Wednesday, March 5, 2008
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CONTENTS:Review of Metal Roofs In Gables Continue
La Granada Is A Gift From Spain
Slesnick Is International Citizen Of The Year
City Manager David L. Brown Speaks Out In Next Powertalk
Info Kiosk Launch On March 11
Vote For Phillips Park
Gables Selects Employee Of The Year
Be A Hands On Volunteer
Going Green Part 2
How Do We Communicate?
Traffic
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Review of Metal Roofs In Gables Continue >>> Should metal roofs be allowed in Coral Gables? After a 90-day trial period conducted last year to allow the installation of metal roofs on the south end of Coral Gables, the City Commission will be reviewing the results of that trial in greater detail. In January, the City Commission received a progress report on the trial period and directed staff to conduct additional public meetings to further review the matter. During the 90-day trial period, 24 homeowners applied for metal roofs, two were denied, and one deferred. Residents will have another chance to speak about metal roofs at an upcoming Planning and Zoning Board public hearing to be conducted on Wednesday, March 12, 6 p.m. at City Hall Commission Chambers and later at a City Commission public hearing on Tuesday, April 8, 9 a.m. also at City Hall Commission Chambers. Interested parties can provide written comments to metalroofcomments@coralgables.com. These comments will be provided in verbatim form to the Planning and Zoning Board and City Commission. For more information, contact the Planning Department at 305-460-5211.
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La Granada Is A Gift From Spain >>> If you’re driving by 5151 Granada Boulevard near Doctor’s Hospital, you’re probably wondering what is that monument in the middle of Granada Park. You’re looking at la granada or pomegranate, a sculpture by artist Miguel Ruiz-Jimenez of a locally abundant fruit known for its mythical and metaphorical symbol that appears on the City of Granada coat of arms. The figure is a gift from the people of Granada, Spain to Sister City Coral Gables. It is modeled after a similar piece which appears in a public square near Granada’s City Hall. Two years ago, the Mayor of Granada along with a Spanish delegation visited Coral Gables looking to strengthening the ties between the two cities. After the visit, Granada created and shipped at their expense this pomegranate which is now erected on a base at Granada Park built by City employees. Coral Gables and Granada, two cities rich in history and urban beauty, have been Sister Cities since 1992.
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Slesnick Is International Citizen Of The Year >>> Congratulations to Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick for being selected by the Sister Cities Coordinating Council as the recipient of the 2008 Miami-Dade County International Citizen of the Year Award for his numerous contributions to promote international goodwill in Miami-Dade County. During his tenure as Mayor of Coral Gables, Slesnick has been a strong proponent of fostering international ties with other regions through the City’s Sister Cities program with Aix-en-Provence, France; Cartagena, Colombia; Granada, Spain; La Antigua, Guatemala; Province of Pisa, Italy; and Quito, Ecuador. Mayor Slesnick will be recognized by Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez at an upcoming ceremony to take place on March 20 at the Port of Miami.
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City Manager David L. Brown Speaks Out In Next Powertalk >>> Is he a savvy administrator who knows how to walk the talk? As City Manager, what has he done in the last six years and what still needs to be accomplished? Find out what City Manager David L. Brown has to say when asked about the constant pressures of having to deliver exceptional services to 43,000 demanding residents and how he deals with the criticism that comes with the job. Brown also clears the record about his plans for the future. Don’t miss this candid conversation at the next Powertalk show airing tomorrow Thursday, March 6 at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and re-airing on Saturday, March 8 at 9 a.m. and then again on Tuesday, March 11 at 9 p.m. The show airs on Coral Gables Television’s Channel 77 for Comcast subscribers and on Channel 97 for Adelphia customers. For more information, contact the Coral Gables Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.
