The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, May 4, 1961, page 6 (of 56)

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Mabel Lays Down Javelin For Blade of Grass Here

By RAYMOND LANG Times Staffer How often does a woman become javelin and discus champion of Puerto Rico and meet her future husband the same day? Mabel Ortiz did it May 17, 1946. The brown-eyed brunette has come a long way from that spring day when she qualified for the Pan American games to today when she is a recreation leader at the Youth Center. She no longer hurls a javelin. She no longer heaves a discus. But she does putter in her garden and loves it. "I just dig . . . put a little plant here ... put it there ... mow the lawn . . . little things like that and then you look back one day and say 'Well, I've accomplished something.' "And then you see the plants and the grass grow. You water them and you work so hard. But it's hot and they die. And then you start again." Speaking tenderly of making things grow was a housewife who only 15 years ago unleashed a javelin throw of 125 feet and spun a discus more than 130 feet. Both are records which are still unbroken in Puerto Rico. She won again in the '54 games. Mabel crossed her legs and folded her hands contentedly over one knee. "Sometimes we'll be driving down the street and we'll see some plants that were thrown away and we'll pick them up. "We'll take the cuttings home," she beamed proudly, "and try to make them grow. "Manuel loves it. As a matter of fact, we look forward to that Sunday afternoon working together, working close together." A big smile, apparently born of deep delight, crossed her tanned face. "And if I have to work in the house, he'll say 'Oh, come on out and work in the yard.' "We're like the doctor and the nurse," she explained. "I supply him with what he needs." Mabel and Manuel knew each other when they were children in their little town of Santurce. They met under not too favorable conditions. Mabel was six years old. One day, she saw a boy with a little red ball and asked him for it. He refused. She grabbed the ball and sped down the street. Not until the day of the celebration party in '46 did she see Manuel again. And not until they started dating and talking about familiar places, did they discover they were once that little boy and girl fighting for the red ball. It's a long way from a Puerto Rican street with a boy and girl fighting over a little red ball to Mabel and Manuel working together in the garden of their Cutler Ridge home. MABEL ORTIZ

City Is Happy to Part With $7,500 for Bowl

The Orange Bowl Committee has put the bite on Coral Gables for $7,500. This is one time the city did not mind being bitten. The request is the same as was granted last year by the City Commission. No action will be taken until the new budget is adopted, but there is no indication that the request will not be granted. Members of the Committee, led by Chairman Ernie Seiler and former Mayor W. Keith Phillips, appeared at the City Commission's informal conference meeting Tuesday to make the annual request. A half-hour color film depicting the Junior Orange Bowl parade in Coral Gables, the King Orange parade, the Regatta, New Year's Day game between Navy and Missouri and other events was shown to the Commission. Copies of the film are being shown in civic clubs in 42 states.

Batal to Talk

James Batal of Coral Gables will be speaker next Wednesday when the Men's Club of St. Philip's Episcopal Church holds its monthly dinner meeting. A graduate of Amherst College and Harvard University, Batal served on the faculty of the American University at Beirut, Lebanon.

Gables Library Gets New Books

During the past week the Coral Gables Public Library received gifts of books from: Mr. and Mrs. James Klutinoty, 2507 Andros Lane, Fort Lauderdale; Mr. and Mrs. Marco Samour, 615 Anastasia Ave. Coral Gables Garden Club, Mrs. S. M. Greene, President, 1036 S. Greenway Drive; Mrs. James W. Rankin, Library Chairman, 719 Escobar Ave., and Coral Gables B'nai B'rith Women, Paula Winter, Chairman, 503 S.W. 9th Ave., Miami.

WANT TO TRADE WORK FOR PLEASURE?

The Roto-Hoe Islander makes short work of lawn mowing—it's a pleasure. Trade in your old power mower for this all new 51⁄2 h.p., 32" cutting width, safety special ... the Islander. We're trading high—come in for a demonstration ride today. $295.00 LAWNMOWER Sales & Service 6138 So. Dixie Hwy. MO 1-7003

PRIVATE TUTORING SERVICE

Individual Instruction in Your Home By Appointment! 1st Grade Through High School. Certified Graduate Teachers. Also Conversational French and Spanish for Adults. Please Call HI 8-7270

Spudnut's New Name Is Tip Top

Mr. Spudnut Restaurant at the northwest corner of Alhambra Circle and Salzedo Street has a new name and a new owner. It is now the Tip Top Restaurant owned by Nick Nimier, of 3301 SW Third St. Nimier, who operated a restaurant in Akron, Ohio, by the same name, has resided in Florida for one year. "Coral Gables is the most beautiful place I've ever seen," said Nimier of his new business home. Neimer's nephew, William Nimier, of 3101 SW 19th Ter., will manage the new Tip Top. Both are World War II veterans and associated in business for the past 20 years. The new owner is married and the father of three children, David, 7, Dianna, 15, and Roger, 12. The manager is also married has two children, Charles, 3, and Janis, 8.

CADILLAC SPECIALIST

Complete Automotive Repair Expert paint and body work. Engine and trans-mission overhaul. EXPERT MOTOR TUNE-UP By Factory Trained Mechanics Complete Auto Repairs on All Makes Model Cars Expert Front End Alignment and Wheel Balancing PICK UP AND DELIVERY SERVICE Serving Coral Gables over 30 years CORAL GABLES GARAGE 4200 LAGUNA STREET Day—HI 8-2691 Night—HI 6-9907 Open 7:30 a.m. till 5:30 p.m. AAA

Gunns Will Visit Tokyo for Rotary

Mr. and Mrs. W. R. Gunn, 609 Majorca Ave., will see much of the world when they travel to Tokyo to attend the Rotary International Convention May 27-June 1. The Gunns, who were at the 1957 convention in Lucerne, Switzerland, will visit friends and relatives in Houston, Tucson, and Los Angeles before going to Hawaii and then on to the Orient. After the convention, they will visit Hong Kong on their way home.

SPECIAL OFFER FOR MOTHER'S DAY

LaMarick Custom Creme Oil Wave complete with shampoo, haircut and style set. NOW ONLY Comparable value $27.50 10.50 FREE MANICURE WITH THIS PERMANENT Make an appointment today with our expert colorist. Touch ups. 6.50 and up USE YOUR CHARGE ACCOUNT MR. ANDRE Mr. Andre, one of Florida's outstanding hair stylists is now a member of our staff. LaMarick JACKSON-BYRON Beauty Salons Phone HI 4-3322 45 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables Open Monday and Friday Evenings

TELEX HEARING AIDS

"World's Finest Precision Hearing Aids" IF YOU HONESTLY WANT TO HEAR BETTER Roger and Antonia Johnson TELEX HEARING CENTER 2649 CORAL WAY HI 4-4442 Batteries, Supplies, Service all makes

HANDIEST LOCATION FOR A BANK

Where, would you say, is the center of things in Coral Gables . . . in the Southwest Section? A lot of folks would agree it's Miracle Mile at Ponce de Leon. And that's just where we are—to serve you. Next time you're in the center of things why don't you drop in and get acquainted? THE APPRECIATIVE FULL-SERVICE BANK... FLORIDA NATIONAL Bank at Coral Gables MIRACLE MILE AT PONCE DE LEON BOULEVARD MEMBER: FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM, FLORIDA NATIONAL GROUP 8743 28