WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2011

City To Embark On Ambitious Street Paving Initiative

The City of Coral Gables is resurfacing approximately 30 lane miles of streets throughout Coral Gables at an estimated cost of $3.5 million. This street resurfacing project is part of the Neighborhood Renaissance Program proposed by City Manager Pat Salerno and approved by the City Commission. The list of streets to be resurfaced is equivalent to what would normally be paved in approximately 10 years, which makes this the most ambitious street resurfacing initiative ever undertaken by the City. “We’re on the road to building a better Coral Gables,” said Mayor Jim Cason. To ensure that City streets currently in need of resurfacing are included in this program, the City engaged the engineering firm of C3TS to evaluate and review all streets. Staff independently reviewed the findings and has compiled a map indicating the streets to be resurfaced. Everyone will benefit from the elimination of the extensive backlog as the City will be able to stay current with street resurfacing needs as they arise. In the future, residents whose streets need resurfacing would not be placed on a waiting list for many years; instead, their streets would be repaved within a year. Phase one will resurface all identified neighborhood streets north of US1. A construction contract is expected to be presented to the City Commission for award early next year. Phase two will resurface all remaining streets for which a construction contract is expected to be presented to the City Commission for approval by next summer. To view a map of the streets to be resurfaced next year, click here. If your neighborhood street is not included in this map and you would like to have it reevaluated for possible resurfacing, please send an email to PWdepartment@coralgables.com.

Officials Help Families Gobble Up This Thanksgiving

While the nation prepares for tomorrow's holiday feast with family, the City of Coral Gables helped make this year's Thanks­giving holiday a special one for many. Coral Gables was among the cities that helped Miami-Dade County League of Cities (MDCLC) distribute turkeys and bags of non-perishable food to families in need. Mayor Jim Cason, Vice-Mayor William H. Kerdyk Jr., and Commissioners Maria Anderson and Rafael "Ralph" Cabrera Jr. participated in this year's turkey giveaway at a park. More than 200 people, from Coral Gables and neighboring communities, received the turkeys provided by MDCLC. "A Thanksgiving Day feast can be a financial strain for some families. I'm delighted we had some part in placing food on the table for many people," said Mayor Cason. The City of Coral Gables wishes everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and sends its sincere appreciation to residents and the business community for their support in making Coral Gables the best city it can be.

(upper photo): Mayor Jim Cason hands out bags with non-perishable food.
(lower photo): Vice-Mayor Kerdyk Jr. distributes turkeys.

Tree Lighting Ceremony Marks
Beginning Of Holiday Season

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and the beginning of the holiday season in Coral Gables. The 2011 Coral Gables Holiday Spectacular takes place in front of City Hall next Friday, December 2 from 5-10 p.m. and features food, carnival rides and games, face painting, arts and craft, bounce houses and live musical entertainment by Miami Children’s Theater, Actors’ Playhouse Children Theater, and Maria Verdeja School of the Arts. Mayor Jim Cason and City Commissioners, with the help of Santa Claus, will take part on the tree lighting ceremony which starts at 7 p.m.  Bring your family and friends to enjoy one of the most popular events of the season. After the kick-off event, Merrick Park is transformed into a winter wonderland and is open daily from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. until December 25. Come take Pictures with Santa at the park on Thursdays and Fridays (5-10 p.m.); Saturdays and Sundays (noon-10 p.m.) and the week of December 19-23 (5-10 p.m.). For more information, call the Parks and Recreation Division at 305-460-5600.

Giant tree lights up City Hall

Support Your Local Small Businesses
On Saturday November 26

On Saturday, November 26, make a huge impact by shopping at your favorite small business in Coral Gables. The second annual Small Business Saturday is presented by American Express in partnership with the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, a promotion to support those small independent shops that boost our local economy and are vital to the lifeblood of our community. “Small privately owned businesses in Coral Gables are so important to our local economy. If you’re thinking about holiday shopping, you can do your part by spending your money in one of our small local businesses,” says Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason. One purchase is all it takes to show your support to the more than 8,000 businesses located in Coral Gables, most of which are “mom & pop” shops, small retailers/restaurants or entrepreneurial start-ups. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, 65 percent of new jobs are generated by small businesses and they employ about half of all U.S. workers.  As part of a national marketing campaign, event organizers have chosen the City of Coral Gables and Washington DC as the only two communities among 15 spotlight cities to be filmed during Small Business Saturday, showcasing the interaction between shoppers and independently owned businesses. A proclamation will be presented at 10 a.m. by Mayor Jim Cason at Books & Books declaring November 26th as Small Business Saturday in Coral Gables, followed by a series of activities throughout the day at Tarpon Bend Raw Bar, Sloane Square & Shoppe, Rene Ruiz and more, including raffles and promotional giveaways. Also, if you shop and spend $25 or more on a pre-registered American Express Card, you will receive a one-time $25 statement credit on your card account. For more event information, click here.

