Wednesday, March 8, 2006
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CONTENTS:Ponce de Leon Project Almost Complete
Farmers Market: Learn About Fire Safety and Colorful Gardens
City Attorney One of South Florida's "Leading Ladies"
Gables Paramedics Go High-Tech to Save Lives
Gables to Host Summit on Citizen Diplomacy
Celebrate Pioneer Day on March 11
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Downtown Coral Gables
Youth Center Offers Children a "Smart Start" on Sports
Seniors Invited for "Tea & Tax Talk"
Traffic Watch
Cultural Roundup
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Ponce de Leon Project Almost Complete >>> The Ponce de Leon Beautification project, now focusing on the creation of new, landscaped medians, is in the last stages of construction. The median was chosen as the final phase of construction because it involves closing the two inner lanes of Ponce de Leon Boulevard, from Almeria Avenue to Alcazar Avenue. The former parking restrictions have been lifted, and crews are closely monitoring traffic around the construction area. This final phase of construction along Ponce de Leon Boulevard may be the most difficult for drivers, but the new median, once finished, will result in significant improvements to future traffic flow. Unlike before, when a driver turning left on Ponce de Leon Boulevard would delay traffic, new dedicated turn lanes will allow all traffic to move smoothly down this corridor. The City of Coral Gables would like to thank everyone who drives through the downtown area for their patience and understanding as this important project is completed.
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Farmers Market: Learn About Fire Safety and Colorful Gardens >>> At 11 a.m. Saturday, March 11, the popular Coral Gables Farmers Market presents, "Stop, Drop & Roll," a special fire safety program developed for children by the Coral Gables Fire Department. Besides learning life-saving tips on what to do during a fire, children will get to meet Sparky the Fire Dog, and will visit with firefighters on a tour of a fire truck. The following weekend, at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 18, the Farmers Market presents, "Accent Bedding: Adding Color and Style to your Landscape," an informative talk by Wendy Fleming Saltzburg of Wendy's Landscaping and Design. Visit the Market from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday through March 25 for fresh produce, mini-courses on food-related subjects, and entertainment for children - all conveniently located in front of City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way - just west of the intersection of Miracle Mile and Le Jeune Road. Free parking is available at the metered parking spots west of Le Jeune Road. Not to be missed are the free weekly gardening workshops at 9 a.m., cooking demonstrations at 10 a.m., and children's activities at 11 a.m. The ever-popular Tai Chi classes are held at 8 a.m., thanks to instructor Al Agon of Perfect Balance. To see a complete schedule of events, click here. For more information on the 2006 Farmers Market, call the Coral Gables Development Department at 305-460-5311, or e-mail Florence Dawson at fdawson@coralgables.com.
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City Attorney One of South Florida's "Leading Ladies" >>> City Attorney Elizabeth "Liz" Hernandez, recipient of the 2005 City Attorney of the Year Award from the Florida League of Cities, will be honored once again tonight for her outstanding professional and personal contributions to the South Florida community. Each year in March, Miami-Dade County holds the "In the Company of Women" awards to celebrate Women's History Month and at the same time honor those women who have made significant contributions to the community as leaders and as ground-breakers for future generations of outstanding women. The 18th annual "In the Company of Women" awards ceremony takes place from 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. tonight at Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, 3251 South Miami Avenue. The City of Coral Gables is immensely proud of Ms. Hernandez for being chosen to receive this much-deserved honor. For more information, call 305-755-7906.
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Gables Paramedics Go High-Tech to Save Lives >>> Thanks to a $90,000 State grant, Coral Gables Paramedics are now using ground-breaking CPR technology that is expected to dramatically increase the chances of survival for heart attack patients. The AutoPulse CPR device, manufactured by Revivant Corp. of Sunnyvale, Calif., was featured recently in a "Medicine on the Cutting Edge" segment on ABC World News Tonight. Housed in a pack not much bigger than a guitar case, the AutoPulse sets up in a snap to deliver "perfect CPR compressions," paramedics say, because it applies pressure all around a patient's chest to get more blood circulating to the brain and heart than with traditional methods. Performing chest compressions correctly can be tiring, but the AutoPulse runs on a rechargeable battery and never gets tired, freeing up a paramedic to perform other life-saving procedures. Hailed as "the best innovation in resuscitation equipment in 35 years" by Dr. Jim Hirschman, medical director for the Coral Gables Fire Department, the arrival of this device in the City Beautiful makes Coral Gables one of only a handful of fire departments in Florida that are using the technology. For more information, call Division Chief Hope Gibbs of the Coral Gables Fire Department at 305-441-5751.
