The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, February 15, 1962, page 17 (of 20)

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A Rip? Why Jim'll Sew It Up; Heel Off? Jim'll Pound It Back

By RAYMOND LANG Times Reporter Jim Adams doesn't mind when children at Merrick Demonstration School call on him to be a mother and father. "Everyday they come to me for some little thing," said Adams, 55, as he leaned back in a scarred chair in an office cluttered with hammers, nails and brooms. He is the custodian at the school. "If they tear their pants, I take a needle and sew it up. "And every week, about three or four kids will come to me, a heel off their shoe, or a sole lost. So I pound it back the best I can." Adams pointed a calloused hand to a shelf. "And I bought me this shoe last for the kid's shoes," he said, looking at the foot-shaped metal object over which a shoemaker slips a damaged shoe. "I go over to the shoe store," the grandfather of four children went on, "and for 50 cents, I get enough tacks to last me for a whole year. "Here," he said. He twisted in his chair to reach at something on the shelf behind him. "I got all these different sized tacks for their shoes." Adams produced a bottle of tacks and turned it over in his work-worn hands. The shouts of boys playing after school filtered through Adams' window as he continued. "About the cutest thing that ever happened to me," he said, leaning forward in his chair, was when a little boy came in. "And this boy, he was in the first grade, said 'You know, Jim, you sure work mighty hard. Just like my Dad.' " 'Well, thank you,' I said. He was a real nice boy. 'And what does your Dad do?' I asked him. " 'Oh, he died a year ago, a heart attack . . . Jim, I sure wish you was my Dad. " 'If you weren't married, you could marry my Mom and be my Dad.' " Adams' weathered face broke into a grin as he recalled this incident. It happened 10 years ago when he was custodian at Flagami Elementary School. Adams said three days after his conversation with the boy, while he was sweeping the main office, the child walked in, he had brought his mother to meet Jim. Adams, who went to a little country school in Hartwell, Ga., wasn't always a custodian. He's been one since 1952 and has worked at Merrick for five of those years. Jim's married, has a daughter and four grandchildren. He lives at 1135 SW 34th Ave. Turning back to his work, he laughed. "Oh, God, I can't think of the thousand and one things I do. It's go here and go there." GETTING JIM to sew a rip in his trousers is 10-year-old Steve Eubanks. He's the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ray Eubanks, 4345 SW 10th St.

OPENS FRI., FEB. 16 Daily Thru Wed., Feb. 21

7:30 P.M. 1 to 11 P. M. Get a Line on Everything New! "SEE YOUR FUTURE AFLOAT" The Very Latest in BOATS — ENGINES ACCESSORIES SERVICE BRING YOUR CAMERA Free Parking TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL MIAMI International BOAT SHOW DINNER KEY AUDITORIUM ★ ★ ★ MIAMI, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 16 thru 21

City Buys 18 Vehicles

Eighteen new vehicles, including 10 police cars, were bought by the City of Coral Gables Tuesday. The police cruisers, eight two-door sedans and two four-door sedans, were purchased from Munroe-Zeder Inc., low bidder, for $17,880. Two four-door sedans costing $3,810 were purchased from Austin Ford, Inc. for the Public Service Department. Three Falcon compact cars, having two-doors were purchased for the Building and Zoning Department and an identical car for the Maintenance Division for $4,805 from Deel Ford. Deel also got the nod for a four-door, nine-passenger station wagon for the Youth Center. All the purchases authorized by the City Commission were from low bidders. Still another vehicle, this one not purchase on bids because it was under $2,000 was purchased for the city messenger. This was also a Falcon compact, purchased from Deel Ford for $1,805.15.

CORAL GABLES FLOWER SHOP

someone on the sick list? Send "get well" flowers Cheer an ill relative or friend with a gay bouquet of flowers or a lasting blooming plant. Come in today and let us help you make your selection. We send "Get Well" flowers and plants anywhere. CORAL GABLES FLOWER SHOP 3311 PONCE De LEON HI 8-7451

RACING FANS

TOM TRULIS, your host and owner of the New Fireside Restaurant invites you to complete your day with a wonderful dinner at the Fireside. Barbecued Ribs, Chicken or Duck $2.95 | STEAKS | CHOPS | SEAFOOD | PRIME RIB OF BEEF $3.75 Personally selected by Tom Trulis | LIVE MAINE LOBSTER | KING-SIZE COCKTAILS AT POPULAR PRICES Cocktail Hour Daily 4 to 6 p.m. | LUNCHEON SPECIALS FROM 85c Served Daily (Except Sunday) 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. | DANCING AND ENTERTAINMENT NIGHTLY UNTIL 5 A.M. featuring FLORENCE CLOSE Vocalist | The New Fireside Restaurant and Lounge Air Conditioned Free Parking 3622 CORAL WAY — MIAMI (S.W. 22nd ST.) For Reservations Call "Dotty" HI 3-2038

CLIP AND SAVE. DAILY SPECIALS RED SUNSET CAFETERIA

PRINTING

Greeting Cards—Stationery CHARLIES PRINT SHOP 9546 BIRD RD. 226-3132

EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT . . . “BREAKFAST AT COOKIES”

TWO LOCALLY PRODUCED LARGE EGGS (ANY STYLE) POTATOES OR GRITS INCLUDES CHOICE OF . . . Any Juice or Homemade Stewed Prunes. Basket of assorted oven-fresh Rolls and Miniature Danish. Creamery Butter, Cream Cheese and Jelly. Our special blend of coffee (second cup on us) BETTER THAN EVER all for 75c SERVED UNTIL 11 A.M. OPEN 16 HOURS Cookies RESTAURANT • FOUNTAIN • PANTRY 135 MIRACLE MILE—SERVING 4 MEALS A DAY 8 A.M.-2 A.M.