News in Coral Gables

Let There Be Splashing

The beloved Venetian Pool, closed for winter last November, has finally been reopened. In an abundance of caution, capacity will be reduced – and unless you are in the water, a mask is required – but as of Sept. 15, the pool was back in business (albeit with the grotto closed for now). Admission tickets must be purchased in advance, and all guests will get their temperatures taken on arrival. Call 305.460.5306 or email vpinfo@coralgables.com.

The Gables Police Mounted Patrol

For the first time in more than 91 years, the Coral Gables Police Department has a mounted patrol unit. Officer Ashley Sheran and her thoroughbred Rockaway – a former racehorse rescued by Sheran – took to the streets Sept. 18 to begin regular four-day-a-week patrols. “We’ve been through a lot together,” said Ofc. Sheran of the 10-year-old gelding she bought six years ago. “But he loves the attention and is happy to be working.” Francis Cyril Guest, the only other mounted patrol officer in department history, was struck by a drunk driver and killed on Christmas Day 1928.

Record Philanthropy for Sylvester

The single largest donation in the history of the University of Miami – a gift of $126 million to the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at UM’s Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine – was made last month. The unrestricted anonymous gift was made in honor of Stephen D. Nimer, M.D., director of Sylvester and the Oscar de la Renta Endowed Chair in Cancer Research. “I am truly humbled by the magnitude of this gift,” said Nimer.

A Silver Lining to the Pandemic. Of Sorts.

Among the unfortunate victims of COVID-19 is I Know Science, the award-winning interactive toy store and science camp for kids in the Shops at Merrick Park. Forced to declare bankruptcy, the store remained full of toys and science gear. Normally such assets are auctioned off to pay creditors – the landlord in this case – but once costs were factored in, that made little sense. So, the Shops agreed to attorney Alan Rosenberg’s suggestion to donate the toys to the Chapman Partnership, a nonprofit that works with the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust.