WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 2009

Commissioners Maria Anderson
and Ralph Cabrera Jr. Reelected
To City Commission

Coral Gables voters went to the polls yesterday to select two City Commissioners and to cast their votes for five proposed charter amendments. Incumbents Maria Anderson and Ralph Cabrera Jr. were reelected to the City Commission. According to unofficial results, Commissioner Maria Anderson received 3,301 votes or 55.41 percent of the total votes while Commissioner Ralph Cabrera Jr. won with 4,503 votes representing 77.45 percent of the total votes. A swearing in ceremony for both reelected Commissioners is scheduled for this Friday, April 17, 11:30 a.m. at Commission Chambers at City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. The public is invited to attend. Regarding the five proposed charter amendments, the results were the following: voters did not approve Charter Amendment 1 (increasing the threshold for formal public bid and award from $25,000 to $100,000 on public works projects) and Charter Amendment 2 (elimination of the Trial Board). Voters did approve Charter Amendment 3 (reducing the Mayor’s Term from four years to two years); Charter Amendment 4 (providing for term limits of 8 years for the Mayor and 12 years for the Commissioners); and Charter Amendment 5 (providing that the time served in fulfilling the unexpired term resulting from a vacancy on the Commission not be counted in applying term limits). Voter turnout yesterday in Coral Gables was 19.93 percent, with a total of 6,093 ballots cast. For additional information, contact the Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205. 

A Special Message From City Manager Pat Salerno

Sometimes in life, you do get what you wish for. Even before I began my career in government — and after spending more than 30 years in public service — I dreamed of one day working in this beautiful city. As a young and wide-eyed student at the University of Miami years ago, I was mesmerized by the scenic beauty of Coral Gables and its great sense of place. How could you not? In the years that have followed, I have had the privilege to manage some wonderful communities. But my sight always remained fixed on Coral Gables. My dream has finally come true — on April 6th I took an oath of office administered by Chief Judge Federico Moreno of the United States District Court to serve this community as its new City Manager. My family is looking forward to moving to Coral Gables soon. I have been married to my wife Susie for 27 years and we have two children. My son Christopher recently graduated from SDA Bocconi University’s School of Management in Milan, Italy, with a Master’s Degree in Corporate Finance. My daughter Lauren is a sophomore at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton studying Communications and Psychology. I am truly humbled and honored to be selected as your City Manager. You have my commitment that I will do everything I can to ensure the quality of life in Coral Gables remains the highest to be found anywhere. If I can ever be of service, please contact me at 305-460-5202.  

Get Your Prescription Discount Cards To Save Money

Beginning this Monday, you can get a prescription discount card at various City facilities that will help you save money on medications. The City of Coral Gables is launching a new program that offers free prescription drug discount cards to residents through a program sponsored by the National League of Cities (NLC). The discount cards offer residents an average savings of 20 percent off the retail price of commonly prescribed drugs. The discount cards may be used by all residents of Coral Gables and have no restrictions based on age, income level, or existing health coverage. You can pick up the prescription discount cards at Coral Gables City Hall, War Memorial Youth Center, Coral Gables Fire Stations 1, 2 and 3, and the Coral Gables Library. Residents only have to show the discount card when purchasing medication. There is no enrollment form required to get a card, no membership fee of any kind and City residents and their family members can use the card any time their prescription is not covered by insurance. Please note that this free prescription discount card is not insurance and it cannot be used in conjunction with other insurance. For a complete list of participating pharmacies in Coral Gables, for program information, or to look up a drug price or access health resources, call toll-free 1-888-620-1749 or click here.  

Gables Goes Green TV Show Gets Telly Award

Coral Gables Television has come a long way in providing informative shows for Coral Gables residents and its quality of programming is receiving national recognition. CGTV was named this year a recipient of the coveted Telly Award. The bronze statuette was awarded to the City’s cable station for its entertainment show “On the Scene” which focused on ways residents can “go green.” The show introduced viewers to alternative transportation, and ways to eat and live healthier while preserving our environment. The Telly honors excellence in local, regional and cable TV commercials and programs. Today, the Telly is one of the largest and most sought-after awards by industry leaders. Over 14,000 entries were received for this year’s event, the 30th Annual Competition. Judges received entries from all the states and 30 countries.  Since 2003, CGTV has won five previous Tellys and eight Daveys for television production excellence. Comcast subscribers can watch Coral Gables Television on channel 77 and Adelphia customers can watch on channel 97. CGTV is always available online at www.coralgables.com. To view the award-winning show, click here. 

Botero Sculptures On Exhibit At Fairchild Garden

Eight of Fernando Botero’s most famous sculptures are now on display at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden through May 31, 2009. The exhibition “Botero Collection by Gary Nader at Fairchild” is the second outdoor exhibition of the artist’s iconic corpulent figures at the Coral Gables gardens. The Botero’s bronze statues included in this show consist mainly of animals, dancers, reclining women, and mythological subjects such as “Male Torso.” Several of the pieces have been on exhibition in main streets, town squares and parks of other mayor cities including Paris, Madrid, New York, Washington D.C., Moscow, Bogota, Buenos Aires and most recently Tokyo and Singapore. Botero, born in Colombia, became the first non-French artist to exhibit on Paris’ famed Champs-Elysees. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road in Coral Gables. For more information, call 305-576-0256 or click here.  

Fundraising Event To Benefit Historic Miracle Theatre

Don’t miss the 18th Annual “Reach for the Stars” Gala Auction which will raise funds to benefit the historic Miracle Theatre and Actors’ Playhouse. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile. Participants will have the chance to bid on a live and silent auction including airline tickets, worldwide hotel travel packages and cruises, fine art, sport collectors items, and much more. Guest auctioneer will be television personality Bob Soper. For more information on this event, call 305-444-9293 or click here.