Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2005
CONTENTS:Important Information About Tropical Storm Rita
Gables Earns National Communications Awards
Mayor of Granada to Visit Coral Gables
City Celebrates Millionth Trolley Rider
Dali Comes to the City Beautiful
New Hearings Scheduled for Zoning Code Rewrite
Development Department Moves to New Location
80th Anniversary Spotlight: Long-Standing Businesses
Discover Music Early in Life
Traffic Watch
Cultural Events Roundup
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Important Information About Tropical Storm Rita >>> As Tropical Storm Rita edged closer to the east coast of Florida on Monday, Sept. 19, the National Hurricane Center issued a hurricane warning for southeast Florida, including Coral Gables. For the remainder of the day Monday, all City of Coral Gables offices operated on a normal schedule, and emergency response personnel began to assemble once again in the Emergency Operations Center at the Police Department to prepare for a possible hurricane.
The City would like to assure residents that, even though clean-up after Katrina isn’t complete, we are prepared to respond quickly if another storm comes our way. Just like before Hurricane Katrina hit, the City is already busy lining up people and resources to address any damage Rita leaves in her wake.
In case of a storm emergency, the City’s hotline numbers are 305-460-5401 and 305-460-5402. For information in Spanish, the number to call is 305-460-5491. Please also tune in to Coral Gables TV for updates on emergency situations. In case of power and cable outages, the City of Coral Gables has established network partners with NBC 6 and Telemundo Channel 51. Residents are also encouraged to listen to NBC 6 Channel 6 on 87.7 FM.
As the City prepares for whatever Rita may bring our way, we ask that residents do the same. Please read on for important emergency preparedness tips and notices about City services:
> Action Plan: All residents should prepare their personal emergency action plans by securing homes, documents, electronics and other valuables against wind and water. Please store enough water, non-perishable foods, medicines, and ice for you to be on your own for 72 hours.
> Catch Basins: Although City employees are checking catch basins ahead of time, Gables residents are asked to ensure that the catch basins in their neighborhoods are not blocked by leaves or trash prior to any storm.
> Coral Gables Trolley: The Coral Gables Trolley is operating on a normal schedule at this time and will continue to operate in cooperation with Miami-Dade County Transit. For information, call 305-460-5070.
> Residents with Special Needs: Coral Gables residents with special needs should call the Fire-Rescue Department at 305-460-5588.
> Garbage pickup and recycling collection for the Tuesday route will be collected today, depending on weather conditions. City crews continue to pick up debris from Hurricane Katrina and now from Tropical Storm Rita.
> Parking garages: Parking meter enforcement was suspended on Monday until further notice. City parking garages are open free of charge to the public for more protected parking, with the exception of the parking garage located immediately behind the Police and Fire Station, where all spaces are needed for emergency vehicles.
> Reporting power outages: To report power outages in your neighborhood, call Florida Power & Light at 1-800-4-OUTAGE (468-8243).
> Four-way stops at downed traffic lights: While it isn’t advisable to drive immediately after a storm, if you need to be on the road, please remember to treat any downed traffic lights as a four-way stop. Do not attempt to speed through downed traffic lights, as many accidents occur at these intersections. Emergencies: The City asks all residents to stay at home during any storm. After the storm, please avoid standing water because of electrical hazards from downed power lines. For emergencies, please call 9-1-1. For non-emergencies, please call the Police Department at 305-442-1600.
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Gables Earns National Communications Awards >>>
For the second year in a row, the City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA) has recognized Coral Gables for the way it communicates with the public. At the conclusion of this year’s Savvy Awards competition, the 3CMA honored the City with the Silver Circle Award for its electronic newsletter, City Beautiful e-News. The Silver Circle Award was the top prize awarded in the Communication Technology-External Newsletter category of the competition.
In the Printed Publications-Annual Report category, Coral Gables won the Award of Excellence for its Annual Report, a glossy, full-color publication mailed directly to all residents each year. In their comments, judges said this about the Annual Report: “Extremely well designed and great use of photos. Read it from cover to cover, and think residents would do the same.”
