Former Miami Lakes Councilmember Mary Collins shared a poignant anecdote that left a lasting impression on her and her family.
The last request for her terminally ill daughter-in-law was to ride the Good Year Blimp.
Collins said she sought help from different organizations, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, but she didn’t have any luck for her son’s cancer-stricken wife.
She then turned to Mayor Michael Pizzi, who made her daughter-in-law’s wish come true.
“Teresa spent her last days riding inside the blimp. I will never, ever forget that.”
Collins’ and Pizzi’s often rocky relationship as council members for seven years turned into admiration when he was elected mayor, and the rapport led to Collins introduction of him at the recent State of the Town Address.
A packed crowd at Town Hall celebrated the city’s accomplishments and its 15th anniversary, and elected officials honored town staff, volunteers along with education leaders who received lifetime achievement awards.
At a time when the relationship between the mayor and council members appears to be strained after he filed two lawsuits against the town to pay for his legal fees, lawmakers put their differences aside for the event.
Pizzi said the Miami Lakes of today is a far cry from the newly-minted town created in 2000, when the city had a skeleton staff and a make-shift town hall inside a store front on Main Street.
“Our first city hall was a retail storefront, and we had no money, no office for the town manager, no place for our police department, no place for parks, and no place the for finance department,” Pizzi said. “We started out absolutely hard. It was really a struggle. It was a real team effort and in these short 15 years, we have become one of the finest cities in the country.”
Pizzi and council members took time to honor two long-time educators, who are retiring, and town staff and volunteers who helped shapes Miami Lakes to the city it is today and enhanced education for students.
Miami Lakes honored Miami Lakes Educational Center principal James Parker, who is ending his career after more than 30 years, with a lifetime achievement award.
“MLEC has been an A plus school for many years, and what’s so great about the school are the career programs for people to get jobs as a trucker, chef or barber,” Pizzi said. “And James Parker is the driving force at MLEC, where the kids love him and he loves them.”
Lawmakers also honored Miami Lakes K-8 Center principal Rosy Calvo with a lifetime achievement award, as her institution has been an A plus school for 15 consecutive years. She, too, is retiring.
“A lady who’s a bed rock,” Pizzi said. “She has been a second mother everyday for each child at the school for 15 years. And there was no way we would do a State of the Town Address without honoring her. She has been a God send to children.”
The Town Council recognized Katya Lysak, the town's Leisure Service manager, as Town Employee of the Year.
Town Manager Alex Rey said he picked her for the honor because she exemplifies what a dedicated town employee and team player means.
Already with two full plates on her hands, she was asked to add another duty as special events and committees coordinator while Clarisell De Cardenas went on maternity leave.
“With a smile, she said absolutely, I am here,” Rey said. “I selected a person who embodies the spirit of how a town staff operates and she’s the best example. We are so happy to have her as part of our team.”
Lynn Matos, chair of the Youth Activities Task Force, and Luis Collazo, chair of the Elderly Affairs Committee, were each named Volunteer of the Year.
Pizzi choked back tears while honoring the late Sergio Campos with the Key to the Town award. Campos was president of the Loch Ness Homeowners Association for 30 years before he succumbed to cancer earlier this year.
“I have never seen anyone love his neighborhood more than this man,” Pizzi said. “When you see Lock Ness, you think of Sergio Campos because he was synonymous with that neighborhood.”
The mayor said the state of the town is strong and he expects it to get better in the future.
The mayor said the state of the town is strong and he expects it to get better in the future.
The new youth center is expected to open this month and the new Miami Lakes Optimist Club house is slated to be up and running next year, Pizzi said.
He said Miami Lakes launched a pilot program following incorporation with Miami-Dade to allow residents to come to Town Hall to obtain building and zoning permits instead of traveling to County Hall in downtown Miami.
As a result, the program is perhaps the most successful among other municipal cities, Pizzi said.
This year, the mayor said Miami Lakes completed the Town Center zoning district map, increased public transportation by nine percent, finished construction of the Greenway on N.W. 77 Court, and achieved a Class Five flood insurance rating.
Pizzi said Miami Lakes' amnesty program in which residents brought their properties up to code for reduced costs and sometimes at no charge, was also a success to reflect the living standards of the 6.5 square-mile town.
For parks and recreation, Pizzi said the town completed its greenways and trails master plan, set to open up the new dog park next year and is working diligently to turn the Par 3 golf course to a passive park.
“Miami Lakes has the best park system in the state of Florida,” Pizzi said.
Pizzi also recognized local dignitaries who were on hand, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade Police Director J.D. Patterson, Opa-locka Mayor Myra Taylor and a representative from Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart’s office.
Pizzi acknowledged that Gimenez played a big role for upgrading municipal services in Miami Lakes, following years of bickering and stalemate with the county.
“Our relationship with the county was rocky, but when he became mayor, he turned over our parks, built the new fire station and opened up N.W. 87 Avenue,” Pizzi said. “He kept his promise and I want to thank him.”