The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, March 15, 1962, page 1 (of 20)

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Hold On, More Taxes: McNayr

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter "We are moving toward a municipal-type government for Dade County," County Manager Irving G. McNayr said in Coral Gables Tuesday. McNayr was addressing the Kiwanis Club at its weekly luncheon at the Gables Country Club. Focusing much of his talk on the mushrooming unincorporated area, McNayr painted a picture of 400,000 escapees from city taxes looking for municipal services. Making up nearly half of Dade County's 1,000,000 people, McNayr pointed out that this group will soon be in the majority. At the same time, the county manager did not foresee that the municipalities would be gobbled up. But he did see higher taxes for every one. "I look to higher cost of government," McNayr predicted. He blamed run-down facilities and the need for new equipment. Other avenues of revenue must be found aside from ad valorem taxes, he said. As for Metropolitan government, McNayr saw in it the only hope to solve the area's complex problems. But he found fault with it when he came here and finds room for improvement now. "There didn't seem to be a spirit of serving the people," said McNayr of county employes when he took over a year ago. He demanded a day's work for a day's pay, McNayr said, and that county employes be courteous and give decent service. The County manager, who arrived from South Carolina shortly before the so-called McLeod amendment was voted down by a narrow 8,000 vote margin, said the results proved that Metro must do better. "It would have thrown Dade County," in my judgment, into a period of chaos," said McNayr. He found Dade too dependent on the tourist industry and needing a balanced economy to take care of the unemployment problem. Reassessment, he said, will have to come, but on a gradual basis. McNAYR (R) & KIWANIAN FRANK KELLY

Record Falls

Eighty-year-old John A. Denoone, 2417 N. Greenway Dr., spoiled his 25-year-perfect driving record in court this week but received a suspended fine. Metro Judge Jack Turner found Denoone guilty of running a stop sign. Denoone had stopped behind another car and should have stopped again at the sign itself.

Coral Gables TIMES

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New Bank in Our Town

University National Bank of Coral Gables—the fourth banking institution for the City—will be established somewhere on South Dixie Highway within five months. Its founders are five local business and professional men who obtained the federal charter last week after a two-year effort. They are: John M. Montgomery, former Gables mayor and a director of University Federal Savings and Loan Association. Don H. Wessell, general contractor and also a director of University Federal. Dr. S. Hill Gordon, a dentist and University Federal director. John R. Beverley, director of employment relations for International Petroleum. George M. Peppard, retired (See NEW BANK, page 2)

Others Disagree Some Say Housing Could Be Handled

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter (Fourth in a series) If anyone had to be named the father of the Minimum Housing Standards Code, Charles Finkelstein would be the choice. The pioneering code is the instrument being used by the city to rehabilitate the Negro slum area of Coral Gables, "The City Beautiful." While Finkelstein is proud of the almost single-handed role he played in drawing the original code, he wishes today that the offspring he fathered had more guts. "They've made some progress," said Finkelstein, "but I'm not happy with it. (See THE HOVELS, page 2) CHARLES FINKELSTEIN ... his plan

