Wednesday, March 7, 2007
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CONTENTS:UM Master Plan Amendments Get Initial Ok
Your Tax Dollars At Work
Honoring Women's History Month In Coral Gables
Carver Middle School Has Top FCAT Scores
Coral Gables Celebrates Dade Heritage Days
Selecting The Right Tree Before Planting
View Local Schools Game Schedules Online
Watch Coral Gables Now Show
Traffic
Events Roundup
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UM Master Plan Amendments Get Initial Ok >>> On February 27, the Coral Gables City Commission approved on first reading 22 separate amendments to the University of Miami Campus Area Development (UMCAD) Master Plan for future development on the Gables Campus, with numerous conditions. The amendments aim at raising the university's ranking and enhancing the academic experience of students by increasing residential housing, building a new student activity center, an updated library, a new science center, a new school of education and a new theater, renovating the University Center and building a new alumni center, among other projects. The amendments prompted City officials to request additional public meetings from the University of Miami to allow input from residents who live nearby on how this campus expansion will affect neighborhoods and on how the university is planning to mitigate any potential effects regarding traffic, police, fire, or other general services. Among the conditions, the City is requiring one regional and one local traffic study involving every location that a project is scheduled to be built. It is also requiring that UM constructs an internal roadway north of the Lake Osceola that connects the north and south end of the campus to protect adjoining residential properties. The City wants the University of Miami to review its internal shuttle service circulation and limit service deliveries by trucks or other similar service vehicles on surrounding streets. Projects that abut residential properties will need to have construction staging plans to further protect residents in the area. Before giving their initial approval, the City Commission was cognizant of the fact that UM is required to pay for any and all mitigation as a result of the traffic studies and conditions set forth by the UMCAD ordinance. A second and final reading of the UMCAD amendments is scheduled for March 27th. To view the UMCAD Amendments Application, click here.
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Your Tax Dollars At Work >>> Each year beginning in October, the City of Coral Gables establishes an annual budget for the year ending the last day of September. This budget provides the funding to meet the strategic goals and objectives set by the City Commission. But, do taxpayers really understand how local government spends moneys collected from property taxes, use charges and other taxes? In this segment of e-News, a section of the annual budget will be explained to show constituents how the City of Coral Gables puts municipal funding to use. For the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2006 and ending on September 30, 2007, the total operating, capital and debt service expenditures are budgeted at approximately $140 million. Operating expenditures includes costs that the City incurs in personnel such as salaries, overtime, retirement, FICA, workers compensation and health insurance. It also includes operating costs such as general liability insurance, motor vehicles, motor fuel and oil, water, electricity, telephone, equipment maintenance, employee training, public facilities, tools/supplies, and other operating costs. The total personnel and operating cost for 2006-2007 is approximately $127 million. In addition to this, the capital expenditures budgeted for this year are approximately $6.2 million and the cost for debt services is $5.9 million, totaling the $140 million that the City has budgeted to spend this year. For a detailed look at this year's City of Coral Gables budget, click here.
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Honoring Women's History Month In Coral Gables >>> The month of March has been declared as Women's History Month to publicly acknowledge the contribution of women in society. The City of Coral Gables continues with this tradition of acknowledging the extraordinary influence of local women. Two of the most influential women in the City of Coral Gables were Althea Fink Merrick, the mother of City founder George Merrick, and Eunice Peacock Merrick, his wife. It is said that George's artistic talent and creativity was a trait inherited from Althea, "Allie", who was an accomplished artist, educator, poet and spirited optimist. That spirit made her family stick it out in Florida in the 1920s when they lived in a rudimentary cabin, later the site of the Coral Gables Merrick House. It was there that Althea set up the first school in Coral Gables for her children and others in the area. Eunice Peacock Merrick, a strong-willed and independent woman, married George in 1916 and played a key role in the creation of Coral Gables, helping him pick out the Spanish names for City streets. After his death, Eunice lived until 1989 remaining active in civic and women's organizations. Do you know of a Coral Gables woman who has made a significant contribution to the community? Share your story for publication by sending a note to e-news@coralgables.com.
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Carver Middle School Has Top FCAT Scores >>> Libia Gonzalez, principal of George Carver Middle School was beaming at the February 13th City Commission meeting when she accepted a proclamation from the City of Coral Gables declaring February as Black History Month. Carver students Bria Dewberry, Natalie Johnson, Alexis Johnson and Apryl Evans presented the pledge of allegiance and performed poems in celebration of Black History Month. Principal Gonzalez took the time to announce that Carver Middle is a nationally recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence which has been recognized as an "A" school and has earned the top FCAT scores in the District. Carver Middle is also the only public middle school recognized by the French, German, and Spanish governments and accredited by France and Spain. Congratulations to the school's administrators and students for making the City of Coral Gables very proud.
