Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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CONTENTS:UM’s Economic Impact On Coral Gables
Coral Gables Vice-Mayor Visits La Antigua
‘Canes Basketball Coach Frank Haith Speaks At Powertalk
Steps To Follow For Speaking At Commission Meetings
A Perfect Storm For Under 14 Girls Soccer Team
Ponce Middle Teacher Selected As Albert Einstein Fellow
Technology Makeover Contest Open For Businesses
Watch Coral Gables News Desk On Channel 77
Living Greener In Coral Gables
Traffic
Events Roundup
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UM’s Economic Impact On Coral Gables >>> The University of Miami has a total economic impact of $1.23 billion in the Coral Gables economy, and approximately 40 percent of its payroll is paid to employees living in the City, according to a recent economic impact study. As a premier research institution, the University is a powerful catalyst for economic development particularly in Coral Gables, as it is the City’s largest economic enterprise and is responsible for a large percentage of its workforce and a significant share of its labor income. The study, conducted by the Washington Economics Group, reveals that UM supports 11,256 jobs and $579 million in labor to workers within the City of Coral Gables. More than 70,000 visitors attended University-sponsored academic events and spent an estimated $71 million. UM students from outside the area also spent $236 million in the local economy. Its total economic impact in Miami-Dade County is estimated at $4.5 billion. To view the full Economic Impact report, click here.
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Coral Gables Vice-Mayor Visits La Antigua >>> Coral Gables Vice-Mayor William H. Kerdyk Jr. returned recently from a successful trip to Sister City La Antigua, Guatemala. The Vice-Mayor was in Guatemala on personal business and then took time to visit this Central American city. During the 24-hour stay, Kerdyk received a warm welcome by La Antigua Mayor Dr. Adolfo Vivar and City Council members, the Governor of Sacatepequez Marvin Barrios de Leon, and Guatemala Vice-Mayor Ricardo Quiñonez. The trip included a welcome ceremony at La Antigua’s City Hall followed by a reception in Kerdyk’s honor. Coral Gables and La Antigua have been sister cities for 15 years. Both cities are known for preserving architecturally detailed historic buildings and strongly supporting the exchange of culture.
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‘Canes Basketball Coach Frank Haith Speaks At Powertalk >>> Don’t miss the next Powertalk with Frank Haith, Head Coach for the Canes Men’s Basketball Team who just completed one of their most successful seasons. Coach Haith has defied nearly everyone’s expectations this year and has rebuilt the men’s basketball program in only four years. In this candid television interview, viewers will find out what Coach Haith has done to restructure the men’s basketball program and what he’s planning on doing next season to continue his ascend to the top. This Powertalk show airs tomorrow Thursday, May 15 at 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and re-airing on Saturday, May 17 at 9 a.m. and then again on Tuesday, May 20 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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Steps To Follow For Speaking At Commission Meetings >>> The City of Coral Gables recognizes the importance of protecting the right of all citizens to express opinions and of conducting orderly and efficient meetings. Public input is encouraged whenever public hearings are scheduled during City Commission meetings. Any topic for public hearing scheduled to be presented to the City Commission may be addressed by the public. However, the public cannot provide input on items not listed in advance on the Commission agenda. Individual speakers are encouraged to adhere to a three-minute time limit and the Chairperson has the discretion to either extend or reduce time limits, based on the number of speakers. Before entering the Commission Chambers, the public is asked to turn off all cellular phones and to observe proper decorum. Any person who becomes disorderly or disruptive may be removed from the Commission Chambers. If you’re interested in finding out more about how you can speak in future City Commission meetings, contact the City Manager’s Office at 305-460-5202.
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A Perfect Storm For Under 14 Girls Soccer Team >>> This season, the City of Coral Gables had the perfect storm: the Coral Gables Youth Center’s Under 14 Storm Girls finished as the 2008 Division II State Champions. The Storm Girls defeated Weston on April 6 with an impressive 3-0 score in Naples. The group of 14 teenagers, eight of them Coral Gables residents, started practicing in August 2007 and finished the season with an overall record of 14-5-2. Leading scorers were Albania Sagarra, Bailey Plummer and Caroline Candela. Top defenders were Rebeca Bared, Annette Mejer and Kiley McCormick while top midfielders were Amanda Delgado and Ximena Luna. Congratulations to coach Frank Cauce and all team members for becoming the second girls’ soccer team from the Coral Gables Youth Center to win a state championship.
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Ponce Middle Teacher Selected As Albert Einstein Fellow >>> Congratulations to Kitchka Petrova, science teacher at Ponce de Leon Middle School for being selected as an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow for the 2008-09 school year. This is the first time that a science teacher from Miami-Dade County Public Schools has received this important fellowship. Petrova will be serving the fellowship at the National Science Foundation at Arlington, Virginia, working within the office of Graduate Teaching Fellowships in K-12 education. Only three teachers from Florida have had the fellowship since its commencement in 1990. The Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship Program offers current public or private elementary and secondary mathematics, technology, and science classroom teachers with demonstrated excellence in teaching an opportunity to serve in the national public policy arena. Fellows provide practical insights and "real world" perspectives to policy makers and program managers developing or managing educational programs.
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Technology Makeover Contest Open For Businesses >>> An Ultimate Technology Makeover contest is available for South Florida businesses that employ between 5 and 50 employees and are Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce members. The contest is designed for small business owners feeling the economic pinch and looking to improve operations with newer technology. The contest is a project of ADX Technologies, a computer services company that offers a variety of business solutions. The Grand Prize winner will receive a strategic technology review, a network complete with a server and software, a Cisco VoIP phone system and ADX ProActive Care computer support and service plan valued up to $35,000. Second place winner will be awarded a strategic technology review with one year of computer support service valued at $7,500. Third place winner will receive a strategic technology review and a Think Pad T61 valued at $2,000. Applications will be accepted through June 20th. For more information, contact Yvethe Mackay at 305-442-4776 or click here.
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Watch Coral Gables News Desk On Channel 77 >>> Don’t miss Coral Gables News Desk, a television news segment highlighting the latest top stories about the City Beautiful. The news segment is produced every other week in English and Spanish and is the most recent production of Coral Gables Television, airing on Channel 77 for Comcast subscribers and on Channel 97 for Adelphia clients. News Desk is scheduled to air throughout the day and lasts no longer than three minutes. To view the latest News Desk, click here.
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Living Greener In Coral Gables >>> Biofuels, organic foods and recycled products are all the craze as people across the globe begin to understand the ramifications of global warming. With more of an emphasis now being placed on preserving our environment, people and organizations are slowly turning green. The City of Coral Gables has been implementing eco-friendly measures for many years. Among the City’s green practices, all regular light bulbs are replaced with compact fluorescent bulbs which use about one-fifth as much energy as a regular bulb and lasts six times longer, lights at all city-owned facilities are on timers and several of the City’s fleet of vehicles are testing bio-diesel as an alternative and pollution reducing alternative. So the question is ‘What are you doing to save mother Earth?’ The City of Coral Gables wants to hear what changes residents and businesses have made toward living a greener life in the Gables. Send your responses by email to e-news@coralgables.com. The comments will be posted on the City’s website, www.coralgables.com.
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Traffic >>> Alhambra Circle between Le Jeune Road and Salzedo Street: The Globe Café’s Cuba Libre Block Party scheduled for Friday, May 16th will divert vehicular traffic. At midnight on Thursday, May 15th, the eastbound lanes of Alhambra Circle will shut down until Saturday, May 17th at 4 p.m. The closure affects only the 300 block of Alhambra Circle which is located between Le Jeune Road and Salzedo Street.
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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.
Through May 25: Enjoy GableStage’s dramatic play The Accomplices by Bernard Weinraub who alleges the American government, media, and even American Jewish officials assisted the World War II massacre of European Jews because of fears that too much outcry would lead to anti-Semitism at home. GableStage is located at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue. Performances take place Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Cost of admission ranges from $37.50 to $42.50. For more information, call 305-446-1116.
Through May 31: Don’t miss Paint!, Marc Chagall's colorful musical adventure about the passion and persistence to become an artist. In the play, Marc wants to be a painter more than anything, against his parents’ wishes. Catch this inspiring play at the Actors’ Playhouse at Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, on Saturdays at 2 p.m. For more information, call 305-444-9293.
May 14: Attend the next quarterly Ponce High Alumni Luncheon and enjoy a very pleasant experience. The luncheon is a great opportunity to visit with old friends and classmates. The luncheon is scheduled at the Holiday Inn, 1350 S. Dixie Highway, across from University of Miami beginning at 12 noon. The 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 cyberbulling 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 16: The Globe Café & Bar will host its fifth annual Cuba Libre Block Party, a free, open-air concert and festival in the heart of downtown Coral Gables along the entire 300 block of Alhambra Circle. This year’s Cuba Libre Block Party begins at 4 p.m. and benefits Regis House and The American Cancer Society. Headlining the block party is Miami’s own platinum selling artist, Rey Ruiz. There will also be live musical performances by Los Tres de la Habana, and Los Herederos, an afro-Cuban Yoruba band. The Globe Café’s Cuba Libre Block Party will stretch along the entire 300 block of Alhambra Circle between Le Jeune Road and Salzedo Avenue. General public entrance will be located at Salzedo Avenue. For more information on Cuba Libre, call 305-445-3555 or click here.
May 16, 17, 23 & 24: Miami Children’s Theater adapts the animated Disney feature film Mulan and brings the performance to the stage. 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.
May 16: Seraphic Fire, the internationally acclaimed chamber choir, will take the stage with high school students from Miami-Dade County to present Mozart's majestic Coronation Mass and Handel's Coronation Anthems. This concert will take place at the First United Methodist Church, 536 Coral Way, at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, call 305-476-0260.
May 17: Come to Books & Books dressed in your favorite camping outfit. Author Laurie Friedman will read from her new book Campfire Mallory and will show children ages 8 through 12 how to make friendship bracelets and teach camp songs. The event starts at 11 a.m. Books & Books is located at 265 Aragon Avenue. For more information, call 305-442-4408.
May 18: Clarinetist and two-time Grammy Award winner Richard Stoltzman is coming to Coral Gables with his son, pianist Peter Stoltzman, in this rare performance. The concert will take place at the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive, at 4 p.m. Tickets for adults cost $40, seniors pay $32 and students pay $10. For more information, call 305-271-7150.
May 20: Arguably the most important woman in the history of broadcast journalism is coming to Coral Gables. Barbara Walters is visiting Temple Judea as part of a nationwide book tour for her new memoir Audition. An Evening with Barbara Walters will include a book signing and her candid interview conducted by Local 10 News anchor Laurie Jennings. The event starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Temple located at 5500 Granada Boulevard. For more information, call 305-442-4408.
May 22: Enjoy a spectacular night of food, music and fashion at the 3rd Annual American Cancer Society Coral Gables Relay For Life, Silent Auction & Fashion Show. The event will take place at the beautiful Venetian Pool, 2701 De Soto Boulevard, starting at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $50 which includes food, fashion show and open bar. All proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information or to purchase tickets call 305-551-2444 or click here.
May 28: Two chefs with restaurants in Coral Gables will be battling against each other during the latest Battle of the Chefs competition. The event takes place at La Cuisine Gourmet, 50 Aragon Avenue, at 7 p.m. The chefs will be handed a bag of mystery ingredients and instructed to create a dish with those ingredients. The event is free. For more information, call 305-662-7152, ext. 103.BACK TO TOP
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For e-News en español, click here.
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