The Education Fund honors Laura W. Ratliff of The Graham Companies

Featured By Alexandra Herrera, Reporter Wednesday, March 18, 2026

     The Education Fund recognized Laura W. Ratliff, one of three sponsors it spotlighted during its annual Taste of Education at Hialeah Park on Feb. 24. Ratliff is a vice president and the commercial portfolio manager at The...

Mary Collins Community Center officially dedicated

Featured Wednesday, March 5, 2014

 

On Thursday, February 20, the Miami Lakes Town Council along with State Senator Rene Garcia and Miami-Dade County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr., honored one of the town’s founding council members, Mary Collins, by designating the Community Center at Miami Lakes Picnic Park West in her name.

“A well-deserved recognition for the woman who is considered the Godmother of Miami Lakes,” said Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez.

The formal unveiling of the center’s designation was held in conjunction with the grand reopening of the center which has undergone a full renovation including the addition of one classroom. Programming resumes at the center this month.

Collins is a former three-term council member who achieved her goal of forming many of the town’s citizen committees that have made major contributions to helping the town win several awards.

Before she became a council member in 2001, Collins was a Miami-Dade County Commissioner. She served the Miami Lakes community for 11 years with a commitment to improve programming and involvement of the town’s youth and elderly populations.