JULY

    The second half of 2012 began with  the annual Fourth of July parade in Miami Springs, with former mayor Billy Bain  as the Grand Marshall. Close to 100 components were a part of the parade that went down Westward Drive and Curtiss Parkway to the Miami Springs Country Club.
    The parade took place on Wednesday, July 4 and the night before many enjoyed the Classic Car Show on the Circle. After the parade, everyone enjoyed the festivities at the Miami Springs Country Club. The annual Baby Contest was a highlight.
    And, of course, the Independence Day weekend, celebrating the 236th year of our country, would not have been complete without the spectacular fireworks display above the country club sky on the night of July 4.

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    Around the same time former Miami Springs high school baseball star Yasmany Grandel was making his major league debut, another young baseball player made headlines.
    On July 6, 12-year-old Anthony Boix, considered one of the best young players in the nation, threw a no-hitter against Liberty City and struck out 18 batters in a six-inning game. For good measure, he hit a tape-measure home run as the Miami Springs team advanced in the Little League All-Star tournament.

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    The Virginia Gardens/Miami Springs Optimist Classic Dolphin Fishing Tournament took place on Saturday, July 14. It was the 11th anniversary of the tournament and fish fry. For the second straight year, it took place on the Circle and included many additional activities for young and old alike.
     The winning boat, O’Blu, caught a record 126.3 pounds of dolphin and earned the $5,000 first-place check.

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    A Virginia Gardens resident and former employee in the police department was arrested and charged with selling firearms illegally. Jose A. Quintana was arraigned in Palm Beach County and posted a $200,000 bond. He was forced to surrender his passport and faced five years in prison if convicted.

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   A Miami Springs man, Jose Martin Perez-Sanchez, was arrested on first-degree murder charges in connection with the killing of a man in Cutler Bay. The murder-for-hire by the victim’s ex-girlfriend made local, state and national news.

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  The City of Miami Springs Aquatic Center hosted its annual Endless Summer Luau Party on the last Saturday in July. The pool deck was decorated like a set from “Hawaii Five-O” — there was a luau BBQ pit and the usual Polynesian dancers. This luau pool party continues to be one of the most traditional and well-attended events of the city.

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    Miami Springs resident Ariana Fajardo was officially sworn in as a Miami-Dade County Circuit Court judge on July 27, with more than 200 friends and community leaders attending the ceremony. Fajardo, an attorney who once served on the Miami Springs Board of Adjustments, was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott after the death of Judge Julio Jimenez early in 2012.

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    All cities are required to set the tentative millage rate for the 2010-11 fiscal year by the end of July. These rates can be lowered but not increased during the budget process. Miami Springs set their millage rate rate at 7.648, a significant increase from the current year; Virginia Gardens set their tax rate at 6.00, the same as the current year; and Medley at 5.65, the same as the prior three years.

AUGUST

    The Miami Springs council at their Budget Workshop meeting in August took up the issues of outsourcing public works and funding for the Curtiss Mansion. Facing an $800,000 deficit, the council did agree to outsource tree trimming/landscaping (saving $240,000) but no public works employee would lose their job. The council agreed to an additional $500,000 in funding for the Curtiss Mansion, in the form of a $250,000 loan and a $250,000 investment.

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    The Town of Medley was given a check for $3.46 million at their August meeting, for their share of the $165 million government take in a money-laundering scheme. Police detectives Joel Chades and Arturo Jinete were given awards from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service criminal investigative team for their efforts in the four-year sting operation.

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    The Miami Springs Area Chamber of Commerce honored two award-winning groups from the area. The Mu Alpha Theta Math Club from the high school and “The History Girls” from All Angels Academy were given an appreciation award for their outstanding effort in national competitions.

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    A total of 1,802 Miami Springs voters went to the polls on Aug. 14 and it became clear they don’t like change. Both referendums on election change were voted down by big margins. Former councilman Daniel Espino, running for a seat on the school board, won in Miami Springs by a 200-vote margin but lost to Susie Castillo in the countywide vote.

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    Miami Springs police officers demonstrated outside of City Hall prior to the second regular council meeting in August. The agreement between city and its police officers had expired in 2009 and pension contributions were about to go up to a record 23 percent. In November, a two-year compromise, but not a new contract, was finally reached that would reduce police pension contributions to 16 percent, retroactive to Oct. 1, 2012.

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    The 2012 opening football game for the Miami Springs Golden Hawks on Aug. 30 ended in victory and that was something not tasted in more than a year. The 21-19 win over Westland Hialeah broke a 10-game losing streak and  gave Darryel Bethune a 1-0 record as the new Springs football coach. The Golden Hawks were 0-10 in 2011 and were outscored 556-49, so getting 2012 off to a good start was a big positive step.

SEPTEMBER

    The Miami Springs Historical Society celebrated its 25th Anniversary with its annual kickoff party on Sept. 8. The event was held at the home of Frank and Yvonne Shonberger and was attended by Historical Society President Tom Snook and Councilwoman Jennifer Ator.

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    The Miami Springs Farmer’s Market officially opened on Saturday Sept. 22 on the grounds of All Angels Church on Ludlam Drive. There were many vendors selling fresh produce, baked goods, and specialty products. There was a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9:30, with Mayor Zavier Garcia doing the honors.
    The Farmer’s Market continues every Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. until March and many special events are being held in conjunction with the products offered for sale.

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    The Miami Springs council voted to reduce the tax rate to 6.995 at the final budget meeting on Sept. 27. The council was not able to come to an agreement on the police pension issue and police officers would begin contributing almost 23 percent of each pay check, starting Oct. 1.