Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2005
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
CONTENTS:
Update on Post-Hurricane Cleanup
Efforts
Coral Gables Rescue Team
Returns from Gulf Coast
Open Letter
to Residents on Hurricane Preparedness
Commissioners Approve 2005-06 Budget
80th Anniversary Spotlight: Call for Ghost
Stories
Enjoy Scary Art, Yummy Treats
at Halloween Contest
Seniors Invited
to Visit the Youth Center for “Tea & Talk”
Get Fit with Weight Watchers “At Work”
Program
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage
Month
Get Halloween Costumes at the
Actors’ Playhouse
Traffic
Watch
Cultural Events
Roundup
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
Update on
Post-Hurricane Cleanup Efforts >>> On Monday, Sept. 26, clean-up
crews contracted by the City of Coral Gables began their third and final
sweep through all City streets to collect any tree debris left over from
Hurricane Katrina. Any new debris resulting from Rita must be placed on
the City right-of-way for collection at this time. Residents are also
asked not to mix household refuse with tree debris. Because post-Katrina
clean-up efforts took an immense amount of resources, City crews were
collecting household refuse on a limited schedule. However, the normal
schedule for collection of combined clean yard waste and household refuse
(trash piles) resumed on Monday, Oct. 3. Any residents with outstanding
issues involving City-owned trees that fell on private property should
report these immediately by calling 305-460-5131. With the help of
contracted clean-up crews, your local government has collected more than
200,000 cubic yards of post-hurricane debris. The City thanks all
residents for their cooperation with these efforts.
BACK TO TOP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
Coral Gables
Rescue Team Returns from Gulf Coast >>> Coral Gables Firefighter
Michael Conners and his search dog, Hobbes, returned home on Wednesday,
Sept. 28, after a 13-day FEMA deployment in New Orleans. Firefighter
Conners and his canine partner joined the Florida Task Force 1 team on
search and rescue missions in the twice-flooded Lower Ninth Ward section
of New Orleans after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. During their deployment,
the team searched over 5,000 commercial and residential buildings, with
Conners and Hobbes conducting more than 500 of these searches. Despite
working 10-hour shifts daily in 95-degree weather, Conners said, “I would
be willing to return to assist our neighbors at a moment’s notice.”
Members of the press interested in interviewing Michael Conners should
contact Division Chief Hope Gibbs at 305-441-5751.
BACK TO TOP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
Open Letter to
Residents on Hurricane Preparedness >>> The following message is
from City Manager David L. Brown to all residents of the City of Coral
Gables:
Last year, Hurricanes Charley,
Frances, Ivan and Jeanne taught us the importance of being prepared in
order to protect our homes and families from these powerful acts of
Nature.
Just a few weeks ago, Hurricane
Katrina swept through South Florida, unexpectedly hitting the City of
Coral Gables hard. Many trees were toppled and many homes were left
without electrical power for days. Not too far behind, Hurricane Rita came
along, hitting our area only as a Tropical Storm, but inflicting major
damage to neighboring states.
For
Floridians, hurricanes are a fact of life. Every year during hurricane
season, residents must remain ever-vigilant to anticipate and be ready for
the powerful forces of Mother Nature. Your local government has extensive
disaster recovery plans and personnel in place to spring into action in
the event of any emergency. But as responsible citizens, you too must take
personal actions to prepare for natural or man-made
threats.
With Hurricane Katrina, the
City of Coral Gables was inundated with calls for service from stranded
residents less than 24 hours after the storm hit our area. With this in
mind, we send this message to assist you with your emergency preparation
plans and to emphasize their importance.
All City of Coral Gables residents should prepare to survive at least
three days without help, should a disaster strike. Your local government
will be working non-stop to open arterial and secondary roads, begin
damage assessment and the long process of debris removal. However, it may
take several days before vital services are restored and roadways are
cleared.
Make sure you have all the
supplies necessary to be on your own for at least 72 hours without
electricity, telephone, cable, water, gas, ice, medicines, or other modern
conveniences. Visit the Coral Gables website at www.coralgables.com for an
excellent list of supplies you should have on hand in case of emergencies.