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Coral Gables Celebrates Dade Heritage Days >>> The City of Coral Gables is celebrating the beginning of Dade Heritage Days, thanks to the help from Shenandoah Middle School and Dade Heritage Trust. Students from the seventh grade civics classes of this Museum Magnet School attended a recent study trip around the City Beautiful to photograph various sites. Class teacher Terri Herrera asked students to create a brochure designed for kids visiting the City of Coral Gables. The final product will be on display this month at the lobby of City Hall. For more information contact the Shenandoah Middle School at 305-505-5341.
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Selecting The Right Tree Before Planting >>> With spring around the corner, many residents will venture outdoors to beautify and plant trees in their backyards. Immature trees planted today can grow into problem trees in the future, according to Florida Power and Light. But before you plant the wrong tree that can later grow too large and interfere with existing powerlines, the City of Coral Gables Utility Service Reliability Taskforce wants to remind you that there are a few steps to consider in planting the right tree outside of your home. Before planting a tree, do some research first to find out how tall and how wide the tree will grow when it reaches maturity. Then consider where the tree will be located in relation to overhead and underground utility lines. Also, make sure that there are no buried wires before digging in the spot for your new tree. Finally, check out FPL's guide "Right Tree, Right Place" to help out when deciding a landscape design. To view this guide online, click here.
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View Local Schools Game Schedules Online >>> You can now view online the schedules of athletic games of your local school. Coral Gables High School inputs all athletic schedules on the Internet to share this information with the entire community. Event information is updated and communicated in real-time so parents can find out the right time and location of the next girls varsity water polo or boys varsity tennis games, for example. To access this website, click here.
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Watch Coral Gables Now Show >>> Don't forget to watch this months' edition of Coral Gables Now, the City's Public Affairs show which has now been expanded to one hour. Take a tour of the Merrick House as host Belkys Perez talks to Merrick House Governing Board members about how this group of volunteers work together to showcase the historic home. Learn about the Building and Zoning's Code Enforcement Division and why the work of a Code Enforcement Officer is crucial to the City. Meet Coral Gables Firefighters who explain the mission of the Woody Brice Memorial Golf Tournament. Watch Coral Gables Television on Channel 77 for Comcast subscribers and on Channel 97 for Adelphia subscribers. For more information, contact Coral Gables Television at 305-460-5521.
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Traffic >>> Le Jeune Road from Mendoza Avenue (SW 16th Street) to US-1: Expect delays in the area as intermittent lane closures of Le Jeune Road will take place between the hours of 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Crews are trying to complete drainage, lighting, signal and pedestrian improvements. Drivers will have access to all major intersections of Le Jeune Road including the turning lanes. For more information, contact Carlos Sarmiento at 305-499-2410 or through e-mail at carlos.sarmiento@dot.state.fl.us.
Traffic during Special Events:
Friday - Sunday, March 2 - 4: Expect delays when traveling through Downtown Coral Gables. On Friday, the inside lane surrounding Ponce Circle Park, 2810 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, will close at 10 a.m. and reopen on Saturday at 1 a.m. Miracle Mile will be closed starting midnight Friday through Monday at 5 a.m. between Le Jeune Road and Douglas Road for Carnaval on the Mile.
Friday, March 9th: Sevilla Avenue will be closed along the rear of the Venetian Pool. The street will remain closed from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. for a private reception at Venetian Pool.
Friday, March 16th: Salzedo Street will close from
Miracle Mile to Aragon Avenue. Aragon Avenue will also close from Salzedo
Street east until the 200 block near Books & Books. The street
closures start at 11 a.m. and will remain closed until 1 a.m. on Sunday,
March 18th for the St. Patrick's Day Festival.
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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.
Ongoing: The historic Merrick House, the family home of Coral Gables founder George Merrick, is open to the public on Wednesdays and Sundays for tours at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m. The tour of this charming home built of coral rock, still home to the artwork and early possessions of the Merrick family, lasts about 45 minutes. Tickets are $5 for adults; $3 for senior citizens (ages 65+) and students with ID; $1 for children ages 6-12, and free for children ages 5 and under. The Merrick House, a remarkable example of South Florida architecture, is located at 907 Coral Way. For more information, call 305-460-5095.
First Friday of The Month: Art lovers flock to Coral Gables the first Friday of every month for Gallery Night. Boasting dozens of galleries, Coral Gables is the premier destination for art and cultural events. The City offers free trolley service to most of the galleries locations from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Some galleries will feature musicians for your entertainment. There will be no parking enforcement in Business Central District during Gallery Nights between the hours of 6-10 p.m. on the months of February and March of 2007. For a list of art galleries in Coral Gables, click here.
