Mario Ortiz Jr. is a music teacher at Miami Lakes K-8 Center by day, but moonlights as a feisty trumpet player and salsa bandleader whose band, Mario Ortiz All Star Band, has been nominated for "Best Salsa Album" for its 50th Anniversary album in the upcoming 15th Latin Grammy Awards. This is the band's second nomination, the first was in 2010 for the 45th Anniversary album. Ortiz and his band are celebrating 50 years of musical...

  On Sunday, September 21, Miami Dolphins’ legendary running back and longtime Miami Lakes resident Tony Nathan was among a group of former players inducted into the team’s Walk of Fame. The ceremony took place during half time of the Dolphins-Chiefs game at Sun Life Stadium. Joining Nathan, who was a star at the University of Alabama, in the 2014 class are former defensive end Jeff Cross, cornerback Sam Madison and guard Ed...

  Mater Academy is undefeated in their district, Hialeah Miami Lakes crushed their opponents and Monsignor Pace won with seconds left on the clock, while Barbara Goleman, Hialeah Gardens and Dade Christian weren’t so lucky last week in Miami-Dade high school football action. Mater Academy is 3-0 in district games and the Lions showed just how dominate they can be with a 43-0 rout over rival Westland Hialeah. Mater Academy blew...

  Voice of Love Training and Development, in partnership with The Children’s Trust, will host its annual Cross Country Jingle Bell Jog 5K at 8 a.m. on Saturday, December 6, at Shula’s Golf Club Par 3 course, 7601 Miami Lakes Drive. Free activities for children will include a fun kid’s dash with prizes, bounce houses, face painting and balloons. Pre-registration is $25 and $30 on the day of the race. All proceeds go to...

  On Saturday, October 25, members of Shula’s Golf Club and their spouses will be treated to a night of golf under the stars on the Championship Senator Course with the return of Voodoo Golf.  Three holes will be lighted for participants to golf in their best Halloween costumes following cocktails and dinner. If you have never seen a zombie hit a 7-Iron or Dracula concede a putt to Frankenstein, it may happen during Voodoo...