What Would You Do?: Former Cuban Refugee Turns In Undocumented Girl Who Escaped ICE Custody

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–A Homestead business owner is under fire for turning in a 15-year-old girl who escaped from a nearby jail for undocumented children.

–The girl hid in the owner’s car repair shop for over an hour and begged not to be forced to go back to the jail where she claimed she was separated from her family.

–Some say the business owner, a Cuban immigrant who came to the US in 1971, should have showed compassion for the girl and helped her escape.

—Next Story UP—

Opinion: South Dade Needs Rail Not More Buses

Miami’s Waterkeeper Is Seriously Worried About The Future Of The City’s Waterways

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–Miami Waterkeeper Rachel Silverstein has built her non-profit into a legit force in the South Florida political and legal world.

-They’ve entered the scene at the perfect time to give our waters a fighting chance.

-From pollution to ecosystem crushing algae blooms to sea level rise and a nuclear power plant that could end up being swallowed by the sea- there’s a lot at stake right now.

Rachel Silverstein is the waterkeeper and executive director for Miami Waterkeeper.

–Silverstein leads a team of five lawyers and scientists who advocate for ecological protections and smart public policy through advocacy and scientific research.

–They also sue polluters. And they threaten people who are trashing Miami’s waters with lawsuits. They do that a lot.

–In 2014, Miami Waterkeeper sued Miami-Dade county to protect coral reefs that were impacted by the Port Miami dredging project. The county settled with Miami Waterkeeper and paid over $400,000 to relocate the corals to a University of Miami lab.

FPL’s Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant.

–Silverstein is concerned about the future of FPL’s Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant. She thinks that the plant will be submerged by the impacts of sea level rise by 2040. FPL wants to continue to use the site until at least 2052.

——Here’s Something Completely Different: ——

Newly Reopened To The Public, Miami’s Iconic Freedom Tower Has Positioned Itself As An Ideas Hub

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Meet The Three Frenchmen Who Are Taking Over Miami’s Culinary Scene

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–All the rage in North Miami is Cafe Creme, a French restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s the kind of place that you wouldn’t dream to find in this working class Miami suburb a few years ago.

-Cafe Creme co-founder Cory Finot and his partner Claude Postel were lured to North Miami by some grant money from the city’s community redevelopment agency.

-While additional future locations for Cafe Creme are in development, the three Frenchmen have embarked on another ambitious venture.

-In mid 2018, they opened Sixty10, an old school place that serves classic French chicken dishes in a unpretentious way.

-Claude owns the land it sits on in the heart of Little Haiti and the Frenchmen are betting that it becomes the Wynwood Walls of the neighborhood as it continues to experience gentrification.

-If you think that sounds like a pipe dream, don’t be so hasty. Cory was mentored by the man who put Wynwood on the map, the late Miami developer Tony Goldman.

**IF YOU GO:

Cafe Creme, North Miami- 750 NE 125th St, North Miami, FL 33161

Cafe Creme, Buena Vista- 5010 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, Fl 33137

Sixty10- 6010 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137

——Here’s Something Completely Different: ——

Newly Reopened To The Public, Miami’s Iconic Freedom Tower Has Positioned Itself As An Ideas Hub

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Have a news tip about this topic or something completely different? Send it to [email protected]

Newly Reopened To The Public, Miami’s Iconic Freedom Tower Has Positioned Itself As An Ideas Hub

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–The Freedom Tower (600, Biscayne Boulevard) is Miami’s most historic landmark.

-Known as the Ellis Island of the South, the tower recently reopened to the public with a slew of new features.

-And with the changes, the facility is poised to be a center of action for those who want to move the Magic City forward.

–The additions to the museum include the Kislak Center- a 2,600 square foot space that includes books, manuscripts, maps, and other artifacts from both before and after Christopher Columbus’ journey to the new world.

–The museum also features the Cuban Legacy Gallery, a space that looks at the impact of Cuban’s to South Florida’s history.