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Info Kiosk Launch On March 11 >>> The public is invited to attend the official launch of the school informational kiosk at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center on Tuesday, March 11 at 5 p.m. Mayor Don Slesnick and Miami-Dade County Superintendent of Schools Rudy Crew will be present to kick off this latest initiative which is part of a Compact Education agreement signed between the two institutions to enhance local academic programs and parents involvement. Public school students and parents can use the kiosk placed at the entrance of the Youth Center to access important school and City information through the website. This is the first kiosk of its kind that resulted from a partnership between the school district and the municipality.
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Vote For Phillips Park >>> Staples and NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade are teaming up for the second annual Staples Dream Park Challenge with D-Wade and we need your help to vote for Phillips Park. From a list of 18 local parks, the park with the most votes will receive $25,000, the second-place park will receive $10,000 and third place will receive $5,000 for park improvements. Vote for Coral Gables’ Phillips Park at www.StaplesDreamPark.com from now until April 10, 2008. You can vote once per day online. You can also visit your local Staples store to pick up a “power card” to obtain 10 extra votes. Support your local community and vote for Phillips Park!
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Gables Selects Employee Of The Year >>> Kudos to Public Works Dispatcher Gail Springer for being selected as the City of Coral Gables 2007 Employee of the Year. Springer, who began working for the City in 1987, was selected among 11 finalists during a recent ceremony and was awarded the distinction of being the best Coral Gables employee of the year. She has been twice recognized as an outstanding employee, being Employee of the Month in February 1992 and in February 2007, a clear tribute to the high level of her work performance. At the last City Commission meeting, Springer was also presented with a 20-year service pin from City Manager David L. Brown.
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Be A Hands On Volunteer >>> The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce is looking for volunteers to help paint, landscape and spruce up the Shady Grove Baptist Church on 117 Grand Avenue as part of the Trustee Council’s Corporate Citizenship Day. Come and assist in this community service event on Saturday, March 15, from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Bring much needed office supplies such as paper, pens, or staplers as admission price. For more information, contact the Chamber at 305-446-1657.
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Going Green Part 2 >>> Everyone is jumping on the green wagon and the City of Coral Gables wants to remind you of simple things that you can do in your home for going green:
- Use solar-powered lighting in your patio to help reduce energy consumption.
- Cover the pool when it’s not in use can reduce evaporation by 90 percent.
- Open those windows and let the fresh air-in. A little less than 45 percent of a typical home energy bill goes toward cooling and heating.
- Adjust your fridge and freezer temperatures. These appliances consume most of electricity in the household. Set it for 37 degrees Fahrenheit for the refrigerator and 0 degrees for the freezer.
- Lower the thermostat on the water heater from 145 degrees to 120. It will save you money.
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How Do We Communicate? >>> The
City of Coral Gables would like to know what you think about its communication program and vehicles.
To participate, simply log on to the City’s homepage and complete the on-line survey titled “How
Do We Communicate?” The information gathered will help the City evaluate the effectiveness
of all external communications. To go directly to the survey, click
here.
Don’t forget to listen to GABLES Radio 1620 AM on your car radio
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Traffic >>> Le Jeune Road between S.W. 16 Street and South Dixie Highway: Florida Department of Transportation has completed the Le Jeune Road Project.
> Biltmore Way between Le Jeune Road and Hernando Street: Every Saturday throughout March 29, the Farmers Market will be closing down the east and westbound lanes of Biltmore Way from 5:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.
> Miracle Mile Closures: Expect road closures on Miracle Mile due to the Carnival on the Mile on March 7, 8 & 9. On Friday March 7, Miracle Mile will close its westbound lane from 6:00 p.m. to midnight. On March 8 & 9, Miracle Mile will close its east and westbound lanes from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Please seek alternative routes, and be prepared for heavy traffic flow in the surrounding area.
> Salzedo Street and Aragon Avenue: North and southbound lanes of Salzedo Street will be closed from Miracle Mile to Aragon Avenue on March 17 & 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 a.m. due to an outdoor celebration of San Patrick’s Day.
