The Coral Gables Times

THE Coral Gables TIMES THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

Vol. 37, No. 36 24 Pages Thursday, Oct. 11, 1962 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c

Voter Desk Is Asked By Metro

Metro has asked the Gables to set up a voter registration desk at City Hall. City Commissioners Monday said they'd go along with the request-if Metro paid the tab for an additional clerk. City Clerk Loretta Sheehy, said it would be impossible for her office to handle the additional work, as requested by Metro. The City plans to adopt joint voter registration, but this will not come before 1964.

Son Near But Dad Won't Get to See

A Cuban whose son is among the 1,100 prisoners expected to return to the U.S. shortly will not be here to greet his son. He died Saturday afternoon in his home - electrocuted on a faulty metal lamp. Aristdes Lopez Galleja, 59, 1535 Mataro Ave., is the victim. According to firemen and police, Galleja attempted to plug in a wrought iron lamp while wet from perspiration and was electrocuted when he made contact with the metal.

THEY OPPOSE ANNEXATION 'We Don't Want in Gables' Area Off Sunset Drive Prefers To Stay As Is

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter Gables City Commissioners ran into something unexpected Tuesday at the public hearing on annexation of the Laesch Tract off Sunset Drive-people who look down their noses at Coral Gables. "We don't want to lowrate ourselves," Roger Edwards, attorney, of 1250 San Remo Ave., told the Commission. Edwards went on to say why the 21 property owners there want to stay out of the Gables. Zoning in the Laesch Tract, he said, is better than in neighboring sections of Coral Gables which have mixed commercial and residential zoning. The area is located near Riviera Presbyterian Church. The homes there are better, have more improvements-were not built for speculation-and pay more county taxes, he said. Edwards' position of superiority drew some warm words from some of the commissioners who accused the residents (See PEOPLE GABLES, P. 2)

-Times Photo by RAYMOND LANG L-R ARE DON WESSELL, JOHN MONTGOMERY, UM PRESIDENT STANFORD AT GROUND BREAKING YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY).

Work Starts on New Bank Here

The official groundbreaking for Coral Gables' newest bank - University National - was held Wednesday morning at South Dixie Highway and Mariposa Street. Coral Gables' fourth bank will be headed by Nelson E. Thompson, former president of a financial institution in Port Jervis, N.Y. Donald H. Wessell, who heads the building firm constructing the one-story structure, designed by O. K. Houstoun, is chairman of the board. Other officers are Robert L. Hill, vice president in charge of new accounts; John M. Montgomery, acting secretary. The 10,000 square foot facility will be handy to the University of Miami across the highway and will provide special services to students. Parking will accommodate 150 cars. The property was purchased from Al Singer and has 220-foot frontage and 225-foot depth. The bank opens Jan. 3.

Ad Board Decision Is Sifted What It Means

(Editorial on page 4) The $33,000 advertising program approved last week by the City Commission is really the fourth revision that has taken place and as it emerged differs from the recommendations of the City's own advertising consultant. The consultant, Bert Burris, said this week that his differences of opinion are not profound ones. In fact, he and the City Commission are in agreement and the difference is with the Advertising Advisory Board, seven men appointed by the City. In the end, however, the City reversed itself as well as Burris and bought the Board's approach. It did just the opposite last Spring in another triangular issue on a different subject. It backed Burris and rejected its old Board's plea. Earlier the City Commission had wanted more emphasis on newspaper advertising this year. Burris had gone along on this and also expected to spend money for radio advertising, as before. The new Advertising Board said that TV is the big thing in advertising today and that newspapers shouldn't be increased and that radio is passe and should be eliminated. Radio was eliminated, including the Gables station of WVCG. Burris' argument in behalf of radio is that it reaches a substantial part of the people the City's prestige advertising program hopes to reach: tourists. Says Burris: Eighty per cent of tourists come to Florida by (See HERE'S STEP, Page 2)

Next Week

Last night's (Wednesday's public hearing on the Rader Report, held at the Youth Center, will be carried in full in next week's Times.

'Slur' on George Wilson Is Forgiven Now -- Maybe

(What do stockbrokers pay vs. realtors? See Page 2) It was only meant as a joke, Gables Realtor Chip Edwards explained in reference to an anonymous slur on City Commissioner George Wilson in the local realty board's weekly newsletter. The "joke" appeared Sept. 20 and said: "One of our realtors wants to know why a large stockbroker's office with many salesmen is free of paying the City of Coral Gables an occupational license-while each real estate salesman is charged $10. Or does it pay to be on the City Commission?" After a number of discussions among Realtor Board members and others affected, Edwards met with Wilson face to face last Friday in Hayden & Stone, the stockbrokerage house where Wilson works on Alhambra Circle a few doors from Edwards. What was meant as a ribbing of Wilson unfortunately was taken seriously, Edwards explained as he sat at Wilson's desk. While Wilson appeared ready to accept the explanation, he said he was still upset over the fact that a following news letter repeated the slur. The subsequent newsletter added an explanation that while the anonymous item originated with one of its members, it did not "necessarily represent the thinking of all members of the Coral Gables Board of Realtors." To Wilson's thinking, an apology should have accompanied the second item. He said he is undecided about whether to write to the board requesting one. Wilson said when he tried to find out who wrote the original item no one would tell him. "People thought I tried to remain anonymous," said Edwards, "but that's not the case." Edwards said he felt this year's 33 1-3 per cent increase in realty brokers' fees was a bit steep and he did not think the salesmen should be required to pay the $10 fee. Nevertheless, he said, he does not feel Wilson's occupation as a stockbroker had anything to do with the fact that registered stock representatives pay no license. "It's awfully hard to retract something in that manner," said Edwards. "It's too bad it got as far as it did," he added. Also under fire over the incident was William Anderson, executive secretary of the local board, who allowed the item in the newsletter. Anderson said he was remiss in including the item. He blamed preoccupation in getting the newsletter out. But when the Board met last Wednesday to discuss the matter, they did less than retract the statement. LOUIS EDWARDS ... only a joke GEORGE WILSON ... maybe

Coral Gables Plumbing & Supplies

now at 4102 Laguna. HI 4-6748. -Adv.

Bargain Bazaar

3216 Grand Ave. C. Grove Antiques, Gift Items, Jewelry Etc. -Adv.

Eagle Finance

Loans up to $600 Eagle Finance 4192 SW 8th St. 444-6228-Adv.

Larry Larimore, Realtor

Larry Larimore, Realtor, Coral Gables' only accredited property management organization, 150 Andalusia HI 8-1563-Adv.

The Barefoot Mailman

Professional packers and wrappers for shopping or mailing, "The Barefoot Mailman", 234 Valencia Ave., C. Gables.