Coral Gables Riviera-Times

Firemen's Maintenance Voted MILLAGE REDUCTION SEEN IF MEASURE IS ADOPTED; WOULD AFFECT ALL OWNERS The CORAL GABLES Riviera & Times

VOL. 21—No. 17 | TWO SECTIONS | CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, FRIDAY, MAY 9, 1947 | 16 PAGES | TEN CENTS

Firemen's Maintenance Voted MILLAGE REDUCTION SEEN IF MEASURE IS ADOPTED; WOULD AFFECT ALL OWNERS

A proposed assessment for parkway maintenance proved to be the opening gun of the Coral Gables "battle of the budget" as city commissioners began their annual studies of municipal finance on Tuesday evening. Amed at the approximately 40 per cent of homestead exempt homes for which no operating tax is paid, the idea was advanced by City Commissioner Frank N. Holley who stated that by making all taxpayers share the expensive costs of parkway maintenance that further millage reductions might be effected. Would Affect All Under the "Holley plan" which will be taken up in detail when the commission begins actual budget study, all property owners would be assessed for parkway maintenance on a front footage basis. Under the present proceeding, parkways are maintained from general revenues and owners of completely homestead exempt homes pay nothing for the service. Better Service Needed Commenting on the idea Commissioner David Hendrick stated that the parkways department will have to give better service (Please turn to Page Five)

Will Begin 'U' Building In Two Weeks $5,000,000 Housing Project Ready To Go

Construction on the University of Miami's $5,000,000 housing project on the main campus will get under way within two weeks, William J. Hester, school business manager, told the city commission on Tuesday. Hester told the commissioners that the Newberg Construction Corporation of Chicago, would construct the buildings, which will be financed through a federal loan. His announcement was made in connection with a University plea to establish a temporary spur track from the railroad paralleling University concourse into the campus property. The spur would be used to transport building materials direct to the building site. Hester assured the Commission-ers, who granted the necessary permission, that adequate bonds and safeguards would be provided and that the tracks would be removed as soon as the construction is completed.

Hold-up Men Net $975 From Store Liquor Dealer Is Victim Of Masked Bandits

Two well-schooled robbers carried out a smooth $975 burglary at Tendrich's Liquor Store Tuesday evening, getting away with almost $1,000 in cash, some liquor, and a stolen pistol, after having forced the store manager and his sister into aiding them at gun-point. Store manager Edwin S. Douglas reported to officers Bundy and Lashbrook who answered his subsequent alarm that he had been packing up tossing receipts when the two men walked in. It was 7:55 p. m., just before closing time, and before he had time to notice their presence, one of the men jabbed a pistol into his back, saying, "This is a little stick-up. Just keep quiet and no one will get hurt." Put In Kitchen Marching back to the kitchen where his sister, Mrs. Margaret D. Dick was cooking, Douglas was forced to stand by while she was ordered to face the wall. The entire robbery was handled so efficiently by the two men that only one of them, wearing a red 'kerchief over his face, was seen by either Douglas or his sister. The (Please Turn to Page Five)

Oelkers' Action On Key Lauded By Civic Groups DELEGATION RECONSIDERS 'STEAL' BILL Many Telegrams Of Congratulation Sent Legislator

Word from Tallahassee this week that Rep. Richard Oelkers, Jr., Coral Gables legislator, had asked the Dade delegation to reconsider its decision to grab the Coral Gables' portion of Biscayne Key from the city limits, brought a wave of approval from Coral Gables civic leaders and organizations. Send Wires Telegrams have already been sent from the Chamber of Commerce, city officials, the Kiwanis Club, Miracle Mile Association, WBAX and the Riviera-Times congratulating Oelkers on his stand and urging other members of the delegation to support his views. In the Gables last weekend, Representative Oelkers phoned Gables friends, and told them that he was going to do everything possible to help Coral Gables retain its part of the key. At a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday in the Ely Cafeteria, the majority of the members indicated that they intended to send individual telegrams, lauding Oelkers for his action and urging the rest of the delegation to kill any part of a bill which would rob the city of part of its rightful territory. Caused Protests The bill, proposed by the delegation, caused a wave of protests from Gables citizens when news (Please turn to Page Five)

No Action Is Taken on Pay Increase City Decision Withheld Until Budget Meeting

A petition from members of the police and fire departments for a salary increase appeared destined this week to await the city commission's budget conferences when the matter drew only a passing comment at the city commission meeting. The petition, filed two weeks ago, was not presented at the meeting. Matter of Policy E. B. Poorman, city finance director, informed the commission that pay increases for city employes would be one of the "matters of policy" the group have to be determined when the budget conferences are slated. He said that a tentative budget would be ready for commission perusal in about two weeks and that a new codified budget form was being forwarded to all department heads. The commission again indicated that it would call on the Citizens' Tax Committee, named by the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce to investigate the budget estimate and the city's financial structure and make any suggestions or criticisms.

