Wednesday, March 22, 2006

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CONTENTS:
Don't Miss the Farmers Market Grand Finale
Gables High Students Shine in Recent Competitions
Celebrate Spring in the City Beautiful
Venetian Pool Needs Lifeguards
Celebrate Arbor Day on April 6
Reach Out for Alcohol Awareness
Pick a Fundraiser - Support a Good Cause
Traffic Watch
Cultural Roundup

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Don't Miss the Farmers Market Grand Finale  >>>  The Coral Gables Farmers Market comes to an end this Saturday, March 25, with a Grand Finale Chef's Picnic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. As always, South Florida's finest chefs will team up with purveyors of fine produce and foods from throughout Florida to prepare tasty samplings available at a modest charge. To delight children of all ages, baby animals from the Little Farm will pay a visit, and classic car owners will line up their vintage wheels nearby. Early risers will still be able to catch the last Farmers Market session of Tai Chi in the Park at 8 a.m., led by instructor Al Agon from Perfect Balance. The Farmers Market is 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. For more information, click here, or call the Coral Gables Development Department at 305-460-5311.
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Gables High Students Shine in Recent Competitions  >>> In a business competition hosted by Coral Gables Senior High School, students from nine high schools throughout Miami-Dade County competed in 28 business-related categories. Gables High produced 63 winners in the competition, sweeping some categories completely and winning first place in 14 of the categories (more than any other school in the competition). All 63 winners will be attending the state competition.
     In other news, Coral Gables High student Carlos Montero came in as a runner-up in a regional wrestling competition, becoming the first Gables High student ever to qualify for the state wrestling competition as a freshman.
     The Gablettes, the school's premier dance team, recently won a regional competition sweeping first place in every category. The dance team won first place in both the soloist varsity and junior varsity categories.
     The Coral Gables High student newspaper, Highlights, won the Silver Medallion in the Columbia Scholastic Press Association Competition - a national competition that recognizes excellence in student publications.
     Congratulations to Coral Gables High School for producing such fine local talent.
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Celebrate Spring in the City Beautiful  >>> Spring is here and so is a fun series of children's programs aimed at fostering family relations and making this Spring Break a memorable one for all.
> The Art Club: all children have imagination, creativity, a sense of design and a desire to explore - and there is no better place to explore than the historic Venetian Pool at 2701 De Soto Boulevard. The Art Club, by Young Rembrandts, meets on Tuesdays from March 28-May 16, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. for ages 4-6, and from 5 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. for ages 7-13. Coral Gables members pay $84 for the six-week program, and non-members pay $105. All materials are provided by Young Rembrandts. Call 305-252-1531 or send an e-mail message to sbazain@bellsouth.net for more information.
> Spring Break is from April 10-14 this year, and in Coral Gables, that means time off from the classroom to participate in sports, special events and field trips, and to unleash the artist within.

• The Spring Break Art Camp is for children ages 7-14 and runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Youth Center, 405 University Drive. Young artists will explore paints, pastels, watercolors, clay and other media. Fees are $180 for members of the Youth Center, $240 for Coral Gables residents who are not members, and $300 for those who are neither residents nor members. Call 305-460-5600 for more information.
• The Club P.L.A.Y. Spring Break Camp is for children ages 5-12 years old and runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Youth Center. Sports, special events, and field trips to Superwheels and C.B. Smith Park are on the agenda. Fees are $95 for members of the Youth Center, $126 for Coral Gables residents who are not members, and $157 for those who are neither residents nor members. Call 305-460-5600 for more information.
• The Gymnastics Spring Break Camp is for children ages 3-15 and runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., depending on the schedule chosen. Activities include lessons in gymnastics skills as well as arts and crafts, games, movies and more. Fees vary by schedule. Call 305-460-5615 or visit www.gymkidzmiami.com on the Web for more information.

