Wednesday, December 14, 2005
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CONTENTS:Trash Collection Back on Schedule
City Recognizes Corporate Goodwill
Annual Report Updates Residents about City Programs
Holiday Greetings from the Parking Department
Find the Perfect Gift in Downtown Coral Gables
Toys Wanted for Needy Children
Winter Camps Offer Outdoor Fun
Forum to Discuss Government Technology Solutions
Don’t Miss Jr. Orange Bowl Festivities
Traffic Watch
Cultural Events Roundup
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Trash Collection Back on Schedule >>> The City of Coral Gables has resumed regular weekly trash collection of yard waste and household discards such as furniture, cardboard boxes and other items found around the home. All solid waste collection services in the City of Coral Gables — including garbage and recycling pick-up — are now back to normal operations.
City workers recently completed a final sweep through all neighborhoods, collecting any remaining tree debris generated by the recent storms. To date, more than 200,000 cubic yards of debris have been collected. Workers will continue to remove hanging limbs from trees throughout the City.
Also, the City is moving forward with the next phase of storm recovery: assessing the need for tree planting and restoration of sod along the rights-of-way. A plan for tree replacement and sod restoration will be announced in upcoming weeks, and will include opportunities for residents to upgrade the size of existing trees. For more information, call the Public Service Department at 305-460-5135.
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City Recognizes Corporate Goodwill >>> At yesterday’s City Commission Meeting, Coral Gables Commissioners presented certificates of appreciation to the following businesses that provided assistance and supplies during relief efforts after Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma: Chartwells, Coral Gables Baptist Church, Del Monte, Publix, Sunset Quickprint, and Winn-Dixie. The City is grateful for the generosity and community spirit exhibited by these exceptional corporate neighbors.
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Annual Report Updates Residents about City Programs >>> Following City Commission directives to increase public awareness and inform residents of recent accomplishments, the City of Coral Gables recently mailed the 2005 Annual Report to all residents. The glossy publication presents a year in review and compiles information about what has been done in the last fiscal year regarding downtown revitalization, neighborhood enhancement, parking and public transportation improvements, historic preservation, and public awareness and technology advances. It also commemorates the 80th Anniversary of the City of Coral Gables, featuring a center spread celebrating this important milestone. The total cost of this publication, including design, printing, and mailing for 13,000 copies was $21,079. The first Annual Report published by the City of Coral Gables last year was not only well received by residents, it also brought national recognition to the City Commission. The City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA), in its annual competition of who’s who in government communications, chose the City of Coral Gables Annual Report to receive the Savvy Award of Excellence. Comments from the judges noted that the City “got its money’s worth” with the design of this excellent piece. To request a free copy of the 2005 Annual Report, call the Public Affairs Office at 305-460-5392.
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Holiday Greetings from the Parking Department >>> To help celebrate this season of goodwill, the City of Coral Gables Parking Department is adding a one-hour grace period on expired meters all the way through Christmas. So if you lost track of time and see a note on your windshield, relax, it’s just a courtesy notice so you can stay a little longer looking for that perfect gift. Happy Holidays from the City of Coral Gables!
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Find the Perfect Gift in Downtown Coral Gables >>> Now that you know you have extra time on your parking meter, want to know what the hottest gift ideas are this year? Visit www.shopcoralgables.com and look through downtown Coral Gables’ Holiday Gift Guide. If you’re still undecided, a Downtown Coral Gables Gift Certificate can be used at any of more than 80 shops and restaurants in the City Beautiful. Best of all, they can be purchased online. Just click on the icon on the shopcoralgables.com home page. For more information, call 305-569-0311.
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Toys Wanted for Needy Children >>> If you would rather give than receive this holiday season, the Coral Gable Police Explorers and the Coral Gables Police Athletic League are conducting a toy drive this holiday season to benefit needy families in our community. Please help by dropping off a new, unwrapped toy in the box located on the first-floor main lobby of the Coral Gables Police Department, 2801 Salzedo St. For more information, call Det. Javier Bruzos of the Police Department’s Youth Resource Unit at 305-460-5637.
