For those into water sports, a new day has come with construction of a state of the art Olympic size pool that will knock your socks off. This amazing facility at Gulliver Prep in Pinecrest overlooks their new field and will no doubt become a draw for swim meets and water sports events both locally and statewide. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday afternoon, January 8, during which Gulliver founder, Marian Krutulis, surprised the crowd as she came out dressed in1920’s swimming attire and gave the swim coaches pointers on how to teach. The woman never ceases to delight.

Prior to the actual ribbon cutting, a reception was held for some VIPs including Gulliver’s Trustees, donors, honored alum and the Village of Pinecrest Council Members.

On January 9 and 10, Beaux Art Festival saw a hardy group of volunteers like Rotarians Bruce Kerestes, Wiley Hicks, Randy Groh, Elizabeth Silverman and Sally Baumgartner, and festival attendees brave some of the worst weather in the history of the event. While some artists were allowed to close early Saturday to protect their art, vendors like the Rotary Club of Coral Gables selling Bruce’s famous chicken wings braved the elements to raise money to benefit their civic and charity fund.

Fortunately for all, Sunday turned into a beautiful sunny day with festival goers enjoying some amazing art in a variety of disciplines as well as some of the tastiest food anywhere.

The youngest artist to possibly ever be accepted into this art festival was Palmetto Middle School student and photographer, Lee Pivnic, 14. This young man is not only talented photographer but has a good head for marketing his beautiful photographs. He hopes to be accepted into Coral Reef’s magnet program and, if his work is an indication, he should be guaranteed a spot.

Speaking of festivals, the Rotary South Miami Art Festival is set for Saturday & Sunday, February 27 – 28. South Miami Rotarians are looking for sponsors. For more information, go online to < www.southmiamiartfest.com > (official site) or < www.myspace.com/southmiamiartfest > (unofficial site). While that group is preparing for their festival, they are also giving out the last of their atlases and dictionaries to area schools, an annual program that is most appreciated by schools receiving the free books.

Finally, the Miami Hurricanes Baseball Team will play the Florida Marlins for a spring training game, Wednesday, March 3, at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter. For additional information, contact Alex Inman, Roger Dean Stadium, 561-630-1831 or via email at < a.inman@rogerdeanstadium.com >. Until next week, keep making each day count.

Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for Community Newspapers. Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, please send your news via e-mail to <

galburns@aol.com

Chamber South held its networking luncheon recently at Carrabba’s Italian Grill in South Miami. The earthquake aftermath was certainly a topic of concern that day as luncheon sponsor, financial planner Rick Tonkinson, addressed the crowd with his wife, Margarita, and son, Steven, who both work with him in their family business.

While both Rick and Margarita are Rotarians, Steven is also connected to Rotary through his involvement with the Shelter Box program and is on call various times during the year to assist in the delivery of these boxes that provide a tent and 6 months supply of survival items to disaster areas. Three thousand three hundred boxes are already being shipped to Haiti. While Steven is not “on call” until next month, he and many other volunteers are helping organize and raising additional funds for the program.

In fact, Gables Rotarian Jorge Suarez and Steven Tonkinson addressed the Coral Gables Rotary Club, a group that had purchased several shelter boxes earlier last year to advise them that their donations were critical in the delivery for this earthquake disaster. Of course, replenishing supplies is crucial and the Club answered with many offering matches that brought the pledges to total more than $10,000.

This truly is a giving community with many like Steve’s dad and Jo Burke donating $1,000 each, the cost of each box. Speaking of Rotarians and their massive outreach, hundreds of free dictionaries and atlases were gifted over the last several months to students thanks to a partnership between Rotary Clubs, including the South Miami Rotary Club, and the Miami-Dade County Public Library. Among the many delivering 1,093 books over a two day period were Debra Shepherd; South Miami Rotary President Pansy Graham; Jessica Van Smith; Diana Phillips; Michele Dye; Randy Ramos, to mention a few. On the cultural front, Actors’ Playhouse held the opening night for “The Great American Trailer Park Musical.”

