The Cooler

A Republican candidate visits Miami and stops by the Versailles. That and other earth-shattering news in this morning's Cooler.

A- Herald: Some things never change.

Visiting Cuban-American senior citizens and Radio Mambí in Miami, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott introduced himself Monday to one of the few communities across Florida that hasn't seen his $16 million media blitz.

``Buenos días. Mi nombre es Rick Scott,'' the Naples multimillionaire in a navy suit told about 200 people waiting for a hot lunch at the Armando Badia Senior Center.

Scott, who visited the famed Versailles restaurant in Little Havana earlier this month, has not yet put his money behind Hispanic outreach.

[...]

Scott's halting Spanish and brief remarks in English failed to whip up the crowd, though they appreciated that he came bearing two dozen gifts for the raffle: hand soaps for the ladies and Cuban coffee for the gents.

``I think he wants to help,'' 77-year-old Alicia Perez said in Spanish, waving her hand and shouting when Scott called out the number on her raffle ticket.

Perez said she was unaware of Scott's past as chief executive of Columbia/HCA, which paid a record-setting $1.7 billion fine for bilking Medicare and has been at the center of attacks from his chief Republican rival in the governor's race, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum.

B- Herald: I'm sure things will totally turn around come Opening Day.

Inside the former Orange Bowl, construction of a new baseball stadium moves forth in a blizzard of activity, the ballpark more than one-third done and racing for a 2012 grand opening.

But outside the stadium, East Little Havana has felt little impact yet from the $642 million project, funded mostly by public dollars and pitched to residents with a promise that if you build it, they will come.

As the columns of the enormous structure climb skyward by the day, there are no discernible signs of the stadium spurring retailers, restaurants or businesses to commit to the area.

C- Herald: Video, Coconut Grove peacock art.

D- Herald: They write letters.

Drive more responsibly

I am one of those rare drivers who use turn signals, come to a complete stop at stop signs and stop at red lights.

I know, I know -- I'm very annoying. But, I'm having a ball driving you all crazy. Please, Miami drivers, use a little courtesy out there.

JEAN E. SABBAGH, Miami

E- NBC Miami: Craigslist Miami-style.

The two were robbed of an expensive motorcycle at gunpoint after negotiating the terms of sale on Craigslist.org. Police said the deal didn't include the AK-47 assault rifles.

The Pomare brothers were told to come to an unspecified location to drop off the motorcycle and receive the cash for their 2003 Kawasaki motorcycle. But when the potential buyers showed up they did with guns drawn.

It didn’t take much to force the brothers to the ground after three rounds were fired. Within seconds, one of the suspects was taking off eastbound on the motorcycle, while the others jetted off on foot.

.