Stories written by Raquel Garcia

Local gym supports Olympic triathlete Manny Huerta

Pinecrest Fitness Owner Mike Estevez (left) and Olympic Triathlon
hopeful
Manuel Huerta with
fellow athlete Michael Nunez
in the background.

Pinecrest Fitness recently hosted a spinning class fundraiser for Olympic-bound triathlete and Little Havana resident Manuel Huerta. Local athletes and friends hope to raise enough money to help Huerta take his family with him to London in August so they can watch him compete in the 2012 Summer Olympic Games Triathlon at Hyde Park. “It [...]

Women driven business American Chariots celebrates 35th anniversary

(L to r) Judy Kilburn and Karla Cooper are the ladies behind the wheel at American Chariots

Maybe it was the salesman who was too busy asking Judy Kilburn out on a date rather than focusing on selling her a car that convinced her to go into business for herself as an auto broker. Her boyfriend (now husband) was in the business at the time. What started out as an entrepreneurial endeavor [...]

Artist Ronald Shelley shares his life and influences leading to latest exhibit

Ronald Shelley and wife Donna Shelley show sketches from a collaborated book about his childhood surviving the bombings in England during World War II

It was Ronald Shelley’s father who declared that his son grew up in the middle of a shooting match. In 1940, life on a farm in the countryside outside Rugby, England did not protect the Shelley family from World War II’s Battle of Britain. They just barely managed to escape their destroyed home. Six year [...]

Summer Fun at Gibson-Bethel Community Center

Yvette Valdes and Carl Williams join a kickball game while Recreation and Parks Director Lorenzo Woodley watches in the background

On any given summer afternoon at the Gibson Bethel Community Center, an energized game of kick- ball, basketball or tag can be observed along with the shouting and laughter from the summer camp kids out on the field playing together. Over 190 students are registered for this year’s program which not only provides half a [...]

Students at South Miami Senior High place first in National Robotics Competition

South Miami Senior High School Robotics Club students (l to r) Ruben Labrada, Claudia Reyes, Gerardo Parra, Rafael Gutierrez, Yomar Toledo and teacher Rolando Pedraza-Cruz won first place in the ION Mini-Urban Challenge National Robotics Finals Competition in Washington DC sponsored by The Institute of Navigation and the United States Air Force Research Laboratory. Students are challenged to design and operate robotic cars. SMSHS also took home second place. Both teams won a combined $11,500 covering their one week DC travel expenses. Congratulations winners!

When South Miami Senior High School (SMSHS) Principal Gilberto Bonce graduated from Troy State University in Alabama with a physical science degree, he figured he would take a leisurely year off to perhaps prepare for vet school. But his dad had other ideas, prodding him to get started earning a living. And so began, quite [...]

Officers bring home the gold in Police Olympics

Pictured (l-r) are Pinecrest police officers Robert Noyer and Phil Martin with their 10 Police Olympics Gold Medals and trophies.

Pinecrest police officers Robert Noyer and Phil Martin brought home 10 gold medals and finished in third place overall in the 2012 Florida Police and Fire Games swimming competition held recently in upstate Sebastian. Although Officer Martin broke his pinky toe right after the warm-up swim and Officer Noyer had only just begun swimming competitively [...]

Expanding world-class healthcare at Baptist Cardiac and Vascular Institute

BCVI

When Dr. Barry Katzen’s mother had a stroke 20 years ago, the use of blot clot dissolving drugs for the brain was in its infancy. Already a practicing physician at the time, he and his colleagues attempted an aggressive treatment to save her life but did not pre- vail. It was at that point that [...]

County Commissioner Martinez pitches Trump Film Studio at Luncheon

County Commissioner Joe Martinez speaks to Chamber South members about Trump Film Studio proposal

While Chamber South members and guests enjoyed chicken marsala at Carrabba’s Italian Grill during their recent monthly networking luncheon, guest speaker and County Commissioner, Joe Martinez, spoke to the attentive audience about his partnership with developer Donald Trump to build an 800 acre film studio on the former Homestead Air Force Base site. “Six months [...]

Red Sunset Merchant Association unveils new board at Shula’s 347

(From l to r) Mary Scott Russell, Amy Donner, Oliver von Gundlach, Ivan Mladenovic, Mercedes Garcia, Hans Huseby, Karla Cooper and Francesco Balli

In the elegant black leather and silver chrome lounge of Shula’s 347 Grill, Red Sunset Merchant Association (RSMA) members gathered together recently to sample horsd’oeuvres and enjoy a glass of wine while catching up with old friends and business acquaintances. It was another big turn-out for the monthly “Merchant Night” gatherings where members and guests [...]

Hundreds protest drunk driving during ‘Walk for Kaely’

Kaely Camacho’s mother, Angela Camacho (center right), is pictured among family and friends during the walk.

Hundreds of students gathered together on a recent Wednesday morning outside Southwood Middle School in Palmetto Bay to honor the memory of Kaely Camacho. Hundreds of sixth, seventh and eighth graders took turns swinging their hands together and marching around the school block in a sea of blue T-shirts (Kaely’s favorite color) during a memorial [...]

Middle School Magnet Program shines at Johnson-Ward Auditorium

(L-R)Middle School Magnet Program (SMMCS) Principal Evonne Alvarez, Enid (Johnson) Pinkney, and Richard Ward

The Johnson_Ward Auditorium at South Miami Middle Community School (SMMCS) was packed with eager students awaiting the parting of the red velvet curtains on stage. The din of their conversation carried across the room as they reacted to a power point presentation of student’s art work selections. Happy puppy dogs, gardens with flowers in full [...]

City Commission rejects staff-supported soccer proposal; lawsuit to be filed

South Miami United soccer team members react to the commissioners decision

The only thing soccer coach presidents from city sponsored teams South Miami United and South MiamiGrey Ghosts agree upon, is the unpleasant effect the rivalry between the two competing bidders has had on the children that play the game. City Hall was packed with soccer moms, dads and kids decked out in uniforms, holding signs, [...]

Expanding world class care at the Baptist Cardiac Institute

Pictured (l-r) are Sean Kramer, director of development for the Baptist Cardiac Vascular Institute; event hosts Hector and Monica Betancourt, Founders board member Karel Foti; and Dr. Barry Katzen

When Dr. Barry Katzen’s mother had a stroke 20 years ago, the use of blot clot dissolving drugs for the brain was in its infancy. Already a practicing physician, Katzen and his colleagues attempted an aggressive treatment to save her life, but to no avail. It was then that he decided there must be a [...]

Team Florida Baseball to host first Golf and Poker Tournament, July 7

Poker-4C

While a junior at Ransom Everglades High School, Dan Otero, now a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, said one of his best opportunities to prepare for a future with Major League Baseball came from his days with Dave Westberry’s Team Florida Baseball. “Dave is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet in [...]