After a week of emotional news coming out of Haiti, this musical transported the audience to Stark, Florida, for a truly hilarious evening with off-the-wall-characters beautifully portrayed by the talented cast whose performances make you howl with laughter. In addition, David Nehls music and lyrics are so funny, I suspect audiences may want to see this more than once just to catch all the laughs they missed the first time. Suffice to say, the show received a standing ovation from the opening night crowd, all of whom stayed around to partake in a late supper provided by John Ma rtins Restaurant and Irish Pub.

Warning, this is strictly an adult show not suitable for any underage children. Hats off to Artistic Director David Arisco and, of course, Barbara Stein, for finding another great show. For tickets and show info, call 305-444-9293 or go online to www.actorsplayhouse.org .

Finally, nationally noted trial attorney and author Alan G. Greer will be doing a book reading at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 2750 McFarlane Road, Coconut Grove, on Thursday, February 4, at 7 p.m.

The book reading is free and open to the public. Greer will be reading an excerpt from his book about God and religion called Choices & Challenges, Lessons In Faith, Hope and Love.. Until next week, keep making each day count.

Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for Community Newspapers.

Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, send your news via email to < galburns@aol.com >.

South Miami Rotarian Ellen Booke is one of 35 Rotarians from around the world participating in a polio immunization day (NID) in Chandigarh, India. Booke, along with Gables Rotarian Noelle Galperin, who has made several of these trips previously, left for this two week mission on February 3 to assist the medical staff in these immunization efforts.

As those Rotarians were leaving for India, the local Rotoract Club held a fundraising dinner that evening at Novecento on Brickell. Proceeds from this event, sponsored by Novecento and Bacardi, will help the Club meet their Polio Plus Challenge as well as help raise funds for transportation for the exchange students visiting from Tagashima, Japan.

Of course, the Haitian Relief effort is always on all our minds as collections of food, water and non-perishables continued to be collected around town. Doral Rotarians welcome anyone who would like to help sort and pack boxes to join them any Saturday or Sunday, (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) at their warehouse located at 8571 NW 54 Street in Doral.

Chris, Donna and Bill Gehring with Allison Bean assist in sorting clothing to be sent to Haiti, after the initial shipments of food, medicine and survival supplies are sent.

Over the last few weekends, volunteers have come from local public and private schools, businesses, residents and other non profits to join in their efforts. Among the many volunteering their time was Doral Vice Mayor, Robert Van Name; Tom and Carol Bovee, of Galloway Office Supplies; Donna, Bill and Christopher Gehring and Allison Bean, of Miami Christian School; and Pat Enochs, from Doral Business Council, to mention a very few of the hundreds who worked tirelessly to reach out to a devastated island nation in need.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade’s 43rd Annual Golf Classic is scheduled for March 24, 2010 at the Miccosukee Golf & Country Club. Several sponsorship opportunities. For more information, call Barbara Villacis, Director of Special Events & Development at < bvillacis@bgcmia.org > or at 305-446-9910, ext 14 .

Canes fans attending the UM vs Duke basketball game On February 17 are in for a special treat honoring University of Miami Hurricanes basketball greats Jack McClinton (2006-09), Don Curnutt (1967- 70), and Dick Hickox (1958-61). The three will have their jerseys raised to the rafters of the BankUnited Center during halftime of this home game in recognition of their accomplishments.

The honored jerseys will hang alongside the retired jerseys of No. 24 Rick Barry (1962-65) and No. 40 Tim James (1995-99).

Although the numbers reflected on the honored jerseys will not be retired, they will hang in recognition of the great contributions to Hurricanes basketball made by McClinton, Curnutt, and Hickox. Until next week, keep making each day count.

Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for Community Newspapers.

Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, send your news via email to < galburns@aol.com >.

With social services stretched to their max, organizations providing those services are in greater need than ever. One such group, the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club has had to cut down on the hours of service at their free children’s dental clinic because of finances, but hopes their upcoming Casino Night fundraiser on March 6 will alleviate the strain on their budget and allow them to make services available to more children than ever.