MRS JACQUELINE PIERCE plays one of the leading roles, "Lisa," in the coming Summer Theatre presentation May 13 and 15 at the Country Club of Coral Gables. Further details in the Country Clubber, column on page seven.

CAA Ruling Will Combat Low Flying McIllwain Says Miami Paper Was Incorrect

Contrary to a story appearing in yesterday's Miami Herald, CAA plans for revamping the pattern of training flights in the Miami area will reduce low flying over Coral Gables, City Manager William T. McIlwain said today. McIlwain's statement followed a conference with L. A. Winkler, chief of the CAA planning and control staff in Atlanta. The two-point plan will: 1. Move airline training flights to the Homestead airfield from the 36th Street Airport. 2. Move the present radio range station from Miami to a point four miles due west of the east-west runway of the Miami International Airport. In addition, McIlwain stated that the flight pattern, in which planes circle while awaiting the signal to land, will be moved over the Everglades. Many of the planes now circle over Coral Gables. A proposal by E. M. Reinhold, 901 Country Club Prado, to start a fund to combat the low-flying plane menace caused a deluge of See the letters to the editor column In this Issue. comment following its publication in last week's Riviera-Times. Letters and phone calls were received at the newspaper office, with many offering to bolster the fund started by Reinhold.

Now You've Got the Idea, Chubby

Representative RICHARD OELKERS Proves He's a True Gableite

Kiwanis Ball Will Aid Area's Crippled Children COUNTRY CLUB IS SCENE OF CHARITY DANCE TONIGHT

Crippled children, whose parents cannot afford to buy braces and other orthopedic aids for them, will be benefited by the annual Coral Gables Kiwanis Club Charity Ball at 9 p. m. this evening at the Country Club of Coral Gables. Proceeds for the event will go to the Coral Gables Kiwanis Youth Foundation, which is devoted to the aid of crippled and indigent children. Harry Shay is chairman for the event. Cy Washburn's orchestra will furnish the music. Tickets can be obtained from any member of the Kiwanis Club or at the door this evening.

New Role Houston Plea Aids Festival Plans

Former City-Commissioner Andrew N. Houston was on the asking, rather than the listening end of a funds plea at commission meeting Tuesday night, and he did all right in his reversed roll. For the first time since he retired from the commission, Houston appeared in the commission chamber to speak in behalf of the coming Royal Poinciana Festival Week and to ask the city's cooperation. Asks for Pool Houston requested the use of the Venetian Pool for a water carnival on June 4th, the securing of the Country Club for the Coronation Ball on June 9 and an appropriation of $275 to help defray expenses for the Coral Gables events. He also asked city aid in transporting bleacher seats from Ponce de Leon High School to the pool. Informed that the water show would be open to the public without charge and that the Coronation Ball would be an invitation affair with local civic leaders in attendance, the commission granted Houston's requests and ordered the money appropriated from the contingent fund.

Theatre Plans Are Protested By Residents

Plans of Edward N. Claughton to build a 900-seat motion picture theater at the corner of Tamiami Trail and Douglas Road brought a protest from a group of residents of that area at the meeting of the city commission on Tuesday night. The home-occupants, most of whom lived on Avenue Oviedo, stated that they objected to a theater because of the parking situation it would create. They said that they would welcome grocery stores, drug stores or other retail stores. Refuse Explanation Explanations by the commissioners that they were empowered only to designate the area for business and could not regulate the type of business made little impression on the members of the protesting body. Stores Planned Claughton explained that he intended to use the theater as a nucleus for an extensive business development in the area. He was granted the right to erect the theater. After the action was taken, a spokesman for the protesting group told the commissioners that since there was going to be a theater there, they would recommend that Claughton be given permission to install a parking lot on Douglas Road, adjacent to the theater.

Plan Paving Of Granada Open Hearing To Be Slated

A special improvement district for the paving of Granada Boulevard from Bird Road south to Blue Road was ordered created on Tuesday by the city commission. The paving plan also calls for widening the stretch of boulevard to a width of 30 feet from the present width of 19 feet. To Cost $8,667 Cost for the re-paving has been estimated by City Manager William T. McIlwain to be $8,687, which will cost property owners whose lands abut the road approximately $1.49 per front foot. In addition the city will have to widen a wooden bridge on the thoroughfare to a width of 30 feet at an estimated cost of $1,000, to be taken from the road and bridge fund. Prior to the letting of bids for the job, an open hearing will be held and all interested property owners notified.

City Studies Bus Service To Tropical

A request for municipal bus service from residents of Coral Lake Trailer Park and other persons residing in the Bird Road area between the Gables and Tropical Park, was referred to the city manager for study, Tuesday, by the city commission. The request was relayed to the commission through the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.

Petition Asks Clearing Of Vacant Lots

A petition from eight residents of Avenue Valencia, requesting clean-up of an overgrown lot gave rise to a discussion of city policies concerning lot clean-up throughout the community at Tuesday's commission meeting. Setting up of special improvement districts was proposed as one method to achieve general clean-up while other methods of invoking penalties for owners who refused to clear lots were proposed. City Manager William T. McIlwain informed the commission that a general clean-up would be an enormous task as there are 16,000 uncleared lots in the city, and that it would cost from $50 to $100 to clear each one. He was instructed, for the time being, to make investigations of all reports that uncleared lots were proving a menace to public health.

Alleway Re-Paving

Repaving of the alleyway between Avenue Giralda and Alhambra Circle, from Salzedo Street and Ponce de Leon Boulevard was ordered Tuesday when the city commission created a special improvement district to finance the work. The city proposes to pave the alley with a convex surface to provide drainage after heavy rains.

City Workers To Ballot on Trial Board

Voting for two members of the five-man trial board will take place Monday with all full-time, permanent city employees casting their ballots. Previously named to the board by the city commission were L. E. Westerdahl and Phil Laurence. The fifth member of the board, who must be a resident of Coral Gables and not an employee of the city, will be voted upon by the original four members. The function of this board is to hear appeals from persons who have been discharged, suspended, or reduced in their positions. The decisions may be overruled or upheld. If it is upheld, the appeal may then be carried by the employee to the city commission.

New Proposal On Annexation Is Contested

The battle for "No Man's Land" was renewed again at city commission meeting on Tuesday night when residents of the county area appeared armed with petitions, both pro and con, on the question of annexation part of the county territory jutting into Coral Gables' northern boundaries. 125 Sign Armed with a petition containing the names of 125 "qualified voters" who live in the Coral Groves and Coral Estates section of the territory, Mrs. Edith Duggan appeared as a spokesman for a group of annexation proponents living in that area. She asked that the commission take in only that part of the disputed area that is bounded on the north by the southern half of SW 16th Street (Mendoza extension), on the east by Salzedo Street, on the west by Cortez Street and on the South by the Gables city limits. She said the area contained approximately 114 houses. Girtman Protests Charles Girtman, spokesman for the "cons" also presented a petition protesting the annexa- (Please Turn to Page Five)

Top Teams Play Monday In Softball Carl's Meets Granada Club; Contest Close

With Carls and Granada still pacing the Gables men's softball league, another week of sparkling play begins tonight at the Youth Center field when My Brother's Place and the South Miami Firemen open the show and are followed by the Naval Air Station-Delta Airlines tilt. The loop-leading Carls, with three wins and no defeats, will try to retain its victorious ways when they tangle with the undefeated Some of the soft-ball fans who have been attending the games at the Youth Center have been neglecting the contributions box when it is passed around. These contributions must be kept up in order to meet the cost of the lighting. Unless the money is raised in this way, it will be necessary to build a fence and charge regular admission prices. At the next game when the box comes your way, don't forget! Drop your quarter! Granada team on Monday, Tuesday marks play between Taylors Sports and Delta Airlines, and My Brothers Place and the Naval Air Station in the nightcap. Another twinbill follows on (Please Turn to Page Five)

Dunn Predicts Improved Team With New 'T'

The University of Miami grid. Iron Hurricanes have an "ambitious schedule" for the coming season, but "we're not afraid of it," Assistant Coach Eddie Dunn told members of the Lions Club of Coral Gables this week. "We have an unorthodox T-formation this year from which we expect much success," Dunn told the Lions, meeting in the Country Club of Coral Gables. Improvement Anticipated A preview of the team's personnel revealed the expectation that (Please Turn to Page Five)

CPA Approves Addition to Daniels Store

Construction on the new addition to Daniels store on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, which will convert it into a complete women's department store, will start within the next few weeks, C. S. Daniels, president of the corporation stated today. Daniels' statement followed CPA approval for the construction work, which was given on Wednesday. The addition will front on a large parking lot and will be 100 feet wide by 145 feet deep at the place where it joins the present store. Deigaard and Preston will construct the building designed by William H. Merriam.

Three Fined In City Court

Only three traffic violations drew fines in Coral Gables police court this week, with one case of drunkenness the only other filed offense. Florita Hildreth, 40, no address given, got a choice of $10 and costs or five days in jail. After two days she paid $12 and was released. She had been picked up as drunk. William Glick, 22, 1002 Congress Building, Miami, paid the largest fine for traffic violation. A levy of $25 and costs was paid by him for reckless driving by speeding. Lawrence Haris, 20, 448 N. E. 38th Street, paid a fine of $20 and costs for failing to stop at a stop sign, reckless driving and causing an accident. A fine of $10 and costs was charged to Lawrence Stepp, 52, 2350 W. Okeechobee Road, for reckless driving and causing an accident.