If these supplies are purchased while the storm approaches, it will be too
late.
The City of Coral Gables maintains
a nationally recognized Emergency Management Program and pledges to work
side-by-side with all residents to restore the City to normalcy following
any type of emergency. Please plan ahead and assist your local government
in ensuring the safety and well-being of your families and of the
community. David L. Brown, City Manager.
BACK TO TOP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Commissioners Approve 2005-06
Budget >>>
On Tuesday, Sept. 27, Coral Gables Commissioners approved next year’s
budget, which goes into effect on Oct. 1. During this and the prior budget
hearings, City Manager David L. Brown recapped last year’s
accomplishments: the opening of the new Museum Parking Garage, the
reopening of the historic Merrick House, the Pay by Cellphone Parking
program, and many others. On the horizon for next year are several capital
improvement projects, including replacement of the roof at Fire Station
No. 3 on Old Cutler Road, improvements to roadways, and improvements to
the sanitary sewer and storm water drainage
systems.
The new budget includes a slight
increase to the property tax rate, from the current 5.990 to 6.150. For a
resident owning a home assessed at an average value of $479,799, which
includes a $25,000 Homestead Exemption, the new tax rate would translate
to an extra $73 a year in property taxes. This provides an additional $1.6
million in revenues for an approximate 2005-06 budget of $127
million.
Next year’s budget supports a
full-service municipality with nationally recognized Fire, Building &
Zoning, Police, Parks & Recreation, Procurement, Finance and
Automotive Departments, as well as an award-winning Communications
Division. The new budget also addresses the unexpected costs of cleanup
after Hurricane Katrina and Tropical Storm Rita, for which only 75 percent
is expected in reimbursement from
FEMA.
As part of the City’s commitment to
its employees — the people who deliver Coral Gables’ exceptional services
every day — the 2005-06 budget follows the independent actuary’s
recommendation to reduce the investment assumption rate from 8.75 to 7.75
percent of the City’s required annual pension contribution which requires
an additional $1.5 million in funding to the plan.
In staffing, the new budget funds 857
positions, only two more since 1991, despite ever-increasing demands for
services and resources.
For every
property tax dollar collected, the City of Coral Gables receives only .27
cents to fund its operations. The remainder goes to the School Board (.38
cents), Miami-Dade County (.32 cents) and to the State and others (.3
cents). To watch this year’s annual budget video, “Coral Gables: An
Exceptional City,” click here.
For more information, call the Public Affairs Office at
305-460-5205.
BACK TO TOP
- - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
80th Anniversary Spotlight:
Call for Ghost Stories >>> 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, the City takes a
playful look at some of the ghost stories that have made their way into
local lore through the years. Here are a few for
starters:
While doing research for the
Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, a restored 60-year old movie
house, local writer Connie Crowther discovered that there have been
unusual happenings there.
An actor who
has stayed in the apartment next to the laundry room has reported hearing
the washers and dryers running during the night. The only person who has a
key to the laundry room, someone from the costume department, says she
doesn’t go in there in the middle of the night, and when staff members
check the laundry room the following morning, everything is undisturbed,
Crowther told e-News.
She also talked
about unexplained events in the technical booth and office of the Balcony
Theatre, which used to be the usher’s lounge when the Miracle Theatre was
a cinema. It seems that a sign that reads, “Safety Film Only Allowed in
The Area,” cannot be moved. Every time staff members try to move it,
strange things happen: the lights and sound will go out, then come back
only when the sign is put back in its place. To this day, the sign remains
on the wall.
A Coral Gables resident also shared this story, which she first heard
as a child:
A house near the Venetian
Pool was thought to be haunted. The original owner, a mother of two young
children, had died of cancer, so her heartbroken husband sold the house
and moved away with the children. When new homeowners moved in, they began
hearing strange noises. After researching the history of the house, they
found out about the young mother and decided to invite her then-grown
children and their families back to their former Coral Gables
home.
