Wednesday, April 30, 2008
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CONTENTS:City Appoints Building and Zoning Director
City Says “Thank You” To All Residents
Construction Of North Gables Entrance Underway
Remembering A Great Mother: Althea Merrick
No Garage Sale Fees For Seniors
Mayor Slesnick Recognized By Miami-Dade County Days Organization
Gables Theaters Win Carbonell Awards
Seminars to Help Small Businesses
Traffic
Events Roundup
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City Appoints Building and Zoning Director >>> Edward M. Weller, a 13-year veteran of the City of Coral Gables Building and Zoning Department, has been named Interim Director of this department. Weller joined the City in 1995. In addition to being Assistant Director, his experience also includes chairing the Development Review Committee and Secretary of the City of Coral Gables’ University of Miami Community Relations Committee. He has overseen the progress and process of many large and small construction projects in Coral Gables by acting as trouble shooter and liaison between developers, contractors, architects, owners, engineers, and the City. Last year, Weller was reappointed by Governor Charlie Crist to the Florida Construction Industry Licensing Board. He was initially appointed to this position by Governor Jeb Bush. He holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami, and is a member of numerous professional organizations and associations including the Building Officials Association of Florida. For additional information, contact the City of Coral Gables Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.
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City Says “Thank You” To All Residents >>> The City of Coral Gables wants to say “Thank You” to all the residents who support this local government in making C0ral Gables one of the best cities in Florida and in the nation. A Resident Appreciation Day is planned on Sunday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Venetian Pool, 2701 Desoto Boulevard. Every Coral Gables resident entering the facility with a paid admission will be permitted to bring one guest in for free. Proof of residency is required with a valid picture ID or utility bill. For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5306.
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Construction Of North Gables Entrance Underway >>> Thanks to the Coral Gables Garden Club, construction is underway on a grand entrance on the north side of the City of Coral Gables at Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Southwest Eighth Street. This is the third City entrance that the Garden Club, founded in the 1920s by Eunice Merrick, has helped built with donations from local citizens. This group of volunteers was also responsible for the donation of the George Merrick bronze statue located in front of City Hall. The north side entrance under construction, costing approximately $200,000 with the generous donation of services from Revuelta, Vega, Leon Architects, will have two arches over the sidewalk on each side of the street, with two pillars with lights on Eighth Street and a tower on the median. The construction for this new entrance began a month ago and is expected to be completed in early June. Back in 1981, the Coral Gables Garden Club came up with the idea to finish the entrances that City founder George Merrick could not complete because of the era’s depression. From that vision came the existing City entrances on Coral Way and Red Road, and on Douglas Road and Miracle Mile. In the last few years, the Garden Club has raised close to $900,000 to complete projects that have helped beautify the City of Coral Gables.
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Remembering A Great Mother: Althea Merrick >>> Behind every great man, there’s a great woman, and City Founder George Merrick owes his character and inspiration to his mother Althea Merrick. Just in time to celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 11, it’s appropriate to express gratitude to all mothers and especially to Althea Fink Merrick who, without her, the Coral Gables story would have not been born. “Allie” was an accomplished artist, educator and poet, originally from Ohio, very much ahead of her time. It was her that gave George the artistic and positive spirit that enabled him to build Coral Gables. Thanks to this lasting family contribution, George is not the only one in the clan who has a permanent statue in Coral Gables. A smaller scale statue of his mother Althea Merrick adorns the entrance of the 55 Merrick Way building in Coral Gables in honor of this great woman. To all those wonderful mothers in Coral Gables like Althea, thank you for the sacrifices made and may you continue to mold bright shining stars.
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No Garage Sale Fees For Seniors >>> Good news for Coral Gables residents 65 years of age and older who are planning to do some spring cleaning at home: the City will waive the garage sale $30 fee. The new law was recently approved by the City Commission in order to help residents in their golden years of life to hold a garage sale without having to incur the cost. Last year, the City also decided to waive the false alarm fines for seniors exempting seniors 65 and older from paying $50 to $200 in fines for accidentally tripping home security systems. For more information, contact the City of Coral Gables Finance Department at 305-460-5280.
