WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2009

Enjoy A Safe Halloween In Coral Gables

It’s almost that time of the year for trick ‘r treating, and the City of Coral Gables is preparing exciting — and chilling — activities for the entire family to enjoy. This Saturday, October 31, bring your ghosts, vampires and werewolves to a Halloween Celebration at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive. A Halloween Party for all ages takes place from 4-6 p.m. where you can take a photo with the wicked witch of the Gables (cost is $5) or enjoy carnival games for $.50 per ride. Wear your most creative gear to participate in a Costume Contest, from 6-7 p.m. And for those who like to be really frightened, a Haunted House (cost is $3.75 per person) will give you goose bumps from 7-10 p.m. Your pooch will not be left behind: a Howl-O-Ween Dog Swim and Costume Contest takes place on Sunday, November 1 at the Venetian Pool, 2701 De Soto Blvd., from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Dress up your favorite doggie and bring him on a leash to socialize with fellow canines or do the dog-paddle at the pool. Cost is $5 per dog and tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5600. 

City Manager Addresses Chamber Of Commerce

Coral Gables City Manager Patrick Salerno gave his first public address to the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce at their monthly October meeting held recently, where approximately 150 business leaders attended. The City Manager, who was introduced by Chamber Chair Sarah Nesbitt Artecona, spoke about the need to build on the City’s unique assets, strengths and address its needs to enable it to become the premiere City in the state and a nationwide leader in providing a superb lifestyle for its residents. He described his role as a facilitator for making the Mayor and Commissioner’s vision a reality. To view the introduction and remarks by the City Manager, click here. 

Country Club Operator To Meet With Community

The new operator of the Coral Gables Country Club is hosting a meeting with the community to solicit input about a proposed outdoor dining area at the 997 North Greenway Drive facility. On October 13th, the City Commission approved miscellaneous improvements to the club which included the installation of various architectural improvements, modifications to the rear yard porte-cochere and installation of additional landscaping facing Granada Boulevard and North Greenway Drive. The City Commission asked the operator of the facility, Coral Grand LLC, to conduct a neighborhood meeting to solicit further input on the proposal to locate outdoor seating as part of a European style café and elegant restaurant to be located on the southwest portion of the property along North Greenway Drive. The new club operator will be initially investing a minimum of $1.2 million in the facility and has indicated that he is committed to transforming the Coral Gables Country Club into the epicenter of the neighborhood. The operator has proposed a café be located within the facility with outdoor seating. The café will be included only if outdoor seating is allowed. The proposed café would be a small venue with indoor seating and eight outdoor tables serving gelato, panini, thin-crusted pizza made in a stone oven, salads and desserts. The proposed restaurant, to be named NOVE7, would offer a full-service Mediterranean style menu with outdoor service of 12 tables. The outdoor seating is to be located on brick pavers entirely surrounded by landscaping and low level lighting. No outdoor signage or music will be allowed. Interested parties are invited to provide input to the City and the operator regarding the outdoor seating at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Country Club. To view the proposed outdoor seating area as part of the overall site plan, click here.  

Taxi Discount Program Available For Seniors

The City of Coral Gables, in collaboration with the Alliance for Aging, is offering a limited number of Senior Taxi Discount coupons to residents of Coral Gables who are 65 years old or older. This is a pilot program funded by the Partners for a Livable Community and is operated through the Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department Senior Services Division. Coral Gables senior residents can purchase Senior Taxi Discount coupons at the War Memorial Youth Center during regular business hours. Each coupon is worth $5 in taxi charges and can be redeemed only with the Coral Gables Taxi company (305-444-2828). No other taxi company will accept the coupons. Coral Gables Taxi drivers will accept the coupons just like cash for any regular taxi service. A minimum of four $5 coupons are available for sale at a 50 percent discount price of $10 (a $20 value). The individual or combined coupons can be used any time and expire December 31, 2009. There are a limited number of taxi discount coupons available for sale at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive. If the program is successful, it may be expanded in the future. For additional information, please contact Senior Services Coordinator Paul Hunt at 305-460-5608. 

H1N1 Vaccine Has Arrived In Florida

Two weeks ago, the state of Florida received 243,000 orders for the H1N1 Flu vaccine. As vaccines become available, it is recommended that anyone within the priority groups get vaccinated. Priority groups who should consider vaccination are pregnant women, people who live with or care for infants younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical personnel, anyone from 6 months through 24 years of age, and anyone from 25 through 64 years of age with certain chronic medical conditions or a weakened immune system. Vaccination to prevent H1N1 influenza is voluntary. The levels of influenza H1N1 infections increased dramatically in late August and continue to steadily increase statewide. Normally at this time of the year fewer than 2 percent of emergency department visits are for influenza-like illness. Currently, that value is about 7.5 percent. Increases are most marked in children and adolescents, but all age groups are affected. Approximately 60 percent of all emergency department visits for influenza-like illness are made by children and adolescents under age 20. Fewer than 6 percent are in people aged 65 and older. Check with your local school or primary doctor to know when vaccination is available in your area. For further updates regarding the H1N1 Swine Flu, please click here. 

Use City’s Prescription Discount Card

If you haven’t done already, you can now print online the City’s Prescription Discount Drug Card to save money on the purchase of medicines. Since the implementation of the program, 102 card users have saved a cumulative total of $2,698, a savings of 17.6 percent in the cost of their prescription medicines. This card is available to all residents and is particularly useful to those without health insurance. By using this card, you may save an average of 20 percent off the regular retail price of prescription drugs at participating pharmacies. The Prescription Discount Card is offered through a collaboration with the National League of Cities. Residents may also pick up a card at the following locations: Coral Gables City Hall (405 Biltmore Way), War Memorial Youth Center (405 University Drive), Adult Activity Center (624 Anastasia Avenue), Coral Gables Fire Station 1 (2815 Salzedo St.), Coral Gables Fire Station 2 (525 S. Dixie Highway), Coral Gables Fire Station 3 (11011 Old Cutler Road) and the Coral Gables Branch Library (3443 Segovia St.) To print an online card, for a complete list of participating pharmacies in Coral Gables, for program information, or to look up a drug price or access health resources, click here. 

Watch Halloween Special From Coral Gables TV

Coral Gables Television has produced an “On The Scene” Halloween special that will inform you in an entertaining way about the City of Coral Gables. Watch this fun episode as our hosts meet two of the City’s favorite mascots: Jobie, the face of the Junior Orange Bowl Festival and UM’s Sebastian the Ibis who gives a lesson on his famous game cheering moves. Meet Elvira as she takes you on a journey through Coral Gables Pinewood Cemetery showcasing the history of the final resting place of early pioneers (click here). On her way to Kansas, Dorothy and her beloved Toto get lost and end up on Miracle Mile. Then, watch how an angel comes down to Coral Gables to teach us about the oldest church in the City. This entertaining segment can be seen by clicking here.  Coral Gables Television is available on Channel 77 if you subscribe to Comcast, live at www.coralgables.com, and also on YouTube by clicking here. 

Community Foundation Launches Gables Home Page

The Coral Gables Community Foundation has launched its Gables Home Page, a non-profit online news and information exchange specifically designed for the Coral Gables community. Content is written and compiled by Gables Home Page staff and the University of Miami’s School of Communication in a unique collaboration involving students and faculty. Stories include everything from local news to arts and entertainment, business, sports, education and dining/restaurants.  To view this homepage, click here.