NOVEMBER 1 - 14, 2011
Commission to recognize ‘Random Acts Of Kindness’ BY ROSIE TOBALINA
K
nown to be the place of all things beautiful, the City of Coral Gables now is making a name for having a heart. Beginning January 2012, the Coral Gables City Commission will recognize individuals, groups or organizations that display “Random Acts of Kindness” throughout the community. This award program will honor individuals who live or work in the City of Coral Gables as well as local organizations and groups that have done a caring deed that helped make the community a great place to live or work. “Each of us strives to make a difference in this world,” Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason said when announcing the new program during his first State of the City speech at the chamber’s breakfast in September. “Serving others makes that difference and those who’ve performed a spontaneous act of compassion and caring in our community will be duly recognized at a city commission meeting.” City officials are looking for nominations for Random Acts of Kindness, which are defined as spontaneous and unexpected — done simply out of the will to extend goodness without expecting anything in return. Anyone can nominate someone who has performed an act of kindness. You may send a card or letter, even a photograph that shows an act of kindness, to Office of Public Affairs, Coral Gables City Hall, 405 Biltmore Way, Coral Gables, FL 33134. Nomination applications also can be downloaded from the city’s website and are available at City Hall’s reception desk. For more information, contact the Office of Public Affairs at 305-460-5205.
Musical Hairspray continues until Nov. 13 at Actors’ Playhouse
GABLES GREAT Gary Gregory earns recognition for his service to community BY GLORIA BURNS
The cast of “Hairspray” continues to delight audiences at Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre through Nov. 13. (Photo by Alberto Romeu)
The Children’s Trust sponsoring annual youth talent search BY ELOISE E. RODRIGUEZ
A
ctors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre — together with presenting sponsor, The Children’s Trust — has announced the second annual launch of “Young Talent Big Dreams,” the most widespread local youth talent contest in MiamiDade County. Children, ages 8-17, will compete for prizes ranging from performing arts scholar-
ships and cash awards to tickets to local attractions and theaters. Countywide competition began in October, with auditions at local theaters, and concludes with the semifinals and finals in April of 2012. The contest will feature a total of eight categories including: individual song, dance, original spoken word and musical instrument, and group categories of six or
–––––––––––––––––––– See
TALENT, page 6
Community service always has been a priority for Gary Gregory. Most recently nominated as one of the 2012 Ronald McDonald House 12 Good Men, that is just one of many recognitions he has earned in his lifetime. A real Floridian, having been born and raised in Miami, he attended Culver Military Academy and then earned a BS degree at Florida Southern College. He attended John Marshall Law School in Chicago for a few years as the Vietnam War was raging and student deferments were dropped. Counting on being drafted, he left law GARY GREGORY school and ––––––––––––– See
GREGORY, page 6