Mary Ann Goodlett-Taylor was honored by Miami Springs, Miami-Dade County and the State of Florida at last Monday’s regular council meeting and it could not have come at a better time. Goodlett-Taylor, known as the historian of Miami Springs, had her home burglarized the week before and needed some good news.

    The good news came in the form of proclamations from not only Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia and council but also Rebeca Sosa, chairwoman of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, and Rene Garcia, Florida State Senator for this district.

    The three proclaimed Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 Mary Ann Goodlett-Taylor Day and presented her with awards from each entity. The 78-year resident of Miami Springs, who had served on the Miami Springs Historic Preservation board for the 30 years of its existence, also got a key to the city.

    “In my 12 years of being involved in Miami Springs politics, this is the first key to the city that I have seen presented,” said Garcia. “Mary Ann has done more to preserve the history of Miami Springs than anyone and is very deserving of this honor.”

    Later in the meeting, Garcia would say: “I wish we could press a button and download everything in Mary Ann Goodlett Taylor’s mind. We should archive as much of her information as possible.”

    Sosa and Rene Garcia added their words of appreciation
for Goodlett-Tayor and Councilwoman Jennifer Ator, who has served with her on the Historic Preservation Board for many years, gave Mary Ann a giant bouquet of flowers.

    “Miami Springs is my city. I have lived here since 1934 and God blessed us with an ‘oasis’ here in Miami-Dade County,” Goodlett-Taylor said. “This is the best town anywhere. Thank you for this wonderful night”

    All of Goodlett-Tayor’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other relatives were then asked to come forward by Mayor Garcia so the family could share this special moment with this special woman.

    Goodlett-Taylor might not have thought so highly of Miami Springs the week before, when someone broke into her home and stole many valuable items. She returned home from working at the Miami Springs Historical Museum on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 22 only to discover the robbery.

    Everything of value in her bedroom was stolen, as the burglar(s) broke through a screened window. She estimated the losses at more than $20,000, as every piece of gold, silver, and jewelry was taken.

    The heartbreak suffered from such an invasion of privacy cannot be overcome in a week, but Miami Springs, Miami–Dade County and the State of Florida did their best on Monday night to lessen the blow and bring happiness to a true Miami Springs pioneer.

In other news, the council:

    • Heard that City Manager Ron Gorland had accepted the resignation of golf course manager Mike Aldridge last week. Gorland and Recreation Director Omar Luna are working on hiring a part-time employee to take over some of the duties of Aldridge at the Miami Springs Golf Course.

    • Presented a Certificate of Recognition to Alfreda (Freda) Felton for her 27 years of service at the Miami Springs Post Office. After 35 years as a postal worker, Felton is retiring as of Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013.

    • Received the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) from the city auditors, Alberni Caballero & Company. Miami Springs was lauded for its internal accounting procedures and the outside auditing firm found no defects that had to be reported to the State of Florida.

    • Heard a presentation from Miami-Dade County Youth Commissioner Cesar Castillo and his “Stroke Awareness Team” about their plans for a community-wide walk to bring awareness to the dangers of strokes, identifying strokes, and how to prevent strokes.

    • Approved by unanimous vote a $2,700 expenditure to Florida Shredding for 12 quarterly community-shredding events over a three-year period.