At the reunion, the group heard
inexplicable laughter, possibly from the young mother who was finally at
peace after seeing her children again, all grown up. Since then, no more
strange sounds have been heard.
Want to
hear more? Visit the Biltmore Hotel at 7 p.m. Thursdays when the Miami
Storytellers Guild presents “Biltmore Legends and Ghost Stories” next to
the fireplace in the main lobby. No reservations, just a little courage,
are required.
To submit your favorite
ghost story, send an e-mail message to e-news@coralgables.com, or call
the Public Affairs Office at 305-460-5205.
BACK TO TOP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
Enjoy Scary
Art, Yummy Treats at Halloween Contest >>> Attention children ages 5-12
years old: bring your creative talents to the Youth Center from 10 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, and take part in this year’s fun-filled
Halloween art contest. Decorate a ceramic coffin with the eeriest images
you can conjure up to scare the guests — and win the contest, of course.
Judging will be done by Youth Center Staff, and everyone will win, but
only the first, second and third prize winners will get to feast on a
candy-filled coffin. Moms and dads, call 305-460-5600 or visit the Youth
Center at 405 University Drive to register your young artists. Deadline is
Oct. 8 — no exceptions.
BACK TO
TOP
- - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
Seniors Invited to Visit the
Youth Center for “Tea & Talk” >>> Senior citizens, visit the
Youth Center at Noon on Friday, Oct. 14, for an afternoon of “Tea &
Talk,” courtesy of the Coral Gables Senior Citizens’ Advisory Board and
the City of Coral Gables. On the agenda is a discussion of Medicare Part D
Prescription Benefit Plans, led by pharmacist Carlos Rodriguez as the
guest speaker. After that, stay for a while and enjoy an afternoon of
games and prizes. The event is free and open to citizens ages 55 and
older. The Youth Center is located at 405 University Dr. Please call
305-460-5600 no later than Oct. 10 to RSVP.
BACK TO TOP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
Get Fit with
Weight Watchers “At Work” Program >>> Getting fit and learning
healthy eating habits is easy with the Coral Gables Weight Watchers "At
Work" program. Held at the War Memorial Youth Center from Noon to 1 p.m.
every Wednesday, the program helps people develop a healthy lifestyle by
covering nutrition, eating management skills, safe weight loss, how to fit
exercise into a busy schedule, and the effects of time pressure and stress
on eating habits. The program also helps participants stick to their goals
by offering tips on how to stay motivated. Weight Watchers “At Work” is a
12-week program that begins on Oct. 12 and is open to all members of the
public, whether Coral Gables residents or not. Fees are $137 for new
members and $121 for current program members or lifetime members over
goal. Seating is limited, so please reserve a spot with Dee Paris,
305-460-5461, by Monday, Oct. 10.
BACK
TO TOP
- -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage
Month >>> To
celebrate October as Hispanic Heritage Month, the Miami-Dade Public
Library System is offering a series of free programs throughout South
Florida, and the United States Postal Service is unveiling a new
commemorative stamp.
The library events
include art exhibits, author presentations, classic guitar and Flamenco
performances, as well as lectures and exciting children’s programs. From
Oct. 1-Dec. 10, the Coral Gables Branch Library at 3443 Segovia St. is
presenting an art exhibit titled, “Ramon Carulla in Black and White:
Recent Drawings.”
For a complete list of
events at all the branches, visit www.mdpls.org.The new commemorative
postage stamp, “Let’s Dance/Bailemos,” features dance themes depicted in
bright, tropical colors, and will be unveiled at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday,
Oct. 15, in the newly-renovated lobby of the Coral Gables Post Office at
251 Valencia Ave. For more information, call 305-443-7837.
BACK TO TOP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Get Halloween Costumes at the Actors’
Playhouse >>> Looking for a vintage-style
Halloween costume? Visit the Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280
Miracle Mile, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., when the theatre group will be
having a costume sale featuring costumes and props from past award-winning
performances including Return to the Forbidden Planet,
Isabelle and the Pretty-Ugly Spell, Das BBQ and others.
