The Coral Gables Times

2 THE CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, September 21, 1961

City Attorney Is Positive About High Rise Victory

City Attorney Ted Semple predicted Tuesday that Coral Gables will win its high rise case against builder A. H. Sakolsky. In a move rare for lawyers, Semple said he is certain of victory. "Victory" means that the courts will uphold the City of Coral Gables' change of mind in giving, and then withdrawing, a permit for a 12-story apartment at 720 Biltmore Way. The case is in the hands of Circuit Judge Irving Cypen. Cypen heard the case in July, went on an extended vacation and has not rendered a decision since his recent return. Semple told commissioners at Tuesday's City Commission that the District Court of Appeals has already ruled in favor of the City of Miami in a similar case. The city attorney introduced a copy of the District Court of Appeal's July 1 decision in the suit involving Miami and Eurgene, Inc. over the city's refusal to reinstate a building permit after revoking it. This is basically what Coral Gables did when it allowed Sakolsky to obtain a permit for the high rise building's foundation, but later revoked it in the face of mounting opposition of a large number of residents. This is what the Court of Appeals said in reversing Circuit Court Judge George E. Holt: "In the present case, as in the Sharrow case (another similar suit preceeding the Ergene case), if the appellant's rights to the variance and the building permit issued in conjunction with the variance become vested, such vesting was subject to the warning evidenced by the pending litigation and, therefore, subject to the ultimately completed exercise of the police power which was signaled by this pending litigation." Semple maintains that the circumstances are the same in the Sakolsky case, since the city was also being threatened with a suit at the time it issued the permit.

Promise Expulsion No More Booze, Frats Here Pledge

The presidents of Coral Gables High School's seven fraternities have pledged to each other to disbar any of their members who drink alcoholic beverages outside parental supervision. Their decision was made last week in the wake of pressure from the Dade County School Board which could lead to the abolishment of the groups. Some 250 Coral Gables High School students are members of the fraternities, illegal under Florida law. Another meeting of the presidents was scheduled last night (Wednesday) at the South Miami home of Freddy Rebozo. He is president of the Counts. The presidents were going to discuss the outcome of the school board's second meeting on the matter, held earlier on Wednesday. One of the presidents who attended the session at which the no-drinking pledge was taken said it was the result of a suggestion by Dr. Ben Sheppard, juvenile judge and Gablesite doctor. Drinking is one of the problems related to fraternities, according to law enforcement officials. Other alleged misconduct is an outgrowth of this, they say.

Where's My Barbecue?

IT'S A LONG LINE for little ladies like two-year-old Andrea Etersque who was at the Boosters Club barbecue last week at Coral Gables High School. Her dad, Stanley, teaches 11th grade mathematics at the school. Other pictures on page 8.

Gables Once Owned Part Of Islandia

Part of the controversial island chain-municipality of Islandia was once in Coral Gables, City Attorney Ted Semple confirmed last week. Dade's latest municipality is the object of a controversy over the use of public bay bottom lands. The Ragged Keys, Soldier Key were all part of the Gables along with Key Biscayne but were withdrawn in the 1930s when owners sued to de-incorporate, claiming the city could not provide services. The Quarterback Club, the scene of a recent fire and once an exclusive hangout, is also on a small bay island which was part of the Gables at one time, Semple said.

New Map Of City Approved

The City of Coral Gables will circulate 25,000 maps of the city — but they will not be the one over which it is being sued. Commissioners Tuesday appropriated $960 to have the new maps printed. They were prepared by city engineers. The map will contain various information and statistics about the city and the lay out of bus routes. But it will not be a duplicate of the map currently being circulated by the Chamber of Commerce and over which publisher W. L. Larson is suing the city, the Chamber, another map publisher, John Giffen, and Parker Printing. Larson claims in Federal District Court that the map infringes on his copyrights.

Mrs. Squires Named Head Of Our Classified Dept.

Mrs. Kay Squires has been appointed classified advertising manager of the Coral Gables Times and The Guide. She succeeds Mrs. Irene Stoeber who is on sick leave. The change was announced Wednesday by Rolfe Neill, the papers' editor and publisher. Mrs. Squires has been in classified work for 12 years and most of that time was spent with The Miami News in its phone room. Here, she will supervise a three-woman department which produces one of the largest weekly classified sections in Florida. Mrs. Squires and her husband Frank, who is with the S.C. Bluh Co., lives at 8201 SW 31st St. MRS. SQUIRES

GABLEITE BEAUTY

If you thought you recognized a familiar face in the Miss America pageant recently you may have been seeing Miss New Mexico, a Coral Gables girl. She is Myrtice Lee Conn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Conn, 4800 Riviera Dr., who is a student in that Western state. She was 10th in the Atlantic City judging.

Life Around the Gables

IT WAS HOT and didn't take much for beads of sweat to line your forehead. But H. F. Terry, 1545 Sarria Ave., who likes to "just fuss around" in his yard, donned his shorts, sandals and tee shirt to trim his hedge. A mighty task, the hedge is 110 feet long. (Staff photo by Raymond Lang.)