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Winter Camps Offer Outdoor Fun >>> The Coral Gables Youth Center and the Biltmore Tennis Center are offering soccer and tennis camps for children who want to have some fun in the sun while they are on break from school Dec. 19-30. The “Kixs 4 Kidz” Winter Camp offered by the Youth Center meets from 9 a.m. to Noon on Dec. 19-23 and Dec. 26-30 at Jaycee Park, 1230 Hardee Road, for soccer instruction, practice and age-appropriate games. Campers ages 4-12 will play in a fun, nurturing environment and will be encouraged to appreciate soccer values. Camp fee is $140. For more information, call Alex Sanchez at 786-226-7050 or e-mail him at coachalex@kixs4kidz.com. Visit www.kixs4kidz.com for more details.
The Biltmore Tennis Center is offering a tennis camp during the second half of the school winter break, Dec. 26-30, offering tennis practice, swimming and games. The camp runs in half-day or full-day sessions from 9:30 a.m. to Noon or 1:30-3:30 p.m. for morning or afternoon programs, or 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for the full-day program. Costs are $220 for the week for the full-day program, and $140 for the week for the half-day program. Single-day rates are available. Families who enroll more than one child will receive a discount. For more information, call 305-460-5360.
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Forum to Discuss Government Technology Solutions >>> The Coral Gables Office of the City Clerk, in conjunction with the Florida Institute of Government, has put together a forum for municipal clerks that will cover technology solutions for small, medium and rural-sized cities. The forum will be held at 5 p.m. this afternoon at the Coral Gables Country Club, 997 North Greenway Drive. The event is an outgrowth of the recent partnership between the City of Coral Gables and the John Scott Dailey Florida Institute of Government, a statewide institute established by the Florida Legislature and housed at Florida State University. Coral Gables was selected as the lead city in a shared knowledge and technology solutions project aimed at small, medium and rural-sized cities.
During the last few years, the Institute has been receiving an increasing number of requests for technology assistance, advice and support from public service agencies that lack the financial resources to develop technology on their own.
Coral Gables City Clerk Walter Foeman has already introduced some of these technology solutions in the City of Coral Gables to enhance existing document management systems.
The Institute's Technology Empowerment Center, using the City of Coral Gables as the lead municipal partner, will develop a Public Service Desktop that will offer a selection of technology software and services.
Once developed and proven, the program will be offered to local governments and other public service organizations at a reduced cost. For more information, call the Coral Gables City Clerk at 305-460-5208.
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Don’t Miss Jr. Orange Bowl Festivities >>> There are plenty of ways to celebrate “One Sun, Many Colors,” the theme of this year’s Jr. Orange Bowl International Youth Festival, which pays tribute to the youth of the world and the bonds of friendship they establish during the many events programmed around the Jr. Orange Bowl Parade on Dec. 30. Here is a round-up of upcoming events in Coral Gables:
> Dec. 14-16 and 17-23: International Tennis Championship. Held at the University of Miami Tennis Center, Biltmore Tennis Center, Tropical Park and Salvadore Park by age groups, this series of events is considered one of the most important junior tennis tournaments in the world. Many of today’s tennis stars, such as Chris Evert, Andre Agassi, Anna Kournikova and Monica Seles, participated in the Championship during their rise to fame. Qualifying draw is from Dec. 14-16 and main draw is from Dec. 17-23.
> Dec. 15-16, 26 and 27-30: International Golf Championship. Tomorrow’s golf stars will shine this year at the Biltmore Golf Course at a tournament that draws the best junior golfers from all over the world. Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia are just a few on the high-profile list of past participants. Qualifier is from Dec. 15-16; registration is on Dec. 26, and the tournament is from Dec. 27-30.
