Wednesday, June 1, 2005
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CONTENTS:
Mayor Delivers "State of the City" Address
Commissioners Pass Interim Measure on Oversized Homes
City Sets Museum Garage Rates, Coupon Available
New Public Hearings Scheduled for Zoning Code Rewrite
Have a Great Summer at the Youth Center
Get Ready for Hurricane Season
Congratulations to Gables High and Principal Dr. Alex Martinez
Congratulations to Two Longtime Gables Businesses
CG Chamber of Commerce Presents 2005 International Fiesta
Gables Girls Take Soccer Championship by "Storm"
Traffic Watch
Cultural Events Roundup
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Mayor Delivers "State
of the City" Address
>>>
Coral Gables Mayor Don Slesnick celebrated the accomplishments of the City
Beautiful and looked forward to its bright future during his annual "State of
the City" Address, delivered at the Biltmore Hotel on May 19th. In his speech,
the Mayor highlighted the quality of life in Coral Gables and its top-notch
municipal services, delivered by professionals who have received many national
honors. With business in the downtown area booming and real estate values on
the rise, more businesses, residents and visitors will want to come to the
Gables, so the future is bright for the City Beautiful, the Mayor said. He
promised to work alongside City Commissioners to preserve "an old dream" - the
one that Gables Founder George Merrick had in mind when he created plans for "a
community of substance, style and grace." To protect this dream, City leaders
will continue to focus on striking a balance between the needs of residential
neighborhoods and the business district, "the hustle and bustle of a lively
downtown area with the tranquility of residential areas," the Mayor said. For a
full transcript of Mayor Slesnick's speech,
click here.
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Commissioners Pass Interim Measure on
Oversized Homes
>>>
As a "first step" toward addressing the issue of oversized homes in
incompatible neighborhoods, City Commissioners on May 24 passed temporary
regulations aimed at discouraging the trend. The temporary measures include:
incentives for increased setbacks in the side and rear yard areas of homes;
reduced maximum heights for single-family homes, and a five percent decrease in
the permitted floor area, which can be earned back where the design of the home
results in a less massive home. Under the interim measures, the Board of
Architects will have the authority to require changes to reduce massing of a
new home or additions to an existing home. These temporary zoning laws will
remain in effect through Dec. 31, or until the new Zoning Code, which is now
being rewritten, is adopted. The interim measures will continue to be discussed
at public hearings until all related issues have been worked out, and a final,
permanent solution to oversized homes will eventually be included in the new
Zoning Code. For more information, call the Planning Department at
305-460-5211.
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City Sets Museum Garage Rates, Coupon
Available
>>>
Two months ago today, the City opened the beautiful new Museum Parking Garage,
home to more than 600 parking spaces in a secured environment. The
Mediterranean-style, eight-story building is in the 200 block of Aragon Avenue,
just blocks away from the popular shops and eateries in the downtown Gables.
After a promotional period where parking was free, the City has now set the
rates for parking at the garage. Short-term parking is available at $1 per hour
for the first four hours, and $2 per hour for the second four hours, up to a
maximum rate of $12 per day. A customer validation program is also available
for up to two hours. Also, look for a validation coupon for up to two hours of
free parking on the back page of the Spring 2005 edition of "City Beautiful
News," the award-winning printed newsletter of Coral Gables. For more
information on monthly permits or the customer validation program, call the
Parking Department at 305-460-5540.
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New Public Hearings Scheduled for
Zoning Code Rewrite
>>>
Citizens and other interested parties, come down to City Hall and become part
of the future of Coral Gables. The rewrite of the Coral Gables Zoning Code -
the laws that govern development and virtually every aspect of City planning -
is well underway, but new public hearings have been scheduled and City leaders
are asking for your input. Here are the dates: June 15, July 20, August 10 and
August 23. All meetings, except on Aug. 10 and 23rd, are at 6 p.m. at the City
Commission Chambers at City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. The August meetings are at
9 a.m. The final version of the new Zoning Code is expected to go before City
Commissioners for their consideration during regularly-scheduled Commission
meetings in September and October. To see staff reports, new Zoning Code
provisions, public comments, maps and minutes of prior meetings online,
click here. Paper copies of these documents are also available at the
Planning Department at City Hall. For more information, call the Planning
Department at 305-460-5211.
