism, scholarship and service.      Young people in elementary, middle and high schools and at colleges are chosen by faculty for the Legion’s School Medal Award Program, said Gary Cardenas, commander of American Legion Post 144...

    Like many authors do, Jackie Morera drew from her own life when writing her first book, “Abuelo’s Flower Shop.”       Morera, 34, grew up in Miami Lakes. Her grandfather’s flower stand in Miami inspired her tale of Elena, a little girl who is finally old enough to help her grandfather sell his flowers.       “I would visit my abuelos (grandparents) when...

The Latin American Grill in Miami Lakes will give customers a taste of what’s to come on July 4th. That’s when the restaurant’s ventanita will reopen and owner Reny Gonzalez and his devoted team will give away free shots of Cuban espresso, from 4:30 p.m. to sunset. “We’ll be able to serve the people who park here and walk to [Veterans Park] for the fireworks,” Gonzalez said. His landmark café has...

    It was a Tico Casamayor Takeover of Town Hall on May 14.       The Miami Lakes town council honored him for his extensive volunteering for causes that include boosting business and helping elders and veterans.       Mayor Manny Cid described him as “someone who makes people feel important, good and loved…[he] has made people’s dreams come true.”   ...

     The Florida State University Alumni Association Board of Directors named Ramiro Inguanzo as their ‘Board Member of the Year’ in May for his many contributions to the FSU community.      “As a proud member of the FSU Alumni Association National Board of Directors, I have the honor of supporting FSU’s mission of life-long learning and service by engaging with our students, alumni,...