> High Tea with Grandma and Me celebrates that special relationship between children and grandmothers. The event is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, at the "T Room," 2908 Salzedo Street. Grandma and grandchild create special bonnets to wear for the rest of the afternoon as they enjoy tea, refreshments, and of course, each other's company. Each child/grandmother couple will receive a complimentary photo of themselves at the end of the program. Fees are $20 per person. Reservations should be made no later than April 6 by calling 305-460-5609.
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Venetian Pool Needs Lifeguards  >>>  The Venetian Pool is looking for lifeguards for the summer. Applicants must be 16 years of age or older and must have completed their junior year of high school by May 26. Pay is $7.87 per hour for a Lifeguard I, or $9.00 per hour for a Lifeguard II (open to high school graduates only). For more information, contact Maggie Hill at 305-460-5357 or send an e-mail message to mhill@coralgbles.com .
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Celebrate Arbor Day on April 6  >>>  The City of Coral Gables will celebrate Arbor Day with a tree planting at 11 a.m. at the Coral Gables branch of the Miami-Dade Public Library, 3443 Segovia Street. Sponsored by the City of Coral Gables, the Coral Gables Garden Club, the Landscape Beautification Advisory Board, and the Library Advisory Board, this event is free and open to the public. Guest speaker is Professor Joanna Lombard from the University of Miami School of Architecture. For more information, call the Coral Gables Public Service Department at 305-460-5130.
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Reach Out for Alcohol Awareness  >>>  Informed Families and the Florida Family Partnership are holding a series of "Reach Out Now Teach-Ins" from April 3-7 where community leaders offer a 45-minute presentation to students on the risks of under-age alcohol use. Teach-In materials are provided by Informed Families and produced by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Scholastic, Inc.  April is Alcohol Awareness Month. For more information, call 305-856-4815 or send an e-mail message to Madeline Manjarres at mmanjarres@informedfamilies.org .
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Pick a Fundraiser - Support a Good Cause  >>> Coral Gables will be host to numerous fundraisers over the next few days - don't miss these opportunities to attend fun events for a good cause.
> The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation presents Cocktails for the Cure at 5:30 p.m. March 29, at Ola Steak, 320 San Lorenzo Avenue. For more information, call 305-461-4442.
> The French Institute presents the "Taste Your Senses" fundraiser to benefit the World Cultural Center for Kids, from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. March 31 at the Steinway Piano Gallery, 4104 Ponce De Leon Boulevard. For more information, call Philip Chastaing at 305-774-5716.
> The National Multiple Sclerosis Society presents its annual MS Walk from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 1, starting at City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. For more information, call 1-800-FIGHT-MS or 305-599-0299.
> The American Lung Association presents its Third Annual Coral Gables Wine and Food Festival from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 6, along Giralda Avenue. For more information, call 1-800-524-8010.
> The Rotary Club of Coral Gables presents its 15th Annual Gables Promenade at 7 p.m. April 7. A black tie dinner at the Coral Gables Country Club is followed by a trolley tour through Coral Gables. Proceeds benefit the Community Partnership for the Homeless. For more information, call 305-441-8063.
> The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce presents the 11th Annual Sports Classic at 11:30 a.m. April 7 at the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue. For more information, call Linda Reynolds at 305-446-1657.
> The American Cancer Society presents Relay for Life of Coral Gables, starting in the early evening of April 22 and lasting through the night, at Coral Gables High School, 450 Bird Road. Relay for Life is a unique overnight celebration of life in honor and in memory of those touched by cancer. For more information, call Kira Dykstra at 305-779-2860 or click here .
> The University of Miami/Sylvester Cancer Center, in conjunction with Chocolate Fashion, presents the "Benny Good Cause" fundraiser from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. April 28, at 248 Andalusia Avenue. For more information, call Mary Pechewlys at 305-443-0135.
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Traffic Watch  >>> Construction on the Ponce de Leon Median Improvement Project is currently in its final stages, with construction of the median now underway. Areas around the construction area have been barricaded, and "No Left Turn" signs are still in place. Drivers are urged to use extreme caution while driving around the construction zone.
     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 SW 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 .
> The National Multiple Sclerosis Society presents its annual MS Walk from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 1, starting at City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. For more information, call 1-800-FIGHT-MS or 305-599-0299.
> The American Lung Association presents its Third Annual Coral Gables Wine and Food Festival from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. April 6, along Giralda Avenue. For more information, call 1-800-524-8010
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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.

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.

26 March : The Chopin Foundation of the United States presents the Young Pianists Concert at 3 p.m. at the Granada Presbyterian Church, 950 University Drive. These 10 pianists are all under 18 years old, and are so gifted that they may be appearing in the National Chopin Piano Competition coming up in 2010. The event is free. For more information, call 305-868-0624 or visit www.chopin.org on the Web.

30 March : A summit on citizen diplomacy, "Opening Doors and Building Positive International Relations," presents former U.S. Ambassador of Qatar Kenton Keith, as the luncheon keynote speaker. Don't miss this great opportunity to listen to expert diplomats discuss how ordinary citizens can contribute to global understanding. Seats are still available at $45 per person for the luncheon, taking place at the Conference Center of the Americas, Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue. For registration, call Annette Alvarez at agalvarez@miamiciv.org or 305-421-6394 or 305-421-6344.

31 March - 2 April: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden presents the Fourth Annual International Orchid Festival, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Festival will feature nearly 40 orchid growers from around the world who will exhibit the plant's magnificent diversity. The Orchid Society of Coral Gables will grace the Garden House with an American Orchid Society juried show. Educational lectures, walking tours and live music including Polynesian music, hula dancers and fire dancers, are also on the agenda. To see a complete schedule of events, click here . For more information, call 305-667-1651.

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