Odalis Soto is an artist, but her work is not limited to canvas, digital design or sculpture. In fact, her classroom is her largest mosaic. Her passion for her career as well as the well-being for “her kids” has granted her the honor of Teacher of the Year at Miami Lakes Educational Center.  Students walk into her classroom and become immediately immersed in living, breathing art, in bright vibrant colors or even in...

  Miami Dade College girl’s volleyball head coach Origene “Kiko” Benoit was named 2017 American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Coach of the Year, Benoit, who graduated from American High School, led the Lady Sharks to their second consecutive NJCAA Volleyball National Championships, finishing the season undefeated with a 34-0 overall record. The Lady Sharks shut out CSI 3-0 (25-13, 25-21, and 25-18) to win the...

  Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Nelson Rodriguez recently celebrated his 30th year as a Coral Gables firefighter. “I truly cannot have done it without the support of my family, especially my wife, Lisa, who has been there through the whole journey,” Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said he is planning to retire in 2021 and spend more time with family; he and his wife, Lisa Rodriguez, have three young children. Residents and friends of...

  Current Spanish Lake Elementary music teacher and former Bob Graham Education Center music teacher, Jackson Bunn, will be the featured performer for the second year in a row with his band at Jazz in the Park on Saturday, January 27. The event starts at 6 p.m. and will be held at Miami Lakes Picnic Park West, 15151 N.W. 82 Avenue. Bunn was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on November 27, 1962. He began learning songs from movies,...

  Miami Lakes Elderly Affairs Committee offers free field trips for Miami Lakes residents 55 years and above. The next field trip is to Zoo Miami on Tuesday, February 6. Transportation will be provided from Miami Lakes Optimist Park Clubhouse, 6411 N.W. 162 Street. The bus will depart at 10 a.m. Zoo Miami is the largest and oldest zoological garden in Florida and the only sub-tropical zoo in the continental United States. The unique...