> Dec. 30: Jr. Orange Bowl Parade. Come to downtown Coral Gables at 7 p.m. Dec. 30 and soak in the sights and sounds of lively floats, giant balloons, marching bands and community groups, which together put on the greatest parade in South Florida this year. Seating along the parade route is free, but premium seating tickets may be purchased through the Jr. Orange Bowl Committee Office, 1390 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 2202, or at the ticket booth that will open on Dec. 22 at Merrick Park, across the street from City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way. For a complete lineup of this year’s events, or for more information, call 305-662-1210 or visit www.jrorangebowl.com on the Web.
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Traffic Watch >>> Construction on the Ponce de Leon Median Improvement Project is currently in the final stages of Phase Two. The following measures continue to be implemented:
> Sidewalk construction is almost complete on the intersections along the west side of Ponce de Leon Boulevard, from Alcazar Avenue heading south.
> Construction has moved to the east side of the Boulevard, moving south to north. Traffic has been shifted to the west side.
> Drainage construction on the east side is ongoing. Barricades have been installed along the east side of Ponce de Leon Boulevard, from Almeria to Alcazar Avenue, though access to businesses is still available.
> 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 area will be monitored to make sure vehicles are not blocking the alleyways.
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Cultural Events Roundup >>> The following cultural events are coming up. Please call ahead to confirm, as dates and times may change. For a complete list of current and upcoming events in Coral Gables, click here.
> Nov. 17-Dec. 17: Puss-in-Boots, book by Earl Maulding and music by Scott Morlock, performed by Theater for Young Audiences, Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre, 280 Miracle Mile, 305-444-9293. Performances are at 11 a.m. Saturdays. Tickets are $12 for children and adults. The play returns for a second run Jan. 11-Feb. 11. For more information, visit www.actorsplayhouse.org on the Web.
> Dec. 15: “Ideas of Space,” a lecture byPeter Freund, Ph.D., professor emeritus at the University of Chicago and an accomplished fiction writer, explores the evolution of our concept of space. The event is free and open to the public and will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the University of Miami Storer Auditorium, 5250 University Drive. The lecture is part of the 2005 World Year of Physics event, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein’s publication of three momentous papers, including the one that discusses his Theory of Relativity.
> Dec. 17-May: WVUM-FM 90.5, the University of Miami’s student-run radio station, will begin broadcasting the Metropolitan Opera’s 2005-06 Season on Saturday, Dec. 17. No need to travel to New York City, listeners will be able to tune in from home to enjoy classics such as Rigoletto, An American Tragedy, Aida, Roméo et Juliette, and Don Pasquale, among many others. The show will run every Saturday at 1:30 p.m. through May, 2006. For more information, visit www.wvum.org or e-mail General Manager Kira Wisniewski at gm@wvum.org.
>Dec. 18: Meet the Orchestra Holiday Concert, The Ars Flores Symphony Orchestra, composed of professional, conservatory and gifted secondary school students, performs holiday favorites with conductor and musicians dressed in colorful costumes. Part of the ongoing series, Sunday Afternoons for Children. Performances are at 3 and 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for children. Call 305-271-7150 or visit www.sundaymusicals.org for more information.
> Dec. 21: Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel discusses his book, The Time of the Uprooted, a moving novel about the healing power of compassion. The event is at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Judea, 5500 Granada Boulevard. Visit www.booksandbooks.com or call 305-442-4408 for more information.
> Dec. 21, 25: The American Ideal, a classical music concert co-produced by Coral Gables TV, WLRN and the Coral Gables Chamber Symphony Orchestra, will air on WLRN on Wed., Dec. 21 at 10 p.m. and again on Sunday, Dec. 25 at 1:30 p.m. CGTV will be airing the program at various times following Dec. 21. The concert, shot at the Granada Presbyterian Church in Coral Gables, was spearheaded by Bella Griffith-Smith to present performances by Virtuosi Musicians and to obtain scholarships for participants. Performing during the show will be an 11-year-old pianist, and a 12-year-old cellist and violinist. For more information, call 305-995-2256.
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