The Optimist Club of Miami Lakes kicked off its 2024 baseball and softball seasons with a visit from Billy the Marlin. The Miami Marlins mascot joined the teams on Feb. 23 at Optimist Park for the opening night ceremonies. Danny de Varona, president of the Optimist Club, said that over 500 kids are participating in this season. Boy Scout Troop 566 presented the colors before the ceremonial first pitch was thrown out by Mayor Manny Cid,...

 Miami Lakes Golf Club and First Tee Miami welcomed more than 500 students from 17 Miami-Dade County Public Schools for its special needs golf program in February. Volunteer instructors as well as staff professionals taught students who traveled from as far as Homestead how to putt, drive and chip golf balls. 

      It’s one of the great quirks of golf: A player could place a ball exactly 150 yards from the hole one day, then place a ball in the exact same spot and hit to the exact same pin a day later, only to have the shots seem wildly different.      The reason: Wind.      There’s no escaping the elements, particularly in South Florida, where we can get breezes at any time from just...

      Miami Dade College is adding soccer programs this fall.       The school recently hired MDC alumnus Ramiro Vengoechea to coach the inaugural women’s team.       Giuseppe DePalo is head coach of the men’s program that is returning for the first time in more than three decades.       “I look forward to working with students and developing a winning...

     Anthony Walker Jr., Monsignor Edward Pace High School Class of ‘13 where he was a National Honor Society member, was nominated by the Cleveland Browns as one of 32 contenders for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.      Each NFL team nominates a player who is an exceptional athlete on the field and a humanitarian off it for teh award, considered one of the most prestigious the league...