Give Thanks For Random Acts Of Kindness

As you prepare to cele­brate this Thanksgiving in the company of family and friends, let's remember to be thankful for all our blessings and for the kindness of others that make our community a great place to live and work. Beginning January 2012, the City of Coral Gables and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce will implement a new program called “Random Acts of Kindness.” This award will recognize individuals who live or work in the City of Coral Gables as well as organizations and groups that perform a caring deed in our community. A Random Act of Kindness is a selfless, spontaneous and unexpected action done simply out of the will to extend goodness without expecting anything in return. Every month, kind-hearted individuals, organizations or groups who have performed an act of kindness in the past year will be recognized at a Coral Gables City Commission meeting. Anyone can nominate a person, organization or group who has performed an act of kindness. Nomination forms are available at City Hall’s reception desk and can be downloaded by clicking here.  

Be An Angel To Underprivileged Kids This Holiday Season

The City of Coral Gables is participating this year in the Angel Tree Program of The Salvation Army which makes this gift-giving season so more special. Beginning next week, a tree at City Hall will be adorned with Angel ornaments bearing a child’s name, age, sex, and their wish toy.  The families of these children have applied for assistance from The Salvation Army. People visiting Coral Gables City Hall have a chance to select an Angel ornament, shop for that child’s holiday wish, and return an unwrapped gift back at City Hall by Tuesday, December 13th. All the donated toys will be collected by The Salvation Army and delivered to underprivileged children in time for the holidays. Last year, more than 12,162 new toys were given, bringing thousands of smiles and happiness to children in need. For additional information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.

Caroling Competition Celebrates 25 Years

For the 25th year, the 550 Biltmore Way building in Coral Gables hosts the Caroling Competition for Dade and Broward middle and senior high school choirs, presented this year by Holtz Children’s Hospital. The competition begins on Wednesday, November 30, from 7 p.m. until 10 p.m. and ends on Sunday, December 4 with performances from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. The free concerts are held on the steps of the 550 Building. This year the competition welcomes 30 public, private and parochial schools, all competing for $20,000 cash. Prizes are awarded in the Junior and Senior Division for small ensembles, full choirs and show choirs. The winners of the 2011 Competition return for a short program to accept their awards on Tuesday, December 6, at 7 p.m. For more information, click here.

View The Best Gingerbread Houses In Town

Everyone loves a festive gingerbread house for the holidays and now you can view the best creative designs on display at the Coral Gables Museum. Join us for the Fourth Annual GingerBuild, a Gingerbread House Design and Build Contest on display for public viewing on Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11, at the Coral Gables Museum Community Meeting Room, 285 Aragon Avenue. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. on December 10. The viewer’s choice award recipient will receive a $200 cash prize. There will be holiday music, food and festivities throughout the day. For more information, click here.

Junior Orange Bowl Is Ready For Sports Ability Games

For the past 30 years one of the most inspirational South Florida youth sporting events has been the Junior Orange Bowl Committee’s (JOBC) Sports Ability Games. A three-day series of events for physically disabled youths, the Sports Ability Games includes one day each of sailing, swimming and track/field events. The theme for this year’s JOBC festival season is “Soaring To New Heights!” and the Sports Ability Games provides the perfect environment for these young athletes to do just that. The event gets under way with a sailing regatta at Shake-A-Leg Miami on Thursday, December 1 and is followed by swimming events at Miami Springs Aquatic Center on December 2. The Games conclude with track & field events at Tropical Park Stadium on Saturday, December 3. Each event location provides a venue for disabled children to compete in sporting events at their own developmental level, while meeting and interacting with other children who may share similar physical challenges. The event typically draws over 300 athletes, more than 200 volunteers and hundreds of family members and friends who come out to support the athletes and witness this amazing event. For information on how to participate or volunteer at the Sports Ability Games, call 305-662-1210 or click here.

Youth with disabilities compete at the Sports Ability Games