The Cooler

Here are some of the stories that caught my eye this morning. Enjoy your Cooler.

A- Herald: Get ready to ruuuummmmmmbbbbblllllllllleeeeeeeeeee.

It's finally here. The summer of shock is over. The preseason of patience is done. The spectacle begins Tuesday, the day the Miami Heat begins its most anticipated season in franchise history.

B- Herald: Mission accomplished...almost.

In his bid to recall Miami-Dade's first strong mayor, billionaire businessman Norman Braman announced Monday he has collected 90,000 signatures from registered voters, more than enough to put Mayor Carlos Alvarez's fate with the voting public.

Braman collected the signatures in less than three weeks, a furious pace reflecting voters' unhappiness with the county mayor amid a rising tax rate and sluggish economy.

[...]

Once the signatures are certified, county commissioners will have three months to call a special election. In a 2007 referendum pushed by Alvarez, the Miami-Dade leader won voter support to expand the powers of the county mayor's office.

C- Herald: Hello, Dalai!

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to make two highly anticipated appearances in South Florida on Tuesday.

The Tibetan leader-in-exile will speak about ``The Significance of World Religions'' at 9:15 a.m. at Temple Emanu-El in Miami Beach. At 1:30 p.m., he will speak on ``The Quest for Happiness in Challenging Times'' at the University of Miami's BankUnited Center in Coral Gables.

D- Herald: Video, LeBron Poetry Contest.

E- Herald: That's a lot of living.

If you think Gertrudis Balsinde is going to reveal her formula for a long life just like that, think again.

``Oh no! That's restricted; I don't give that to anybody,'' said Balsinde, a sweet, shrewd 109-year-old Cuban American who lives with her 77-year-old daughter in Allapattah. ``I don't share that secret.''

[...]

Balsinde, who uses her maiden name, is the oldest of five. Four siblings died in Cuba at ages ranging from 90 to 100. But her mother died at 48 during surgery. Her father was absent during her upbringing. Her first husband died at 39; the second one at 83. Her first born died 10 years ago at 72 after a fall. Her other two children are 76 and 74. Her oldest granddaughter is 54 and her oldest great-grandson is 27.

Except for osteoarthritis, she is in good health, said her doctor, Inés Braceras. She only takes three prescription medications -- for high-blood pressure, cholesterol and arthritis -- and also one aspirin. A few years ago she had a mild stroke and recovered quickly.

F- Palm Beach Post: Life in South Florida.

WEST PALM BEACH — An elderly West Palm Beach couple said they were interrupted early Friday morning by a naked man bursting into their home and yelling at them to "call the police," according to a police report.

West Palm Beach Police said the naked man - Marcal Samuels, 31 - had no explanation for his actions other than he "was scared."

G- NBC Miami: Endearing people to their cause.

While the eyes of the world will be on the new-look Miami Heat during their home opener Friday, some gazes might shift focus to the hundreds of people protesting outside the AmericanAirlines Arena.

The city's unions have planned to upstage LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh by staging a protest rally in front of the arena to get attention for what they see is a failing city government.

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