Dear Readers,

Hi, and welcome to my first edition of "Tell Dr. Lori". I would like to take this time to tell you about some of the special things that have happened to me recently. This way we can get the ball rolling--"Tell Dr. Lori" will be your chance to share these sort of moments with the Doral community.
I hope sometime soon some of you will also be report news about the special moments in your life, and that you would share them with the Doral Community in "Tell Dr. Lori".

DR. LORI ESPINOZA

My full name is Lori Espinoza and my parents are Jesus and Belia Espinoza who incidentally celebrated their 40-year wedding anniversary on January 5. They still live in the same house that they raised us five kids in.

Oh, I forgot to mention, I have two brother and two sisters. My sister, Marissa Guthrie, just had a baby boy, Jesse, on December 31. My other sister, Ilsa Castillo, just let the family know that in May she'll give birth to twin girls. Both my sisters have birthdays this month, Marissa March 5, and Ilsa, March 3.

I recently started a new business, Doral Eye Center, and the community seems to have accepted it with open arms. I began the Doral Eye Center with my first employee, Carmen Giral, who celebrated a birthday January 12 (though she doesn't want me to mention the year).

I also had a personal scare the other day when I lost my dog, Buchito de Pilon (yes, I named him after my favorite brand of Cuban coffee), but I soon found him safe.

These are all excellent examples of what this column can potentially do my dear readers--if you would like to surprise somebody with a Happy Birthday, if they received a promotion and you want everyone to know, or if you started a new business and would like to announce it. Even if you became a new aunt, or you lost something precious that one of us might help you find, you want to say Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad, or you just want to say something that you think is important, this is your chance. Please fax, call, or write to me at the above contacts, and we'll try our best to let everyone know about it.

Read on, and you'll see that a few Doral Community members want to share some news with you too! Let us know what's happening with you and your family; we are your community! We are Doral!
Sincerely,

Dr. Lori

Our own Doral Tribune columnist Maria Guba of Doral had quite a lot to celebrate in January as she announced that husband Ted Guba (01/14), daughter Steffi Guba (1/21/90), and son Teddy Guba, Jr. (1/26/91), all celebrated birthdays! Happy Birthday to all of you!

Our Doral locations of Bank United recently installed two new Vice-President Branch Managers.

The West Airport location (2410 NW 72 Ave) is now being managed by Mr. John Hernandez. Mr. Hernandez is a 13-year financial service specialist of which 3 years he spent with a Wall Street investment firm. Mr. Hernandez can be reached at 305 591 3227.

Our Doral Blvd. (7970 NW 36 St) Bank United Branch now has a new Vice-President Branch Manager, Mr. Jose Failde. Mr. Failde has 17 years of banking experience and comes to us from Savings of America/ South Trust Bank where he also held the position of Vice President Bank Manager. Mr. Failde can be reached at 305 592 6641.
Sharon Marie Grutto was married to Lyall John Duncan

December 31. Sharon is an airline account manager for Amadeus USA of Doral and Lyall is Legal Counsel for Cunard Line Limited, a division of Carnival Cruise Line, also of Doral. Many years of happiness to both of you!

Teri Logan, J.D., principal at Miami Christian School has been appointed to the community advisory board of the Coral Gables Community Foundation.

Ms. Logan is involved heavily in civic affairs and community service such as the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee, Jr. Women's Club and the chamber of Commerce. Within the chamber she is the chair of the Sunrise Leads Committee and the vice-chair of the Education Committee.

Teri Logan has been at Miami Christian School for 16 years.

Miami Christian School (K-3 ­ 12th grade) will host an admissions open house on Saturday, February 2. For information call Donna Gehring at 305-221-7754.

(Principal Logan sent us the following letter regarding a new addition to the Miami Christian staff)

Dear Dr. Lori--
As the high school principal at Miami Christian School, I am pleased to have as a teacher this year Ms. Loren Sonesen who gave up a prestigious legal practice to teach English and Honors Constitutional Law. As you would imagine, the students appreciate and respect this highly credentialed professional.

Ms. Sonesen is originally from Long Island, New York. She graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a double major in English and Spanish Literature.

Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, she took a year off and worked as a paralegal at a major law firm, Kay Scholer et al, in New York, where she worked on toxic waste cases with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Her next undertaking was the University of Miami School of Law. Her emphasis while engaging in graduate studies was on honing her litigation skills as a part of the Trial Advocacy Program.

Her first work in the field after graduation was handling employment discrimination case, and then spent the next seven years specializing in medical malpractice.

How wonderful that someone of this caliber was willing to take a 60% pay cut and give up partnership tracking to be a positive role model to bright, young students.

Ms. Sonesen chose to be a part of Miami Christian School because of the emphasis on academics, character and spirituality. She feels that she developed two skills as a lawyer that she desires to bring to Miami Christian: to be a leader and to be one who influences.

Students, parents and faculty alike, appreciate the level of professionalism she exudes and instills in her classroom. Miami Christian School would like everyone to be aware of the amazing high school faculty who give their lives to mold the leaders of tomorrow; Loren Sonesen is indeed one of these dedicated, remarkable individuals.

Sincerely,
Teri Logan, JD

Congratulations to the Lopez-Faura Families who announced the birth of a new family member, Isabelle Anne Lopez Faura (6lbs, 7oz; and 19"). Isabelle Anne, born January 18 is the daughter of Lorenzo and Maribel Lopez Faura and maternal grandchild of Miguel and Nelly Faura, all of Doral. Congratulations!

Helen Gloria has been appointed to the Doral Branch for the Republic Bank, as Assistant Vice President/Branch Manager of Puerto