The Coral Gables Times

2 THE CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, July 27, 1961

Judge Sifts High Rise Case Decision Is Likely After His Vacation

By MAURICE LABELLE Times weporier A. H. Sakolsky's proposal to build a 12-story apartment building at 720 Biltmore Way is in the hands of Circuit Court Judge Irving Cypen. The City of Coral Gables and Sakolsky concluded their arguments July 20 after a long string of witnesses appeared to testify for or against the developer's suit to force the city to issue him a building permit for the $3 million building. Judge Cypen indicated that a decision might not be handed down until after he returns from vacation next month. Among the parade of witnesses were former Mayor John M. Montgomery, who along with Mayor Robert L. Searle and former commissioner Winson W. Wynne, had voted for the "skyscraper" apartment along Biltmore Way Dec. 6, 1960. Commissioner Joe Murphy, along with former Commissioners Frank Kerdyk and James Hess, who voted to reverse the decision after Hess replaced Wynne on the Commission, was questioned at length by Robert C. Ward, Sakolsky's attorney. Among those also testifying for Sakolsky were Edward McBride and Irving Phillipson, who own portions of the apartment site, with Harry Aizenshtat; Henry J. Nelson, consulting engineer, Edwin V. Bliss; Herman Wepman, attorney who handled a $42,000 loan for Sakolsky; and architects Edwin V. Bliss, Sidney M. Walker and Peter Jefferson. Other witnesses for the city were John Wynne, chief assistant to the state attorney; Franklin Parson, attorney for a group of more than 200 irate citizens who opposed the apartment; Fremont Marshal, director of zoning; John Vinsant, zoning administrator; and Maurice Labelle, Times staffer. City Attorney Ted Semple, who defended the City with attorney William Burton, moved early in last Thursday's session to have Sakolsky's suit dismissed. Judge Cypen took the motion under advisement but allowed the case to proceed. Semple, in asking for the dismissal, ought to show that Sakolsky never owned the property and merely had an agreement to buy contingent on getting a permit from the city. The permit he received for the foundation only was revocable, Semple said. Sakolsky said Thursday that he was not asking for damages at this time and had no idea how much expense he had incurred. Testimony indicated he paid $2,000 as the cost of financing the $42,000 loan; $6,814 to Aizenshtat and Phillipson as a part payment of 300 feet of frontage on Biltmore Way; $1,750 to Walker, and that he had incurred an additional $41,500 in architectural fees to Walker, Bliss and Jefferson. McBride told the court he had not yet signed over the deed to sis 150 feet of property. Ward sought to show that Sakolsky had legally obtained a permit by a 3-2 vote of the City Commission majority and that this action was irrevocable because Sakolsky had complied with the requirements. Judge Cypen's decision is likely to be appealed by the losers.

Life Around the Gables

IN THIS WORLD of mounting tension, of problems of recession and just too much summer sun beating down on our heads, what could be more relaxing than taking it easy, pure and simple, and photographing your 10-week-old kitten? Focussing on Dixie Lee, a little white powderpuff, is Mrs. R. L. Cook, 40 Calabria Ave. (Photo by Raymond Long)

Pay Raises Are Granted In City Hall

(Continued from page 1) classified to unclassified. His estimated gross income of approximately $30,000, including concessions, will not be affected. The wide difference in changes resulted from a complete re-classification study conducted by the Personnel Department plus normal increments. City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. was boosted from $14,664 to $15,392; City Clerk Loretta Sheehy, $7,398 to $8,164; Finance Director Kenneth Allyn, $10,429 to $10,946; Tax Assessor T. C. Bount, $9,009 to $9,464. City Attorney Ted Semple, $12,760 to $13,286; Personnel Director Robert Harrison, $7,398 to $8,580; Building and Zoning Director Fremont Marshall, $8,163 to $8,996. Public Works Director William Fagan, $8,572 to $8,948; Public Service Director Harley Pittman, $10,429 to $10,946; Municipal Judge Charles Spooner, $3,003 to $3,068. Automotive Maintenance Director Truman Smith, $8,572 to $8,996; Police Chief William Kimbrough, $9,937 to $10,946; Fire Chief Paul Matheson, $9,446 to $10,426. Tennis Pro Jack Cook $4,122 to $4,604; Librarian Margaret Beaton, $7,398 to $8,164; Transportation Director Lee Davis, $7,398 to $7,834; Granada Golf Course Pro Elmer Gerth, $4,559 to $5,552; Venetian Pool Manager John Rosasco, $6,088 to $7,043.

Dirt Pile

Have you wondered what that big pile of dirt is doing next to the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant on the corner of Ruiz and Ponce de Leon? "It's just a stockpile," says a spokesman for Troup Brothers. "We don't have any place else to put it. It is being used in the construction on Le Jeune Road. We know it's an eyesore and it will be removed as soon as possible."

City Dedicates Right of Way

The City of Coral Gables has dedicated 25 feet of right of way at its Kendall soil pit to make a full-width street possible in that arca. Heftler Construction Company, faced with having to pave a half-width street, had requested the dedication from the city. The dedication runs along SW 97th Ave. from the Seaboard Air Line Railway tracks to Snapper Creek Canal.

Boys Will Be...

Venetian Pool was under a state of seige July 20 when bathers there found themselves being shelled by green oranges from outside the pool. At least two persons complained of being hit. Officer Macon Mazen, called to investigate, found two boys under a nearby orange tree. A reprimand ended the bombardment.

