WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2011

Palm Trees On Alhambra Circle Now In Full Display

The grace and beauty of the new towering Medjool palms on Alhambra Circle are now in full display. Several members of the City Commission helped untie the fronds of the recently planted trees. In July, the City Commission unanimously approved the streetscape project. Sixty seven towering Medjool Date Palms and 61 Bismarck Palm trees now adorn the median on Alhambra Circle from LeJeune Road to Ponce de Leon Boulevard. The beautiful transformation is in part due to the continued generosity of Manuel C. Diaz, proud resident of Coral Gables and president of Manuel Diaz Farms. Mr. Diaz donated all 61 Bismarck palms worth $80,000 for Alhambra Circle and made it possible for the city to purchase 45 to 50-foot-tall Medjools. Mr. Diaz and his son Nick personally supervised the planting of all the trees on Alhambra. Back in April, Mr. Diaz made another significant donation of large trees to the City worth more than $95,000 for Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Another landscaping project that is beautifying our City is the transformation of Segovia Street with the addition of approximately 300 stunning Oak trees currently being planted in the median and swales. This project is expected to be completed within the next three months.

Mayor Jim Cason releases the fronds of a recently planted Medjool.
 

Mayor Cason, Commissioner Maria Anderson and Vice Mayor Bill Kerdyk Jr. descend on a hydraulic lift after cutting the cords that held the palm fronds upright during installation.

Coral Gables Country Club Receives
City Beautiful Award For Historic Preservation

The Coral Gables Country Club is a proud recipient of this year’s City Beautiful Awards for Historic Preservation, presented by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. The City Beautiful Awards celebrate the most outstanding examples of architectural achievement among commercial properties in Coral Gables. Honored during this month’s Good Morning Coral Gables Chamber breakfast were: For Outstanding Interior Award: Rockefeller Group Business Centers, Inc. Architects: Andres Rodriguez, Architectural Design Collaborative; For Outstanding Exterior Award: University of Miami – Newman Alumni Center. Architects: MGE Architect; For Retail Showroom / Restaurant Dining Room Award: Seasons 52. Architects: Burton Hersh P.A. and Bellin & Pratt Architects LLC and for Historic Preservation Award: Coral Gables Country Club. Architects: Nick Di Donato & Nadia Di Donato, Liberty Entertainment Group. In 2008, the City Commission approved the long-term leasing of the Coral Gables Country Club by Liberty Entertainment, which resulted in substantial improvements and renovations to the City-owned historic property.

Coral Gables Residents Invited To Town Hall
Meeting Featuring Admiral Michael G. Mullen

Coral Gables residents are invited to attend a Community Town Hall Meeting featuring Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He serves as the principal military advisor to the president, the Secretary of Defense, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council. The event takes place on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, 9:30 to 11 a.m., at the BankUnited Center Fieldhouse, 1245 Dauer Drive. The presentation is part of the lecture series provided by the Development Agreement between the City of Coral Gables and the University of Miami. To attend, please R.S.V.P. by Friday, September 9 by calling 305-284-6486 or via email at eventsmanagement@miami.edu.

Wine, Walk & Shop On The Mile

The Business Improvement District of Downtown Coral Gables is partnering with the United Way of Miami-Dade to launch Wine, Walk & Shop on the Mile, on Thursday, September 1, from 6-8 p.m. Cost is $25 per person and all proceeds will benefit United Way of Miami-Dade’s work in education, income and health. Wine, Walk & Shop on the Mile will take place throughout the night at several shops and restaurants on Miracle Mile, between Ponce de Leon Boulevard and South Douglas Road, serving guests an assortment of wines, as well as offering special sales on merchandise. Participating retailers include Lilian Designs, Essence Boutique, Design Within Reach, My Best Friends Closet Boutique, U Collections Boutique and Sugar Mama Cupcakes. The event kicks off at Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe and ends at Tarpon Bend. For more information, click here.

Drive Sober Or Get Pulled Over

On this upcoming Labor Day Weekend, the Coral Gables Police Department wants to remind all motorists to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” A DUI Saturation Detail will take place today throughout Coral Gables as our Police Department joins other law enforcement agencies nationwide in support of an intensive crackdown on impaired driving. The campaign aims at improving traffic safety by removing impaired drivers from the roadway and educating the public on the dangers of drunk driving. If you’re planning on celebrating with your family or friends during this Labor Day weekend, remember to plan ahead and always designate a non-drinking driver before any party begins: do not let a friend drive if they are impaired. If you’re hosting a party, make sure your guests leave with a sober driver. In 2009, 10,839 people died in crashes in the United States in which a driver or motorcycle rider was at or above the alcohol legal limit, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The age group with the highest percentage of alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities in motor vehicle traffic crashes was the 21-to-24 age group. Violators often face jail time and loss of their driver licenses, among other life changing consequences.

CG Community Foundation Celebrates 20 Years

The Coral Gables Community Foundation, a non-profit organization that has been raising funds to support various causes toward the betterment of Coral Gables, is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. For the past two decades, the foundation has donated more than $3 million to support cultural, educational, healthy, historic preservation and charitable projects that continue to enhance the quality of life for all people living or working in Coral Gables. The Community Foundation will be celebrating in a big way the best memories of the first 20 years with a Gala Kick-off Party on Thursday, September 15th at 6 p.m. at Morton’s The Steakhouse on Miracle Mile, followed by a prom style Homecoming Gala on Friday, October 14, 7 p.m. at the Coral Gables Country Club. To get involved with the Coral Gables Community Foundation and for additional information, contact 305-446-9670 or click here.

Preventing Stormwater Runoff Pollution

Rainy days in South Florida are very common during this Hurricane Season, and if not careful, these downpours can cause stormwater pollution. As stormwater flows over driveways, lawns and sidewalks, water picks up debris, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants. Stormwater can flow into a storm sewer system or directly into a lake or coastal water. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the waterbodies used for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water. Polluted runoff is the nation’s greatest threat to clean water. So what can you do to help? Here are some things that you can do to prevent stormwater runoff pollution:

• Use fertilizers sparingly, and sweep driveways, sidewalks and gutters
• Never dump anything down storm drains or in streams
• Vegetate bare spots in your yard
• Compost yard waste
• Use least toxic pesticides, follow labels and learn how to prevent pest  problems
• Direct downspouts away from paved surfaces and consider a rain garden to capture runoff
• Take your car to the car wash instead of washing it in the driveway
• Check your car for leaks and recycle motor oil
• Pick up after your pet.