📅 Homestead Area Events 

🗳️ Cohen Higgins Wins District 8 Without a Runoff

🚌 Miami-Dade proposes cutting 12 bus routes and some off-hours service

⭐ Ann Marie’s Boutique marks 45 years of personal service downtown

🌳 Mahogany Hammock hides the nation’s largest living mahogany tree

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August 19

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South Dade voters have made their choice. Danielle Cohen Higgins is headed back to the Miami-Dade County Commission after winning 55.05% of the vote in Tuesday’s District 8 race, enough to secure a second full term without a runoff. John Edward DuBois finished with 28.20%, while Martha “Vega” Hero received 16.76%.

For residents, the result means familiar leadership as the region faces major decisions involving growth, traffic, housing, transit and development. District 8 covers Homestead, Redland, Cutler Bay, Palmetto Bay and surrounding communities, putting Cohen Higgins at the center of several issues likely to shape the area over the next four years.

Read more: https://enr.electionsfl.org/DAD/4010/Summary/

Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava’s proposed budget could bring changes for bus riders, including eliminating six county-operated routes and six contracted routes, along with reducing some low-ridership trips before 6 a.m. and after 10 p.m. The potential impact could be especially important in South Dade, where longer distances and fewer transportation alternatives can make losing a route or connection a major problem. A complete list of affected routes has not yet been provided in the public materials reviewed, so riders should not assume their route will be cut or spared.

The proposal is not final, and the mayor’s office says overall transit spending would actually increase by $66 million while reductions target routes and trips with lower ridership. Final budget hearings are scheduled for September 3 and September 17, giving residents a chance to weigh in before commissioners vote. South Dade riders who depend on early, late or less-frequent service should keep an eye out for the final route list, document the trips they rely on and speak up during the September hearings.

Website: https://www.axios.com/local/miami/2026/07/15/miami-dade-mayor-proposes-2027-budget

Business Spotlight

For 45 years, Ann Marie’s Boutique has helped generations of South Dade shoppers find the right look for work, celebrations and everyday life. The longtime Homestead boutique offers contemporary clothing, formalwear, dresses, jumpsuits, jackets, handbags, jewelry and accessories, with personal styling available for shoppers who want a little extra help pulling everything together.

That kind of longevity stands out in a downtown where independent retailers have had to adapt through decades of changing fashion trends, shopping habits and economic cycles. Whether you’re shopping for a career wardrobe, wedding, homecoming, special occasion or simply something new, Ann Marie’s offers the kind of personal service that can be hard to find at larger retailers.

📍 Location: 606 Washington Avenue, Homestead
🕐 Hours: Mon., Wed. & Fri. 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | Tue. & Thu. 10 a.m.–8 p.m. | Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | Closed Sunday
📱 Phone: 786-829-8639 (call or text)
🌐https://annmariesboutique.com/

Mahogany Hammock Trail

About 20 miles past the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, Mahogany Hammock Trail offers a completely different side of the Everglades. The short, half-mile boardwalk winds through a dense tropical hardwood hammock filled with gumbo-limbo trees, air plants and lush vegetation. The real standout is a massive mahogany tree believed to be the largest living specimen in the United States, making this quick trail surprisingly impressive.

The boardwalk is wheelchair accessible and short enough to add to an Everglades day trip without committing to a long hike. But don’t let the distance fool you. South Florida heat, mosquitoes and fast-moving summer storms can make even a half-mile walk uncomfortable. An early visit is your best bet. Bring water and insect repellent, and check current park conditions before making the drive.

📍 Location: Everglades National Park, about 20 miles from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center via the Homestead entrance
🕐 Hours: Open 24 hours, subject to park conditions and road closures
📱 Phone: Everglades National Park, 305-242-7700
🎟️ Admission: Everglades National Park entrance fee or valid park pass required

Yoshibachi Brings Hibachi, Sushi and Thai food Under One Roof

Can’t decide between hibachi, sushi or Thai? Yoshibachi makes the choice easier by serving all three from its Homestead location. The locally operated restaurant offers dine-in, takeout and delivery, with a menu ranging from hibachi steak, chicken and shrimp combinations to sushi rolls, curries, noodles and other Thai favorites.

First-timers might want to start with a hibachi combination and add a specialty roll to share. For something with a local twist, look for the Homestead Spicy Roll on the menu.

📍 Location: 250 N. Homestead Boulevard, Homestead
📱 Phone: 305-247-3500
🍽️ Options: Dine-in, takeout and delivery

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