Where the Locals Dive

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) Fire Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah has received the prestigious 2024 Career Fire Chief of the Year Award from the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association (FFCA). This award is the highest honor given to active fire chiefs in the State of Florida.
Selected by a body of his peers, Fire Chief Ray Jadallah was recognized for his outstanding actions and dedication to his profession, community and country. He serves as an example and inspiration for all other chief fire executives throughout Florida. The award was presented at the annual...Read More

Senator Garcia passed with unanimous support from the Board of County Commission, the expansion of Hospital Medicaid Direct Payment Program.  In 2021, Miami-Dade County launched the Medicaid Hospital Directed Payment Program (DPP). This program has significantly benefited nonpublic hospitals by unlocking federal matching dollars through annual mandatory payments, helping to bridge the reimbursement gap for Medicaid services.
Key advancements in the program includ...Read More

An endangered Matchie’s tree kangaroo joey from Papua New Guinea has begun to peek out of its mother’s pouch at Zoo Miami.  It is still basically confined to the pouch where it will continue to develop for the next several weeks before venturing away from its mother.  It will not be totally weaned until it is around a year old.
Though it is just now exposing itself on a regular basis, this joey was actually born January 8th of this year.  As with most marsupials, tree kangaroos are born in an almost embryonic state after a pregnancy of about 44 days. The newborn is only the size of a jellybean and slowly crawls into the mother’s pouch where it locks onto a nipple where most of the development takes place.  It takes several months before the joey sticks its head out of the pouch and is visible.
The first-time mother, named Poppy, is 3 years years old and was born in Kansas City.  The 16-year-old father, named...Read More

The Key Clubhouse of South Florida will open its second facility in Miami-Dade County to assist people whose lives have been disrupted by such mental illnesses as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and major depression.  The new 1,600 square foot facility, located at 9000 S.W. 137 Avenue in Kendall, is scheduled to open on August 15th.  
The individuals who participate in the Key Clubhouse program are referred to as members.  The Clubhouse is run by the members and staff working together as equals. Among the many services it offers members is a recovery through work program that assists them to reintegrate into the workplace...Read More

A special recognition that is a Palace tradition is the prestigious “Manager of the Year” award. This year, The Palace celebrated the award’s 20th anniversary, with 19 managers receiving this coveted honor.
An all-expense-paid 4-day trip, accompanied by Palace founders Helen and Jacob Shaham, took the winners to the beautiful Cape Cod resort of Wequassett Resort and Golf Club. They experienced all the magic that the Cape is known for, including whale watching, deep-sea fishing, and a special guided hiking tour of the National Seashore.
“Managers of the Year” are selected from across The Palace’s continuum of care, which includes The Palace Suites, The Palace Royale and Renaissance, The Palace Nursing and Rehabilitation Center...Read More

Creating a home inventory is a crucial step in protecting your assets, especially if you live in an area prone to natural disasters like hurricanes. While many homeowners consider doing it themselves, there are significant advantages to using a full-service home inventory service. Here are five key benefits of opting for a professional home inventory service over attempting it on your own.

1. Independent Valuation for Insurance Coverage

One of the primary benefits of using a full-service home inventory service is that insurance companies prefer an independent valuation of your items. An independent, professional appraisal ensures that the values of your possessions are accurate and credible. This impartial valuation is more likely to be accepted by insurance companies, making the claims process smoother and more straightforward. With a professional service like My Property Vault, you can be confident that your inventory will meet insurance standards, ensuring that you are adequately...Read More