The Coral Gables City Commission held a special meeting on November 6 selecting Assistant City Manager Maria A. Jimenez as Interim City Manager. The 27-year career employee will lead the City until a nationwide search is conducted and a permanent replacement is found for the City’s top executive post. Coral Gables City Manager David L. Brown resigned last week from his position. All departments of the City of Coral Gables continue to offer municipal services without interruption. City leaders are moving forward fulfilling the day-to-day and long-term operations and are focused on the delivery of a stronger and more efficient local government.

The City of Coral Gables and South Florida Commuter Services have united to make The City Beautiful a greener place. Residents, merchants, and visitors of Coral Gables are being asked to leave cars at home for at least one day during the “Green Your Commute” week, November 10-14. Besides the benefit of saving money by using public transportation, walking or biking to and from home and work, participants will also be doing their part to protect the environment. By registering and pledging to leave cars at home during the week, participants have the chance to win a 3 day/2 night Hawks Cay Resort getaway, a $100 gift certificate for Christy’s Restaurant, a dinner for two for Caffé Abracci, a $100 gift certificate for Ortanique on the Mile, a $100 gift certificate from Fleming’s Steakhouse, various gift certificates from members of the Business Improvement District and the Coral Gables Community Foundation, gift cards from Montica Jewelry, Men-n-cure Salon, Gables Green Café, OXXO Care Cleaners at the Village of Merrick Park, Dunkin Donuts, a free fuel card, plus other great prizes. Stop by this Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the corner of Miracle Mile and Ponce de Leon to enjoy food, refreshments and receive giveaways. You still have time to register to Green Your Commute by clicking here.

Living alone and feeling lonely during life’s golden years is something that worries a lot of residents age 50 and older. Now a new program in the City of Coral Gables will offer senior citizens the opportunity to stay at home - and age comfortably in place. The non-profit Coral Gables Community Foundation launched this week a program called “Coral Gables@ Home,” a community service oriented program, the first of its kind in Florida.  For an introductory household annual fee of $500, Coral Gables@Home members can call for needs or wants. Some services are free and others are provided by pre-screened vendors, often at a discount. These services are not being provided by the City of Coral Gables, but by private resources through the Coral Gables Community Foundation. The program is being made possible thanks to generous, private community support of almost $300,000 (including a Kirk Foundation Grant of $250,000). Organizers hope that the program will be duplicated in other communities throughout the state of Florida. For more information, call Coral Gables@Home at 305-443-4011 or click here.

The Coral Gables Trolley is now part of the voice of transit in Florida. At the recent Florida Public Transit Association (FPTA) meeting, the Coral Gables Trolley was nominated and accepted to the Board of this organization which has more than 100 members, including every major transportation route system in the state. The FPTA provides a forum at the state level for public transit service providers and affiliated organizations to exchange experiences, studies, and to engage in meaningful discussion of mutual problems, concerns and issues. The Coral Gables Trolley is one of the most successful transportation systems in Florida, currently transporting more than 5,000 commuters daily to and from downtown Coral Gables.

If you’re planning your holiday activities in advance, mark your calendar for Saturday, December 13, as a day to visit the Merrick House. From 2-5 p.m., the Merrick House Governing Board cordially invites all residents to the Holiday Open House, a free and open celebration that will get visitors in the mood for the holidays with plenty of food, music, self guided tours, and a special visit by jolly old Santa Claus. The Merrick House is the family home of City founder George Merrick, located at 907 Coral Way. For more information, contact the Historical Resources Department at 305-460-5093.

Coral Gables is proud of its Gallery Night which displays the work of artists from around the world, but did you know the City’s senior residents are equally as talented? The second annual Celebration of Talent Senior Art Contest, taking place on Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15, is a wonderful opportunity to see the City’s golden residents proudly displaying their original art works. It’s also a chance to compete among other talented seniors for prizes. A special reception and award ceremony will be held on Friday from 7-9 p.m. at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive, which is open to the public. Come view art in many different formats all created by senior residents and see who takes home the coveted Best in Show Award. All art pieces will again be on display for the public on Saturday, November 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Youth Center. The event is presented by the City of Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department, the Coral Gables Senior Citizens Advisory board and the Palace Group. The show was a success in its inaugural year and the City counts with your participation to ensure continued success, to prove show talent is not bound by age. For more information, contact Anastasia Smith, Senior Services Division at 305-460-5609.

Are you the proud owner of a historically designated home in Coral Gables? If so, Coral Gables Television wants to share the history of your home with viewers. The City’s television station is producing another award-winning episode of “Historic Homes” and is looking for homeowners willing to showcase their homes on camera and to share the history behind it. If interested, please send an e-mail with contact information to e-news@coralgables.com.

The Coral Gables Museum is hosting a Gingerbread House Contest to benefit the Museum’s Educational Programming Fund and the Community Partnership for the Homeless. Children, teens, adults, students, businesses, architects and designers are all invited to create a sugary confection for a wonderful cause. The contest entries will be displayed at Old Spanish Village Sales Gallery, 2901 Ponce de Leon Boulevard from December 12-14. To get ready for the contest, participants are invited to attend a complimentary gingerbread house workshop at the War Memorial Youth Center on November 15.  For contest forms, rules and regulations and more information, call the Coral Gables Museum at 305-910-3996 or click here.

For 60 years, over 480 million players from around the globe have played this extraordinary game. Now a special Monopoly edition featuring Miami and the Beaches highlights a Coral Gables landmark as one of the game properties. Players can buy, rent or trade in the Venetian Pool, with monopoly money of course. Roll the dice and advance around the board to see other familiar properties from Miami and Miami Beach. The special edition of Monopoly will soon be available in retail stores.

EVENTS ROUNDUP
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City of Coral Gables,
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TRAFFIC

Coral Way and Segovia Street: Construction of a roundabout on the intersection of Coral Way and Segovia Street is on schedule. For the next two weeks, workers will be laying new asphalt and Chicago brick pavers, installing pavement markers, and adding reflective signs and markings on the pavement. The following streets are now closed and will remain closed throughout the duration of the project: Coral Way at Segovia Street, North Greenway Drive at Segovia Street, Segovia Street at Coral Way and Segovia Street at Biltmore Way. Local traffic will be permitted through the area at all times. Signs are positioned just outside the construction zone that clearly mark detour routes. The roundabout is scheduled to be completed by December 15, 2008. 

CITY OF
CORAL GABLES

MISSION
Dedicated people providing exceptional services to residents, businesses and visitors while preserving our heritage.

VALUES
Accessibility
Accountability
Competency
Dedication
Innovation
Integrity
Loyalty
Responsiveness

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City of Coral Gables
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www.coralgables.com
 

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