Club President, Pam Schaefer, is chairing this annual “Gold Rush” themed night of good food, music, games, silent and live auction, and cash bar. Proceeds will benefit the May Van Sickle Dental Clinic, which provides more than $160,000 in free dental care annually to disadvantaged children. Sensitive to the economic situation of many, tickets this year have been reduced to a very affordable $25 per person. For more information on sponsorships, donations of items or tickets, call 305-968-3090.

The Guardians of Hope Walk to benefit the Wellness Community—Greater Miami, Saturday, February 27, at MetroZoo, 12400 SW 152 Street. Enjoy a great morning at the Zoo with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. and the walk at 8:30 a.m. If you have never done a walk at MetroZoo, you are in for a treat. Entry is $25 per individual and $75 for a family or group of four for those registering prior to event date. For more information go online to www.twcmiami.org.

University of Miami’s renowned Shelton “Shelly” Berg, Dean of the School of Music, was invited to speak once again to Rotary Club of Coral Gables with an update on the many exciting things happening in UM. Among the highlights, his talk centered on the Henry Mancini Institute (HMI) that moved here after ten years from Los Angeles. Berg was very familiar with HMI and the Mancini Family during his tenure as head of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California; so, when HMI announced its plans to close, several leading music organizations from across the United States vied for the opportunity to host it and the Mancini family chose Dean Berg and the Frost School of Music…an impressive coup for UM, Dean Berg and South Florida.

Temple Beth Orr invites those interested to join Rabbi Jeff Roth for an introduction to the purpose and practices of contemporary Jewish meditation on March 9, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m., at the Temple located at 11715 SW 87th Avenue. Roth will incorporate into his talk his newly published book, Jewish Meditation Practices for Everyday Life (Jewish Lights, 2009), demonstrating how Jewish meditation can help people uncover the obstacles to clear seeing that result in greed, a judgmental nature and unskillful behavior.

The evening will include some meditation, teaching and a question and answer time for questions. There is no charge. To reserve space, call 305-235-1419 or email BethOrTemple@aol.com Until next week, keep making each day count.

Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for Community Newspapers.

Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, please send your news via e-mail to

gloriagalburns@aol.com

Perfect weather has been a blessing for outdoor events these last few weeks. Coconut Grove Arts Festival drew thousands to the area for one of the largest art festivals in the Southeast and South Miami will be next with the 26th Annual South Miami Rotary Art Festival, on Saturday and Sunday, February 27 and 27, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Unlike Coconut Grove, this event, produced entirely by volunteers of the Rotary Club of South Miami, is free to the public and promises to have something for all ages. Artists from around the country will display their work along Sunset Drive from S. Dixie Highway to Red Road.

Art, coupled with live entertainment and a food court, make this a great family day outing. Look for the Children’s Alley for educational and interactive experiences for kids, from having your children fingerprinted to seeing live Everglades animals, this can be a fun educational experience for all.

Festival Committee Chair, Diana Phillips, spearheads this event once again with Event Coordinator, Wendy Lapidus, and Artist Coordinator, Doreen Reitnauer. All are grateful for the continued support of its Founding sponsor, The First National Bank of South Miami, as well as major sponsors such as South Miami Hospital, Williamson Automotive, Bath Fitter, and State Farm Insurance. Early risers may find Rotarian John Sorgie and his crew painting the streets on Thursday, February 25, something Sorgie and company have been doing for many years. Proceeds from the festival enhance the club’s ability to provide scholarships and to support worthwhile local and international programs and initiatives. For more about the festival, visit the website at www.southmiamiartfest.org Speaking of fun activities, A Night in Bollywood, one of the most extravagant and lavish annual productions one is apt to attend in South Florida, is scheduled for March 27.

This annual fundraiser for Sunil’s Home, an orphanage in India supported by a small group of philanthropists in South Florida, has become “the” event of the year. With all expenses underwritten, every penny of the night’s proceeds will help clothe, educate and saves lives for the most vulnerable in India, the children rescued from the streets.