Next At The Farmers Market: The Coral Gables Farmers Market takes place on Saturday mornings from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from now until March 31, in front of City Hall. Enjoy fresh produce, baked goods and plants. On March 10: "Tai Chi in the Park" with Master Al Agon from Perfect Balance at 8 a.m.; "Pruning and Fertilizing" gardening workshop presented by Wendy Fleming Saltzburg of Wendy's Landscaping and Design at 9 .m.; a cooking demonstration by Le Provencal Restaurant at 10 a.m., and children can hear the story of Crepes by Suzette by Monica Wellington and learn how to make crepes at 11 a.m. On March 17: "Tai Chi in the Park" with Master Al Agon from Perfect Balance at 8 a.m.; "Reintroducing Citrus" gardening workshop presented by Chris Rollins, Park Manager of the Fruit and Spice Park at 9 a.m.; cooking demonstration by Café Abbracci Restaurant scheduled for 10 a.m.; and children will be able to take a Spring photo with Peter Rabbit at 11 a.m. For more information, contact 305-460-5311.
March 7 - 10: The Miami Bach Society is presenting its annual early music celebration featuring classical music from Europe, the Caribbean and Central and South America composed before the 1800s. On Wednesday, March 7th at 8 p.m., Jacob Lodico accompanied by French harpsichordist Betrand Cullier will make their South Florida debut at the Danielson Gallery located at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue. On Thursday, March 8th also at 8 p.m., listen to Stradella's Oratorio Susanna performed by Magnificat, the renowned American ensemble from San Francisco. The performance will take place at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 5690 North Kendall Drive at Red Road. On Friday March 9th at 8 p.m., experience Kristian Bezuidenhout Recital, a key-board musician from South Africa performing Bach on the Harpsichord at St. Philip's Episcopal Church, 1142 Coral Way. On Saturday, March 10th at 8 p.m., Lydian Steel from Trinidad performs Baroque Favorites and Caribbean Early Music at the courtyard at the University of Miami Law School, 1311 Miller Drive. Tickets range from $30 to $75. For more information or to order tickets, call 305-669-1376 or click here.
March 7 - April 8: The famous comedy La Cage Aux Folles has been adapted for plays, film and now it's making a comeback on stage. The Actors' Playhouse will host the musical hit La Cage Aux Folles which shows how the tranquility of domestic partners is shattered when a son gets married to the daughter of an ultra right wing politician. Performances will be held Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets cost $38.50 for weeknights and matinees, and $46 for Friday and Saturday evenings. The theatre offers a 10 percent senior discount rate the day of performance and $15 student rush tickets 15 minutes prior to curtain, with identification. The Actors' Playhouse is located at 280 Miracle Mile. Tickets may be purchased through the box office at 305-444-9293, or click here.
March 8: The Grammy Award nominated University of Miami Concert Jazz Band with conductor Dante Luciani will hold a Concert with Special Guest John Fedchock. The critically acclaimed jazz trombonist and the UM band will be performing at the UM Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Road, on Thursday at 8 p.m. A donation of $15 is appreciated and proceeds will benefit 88.9 FM WDNA and UM Frost School of Music. For more information or to get your tickets, call 305-284-5813.
March 8: The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami will host a Master Class by Sir James Galway on Thursday at 10 a.m. Sir Galway is considered one of the supreme interpreters of the classical flute repertoire and has performed throughout the world for important dignitaries such as United States Presidents, the Queen of England and Norway and Empress of Japan. His class will be held at the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall at the Frost School of Music, 1314 Miller Drive, and is free and open to the public. For more information, call 305-284-4940 or click here.
March 9 - 11: Beaux Art, the volunteer organization that promotes and helps provide funding for the Lowe Art Museum at the University of Miami, is hosting its 15th Annual Table Decorating Exhibit. Over 30 beautifully themed dining tables designed by Beaux members, interior designers and decorators, architect Alison Spear and fashion designers Rene Ruiz and Marimekko are among the creators of the dining table designs. On Friday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., enjoy a preview of the exhibit with a cocktail party held at the Lowe Art Museum, 1301 Stanford Drive. The cost to attend is $60 which includes viewing of the dining tables on the weekend. The exhibit will also be open to the public on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for a cost of $15 if you did not attend the preview cocktail party. For more information or to purchase tickets, call Susannah Shubin at 305-666-4732 or email at smshubin@bellsouth.net.
