An angel in the sky, Kendall pilot volunteers to fly sick patients

It takes a lot of dedication to volunteer your time, and your fueled-up private aircraft, to help sick persons needing quick transportation to a medical facility.

Sometimes the calls come in the middle of the night.

David Rivero of Kendall is one of those volunteer pilots and he was named the 2015 “Pilot of the Year” for the South Florida region at the recent Angel Flight Southeast Pilot Awards Gala.

Rivero flies a Grumman Tiger out of Tamiami Airport. He completed 24 missions for Angel Flight Southeast last year.

“Dave exemplifies the dedication of our Angel Flight Pilots who are so generous in their efforts to ensure a passenger receives the necessary medical care they need,” said Steve Purello, volunteer pilot and CEO of Angel Flight Southeast in a release.

Rivero, an Angel Flight Southeast volunteer pilot since 2012, also was the 2013 “Pilot of the Year” recipient.

The honor is based on 14 criteria that include flying and sometimes driving sick passengers, answering last minute transportation requests, flying round trip flights, and waiting through the patient’s appointment for the return flight.

There are more than 650 pilots who volunteer with Angel Flight Southeast. The pilots fly children and adults. Many fly patients for organ transplants and other emergency surgeries when quick timing is everything.

The mission of the nonprofit organization, based in Leesburg, Florida, is to provide “free air transportation throughout the Southeast by private aircraft to distant medical facilities when commercial air service is not available, impractical or simply not affordable.”

To make a donation or learn more, visit www.angelflightse.org. Or you can call 352-326-0761.

BATTLE OF THE LEGAL BANDS

Rock on with our local lawyer/rock star bands Crazy Talk, Rock Candy, The Urge, Feedback, The 540’s and more at the fifth annual Battle of the Legal Bands, 7-11 p.m., May 14, at Sidebar, 337 SW Eighth St., on Calle Ocho beneath the I-95 overpass.

Dade Legal Aid hosts this extremely popular and fun event that brings together lawyers, leaders, judges, rock stars, roadies, hipsters, professionals, students, musicians and groupies in support of “Access to Justice.”

“Now in our fifth year, the Battle of the Legal Bands is one of Dade Legal Aid’s largest fundraisers. We have a great fan base who will band together to support our mission to provide quality free legal services to those in dire need. We expect over 300 people to attend and have a great time for a wonderful cause," said Karen Ladis, Executive Director of Dade Legal Aid. “We are very grateful. This really helps us in this time of need.”

This event is back by popular demand so get your tickets early. Participants will be judged by a panel of distinguished members of the judiciary along with audience participation. Tickets range from $10 to $35 and are available at http://www.dadelegalaid.org/ and at the door. Students, bring school ID.

For sponsorships or more information contact SGrosman@dadelegalaid.org.

GET TREES FOR MOTHER’S DAY

Instead of cut flowers, buy a flowering tree for Mother’s Day this year. She will enjoy it all year long and beyond.

The Tropical Flowering Tree Society, dedicated to the promotion, propagation, and preservation of tropical flowering trees, will hold its annual Mothers’ Day Show & Sale from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., May 7-8 at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Rd.

“This year we have more exciting varieties of trees, shrubs, and vines than ever,” said TFTS President Cindy Bobson in a release. “If you’re in the market for something rare, fragrant, and spectacular, this is the show for you.”

Organizers said this is one of the largest shows of its kind in the world. You can find plants for your butterfly garden, fragrant plants to perfume your landscape and rare finds for collectors. Trees are available at all price ranges and credit cards are accepted.

There also will be free grafting classes, and experts will be available to answer any questions about your plants. For more call 305-389-5404, or check out http://www.tfts.org/.

FUNDS FOR UM NURSING

Here’s great news for the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies. The Helene Fuld Health Trust will provide $1.7 million in funding to build “a cutting-edge skills resource center within the school’s new Simulation Hospital” that is now under construction. The funds also will go towards helping educate second-career nursing students.

The Helene Fuld Skills Resource Center will occupy the entire fifth floor and will provide a setting for students to master fundamental techniques and procedures. The award also will provide three years of scholarships for eight full-time nursing students per year in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program, a fast-track, second degree program. Most of the students who seek the degree have exhausted other scholarship support while earning their first non-nursing degrees.

“We are excited that a national leader of the caliber of the Helene Fuld Health Trust is joining us in our mission to deliver innovative, state-of-the-art education to our nation’s future nursing professionals,” said Nilda Peragallo Montano, dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, in a news release.

Read more about the program at http://www.miami.edu/sonhs/.

COMMUNITY CONCERT

In support of young musicians, Homestead Community Concerts will presents its second annual Music Scholarship Showcase at 6 p.m., May 14 at the Seminole Theatre, 18 N. Krome Ave., in Homestead.

After nearly 40 years of being neglected and shuttered, the restored Art Deco-style Seminole Theatre reopened its doors in December and, through strong community efforts, the beautiful historic arts center is now back bringing music and shows to Homestead.

The top five winners of the recent music scholarship competition will perform for the audience and there will be a celebratory dinner after the concert in the Theatre’s Patio dining area.

Concert tickets are $5 and concert with dinner tickets are $25. Tickets can be ordered on-line at http://www.seminoletheatre.org/. Or call 786-650-2073.

This story was originally published April 28, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "An angel in the sky, Kendall pilot volunteers to fly sick patients."