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Have a Great Summer at the Youth
Center
>>>
Bring the kids to the Coral Gables Youth Center for a summer filled with
exciting play and learning opportunities. Here are some of the many offerings
in our summer camp lineup this year: Club P.L.A.Y, with different themes and
fun activities each week; Summer Art Camp for the budding artist, and
Performing Arts Camp for the up-and-coming thespian. For the more
sports-oriented, baseball, T-ball, soccer, basketball, tennis and golf camps
are also offered. Swimming lessons are also available at the Venetian Pool.
There are plenty of activities for adults, too.
Click here for a look at the Youth Center Community Calendar, or drop
by the Youth Center at 405 University Dr. to get a copy of the "Summer Camp
Guide 2005." For more information, call 305-460-5600.
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Get Ready for Hurricane Season
>>>
Hurricane Season officially arrived today and will stick around through
November 30th. Whether there are storms on the horizon or not, the time to
prepare is now. Emergency Management experts recommend that families create a
"household hurricane action plan," check homes for loose rain gutters or other
structures that could become flying debris during a storm, and stock up on
batteries and other emergency supplies. Families should also be aware of the
flood zone designation and storm surge histories in the area. Miami-Dade County
recommends that all residents east of Ingraham Highway and Old Cutler Road
evacuate for hurricanes of Category 2 or greater. The City will post regular
updates throughout hurricane season on the City website at
www.coralgables.com and through e-News. For step-by-step instructions
on how to prepare for a hurricane, and what to do if one strikes,
click here. For more information, call Emergency Management at
305-460-5401.
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Congratulations to Gables High and
Principal Dr. Alex Martinez
>>>
Congratulations to our very own Coral Gables High School and its principal, Dr.
Alex Martinez, for recent honors. A few weeks ago, the school was named one of
the top 1,000 public high schools by Newsweek magazine. The magazine looked at
each school's efforts to offer a rigorous curriculum, such as Advanced
Placement and International Baccalaureate courses, to a large number of
students. These courses and the exams that accompany them are among the most
rigorous offered in this country and abroad. A 1999 U.S. Department of
Education study found that students who were exposed to these challenging
courses were more likely to graduate from college. Newsweek rated Gables High
and nine other Miami-Dade public high schools in the top 1,000. Principal
Martinez deserves kudos as well. He was named Principal of the Year for all
Miami-Dade public schools at the EDDIES (Education Awards for Exemplary
Service), held at the Radisson Hotel on May 11. Dr. Martinez was chosen among
more than 300 school principals for his exemplary service and dedication to the
teaching profession. The City is proud to have Dr. Martinez as a member of the
Coral Gables School and Community Relations Committee.
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Congratulations to Two Longtime
Gables Businesses
>>>
Congratulations to the owners of Jae's Jewelers on Miracle Mile and Coral
Gables Dry Cleaning on Minorca Avenue, recently honored by City Commissioners
for long-standing contributions to the Gables business community. Joe and
Jessica Lancaster, the third-generation family owners of Coral Gables Dry
Cleaning, recently celebrated the company's 75th anniversary. Long gone are the
days when drivers picked up orders in smart, white uniforms and bow ties, but
the Lancasters still pride themselves on offering personalized service. The
company still picks up orders four days a week throughout South Florida, and
promises that drivers will be there on time, every time. Bruce Hornik is the
second-generation family owner of Jae's Jewelers, which had humble beginnings
in downtown Miami as a watch repair shop. Today, Jae's sells fine jewelry and
buys and sells estate jewelry. Hornik also believes in personal service, and
has been known to deliver wedding bands at the altar if the bride and groom
find themselves in a pinch. Congratulations to the Lancaster and Hornik
families for continued success.
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CG Chamber of Commerce
Presents 2005 International Fiesta
>>>
Wear your guayaberas for hand-rolled cigars, food and drinks, and plenty of
poolside networking opportunities at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce's
2005 International Fiesta. The event is sponsored by the Hyatt Regency Coral
Gables, 50 Alhambra Plaza, and takes place beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday,
June 10th. Several bi-national chambers such as Asian-American,
Brazilian-American, Colombian-American, Swedish-American, Taiwan Trade Center
and Uruguayan-American Chambers of Commerce are participating. The cost for
members who RSVP by June 3rd is $25; after that it's $35 for members and
guests. Admission includes food and one complimentary cocktail. Attendees can
RSVP and register online at www.coralgableschamber.org. For more information
contact the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce at 305-446-1657.