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Events Roundup >>> Here is a partial list of upcoming cultural events in Coral Gables. Please call ahead to confirm, as dates and times may change. For a complete list of events in Coral Gables, click here.
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: Always wanted to be a chorus girl? Join the Almost Broadway classes at St. Philip's Church, 1142 Coral Way, from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Exercise while dancing easy routines from Broadway shows. No registration necessary, just drop in and it's free. All ages are welcomed. Straw hats will be provided. For more information call 305-445-8740 or St. Philip's Church at 305 444-6176.
Now through March 23: Watch the Florida premiere of the dramatic play by John Belluso “A Nervous Smile,” at the New Theatre. Strained to the breaking point by caring for a severely disabled daughter, Emily, a wealthy New York couple weight happiness against that of Emily with shocking consequences. Performances will take place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. Tickets range in price from $15 to $40. Please call the box office for more information at 305-443-5909. New Theatre is located at 4120 Laguna Street.
Now through March 29: The Prince Street Players version of “The Wizard of Oz” makes its way to the Actors’ Playhouse at Miracle Theatre. This funny and clever musical is sure to entertain both the largest and smallest of munchkins! Saturday performances begin at 2 p.m. The Actors’ Playhouse is located at 280 Miracle Mile. For more information, call 305-444-9293.
March 5 to April 6: The Actors' Playhouse Theater is proud to present “Footloose,” one of the most explosive movie musicals in recent memory. It’s a play with high energy, exuberant and bursting with music romance and dance. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Actors’ Playhouse is located at 280 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. For more information call 305-460-5609.
March 5: Mala Punica travels directly from Italy to the Ninth Annual Tropical Baroque Music Festival to give a performance of medieval music from Padua, Naples, Milan, and Florence. The spectacular presentation will take place at the Sanctuary of the Church of the Little Flower, 2711 Indian Mound Trail at 8 p.m. For more information, call 305-669-1376 or click here.
March 7 – -18: Floating cubes created by artists, writers, and poets will be on display as part of the “Earth and Water: Our Planet, Our Life,” a nationwide project created to educate the community about the conservation of the planet. The floating cubes will be exhibited on a pool or other confine water body for the enjoyment and reflection of all member of the community, eventually ending with the contribution of all participating states at the Constitutional Garden Lake in Washington D.C. on Earth Day, April 22, 2009. Exhibition begins on March 7 from 7-10 p.m. at the Piag Museum, 2724 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. For more information, call 305-443-0770.
March 7: The University of Miami invites you to a free Outdoor Movie Screening presentation featuring a double session: at 8 p.m. "Glory Road" and at 10 p.m. "I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry." Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and picnic baskets to have fun under the stars. The presentation will take place at the University Green, located at 1306 Stanford Drive in the UM Campus.
March 7: Hopkinson Smith, a world renowned lute master comes from Switzerland to perform works from the Baroque repertoire within the presentation of the Ninth Annual Tropical Baroque Music Festival. Concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Danielson Gallery in the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue. For more information, call 305-669-1376 or click here.
March 7: Seraphic Fire, the internationally acclaimed chamber choir, will perform Ein Deutsches Requiem by Johannes Brahms. The composer held the British premier of his German Requiem in a private home in London with a small chamber choir and two pianists. Seraphic Fire recreates this intimate performance resurrecting the London version of this timeless masterpiece. The concert will be held at First United Methodist Church, 536 Coral Way, at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call 305-476-0260.
March 7, 8 and 9: Every year, Miracle Mile of Coral Gables turns into 11 blocks of jazz, art, wine, and fine foods for the enjoyment of the entire family, and the best of all it's free. Kiwanis Club of Little Havana proudly presents its Tenth Annual Carnival on the Mile, three days of fun beginning Friday at 7 p.m. with a kick off concert, and ending on Sunday. For a full list of events and schedule information, click here.