The big question for past attendees of this event is “what next?” While previous affairs have seen the appearance of a full grown elephant, professional dancers and trapeze artists, assorted live animals indigenous to India, with big screen televisions galore, speculation on what is in store “entertainment wise” for this year’s affair is the talk of the town.

One of Sunil’s Home benefactor’s is Rod Hildebrandt. Hildebrandt will open his magnificent Coral Gables Home located at 1400 South Greenway Drive, for this party that takes more than a week to stage. In fact, he converts outdoor space into several rooms complete with comfy sofas and chairs. A silent auction offers yet another fundraising opportunity, according to Rod’s co- organizers and donors, Lynn Bauer and Matthew Meehan. This truly is a unique event that will leave guests awestruck.

VIP Admission is $150 with early admittance at 7 p.m. and unlimited drinks. General admission is $100 with a 7:30 p.m. admission and cash bar. Tickets are limited and should be reserved early. To purchase your tickets, visit www.SunilsHome.com/TICKETS or call 305- 445-5330.

Until next week, keep making each day count. Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for Community Newspapers. Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, send your news via email to

gloriagalburns@aol.com

Casino Night at Coral Gables Woman’s Club promises to raise needed funds to support free dental services for children. While the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club has had to cut down on the hours of service at its May Van Sickle Children’s Dental Clinic because of finances, members are counting on community support for the club’s Mar. 7 fundraiser. The event is to alleviate the strain on the club’s budget and allow it to make services available to more children than ever.

Club president Pam Schaefer and event chair Charo Bolanos encourage the crowd to come in comfortable western attire as the event continues with its “Gold Rush” theme. Guests will enjoy good food, music, games, silent and live auction, and cash bar.

Proceeds will benefit the May Van Sickle Dental Clinic which provides more than $160,000 in free dental care annually to disadvantaged children. Sensitive to the economic situation of many, tickets this year have been reduced to a very affordable $25 per person.

For more information on sponsorships, donations of items or tickets, call 305-968- 3090.

The Haitian Relief effort continues to be the focus of many nonprofits as well. Doral Rotarians are welcoming anyone who would like to help sort and pack boxes to join them any Saturday or Sunday, 9 a.m.- 5 p.m., at their warehouse, 8571 NW 54 St. in Doral. The GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club is among the many volunteer groups that have joined in this effort.

On a more direct response, 80 highly trained members of the South Florida Urban Search and Rescue Team Task Force 2, have returned from Haiti having earned praise for their heroic efforts in Port-Au- Prince. Coral Gables firefighter David Vargas and Gables medical director Mark Grossman were among the group who worked feverishly to save people from collapsed buildings and attend to their medical needs, at times putting their own lives at risk.

Gables Mayor Don Slesnick also participated in a mission to Haiti — a mission, from all reports, that leaves a lasting mark on one’s very soul.

In club news, Gables Rotarians have enjoyed several prominent speakers this past month. University of Miami’s renowned Shelton “Shelly” Berg, dean of the School of Music, delivered a talk to the club recently with an update on the many exciting things happening at UM.

Among the highlights his talk centered on the Henry Mancini Institute (HMI) that moved here after 10 years from Los Angeles. Berg was very familiar with HMI and the Mancini Family during his tenure as head of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California; so, when HMI announced its plans to close, several leading music organizations from across the United States vied for the opportunity to host it and the Mancini family chose Dean Berg and the Frost School of Music — an impressive coup for UM, Dean Berg and South Florida.

Next on the Rotary lineup was Arva Moore Parks McCabe, renowned historian and author who is currently working on a book about George Merrick. This endeavor has taken her to many locations for research and promises to be a very revealing book with facts that will surprise many. Until next time, keep making each day count.

