He’s Forced To Collect Quarters From Aldi’s Shopping Carts To Keep From Being Homeless

By Rich Robinson

UPDATED- July 10, 2018

What’s News In This Story?

Update:

Many have asked for an update about Shane Rasche. Three months after our story, Shane has still been unable to find a full time job. He says he’s tried everything- even going to an job agency but nothing has worked. But thanks to RISE NEWS readers who reached out after watching his story, Shane was able to pick up some part time work cleaning a yard. The same family who gave him the part time gig also took him out to dinner one night. His landlord has been very understanding and has allowed him to stay in his North Miami apartment despite the fact that he owes thousands in unpaid rent. Finally, late last month, Shane received his first Social Security check for around $1,200. It isn’t much- especially with all that he owes, but he is able to survive on it. At 62, Shane says that he still wants to work and give more to society. He also said that he would gladly take a job if one was offered to him. Until he is able to pay off his debts, he will still be in the Aldi’s parking lot collecting quarters. If you would like to help Shane, we can put you in touch with him by emailing us at [email protected]

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Original Story:

-Shane Rasche has lived and woked in North Miami for nearly 50 years.

-All that time, he’s paid taxes and been a productive member of the community.

-But after the K-Mart that he worked at for nearly a decade closed last year, he’s been unable to find a job.

-Now, only a few months before he recieves his first Social Security check (and some financial safety), he is about to be evicted from his apartment.

-He’s been forced to collect quarters in the parking lot of an Aldi’s on Biscayne Boulevard (1290 NE 108th St, Miami, FL 33161) so he can feed himself.

-If you have a way to help Shane you can email: [email protected]

Watch Another Story: Meet Miami’s Queen Bee And Her Backyard Insect Revolution

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Students Walk Out Of Miami Northwestern High To Draw Attention To Gun Violence

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

-The entire student body at Miami Northwestern High School in Liberty City walked out of class Tuesday morning to protest gun violence in their community.

-Students said that they walked out in order to bring the world’s attention to the deaths of young people in Miami’s inner city.

-Kimson Green, a student at the school, was shot dead over the weekend during an outbreak of violence.

-The students say that they want the world to give as much attention to violence in inner cities as it has to what happened in Parkland.

-The walkout was spontaneous, and occurred after the school organized a ceremony to honor Green.

-Student leaders say that they plan on walking out again tomorrow.

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Watch Another Story: Meet Miami’s Queen Bee And Her Backyard Insect Revolution

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FIU Cancels Meeting With North Miami Councilman So Lawyers Can Attend

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

-A meeting between a North Miami City Councilman and a high ranking FIU official was canceled after the university requested that lawyers be present to prevent “misunderstandings” between the two sides.

-Councilman Scott Galvin and FIU Vice President for Government Affairs Michelle Palacio planned to meet at Galvin’s work office in Overtown to discuss the Arch Creek East Environment Preserve situation.

-Palacio canceled the meeting in a email to Galvin on late Tuesday night.

From Palacio’s email to Galvin:

“…you have stated publicly that you are exploring legal options against FIU. To avoid any further misunderstandings, I would like to postpone tomorrow’s meeting and ask that it be rescheduled to a future date, in City Hall, and that the City Manager, the City Attorney and an FIU attorney attend as well. As always, we’ll be glad to meet with you and your fellow City officials.”

-Galvin said during a protest last Saturday that North Miami was actively at looking at legal remedies to stop FIU from building a road through the preserve.

North Miami Councilman Scott Galvin speaks to gathered protestors during an anti-FIU event on Saturday. Photo: RISE NEWS

**-Galvin told RISE NEWS that he thought the meeting was going to be an informal way to air out differences between the city and FIU. Now, he doesn’t think the meeting will happen.**

**Galvin also told RISE NEWS:**

“…having attorneys present turns it into a deposition and ruins much chance for progress. Putting a caveat like that on a meeting probably means it won’t happen. Even our respective attorneys would likely advise we not attend it.”

-Galvin has been the most vocal city leader in opposition to FIU’s plan to reopen a road through the preserve.

-FIU claims that the road, which will open a second entrance to their North Campus via 135th St, is needed for student safety.

–The city of North Miami has opposed the plan for years because they say it would damage the preserve.

–FIU spokesperson Maydel Santana said that the university intends to meet with the appropriate North Miami city officials and “will reach out to the residents at the appropriate time.”

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WATCH ANOTHER STORY- Is This The Happiest Place In Miami?

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Is This The Happiest Place In Miami?

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

-On a quiet, secluded street in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood sits a house that few locals have ever paid much attention to.

-The Little Farm House (281 N.E. 84th Street, Miami) is part event space and part animal rescue.

-Conceived by Gabriella von Rosen, The Little Farm House is now an in-demand venue for photographers and video shoots.

-But while it generates revenue, it is also taking care of scores of rescue animals. They range from dogs to a pony.

-It all started when Gabriella came across a vacant 100-year-old home on NE 2nd Ave and 84th St in Miami. The home had been on the market for over 3 years and it was in rough shape.

-“It snowballed into doing events and doing photoshoots and flimsiest. And that is actually now our bread and butter,” von Rosen said in an interview with RISE NEWS. “We’ve had British Vogue, Elle Magazine, Urban Outfitters; Telemundo loves to come here for their soap operas.