Last year, the City received the 2004 Savvy Awards for Best Newsletter - Silver Circle, for the printed version of the City Beautiful News, and Best Marketing Campaign – Award of Excellence, for the Coral Gables Trolley Marketing campaign. The Savvy Awards is a national competition held by the 3CMA in collaboration with the National League of Cities to promote best practices in the government communications industry. For more information, call the Coral Gables Public Affairs Office at 305-460-5205. BACK TO TOP
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Mayor of Granada to Visit Coral Gables >>> Next month, the City Beautiful will play host to an official delegation from Granada, Spain, one of Coral Gables’ Sister Cities. The visit is from Oct. 2-5 and includes a welcoming ceremony at 9:30 a.m., Oct. 3, at City Hall, followed by a City tour at 11 a.m., and a Granada Statue groundbreaking ceremony at 5100 Granada Blvd. at Noon. After lunch, the dignitaries will hold business meetings from 2:30-5 p.m. at the Country Club of Coral Gables with the Spain/American Chamber of Commerce, the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, Camacol, Enterprise Florida, the University of Miami, and other local organizations looking to establish closer cultural and economic ties with this important Sister City.The visit is in keeping with the vision of City founder George Merrick, who dreamed that Coral Gables would one day have strong international ties and serve as a gateway to the Americas. Coral Gables’ first Sister City relationship was established with Cartagena, Colombia, in 1957. Granada, Spain, became a Sister City in 1992. Coral Gables has also forged Sister City relationships with Aix-en-Provence, France, La Antigua, Guatemala, Province of Pisa, Italy, and Quito, Ecuador. For more information, call the Public Affairs Office at 305-460-5205.
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City Celebrates Millionth Trolley Rider >>>
Two unsuspecting trolley passengers, Donna Fries and George Rodriguez, stepped out of Coral Gables Trolley #3 at Ponce De Leon Boulevard and Miracle Mile Friday afternoon and found themselves the center of attention, with a drum roll in the background, video and still cameras flashing, and a throng of expectant trolley fans who had gathered around to find out who the millionth rider would be.
As the millionth trolley rider, Ms. Fries received a winner’s basket courtesy of the City of Coral Gables, plus a $150 gift certificate to shop in Downtown Coral Gables, and another $150 to shop at the Village of Merrick Park. Other surprises tucked into her beautiful floral basket were gourmet cheeses and desserts, a brunch for four at the Biltmore Hotel, free ice cream for a year from Cold Stone Creamery, and gifts from Jamba Juice, The Guilded Hand, Tarpon Bend and Books and Books. George Rodriguez was honored as the “millionth and one” passenger, and he received a fancy radio courtesy of Smart Solutions 511, and free movie tickets courtesy of South Florida Commuter Services. “Now that the gas prices are so high, this is the best thing that ever happened,” said Rodriguez of the Coral Gables Trolleys, whose popularity has skyrocketed since they were introduced less than two years ago. The outdoor celebration was held from Noon to 2 p.m. Friday, with gifts, music and free food for all Trolley fans.
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Dali Comes to the City Beautiful >>> A fitting backdrop to the wondrous beauty of Salvador Dalí’s paintings and sculptures, Coral Gables will play host to a an exhibit of 34 sculptures by the flamboyant Spanish surrealist artist at the Village of Merrick Park through April, 2006. Ten of the 34 sculptures are monumental bronzes, and the entire exhibit is valued at more than $12 million. The free exhibit of Dalí's iconic pieces is presented by ART+ Gallery, located at Village of Merrick Park, 358 Lorenzo Ave., in the heart of Coral Gables. The outdoor sculptures will be on display throughout the lush, green setting of the upscale retail complex. Inside the gallery, an additional selection of works will complement the outdoor pieces. An eccentric painter and sometime writer, sculptor and experimental filmmaker, Salvador Dalí was probably the greatest surrealist artist, using bizarre dream imagery to create unforgettable and unmistakable landscapes of his inner world. For more information on the Dalí exhibition in Coral Gables, call Art+ Gallery at 786-497-1111, or visit www.artplusgallery.com on the Web.
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New Hearings Scheduled for Zoning Code Rewrite >>> Citizens and other interested parties, there is still time to participate in the rewrite of the Coral Gables Zoning Code – the set of laws that govern development and virtually every aspect of City planning. Here are updates to the meeting schedule last published:
> The Sept. 21 and 28 Planning and Zoning Board meetings have been postponed.
> Coral Gables Commissioners will hold a workshop with City planners at 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 5 at the Biltmore Hotel to discuss the progress of the rewrite. Although it is a public meeting, City Officials will not entertain public comment at that time.
> All interested parties are invited to attend the following public hearings on the Zoning Code rewrite: Oct. 19, Nov. 9 and Dec. 14
Except for the Oct. 5 workshop, all meetings will be held at 6 p.m. in the City Commission Chambers at City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. The public is invited to send written comments on the Zoning Code to rewritecomments@coralgables.com. All staff reports, new Zoning Code provisions, maps, public comments, and meeting minutes can be found online at www.coralgables.com, or by calling the Coral Gables Planning Department at 305-460-5211.
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Development Department Moves to New Location >>> The Coral Gables Development Department has moved from 2327 Salzedo St. to its new home at 95 Merrick Way. Telephone and fax numbers will remain the same. For more information, call the Department at 305-460-5311.
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80th Anniversary Spotlight: Long-Standing Businesses >>> Over the next few months, the City of Coral Gables will be celebrating Eight Decades of Greatness by highlighting the people and places that have helped make Coral Gables one of the top cities in the United States. This month, Coral Gables celebrates some of its long-standing businesses. As some may know, Miracle Mile got its name in 1944 from public relations executive George Zain and his wife, Rebyl, who wanted to emulate other successful shopping districts around the country. Not long after, the Woolworth Company and other large retailers began to build major outlets in the City. Although Miracle Mile and the downtown area have experienced a modern revival with the arrival of Houston's, Barnes & Noble, Starbucks, and other icons of modern times, many of the area's small businesses have remained in the City for decades. Among them: Coral Gables Dry Cleaning, since 1930; LaSalle Cleaners, since 1938; Jae's Jewelers, since 1945; Carroll's Jewelers, since 1947; Rudma Picture Company, since 1948; Stanleigh's bridal and Murnor Studio, since 1952; Fit Hair & Body Care, since 1955, and Gables Coin & Stamp Shop, since 1961. The City congratulates these businesses for their longevity and ongoing commitment to their customers.
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Discover Music Early in Life >>> The sound of music is even more beautiful when it’s created by children together with their families. Come down to the Coral Gables Youth Center tonight for the start of a new, 10-week program called “Music Together,” where children under age four are encouraged to discover music in their own way through songs, dance, rhythmic activities and by exploring musical instruments. The class is held once a week at 9:30 or 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, and lasts 45 minutes. Tuition for the 10-week Fall semester is $105 for Youth Center members; $140 for Coral Gables residents, and $175 for everyone else. Families enrolling more than one child will receive a discount, and infants under eight months can attend free with a registered sibling. A separate $35 materials fee covers a CD, cassette tape and other items used in the class. For more information, call Ashlee Cramer at 305-532-2253 or visit www.musictogether.com on the Web.
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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. The following measures continue to be implemented along Ponce due to construction:
> Sidewalk construction continues on the intersections along the west side of Ponce, from Alcazar Avenue heading south.
> The four traffic lanes on Ponce de Leon Boulevard continue to be shifted to the east.
> Police are ticketing people who illegally park inside the construction areas.
> Left turns are allowed only at the Miracle Mile and Alhambra Circle intersections of Ponce de Leon Boulevard.
> Left turns at the remaining intersections continue to be restricted, and police continue to enforce the "No Left Turn" signs.
> The Trolley stops along Ponce de Leon Boulevard at Valencia Avenue, Miracle Mile, Alhambra Circle and Minorca Avenue have been temporarily suspended.
> The valet service adjacent to Houston's, at the corner of Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Miracle Mile, has been moved to Miracle Mile.
> Alleys perpendicular to Ponce de Leon and within the boundaries of the construction will be monitored to make sure vehicles are not blocking the alleyways.
Here are other projects or events that may impact traffic:
> A sewer line is being installed on Ponce de Leon, between Merrick Circle and Riviera Drive, for a new development at Riviera Drive and Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Most of the work is being completed at night, but there will be partial lane closures during the day.
> Commercebank will be holding a 25th Anniversary street party from Noon to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30. Surrounding streets will be barricaded in connection with the event.
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Cultural Events Roundup >>> Here are some cultural events that were announced recently. Dates and time may change, so please call ahead of time. For a complete list of current and upcoming events in Coral Gables, click here.
>Sept. 9-Oct. 9: Madagascar, regional premiere, at the New Theatre, 4120 Laguna St. For information, call 305-443-5909 or visit www.new-theatre.org on the Web.
> Sept. 25: Finding Mañana: A Memoir of a Cuban Exodus. Author Mirta Ojito discusses her memoir at 4 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 152 Miracle Mile. The event is free and open to the public. For information, call 305-446-8627.
> Oct. 1-Nov. 13: Grease, the longest running show on Broadway, at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile. For information, call 305-444-9293 or visit www.actorsplayhouse.org on the Web.
> Oct. 8: Ghost Stalker Two: A Psychic Medium Visits Europe’s Most Haunted Castles. Author and media personality Michelle Whitedove discusses her new book at 7:30 p.m. at Barnes & Noble, 152 Miracle Mile. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, call 305-446-8627.
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For e-News en español, click here.
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