–The museum is trying to position itself as a place where Miami can come to learn about its past while also brainstorming ideas for its future.

–The museum also features the Cuban Legacy Gallery, a space that looks at the impact of Cuban’s to South Florida’s history.

–Opened in 1926 as the original home for The Miami News, the tower became iconic after it was pressed into service as the processing center for Cuban refugees who were fleeing the rise of the Castro regime.

–The building has been owned by Miami-Dade College since 2005 and in recent years the offices for the Miami Film Festival and the Miami Book Fair were moved into the tower. The building was previously owned by a number of private owners, including the Mas family, who donated it to MDC.

**IF YOU GO: Open 1-6 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays; and 1-8 p.m. Saturdays.

The Museum of Art and Design at Miami Dade College- Freedom Tower (600, Biscayne Boulevard, Miami, 33132)

Admission: $12 general, $8 senior and military, $5 students, children under 12 enter free. MDC students, faculty and staff enter free. Ticketed events vary in price.

——Here’s Something Completely Different: ——

The TV Weatherman Who Is Trying To Save Miami From Drowning

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Miami Vignette: The Coconut Capitalist

By Rich Robinson

Miami Vignettes are very short stories about interesting aspects of life in South Florida that RISE NEWS finds in the community while reporting on other things. Sometimes little stories can have a big impact. Share yours with us: [email protected] Also be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you never miss our most important Miami stories.

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COCONUT CAPITALISM – Isidro Carrazana is an 80 year old man who works 7 days a week cutting down coconuts from people’s properties with a 30 foot pole around the Miami area.

For the record, yes he does ask for permission first from the homeowner.

He is from Cuba and moved to South Florida 27 years ago.

He lives near North Shore Hospital and sells his coconuts to various vendors around town.

He told us that he makes $50 to $75 a day.

The work certainly hasn’t made him rich, but it has allowed him to pursue the American dream.

——Here’s Something Completely Different: ——

The TV Weatherman Who Is Trying To Save Miami From Drowning

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Have a news tip about this topic or something completely different? Send it to [email protected]

Lower East Coast Is Bringing Miami’s Hipsters And Zine Fans To Allapattah

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–Lower East Coast (3418 NW 7th Ave, Miami) is a small storefront that features zines and has a hipster feel.

-It’s one of those independent places that Miami doesn’t seem to have enough of.

–Founded by longtime friends and coworkers Steven Sanz and Rees Escobar, Lower East Coast is starting to get some buzz in the Miami artsy scene.

–It also serves as a pop up venue for musicians that Lower East Coast Management represents, and others.

–The shop is one of the anchors to a bunch of recent activity in the Allapattah area.

The full story:

Lower East Coast is a small hipster shop that specializes in selling local zines, independent magazines and local apparel brands that are a bit obscure and weird.

It’s also something that co-founders Steven Sanz and Rees Escobar say that they have to do for Miami.

“We’ve been friends for a long time and we’ve been talking about doing something for Miami and this is what we landed on,” Sanz said in an interview with RISE NEWS.

The shop is an outgrowth of Lower East Coast Management, a local talent agency that manages the careers of artists like Denzel Curry and PSYCHIC MIRRORS.

Sanz and Escobar first met over 15 years ago and have similar interests.

They decided to launch a Lower East Coast storefront during last year’s Art Basel.

Since then, they have hosted a series of pop up events with artists they manage, and others.

They also sell street wear brands like the Miami based Stray Rats and their own original tees.

“Everything we do is small batch runs,” Sanz said. “What we do is very niche. When you work with the young art kids, the rarer it is, the cooler it is.”

The interior of the shop is an all-white industrial space with high ceilings. It also features wood bleachers were you can sit and read through the collection of rare zines.

Ultimately Sanz said that they are trying to create a sense of community in Miami with Lower East Coast.

“It’s inspired by places we visit in New York and London,” Sanz said. “We need more mom and pop shops here. It’s something we’re missing.”

***HOT TIP- You can also watch World Cup games and hang at the store. Lower East Coast is also partnering with Hialeah thrift and consignment store, Ropa Vieja, to sell a variety of select 90’s soccer kits and a custom, limited edition World Cup T-shirt.

**IF YOU GO: Open Wednesday through Sunday from 12 PM to 8 PM.

Lower East Coast (3418 NW 7th Ave, Miami, 33127)

——Here’s Something Completely Different: ——

The TV Weatherman Who Is Trying To Save Miami From Drowning

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Have a news tip about this topic or something completely different? Send it to [email protected]

The TV Weatherman Who Is Trying To Save Miami From Drowning

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–John Morales is the chief meteorologist of NBC 6. He has also become one of the leading voices on climate change in South Florida.

–Morales is not afraid to use his platform to talk about climate change.

–He frequently ties daily weather events to the broader context of what’s happening with climate change. Examples of this include the increasing frequency of “King Tides” in Miami and the increase in days that are good for mosquito development.

–Morales was born in upstate New York and raised in Puerto Rico. He studied atmospheric science at Cornell University and worked for the National Weather Service before getting into local tv in 1991.

–He helped Miami’s Spanish speaking community get through Hurricane Andrew while he was at Univision- a job that he held until 2003. He then worked at Telemundo’s Miami affiliate for six years before scoring the chief meteorologist job at NBC 6 in 2009.

–Morales helped the American Meteorological Society increase its standards for broadcaster meteorologists- a move that some feel helped increase the number of tv weather people who believe that climate change is caused by humans.

——Here’s Something Completely Different: ——

La Gringa For Miami: How A Special Election Is Changing Politics In South Florida

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Miami Country Day Student Wins $20,000 Scholarship From Foot Locker

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–Foot Locker surprised Miami Country Day School (MCDS) student Danielle Geathers with a $20,000 college scholarship Wednesday.

–Geathers grew up in El Portal with her mom Marva Wiley.

–Geathers is the captain of the MCDS soccer team and has a 3.9 GPA.

–She also wrote a children’s book geared towards girls of color. The book is titled “Don’t Touch My Hair!” and reflects the common struggle found by young girls of color who go to schools where they are in the minority.

–Geathers was one of only 20 people in the US to receive the prize from Foot Locker, which seeks to reward outstanding student athletes who demonstrates “academic excellence and exemplifying strong leadership skills both in sports and within their communities.”

–Geathers will attend MIT in the fall and will study biomedical engineering.

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There’s A Secret Buddhist Temple In This El Portal House

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Have a news tip about this topic or something completely different? Send it on in to [email protected]

Miami Has A Think Tank Now. Can It Save The City?

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–The Miami Urban Future Initiative is a think tank that is 100% devoted to researching how to make South Florida better.

–A joint venture between FIU, the Knight Foundation and the Creative Class Group, it is connected to well known urbanist Richard Florida.

–The group produces white papers on topics relating to growth and development in the region.

–They consider “Miami” to be Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

–Operating under the theory that politicians don’t have a longterm view of the future, the group is trying to create data that can lead to better policy outcomes.

–It is run by Chris Caines- a former interim director of the Knight Foundation’s Miami Program and Michael Aquino, a Miami native who grew up in Wynwood before it was gentrified.

–The group hosts live events that are free to attend.

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There’s A Secret Buddhist Temple In This El Portal House

RISE NEWS is South Florida’s digital news network. Follow us on Facebook to make sure you never miss a story!

Have a news tip about this topic or something completely different? Send it on in to [email protected]

Meet Miami’s Hip Hop Ice Cream Shop

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–Mr Kream Wynwood has a pretty unique vibe for an ice cream place. Run by a group of Miami DJs, the shop is the perfect place for those with a serious sweet tooth and an ear for rap.

-The shop is just over a year old and has become very popular.

-Ice cream flavors are named after famous rap stars. An example?: 2 Live Blue.

-The stated goal is to give people a great desert while also teaching them about hip hop culture and history.

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