JANUARY

   A one-of-a-kind event in Miami Springs took place on Jan. 13 when Alexander Markov, one of the world’s most accomplished virtuoso violinists and passionate musical mentor to students across the world, performed before a large crowd on a beautiful crisp evening at the gazebo on the Circle with a free promotional appearance.
    The assembly was a preview of what was to be a highlighted Gala/Rock Concerto on Jan. 27 at Fairchild Tropical Botanical Gardens in Coral Gables. Markov left his mark on the music lovers of Miami Springs with his violin’s enormous range of tone and mood, from quiet and sweet, to playful and humorous, to dark, gothic and powerful. At 9 p.m. he struck up a lively medley piece, closing with the “Star Spangled Banner,” his neon red bow glowing bright.

 

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    On Thursday, Jan. 19, freshman Michelle Berry scored the lone goal in the game to lead the Miami Springs Lady Hawks girls soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Goleman in the District 16-4A championship game at Traz Powell Stadium for the team’s seventh district title in eight years.

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    “I’m coming back home,” were the words of Darryel Bethune as he walked through the doors of Miami Springs High School on Friday, Jan. 20 to meet his new football players. After two weeks of interviews to fill the recently vacated post of head coach of the MSSH football program, it was announced that morning that Bethune would be the new man in charge. Bethune not only played football at Springs on a pair of undefeated teams in 1978 and ’79, but spent 13 seasons (1989-2001) on Buddy Goins’ coaching staff and another two (2007-08) as the offensive coordinator.

 

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    On Saturday, Jan. 21, under a cloudless sky with the temperature in the upper 60s, the Miami Springs/Virginia Gardens Optimist Club ordered up its Second Annual BBQ Blast Throw-Down on the Circle. With the smell of delicious BBQ in the air, the crowd grooved all day to the music of Room Service as they dined and waited for the big announcement of the Overall Throw-Down winner. And with a Room Service drum roll, Optimist president Bill Tallman announced that the Butter Knives team of Carlos Fox, Irandis Diaz and Robert Gomez took home the big trophy.

 

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    On Saturday, Jan. 28, the Hialeah-Miami Springs Rotary Club and the Miami Springs Lions Club combined efforts to hold their Fourth Annual Poker Tournament at the Lions Club on Swallow Drive — and the event was a success once again. Jose Sanabria turned out to be the big winner as he outlasted 79 other players to win the championship. With it, Sanabria won a $1,500 seat at a World Series of Poker tournament the following summer, along with airfare and hotel accommodations. Gazette publisher Tom Curtis gave it his best shot and made it all the way to the final table before Sanabria took him out and TC had to settle for an eighth-place finish.

 

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    Also on Jan. 28, friends and family of Marlene Wolfe arrived at Stafford Park on East Drive for the Inaugural Mile for Marli walkathon. The event benefited the Message from Marli Foundation and more than 500 people showed up to walk in support of the Wolfes and their charitable foundation, which raises funds and awareness for ovarian cancer.
    In 2009, Marlene Wolfe, a 44-year-old mother of three and a beloved teacher at Blessed Trinity Catholic School, was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer, thus spawning husband Marc and daughter Melanie’s drive to start the foundation. Marlene was not well enough to attend the walkathon.