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Gables to Host Summit on Citizen Diplomacy >>> In an effort to increase awareness of personal diplomacy in a post-September 11th era, a group of organizations is presenting a South Florida summit on citizen diplomacy entitled, "Opening Doors and Building Positive International Relations," to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 30 at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue.
A panel beginning at 9:30 a.m. entitled "Opening Doors and Building Positive International Relations" will be moderated by former U.S. Ambassador to Panama Ambler Moss. Panelists include former U.S. Ambassador to Belgium Paul Cejas, Florida Secretary of State Sue Cobb, former U.S. Ambassador to Panama Simon Ferro and former U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of American States Luis Lauredo.
At 10:45 a.m. a panel on "Citizen Diplomacy in Action" will be moderated by Florida's former Undersecretary for International Affairs Hugh Simon. Panelists include Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar Jay Jay Desai, Fullbright Scholar Dr. Roosevelt Jean Francois of Haiti, and University of Miami Cobb Scholar from Iceland Erma Hjaltested.
Luncheon keynote speaker at 12:30 p.m. is Kenton Keith, former U.S. Ambassador of Qatar, a career diplomat in the Arab and Muslim worlds, and expert on U.S. foreign policy in Afghanistan.
Tickets are $75 per person for the entire event or $45 to attend the luncheon only. Seats are limited. To make reservations, call Annette Alvarez at agalvarez@miamiciv.org or 305-421-6394 or 305-421-6344.
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Celebrate Pioneer Day on March 11 >>> Ladies, put on your bonnets, and gentlemen, dust off those top hats and head out in your "buggies" to the Pinewood Cemetery on Saturday, March 11, for a trip down memory lane. From 10 a.m. to Noon that day, presenters dressed in costumes will celebrate Pioneer Day, giving visitors a tour of the Pinewood Cemetery - the final resting place for more than 200 pioneers from the 1800s and early 1900s. Among them: veterans of the Seminole Indian War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War I, as well as victims of the 1926 hurricane. Pinewood Cemetery, dating back to 1897, is one of the oldest burial grounds in Miami-Dade County. The featured guest speaker for Pioneer Day is Tom Lodge, author of The Everglades Handbook, and Understanding the Ecosystem. This event is free and open to the public, and is presented courtesy of the City of Coral Gables and the Pinewood Cemetery Advisory Board. Light refreshments will be served. Pinewood Cemetery is on Erwin Road, just south of Sunset Drive. For more information, call Betty Perez at the Coral Gables Historical Resources Department at 305-460-5093.
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Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Downtown Coral Gables >>> The South Florida Emerald Society will hold its 28th Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival from Noon to Sunset on March 11 at Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park, 2800 Ponce de Leon Boulevard. As always, admission is free and open to all, so put on something green and bring family and friends to spend a day celebrating Irish culture with traditional music, dance, Irish foods and crafts. Children will have plenty to do as they enjoy a playground, clowns, face painting, a giant slide, rock climbing, and more. The park is located just five blocks south of Miracle Mile, in the center of Ponce de Leon Boulevard. The following Friday, on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, JohnMartin's Restaurant & Irish Pub holds its annual celebration by offering a traditional Irish menu and live music starting at 11:30 a.m., followed by an outdoor street fair from 4 p.m. to Midnight along Salzedo Street. For more information, call the Emerald Society at 305-949-8400 or visit www.emeraldsocietysfl.com on the Web. Information on the JohnMartin's celebration is available by calling 305-445-3777.
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Youth Center Offers Children a "Smart Start" on Sports >>> Parents looking for a safe and fun way to introduce young children to sports are invited to explore the "Start Smart" program for children ages 3-4, held from 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. every Saturday from March 11 - May 20 at the Youth Center, 405 University Drive. The program requires parents to participate and involves teaching children how to catch, throw and kick using soft play equipment. Fees are as follows: $35 for members of the Youth Center; $46 for Coral Gables residents who are not members, and $58 for those who are neither residents nor members of the Youth Center.
Another fun program starting soon for roller hockey enthusiasts is for boys and girls born between 1991 and 1998. A community-supported program, Roller Hockey at the Youth Center uses a no-pressure, "athlete first and winning second" philosophy to provide recreational opportunities for area children who are interested in roller hockey. Children under age 10 practice from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, and children ages 10-14 practice at the same time on Tuesdays and Fridays. Players are required to attend all games and practice sessions. Uniforms will be provided, but parents are responsible for additional gear. Fees are as follows: $99 for members of the Youth Center; $132 for Coral Gables residents who are not members, and $165 for those who are neither residents nor members of the Youth Center.
