WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009

CGTV Is Now On YouTube

Coral Gables Television is leaping off your TV and is now on YouTube. This is an additional source for Coral Gables news and information right from the comfort of your computer. Coral Gables Television is a branch of the Office of Public Affairs of the City of Coral Gables. The television station is a public service meant to educate and inform the residents of the City of Coral Gables about the news, events, and information that matter to them. It can be watched locally in the City of Coral Gables on Comcast channel 77. It is also available streaming live at coralgables.com. To see our award-winning team, click here. 

Best Places Around Gables Make The List

The Best of Miami 2009 City Life edition of the Miami New Times publication gives readers the top choices around for shops, wares, diversions, food and music. Picked as the Best Hidden Neighborhood was Coral Gables’ own Hammock Oaks and Best Hidden Sandwich Shop was L’Express Sandwicherie in San Remo Avenue. Lots of restaurants made it as the top choices along with other interesting picks around Coral Gables. Here are some of the best of choices found in the City Beautiful:

> Best Place For A First Date: Peppy’s in the Gables
> Best Theater For Drama: The New Theatre
> Best Thai Restaurant: Red Koi Lounge
> Best French Restaurant: Pascal’s on Ponce
> Best Expensive Italian Restaurant: Caffe Abbracci
> Best Ceviche: Francesco
> Best Restaurant in Coral Gables: Palme d’Or
> Best Restaurant Décor: Por Fin
> Best Flan: Havana Harry’s
> Best Salon For Curly Girls: GBS Salon
> Best Laser Eye Center: The Laser Center of Coral Gables
> Best Bookstore: Books & Books
> Best Latin Record Store: Spec’s Music

Garden Club Leader Receives George E. Merrick Award

Every year the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce honors an individual who has made significant contributions in the celebration, promotion, beautification, preservation or economic growth of the City, through the George E. Merrick Award. City founder George Merrick would have been proud of this year’s recipient, resident Betsy Adams. The community advocate is the former chair of the Coral Gables Garden Club. Under her leadership, the Garden Club raised funds and built three entrances into Coral Gables that Merrick had planned for but was never able to carry out. Adams was also driving force behind the creation and placement of the Merrick Statue that over looks downtown Coral Gables to the east of City Hall. The judges had five very competent finalists but Adams’ sense of community won the judges over. The Chamber announced the winner during its Goals Conference Gala. Adams was presented with a 14 inch replica of the George Merrick statue at City Hall, the same one she helped create.  

Get A Disaster Planning Toolkit For Free

The Institute for Business & Home Safety has put out a disaster planning toolkit for small to mid-sized business owners.  In the event of a hurricane or similar catastrophic situation, business owners who utilize these toolkits will have a wealth of critical business continuity information at their fingertips.  If you are a Coral Gables-based business or a member of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and would like a copy of this toolkit, simply stop by the City of Coral Gables Development Department located at 95 Merrick Way, Suite 450. The Department is open weekdays, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Toolkits are free and available while supplies last. 

Dos & Don’ts To Prepare Your Home Before A Storm

When a hurricane watch is issued, residents must keep a close watch on the path of the storm in order to prepare and secure their homes and yards. Putting up shutters is the best way to protect your home and business from wind and water. If you don’t have shutters at home, plywood can be used to cover windows and glass doors. A supply of sandbags placed in low lying sections of your home or building may be helpful to prevent the intrusion of water. Bring in all outside object that can become projectiles during high wind and remember to keep the trees and shrubbery on your property trimmed all year round. You don’t want to start tree trimming after a Hurricane Watch or Warning has been issued. Also don’t leave garbage, trash cans or recycling bins outside prior to the storm. City workers may not have time to collect it before a storm hits the area. 

Crews Building ADA Ramp At City Hall

For the last couple of weeks, crews have been building an ADA ramp on the side entrance of City Hall. The ramp, railings and new stairs are part of a series of improvements required to be in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. An ADA accessible bathroom has already been finished on the first floor at City Hall and additional parking spaces for people with disabilities will be arranged outside City Hall’s parking lot. The construction project, at a cost of approximately $85,000, is expected to be completed before the end of the summer. 

Recycle Used Motor Oil To Save the Environment

Waste oil dumped illegally is a serious problem because it can contaminate the drinking water supply. The county’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) works with the City of Coral Gables to protect drinking water from all sources of contamination. According to the American Petroleum Institute, 60 percent of the people dispose of it improperly. It only takes one gallon of used oil to contaminate over one million gallons of water. If you are planning on changing the motor oil of your vehicle, here are important tips to remember: Use a funnel to ensure the motor oil does not spill on the ground; Place a drain pan under the car beneath the oil filter to avoid spillage; Don’t let oil drip onto the grass or dirt because it will eventually make it in to our drinking water; Use a durable, tightly closed container that is designed to hold petroleum products. This will prevent spills during transportation and storage. Also, don’t forget about the oil filter: it is environmentally unsafe to toss old, oil-saturated filters in the garbage. If you find used oil or other chemicals illegally dumped anywhere, call DERM’s 24-hour hotline at 305372-6955.