The Coral Gables Times

2 CORAL GABLES TIMES Thursday, June 14, 1962

Extent of Prom Drinking Stands Unclarified

(Continued from page 1) would run down 1,200 children and the thousands of hours that went into making a nice prom 'for the sake of one or two who were sent away," Rath said of the writer of last week's letter. Rath was critical of the writer, who requested that her name be with held, and of the Times for respecting her wishes. A rebuttal of the letter's drinking charges were carried in the same issue. "Lots of kids there were drinking," said one coed. "I heard that somebody had passed out and that some of his club brothers carried him out to the car lot. I didn't see him pass out but I saw them carrying him. "I didn't hear anything about anybody passing out until the letter in the paper," said another, student president of one of the unrecognized fraternities at Gables. "Maybe two or three people were actually drinking inside the prom. I'll admit I did see a couple of bottles there, but I think that most of the drinking was done at the cocktail parties before the prom," he said. "The cops caught one boy and told him to spill out his drink, but they didn't ask him to leave or anything like that." Miami police officers on duty at the prom made no mention of reprimanding students for drinking. They were Lt. Norwood Thompson and Officer Joseph Lucas. "It was a nice, clean orderly party," said Lt. Thompson. "I saw no drinking, I saw nobody pass out. Nobody got sick," he said. Thompson, who said that he had been contacted by some one from the school before he was reached by the Times, said that he had, "been in and out," during the dance, but a check with Officer Lucas indicated that he had seen nothing unusual. "I know for a fact that one boy was reprimanded and told to throw out his drink by one of the cops," said a graduating senior. "I heard him. I think he told another boy the same thing too, although neither of them was told to leave or anything like that." Another boy said that a friend of his had been told to leave the dance by a teacher, Joseph DeChurch, who was one of the chaperones at the dance. His statement was verified by both William Byrd, assistant principal of Gables High, and by Mrs. Helen Rath, wife of Principal Harry Rath. "The boy blew smoke in his face," said Mrs. Rath "when Mr. DeChurch told him to go home." Lt. Thompson said he had no knowledge of anyone being expelled from the dance for drinking. Assistant Principal Byrd told the Times that there were three officers at the dance, as "there are at all school functions." But Lt. Thompson said there were only two men on duty, himself and Officer Lucas. Another student who attended the prom, a former editor of the school paper, said: "When you get that many kids together there is bound to be some drinking; there always is." She credited one club group in particular, Wheel Club, no longer recognized as a school sponsored group, as showing more obvious effects from liquor. She cited one boy, the son of a former prominent Gables city official, as being "really out - of - it." He was drinking at the club cocktail party preceding the prom, she said, and apparently continued on through the evening. Students said it has become almost a tradition at Gables High, as well as at many other high schools in our area for club groups to have a cocktail party before the prom. For some this is referred to as the "President's Party," and it is given at the home of the current club president. In the event of families disapproving, other locations are sought. This year three Coral Gables clubs were refused rooms in which to have their pre-prom parties at several hotels on Biscayne Boulevard, across from the auditorium where the dance was held. "I think the letter was very exaggerated," said one student, a former member of Key Club "She (the letter writer) had no right to write it if she wasn't there to see just what went on. "There really wasn't that much drinking at the prom itself. There was more of it done at the cocktail parties first. I didn't see anyone pass out, but I did see another boy out in the parking lot who looked pretty sick, and some of his brothers were working on him." According to witnesses, this boy was not the same one the coed reported seeing being carried out. They were two different boys and both were named by the students who saw them. The boy who was asked to leave was also named. One student suggested that the club boys were primarily responsible for most of the drinking that occurred. But this was challenged by three more students who claimed that "the independents did their share too." Of the 10 polled, six students named Wheel Club members first among those that they had seen drinking. Four more named members of Ching Tang, a club which has also been refused recognition by school officials. One of the club members stated his case this way: "Since none of the clubs are legal or recognized anyway, you may as well do as you please. You can get in the same amount of trouble for drinking as you can just for wearing your fraternity pin to school." The entire controversy was summed up by another student who said she has attended all three proms during her time as a student at the Gables. "Of course there was drinking going on — there always is Some people just happen to see more of it than others. I don't think you can say that there was enough drinking to warrant the label "booze party," but that is a matter of opinion. Compared to last year's prom this was nothing. There wasn't nearly as much drinking." Was there or wasn't there excessive drinking at the prom as "indignant mother" charged? Choose your version.