Full costumes, mostly for adults, include hats and accessories and are
priced between $5 and $250, cash only. All proceeds benefit Actors’
Playhouse, a non-profit organization. For more information, call
305-444-9293, Ext. 120.
BACK TO
TOP
- -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
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 project is expected to be completed in May, 2006. In the
meantime, the following measures continue to be implemented along
Ponce:
> 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 Boulevard and within the boundaries of the construction will
be monitored to make sure vehicles are not blocking the alleyways.
Here are Florida Department of Transportation projects that may impact
traffic in or near Coral Gables:
> A water
main and median are being installed along Le Jeune Road, from Southwest
3rd Street to Northwest 3rd Street, requiring 24-hour inside lane closures
both northbound and southbound.
> Water
main laterals, milling and resurfacing on Le Jeune Road, from Southwest
8th Street to Northwest 11th Street, require night-time lane closures from
9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
> One northbound lane
at 2695 Le Jeune Road continues to be closed weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30
p.m. through Nov. 21 due to construction.
> The northbound lane on Red Road at Albenga Avenue
continues to be closed weeknights from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. through Oct. 7
while Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer crews perform utility work.
Flagging crews are onsite to direct traffic.
BACK TO TOP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cultural Events Roundup >>> The following cultural events were announced recently. Dates and times may change, so please call ahead of time. For a complete list of current and upcoming events in Coral Gables, click here.
> Sept. 17-Nov. 13: “Edward Weston: Life Work,”an exhibition of 100 images from the five-decade career of one of the most influential American photographers of the 20th Century, at the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, 1301 Stanford Drive. For information, call 305-284-3535 or visit www.miami.edu/lowe on the Web.
> Sept. 17-Nov. 13: “Apocalypse Then: Images of Destruction, Prophecy and Judgment from Durer to the 20th Century,” an exhibition of selected works of art inspired by apocalyptic writing or thought during the past 2,000 years, at the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, 1301 Stanford Drive. For information, call 305-284-3535 or visit www.miami.edu/lowe on the Web.
> Oct. 5-19: The following events are part of “Festival Miami 2005,” presented by the University of Miami Frost School of Music. Unless otherwise noted, all performances take place at the Maurice Gusman Concert Hall, 1314 Miller Drive. Call 305-284-4940 for more information.
> Oct. 5: Frost School of Music faculty composers, 8 p.m., free admission.
> Oct. 6: Bergonzi String Quartet, 8 p.m., $15 adult; $10 senior; $8 student.
> Oct. 8: “Bossa Nova Forever,” Antonio Adolfo, piano, with daughter Carol Saboya, 8 p.m., $25 adult; $20 senior; $10 student.
> Oct. 9: “The Grand Dames of Broadway,” Karen Morrow and Susan Egan perform Broadway favorites, 4 p.m., $25 adult; $20 senior; $10 student.
> Oct. 10-11: Emerson String Quartet, winner of six Grammy Awards and three Gramophone Magazine Awards, Roberto and Andres Diaz, guest artists, 8 p.m., $30 adult; $25 senior; $10 student.
> Oct. 14: “Boleros Hallados,” Roberto Poveda, Aymee Nuviola, Alex Berti, Raul Murciano and Alfredo Triff perform mix of Afro-Cuban, jazz and R&B, 8 p.m., $20 adult; $15 senior; $10 student.
> Oct. 15: Jon Secada in Concert, joins Frost School of Music Jazz Vocal I Ensemble to perform jazz and Latin music, 8 p.m., $25 adult; $20 senior; $10 student.
> Oct. 17: “Music of our Time: Emerging Young Composers,” original music by Frost School of Music composition students, at the Victor E. Clarke Recital Hall, 8 p.m., free admission.
> Oct. 19: Frost Chamber Players, perform works by French and German composers from the Romantic and Contemporary eras, 8 p.m., $15 adult; $10 senior; $8 student.
> Oct. 20: “Flamenco!” The American Friends of Flamenco Troupe perform this popular Spanish dance form, 8 p.m., $25 adult; $20 senior; $10 student.
BACK TO TOP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For e-News en español, click here.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -