WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2009

‘Tis the Season To Shop Locally

Due to the recession, this year is no ordinary holiday season, which is why it is so important to put your money where your house is. If you’re looking for the perfect gift for your loved ones, there are plenty of shops and restaurants in the City’s commercial district to choose from. The City of Coral Gables encourages you to patronize your local businesses: you have a stake in the success of your community. When a local business closes down, the City also loses money in commercial property taxes, in garbage franchise fees, in occupational license fees and so forth. If shopping is on your mind, keep it local and check out the Gables Gifts and Goodies promotions offered from Downtown merchants. Every time you make a purchase, you have the power to make a difference in your own community. For more information on where to go shopping during this holiday season, click here.  

Preston Scott Merchandise To Be Auctioned Off

Surplus inventory and fixtures from Preston Scott Design With Flowers, which filed for bankruptcy and abandoned its high-end design merchandise at its store location of 220 Aragon Avenue, will be auctioned off in order to recover rent due to the City. An auction of all items will take place at the store on Sunday, December 20. Viewing of available merchandise opens at 9 a.m.; the auction begins at 11 a.m. The auction company will offer the merchandise first to bulk bidders and will then divide the property into smaller lots in order to determine which method will yield a greater recovery. The auction is open to the public and will be conducted by J. Sugarman Auction. For additional information, contact 954-633-5255 or www.jaysugarman.com. 

Fire Assessment Fee Is Due December 31

If you haven’t sent in your payment already, please be reminded that the new Fire Assessment Fee is due December 31, 2009. Residents have until this date to pay the annual flat $50 rate per dwelling unit. Non-residential property owners have to pay an annual fee based on their classification as commercial, industrial/warehouse, institutional or educational use category. Invoices to all Coral Gables property owners were mailed in early November; payments can be made by mail or in person at Coral Gables City Hall, Cashier, First Floor, 405 Biltmore Way, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., excluding holidays. For more information, please contact 305-460-5280.  

City Projects Savings Of $465,000
With New Automotive Department Practices

In the last four months under the leadership of new Automotive Director Steven Riley, who was the Assistant Director of Fleet Services for the City of Atlanta, a number of new practices have been implemented which is estimated to save the City of Coral Gables $465,000 annually. Among these initiatives are changes associated with the way the City purchases its fuel, resulting in a $150,000 savings. Also, the City has rescinded the policy of changing the battery in all emergency vehicles once a year whether they need it or not. The City now conducts annual battery voltage checks and will only replace the battery when it will not hold a charge. This change has an estimated annual savings of $25,000. A change in the tire repair and tire purchasing policies, allowing the repair of tires with significant tread life left and the direct purchase of new tires through the State of Florida Government Contract will result in $60,000 annual savings. The utilization of an existing software application that tracks the warranty status of all parts in City vehicles is estimated to save $30,000 annually. Lastly, the Automotive Department is now responsible for the maintenance of the Coral Gables Trolley, eliminating the costly contract with an outside vendor. This represents a direct savings of approximately $200,000 each year and provides the opportunity for City mechanics to increase their productivity by working on vehicles other than Trolleys during slow periods.  

Have A Merry Special Breakfast With Santa

Ever wondered what Mrs. Claus cooks Santa for breakfast? To find out up close and personal reserve today your space to have Breakfast with Santa, on Saturday, December 12 beginning at 8:30 a.m. until noon at the War Memorial Youth Center. Be part of Santa’s special group of friends in a morning full of fun and good food. There will be holiday activities, games and a surprise raffle drawing. Santa welcomes children of all ages, but they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Tickets vary from $13 to $31 depending on resident status and membership to the Youth Center. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For more information, call 305-460-5600 or click here. 

Step Back In Time At Merrick House, December 12

The historic Coral Gables Merrick House, home of City founder George Merrick, will open its doors to the community to celebrate the holidays. A Holiday Open House takes place on Saturday, December 12 beginning at 2 p.m. featuring live music by Juan Areco, Santa’s arrival at 3:15 p.m., and caroling from 3:30-4:30 p.m. by the Yuletide Carolers. There will be ongoing face painting, refreshments, gifts from Santa and self-guided tours of the home. The event, organized by the Coral Gables Merrick House Governing Board, is free and open to the public. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the Coral Gables Merrick House exists today much as it did in the 1920s and is filled with the Merrick family’s artwork, photographs, furniture, and personal treasures. The Merrick House is located at 907 Coral Way. For more information, contact the Historical Resources Department at 305-460-5093. 