Whirling Props To Mark Model Plane Competition By GENE STRUL

Whirling props, stunt flying, and the drone of thundering planes will be the order of the day this week-end, when the Youth Center field is transposed into an airport and young and old gather at the Gables Modelaires model plane contest. Sanctioned by the Florida Model Association, the local flying club will offer $190 in cash prizes in addition to six trophies in four flight divisions. Two awards will be made for the best scale and stunt type models. Entrants to Qualify The state organization announced in a bulletin that the contest is open to all entrants in the state and meet and that points will be given. The Gables club is empowered to collect new records. Crowned by a U-control contest, the meet will get under way Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and will continue on Sunday from 1 to 6 p.m. The event is open to all age groups with entrance fees established at one dollar for the first event and 50 cents for each additional entry.

Inter-Com. Systems Purchased by City

Inter - communication systems will soon take the place of shouting at city hall, the Venetian Pool and the city equipment yard. City Manager William T. McIlwain was authorized Tuesday to spend $827.50 to purchase 10 of the devices.

'Minor Mystery' Puzzles Police

A "minor mystery" remains unsolved in Coral Gables this week. It's the mystery of the spilled paint and broken toothpick discovered on at the Venetian Pool officers Pegram and Berger Wednesday. The paint was spilled on the front door and the toothpick broken off in the burglar alarm and door lock of the Jewel Box. It probably never will be solved, either-no entry was made, and except for the mysterious paint marks and broken toothpick there were no signs that any was attempted. Official report: "No damage done except spilled paint on door."

Paul Revere Aped By Gables Rider; Police Called

Horseplay at Gaxley Riding Academy, Avenues Salzedo and Giralda, put Gables police on alert this week for a horse which disappeared temporarily from a stall during the night. Bedded down at 7 p.m. the horse was missing at 2:30 a.m., and police were notified. It was found later that its owned had merely taken it for a midnight ride, and the equestrian dragnet was relaxed.

May Give Rosasco Pool Concessions

Possibility that the gift shop concession at the Venetian Pool may be turned over to Pool Manager John Rossaco was expressed Tuesday night at the city commission meeting. Advocating that Rosasco be given the concession at the end of the fiscal year, Commissioners Andrew T. Healy and David Hendrick pointed out that the present concessionaire, T. S. Chu, no longer lives in the area. The concession is currently leased on a month-to-month basis. The commission withheld any action pending further investigation.

Coral Gables' Aerial Police Patrol Prepares to War on Low Flying Planes

A file of complaints three inches high, telephone calls, letters-to-the editor, vocal uproar-it had to do some good some time, and it finally has. A flying policeman goes on duty over Coral Gables within the next few days to put an end to sky-buzz-buzzards who have made life miserable for Gables residents with zoomings and hedge-hoppings. Things should be getting better fast from now on, for Sgt. Harry Bell, police pilot of many flying miles experience, is taking over. And he usually gets his man-evereurs. Ordinance Passed Pressure by irate Gables residents got the city commission some months back to pass an anti-noise ordinance applicable to flyers. It was good, but not good enough, for although it called for fining of men caught lower than 1,000 feet, it did nothing to catch them, and the catch-as-catch-can method of serial number-taking by grounded civilians was soon proven almost completely ineffectual. It did some good. Embry-Riddle informed all its pilots and trainees of the ordinance, forbade them on pain of wash-out to stunt or fly low over Coral Gables. But the commercial multi-engine jobs and private pilots operating from untouchable areas were the greatest sinners. And in addition it was found next to impossible to prove violations, since from the ground nothing short of a high-speed camera and a set of complicated logorithms and affidavits could establish guilt in court. To Rule Ozone Now, things will be different. Seated comfortably in his four-place Navion sky cruiser, Sergeant Bell will rule the ozone with an iron hand. Using a special altimeter, the sergeant will fly at 1,000 feet, lining up doubtful traffic on the horizon line to determine altitude and guilt. Aided by a compact F. M. radio instaled in his plane, Sgt. Bell will be posted from police cars in the Gables on any low-flying planes that he should somehow miss. His job, a variation from ground police routine of catch-'em-and-can-'em, will be to take serial numbers of nuisance pilots, follow them in to the airport when necessary and swear out city ordinance violation warrants for their punishment. Outgoing transports get the same treatment, with the exception that their "tickets" will be delivered to airline headquarters for subsequent serving on over-hot pilots. Project Delayed The air patrol idea took shape over a month ago, according to Sgt. Bell. However, lack of equipment-Embry-Riddle's was all tied up on other projects-made it impractical. In addition, wind direction, which can still hold up pa- (Please Turn to Page Five)