Briefs

 
The Fifth Annual South Beach Dachshund WinterFest is coming!

You might notice many Miami Beach residents purchasing tiny dresses, little rhinestone belts and dog-head-sized hats.

The Anioma who inhabit an area between Ubulubu and Ebu. This is one of the least developed areas in Nigeria and is also a war-torn region where the Anioma carry on their unique cultural traditions. The creation of an Anioma state is a passion of many, if not most, of the Anioma. This will be one of the important topics discussed Jan. 19 - 21, 2007 at the Anioma 16th Governing Council Summit in Miami. For info on attending, call Linda Hamburger at 954-418-8647.

A computer-generated depiction of the Fairwind Hotel South Beach.

Oceanside Resorts, Inc. recently announced that Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a boutique hotel operator, has been selected to manage and operate the Fairwind Hotel South Beach, a new 78-room property at the corner of Collins Avenue and 10th Street, one block from the Atlantic Ocean. The Fairwind is slated to be the area’s first certified environmentally sustainable hotel. Renowned for his renovation and expansion work on many of the area’s Art Deco hotels, award-winning architect Allan T. Shulman has been chosen to artfully restore and refurbish the property. Shulman’s Fairwind design has already garnered a 2005 Honor Award from the Florida American Institute of Architects. Construction will begin in 2007 and the Fairwind Hotel is scheduled to open in fall 2008.

Some of the most famous writers in the world came from South Florida: Hemingway … actually, no not Hemingway … uh … James Joyce? No … oh man, this is embarrassing … uh … Dave Barry! YEAH DAVE BARRY! Wait, what? New York? He’s from New York?!? OH COME ON!!! SERIOUSLY??? Okay, so no famous writers are from South Florida, but The South Florida Writers Association wants to change that. In the name of encouraging young, budding writers, the association will hold an award ceremony honoring the winners of the Junior Orange Bowl Creative Writing Contest on Saturday, Jan. 6. 10:00 a.m. at Borders in Pinecrest, 9205 S. Dixie Highway. Free. Contact Don Daniels at 786-877-0136.

You might notice many Miami Beach residents purchasing tiny dresses, little rhinestone belts and dog-head-sized hats. Why are they doing this? Because the Fifth Annual South Beach Dachshund WinterFest is rapidly approaching! The festival, which will take place Saturday, Jan. 20, at noon on Ocean Drive between 10th & 11th streets, will  celebrate everyone’s favorite little back-problem-cursed pet. According to Ruth Remington, who started the outing after moving from New York City to Miami Beach with her husband and Audrey Hepburn, her 10-year-old dachshund, “The dogs are the draw, but it’s the socializing and the bond that the owners share that really makes the fest special,” Remington said. “I felt that Miami Beach could support one more quirky event,” she added.

The City of Miami Beach Parks and Recreation’s Lightning Cheerleaders recently brought home the first-place trophy from the annual Florida Police Athletic League State Cheerleading Competition. The 19 girls are coached by former cheerleaders Bianca Behar and Michelle Comptis. “There was definitely tough competition this year,” said Coach Comptis, “but the girls worked hard and put forth great effort and now they have a first-place trophy to show for it.” The cheerleading program, headed by Tracey Austen, started in September 2000 and has grown to include more than 100 enthusiastic and determined athletes. For more information on the cheerleading program, please contact Tracey at 305-531-5636, ext. 26.

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., recently announced the appointment of Gabriel Riera as director of communications and marketing within the museum’s division of external affairs. Riera, who is currently the communications manager for the Miami Art Museum, will join the Hirshhorn staff on Jan. 8. “Gabriel Riera brings a combination of experiences with contemporary art, museums and cultural tourism that will serve the Hirshhorn well as we continue to seek new audiences and make the best in international contemporary art approachable for the visitors we welcome in our nation’s capital,” said Beth Tuttle, director of external affairs.

Miami City Attorney Jorge L. Fernandez has announced the addition of two assistant city attorneys, Kevin R. Jones and Manuel Garcia. Jones will focus his practice on tort litigation and also handle the Civil Service Board. He will serve as counsel to the city of Miami’s Community Redevelopment Agencies and the Liberty City Community Revitalization Trust. Jones was an assistant state attorney for the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office. He received his juris doctorate from the University of Florida School of Law. Garcia will also focus on tort litigation as well as appeals of Code Enforcement, and will serve as counsel to the Virginia Key Park Trust and the Bayfront Park Trust. Garcia clerked at the White House Office of Counsel to the President, the Office of U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez and the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. He received his juris doctorate from the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C.

--Compiled by Ryan Brown