City Beautiful e-News

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

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CONTENTS:
Celebrate Fourth Of July At Biltmore
Most Coral Gables Public Schools Get High Grade
City Attorney Named Legal Leader
Coral Gables Takes Gold In The “Best Of” For Children
Emergency Personnel Discuss Enhancements To Hurricane Operations
Hurricane Survival: Seniors And Special Needs Residents Must Prepare
Coco Plum Woman’s Club Listed In National Historic Registry
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden To Keep A Piece Of Chihuly
Coral Gables: City Beautiful And Premier Soccer City
Read A Book This Summer
Traffic Watch
Cultural Roundup

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Celebrate Fourth Of July At Biltmore  >>>  Celebrate Independence Day in Coral Gables style: a whole day of fun activities are planned including golf and tennis tournaments, carnival rides for children, live symphonic music, and a spectacular fireworks show. The Firecracker Open Golf Tournament at the Biltmore Golf Course begins with a 7 a. m. check-in. Then the Stars and Stripes Doubles Tennis Tournament takes place at the William H. Kerdyk Biltmore Tennis Center with an 8:30 a. m. check-in. The carnival games and rides begin at 5 p.m. followed by live music from the Greater Miami Symphonic Band at 7 p.m. The best is saved for last at 9 p.m. when the night sky above the Biltmore Hotel will be illuminated by a colorful fireworks extravaganza lasting almost 30 minutes. More than 30,000 people are expected to join the City in the celebration. The event is open to the public. Free parking is available at any of the City’s Parking Garages near Miracle Mile and Ponce de Leon Boulevard or at the Coral Gables Youth Center. Special shuttle buses will make frequent stops to pick up people starting at 4 p.m.For information on the event, contact the City of Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5620. The Biltmore Hotel has special Fourth of July accommodations to mark the holiday. To find out more on this, call 305-445-8066.
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Most Coral Gables Public Schools Get High Grade  >>>  The state-issued grades for public schools were announced last week, with the City of Coral Gables educational institutions receiving mostly an “A” for good performance. Receiving the top grade were Coral Gables Elementary, George W. Carver Elementary, George Washington Carver Middle School, Henry S. West Laboratory School, and Ponce de Leon Middle School which made a remarkable improvement from last year’s grade as a “C” school. The only public school in the City receiving a “C” grade was Coral Gables High. The A-through-F grades are based entirely on Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test scores.  This year, the City of Coral Gables established a Compact Agreement with Miami-Dade County Public Schools to improve the level of education of Coral Gables students. An important pledge of both organizations was to ensure that no school in the City of Coral Gables has a school accountability grade lower than a “B.” Congratulations to all the students, teachers and principals of our proud top schools in Coral Gables and City leaders are hoping that next year all schools are part of the City’s “A” team. For more information, contact the Coral Gables Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.
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City Attorney Named Legal Leader  >>>  Coral Gables City Attorney Elizabeth M. Hernandez has been selected as a Florida Legal Elite in Florida Trend magazine’s upcoming special report. The list is comprised of the state’s top attorneys held in the highest regards by peers. This is the third year in a row Hernandez has received the recognition. The list includes attorneys in private practice as well as prosecutors, in-house counsel, public service attorneys and law school professors who represent the top 1.7 percent of all Florida Bar members. Hernandez has served as Coral Gables City Attorney since 1995 and is widely considered a top government lawyer in Florida. As Chief Legal Officer for the City, Hernandez is responsible for handling all legal claims and suits involving the municipality and for advising the City Commission, Administration and various boards. The Florida Legal Elite report in Florida Trend magazine will hit newsstands in July. Hernandez was also listed as a 2006 Top Lawyer in the South Florida Legal Guide published this month. For more information, contact the Coral Gables Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.
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Coral Gables Takes Gold In The “Best Of” For Children  >>> It’s normal for people to have favorite restaurants and shops and as it turns out, this is common among kids as well. In the June edition of South Florida Parenting magazine, parents and kids recognize family friendly places in the 2006 Kids Crown Awards. Based on the results, Coral Gables is a top spot for kids. The following is a list of Places for Children voted “Best of” in Coral Gables:
> Best Art Museum for Families: Lowe Art Museum (Bronze), University of Miami, 1301 Stanford Drive
> Best Beach: Matheson Hammock Park Beach (Bronze), 9610 Old Cutler Road
