RICHARD BLANCO

The Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables recently commemorated the second annual “Founder’s Day” in recognition of George Merrick and his legacy. Dignitaries present included Gables Mayor Vince Lago and former Mayor Dorothy Thomson. His passionate remarks and testimony on historic preservation were heartfelt but also lighthearted. The Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables is a 501(c)3 non-profit founded in 1991. Karelia Martinez Carbonell is president of the Historic Preservation Association of Coral Gables.

The official inaugural poem will be read during Wednesday's ceremony by Amanda Gorman, the countrys first Youth Poet Laureate. The 17-year-old has won a contest organized by the Academy of American Poets for which students under 18 wrote their own inaugural poems in anticipation of Wednesday's swearing in of President-elect Joe Biden. Applicants for the Inaugural Poem Project were urged to submit work that reflects “on the country’s challenges, strengths, and hope for its future," according to the guidelines. Knight will receive $1,000, and her work — along with the poems of two runners-up — will be featured on Poets.org and in American Poets magazine. The official inaugural poem will be read during Wednesday's ceremony by Amanda Gorman, the country’s first Youth Poet Laureate.

The country's next inaugural poet is an old pro at ceremonial occasions and she's only 22. (Kelia Anne/Sun Literary Arts via AP)NEW YORK – At age 22, poet Amanda Gorman, chosen to read at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, already has a history of writing for official occasions. Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in memory, and she has made news before. In 2014, she was named the first Youth Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, and three years later she became the country's first National Youth Poet Laureate. She is calling her inaugural poem “The Hill We Climb” while otherwise declining to preview any lines.

Plein air painting is the art of painting outdoors, creating a challenge because light and other natural occurrences are not controlled by a studio setting. On the weekend of Jan. 18 and 19, Deering Estate and Grove House Artists hosted their annual Affair En Plein Air, an event where artists could come out to the estate and participate in this long-standing tradition of painting outdoors. This was not Hunters first time painting at the Deering Estate. Blanco was introduced by his lifelong friend, John William Bailly, who also is the Deering Estates first Artist in Residence Fellow, and Melissa Diaz, the Cultural Arts curator at the Deering Estate. She currently is a Tropical Conservation Intern at the Deering Estate.

The traditionally French art of painting en plein air has been around since the mid-19th century and has been famously executed by many artists, including Claude Monet. Plein air painting is the art of painting outdoors, creating a challenge since light and other natural occurrences arent controlled by a studio setting. On the weekend of January 18 and 19, 2020 Deering Estate and Grove House Artists hosted their annual Affair En Plein Air, an event where artists could come out to the estate and participate in this long-standing tradition of painting outdoors. The air filled with these things creating a sense of warmth, happiness, tranquility, love, and dare I say maybe even a sense of home. She is currently a Tropical Conservation Intern at the Deering Estate.

On the Fourth of July, the Carnegie Corporation of New York will recognize Blanco as one of this years Great Immigrant honorees for his contributions to our society. I am humbled to be in the company of such accomplished leaders from diverse cultural and intellectual backgrounds, said Blanco. Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant, believed that the infusion of talent that immigrants bring to our country keeps society vibrant. Raised in Westchester, Blanco would ride his bike around FIUs Modesto A. Maidique Campus, when there were only three buildings. Hes paved a new path for American poetry.