What is Rosa Nell Hammer’s secret for longevity?The longtime Miami Lakes resident celebrated her 100th birthday on Oct. 2.Hammer wouldn’t credit lifestyle choices for keeping her going for so long and so well.Instead, her extraordinary lifespan may be all about her mind – stocking it with a lifetime of good memories, challenging it with her 52-year real estate career and nourishing her spirit with friends and faith.And then there are her...

Dear Neighbor,If you are a regular reader of The Miami Laker, you may know that my predecessor, Roger Reece, died Aug. 4 after a brief illness.For more than three decades, Roger was the editor and publisher of the The Miami Laker, which he loved.Even though I’ve had the privilege of leading the newspaper for just a short time, I can say that I feel the same way.My story begins in New York City, where I worked in banking.But my family loved...

Banners fly like sentries along Miami Lakes’ main byway, the town’s way of recognizing the service of its veterans and those currently serving in the military.“Every time I drive my kids down Miami Lakes Drive, they ask ‘Who’s that on the banners? What military branch did they serve in?’” Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid said. “Every street in Miami-Dade County should honor their veterans. It would inspire younger generations to serve their...

It has an awkward name but a pretty design. The first phase of the 1-5-4 Linear Bridge Park that will rise on the west side of town is expected to open later this year.Miami Lakes’ newest park will begin west of the circle on Northwest 154th Street at Northwest 89th Avenue. Eventually plans call for it to slope up to the middle of the closed bridge that spans Interstate 75.Initial construction is estimated to cost about $206,000 for the...

Miami Lakes residents won’t see their property rate tax increase if the proposed $20.7 million spending plan is approved for next year. But the budget is lean, and if a hurricane strikes, it could have a serious impact upon town finances. Which is why Town Manager Edward Pidermann asked the council to let him apply for a line of credit worth up to $20 million, or nearly as much as the budget. “We’re going to suffer a cash...