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Mayor Slesnick Recognized By Miami-Dade County Days Organization >>> Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick was recently recognized by the Miami-Dade County Days Organization with the Colonel Lettie Bien Freedom Award for his leadership in creating a more just and peaceful world. Slesnick, a Vietnam veteran, was recognized for his past military services to the country. The award is named after Colonel Lettie Bien, former Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce President, who was deployed in 2004 to Operation Iraqi Freedom and was U.S. senior advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Industry and Minerals in Baghdad. The award was presented to Mayor Slesnick recently in Tallahassee at the 2008 Miami-Dade County Days Awards luncheon.
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Gables Theaters Win Carbonell Awards >>> The City of Coral Gables was well represented at the 32nd annual Carbonell Awards honoring the best South Florida theater productions in 2007. Local theater companies Actors’ Playhouse and GableStage brought home four Carbonell Awards, while New Theatre won Best New Work for local playwright Michael McKeever’s play Melt. Actors’ Playhouse musical Urinetown won three Carbonells for best supporting actor, best supporting actress, and best musical director while La Cage aux Folles won for best actor in a musical. Actors’ Playhouse also won the Bill Von Maurer Award for Theatrical Excellence, an award given to the theater company that exemplifies excellence for the totality of its programming: productions, educational outreach, developmental programs and audiences served. GableStage’s dramatic play The Lieutenant of Inishmore won for best production of a play, best director and best supporting actress and its production In The Continuum won for the best actress category. New Theatre’s founder Rafael de Acha was the recipient of the Bill Hindman Award recognizing significant long-term contributions to the region’s cultural life. Congratulations to these outstanding theater companies for their unsurpassed contribution to enriching the cultural life of the City of Coral Gables.
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Seminars to Help Small Businesses >>> On Thursday, May 15th, the City of Coral Gables will host a small business seminar presented by Florida Atlantic University's Small Business Development Center. During this free, two-hour event, titled Marketing Your Service Business, learn how to target and define your market with greater focus, and identify and understand your customers in order to provide better service. The workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. and takes place at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center, at 405 University Drive. For more information, or to RSVP, contact Jessica Wotherspoon at the City of Coral Gables Development Department at 305-460-5314 or jwotherspoon@coralgables.com.
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Traffic >>> University of Miami area: The 2008 Zimmerman MS Bike Ride is expected to bring thousands of cyclists to Coral Gables on May 3rd. The start line is located at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami. Cyclists will take off starting at 7 a.m. from the campus and onto City streets during the first leg of the journey. Once off-campus, the route continues through Maynada Street, Davis Road, then Old Cutler Road and finally Red Road before reaching the City limits. Expect delays if you are traveling through the area Saturday morning. On Sunday, May 4th, the cyclists will make their way back into Coral Gables at approximately 9 a.m. The affected streets include Blue Road, Granada Boulevard, Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Stanford Drive before reaching the University of Miami campus.
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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.
May 1: Shakespeare Miami and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden presents Shakespeare in the Garden: Midsummer Night’s Dream, a staged reading of William Shakespeare’s beloved play. This hilarious romp though the magical forests outside of Athens, tells the stories of two Athenian couples and fairy royalty as they battle it out in the name of love with the help of that mischievous spirit, Puck and his band of woodland fairies. The play takes place on Thursday, May 1 at 7:30 p.m., at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables. Performance is free with paid admission to Fairchild: $20 for Fairchild members, $15 for member children 6-17; $30 for non-members, $20 for non-member children 6-17, and free for children 5 and under.
