OCTOBER

    Medley Mayor Ramon Rodriguez said goodbye at the monthly meeting on Oct. 1. He handed out trophies and eagle mounts to town officials and police officers who had helped him during his eight years as mayor. Rodriguez, who began working in Medley in the ’70s, was stepping down and a new mayor would be elected on the first Tuesday in November.

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    The new Miami Springs outsourced tree-trimming company, Raydel Landscaping & Tree Service, got started on the first day of October trimming trees around the Circle and cutting lawns. The council’s decision to use Raydel is expected to save the city $240,000 in the current fiscal year.

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    The Medley Chamber of Commerce  celebrated its first anniversary with a special luncheon on Oct. 9. Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez was the main speaker. Outgoing president Rob Martell passed the baton to Juan Rubi. The following officers of the Medley Chamber were also installed at the meeting: Harvey Schneider as vice president; Andy Abbate as secretary; Gladys Perdomo as treasurer; and directors George Acevedo, Gene Avincula, Alberto Bello Jr., Jorge Corzo, Lowell Dunn Jr., Elena Gardner, Hiram Hernandez, Victor Herrera, Rafael Monreal, Frank Rodriguez, and Christopher Zacarias.

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    Commissioner Rebeca Sosa’s annual Flu Vaccination Day took place in Miami Springs on Thursday Oct. 18. Sosa partnered with the Miami-Dade Health Department in making this a free service to high-risk groups in the community.

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    The month of October got in high gear with Poinciana Methodist’s Harvest Festival event. It began with the unloading of the pumpkins on the Curtiss Parkway median on Oct. 15 and concluded on Tuesday Oct. 30. The two-week event included the sale of pumpkins of every size and homemade baked goods, along with Storytime at the Pumpkin Patch every weekday from 10 a.m. to noon.

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    The City of Miami Springs hosted the  the Junior Orange Bowl Royal Court Preliminary Pageant on Oct. 20  in the Rebeca Sosa Theatre. All young ladies 12-14 years of age were invited to participate in the pageant; the judges selected a Royal Court that advanced to the final on Nov. 17, also held in the Rebeca Sosa Theatre.

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    The City of Miami Springs  held its 7th Annual Halloween Festivities Celebration at the Community Center  on Saturday, Oct. 27. There was a costume contest and an “egg haunt” for the little ghosts and goblins. Many residents with their children enjoyed ghostly gourmet delights, spooky jump houses, monster munchies, a face painter and a balloon artist.

NOVEMBER

    Election Day was Tuesday Nov. 6 and not only did River Cities residents vote for President but also for the U.S. Senate race, won by incumbent Bill Nelson; District 12 U.S. Representative, won by Lleana Ros-Lehtinen; 11 state constitutional amendments; and a few other items.
    Medley voters elected a new mayor (Roberto Martell) and three council members (Griselia DiGiacomo, Susana Guasch and Edgar Ayala).

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    Blessed Trinity Church celebrated its 45th Annual Parish Family Festival on the first weekend in November. The usual carnival rides, specialty dinners, auction, and pancake breakfast were a part of this event that has been a tradition on Blessed Trinity’s grounds for more than four decades.