A true legacy left behind

Hans was a gentle man. A dedicated family man, whose big bright smile was in full view when he was with his wife, his children and his grandkids. Hans was a leader not just in South Miami (where he owned FootWorks with his wife, Laurie), but throughout the country, as he helped popularize jogging, running and walking as a hobby, as a sport and as a great community event.

Hans and Laurie were visionary in bringing local running events to Miami, where of course they created the Corporate Run, in Downtown Miami, as well as in Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

The Corporate Run is known as the largest party in Miami, where 25,000 plus get together for camaraderie, friendship with lots of folks walking, jogging or running the 3.1 mile excursion through Downtown.

Hans served the community in so many ways, which he did quietly and without any fan fair, an admirable trait, held by few. Hans, a devoted family man, a mentor to thousands will be missed.

A celebration of his life was held at FootWorks last week.

Oops… I recently reported a sighting of Steve Alexander, the city manager, at Casa Lario’s having breakfast by himself. Well, as it turns out, it was an Alexander look-a like and not the original. Steve, who so far, has been a rather successful city manger is pretty happy now a days and the commission seems to be pleased with the job he has been doing. Hats off to him for figuring it out and advancing through the sometimes rocky waters in the City of Pleasant Living.

The dogs and cats need your help and your blankets. Through December 30, Miami- Dade County Animal Services (Animal Services) in collaboration with the Miami- Dade County Public Library System (MDPLS), will host a blanket drive for Animal Services shelter dogs. In preparation for dropping temperatures and the upcoming winter season, Animal Services is seeking donations of new or gently used clean blankets to keep shelter dogs warm and comfortable.

“Keeping our pets healthy and comfortable is a top priority. The blankets contributed help us keep our pets warm and dry while they await their forever homes during the winter months,” said Miami-Dade County Animal Services Director Alex Muñoz.

Donation bins will be available at the Animal Services shelter which is located at 7401 NW 74th Street, Medley, 33166 (305-884-1101) and at the Stephen P. Clark Center 111 NW 1st Street Miami, FL 33128. Donation bins will also be available at any branch library. For more information, contact www.miamidade.gov/animals or call 3-1-1.

To find a branch library near you, visit www.mdpls.org and click ‘Find a Library.’

Armed with a pair of GoPro cameras and a stack of “postcards” with educational messages about the importance of the Everglades ecosystem, newly elected County Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava recently set out on a four-day canoe expedition through the famed “River of Grass.

“I wanted to start my tenure serving the people of Miami-Dade by spending some time in the Everglades reflecting on its importance to all of us,” explained Commissioner Levine Cava. “This amazing ecosystem we share serves us too – it is the source of our drinking water, it feeds our crops, and it is our greatest defense against a rising sea.”

Commissioner Levine Cava and her family teamed up with Everglades National Park Acting Superintendent Bob Krumenaker and Miami-Dade County EcoAdventures Lead Naturalist Ernie Lynk for this journey. “As an Eco Ambassador, whose job is to provide conservation education to our citizens, it was an honor and a pleasure to be Commissioner Levine Cava’s field guide to the natural wonder of South Florida and our Everglades,” Lynk said. “It was inspiring to see her enthusiasm and concern for our fresh water supply.”

The backcountry canoe adventure required that the team overnight on floating rafts made from their boats latched together for stability and to keep the group tethered together during the starry nights in the vast wetland wilderness. “It is the Miami-Dade County’s mission to protect our fresh water supply from salt water intrusion,” said Commissioner Levine Cava. “Perhaps the best example of such a first line of defense protecting the coastline is found in the Deering Estate’s flow-way/Cutler Slough Rehydration Project, located in the district that I serve.

This project functions as a part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan that restores seasonal water flow into a freshwater wetland habitat. I look forward to initiating additional measures to positively impact our fresh water system. “National Park Superintendent Bob Krumenaker assumed this post in early August, so this excursion was an opportunity to focus attention on the value of the Everglades as an ecosystem and one of the most visited international tourist destinations in the national park system.

“Four days traversing from the fresh water River of Grass to the salt water of the Wilderness Waterway – I can’t imagine a better, or more intensive, way to get to know and understand this place, whose health is so vital to all of south Florida,” Krumenaker said. “This challenging trip inspired all of us to work closely together across governmental lines on Everglades’s restoration. “Everglades “Postcards” will be posted to Commissioner Levine Cava’s Facebook page and available from www.miamidade.gov/district08. The last two items were provided by watchdogreport. Net

Got any tips? Contact me at 305-669-7355, ext. 249, or send emails to Michael@communitynewspapers.com.


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