In a room with large mirrors, beats blast and tots and teens transform into dancers every Saturday at the Mary Collins Community Center in Miami Lakes.       Differences and diagnoses don’t matter for children who may have varying degrees of autism or whose parents suspect they might. All are accepted and given an opportunity to express themselves, says Audrey Lynn Amadeo, founder of...

     Where southbound Oak Lane becomes Commerce Way in Miami Lakes Business Park West, a variety of companies are headquartered.       The first stretch of buildings on the west side of Commerce Way includes Gator Investments which manages commercial and residential properties throughout the United States and Puerto Rico; Antigua College International; a dialysis center; pediatric offices and Diamond...

   Mater Lakes Academy won 1st place in the second annual Private and Charter Mock Trial competition, held Feb. 23 - 24 at Miami Dade College North Campus.         The next step is competing in the final state competition; that winner will face the champion from the Miami Dade County Public Schools’ contest, Mater Lakes said.      Mock trial coach Rene Medina said, “I’m...

Mariela Abeledo Miami Lakes Physician      “Yes, we’re heading to Anna Maria Island, this is our first time going,” Mariela Abeledo said in comments that were translated from Spanish. “We have traveled [during] the last two years, but it has been local.”  Katrina Hernandez Miami Lakes Secretary      “No not right now, we’ll probably...

     The Mater Lakes Academy girls basketball team set a school record for wins this season, going 16-9 and claiming a second consecutive district championship.       The team finished one game shy of reaching the FHSAA Class 4A Final Four, falling to state finalist Calvary Christian 64-63.       “I’m extremely honored to have coached this year, as we broke the...