The Junior Orange Bowl wrapped up the season with its Pitman Photography Contest Awards Presentation on Friday, February 19, at the Coral Gables War memorial Youth Center. Dr. Randy Groh, whom many may know from his dental work on animals at the MetroZoo, chairs this event. Like his friend, MetroZoo’s Ron Magill, Groh’s passion for photography includes travels around the world and, thus, his interest in working with the Junior Orange Bowl to share and encourage this passion with young people.

Winners were Portfolio Review/Best in Show: Marcelo Norcini – Ransom Everglades and Jose Dominguez – Coral Reef High School; Character: Angie Mauriell Llanos – Coral Reef High School (1st), Kevin Groeninger – Ransom Everglades (2nd), Samantha Cohen – Miami Country Day School (3rd); Abstraction; Andrea Portillo – St. Brendan High School (1st), Matthew Susskind – Ransom Everglades (2nd), Schuyler Polk – Coral Reef High School (3rd); Documentary: Andrea Camaliche – Coral Reef High School (1st), Inasia Gilliard – Coral Reef High School (2nd), Andrea Portillo – St. Brendan High School (3rd); Reflection:

Alexandra Sanchez – Coral Reef High School (1st), Stephanie Socorro – La Salle High School (2nd), Diamone Scott – Coral Reef High School (3rd); Middle School Awards: Andrew Smith – Southwood Middle School (both Documentary & Character Categories Winner), Samuel Hurtado – Southwood Middle School (Abstraction Category Winner), and Maddie Bixby – South Miami Middle School (Reflection Category Winner).

A “Concert to End Polio” is being presented through the generosity of a local anonymous Charitable Foundation, whose mission it is to promote the arts. This Foundation’s wish is to not only support the arts but, at the same time, to focus the Concert on Rotary and its efforts to eradicate Polio, thus the name “A Concert to End Polio” in the name of the PolioPlus initiative to “End Polio Now.”

The concert, to be held March 25 at Maurice Gusman Hall, University of Miami, will feature a memorable evening of music with the gentle sax of Dave Koz and the piano stylings of Shelly Berg, backed by the amazing UM Concert Jazz Band. Best of all, 100 pecent of the ticket sales at $45 per person will go directly to the PolioPlus program of Rotary International.

Tickets may be purchased online at RotaryFoundationofCoralGables.org. Click PayPal button under the flyer to pay by credit card, or your PayPal account if you have one.

Congratulations to University of Miami Alumna Mercedes Araoz, who made history in Peru by being named the country’s first female minister of finance. Araoz was sworn into her new position in late December. She previously served as Peru’s minister of production as well as the minister of foreign trade and tourism. In fact, she oversaw the signing of several free-trade deals, including Peru’s high-profile pact with the United States, according to Reuters. Araoz was in Washington, D.C. this week to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. Until next week, keep making each day count.

Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for Community Newspapers. Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, please send your news via e-mail to

gloriagalburns@aol.com.

The Nick Kodys Award, named for Coral Gables High School’s legendary football coach, is voted on by area coaches and awarded to Miami-Dade County’s best football player. Every year, the Coral Gables Kiwanis Club then arranges an awards affair to present the trophy and celebrate the accomplishments of the payer selected. This year’s award winner, Jakhari Gore, is the best player ever to play for Columbus High, according to his Football Coach Chris Merritt. He is not only a SuperPrep All American but is also listed as the #6 all-purpose RB in the Country by Rivals.com.

The audience attending the award dinner enjoyed watching many of the highlights of Gore’s career on a large screen television. Coach Merritt noted that while he gained 4,666 yards rushing and made 64 touchdowns in his prep career, that those amazing stats are misleading. It seems they had to take Gore out of the game early on numerous occasions so as not to run up the score. In fact, Coach calculated that Jakhari had cumulatively been taken out a total amounting to 8 games.

Adding to the evening’s excitement was the appearance for former award winner, Coral Gables High and UM star, Frank Gore, now playing in the pros, who is Jakhari’s cousin. Frank Gore is the only player in the history of the award to win two years in a row, 1999 and 2000.