Children Eliminating Boundaries Through JOB Events

The Junior Orange Bowl events are in full swing this season, culminating with the much anticipated Junior Orange Bowl Parade scheduled for Saturday, January 2, 2010 through the streets of Downtown Coral Gables. Children from all over the world are set to eliminate boundaries and unite in competition in events such as the Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball Classics (December 28-30); International Chess Championship (December 27-29); International Golf Championship (December 15-26 & December 27-30); International Tennis Championship (December 14-16, December 17-23); Ice Hockey Tournament (January 15-18, 2010); plus Creative Writing and Photography contests. These events take place throughout various venues in Miami-Dade County. For more details, please click here.  

Life-Saving Heart Attack Treatment
Is Used In Coral Gables

The City of Coral Gables Fire Department has successfully implemented a cutting edge life-saving technique to treat heart attack patients. For the past year, Gables paramedics responding to patients suffering a heart attack have been administering ice-cold saline intravenously to induce hypothermia. The technique cools down a person’s body temperature to minimize neurological damage to the brain and other organs. Patients not only improve their chances of survival but those who do survive sustain minimal damage and are able to return to their normal lifestyle. Since its implementation on October 2008, out of the 12 patients who met the criteria for the procedure, five were saved and now are living productive lives. The national average for surviving a full cardiac arrest is 7 percent; in Coral Gables the average jumps to 40 percent. Our own Fire Department wrote the protocol for inducing hypothermia in heart attack patients and was one of only a handful of departments nationwide to implement the new program. Currently, all of the City’s rescue trucks are fully equipped with a freezer to store the life-saving saline solution.  

Busy Shopping? Never Leave Your Vehicles Unlocked!

Thanks to the fast action response of our Police Department, thieves stealing goods from unlocked vehicles in Gables neighborhoods were apprehended recently. During the Thanksgiving week, there were 28 reported vehicle burglaries within a 44-hour period. The City of Coral Gables wants you to be safe and alert during this shopping season. Never leave your vehicles unlocked, even if it is for a brief moment. That’s all it takes for criminals to make your gifts inside your vehicles disappear. Keep in mind the following tips to prevent crimes of opportunity: park your vehicle in an area that is visible to the public and well lit at night; remove all valuables inside your vehicle; secure all doors and windows and set your alarm if you have one; if you’re traveling to and from the stores, secure your valuables in the trunk away from plain view; when leaving for a holiday vacation, do not pack your car at night before and leave it outside.  If you see a suspicious person prowling in the area, please call the Coral Gables Police Department non emergency number at 305-442-1600. For any emergencies, remember to dial 911.  

Bring Holiday Joy To Children In Need

The economy has affected many families and this holiday season in particular is going to be tough for many parents who can’t provide for their children, let alone buy them gifts. That is why the City of Coral Gables once again joining together to collect unwrapped toys that will bring holiday joy and smiles to many children in need. Members of the Coral Gables Police and Fire Departments, Coral Gables Police and Fire Explorers, and Coral Gables Police Athletic League, have set up collection boxes for unwrapped toys. Joining this year in this effort is the University of Miami. In addition to unwrapped toys, the City is accepting new disposable diapers, baby wipes, baby clothing items and developmental toys. Collection boxes will be available at the following locations from now until December 18: Police Building & Fire Station 1 (2801 Salzedo Street); Fire Station 2: (525 South Dixie Highway); Fire Station 3 (11911 Old Cutler Road); and the UM Police Building (on the ground floor of the Flipse Building/Ponce de Leon Parking Garage at 5665 Ponce de Leon Boulevard.) A car wash planned for Saturday, December 12 between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to raise funds to purchase gifts for older children. Once collected, the organizers will wrap and deliver the toys to Community Partnership for the Homeless, Barnyard Community Center, and other local organizations. For more information, contact the Police Department Community Affairs Unit at 305-460-5401. 

Municipal Leaders From Central & South America
Visit City Hall

What do mayors and commissioners from 12 different municipalities from Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico and Dominican Republic have in common? The 40-member delegation visited the City of Coral Gables as part of an international encounter of municipal leaders organized by the American Foundation for Development which also included meetings with leaders of Miami-Dade County, Miami and Miami Beach. Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick, Commissioner Ralph Cabrera, City Manager Pat Salerno, and staff from Public Works and Public Service departments welcomed the special delegation at City Hall on November 25th to discuss the Gables operations and services. The group also received a tour of the City and a day later had the opportunity to experience Thanksgiving in the U.S.