Wednesday, April 4, 2007
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CONTENTS:General Biennial Election Is Set For April 10
Public Invited To Discuss Metal Roofs
Your Tax Dollars At Work: Debt Service
UM Gets Green Light For Future Master Plan
New Advisory Group Links Youth And City Leaders
Update On School Education Compact
April 8-14 Is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week
Gables Plants Trees During Arbor Day
Register for Lifeguard Certification Classes
Carver Elementary Opens Media Center
Traffic
Events Roundup
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General Biennial Election Is Set For April 10 >>> For those who are registered voters, now it's the time to assert your right to vote. The City of Coral Gables will have its General Biennial Election on Tuesday, April 10, with polling places expected to be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Gables voters will have a chance to cast ballots to elect a Mayor and two City Commissioners. For a list of polling locations, click here. To view a sample ballot, click here. For general elections information, click here. For additional information, please contact the Office of the City Clerk at 305-460-5208.
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Public Invited To Discuss Metal Roofs >>> As announced in previous e-News, the City of Coral Gables is conducting public meetings to discuss whether metal roofs should be allowed on single family residences within City limits. All interested parties are encouraged to attend one of the following Wednesday meetings between the hours of 6-8 p.m.: April 18 at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Garden Center, 10901 Old Cutler Road; April 25 at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive; or May 2, Coral Gables City Hall, Commission Chambers, 405 Biltmore Way. For more information, contact the City Manager's Office at 305-460-5202.
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Your Tax Dollars At Work: Debt Service >>> 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. The 2006-2007 annual debt service on loans, or the amount of cash necessary to meet the payments of principal and interest on a debt, is $5,986,419 representing 4.5 percent of the operating budget. These are loans obtained from the Sunshine State Governmental Financing Commission to finance this year's proposed $4 million for capital improvements plus previous loans to finance the acquisition and construction of facilities such as the Fire Station No.3, the Youth Center, the Miracle Theater, the Merrick Parking Garage and Shops, the City Maintenance and Storage Facility at S.W. 72nd Avenue, the Museum Parking Garage, the 427 Biltmore Way building, sidewalk improvements, golf course renovations, parks, information technology equipment, the Conference Center of the Americas at the Biltmore Hotel and the renovation of the Country Club of Coral Gables. The total outstanding principal debt of the City is approximately $64.5 million. The City has no outstanding voter-approved debt service also known as bonds. For a detailed look at this year's City of Coral Gables budget, click here.
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UM Gets Green Light For Future Master Plan >>> On March 27 the City Commission gave its final approval to 22 amendments to the University of Miami Campus Area Development (UMCAD) Master Plan. Among the projects that will span over the next 20 years include the construction of a new student activity center, additions to the Richter Library and Law School, new academic housing, new theater site, and a new alumni center. The University of Miami agreed on an appropriate mitigation program to alleviate the impacts of each specific project in regard to police, fire, general services and parks and recreation. The City is also requiring one regional and one local traffic study involving every location that a project is scheduled to be built by the university. To view the specific projects that the University of Miami is planning for the future, click here.
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New Advisory Group Links Youth And City Leaders >>> To foster a greater involvement of youth and teens in local government, the City Commission unanimously approved last week the creation of a Parks and Recreation Youth Advisory Board. The board was the idea of local high school student Juan Padrón who asked City Commission to consider the establishment of a link between community youth and City leaders. The group will advise the City Commission on issues regarding quality of life and recreation needs of young people in the community. Young Gables residents who are interested in serving are encouraged to contact Coral Gables elected officials to seek board appointment. Potential advisory members must be enrolled in grades 8-12 in a public, private or home school. Appointed board members will serve for two years or upon high school graduation. For more information, contact the City of Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5600.
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Update On School Education Compact >>> Pledging that by school year 2008, all public schools in Coral Gables would have a grade of "B" or higher, the Education Compact between the City of Coral Gables and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools is receiving high marks from parents, students, educators as well as local officials. City leaders got an update last month on the progress made on the 2006 agreement between local government and the county's school system to increase and enhance academic programs and share resources and facilities. Working with the City of Coral Gables Economic Development Board, among the items that have been initiated, implemented or agreed upon are to provide specialized classes sponsored by the City through the Parent Academy. The development and enrichment of an International Studies High School in a separate purchased facility is in the works. The City has also presented two student art exhibitions on the first floor of City Hall and more are expected in the future. Both organizations have also jointly supported the creation of an internship program with Coral Gables businesses and Coral Gables Senior High School and so far eight students have benefited. For more information, contact the City of Coral Gables Development Department at 305-460-5311.
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April 8-14 Is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week >>> Each year, the second full week of April is dedicated to the men and women who serve as public safety telecommunicators, the 9-1-1 call takers. Considered by many the unsung heroes of public safety, these emergency dispatchers talk to voices from faces never seen, connecting the anxious conversations of terrified victims gathering important life saving information and providing that information to officers, firefighters or paramedics. The City of Coral Gables Police Department Communications Section receives and dispatches both police and fire rescue service calls around the clock. Approximately 160 calls for service are generated every day. Congratulations to this unique and talented group of Coral Gables employees.
