The ZONTA Club of Miami Lakes awarded its 2026 Amelia Earhart Scholarships to two students at Florida International University’s College of Engineering and Computing.       Rahmina Rubaiat and Nikita Singhi each received $1,000.       The awards were in recognition of their academic excellence and commitment to advancing research in critical fields that impact public health and...

    Residents, attendees at the Festival of Lights, customers of the Mayor’s Cafe and employees of The Graham Companies donated hundreds of toys for kids that the Giving Gators charity distributed this holiday season.       Shown in the first photo at The Graham Companies in Miami Lakes, from left, Giving Gators Board Member Emily Garcia and Co-Founder Daylin Garcia, The Graham Companies Accountant,...

      Rabbi Mendel Weiss and his wife Tzippy Weiss of Chabad Miami Lakes provided a dancing dreidel, fried potato pancakes, kosher donuts and cotton candy for guests who lit a menorah on Main Street on Dec. 18, the fifth night of Hanukkah.       There was also a DJ and a person in a robot costume decorated with LED lights and a sign that flashed a rainbow peace sign, a kitten photo, “Happy...

    During his State of the Town address on Dec. 8, Miami Lakes Mayor Josh Dieguez singled out the Gonzalez family as Volunteers of the Year. The family - Omar Gonzalez, a member of the town’s Civic Association prior to incorporation; his wife Cathy Quintana, an Accountant in the Corporate Division at The Graham Companies; Omar’s brother Kelvin Gonzalez and Omar and Cathy’s adult children, Christina, known as...

     Miami Lakes has a new landmark: A two-story Christmas tree, decorated with lights and red, green, silver and gold balls. It stands at the corner of Main Street and New Barn Road.      The brightly lighted yule tree beckoned families who attended the 40th Annual Festival of Lights, presented by the Main Street Merchants and The Graham Companies.       Clive Smith photographed his wife...

ll of my friends, most of my casual acquiantences and several strangers on airplanes have heard the story about the time I met Dolly Parton. And now, dear reader, you get to hear it too. For many years, I worked on the features desk of a newspaper in the United Kingdom. Once, I was sent down to London because Dolly was doing a UK tour, and this was media day. Interviews were being done in a two-room suite at the Dorchester, one of the...

On September 13, eligible homeowners can leave Zoo Miami with more than something from the gift shop - they can walk out with a new tree for their yard. Miami-Dade County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) will host its finalAdopt-a-Tree event of 2026 on Sunday, September 13 at the zoo. The county aims to give away 2,500 trees. Varieties on offer will include Florida natives or trees that are considered...

A crowd of more than 150 people got to enjoy a Miami Lakes tradition - the annual Music for Americas Summer Strings Concert. The annual concert is presented by the Cultural Affairs Committee and is held at the Miami Lakes United Methodist Church. Under the direction of Lorenzo Turchi Floris, the orchestra played a selection of music including selections from Dvořák and Tchaikovsky. The concert also includes Tuchi Flores’...

Never had Persian food? Unsure on where to even start on the menu? Christian Owens has a suggestion. Come in once and give it a try. “Once they try it,” he said, “they’re hooked.” Christian and other staffers look out for newbies perusing the menu screens near the counter. Someone inevitably comes out to help and make a few suggestions. Joojeh - marinaded chicken - comes as a large plate, small plate...

Nova got a fresh start thanks to Gabriella Dominguez. Dominguez, who works as the public information officer for Miami-Dade County Animal Services, met Nova three years ago. “She arrived pregnant to the shelter,” Dominguez said. Nova, who is now five, had been with another foster family before she came to Dominguez, where she’s been ever since. Her puppies were adopted first. “She was very calm,”...