The Junior Orange Bowl Committee recently conducted a board retreat at the Coral Gables Library with president Marti Bueso and the board setting a strategy for the future. Coral Gables Chamber president Mark Trowbridge served as an excellent facilitator who brought fun to a serious goals-setting day despite a busy schedule of his own.
Trowbridge, of course, is preparing with his chamber board and staff for Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s own Goals Conference on June 25 and 26 at The Biltmore Hotel. Due to concerns about the economy, chair-elect Sarah Artecona elected to reduce the cost of the conference. It promises to be a short conference packed with good programs and very affordable. For those who have not yet signed up for the conference, call the chamber at 305 446-1657.
GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club conducted an annual fifth grade graduation party for F.S. Tucker Elementary students on May 29 at the Woman’s Club clubhouse. Students, dressed in their finest attire, celebrated with the teachers and principal Annette DeGoti, who announced and congratulated students on their marked improvement in FCAT scores. Club members Linda Hartwell and Debra Adam were presented with a special gift from the school for their support.
Several students entertained the crowd including Victoria Diaz on trumpet, as well as Alex Blandin on acoustic guitar. Ana Sanchez, Mercel Ellison and Shakur Cooper read their original poems to a very appreciative audience. Before the dancing began, club members helped serve plates of great spaghetti and meatballs after which the fifth graders made ice cream sundaes for dessert.
On Thursday, May 28, The Learning Experience School, the only school in Miami for students from birth to adulthood with mild-to-moderate developmental disabilities, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and donor party to celebrate the opening of the the new $2 million One United Campus. The school’s new 20,000-square-foot campus combines their three previous locations all “under one roof” into a centralized campus in South Miami.
More than 75 guests attended the reception during which they were given a tour of the new facility. The program also included the formal ribbon-cutting and remarks from guest speaker U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Bacardi generously sponsored this ribbon cutting and donor reception.
Hell’s Kitchen contestant Chef Josh Wahler is making a name for himself in South Florida as executive chef at 5300 Chop House, a new upscale restaurant at the all suites resort, The Blue, located on Doral’s Blue Golf Course.
Wahler recently joined forces for an event with Chef David K. Gordon “Chef Superdave” (formerly of Jada and now Miami’s only Chef Winemaker with Sunny Fraser of Sunbox eleven).
Wahler and Gordon collaborated on a four-course wine dinner with seven dishes matched with Sunbox Eleven Winery’s limited production 2007 releases. This California Winery produces exclusively for Florida and the Sunbox Eleven even has a great white that will delight your palate.
For more information on the wines or this fabulous new restaurant to <www.sunboxeleven.com > or <www.5300ChopHouse.com >.
Speaking of good restaurants, check out Jakes in South Miami. After closing to renovate, the restaurant has a great new look and a fabulous new menu preserving some of the favorite menu items as well.
Until next time, keep making each day count.