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Gables Plants Trees During Arbor Day >>> Coral Gables, a Tree City USA, is planting trees to celebrate Arbor Day on Thursday, April 12, beginning at 11 a.m. at Kings Bay, S.W. 144 Street and 64 Avenue. Guest speaker is Michael Davenport, Director of Horticulture at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. The 2006 Beautification Award winners will also be presented. The event is co-sponsored by the Coral Gables Garden Club and the Coral Gables Landscape Beautification Advisory Board. The event is free and open to the public. For more information contact the City of Coral Gables Public Service Department at 305-460-5130.
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Register for Lifeguard Certification Classes >>> The Venetian Pool is opening registration for the May 10-13 session of its Lifeguard Certification classes. The four-day intensive training includes all aspects of aquatic safety, emergency response from respected Ellis and Associates International program. To enter the class participants who are at least 15 years old must swim 200 yards without stopping using freestyle or breast stroke, tread water for two minutes with hands above water and retrieve a 10 pound brick from the bottom of the pool. Fee is $105. For more information, contact Carolina Vester at 305-460-5344.
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Carver Elementary Opens Media Center >>> G.W. Carver Elementary School opened last week a new 3,000 square foot media center which will enhance the students opportunities to learn in a computerized environment. The new center has a library, a main reading room, a computer area with 19 computer work stations, a story time area, and plenty of DVD resources for teachers. It also has books in three different languages for the students in the Extended Foreign Language Program and a state-of-the-art television studio for the Carver News Team. George Washington Carver Elementary School, with 560 students currently enrolled in grades K-5, is located at 238 Grand Avenue in Coral Gables. Little Carver, as it is fondly known, offers a Pre-International Baccalaureate/Foreign Language Program for Spanish and Italian. For more information, click here.
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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 and side streets 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. Le Jeune Road from Palermo Avenue and Sevilla Avenue: Two travel lanes will be closed daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, throughout the month of April while workers connect new water lines to the water main in this area. One lane will remain open in each direction during these closures. Work will begin on the west (southbound) side of Le Jeune Road and southbound traffic will be shifted to one lane on the east (northbound) side of the road. Once this side is finished, work will shift to the east (northbound) side of Le Jeune Road and northbound traffic will be shifted to one lane on the west (southbound) side of Le Jeune Road. For more information,contact Carlos Sarmiento at 305-499-2410 or via email at
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 and side streets 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.
Le Jeune Road from Palermo Avenue and Sevilla Avenue: Two travel lanes will be closed daily from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, throughout the month of April while workers connect new water lines to the water main in this area. One lane will remain open in each direction during these closures. Work will begin on the west (southbound) side of Le Jeune Road and southbound traffic will be shifted to one lane on the east (northbound) side of the road. Once this side is finished, work will shift to the east (northbound) side of Le Jeune Road and northbound traffic will be shifted to one lane on the west (southbound) side of Le Jeune Road. For more information,contact Carlos Sarmiento at 305-499-2410 or via email at carlos.sarmiento@dot.state.fl.us.BACK TO TOP
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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. For a list of art galleries in Coral Gables, click here.
April 5: The Senior Division of the Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department invites all adults ages 55 and up to "Lunch and Listen" on Thursday, April 5, 11:30 a.m. to 1 :30 p.m. at the Westin Colonnade, 180 Aragon Avenue. Guest speaker is author, consultant and teacher Ligia M. Houben. She will discuss today's senior housing alternatives and will empower attendees with information on how to make the right choice for future housing needs. The sit-down lunch, sponsored by the Paladin of Coral Gables, is free of charge. Reservations are required. For more information, contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5600.
April 5 - 29: Experience the world premier of Michael McKeever's play "Melt." The play is set in Miami where families with various cultural backgrounds settle down, forming new traditions. In "Melt," three families - one Cuban, one African American and one Jewish - collide, intermingle and eventually blend. Watch the play Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on select Sundays. New Theatre is located at 4120 Laguna Street. Ticket prices are $35 for Thursdays and Sunday evenings, and $40 for Fridays, Saturdays and Sunday matinees. For more information, call 305-443-5909.
April 7: Come out and enjoy the largest egg hunt in all of South Florida. The Senior Egg Hunt will take place at Merrick Park across the street from City Hall at 10 a.m. There will be games and prizes including the hunt for the Golden Egg which will be hidden for a grand prize drawing. Senior gals are encouraged to wear their Spring Bonnet. For more information call 305-460-5609. While seniors are having fun at Merrick Park there will be tens of thousands of eggs scattered throughout 19 other parks in the City Beautiful. The Egg-stravaganza Hunt for Children starts at 10 a.m. Once you've found all of the prized eggs, head over to Merrick Park at 11 a.m. for a Carnival complete with games and rides. To get a list of the parks and open spaces involved in this event, call the Parks & Recreation Department at 305-460-5600.
