WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010

Tickets To See The Dalai Lama
Available To First 500 Residents

His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, is coming to Coral Gables and residents will have an opportunity to hear him speak, for free, compliments of the University of Miami. Five hundred free tickets to see the Dalai Lama will be available to Coral Gables residents on a first-come, first served basis. The Buddhist leader is scheduled to appear on Tuesday, October 26 at 1:30 p.m. at the University of Miami Bank United Center, 1245 Dauer Drive in Coral Gables. A two-ticket limit per household will be distributed to Gables residents, with proof of residency required, beginning Monday, October 4 at the War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive. The Youth Center is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until noon. The event is expected to draw a large number of visitors.  There will be a heavy security presence including metal detector screenings. Ticketholders are asked to arrive to the Bank United Center by 11:30 a.m. to clear security. A full description of the event with parking details will be provided to ticketholders. For more information, contact the Coral Gables Parks and Recreation Department at 305-460-5600.

Vice Mayor Kerdyk Is Featured
On Cover Of Golfer Magazine

Striking a pose for a cover in a magazine is Vice Mayor Bill Kerdyk Jr., featured on the inaugural issue of the Weekend Golfer. The new magazine, published locally, hit the stands this month covering everything related to golf in Miami-Dade County. Kerdyk, a second generation Coral Gables City Commissioner who is following the footprints of his late father William Kerdyk Sr., is profiled on a four-page spread as a man on the top of his game. Article writer John Santagata describes Kerdyk as a “thoughtful decision-maker focused intently on keeping the city he grew up in a premier community.” Other than the love for his City, Kerdyk also shares a passion for the game of golf.

Kerdyk began his public service life with the City in 1995 when he was first elected into office. Voters have re-elected him by overwhelming margins ever since. Among his initiatives are the Parknership Program (a public/private partnership with the mission of underwriting the purchases and enhancement of parks and open spaces), the Coral Gables Trolley system, the Ponce de Leon Median project and many others. He currently serves as the Governor’s appointee to the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and is President and CEO of Kerdyk Real Estate, a company specializing in commercial brokerage and property management in Miami-Dade County. To read the first issue of the Weekend Golfer, click here.

Coral Gables Museum To Open On 10.10.10

The City of Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Museum will host a free, public Open House and Ribbon Cutting Dedication on October 10, 2010 at the newly restored Old Police and Fire Station. This 1939 structure, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, will be the new home of the Coral Gables Museum and the City of Coral Gables’ Historical Resources Department and Valdes-Fauli Archives. “It’s the culmination of a lot of hard work by many individuals,” says Coral Gables Commissioner Chip Withers, who began working in 1996 to make this museum a reality. “The people that are coming behind us will have an opportunity to look back at what Coral Gables was all about. This museum will preserve our rich history.” The Open House will begin at 10:10 a.m. with coffee, juice, pastries and bagels; activities for children and families and self-guided tours. The beautiful 1939 building — whose spectacular restoration will serve as The Museum’s initial “exhibition” — will be open all day for casual visits, activities and tours. At 2 p.m., the project’s architect, Jorge L. Hernandez, will speak on the process and inspirations he used to transform the landmark 1939 Police and Fire Station into the Coral Gables Museum.  After the lecture, cake and ice cream will be served in the new Museum Courtyard. At 4 p.m. live music will begin in the Giralda Plaza, a newly created public space on the corner of Salzedo and Giralda, as guests arrive for the 5 p.m. dedication ceremonies. Music, hors d'oeuvres and mojitos provided by Bacardi USA of Coral Gables will continue in the plaza until 7 p.m. The Robert and Marian Fewell Gallery, a 3,000 square foot addition for major exhibitions named after the project’s largest private donors, was constructed at the site.  Nearly all of the funding for this addition was donated by the Coral Gables Museum. Other funding for the project came from the City of Coral Gables, private donations to the City of Coral Gables, contributions to the Coral Gables Museum Corp., the State of Florida Historical Preservation Program and Miami-Dade County General Obligation Bond Funds. The Museum’s Main Entrance is at 285 Aragon Avenue in Downtown Coral Gables. For additional information, click here.

For The Love Of Film:
Coral Gables Art Cinema Opens October 15

Adding to the cultural energy radiating in downtown Coral Gables will be the Coral Gables Art Cinema, located across the street from the Coral Gables Museum. On Friday, October 15, the Coral Gables Art Cinema, a state-of-the-art theater and arts center with 144 stadium configured seats, will open its doors with the Florida premiere of Freakonomics and a special opening night event. The cinema is located on the first floor of the city-owned Museum Parking Garage at 260 Aragon Avenue and is operated by the Coral Gables Cinemateque Inc., a non-profit film arts organization.  The opening film, Freakonomics, is a funny and insightful feature based on the bestselling book of the same name which examines human behavior with provocative and sometimes hilarious case studies. A special fundraising event with screenings of the film takes place at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., with a for-ticket-holder-only reception at 9 p.m. The Coral Gables Art Cinema was developed in partnership with the City of Coral Gables, Magna-Tech Electronic Co. and the Coral Gables Community Foundation. In addition to film screening, the Cinema will be a cultural hub for filmmakers, other artists and the public with live performances, film festivals and other educational activities. It is equipped with industry standard theatrical quality digital projection, Dolby digital sounds, an onsite gallery, gourmet café and covered outdoor patio seating. Funding for the Coral Gables Art Cinema is provided in part from the City of Coral Gables, the Perrin Fund of the Coral Gables Community Foundation, Steven and Myrna-Blumberg Krams, Bacardi, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Mayor and Board of County Commissioners, and the many individual donors, in-kind contributors and members who have joined to make the Cinema a reality. For opening night information and schedule of upcoming films, call 786-385-9689 or click here.

City Extends Parking Meter Enforcement Hours

Beginning Monday, October 11th, motorists will need to pay for on-street parking meters until midnight, including Sundays, when they park in the City of Coral Gables. That is a two-hour extension from the existing Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. time. Parking enforcement will also be in effect on Sundays from 9 a.m. until midnight. The extended hours will affect approximately 4,000 parking meters citywide. With a current hourly rate of $1.25 for short-term street parking which remains unchanged, the City of Coral Gables has a lower meter rate compared to neighboring cities such as downtown Miami ($1.75), Miami Beach ($1.50) and South Miami (proposed $1.50.) There will be no parking meter enforcement on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Besides accepting coins, Coral Gables parking meters also accept CashKey and Pay By Cellphone programs. For additional information, contact the City of Coral Gables Parking Department at 305-460-5540.

How To Properly Install A Car Seat

If you have a baby, a car seat and an hour of free time, call Fire Department Public Education Specialist Laura Rodriguez at 305-460-5576 to make an appointment that may save your child’s life. Appointments are now being scheduled for a free Car Seat Installation training that will teach parents and caregivers how to properly select, install and operate a child care seat. The program is being offered by the Coral Gables Fire Department by appointment only.  Certified firefighters, who have been trained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on everything about child passenger safety techniques, are available to meet with Coral Gables residents to help reduce the risk of death and injuries during car crashes of our most fragile passengers.  Amazingly, research from NHTSA shows that as many as 80 percent of all car seats are improperly installed and used, a significant factor in why automobile accidents are the number-one killer of children under 14. Don’t be one of those statistics. Contact Laura Rodriguez via email at lrodriguez@coralgables.com to make your appointment today.