March 10: Come be a part of an Irish tradition in Coral Gables. The 29th Annual St. Patrick's Festival will take place on Saturday with a full day of Irish music, authentic food, arts and crafts, plants and even a pageant for lasses between the ages of 4 and 14. The fun starts at noon at the Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park, 2810 Ponce de Leon Boulevard, until sunset. Admission is free. For more information call 786-853-2697.
March 13 - 24: Although crime continues to be low in Coral Gables, it's always important to be prepared to defend yourself. The Coral Gables Police Department is offering R.A.D. Classes for Women that specialize in awareness, risk reductions, avoidance and basic physical defense. Participants must attend the following four classes: Tuesdays, March 13 and 20 and Thursdays, March 15 and 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. with a make-up day of Saturday, March 24 at 8 a.m. The classes will be held at the Police Station located at 2801 Salzedo Street. Parking is available on the 200 and 300 blocks of Sevilla and Palermo Avenues. The cost of the classes is $65. For more information, call 305-460-5401.
March 14: Calling all young aspiring actresses and actors, Miami Childrens Theater is holding Auditions for the Production Godspell on Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. A one-minute long monologue and an up-tempo song are required for audition and come prepared to dance! Auditions will be held at the Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center Theater located at 405 University Drive. For more information, call 305-274-3595.
March 15: Coral Gables senior residents are invited to attend the City's Senior Fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the War Memorial Youth Center Gymnasium, 405 University Drive. Exhibitors include the Catholic Hospice, Alliance for Aging, Inc., the Paladin of Coral Gables, American Eldercare, Inc., Switchboard of Miami, Florida Power & Light, Humana, Inc., Coral Gables Police Department and Crime Watch, Douglas Gardens Home Care, Inc., the Floridian Nursing Home, Home Instead Senior Care and many more. There will be also lectures, demonstrations and refreshments. No registration is required. For additional information, call the Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5600.
March 16: Public schools are out on Friday for a Teacher Planning Day but that doesn't mean you need to make plans on missing work. Leave your children in good hands with Club P.L.A.Y. at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive. The program is open to children ages five through 12 for your convenience and peace of mind. The camp is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with Youth Center members paying $20, residents paying $27 and non-residents paying $34. The kids will spend the day playing and even go on a field trip. For more information, call 305-460-5600.
March 16 & 17: Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with the Irish during the 17th annual block party. John Martin's Restaurant and Irish Pub kicks off the two day St. Patrick's Day celebration on Friday the 16th at 4 p.m. to midnight. The fun, food and music is kicked into high gear on Saturday. From noon to 5 p.m. enjoy a street fair with exciting events for the entire family. From 5 p.m. to midnight, enjoy live Irish music and rock bands. The free street fair takes place along Salzedo Street and Aragon Avenue. For more information, call 305-445-3777 or click here.
March 18: The Coral Gables community is invited to a Sunday afternoon of music. The Musical Trio of Violinist Ani Kavafian, Pianist Andre-Michel Schub and Clarinetist David Shifrin is sure to please with unique instruments that blend harmoniously. The Kavafian, Schub, Shifrin Trio will perform at the Gusman Concert Hall at the University of Miami, 1314 Miller Drive, at 4 p.m. General admission tickets cost $40. Seniors pay $32 and students pay $10. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 305-271-7150 or click here.
March 20: Seniors are invited to experience the new musical Wicked, The Untold Story of the Wizard of Oz on Tuesday at 8 p.m. A bus will leave the War Memorial Youth Center at 6:15 p.m. and travel to the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts. The cost of transportation and admission to the Performing Arts Center is $90 for residents and $100 for non-residents. Reserve your spot by March 10th by calling 305-460-5609 or click here.
March 25: Legendary singer Dionne Warwick is coming to Coral Gables and brining a few friends for her new concert My Friends & Me. Tickets are now on sale for the BankUnited Center performance scheduled for Sunday at 8 p.m. among the singers joining Warwick on stage is South Florida's own Gloria Estefan, Cyndi Lauper, Olivia Newton-John, Gladys Knight and many, many more. Ticket prices range from $45 to $100. Get your tickets by calling Ticketmaster at 305-358-5885. The BankUnited Center is located at the University of Miami at 1245 Dauer Drive.
Through April 29: The next Open Air Antiques Market presented by the Globe Café will be held on Sunday, March 18th from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. During that time Alhambra Circle will close for just one block east of LeJeune Road so antique dealers can line the street with booths full of furniture, fashion, jewelry and special memorabilia. Mark you calendars! The next Antiques Market will be held on April 1st, 15th & 29th. For more information, call 786-269-1331.BACK TO TOP
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