WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 2010

City Of Coral Gables Creates Green Task Force

The City of Coral Gables is going full force with its green initiatives. On July 13, the City Commission approved the creation of an 11-member Green Task Force which will advise city officials on environmental issues that support a sustainable community. The Green Task Force will make recommendations regarding the environmental sustainability of City programs, services, equipment, and facilities, as well as assist in developing a plan for increasing environmental awareness and participation. The advisory group will promote the practice of environmental, water and energy conservation, green development, recycling, waste reduction, energy efficiency, preservation of green spaces, green transportation alternatives, building design issues and other pro-environmental strategies. The Task Force will be comprised of 11 City residents, including a landscape architect, a planner, a historic preservationist, an engineer, an architect, a member from the University of Miami, one from the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and another from the Garden Club, as well as three City residents, two appointed by the Commission and the other by the City Manager. Appointed members to the Green Task Force, which becomes effective on October 1, will serve for two years. Further announcements will be made in upcoming e-News regarding how individuals can be considered for this Task Force.

July Is Parks & Recreation Month

As part of a nation‐wide celebration, the City of Coral Gables is pleased to be a part of recognizing the many values and benefits of parks and recreation by celebrating July Is Parks and Recreation Month.  Did you know that citizens who had better access to parks, visited parks more frequently, and engaged in physically‐active park behaviors also made fewer visits to their doctor other than getting a regular checkup? Are you aware that adolescents who participate in extra‐curricular activities are more likely to avoid “at risk” behaviors? Have you ever considered the economic impact that visitors to parks, tournaments, and special events bring to our community? It all starts in parks and throughout this month of July, take a moment to visit your favorite Coral Gables parks and open spaces. Whether it is the Venetian Pool, the War Memorial Youth Center, Salvadore Park, the Granada Golf Course, or any other location in the City of Coral Gables, our parks and recreation facilities provide many benefits that touch almost everyone from the very young to older residents as well. To view a list of all City of Coral Gables parks and open spaces, click here.

Technical Assistance Series
For Small And Minority Business Owners Continue

On Tuesday, July 27th, the City of Coral Gables will host the Minority Business Enterprise Center (MBEC) for a group workshop followed by one-on-one counseling sessions available to the local business community.  At the workshop “Budgeting and Projecting Cash Flow,” attendees will prepare lender-friendly financial projections, learn what should be listed in operating expenses and gain a general understanding of cash flow 101. During the MBEC counseling sessions, participants can chat privately with a MBEC professional about what small business assistance the MBEC can offer them, such as business plan development, marketing research and sales development, minority and small business enterprise certification attainment, government and corporate procurement sourcing, construction services assistance, business financial analysis and loan packaging, import/export trade research and training, managerial counseling, and entrepreneurship training through seminars and workshops.  The MBEC’s focus is to assist small businesses, including disadvantaged, women-owned and minority-owned enterprises, by providing them with managerial counseling and technical assistance. It is one of 43 nationally funded programs of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency.  This July 27th free and informative workshop will take place from 12-2 p.m. and will be followed by private one-on-one counseling sessions from 2-5 p.m. at the City of Coral Gables Economic Sustainability Department, One Alhambra Plaza, suite 617. To RSVP for the workshop, contact Jessica Wotherspoon at jwotherspoon@coralgables.com or 305-460-5314. To schedule a post-workshop private session, contact the MBEC at 786-316-0888. 

Take Precautions To Prevent Spread Of Mosquitoes

The Miami-Dade County Health Department is reporting the first suspected locally acquired dengue infection case in Miami-Dade County. Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by a breed of mosquito common to the southeastern United States and the tropics. It is not spread from person to person. More than 100 million cases of dengue occur every year worldwide. The clinical features of dengue fever vary according to the age of the patient. Infants and young children may have a fever with rash. Older children and adults may have either a mild fever or a more severe case of the disease with abrupt onset and high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, and rash. There is no vaccine or antidote for dengue. The best way to safeguard you and your loved ones from getting the virus is to take preventive measures against mosquitoes. These include making sure there are no containers with standing water, eliminating mosquitoes from one's residences and using repellent to ward off bites. To protect yourself from mosquitoes, you should practice the “5 D's”:  Dusk and Dawn – avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are very active; Dress – wear clothing that covers most of your skin; DEET – repellents containing up to 30 percent DEET are recommended; Drainage – check around your home to remove standing water, where mosquitoes may lay eggs. Coral Gables residents are encouraged to prevent the spread of mosquito breeding sites by cleaning out eaves, troughs and gutters; removing old tires or drill holes to drain those used in playgrounds; turning over or removing empty plastic pots; picking up all beverage containers and cups;  checking tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water; pumping out bilges on boats; replacing water in birdbaths and pet or other animal feeding dishes at least once a week; changing water in plant trays, including hanging plants, at least once a week; and removing vegetation or obstructions in drainage ditches that prevent the flow of water.