Helping orchestrate the event were Kiwanis President Bill Adams, Past President Doug Kellner and Hollis Batchelor, whose efforts have insured the continuation of this prestigious award over the years. In other news, close to 100 high profile female philanthropists joined forces with top community and college leaders at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables to raise funding for student scholarships at Florida International University’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM). The luncheon featured presentations from Founding Dean John Rock, M.D., and Executive Associate Dean for Student Affairs Sanford Markham, M.D., as well as several medical students who benefit from scholarships.

Dr Rock noted that a recent study by the Macy Foundation shows that medical students who graduate with little or no debt are more likely to become primary care physicians – an area of critical need in our community.

The fashion portion of the affair included informal modeling of local designerVictoria Lopez Castro’s spring 2010 collection. Sponsors included Northwestern Mutual Financial Network and Victoria Lopez Castro. The PR sponsor was Roar Media. Finally, congratulations to all the Canadians in our reading audience on the incredibly exciting Winter Olympics. While the US racked up the most medals, Canada reined supreme with Gold. Of course, the final hockey game was probably one of the most exciting games ever going into overtime and making both countries proud of their respective teams. Until next week, keep making each day count.

Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for C o m m u n i t y Newspapers. Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, please send your news via e-mail to < gloriagalburns@aol.com >.

Outback Steakhouse, a longtime supporter of U.S. military troops, will donate $1 million to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization that provides emergency and morale support for active troops, veterans and their families. In the month of March, Outback is holding a month-long “Thanks for Giving” effort in participating restaurant locations. Visit Outback restaurants in March and order from the “Red, White and Bloomin’” menu and proceeds will help to meet the $1 million commitment to Operation Homefront. Honors for kicking off the campaign in Miami went to the Outback location at 82nd and West Flagler; however, all the locations including South Miami will offer this yummy menu. Tanya Gregorich, Proprietor of the Flagler restaurant, kicked the campaign off welcoming lots of veterans with Tracy Kruse, Outback’s Joint Venture Partner; and General Manager, Matthew Gentry. Among the many guests were Joe Giambrone, South Florida Area President Navy League of the United States; Dr. Lorena Morrison, Dr. Teri Logan, and Reverend Woody Gentry, of Miami Christian Scool; and Lynn Bauer, of Bauer Financial, to mention a few.

Look for South Miami civic, business, and community leaders, and former Miami Heat guard/guest emcee Tim Hardaway at an upcoming fundraiser for the South Miami Drug-Free Coalition at the King Pins Challenge II. This fun-filled evening of bowling for family, friends, and business colleagues will be held Sunday, March 21 from 5-8 p.m. at Splitsville Luxury Lanes, at The Shops of Sunset in South Miami. Event co-chairs are former South Miami Mayors Julio Robaina, Mary Scott Russell, and Horace Feliu with newly elected Mayor Philip K. Stoddard and former Mayor Dr. Anna Price serving as honorary co-chairs. Joining them will be teams representing Miami-Dade Commissioner Carlos A. Gimenez, the South Miami Police Department, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, South Miami Hospital, First National Bank of South Miami, South Miami Senior High School, the Red Sunset Merchants Association and other area business owners. General admission spectator tickets at $20 per person include Splitsville’s buffet and non-alcoholic beverage. For tickets contact Informed Families at 305-856-4886 or online to www.informedfamilies.org. Coldwell Banker Coral Gables Sunset Office recently made a second annual gift of $1,500 to the Grey Ghosts of South Miami for team equipment and uniforms through its charitable arm, Coldwell Banker Cares Foundation. The Cares Foundation also supports nine other charitable organizations including Ronald McDonald House at Jackson Memorial Hospital. Coldwell Banker’s Patricia Klock Parker, who works hard for this group, presented the check to the Grey Ghosts with Brian Beasley.

On Saturday, March 20, The Wellness Community – Greater Miami and the Eden Roc, Miami Beach will celebrate the Annual Heart Gold Gala with a musical performance by Z-6 Band; Dr. Ziffer and an extravagant live auction emceed by CBS-TV’s chief weathercaster Lonnie Quinn.

