Thanksgiving is more than just a day to eat turkey or watch a football game. It is a time to give thanks for life’s blessings, for having good health, family and friends. During this American tradition, the spirit of giving is celebrated with those less fortunate, whether it is in this country or abroad. A recent letter sent from La Antigua, Guatemala to the Coral Gables Fire Department gives special meaning to this holiday because it is a message of gratitude among different cultures and languages linked by a common thread. In 2003, the City of Coral Gables donated a fire truck to sister city of La Antigua, Guatemala. Today, five years later, the fire truck has been used many times to save innumerable lives and property in this region of the world. Coral Gables Engine #25 was retired from use in the City Beautiful and was donated to La Antigua, at present Unit #186 to be used by volunteer firefighters who are still genuinely thankful to the City of Coral Gables. Just like our friends in La Antigua, Guatemala, may your hearts and home be full of blessings on this Thanksgiving Day.

A holiday tradition in the City of Coral Gables brings six nights of free concerts on the steps of the 550 Biltmore Way Building. The 2008 Caroling Competition starts Wednesday, December 3 at 7 p.m. and continues nightly until Sunday afternoon, December 7 with performances starting at 3 p.m. Six Miami-Dade public, private and parochial schools will perform each evening to compete for cash prizes, one of the largest events of the Junior Orange Bowl. The competition is presented by Holtz Children’s Hospital. The winners of the 2008 Competition return for a short program and to accept awards on Tuesday, December 9, beginning at 7 p.m. For more information on this free event, click here.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the happiest season of all. The holiday season will be in full swing in Coral Gables on Friday, December 5 with the Holiday Tree Lighting taking place at Merrick Park in front of City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. Activities will be ongoing from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Holiday Park with carnival games and rides, face painting, a cartoon artist, and arts and crafts activities. The Miami Children’s Theater show stopping performance of the “Best Christmas Show Ever” kicks off the stage performances at 5 p.m., followed by the “Nutcracker” excerpts from Maria Verdeja School of the Arts at 5:30 p.m., then songs from Mary Poppins and Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang starting at 6 p.m. and “A Christmas Carol, the Musical” at 6:30 p.m. presented by Actors’ Playhouse. The Coral Gables City Commission will be on stage at 7 p.m. for the lighting of the holiday tree and the arrival of Santa Claus. Then it’s time for the Village of Merrick Park Yuletide Carolers to sing popular holiday songs for the entire family to enjoy. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5600.

The Merrick House Governing Board cordially invites all residents and visitors of Coral Gables to the Merrick House Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 13. Beginning at 2 p.m. you can enjoy the wonderful music of Juan Areco and self-guided tours of the family home of City founder George Merrick. It’s an afternoon to be merry and share the holiday spirit with friends and neighbors at this City of Coral Gables holiday tradition. Don’t miss Santa’s arrival at 3:15 p.m. followed by the enchanting Yuletide Carolers. All of this is happening at the Merrick House, located at 907 Coral Way. For more information, call 305-460-5093.

The Junior Orange Bowl Parade is coming back to Downtown Coral Gables! Say goodbye to 2008 and take part as the Junior Orange Bowl Committee brings you “Moon over Miami.” Join hosts Belkys Perez and Liane Morejon from our own Coral Gables Television as they host the parade and present a cheerful celebration featuring marching bands, colorful floats, community groups and creative parade units. It’s a dazzling spectacle that you don’t want to miss! The parade is free to attend and grandstand tickets are only $10. Join us for one of the most highly anticipated events of the year on Tuesday, December 30th. Watch it live on CGTV, Channel 77 beginning at 7 p.m.

In order to boost the cultural life in the City of Coral Gables, the City Commission has approved the allocation of $166,250 in cultural grant funding to 30 various community organizations. Last month, the Cultural Development Board reviewed applications for the City’s cultural development, festivals and special events, and community grants. Grant funding ranged from $1,000 to $15,000. Among the organizations to receive cultural development grant funding are Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Actors’ Playhouse, GableStage, New Theatre and the Lowe Art Museum. To support the various festival and special events that bring culture to Coral Gables, the City awarded funds to Coral Gables Congregational Church, Sunday Afternoons of Music, Chopin Foundation, Miami Children’s Chorus, Miami Bach Society, among others. Community grants were also allocated for the Merrick Festival, Friends of the Miami-Dade Public Library, Coral Gables Museum, St. Patrick’s Day Committee, Dance Now! Ensemble, Temple Judea and Civic Choral. For additional information, contact the City of Coral Gables Development Department at 305-460-5312.

The City of Coral Gables works with the county’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) to ensure the quality of the surface water, groundwater, stormwater runoff and especially our drinking water. It is important to remember that anything that spills on the ground can contaminate our drinking water. The toxic soup that washes from yards, roofs, streets and parking lots is a major source of water pollution. Do you know that you can harm the local waterway with your everyday activities without even knowing it? Please remember to be water smart and don’t pollute. Among the things homeowners can do is to apply chemicals on a sunny day and use a garden hose or sprinkler to water it into the yard. Never apply before a rain that can cause run-off. Also, choose the least toxic chemicals available and sweep up excess chemicals off driveways and sidewalks. This will prevent these chemicals from washing away during a rain event into nearby storm drains and waterways. For additional information on how to protect our Coral Gables waterways, contact DERM at 305-372-6789.

Are you proud of your neighborhood’s beautiful landscape in Coral Gables? Well, now is the time to send nominations for the Landscape Beautification Awards, a yearly recognition of the best adorning greens and flowers in the City Beautiful.  All residential and commercial properties in the City are eligible for this award which is presented by the Landscape Beautification Advisory Board. Submissions of applications for Beautification Awards can be made by anyone by filling out the nomination form available by clicking here or through contact with the Public Service Department by calling 305-460-5131. The deadline for application each year is December 31st. Awardees are honored each year by the City Commission during a public ceremony and the winning properties will be showcased on the City’s website.

The Florida Department of Transportation invites you to come learn about the District Six Annual Five-Year Transportation Plan at a meeting taking place on Tuesday, December 9 from 8–10 a.m. at the University of Miami Bank United Center, Hurricane 100 Room, 1245 Dauer Drive. The FDOT District 6 manages and oversees dozens of state road and bridge construction projects on the state highway system in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. These projects range from minor intersection improvements that will improve traffic flow to major multi-million dollar programs such as the SR 826/Palmetto Expressway Expansion Program and the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC). FDOT Project Managers will be on hand to answer your transportation questions. For more information, call 305-573-4455.

EVENTS ROUNDUP
For the definitive guide
to upcoming events in the
City of Coral Gables,
click here

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 adding thermoplastic directional arrows on the asphalt and the striping associated with a roundabout. Crews will also be installing posts and informational signs. 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. 

Special Event:
December 3–9: From Wednesday through Saturday, December 3rd–6th and Tuesday the 9th, expect Biltmore Way to be closed between Hernando and Segovia Streets. The Junior Orange Bowl Committee’s Caroling Competition will take place at such time requiring part of the street for set up. Expect the street to close from 7–10 p.m. On Sunday, December 7th, the street closure will take place from 3–6 p.m.

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

Visit the
City of Coral Gables
web site:
www.coralgables.com
 

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