Start holiday celebrations by enjoying a spectacular live performance of “The Nutcracker.” Ballet Etudes of South Florida, located in the Miami Lakes area, will present its 44th annual full-length production of this Christmas classic which is the longest running production in South Florida.Performances will be at 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 15 and 16, at the nearby Miramar Cultural Center.“The Nutcracker” is a wonderful treat for...

Long-time Miami Lakes resident Dr. Jorge Orta is a practicing cardiothoracic anesthesiologist and chief anesthesiologist at Palmetto General Hospital. Orta was recently awarded Director of the Year 2018 from the organization, Team Health. Team Health is dedicated to staffing hospitals and ambulatory centers with more than 19,000 associated clinicians.

On December 7, DJs Giving Back and local South Florida band, Mantrap, have united alongside the Miami Lakes Ale house to bring the first-ever Toys for Tots Christmas party. In addition to helping those less fortunate by donating toys, there will be live music from 8 p.m. until 1 a.m. with DJ Eddy Ortega. The event, located at 15251 N.W. 67 Avenue, will be fun for the whole family.

Monsignor Edward Pace High School has a new head football coach.Mario Perez, who was an assistant at Plantation American Heritage, takes over for Joe Zaccheo, who also resigned as the school’s athletic director.Long time head baseball coach Tom Duffin fills the role of overseeing the work of coaches and related staff involved in athletic programs.Perez has a household name in South Florida football, leading one of the most powerful offenses...

St. Thomas University baseball players Orlando Rodriguez and Jackie Urbaez were recently named to the NAIA Preseason All-American team.Rodriguez, the senior ace of the Bobcat's pitching staff, is coming off a stellar junior season. In 2018, Rodriguez finished the season with a 14-1 record, a 2.75 ERA and led STU with 125 strikeouts in 98.1 innings pitched. Rodriguez's 14 wins placed him second in the NAIA in the category as he was named as a...