Talk of the Town: Knight Center Gala, Woman’s Club Centennial, and More
A Star-Studded Inauguration
The Frost School of Music at the University of Miami officially opened its $365 million Knight Center for Music Innovation last month with a star-studded gala emceed by UM grad Gloria Estefan. Guests were entertained by an audio-visual display in the Thomas D. Hormel Music Innovation Stage, then escorted to the 200-seat Judi Prokop Newman Recital Hall.
Here they were regaled by famed Frost alumni, including pop star Jon Secada, who sang “Stardust;” TV & movie star Dawnn Lewis (Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper; The Divorce), who sang “Fabulous Baby” from Sister Act; renowned classical pianist Asiya Korepanova, who performed an étude by Rachmaninoff; bass player Steve Bailey, who has performed and recorded with Dizzy Gillespie, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mel Tormé, and Willie Nelson; and record producer/songwriter Matt Serletic, three of who’s songs (“I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing” “Push” and “Smooth”) were performed by Frost students.
Other famed Frost grads, like Bruce Hornsby and Pat Metheny, sent video messages. The performing grads received centennial medals. All of them “dared to dream big and pursue their goals,” said Gloria Estefan. “Like me they are proud to have played a role in the history of innovation here at the Frost School … and we can’t wait to see what the next 100 years will bring. I hope you will be around for that.”
After the audience laughed Estefan quipped, “It wasn’t that funny,” which brought more laughter. Also on hand were Frost Dean Shelly Berg (who played the piano) and UM President Julio Frenk (who did not).
Read more about the University of Miami’s Knight Center for Music Innovation in our November Talk of the Town.
Coral Gables High Hall of Famers
Last month Coral Gables High School inducted 11 new members into its Hall of Fame. The public high school has a long roster of esteemed graduates, including astronauts, authors, musicians, politicians, and actors.
The 11 new members include: Dr. Mitchel Berger and Dr. Michael Zinner, both celebrated oncologists; Admiral William “Bill” Studeman, a retired U.S. Navy admiral and former deputy director of the CIA; Paul Steinhardt, a science professor at Princeton known for his discovery of a new form of matter; Jeff Oster, a Grammy-nominated musician; Ted Leopold, one of the “Best Lawyers in America”; Judge Paul C. Huck, a senior judge on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida and UM professor; Dr. Lillian Glass, a world-renowned communication and body language expert; and Rear Admiral Keith Davids, a Navy SEAL officer who has spent much of his career fighting terrorist organizations overseas.
Inductees were honored with a ceremony at the school led by alumni and Friends of Gables High founder June Morris, followed by a reception at the Woman’s Club.
Woman’s Club Celebrates Centennial
The Coral Gables Woman’s Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year with a Roaring 20s Centennial Gala on December 2 and with the planting of over 100 orchids earlier this year. In June, volunteers from the Woman’s Club installed the native orchids at the historic clubhouse, flowers that grew there a century ago.
“It’s a tremendous honor to be president of this club, especially in its centennial year,” says President Ruth Martinez, shown above. “A legacy has been built by previous members and presidents, and now we’ll be moving into the next century. ‘Living the volunteer spirit’ has always been the motto of our club, and we have worked tirelessly over these 100 years to support other charitable organizations. We’ve now served over 60,000 children and raised about $4 million [for the Coral Gables Children’s Dental Clinic].”
The Ladies of Camp Mahachee
The Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida held their third annual Campfires for Cocktails fundraiser last month at Camp Mahachee, the 11-acre hardwood hammock on Old Cutler Road. The signature fundraising event featured a unique evening of glamping, where attendees (with the help of a few beverages) tried their hand at archery, fencing, axe throwing, and making their own s’mores at the campfire.
The event raised nearly $350,000 for the Tropical troop and the nearly 3,000 girls it serves in Miami-Dade and the Keys. Host Committee members included co-chairs Tami Blanco, GSTF board member; and Erica Rule, Troop leader and member of Troop 305. To join or support Girl Scouts of Tropical Florida visit www.girlscoutsfl.org
Recycling Event
Each year since 2016, the City has held drive-thru recycling events. Started by civic activist Marlin Ebbert, the most recent event took place last month, collecting an astonishing 9,091 pounds of electronic waste, 10,200 pounds of paper for shredding, 1,300 pounds of used clothing, and an estimated 10,000 pounds of household hazardous waste.
Since its inception, the city has held 17 such events. According to Matt Anderson, the city’s assistant director of mobility & sustainability, a combined total of 466,000 pounds of e-waste, hazardous waste, clothing, and paper has been collected. The next recycling event will be May 4, 2024.
Flags on Ponce Returns
The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce’s annual Flags on Ponce Program is back for another year. The program, which was created over 30 years ago, recognizes the significant number of consulates and multinational businesses that call Coral Gables home, waving their international flags along Ponce de Leon Boulevard from December to May.
“For more than 30 years, our Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce has shined a light on the rich cultural diversity and international businesses found throughout our city with a stunning display of flags flown high over Ponce de Leon Boulevard,” says Chamber President and CEO Mark Trowbridge. “A beacon of our Chamber’s annual programming, we encourage all to admire their beauty and design, as well as their significance to the local community, the next time you venture out in our downtown.”
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