> Best Live Entertainment: Actors’ Playhouse Theatre for Young Audiences (Gold), 280 Miracle Mile; Sunday Afternoons of Music (Silver), Gusman Hall at the University of Miami, 1314 Miller Drive; and the Coral Gables Youth Center Theater (Bronze), 405 University Drive
> Best Children’s Story Time: Barnes & Noble (Gold), 152 Miracle Mile
> Best Tutoring and Academic Classes: Huntington (Silver), 351 Minorca Avenue and IMACS St. Phillip’s Episcopal School (Bronze), 1142 Coral Way
> Best Educational Supply Store: Barnes & Noble (Silver), 152 Miracle Mile
> Best Fitness Center: Gold’s Gym (Bronze), 799 Galiano Street
> Best Kids Furniture: Bellini Baby and Teen Furniture (Gold), 50 Miracle; Pottery Barn Kids (Bronze), Village of Merrick Park, 350 San Lorenzo Avenue
> Best Kids Shoes: Stride Rite (Gold), Nordstrom, 4310 Ponce De Leon Boulevard
> Best Kid’s Specialty Clothing: Janie and Jack (Gold), and Cheeky Kids (Silver), Village of Merrick Park, 350 San Lorenzo Avenue.
Don’t miss the next e-News where we’ll list the top kid friendly dining spots in Coral Gables. For a complete list of all the categories and the winners click here.
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Emergency Personnel Discuss Enhancements To Hurricane Operations  >>>  Essential Coral Gables personnel met at the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in early June to review emergency preparedness and discuss improvements needed to brace this hurricane season. The important pow-wow addressed pertinent issues such as procuring additional generators to operate City facilities, to traffic training for intersection safety and fulfilling senior citizens special needs. Many of the proposed enhancements resulted from last year’s hurricane experience. Among the key changes are to secure a community radio station that will be used to communicate with citizens in case of power outage, as well as adding a total of 20 Neighborhood Information Centers (NICE) that will be staffed throughout the City to provide assistance to residents in need. For additional information, contact the City of Coral Gables Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.
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Hurricane Survival: Seniors And Special Needs Residents Must Prepare  >>>  In the wake of Hurricanes Wilma and Katrina, the City of Coral Gables received numerous calls from residents who were unprepared to be on their own for the first 72 hours after a hurricane. Seniors and people with special needs are extremely vulnerable during emergency situations and depend on assistance from others to ensure their well being. This makes it all the more imperative to make emergency plans that include letting loved ones and friends know where family members will ride out a storm, create a disaster supply kit and have a plan for any pets. Seniors with special dietary needs should also have a two-week supply of non-perishable food and prescription medication before the threat of a hurricane to avoid the shortages that occur when a hurricane is approaching. You should plan out and take time to practice what your evacuation route will be or find the safest place in your house to ride out the storm. If you need help evacuating, special needs residents can call the Emergency Evacuation Assistance Program ahead of time at 305-468-5900 or TDB 305-468-5402.  The City of Coral Gables Senior Services Division is ready and able to help the elderly before and after a storm. If you are a senior or know of someone in your neighborhood that could use assistance, please register with the City of Coral Gables Senior Services Division at 305-460-5401.
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Coco Plum Woman’s Club Listed In National Historic Registry  >>>  In an official ceremony held two weeks ago, the Coco Plum Woman’s Club, located at 1375 Sunset Drive, unveiled its National Historic Registry marker. The historic Mediterranean style club house was built in 1926 at an initial cost of $75,000. Incorporated a year after the City of Coral Gables was founded, the Coco Plum Woman’s Club has for decades given many contributions to this community. The club belongs to and supports the Dade County Federation of Woman’s Club and the Florida Federation of Woman’s Club. The organization has received many awards and commendations for donating yearly more than $10,000 to state and local organizations. Programs that this group has been involved with include the first mobile library in the state of Florida, and hosting special events such as the Fine Arts Festival, Jeweled Egg show, Coral Gables Crime Watch and others. Congratulations to the Coco Plum Woman’s Club for becoming part of Coral Gables history.
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Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden To Keep A Piece Of Chihuly  >>>  The famous and whimsical glass forms of Chihuly attracted more than 200,000 people to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, making this exhibit a runaway success. Now, all of the glass art works have been dismantled, packed and stored away ready for travel to another city for exhibition -all but one piece. Friends of Fairchild, a volunteer group, decided to purchase one of the Chihuly pieces on display inside the conservatory and raised $39,000 to fund the purchase. Friends of Fairchild formed a special 15-member committee to oversee the process which included placing cash donation boxes at the garden, contacting all 450 volunteers and asking for contributions to this cause to keep a piece of Chihuly at Fairchild. In six weeks Friends of Fairchild met the goal and now the exclusive Ikebana art piece will be permanently on display in the conservatory once a special landscaping for the piece is completed.  The glass art work "The Gilded Ikebana with Scarlet Stem and Blue Frog Foot" is part of a series Chihuly created after returning from Japan. Ikebana refers to the Japanese art form of flower arrangement. For more information, call Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden at 305-667-1651.
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Coral Gables: City Beautiful And Premier Soccer City  >>>  With the fever of the World Cup broiling up interest about all things soccer, Coral Gables is home to many local talented players you might see playing at international tournaments in a not too distant future. This year, the Gulliver Preparatory Boys Soccer team won the 2006 Florida High School Athletic Association 3A Championship. Gulliver Prep (28-2-4) captured its second consecutive Class A championship with a 3-1 victory over Tampa Catholic. Gulliver Prep is just one of the many successful soccer programs in the City. The Real Coral Gables Boys Under 13 Soccer Team from the Coral Gables Youth Center recently won one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world, “The Disney Memorial Day Tournament.” The Youth Center continues to offer year-round league play which allows players to develop outstanding soccer skills that eventually surface in the High School, Collegiate and Professional levels. If current trends persist, not only will Coral Gables be known as a premier soccer City in the USA, you might also cheer for local players in future World Cups some day. The Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center is located at 405 University Drive. For more information on activities, teams and membership information call 305-460-5600.
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Read A Book This Summer  >>>  There are dozens of summer camps operating in Coral Gables offering children outdoor activities and exercises to keep busy during the summer break. But keeping your child’s mind active is equally important. The Miami-Dade Public Library System is encouraging children to read during summer vacation through the annual Summer Reading Program. From now until July 15th, children who read a minimum of four hours a week and turn in a reading log, are eligible for a prize and will be entered into a grand drawing held at the end of the program. Children ages 18 and younger can register for the program at the Coral Gables Library located at 3443 Segovia Street. For more information call the library at 305-442-8706 or click here.
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Traffic Watch  >>>  The southbound corridor of Le Jeune Road from just north of Bird Road to just past Altara Avenue in Coral Gables will be closed.  Barrier walls will be placed on the west side of the median on Le Jeune Road for a lane shift of the southbound traffic to the northbound side with one lane in each direction. Watermain installation work will be performed along Le Jeune Road between Bird Road and Altara Avenue. The north entrance of the Coral Gables High School parking lot located on Le Jeune Road will be permanently closed while the work is being completed. The southernmost entrance to the high school parking lot will be open and accessible for all local school traffic.
> Be advised traffic backups will occur in this area so plan on adding a few extra minutes to your commute time or use an alternate route. The City of Coral Gables Police Department is fully aware of the situation of the backups being caused by the construction. Traffic officers in the area have been assigned to help relieve any traffic congestion that may occur. Officers are also on the look out for drivers speeding through neighborhoods trying to get around the construction and are helping to minimize all effects possible on neighboring streets.
> 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.
> The northbound corridor on Le Jeune Road will be closed from S.W. 9th Street to S.W. 14th Street. Barrier walls will be placed on the east side of the median on Le Jeune Road for a lane shift of the northbound traffic to the southbound side with one lane in each direction. Watermain installation work will be performed along Le Jeune Road between SW 9th Street and SW 14th Street. Detour signs and access for local traffic from Le Jeune Road to the east side streets will be posted at various locations. Direct access to and from Le Jeune Road will be provided for S.W. 13th Terrace and S.W. 13th Street. Local traffic on side streets of SW 9th Street through SW 15th Street, except SW 11th Street will have access to area via S.W. 41st Avenue. Access for local traffic only for S.W. 11th Street will be provided through the work zone.
> Single lane closures will occur at the south sideof Bird Road at the intersection of Palmarito Street from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. while workers perform drainage installations. The work is scheduled to take one more week. For more information on any of the above listed projects, please contact Carlos Sarmiento at 305-499-2410.
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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.

June 28: The Consulate of Guatemala and the Office of the Trade Commissioner of Guatemala, in cooperation with the City of Coral Gables International Affairs Council, present the launching of Lex Cargo’s “Her Name Is Lola” as a plastic artist featuring his paintings, at the Hotel St. Michel, 162 Alcazar Avenue, on Wednesday, June 28, at 6 p.m.  Funds from the sale of the artwork will be donated to the Lions Club Miami Florida to support the worthy cause work in La Antigua, Guatemala, sister city of Coral Gables.

June 29: Jazz music will fill Coral Gables when two-time Grammy Award nominated singer Karrin Allyson comes into town. Allyson will perform on Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 De Soto Boulevard, as part of its Summer Concert Series. Admission is $25. Call 305-448-7421 or click here for more information.

Through July 2: Take part in City Theatre’s 11th season of Summer Shorts. The original short plays were divided into two, 2-hour programs: Program A which will show Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., and Program B with performances on Fridays June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 8:30 p.m., and Sundays at 5:30 p.m. Summer Shorts is not suitable for children. All performances will be held at the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre at the University of Miami at 1312 Miller Drive. Tickets are $35 and available by phone at 305-365-5400 or click here.

Through July 29: Calling all children and the young at heart. The Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre presents No Dogs Allowed, a musical adapted from the award winning children’s book. The show celebrates family life and the quirky events that happen during a family outing. The story was written by Sonia Manzano who is best known as "Maria of Sesame Street." Catch this whimsical performance every Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Actors’ Playhouse Theatre at 280 Miracle Mile. Admission is $12. Call 305-444-9293 for more information.

June 24-July 23: GableStage at the Biltmore Hotel presents the Florida Premiere of "This is How It Goes," a play by Neil LaBute about an interracial love triangle in a small town in America, which sets off a fierce drama of manipulation, exploitation, infidelity, and passion. Performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. On weekdays tickets are $35, and $40 for Saturday performances. For more information, call 305-445-1119 or click here.

July 8-9: Taste and celebrate the tropics with Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden’s 14th Annual International Mango Festival. Let your eyes and taste buds wander through the wide selection of mangos. The festival will feature mango workshops that will include tips on growing, pruning and preserving the fruit tree and sharing favorite recipes with mango as the main ingredient. You will also be able to sample mango inspired cuisines created by chefs of the region. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is located at 10901 Old Cutler Road. Enjoy the festival from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at a cost of $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for children age 6 and older. For more information call 305-667-1651.
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