For more information on these programs, pick up a flyer at the Youth Center or call 305-460-5600.
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Seniors Invited for "Tea & Tax Talk" >>> It's tax time again, and senior citizens (ages 55+) are invited to the Youth Center on March 10 for a "Tea & Talk" session aimed at helping restricted-income taxpayers understand their federal income tax rights and responsibilities. The talk, presented by Kimberly Sanchez, an attorney and coordinator with the Community Tax Clinic, starts at Noon at the Youth Center, 405 University Drive. Those who wish to attend should make reservations no later than today by calling 305-460-5609. The Community Tax Clinic is a joint project between Legal Services of Greater Miami and the Put Something Back Project of the Miami-Dade County Bar Association. The event is presented by the City of Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Senior Citizens Advisory Board.
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Traffic Watch >>> Construction on the Ponce de Leon Median Improvement Project is currently in its final stages - see the first story in this e-newsletter for more information.
Two roadway improvement projects on Le Jeune Road, scheduled to start on February 20, may also impact traffic. The work involves installing a new water main along Le Jeune Road from S.W. 8 Street to Altara Avenue, as well as improvements to paving, curbs and sidewalks. The work will be performed around the clock and will involve some lane closures. Construction around Coral Gables High School will be completed during the summer to minimize impacts to the school. Access to businesses and residences will be maintained at all times during construction. For more information on this Florida Department of Transportation project, click here, or call Public Information Manager Carlos Sarmiento at 305-499-2410 or Project Administrator Marlon Lobban at 305-970-7476.
The following event-related street closures may also impact
traffic:
> The Coral Gables Antiques
Market, presented by The Globe Café & Bar, takes place from 8 a.m. to
4 p.m. along the 300 block of Alhambra Circle, from Le Jeune Road to
Salzedo Street, on the following dates: March 26
and April 2, 30. For more information, click here.
> The Coral Gables Farmer's Market takes place from
8 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday from Jan. 14 to March 25
in front of City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. For more information, click here.
> Congressional elections for Colombian citizens
will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 12 along
Aragon Avenue, from Salzedo Street to Ponce de Leon Boulevard. For more
information, contact the Colombian Consulate at 280 Aragon Avenue,
305-448-5558.
> The Temple Judea Purim
Festival takes place from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. on March 12
along Marius Street, from Miami Homestead Avenue to Aguero Avenue. For
more information, call 305-667-5657.
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Cultural 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 boyhood 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 is located at 907 Coral Way. For more information, call 305-460-5361.
6-17 March: The Miami Bach Society presents Tropical Baroque Music Festival VII, considered one of the most prestigious Early Music festivals in the country and the only one of its kind in South Florida. Upcoming highlights include "Old Music in the New World," from 2 p.m.- 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 11 at the Coral Gables Library, 3443 Segovia Avenue. "Fuoco e Cenere," a French group performing the works of the great Cuban composer Esteban Salas with Cuban guest artists "Los Libertados," takes place at 8 p.m. on Friday, March 17 at the Riviera Presbyterian Church, 5275 Sunset Drive. For a complete list of events, call 305-669-1376 or visit www.miamibachsociety.org on the Web.
8 March-9 April: The Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre presents the Tony-nominated musical, The Full Monty, a raucous and heartfelt story of six unemployed steelworkers in Buffalo, NY, who are willing to go to great lengths to make some cash to help out a friend in need. The Miracle Theatre is located at 280 Miracle Mile. Performance dates and ticket prices vary. Call 305-444-9293 or visit www.actorsplayhouse.org on the Web for more information.
12 March: Sunday Afternoons of Music for Children presents David Grover & the Big Bear Band, a family concert featuring clap-alongs, sing-alongs and children from the audience coming onstage to help, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. at the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for children. For more information, call 305-271-7150.
14 March: The Greater Miami Symphonic Band performs for senior citizens (ages 55+) at 8 p.m. at the Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive, on the University of Miami Campus. Tickets are $8 if purchased in advance and $10 if purchased at the door. Those who wish to attend should make reservations no later than Friday, March 10, by calling 305-460-5600, and should plan to arrive 30 minutes early to allow for parking and seating assignment.
16 March: The Miami Wine & Food Festival gets underway with a wine tasting under the stars from 7-9:30 p.m. at the Village of Merrick Park in Coral Gables, featuring food and wine from 50+ wineries around the world and 30 of South Florida's finest restaurants. Call 786-596-WINE or visit www.miamiwinefestival.com on the Web for more information.BACK TO TOP
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For e-News en español, click here.
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