March 7, 8, 14 & 15: Hop, skip or jump your way to Miami Children’s
Theater Mainstage Production of “A Year with Frog & Toad.” This
play, which stays true to the original story by Arnold Lobel, follows two great friends, a frog and
a toad through four fun-filled seasons. All performances start at 8 p.m. at the Coral Gables War
Memorial Youth Center Theater, 405 University Drive. Tickets cost $12 for general admission and $10
for children. Call 305-274-3595 for more information.
March 8 & 15: Don’t miss the Farmers Market on March 8th to celebrate Merrick
House Day at the Market. Enjoy your Tai Chi in the Park at 8 a.m., followed at 9 a.m. by
a gardening workshop on “Koi Ponds” hosted by Paul Radice of Angel Hatchery. At 10 a.m.,
Chef Lori Moldovan will be talking about the old fashioned canning and preserving techniques, and
at 11 a.m. children can travel back to early Coral Gables on a horse-drawn wagon. The following Saturday,
March 15, Farmers Market continues with Tai Chi exercises beginning at 8 a.m., followed by a gardening
workshops at 9 a.m. with David from Living Designs Nursery, who will talk about cutting and other
forms of propagation. At 10 a.m., enjoy a delicious cooking demonstration by chefs from prestigious
Caffe Abbracci Restaurant. At 11 a.m., bring your camera to take photos of your children with Beatrix
Potter’s Peter Rabbit during children’s activity hosted by Books and Books. For more
information or to get a complete list of the Farmers Market events, click
here.
March 9: Enjoy an afternoon on classical music at the hands of Pianist Alon
Goldstein. The young musician will be performing a concert at Maurice Gusman Concert Hall,
1314 Miller Drive, at 4 p.m. during this season's Sunday Afternoons of Music program. Tickets for
adults cost $40, seniors pay $32 and students pay $10. For more information, call 305-271-7150.
March 10 – 16: This is a piano lover's week: The Eleventh Dranoff International Two Piano Competition features multiple recitals from 10 duo piano teams, coming from all over the world to demonstrate a mastery of skills. The competition will take place at the Clark Recital Hall at the University of Miami's Coral Gables Campus. For hours and recital information, contact the Dranoff Committee at 305-572-9900.
March 14: Seniors are invited to celebrate the arrival of spring season with "Dancing Under the Stars." Come and enjoy an evening filled with friends, fresh air, and delicious cookies and drinks, all along the romantic scenery of the Venetian Pool. Starting from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. the event is $15 for residents and $17.50 for non residents. The Venetian Pool is located at 2701 De Soto Boulevard. For more information, call 305-460-5306.
March 15: The Irish Community invites everyone to join a traditional Celtic celebration with the 30th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival which will be held at Fred B. Hartnett/Ponce Circle Park, 2800 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. There will be folkloric music, food vendors, crafts and lots of Irish Culture. For more information, call the South Florida Emerald Society at 305-949-8400 or click here.
March 15: Four of the most beautiful private gardens in South Florida will be open to the public on the Villagers Garden Tour, “Green Pleasures,” from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Each garden has a unique theme from rare collectibles to beautiful water features. The tour starts at 11300 S.W. 94th Avenue, Miami, or at 9440 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. Admission is $20 with advance tickets or will call, and $25 at the gate the day of the tour. For more information, call 305-232-6534.
March 16: Lydian Steel, renowned steel-drum band from Trinidad and Tobago, under the direction of Pat Bishop, returns to perform Baroque favorites on the pans from the Caribbean as part of the Ninth Annual Tropical Baroque Music Festival. Concert begins at 6 p.m. at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden at 10901 Old Cutler Road. For more information, call 305-669-1376 or click here.
March 17: Wear green and join in the Saint Patrick's Day celebrations in the City Beautiful with the JohnMartin's Annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival. The renowned Irish Bar of Coral Gables hosts the event between Salzedo Street and Aragon Avenue from 4 p.m. to midnight. Enjoy great Irish food, drinks and music during those days. For more information, call 305-445-3777.BACK TO TOP
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