Dear District 12 residents,

July 4th is around the corner and I wish each and every one of you a Happy Independence Day! While it is a time to celebrate the birth of our nation, I also ask that you take a moment to remember the men and women of our Armed Forces who uphold our freedoms every day.

Here are a couple of tips www.miamidade.gov/fire/safety-holiday-fireworks.asp to ensure you and your family have a fun and safe Fourth of July!

Sincerely,

Commissioner José “Pepe” Díaz

On June 4th, Commissioner Diaz was honored to speak at the United States Southern Command 50th anniversary. He thanked General John Kelly and all the men and women, who have made Southcom what it is today.

When Southcom first moved here from Panama, Commissioner Diaz along with other elected officials fought hard to ensure Southcom will have a permanent home in Miami and as the Chairman of the Military Affairs Board, he will continue to support Southcom and our men and women in uniform.

Southcom coordinates U.S. military activities in Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. Visit the Southcom website to learn more.

Over 21 high school seniors from District 12 applied for Commissioner Diaz’s annual college scholarship and six lucky students have been awarded $1,000, which they can use to pay tuition or purchase school supplies. The students had the task of writing an essay with a minimum of 1,000 words.

Congratulations to the winners:

• Nahima Vargas from Doral Academy Charter High will be attending Florida International University and majoring in Psychology,
• Daniel Lopez from Ronald Reagan Doral Senior High will be attending Florida International University and majoring in Biological Science,
• Eric Hernandez from Hialeah Gardens High will be attending Florida International University
• Christian Grillo from Hialeah Educational Academy High will be attending the University of Miami
• Leiny Ruiz from Hialeah Educational Academy High will be attending Miami Dade College and majoring in Political Science and
• Giuliano Gonzalez from Hialeah Educational Academy High will be attending Miami Dade College and majoring in Nursing

  If you are a senior in high school and getting ready for college, you might want to apply for Commissioner Diaz’s annual school scholarship. Be sure to call Andy at the Commissioner’s office at the end of January 2014 to get details on when the scholarship applications will be available.

Commissioner Diaz joined Aviation Director Emilio Gonzalez as well as his colleagues for the dedication of Miami-Dade Police Department K-9 training area at Miami International Airport in honor of United States Marine Lance Corporal Colton W. Rusk.

On December 6, 2010, Lance Corporal Rusk was killed by an enemy sniper in Afghanistan while he and his canine partner Eli were in the process of clearing an IED (improvised explosive device).

In honor of Lance Corporal Rusk, the United States Department of Defense named a canine after him, through their Military working Dog Breeding program. All canines are named after a fallen U.S. soldier and carry double first letters in their name.

The dog’s name is CColton and he was also certified during the dedication ceremony as a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) National Explosive Detection canine.

Homeowners who reside in single-family residences may qualify for a unique program that will allow them to have the exterior of their home painted and/or accordion hurricane shutters installed.

The Paint and Shutter Program is funded through Surtax dollars and is available through the Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD).

Homeowners will be required to participate in a forgivable mortgage program which requires them to remain in the home for up to 10 years after the upgrades have been completed. Participation in the program is subject to the availability of funds. 

Applications will be processed on a first come first served basis. For more information about the Paint and Shutter Program and other services available to assist low-income homeowners, please call 786-469-4600 or visit the CAHSD website.

The Miami-Dade Community Action and Human Services Department (CAHSD) is offering the “Senior Companion Program”. 

The program provides support to frail seniors by providing other more active seniors the opportunity to assist them in their homes, at senior centers or assisted living facilities.

This program services to benefit both parties as it provides companionship and a sense of security to those who need it while giving more active seniors an opportunity to give back.

For more information about volunteer programs for the elderly, please call 786-469-4600 or visit the CAHSD website.

Looking to save money on your prescriptions? In order to assist residents, Miami-Dade County has partnered up with the National Association of Counties (NACo), by offering a discount card program to help residents save money on their medications.

The free Miami-Dade County Prescription Discount Card can save you an average of 24 percent on prescriptions at participating pharmacies. There's no enrollment, no fee, no age requirement, no income requirement and it's available at numerous County facilities near you.

For more information, visit the website or call 1-877-321-2652.

Looking for a school for your child? The new Youth Co-Op Charter School will be located at 7700 West 20^th Avenue.

For more information on enrollment call 305-819-8855 or visit yccs.dadeschools.net

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The Deering Estate at Cutler will offer free admission to all guests on Saturday, July 20^th, Saturday, August 17^th and Saturday, September 21^st, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., as part of their annual Fee-Free “P.L.A.Y.” Days.

Guests can enjoy complimentary admission as well as hands on eco-art activities, science discovery programs, and historic house tours – all for free! Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

For more information on the events, visit the Deering Estate at Cutler website.

On November 30, 2009, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Six in partnership with the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) began a reconstruction project of the State Road (S.R.) 826 (Palmetto Expressway) and S.R. 836 (Dolphin Expressway) Interchange.

Now that construction has begun, there will be many upcoming lane and ramp closures on the Dolphin Expressway. For more information about construction-related activities, please contact email Oscar Gonzalez or call 786-280-0983.

General information can be found at 826-826 website. Motorists are encouraged to call 511 before they drive, or log on to Florida's Statewide 511 website for real-time traffic and lane closure information.

The Miami-Dade Community Action Agency’s (CAA) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is currently assisting eligible residents with payment of their gas or electric bills.  The program assists individuals who are experiencing an increase in their energy bill due to the weather as well as individuals with final notices or those who have had their services disconnected. 

Applications for LIHEAP are available Monday through Friday at CAA Service Centers like the Hialeah Service Center, 300 E. First Avenue, or the Sweetwater Service Center, 250 SW 114 Avenue.

For a complete list of all the CAA Service Centers or to download the application, please visit the County’s website or contact the Miami-Dade Community Action Agency at 786-469-4600.

To help Miami-Dade County residents, the Miami-Dade Public Library System is offering a wide assortment of vital information and valuable assistance for job seekers! From computer classes and access to the Internet, to help with resume writing, job interviewing skills and test preparation, the Library wants to help patrons prepare for and search for jobs.

Free classes are held throughout all 47 branch locations and are available in both English and Spanish. The Library’s website, www.mdpls.org, has created a “Job Search” section for individuals to access from any location 24/7.

For more information, contact 305-375-BOOK (2665) or visit Miami-Dade Public Library System website.

Downtown Office Stephen P. Clark Center 111 NW 1st Street, Suite 220 Miami, Florida 33128 (305) 375-4343

District Office 8345 NW 12th Street Miami, FL 33126 (305) 599-1200

[email protected]

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