April 8: Sunday Afternoons of Music for Children will bring classic literature to life during Storydance. Freddick Bratcher & Company will include narration, live characters, music and dance as part of story telling. Children are encouraged to interact with the dancers. Following each concert, enjoy apple juice, balloons and cookies. The performance begins at 3 p.m. at the Gusman Concert Hall located at 1314 Miller Drive on the University of Miami campus. Tickets costs $10 for children and $12 for adults. For more information, call 305-271-7150.
April 9: Books & Books, 265 Aragon Avenue, presents at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 9 author Reginald Daniel and hisground-breaking new book, Living Your Life Backward. The author will talk aboutthe practical tools needed to reach personal and professional goals and how writing your own eulogy and working backward to the future will lead participants to live the life you want. In Living Your Life Backward, the author inspires readers to clearly define immediate and long-term goals to put values in life. For more information, call 305-442-4408.
April 9 - 30: It's never too early to teach children how to defend themselves. The Coral Gables Police Department is offering self defense classes through R.A.D. Kids for children ages five through seven. A parent, adult relative or guardian must attend the classes with the children. Classes will take place on April 9, 16, 19, 23, 26 and 30th from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Coral Gables Police Department located at 2801 Salzedo Street. The cost per child is $50. Class sizes are limited. For more information call the Community Affairs Unit at 305-460-5401.
April 11: The Miami-Dade Public Library System presents native pride dancer Larry Yazzie, an international lecturer, educator and world champion fancy dancer. Yazzi was raised on the Meskwaki Indian Settlement in Central Iowa, and began dancing at the age of seven. On Wednesday, April 11 at 7 p.m. Yazzie will present a series of dances including the fancy, eagle, buffalo and round, and will contextualize them in his own experiences and in contemporary American Indian culture. The event takes place at the Coral Gables Branch Library, 3443 Segovia Street. For more information, call 305-442-8706.
April 13: Comedians Bruce Bruce, Gary Owen and Marvin Dixon will have fans rolling in the aisles with laughter at the BankUnited Center,1245 Dauer Drive,on Friday, April 13, beginning at 8 p.m. Bruce Bruce and Gary Owen are known for hosting Black Entertainment Television's Comic View program while former Miami radio personality Marvin Dixon is called "The Godfather of Urban Comedy." Tickets price range $20, $28, $35 and $50 plus service charges and are available through the BankUnited Center box office, all Ticketmaster locations, charge by phone at 305-358-5885 or on-line by clicking here.
April 14: The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce presents the 12th Annual Baptist Health Tour of the Gables 5K with proceeds to benefit the Coral Gables High School PTSA and CHARLEE Homes for Children. Meet in front of Coral Gables City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way at 7:30 a.m. Cost is $25 before the day of the event. To register, click here.
April 21: The International Affairs Committee of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce cordially invites you to the 2007Gables International Festival beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the poolside of the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, 50 Alhambra Plaza. Win trips, hotel stays, sea excursions and much more. Event cost for members who RSVP by April 16th is $60. Cost for on-site registration and guests is $75. For more information, click here.
April 27: The Third Annual Chocolate Fashion Is Sweet On Benny helps raise funds to benefit the UM/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center on Friday, April 27, 5-8 p.m. Hosted by Chef Georges and Persy Berger, along with Benny the Celebrity Bear, you can enjoy entrée samplings, desserts, music, raffle and auction at Chocolate Fashion, 248 Andalusia Avenue. Donation is $20 per person. For more information, contact Mary Pechewlys at 305-443-0135.
April 28: If you are an admirer of the original Coral Gables Merrick House, mark your calendar for an event that is going to rock the house. The Merrick House Governing Board invites you to "Rock the Plantation" an evening of dinner and dancing to raise funds for the Merrick House historic preservation and educational programs. The event is planned for Saturday, April 28, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Country Club of Coral Gables, 997 North Greenway Drive. Tickets are $175 per person. For more information, contact Event Chair Pupi Perez-Abreu at 305-460-5095.
April 28: The Coral Gables Relay For Life takes place on Saturday, April 28, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Coral Gables Senior High School, 450 Bird Road. All proceeds to benefit the American Cancer Society. The Relay for Life is a family-oriented event where participants enjoy the camaraderie of a team. Participants camp out at the Relay site and when not walking, they take part in fun activities and enjoy local entertainment. For more information, contact event chair Kevin Muñoz at 305-551-2444.
Through April 28: The University of Miami's Department of Theater Arts closes its 2006-2007 season with On the Town from April 18 - 28 featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. On the Town is the story of three sailors on a 24-hour pass from the Brooklyn Navy Yard. In the subway the sailors see a picture of Miss Turnstiles, and in the effort to find her in person, a spirited tour of old New York's subways, streets, museums, night clubs and the upper floors of Carnegie Hall begins. Ticket prices vary. For more information, call 305-284-3355 or click here.BACK TO TOP
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For e-News en español, click here.
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