Legal Loopholes? They Seek Gimmick to Oust Publix

(Continued from page 1) be taken until representatives of Publix could be contacted to state their case. Nadeau presented the petition asking that the Commission block construction providing for enforcing certain parking requirements calling for a specific number of spaces. Nadeau proposed that this has been a long neglected conditional ordinance and that it was particularly applicable to the Publix issue. Nadeau and Weston's client, the Santona, Nervia Corp., owns and operates an apartment building on property abutting the Publix site. For more than an hour the attorneys and commission members debated the intent of the ordinance, with Semple sticking to his original ruling that the ordinance did not apply to the zone and structure in question. During the second hour, the somewhat heated debate was interspersed with comments and pleas from property owners in the area. At this point Weston altered his strategy, swinging from the legal angle to the "ethical" angle — weighing his argument with the damage that would be incurred to the residents by Publix's establishment. Said Semple, "As a Gables resident, I would take money out of my own pocket if I could find a law to remedy the situation, but as a lawyer, I can't do it." Following mention of a rumor that the A & P Supermarket chain also had plans for construction in the same area, it was suggested that if some restricting action wasn't soon taken, residents in the area complained that they would eventually be surrounded by a deluxe shopping center of their own, which they said they did not need. Kids in our area are increasing almost a rapidly as the commercial interest," said one young father. "And any additional influx of the traffic flow plus the noise and dirt that will accompany it won't make life any more pleasant for us." One resident suggested that perhaps the city could condemn the land for recreational purposes and construct a playground or children's park on the site. He said that if the city budget would not cover it, there might be arrangements made for a special tax assessment for residents in the pertinent area to pay for it. This was left open for discussion after further research, but was met with skepticism on the part of the commission as far as its legal possibilities were concerned. The long discussion was drawn to a close after the two attorneys, a dozen residents, every commissioner, and the city attorney had contributed something to the controversy. But the entire situation stood unresolved except for one small item. The petition was dropped on the grounds that it was legally unacceptable and 77 residents left the meeting more convinced than ever that Publix has them over a barrel — but they're still determined to find a legal loophole.

Ground to Break Today For $2 Million Hotel

Ground will be broken at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) for Coral Gables' newest hotel — the $2 million Holiday Inn at 1350 South Dixie Hwy. A permit for $890,000 was issued Friday to Ben B. Gaines, operator of a hotel and motel chain. The three-story hotel will have 155 rooms. It was designed by MacKay and Gibbs and will be built by Polizzi Construction Co. Facilities of the new hotel, the first to be built since boom time days, will include a pool, solarium, dining room, meeting rooms, coffee shop, cocktail lounge, barber shop and beauty parlor.

Stadium Off -- For Now

(Continued from page 1) Coral Gables, to a large stadium on campus, something most major universities have. Late last year, Mayor Robert L. Searle called a meeting between the City Commission and University officials which produced a warm reception for the idea but no action. Dr. Jay F. W. Pearson pointed out at the time that the final decision would have to come from the U.M. Board of Trustees. Still unknown is how the new president Dr. Henry King Stanford will feel about the proposal. Dr. Stanford is scheduled to become president when Dr. Pearson moves up to chancellor July 1.

Guilford Bows to Tumlin after Award-Winning Year

Trophies, plaques, certificates, back slaps, gavels, and a golf cart changed hands frequently when 128 Gables and Southwest residents gathered for the Annual Junior Chamber of Commerce Awards and Installation Banquet Saturday night at the Coral Gables Country Club. Outgoing president Frank (Mort) Guilford who had seen Gables Jaycees receive more state and district laurels for their achievements than any previous time in the last decade, turned the gavel over to Terry Tumlin Jr., newly elected president. Preceding installation of new officers, numerous awards were given to members who have helped make the last year a successful one for the Jaycees. The Gables Jaycee Chapter received First Place State Division three awards for their efforts to better International Relations, and for their Project of the Year. That project was the Jaycee Community Development Survey, Analysis, and Action. They received Second Place for Community Development in the district covering Dade and Monroe Counties. They were also first runners-up for Community Development on the state level, in competition with 116 other clubs. TERRY TUMLIN, JR. . . . He's In MORT GUILFORD . . . He's Out Robert Silver, past president of the Coral Gables Club and Past State Jaycee President, installed the new officers: Tumlin, president; Ronald Hedlund, first vice - president; James Gerth, second vice president; Robert Hartnett, secretary; Dunbar Helsley, treasurer; and Raymond Brown is State Director. Guilford presented awards to several outstanding Jaycees. The Landon Plaque, awarded to a member of the Board of Directors or an officer who has excelled in leadership, went to Dr Richard Souviron. Larry Adams received the Dressel Trophy, an annual award established many years ago by past president and present City Commissioner Jerry Dressel to be given to the year's most outstanding member. A special plaque was awarded this year to Ralph W. McCandliss, in appreciation of his 10 years leadership and service to the Junior Chamber. "Key Men" Awards were received by Tumlin, Duffy Huttman, and Gordon Levinson; and Certificates of Merit were presented to Eddie Reaves, Pete Trocchio, Joe Myrtetus, Kirk McDonald, Cal Rosenbaum, Jack Dick, Dunbar Helsey, Gerth, Bud Thompson and Buck Cook. Guilford received his past president's pin, and a lifetime membership to the Jaycees. He was also given a plaque in appreciation for his year's service as president, and the gift of a golf cart. "But they forgot the clubs to go with the cart," quipped Guilford. Dr. Franklin Evans was extended an honorary membership and made an honorary past president of the Jaycees, making the club's sweep of the City Commission complete. Every Coral Gables Commissioner has been a member and past president of the Junior Chamber. The Jaycees also honored two business firms for help and cooperation given during the year. Certificates of Appreciation were awarded to the Holsum Baking Company and to The Coral Gables Times Newspaper.