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Gables Girls Take Soccer Championship by "Storm" >>>
Congratulations to the Coral Gables Storm Girls Under 12 Soccer Team, who
recently won three back-to-back championships and were honored by City
Commissioners for their accomplishments. The Storm Girls won the state
championship over Jenson Beach and St. Petersburg. The team won the prestigious
Region Cup tournament with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Jenson Beach in the
championship game, where 12 teams competed. The Storm Girls went on to win the
Florida United Girls Soccer Association (FLUGSA) league championship, which is
the premier girls' traveling league in South Florida. The Storm Girls finished
the regular season with an 11-2-1 record and won the FLUGSA playoffs with a
dramatic 2-1 overtime win against Cooper City in the semifinals, and a 2-0
victory over Port St. Lucie in the championship. The Storm Girls are the first
girls' soccer team from the Coral Gables Youth Center to win the FLUGSA league
championship, the Region Cup, and the state championship. The prestigious
Hackworth-Davis Memorial Cup awarded in the State Championship and the Storm
Girls' other trophies will be on display at the Youth Center for the rest of
the month.
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Traffic Watch
>>>
Construction on the Ponce de Leon Median Improvement Project continues, so stay
tuned for regular updates on possible traffic disruptions in every edition of
e-News. This first phase of the project covers improvements from Almeria Avenue
to Alcazar Avenue. Medians will be removed and no left turns will be allowed.
If you have any questions or concerns, drop us a note at
e-news@coralgables.com. The following traffic relief measures are being
implemented along Ponce:
>
The Trolley stops along Ponce at Valencia Avenue, Miracle Mile, Alhambra Avenue and Minorca
Avenue will be temporary suspended.
> The valet service adjacent to Houston's, at
the corner of Ponce and Miracle Mile, will be removed.
> Alleys perpendicular to Ponce and within the
boundaries of the construction will be monitored to make sure vehicles aren't
blocking the alleyways.
Here are other projects that may impact traffic:
> A sewer line is being installed on Ponce de
Leon Boulevard between Merrick Circle and Riviera Drive for a new development
at Riviera and Ponce. Most of the work is being done at night, but there will
be partial lane closures during the day.
> Paving and drainage work is underway at
Catalina Place, Angelo Avenue, Trascoro Avenue, Alegriano Avenue and Mendavia
Avenue.
> Expect traffic delays on Mendavia and
Alegriano Avenues, between Red Road and Santa Maria Avenue. Drainage and paving
improvements will be in progress until August.
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Cultural Events Roundup
>>>
The following is a list of upcoming events put on by recipients of the Coral
Gables Cultural Grant. Event schedules are subject to change, so please call
the organizations directly in advance of a show.
> June 2-26:
City Theatre, Summer Shorts 2005 - The 10th Anniversary Festival, at the Jerry Herman Ring
Theatre at the University of Miami, 1312 Miller Dr. For information, call
305-755-9401 or 305-365-5400 box office, or visit
www.citytheatre.com on the Web.
> June 2-26: Teatro Avante, XX International
Hispanic Theatre Festival. For information, call 305-445-8877 or visit
www.teatroavante.com on the Web.
> June 2-Aug. 25: Coral Gables Congregational
Church Community Arts Program, 2005 Summer Concert Series, seven concerts on
Thursday evenings, 8 p.m. at the Church, 3010 De Soto Blvd. For information,
call 305-448-7421 or visit
www.coralgablescongregational.org on the Web.
> June 7, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17: Fantasy Theatre
Factory, Cultural Series for Children and Families, "Cinderella: the Fractured
Fairy Tale," 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, 10901
Old Cutler Rd. Tickets are $6, which includes price of admission to the Garden.
Advance reservations requested. For information, call 305-284-8800 or visit
www.ftfshows.com/fieldtrips/index.htm on the Web.
> June 11: Miami Momentum Dance Company,
Children's Library Dance Series, World Premier Dance Performance at 11 a.m. at
the Coral Gables Branch Library, 3443 Segovia St. For information, call
305-442-8706.
> June 12: Miami Civic Music Association, Marika
Bournaki, piano, 4 p.m. concert at Maurice Gusman Concert Hall at the
University of Miami, 1314 Miller Dr. For information, call 305-667-9905.
> June 12:
The Unconservatory, Second Sunday Soirées, community concert series. Outstanding Students
Concert, top students from throughout Miami-Dade will perform at 4 p.m. at
Allegro Music, 4537 Ponce De Leon Blvd., admission is free. For information,
call 786-303-5397, or visit
www.unconservatory.org/ssscoralgables on the Web.
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