May 2: Jazz Piano giant Dick Hyman will make a rare appearance at the University of Miami Gusman Concert Hall to participate in the "Evening of Solos and Diversions" concert. The show starts at 8 p.m. at the Hall, 1314 Miller Drive. This performance is sponsored by Friends of the Young Musicians' Camp. Ticket prices are $10 for students, $15 for seniors and $20 general admission. All proceeds from the concert are donated to the Camp's scholarship fund enabling talented but financially underprivileged South Florida music students to attend a summer music camp at the University of Miami. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 305-238-8937.
May 2: The Hearing and Speech Center of Florida is celebrating its annual fundraising campaign, The Gift of Communication Society Benefit Auction and Party, on Friday, May 2 at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden at 7 p.m. The special guest of the evening will be Justin Osmond, nephew of Marie and Donny Osmond. Fairchild is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road. For more information, call 305-271-7343.
May 3-4: Coral Gables is proud to be the starting point for the 2008 Zimmerman MS Bike Ride presented by Wachovia. The premier cycling event to raise funds for people suffering with Multiple Sclerosis will kick off at 7 a.m. from the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami, 1245 Dauer Drive. There are varying routes from 50 to 150 miles which winds down to Key Largo. For more information on how you can participate, call 1-800-Fight-MS (344-4867).
May 4: Miami Pioneers/Natives of Dade will have an Installation Luncheon on Sunday. Anyone interested in going must make reservations by April 29. The cost of the luncheon is $30. The event will take place at the Country Club of Coral Gables, 997 North Greenway Drive. For more information, call Janet English at 305-448-5374.
May 7: Today is the last day to register for an enjoyable evening at the theatre. Seniors are invited to watch a play at the Actors’ Playhouse at Miracle Theatre. Now showing is the new comedy thriller by Rupert Holmes, Thumbs. The play is set in an isolated cabin in Vermont and features the story of two women from very different walks of life who need wit and will to survive a cat-and-mouse game with a devious killer. Seniors meet outside the theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, at 7:30 p.m. to receive tickets. Registration and payment of fee required by April 30 or while ticket supplies last. Call 305-460-5609 for more information.
May 10: Sunday Afternoons of Music with Children will host a Saturday edition as the Greater Miami Symphonic Band takes the stage to excite the crowd with an old fashioned band concert. The event starts at 3 p.m. at the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall located at the University of Miami, 1314 Miller Drive. Tickets for adults cost $12, children pay $10. For more information, call 305-284-4940.
May 14: Attend the next Quarterly Ponce High Alumni Luncheon to enjoy a very pleasant experience. It is a great opportunity to visit with old friends and classmates and to remember the best of the early times. The luncheon is scheduled at the Holiday Inn, 1350 S. Dixie Highway across from University of Miami beginning at 12 noon. Cost is $20. For more information, call Jim Hartnett at 305-667-5733.
May 15: The Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department and the Anti Defamation League, invite the community to attend a workshop about Cyberbullying. This interactive program is designed for parents, teachers, teenagers and community leaders. Participants will increase awareness of cyberbullying and learn strategies to respond and protect your loved ones. The workshop will be held at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive. Admission is free but reservations are required. Minors under 16 years of age without supervision will not be admitted. For more information, call 305-460-5600.
May 17: The annual Chocolate Fashion is Sweet On Benny is hosting a raffle to benefit the UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. The raffle takes place on Saturday, May 17 at 3 p.m. at Chocolate Fashion, 248 Andalusia Avenue. Prizes include a seven-day cruise, airline tickets, hotel getaways, and much more. For more information on how to purchase raffle tickets, contact Mary Pechewlys at 305-443-0135.
May 22: Take a trip with fellow seniors to John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Go aboard the Spirit of Pennekamp and enjoy a unique glimpse into the serene undersea world. The itinerary includes visits to a number of shallow reefs followed by a light lunch at the park. Tours are 2 ½ hours long. Please dress appropriately for outdoor weather. A bus leaves the Coral Gables Adult Activity Center at 7 a.m. The fee for the trip is $43 and includes glass bottom boat tour, park admission, transportation and box lunch. Registration is required by May 8.BACK TO TOP
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