President of the Homestead campus since Nov. 1, 2005, Jacobs brought with her over 33 years of administrative leadership and teaching experience in community colleges. She began her career in higher education at Calhoun Community College in Decatur, Ala., where she served as associate dean for human resources and legal affairs, assistant to the dean of the college and assistant director of community services and continuing education. She also taught in the English Department. Prior to joining the Homestead campus, Jacobs also served as Vice President for Instruction at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio, and as Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Jacobs wasted no time in getting involved in the Homestead community. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Homestead Hospital and is a trustee member on the Executive Council of the Homestead/Florida City Chamber of Commerce, the Homestead Educational Facilities Board, and the Greater Miami Chapter of the Links Inc.

The lecture is free but a simple lunch will be available for $10 starting at 11:30 a.m. by reservations only. Call Barbara at 305-230-9185 before 2 p.m. on Feb. 1, to make your lunch reservation.

‘Taste of the Garden’ in Miami Beach

The eighth annual "Taste of the Garden", hosted by the Miami Beach Botanical Garden and the Miami Beach Garden Club, will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Center Dr. in Miami Beach.

The dinner will showcase South Florida’s premiere restaurants and chefs and will feature live entertainment and a silent auction to feature a 100 per cent cashmere black cape with black fox trim (valued at $2,995) and live paintings by David Banegas.

Tickets are $90 per person.

5K in Kendall

The St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School and Breakthrough Miami will present the Second Annual Fun Run/Walk 5K at 8 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Episcopal Parish School, 5692 N. Kendall Dr.

Early registration is $25 through Feb. 1, and $30, if you skip the race to sleep in. Race day registration on Feb. 2, is $30. Packets will be available for pick up on race day starting at 7 a.m.

If you think you will be too tired to run or if you are too busy, the Breakthrough Miami Scholars will run for you. Prizes will be awarded to the top three male and top three female finishers.

To register, click on to the link: http://www.stepsmia.org/podium/default.aspx?t=143968&rc=0.

Volunteers needed to aid elders

The Florida Long-term Care Ombudsman Program is looking for compassionate volunteers to provide advocacy for those who have lost their independence, in varying degrees, and need to reside within long-term care facilities.

The Ombusdman Program is mandated by the federal government and is operated by each state to protect and advocate for the rights, safety and welfare of people residing in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes.

If this is something you think you’d like to do, it’s a good thing. Medical events can happen to anyone and can suddenly transform a person’s life to one that is dependent on the goodwill and expertise of facility owners, administrators and staff. In Florida, the volunteer ombudsmen maintain a presence in these facilities, identifying, investigating and resolving residents’ concerns. Ombudsmen also conduct administrative assessments of every licensed long-term care facility in the state. The ombusdmen are trained and certified and receive continuing training to keep them informed of laws and policies pertaining to the long-term care residents they serve.