1 of 3 Attending a recent Rotary Club of Coral Gables Club meeting are (l-r) RCCG program chair and past president Ana Gallagher with guest speaker Dr. Eduardo Zayas-Bazan and RCCG president Felix Pardo.Variety of events keep S. Florida organizations busy Enjoying Coral Gables Bar/Rotary mixer at El Ñaño on Miracle Mile are (l -r) Tomas Pila, Ian Illych Martinez. Elina Magaly Santana, Vanessa Michaud, Jerry Kavulich and Bruce Bounds.Variety of events keep S. Florida organizations busy Visiting the VR Experiences at South Florida PBS are members of the GFWC Doral West Dade Woman’s Club and guests.Variety of events keep S. Florida organizations busy The Rotary Club of Coral Gables continues to attract outstanding speakers for its twice-monthly luncheon meetings. On Aug. 20, past president and program chair Ana Gallagher introduced the club to Dr. Eduardo Zayas-Bazán, a hero of the Bay of Pigs invasion. Dr. Zayas-Bazán recounted his experiences and the events that led to his involvement, explaining how many patriotic Cubans were recruited by the CIA for the mission. On Apr 17, 1961, he and fellow members of Brigade 2506 waded ashore at Playa Girón, Cuba, where he was shot in the right knee by friendly fire. He was captured and held prisoner for a year before being released and returned to the United States with 59 other wounded prisoners who needed medical attention. Dr. Zayas-Bazán later co-authored a book about that period with Robert Higgs titled The Flying Fish. In other service club news, members and friends of General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) clubs throughout South Florida participated in another fundraiser coordinated by the Doral West Dade Woman’s Club on Aug. 22. This second major fundraiser supporting the club’s charitable outreach featured a party bus trip to South Florida PBS headquarters in Boynton Beach for The Colosseum and Napoleon virtual reality experiences. Helping entertain guests aboard the bus was Vivo Sports Social’s Steven Bradley, whom many know from Gringo Bingo. Club member Rita Tennyson, owner of Birdie Bistro, donated a charcuterie box for the trip north, while Mayra Rossi of Coral Gables Dental Arts provided gift bags. South Florida PBS welcomed guests to the VIP event with drinks before they entered the spectacular VR experiences. Both were educational and entertaining, once again demonstrating how South Florida PBS always finds a way to make learning fun. On the return trip, Birdie Bistro provided a delicious meal, while trivia games brought lots of laughs and prizes donated by Vivo Sports Social. Among the many enjoying the day were Miami-Dade County Commissioner J.C. Bermudez and his wife, Vivian; GFWC District 11 director Shirley Pardon; past District 11 director Noreen Timoney; DWDWC treasurer Stacy Alonso; Coral Gables Dental Arts’ Dr. Jose Chaviano and his fiancée, Vanessa Montero; Lorraine Sheldon; Arely Ruiz; Yolanda Woodbridge; Dr. Jaime Franco; Coral Gables Chamber vice president Gloria Baez; Christina and Mike Roche, and Olga Olivera. Many who attended the trip already have made reservations for The Moonwalkers, the newest experience opening Sept. 23. Narrated by Tom Hanks, the experience promises to make visitors feel as if they are walking on the moon. Meanwhile, the monthly Coral Gables Bar and Rotary mixer was held Aug. 12 at El Ñaño, a beautiful new restaurant on Miracle Mile featuring fresh seafood, unique sushi and traditional Ecuadorian dishes. Much of the conversation that evening centered on the Coral Gables Bar Association’s upcoming Annual Installation Gala on Sept. 19. The affair will celebrate the past year and install Elina Santana as the organization’s 2026-27 president, along with her incoming board of directors, at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel. For sponsorship and ticket information, visit coralgablesbar.org. Dates to Save Sept. 19 — Coral Gables Bar Association Installation Gala, 7-9 p.m., Loews Coral Gables Hotel Sept. 23 — Opening of The Moonwalkers VR experience at South Florida PBS Oct. 3 — Family Resource Center Annual Bowling Tournament at Bird Bowl; visit frc.org Oct. 3 — Out of Foster Foundation Gala at Trump National Resort Oct. 16 — Coral Gables Community Foundation Gala at Loews Coral Gables Hotel As always, remember to count your blessings, share your smile and a kind word, and make a difference.     ABOUT US: For more Miami community news, look no further than Miami Community Newspapers. This Miami online group of newspapers covers a variety of topics about the local community and beyond. 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