Modesty is a virtue not often found among poets, for almost every one of them thinks himself the greatest in the world.—Miguel De Cervantes

His War Stories Could Go On & On But the CO Said ..

(Continued from page 1) red with the plan," Colonel Barnum said, "but the British thought it was a trap and vetoed the scheme. "Hess went insane because he was deeply religious and was convinced that communism was the enemy of the world . . . and no one believed him." Among the colonel's souvenirs is a small piece of plexiglas canopy from Hess's plane. Among his many memories is one he likes to laugh about now. "I was in Mobile, Ala. for two months in the winter of '44. My mission was so secret no one knew I was there. Finally one day, with a blizzard raging in New York City and the temperature well below zero, I received orders to report to Mitchell Field, N.Y. in tropical uniform. "My assignment, as an aide to President Roosevelt on his trip to Casablanca, was fine. But it took some doing to rescind the order of attire." Colonel Barnum has been flying since 1925 when the Air Corp, in its first pilot training class, taught him to fly, "barn doors—with motors on them." He holds the DFC with two clusters, the Air Medal with seven clusters and wo purple hearts. He flew 102 combat missions and served two tours of duty, firs with the Eighth Air Force and the second with the Ninth, in the European Theater. In the middle of his first tour, flying at 16,000 feet, in withering flak, he discovered the Germans using radar-controlled guns for the first time. The supremacy of the lies depended on a quick and effective solution. Otherwise all aircraft would be no more than clay pigeons from then on. Shortly thereafter every wallpaper factory in the United States was asked to coat all their production with aluminum ink and then cut the paper into 1/8-inch rolls. The planes dropped these over the radar gun areas and unrolling on the way down the aluminum ink foiled the radar screen. The guns blazed away at wall paper while the aircraft, high above, flew safely on. The colonel could tell of his experiences all night long and never tell the same story twice. But his commanding officer, Gwlayds, called ti - reminding him of a battle on the morrow, in the backyard, with an army of chinch [?bugs?].

Noga to Yoga

There'll be no teaching of yoga at 2154 Ponce de Leon Boulevard unless the City Commission overrules the Zoning Board. Zoning Board members Monday turned down a proposal by Eugene S. Rawls to operate Hindu health courses in Coral Gables.

Unplanned Cuba Trip Gableites Home, Glad of It

(Continued from page 1) passengers were taken off the plane they were herded into a small room where all their baggage and clothing were examined. CHECKED EVERYTHING "They checked everything, wallets, pocketbooks, everything. They took my briefcase, though it couldn't have been of any value to them. But they insisted on carrying it off and then it was returned to me later. As far as I know everything they did take was returned eventually. "It was just harrassment. They took a letter from one poor guy and made a big fuss over it, but all it was was a business letter about a real estate deal." Then Yuri Gagarin, the Russian astronaut, arrived for the July 26 celebration. "They took us upstairs where we could watch his arrival. Everybody stood there in the pouring rain, thunder and lightning, and cheered him." MAKESHIFT HOTEL After the excitement was over they were taken to makeshift hotel on the second floor of the airport. They were assigned to rooms, three to five of the passengers in each. "There were three of us in my room. Nothing to rave about but better than nothing. We shared a private bath and one towel and soap the size of a postage stamp, and then we found out the shower wouldn't work. No,water," said Waller. "The food was adequate but not very palatable. We had some sort of beef stew for dinner that night with some pretty forlorn looking string beans and mashed potatoes." That night they were allowed to have sort of an impromptu cocktail hour. Some of the men pooled their money and bought some rum and the soldiers provided soda and ice. They spent most of the evening in a small lobby equipped with one sofa and about ten chairs. HAD 'HELP' "There was a small balcony and we were allowed to go out there for some fresh air, it was awfully hot. "But every time we did we were accompanied by soldiers armed with machine guns to point out the sights of the city to us. The 'sights' were giant picutres of Castro, Khrushchev and Gagarin." Waller said the soldiers were quick to expound on the advantages of their socialistic form of government. They strongly maintain that it is not communism. They told the passengers that everything they had was given to them free by the government, food, board, uniforms and that they receive no pay. "Everybody over 14 has something to kill somebody with," said Waller. There was no evidence of Russian equipment but, "there is an abundance of Czechoslovakian fire arms of every discription. PASSENGERS HELP "The passengers were wonderful. Everyone took things very well. They were all good-natured — but then if you are not down there you get shot so . . . "There were anxious moments, we were all scared at one time or another, but it wasn't too bad. I'm glad it's over though, and I don't plan on doing it again." They were not allowed to try to contact home but they were given a battery radio to listen to to pass the time. "But every time we picked up a Miami or New Orleans station, and the news can on, it was jammed and you could not hear it." We were told that breakfast would be at seven the next morning but it wasn't ready until around ten. We were given a hard roll and a pat of butter and then later some watered-down orange juice and some Cuban coffee, too black to drink. "Most of us left the juice and coffee sitting there." 'HURRY UP' They were called out of their rooms again, about one, for lunch and were told about half way through the meal to "hurry or you'll miss the plane." They arrived in Miami about 3:30 p.m. "Now that it's over I'm kind of glad I had the chance to see what things are like down there now. The airport looks pretty run-down. Many of the planes in the field are partially dismantled and rusting," said Waller. "Cuba is full of guns, everybody is suspicious of everybody else, and there are [?10?] chiefs and no indians down there. "—and, I repeat, I wouldn't recommend it — for anything."