This year’s Heart of Gold Gala has been made possible by the committee’s star players – Founder of The Wellness Community – Greater Miami, Pamela Katz Zakheim, Board Chairman Adam Spiegel, Gala Chair Debra Schot tenstein and Honorary Chair Michael Capponi. Also honored at this year’s Gala will be one outstanding award recipient: Heart of Gold Honoree, David O c t a v i o Gandell. For more i n f o r m a t i o n , contact The We l l n e s s Community at 305-668-5900 or log on to www.twcmiami.org. Until next week, keep making each day count.

Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for Community Newspapers. Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, please send your news via e-mail to gloriagalburns@aol.com .

More than 170 guests enjoyed a Gold Rush themed Casino Night held March 6th to benefit the May Van Sickle Children’s Dental Clinic, a free clinic for disadvantaged children owned and operated by the GFWC Coral Gables Woman’s Club. The Club’s historic clubhouse was transformed into an old fashioned saloon with gaming tables. A western style menu, silent and live auction, and a great DJ with music for dancing, insured an evening to suit all tastes and provided terrific fun and laughter for all.

Co-chairing the event were Charo Bolanos and Mireya Kilmon with club president, Pam Schaefer, heading up the fundraising/auction committee, ably assisted by Susie Tilson and Sandy Schaefer. Linda Harwell’s decorations committee transformed the clubhouse ballrooms into a western style saloon, giving it the perfect ambience for a fun filled evening. Among the many helping orchestrate the event were Vicki McGroarty, Ana Lam, Barbara Lapsley, Carmen Suarez, and Myra Dominguez, to mention a few.

For more information on helping support the Club’s free dental clinic that provides more than $160,000 free dental care annually to disadvantaged children, go online to www.coralgableswomansclub.org. By the way, the clubhouse also offers a terrific location for weddings and specials events with proceeds also helping maintain this historic building, located at 1001 East Ponce de Leon Blvd. In addition, rentals also provide an additional funding source for the children’s dental clinic.

Miss Saigon, the new musical at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre that will run through April 4, delivered big time with a show that wowed the audience from start to finish. The amazing cast of talented actors included singer, dancer, actor Herman Sebek in the role of the engineer whose performance was flawless. Other lead actors whose voices often moved the audience from laughter to tears included Ej Zimmerman, as Kim; Christopher deProphetis, as Chris; Darryl Reuben Hall, as John; Amy Miller Brennan, as Ellen; and Chris-Ian Sanchez, as Thuy.

Choreography and scenery were expertly done but, outshining all was the technical feat of bringing a helicopter on stage which, of course, was a show stopper.

The opening night performance played to a packed house on March 5th and received a well deserved standing ovation. Among the many VIPs seen that evening were Mayor Don and Jeannett Slesnick; Commissioner Chip and Cindy Withers; School board member, Marta Perez, and Chris Wolfe; and Lourdes Perez, of Continental Airlines, to mention a few. Hats off once again to the Actors’ Playhouse Artistic, David Arisco, and Executive Director, Barbara Stein, for providing our community with such a rich cultural resource. For tickets to Miss Saigon, go online to www.actorsplayhouse. org or call the box office at 305-444- 9293.

Finally, Rotarians and friends are invited to attend Rotary Night when the Florida Panthers take on the New York Rangers at the Bank Atlantic Center in Fort Lauderdale for an exciting hockey game on Saturday, April 3, 2010. While the game starts at 7:00 p.m., the fun begins at 5:00 p.m. A $50 ticket includes Coach Club access with all inclusive buffet and bar, Hockey 101, Arena Tour AND parking! For more information, contact Rotarian Christine Lindfield at lindfield@bellsouth. net or 954-782-0357.

Until next week, keep making each day count.

Gloria Burns is Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Pinecrest, a 501 (c) (3) non profit organization, as well as a columnist for Community Newspapers. Keeping abreast of community activities is a challenge. If you would like to submit information for this column, please send your news via email to

gloriagalburns@aol.com