TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010

City Of Coral Gables Celebrates 85th Anniversary

It has been 85 years since Coral Gables founder George Merrick envisioned our City as an elegant community of unrivaled beauty. Together with a team of extraordinary architects, Merrick set out to create a unique suburb following the principles of the “City Beautiful” movement. Incorporated on April 29, 1925, the City of Coral Gables is celebrating its 85th Anniversary with an open house on Thursday, April 29, from 2-6 p.m. at the Merrick House, 907 Coral Way. The public is invited to take a self-guided tour of the historic home of the Merrick family, see unique memorabilia from the early Gables and share free birthday cake and light refreshments, courtesy of Whole Foods Market Coral Gables. Coral Gables Television will also be taping birthday wish testimonials from visitors which will be aired later on Channel 77.  All the activities are free and open to the public. For more information, contact 305-460-5521. 

Sign Up To Coral Gables Summer Camps

The last day of school is just around the corner and it’s time to think about what your children will do this summer. The City of Coral Gables offers an excellent list of summer camp choices for children of all ages with the safeguard that they are in good hands with experienced staff and with plenty of fun things to do. The popular Club P.L.A.Y. Summer Camp is the perfect opportunity for children from Kindergarten to 5th Grade to unwind and make new friends. My First Camp caters to 3-4 years old and pays special attention to this toddler age group. The Teens Outside Camp is a well rounded program for 6th to 8th grade teens who love going on field trips. For children who have a love for the arts, the Petite Artist Camp (4-6 years old), the Summer Art Camp (7-14 years old), and the Creative Camp (5-12 years old) will keep them busy with plenty of art projects and performances. For the athletic youngsters, there’s a special camp of their favorite sport such as the John Crotty Basketball Camp, Sunblazer Soccer Camp, Kixs 4 Kidz Soccer Camp, Smash & Splash Tennis Camp, Jr. High Performance and Junior Development Tennis Camp, Junior Lifeguard Camp, Pre-Teen and Teen Fitness Program, and Co-ed Gymnastics Camp. There are also Half-Day Camps and Trolley Express transportation available to take children from their choice of morning to afternoon camps. Summer Camps begin June 14 through August 13 at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive. Weekly fees depend on membership level and type of camp.  For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5600 or click here. 

Venetian Pool Reopens To The Public

Pack your swimsuits and head to the Venetian Pool on May 1, as it officially reopens to the public after going through much needed renovations. Since November, workers have been busy repairing cracks in the pool, replacing expansion joints, painting its floor and walls, making improvements to the chemical treatment system and circulation network, repairing the pool deck, adding an ADA wheelchair lift and restoring the pool's iconic Venetian poles. Formed from a rock quarry in 1923, the Venetian Pool is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The hours of operation until May 30 are Monday through Friday, from 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. From May 31 until September 6, 2010, the hours are Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission for residents is $5 for adults; $3.95 for children 3-12 years of age. Admission for the general public is $11 for adults; $6.30 for children 3-12 years of age. Children must be a minimum of 3 years of age and 38 inches tall to enter the facility. The Venetian Pool is located at 2701 DeSoto Boulevard. For more information, call 305-460-5306. 

Big Savings Result From Using
City’s Prescription Drug Discount Card

A year after the introduction of prescription drug discount cards, users in Coral Gables have benefited from more than $12,000 in price savings. Since April 2009, a total of 410 users have picked up a free discount card at a City facility and seen an average of 19% discount on the cost of their prescription medicines. The cards are sponsored by the National League of Cities and can be used when purchasing prescription drugs at numerous pharmacies around Coral Gables.  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. The discount cards are available at Coral Gables City Hall, the War Memorial Youth Center, and all Coral Gables Fire Stations. Users can also print a card by going to the following website: www.caremark.com/nlc and selecting the City of Coral Gables from the list of participating cities. 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. 

Annual Arbor Day & Landscape
Beautification Awards To Be Presented

The City of Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Garden Club invite you to the Annual Arbor Day Celebration and the Landscape Beautification Awards Presentation. The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 6, 10 a.m. at the Merrick House, 907 Coral Way. Featured speaker is Joanna Lombard, University of Miami School of Architecture Professor who will present a lecture on “George Merrick and the Great Garden of Coral Gables.”  In addition, property owners of this year’s most beautiful residential and commercial landscapes will receive the Landscape Beautification Awards. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Public Service Department at 305-460-5131. 

Coral Gables Theaters Shine At Carbonell Awards

If you want to experience award-winning plays, head over to a Coral Gables theater near you. This year’s Carbonell Awards were dominated by two of our own local production companies: GableStage located at the Biltmore Hotel and Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre. GableStage’s “Farragut North,” a play about a young press secretary who falls prey to backroom politics, was awarded the Best Ensemble Production and Best Supporting Actress of a Play. “Speed-the-Plow,” also a production of GableStage about two greedy Hollywood executives pitching a deal to the studio boss, won three Carbonells for Best Production, Best Director and Best Actor of a Play. The Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence was also given to GableStage for the totality of its programming. Six Carbonell Awards for its musical production of the classic “Les Misérables” went to Actors’ Playhouse at Miracle Theatre for Best Production, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Musical Direction, and Best Scenic Design. The Carbonell Awards pay tribute each season to the very best theatrical regional productions on local stages. 

Honoring The City’s Fallen Heroes

The City of Coral Gables will honor its fallen heroes at a Police Memorial Ceremony, a tribute to those brave officers killed in the line of duty. The event is scheduled for Thursday, May 6, 4 p.m. at Merrick Park, across from City Hall. The Coral Gables Police Department will pay tribute to the following officers killed in the line of duty: Sergeant Francis Cyril Guest (1928), Sergeant Homer Barton (1938), Constable Luther T. Hardison (1951), Officer Billy Stephens (1957), Officer Walter Stathers (1967), Officer Robert DeKorte (1972), Officer Louis Pena (1978), Sergeant Alfred Terrinoni (1980), and Officer Robert Bonnet (1992). Family members of the fallen officers, as well as members of the Coral Gables City Commission, are scheduled to participate. Light refreshments will be served after the ceremony. The public is invited to attend. For additional information, contact the Police Department Community Affairs Unit at 305-460-5402. 

International Super Star José José
Talks To Coral Gables Television

Many international celebrities reside in the City of Coral Gables because of its beautiful surrounding, central location and exclusive neighborhoods. One of those famous personalities is Mexican singer José José, who has sold over 50 million romantic albums worldwide and is still loved by the public. As part of Coral Gables Television’s new programming for our Spanish speaking viewers, the monthly show “Coral Gables Al Día” secured an exclusive interview with José José allowing CGTV cameras to meet his family and to talk about the reasons why he loves to be a resident of the City Beautiful. To view this segment in Spanish, click here and here.