🌱 Patch AM: Why are Coral Gables residents questioning Commissioner Castro’s outside business ties?

Good morning to you Coral Gables! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why are Coral Gables residents questioning Commissioner Castro’s outside business ties?
• How a Coral Gables boater’s sentence ended a tragic case
• How Miami’s big road win sets up Saturday’s Coral Gables showdown

Also on today's calendar: Mocktail Fest Miami: a Dry January Celebration and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: After dinner, my parents asked if I could clear the table. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 80 and low of 69 degrees.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 81, low: 71.
• Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 81 and low of 70 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Was Coral Gables Commissioner Melissa Castro Working for the Developers of Bal Harbour Shops? (floridianpress.com) — Coral Gables residents are raising ethics concerns about Commissioner Melissa Castro’s private permit-expediting business after records show most recent permits she handled involve Bal Harbour Shops, whose developer is pursuing a controversial Live Local project. Critics worry about reputational risks and potential conflicts because Castro also sponsored a Live Local resolution in Coral Gables, though she has not yet responded publicly to the questions.
   

• Boater charged in teen girl's wakeboarding death sentenced to 6 months' probation (flkeysnews.com) — A Coral Gables resident received six months’ probation after pleading guilty to careless boating in the Biscayne Bay crash that killed 15-year-old student Ella Riley Adler. Investigators later traced his boat to his Hammock Oaks home in Coral Gables, prompting renewed calls from the victim’s family for stronger safety rules on Florida’s crowded waterways.
   

• Takeaways from Miami's 81-77 win over Wake Forest (on3.com subscription) — University of Miami fans can look forward to the Hurricanes returning to Coral Gables on Saturday to host Georgia Tech after snapping a long ACC road skid with an 81-77 win at Wake Forest. Strong late-game play from point guard Tre Donaldson and dominant rebounding powered the comeback, boosting Miami’s NCAA tournament profile as conference play heats up.
   

📸 Around Coral Gables

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Coral Gables

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Sunday January 11

• Mocktail Fest Miami: a Dry January Celebration
  Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Ctr Dr, Miami Beach
  5:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Friday January 9

• Talking is Teaching: Talk, Read, Sing for Babies and Toddlers
  Coconut Grove Branch -
  11:00 am
• Talking is Teaching - Talk, Read, Sing for Toddlers
  Coral Gables Branch -
  11:30 am
• Popcorn Pals: Family Fun Film Fridays
  Coral Gables Branch -
  3:30 pm

Saturday January 10

• Winter Night Sky Art
  Coconut Grove Branch -
  11:00 am
• Screen-free Saturday
  Coral Gables Branch -
  2:00 pm
• "Water" You Painting?
  South Miami Branch -
  2:00 pm
• Bracelet Bead and Wire Wrapping Workshop
  West Flagler Branch -
  2:30 pm

Monday January 12

• Elevate Your Eloquence with Toastmasters
  Virrick Park Branch -
  12:00 pm

Wednesday January 21

• CREW Miami Economic Forecast Breakfast with Saif Ishoof
  Hotel Colonnade Garage Valet , 180 Aragon Ave , Coral Gables
  8:30 am

📣 Coral Gables Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday January 8

• Add Your Piece!
  Pinecrest Branch -
  9:30 am
• Community Relations Board Meeting
  South Miami, FL Calendar , 6130 Sunset Drive , South Miami
  7:00 pm

Friday January 9

• Furry Tales
  Pinecrest Branch Library , 5835 SW 111th St , Pinecrest
  10:30 am

Saturday January 10

• Crafty Kids
  Fairlawn Branch Library Fairlawn Branch -
  11:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Coral Gables PatchAM possible:

• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Do you know this lady?
  Drives a navy blue Mazda, posted this dog end of Dec. on neighbors that she had found, the dog was chipped. We need to find her. Share post!!!! (Nextdoor Riviera)
• Necesito ayudantes de.
  Pintura con experiencia en Miami trabajo inmediato contáctame por WhatsApp 305-487-2803 (Nextdoor Ponce Circle Park)

• Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Coral Gables. Apply here.
• Domino's Pizza, Inc. posted a job opening for Crew Member (05090) - 5877 Ponce De Leon Blvd in Coral Gables. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Coral Gables here.

🗞 Nearby News

Pinecrest

• Oh, Canada — the tourists missing from Florida (communitynewspapers.com)
• Soccer Recap: Archimedean Takes a Loss (maxpreps.com)

Key Biscayne

Ok Coral Gables! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I needed a running start, but I made it!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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