-But the real heart of the place are the animals. Gabriella and her professional skateboarding boyfriend Danny Renaud rescue animals and let them live on the property.

-Gabriella has built a truly unique space in the heart of Miami’s urban sprawl.

-Renaud said of von Rosen: “She is very talented and people all the time tell me how gorgeous the place is and I tell them that I have nothing to do with it. I just make sure it doesn’t catch on fire and I’ll fix something if it breaks. But, she decorated all this and people love it. I love it.”

Watch Another Story: Inside Miami’s Bitcoin Gas Station

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Easter In South Florida Is…Different

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

-Miami Shores celebrated its 23rd annual “Marshmallow Drop” Saturday.

-The event saw over 1,000 people come to the community recreation field as a helicopter dropped 16,000 marshmallows.

-While similar events happen all around the country, Miami Shores was one of the first communities that helped popularize it. It also used to be one of the largest in the country.

-In 2005, “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” featured the Miami Shores event because of how strange they found it.

Watch Another Story: Meet Miami’s Queen Bee And Her Backyard Insect Revolution

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$125,000 Gold Shark Sails Through Miami Streets

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

–A massive, 13 foot golden shark racing down Biscayne Boulevard on a recent afternoon was a bizarre sight, even judging by Miami standards.

-We followed it just to figure out where the heck the thing was going.

-The journey took us to a series of renovated warehouses near the railroad tracks on NE 59th St in Miami.

-We learned the shark was created by Miami artist Hamilton Aguiar.

-The shark was installed at J. Steven Manolis’ gallery in Miami’s Lemon City section and it is for sale for a cool $125,000

-The shark is a spoof by Aguiar of the well known Damien Hirst piece, “The Physical Impossibility Of Death In The Mind Of Someone Living”.

–Aguiar on his inspiration: “I play with the opposite of the materials. So the [Hirst] shark was a real shark that rotted so I did the opposite. I did a handmade sculpture in gold leaf so it’s supposed to be eternal.”

-Manolis moved to Miami after a career on Wall Street.

-While climbing up the corporate ladder and becoming the youngest partner in Solomon Brothers history, Manolis also followed another calling-his love of art.

-For over 35 years, he received one on one lessons from Wolf Kahn, one of the best known colorists in the world.

-He opened his gallery in 2014 and he really loves Aguiar’s shark. “This is $125,000 and cheap at half the price,” Manolis said.

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Watch Another Story: Meet Miami’s Queen Bee And Her Backyard Insect Revolution

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Meet Miami’s Queen Bee And Her Backyard Revolution

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

-Bianca Pratorius has helped usher in a backyard beekeeper movement in South Florida by training a clutch of local amateurs in the art of the bee.

-She has turned part of her northeast Miami-Dade backyard and her roof into a beekeeping paradise. (And her neighbors are totally cool with it too.)

-While Bianca only views beekeeping as a hobby, she is able to generate enough honey to sell at local farmers markets.

-Bianca has mentored Danielle Bender in how to be a beekeeper. Danielle took that knowledge and won a grant from the Miami Foundation for a project called Public Hives.

-Public Hives places beehives in public spaces in order to increase the local bee population. They also train local residents on how to tend to bees.

Watch Another Story: Miami’s Church Of Trump Resistance

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Miami’s Church Of Trump Resistance

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

-The Miami Shores Community Church has started a conversation in South Florida over tolerance in the age of Trumpism with a simple act.

-The church has created a yard sign declaring, “No Matter Where You Are From, We’re Glad You’re Our Neighbor” in four languages. The sign is being put in the front yards of church members.

-Jon Ise, a church member who is also active in Miami civic life pitched the idea after he saw a similar idea employed by Mennonite churches in the northeast.

-Pastor Meg Watson approved the plan to sell the signs to people living in Miami Shores for $10. Church staffer Harold Marrero designed the look of them and translated the message into Spanish, Creole and Portuguese.

-The church hopes to spark conversations with neighbors about what type of society they want to live in. And Marrero told RISE NEWS that his life at the church showed why diversity is a powerful force for innovation and change.

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Ken Russell: How This Yo-Yo Champ Plans To Be One Of Miami’s Next Congressmen

By Rich Robinson

What’s News In This Story?

-Ken Russell is a City of Miami Commissioner who is one of the leading Democratic candidates for Congress in the 27th District.

-The seat is currently held by retiring Republican Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in the district by nearly 20 points and is considered one of the most likely Democratic pick ups in the 2018 Midterms.

-Russell has been on the City Commission since he ran in 2015. He ran after getting angry about the city’s response to a toxic park near his house. On the commission, he has been a reliably progressive voice.

-Russell used to be a professional yo-yo player and he traveled the world as an ambassador for the sport. He also ran a kiteboarding company before getting into politics.

WATCH THE STORY:

This story is part of a series on the 27th Congressional District race.

WATCH MORE ABOUT THIS RACE:

David Richardson Would Be The First Gay Congressman Ever Elected From The South. Will He Also Be Trump’s Nightmare?

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Miami’s Croquette Eating Contest Is One Of The City’s Strangest New Traditions

By Rich Robinson

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