Jim Hamilton, treasurer of the Optimist Club of Miami Lakes is shown at left presenting a $1,000 college scholarship check to Christina Gonzalez on July 15. The event took place at the Miami Lakes Sports Shop where Hamilton is a co-owner. Christina is enrolled at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers. She was a winner of the Optimist Club of Miami Lakes Roland Gomez Scholarship while she was a junior at Barbara Goleman Senior...

Let’s do the Warrior One pose, aka Virabhadrasana I. The Warrior One pose is one of the most popular and practiced standing poses. It is named after a mythological Hindu warrior, Virabhadra. This fundamental pose helps build focus, power and stability. It stretches the front side of the body and at the same time, builds strength in the legs, back and core. Like other standing poses, there are different ways to get into...

Meet Luna! She’s a 1-year-old Golden Retriever, and lives near Graham Park in Miami Lakes with owner Karina Bello. Luna is in training to become an emotional service dog for Bello, and helps her with anxiety. “I pet her and it completely puts me at ease,” Bello said. The pair take long walks twice each day and also visit K-9 Cove, the town’s dog park on the west side. Bello said Luna is...

For four students at Miami Lakes Middle School, their legal studies academy project was personal. Their school auditorium was partially flooded in November, 2020 after Tropical Storm Eta struck South Florida. The high waters lingered in many neighborhoods for days. The students got to work on a solution. They wrote an ordinance to prevent flooding that related to driveways in residential districts. Their research included bicycle...

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Doral, is the guest speaker on Sept. 8 at the Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce luncheon. Diaz-Balart, 59, represents the 25th Congressional District of Florida, which includes Hialeah and Miami Lakes. He is serving his 10th term. The chamber has changed its meeting schedule and moved gatherings to the second Wednesday of each month. On Sept. 8, there will be networking at 11:30 a.m. followed by lunch,...