Dear residents,

Tis the season to be jolly! Happy holidays to each and every one of you!  May 2015 bring you lots of love, health, wealth and happiness to you and your loved ones.

I would like to thank all our military personal for all their sacrifices, please let’s keep them in your thoughts and prayers, as some are far away from home and their loved ones!

As we accomplish our holiday shopping this year, please follow the following safety tips at http://www.miamidade.gov/police/safety-holiday-tips.asp

From my staff, and my family to yours, Happy Holidays and best wishes to all for a great 2015!

Sincerely,

Commissioner Jose 'Pepe' Diaz                           
District 12

''In God We Trust,'' the nation’s official motto, has been a staple on United States currency for generations, expressing America’s abiding faith in a Supreme Creator. To symbolize Miami-Dade County’s respect for the profound role religion and Divine Providence continue to play in our society, the Miami-Dade County Commission on Dec. 2 approved legislation  sponsored by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz to install the national motto behind the dais in the County Commission Chambers. The U.S. Congress first authorized the National Mint to include “In God We Trust” on coins in 1865 and mandated the words’ appearance on all national coins and currency in 1955. A year later, Congress made “In God We Trust” the national motto, and the motto has been inscribed above the Speaker’s rostrum in the U.S. House of Representatives and above the main door of the U.S. Senate Chamber. The Florida Legislature made “In God We Trust” the state’s official motto in 2006.

Small business owners in District 12 are encouraged to apply for the annual Mom & Pop Small Business Grant Program.  The application process will open on January 5 and the application will be available to download at www.miamidade.gov/district12.  The Mom and Pop Small Business Grant program helps by providing financial and technical assistance to local small businesses.

More than 1,500 elderly residents from District 12 enjoyed a festive afternoon with the telenovela soap opera stars at Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz’s annual holiday luncheon for seniors on December 3 at the Doubletree Miami Mart Airport Hotel. A host of Latin celebrities and soap opera stars met and danced with attendees. They included Emilio Estefan, Lili Estefan (host of Univisión's “El Gordo y La Flaca”), Orlando Urdaneta, Ariel Lopez Padilla, Elluz Peraza, Carolina Tejera, Ana Maria Canseco, Carlos Matos, Maritza Bustamante, Yul Burkle, Scarlet Ortiz, Eduardo Ibarrola, Franklin Virguez, Silvana Arias, Ana Osorio, Jose Emilio Báez, Maria Corina Ramirez, Roberto San Martin, Danilo Carrera, and Ana Margarita Menéndez of “¿Qué pasa, USA?” fame. The event also featured a raffle in which 10 TVs and microwaves were raffled off. The sponsors for this event included Florida East Coast Industries, Leon Medical Centers, FPL, Walgreens, Transportation America and Duty Free Americas.

Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz brought some holiday cheer to families and children at the City of Sweetwater Annual Holiday event on December 13 at Ronseli Park, 250 SW 114th Ave. Commissioner Diaz, dressed as Santa Claus arrived by helicopter and handed out over 800 toys to Sweetwater children. Sweetwater residents also had a chance to take pictures with him. Sweetwater Mayor Jose M. Diaz and other elected officials joined Commissioner Diaz at the event. This annual event was sponsored by the City of Sweetwater and Commissioner Diaz

Commissioner José “Pepe” Díaz, dressed as Santa Claus spread some holiday cheer to district 12 residents at North Trail Park on December 12. Santa Claus arrived on a fire truck and families took pictures with him. Families also enjoyed a free screening of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas”, as well as free popcorn and bounce houses.

Miami-Dade County Commissioner José “Pepe” Díaz, who serves as Chairman of the Miami-Dade Military Affairs Board, along with County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr., U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and State Representative Michael Bileca, hosted a veterans outreach event on December 12, to benefit our military community. The event had over 70 businesses, federal, state and local agencies that provided assistance with housing, education, financial and legal services, county services and many other services. Commissioner Diaz also presented a certificate of appreciation to Ana Castellanos and to Florida International University for hosting the event.

Throughout December, visitors can tour the elegant and historic houses at the Deering Estate at Cutler as they come alive with holiday accents and decorations! The holiday decorations will be on display daily through December 31st from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cost is free with regular Estate admission: $12 for adults & $7 for children (ages 4-14). The “Holiday Wonderland” is an annual tradition and a special project of local garden clubs and community organizations. For more information on the Holiday Season of Events at the Deering Estate at Cutler, please visit www.deeringestate.org or call the Deering Estate Ticket Office at 305-235-1668 ext. 233.

An initial grant of $100,000 awarded to the South Florida Veterinary Foundation (SFVF) by Miami-Dade County Animal Services to help provide low-cost spay/neuter services to income-qualified dog and cat owners marks the first-time ever that Animal Services partners with private local veterinarians to reduce pet overpopulation. Funding for the grant is provided by the County’s Animal Services’ Department as part of the County’s No Kill Initiative. It is estimated that approximately 1,000 to 1,200 surgeries can be performed with the initial grant allocation. Increasing access to low-cost spay/neuter services in the community is a critical component of Animals Services’ No Kill policy and its efforts to reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned homeless cats and dogs. The funds will be used by SFVF to create a program in which a network of participating, properly licensed, Miami-Dade County veterinarians and veterinary clinics are subsidized for the cost of performing the sterilization surgeries for the cats and dogs of income-qualified County residents. There are approximately 150 local licensed veterinary offices in Miami-Dade County eligible to participate in the program. The SFVF is a 501(c) 3 non-profit charitable foundation located in Miami-Dade County and comprised of local veterinarians in conjunction with Friends of the Foundation, a core group of volunteers. To find a participating veterinarian visit the South Florida Veterinary Foundation website at http://sfvet.org or visit animals.miamidade.gov or call 3-1-1.

As we head towards flu season, the best tip to limit your exposure to the flu and other viruses is to use common sense. By practicing good health habits, washing your hands often and making it a habit to avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, you are reducing your chances of infection. For more information regarding the flu and other viruses, visit the CDC website.

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