She Took Edison's Advice: Never Dig Into Your Principal

By DAVID GRIER Correspondent If you think it's too much trouble to register and vote, consider Mrs. Cary Woodward Hart, 541 Giralda Ave., who just re-registered at the age of 95 at Coral Gables City Hall. Mrs. Hart, Gables resident since 1932, became ill with a heart ailment shortly after registering, but her daughter, Mrs. Francis Pandow, was glad to tell about some of her interesting past. "Mother has always been enthusiastic about voting," she said, "she's a registered Republican and has never voted for a Democratic presidential candidate." Mrs. Hart is strongly against Metro and voted against it originally and backed the anti-Metro McLeod amendment last year. Her husband, who died at 73, was Frank Hart, ex-reporter of the Kansas City Star and lithographer for Life magazine. Mrs. Hart was born Feb. 29th, 1868 in Mexico, Mo. In 1862, General Grant's men had ransacked and destroyed her mother's house and property. "Her mother had hundreds of slaves," Mrs. Pandow said, "and she cared for them like they were her children—cooking and sewing for them." Mrs. Hart moved to East Orange, New Jersey at the turn of the century and sold peaches on the streets. One of her best customers was Thomas A. Edison. "Edison was tight with money but very free with advice," Mrs. Pandow noted. "He told mother, 'never dig into your principal' and also advised her to buy stock in American Telephone and Telegraph." Mrs. Hart took his advice after the 1929 depression and has almost everything in AT&T today. "Edison was also influential in getting mother to move to Florida," Mrs. Pandow said. Edison owned and maintained a winter home in Fort Myers until he died. In 1932, Mrs. Hart helped Desi Arnez's father who had just fled from Cuba as a refugee "get his start." Dr. Desediro Arnez was the wealthy mayor of San Diego but lost practically everything when he was forced to leave the country by revolutionists. Somehow he managed to bring with him on a boat a quantity of Spanish tile which Mrs. Hart bought and used in the building of eight houses in Coral Gables. "At the time," Mrs. Pandow related, "this area was really dead." As the houses were finished—one by one—Mrs. Hart would move in thinking she'd stay, but always moved to the next house completed. Mrs. Hart is now residing with her daughter in the eighth house.

Rival Units Get Together On Industry

(Editorial on page 4) Creation of a Commercial Development Committee to coordinate the activities of all groups and individuals interested in bringing new commerce to Coral Gables is expected to be introduced next week, Mayor Robert L. Searle said Tuesday. The move represents a compromise between Mayor Searle and the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce. Each had organized its own commercial development group and the organizations appeared likely to compete with one another. The necessary authorizing resolution is being readied by City Manager L. W. Robinson Jr. A five-man committee, with two members appointed by the City Commission, two by the Chamber of Commerce and a fifth by the other four, would direct the commercial development activities through the City's publicity and advertising consultant, Bert Burris. In addition, a 25-man advisory board would be named.

"Sold the very next day"

Remarked Mrs. Howard Hamilton of 3700 Ponce de Leon Blvd. 50 YEAR OLD 10 Pc. mahogany dining suite, round table, china cabinet, server, buffet & 6 chairs. All pieces have graceful legs. Shell motif. Reas. 3700 Ponce de Leon. (lower duplex). Find out what effective advertising can do for you just dial HI 3-1661 and a courteous ad taker will help you.

Frat Pin Causes His Suspension

Coral Gables High has suspended its first student for wearing a fraternity pin on the school premises. The student is Fred Goldsmith. His suspension is under an anti-fraternity regulation adopted last fall. He returned to school this week. Meanwhile, the Coral Gables Kiwanis Club and a group of 42 boys at the school are continuing discussions over a difference of opinion about the boys' fraternity, called KE. The Kiwanis Club sponsors a service club at the school known as Key Club. There are 24 boys who belong to this group. Virtually all these plus some more boys have formed a 42-member fraternity. Kiwanis objects to the use of a similar name (KE and Key). A meeting is to be held at the school Monday night. Clyde Taylor is president of the fraternity, Chappie Cesarano is president of the service organization. The fraternity at first resisted the suggestion from the Kiwanis Club that it find another name. However, the membership has decided to follow the Kiwanians' wishes. Gables High Principal Harry Rath was loathe to discuss the Goldsmith suspension this week. When asked how it is that after months of students wearing fraternity and sorority insignia that suddenly one student is disciplined, Rath replied: The school has its orders, from the School Board, about displaying insignia. It was (See KIWANIANS, page 2)

Judge Unimpressed

A University of Miami student seeking to beat a speeding rap failed to impress the Judge Monday with references to manufacturer's specifications about his 1959 sports car. My car couldn't possibly reach 60-miles an hour in a half-mile distance, argued Geoffrey Bernstein. He cited auto manuals in support. The issue isn't 60 miles an hour, said Judge Jack Turner in Metro Court, but speeding. Bernstein paid $15.