Though the costumed 501st Everglades Squad is made up of the bad guys of “Star Wars,” the men and women behind the masks and cloaks are anything but.      From visiting ill children in hospitals to marching in parades, the volunteers are regular participants at community events.      Gary Cardenas Jr., 56, does public relations and other tasks for the 501st Everglades Squad. They are part of an...

Mayor Josh Dieguez fastens a pin with the town seal onto the jacket of Alain Sanchez, 15, during Youth Governance Day at Miami Lakes Town Hall.  Alain is a rising sophomore at Barbara Goleman Senior High School and is enrolled in the AP Capstone program with a concentration is Law Studies. He served as Mayor for a Day on June 8. He took the oath in council chambers, got a mayor’s briefing and met with Town Clerk Gina Inguanzo...

    Meet Louie from Lake Katharine.      Louie is a four-year-old Labradoodle who is an avid lizard chaser, though owner Beth Martincic says he has not caught one yet.      “He is high energy, but he is very sweet,” Martincic said of the family pet she shares with her hus-band Ollie Martincic and their daughters, ages five and 9, in their Miami Lakes home.      Louie...

     The Miami Lakes Chamber of Commerce and Miami Lakes AutoMall are accepting donations during the chamber’s July 8 luncheon at Miami Lakes Hotel on Main. Members and guests are encouraged to contribute any of the following: Canned goods Diapers Work gloves Industrial-size trash bags Masking tape Flashlights AA, AAA and D Batteries First aid kits Hygiene products Canned proteins Bottled...

When Alexander Brito isn’t helping to shape the next generation of football players or creative writers, he’s writing. Brito, 32, an English teacher at Barbara Goleman Senior High School and the offensive line coach for its football team, recently published his debut novel, “Creatures of Habit” with Current Words Publishing. “Creatures of Habit” is the story of Yovanni Guerra, told through journal...