The Coral Gables Times

THE Coral Gables TIMES

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL Vol. 37, No. 44 32 Pages Thursday, Dec. 6, 1962 Phone HI 3-1661 Price 10c

MISS UNIVERSE, MRS. ABRAMS IN HAPPIER TIMES

Chaperone Is Home Universe, Gableite Fall Out of Orbit

By EDDIE BLACK Correspondent Miss Universe and her Gableite chaperone have broken up. Conflicting reasons are given for the split. The ex-chaperone, Mrs. Rose Abrams, came back home to 918 Santiago St. last week because, "I was faced with returning home or not doing my job as a proper chaperone." Miss Universe pageant officials on Miami Beach, when asked, first said: "We're not at liberty to say." Then the spokesman, Doris Cosner, said: "This is a rough schedule and Mrs. Abrams had been sick in a foreign country during the travels of Miss Universe." Called back and asked if she had been ill, Mrs. Abrams said: "Oh no, I'm in perfect health. I am happy to say that I have suffered from no illness during my travels. "I am sworn to secrecy with the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant as to why I have resigned as chaperone." The pageant spokesman said, "We all agreed that it was best that she resign. She has done a good job and we expect her to act as hostess in next year's pageant." Sue Remo of Miami Beach succeeds her. Miss Universe this year is Norma Nolan, the Miss Argentina entrant. Miss Nolan had lived with Mrs. Abrams during the beauty contest last summer. As her resident hostess, Mrs. Abrams had first crack at the job when Miss Nolan won. Mrs. Abrams, a widow, had been interested in a Peace Corps assignment and welcomed the Miss Universe chaperone post.

Likes Metro Ideas City OKs Traffic Changes

By MAURICE LABELLE Times Reporter Metro's traffic changes for downtown Coral Gables have met with general approval of the City Commission. The Commission disapproved of only one proposal, asked that another be deferred and came up with four proposed changes of its own. The one item the Commission did not go along on was the plan to remove the traffic signals at Almeria and Ponce de Leon Boulevard, Salzedo Street and Aragon Avenue, and Salzedo and Giralda Avenue. Commissioners said they felt the lights were needed at Almeria because of visibility at the intersection and at Aragon and Giralda because of the Fire Station. The Commission requested that Metro: Install no parking signs on the east side of Salzedo between Giralda and Alhambra Circle. Install median line in the north lane of Alhambra Circle west of Le Jeune Road. Install a traffic light at Le Jeune Road and Majorca Avenue. Make Biltmore one way going west in front of City Hall. The Commission found favor in Metro's plans to:- Install a vehicle sampler at Andalusia west of Salzedo. Install a neon no left sign facing westbound traffic at Ponce de Leon and Miracle Mile. Install dual indications on Miracle Mile, Ponce, Alhambra and Andalusia. Install southbound left turn lag at Ponce de Leon and Andalusia. Reverse to one-way westbound operation Giralda between Galiano and Salzedo. Reverse to one-way eastbound operation Aragon between Merrick Way and Salzedo. Revert to two-way operation of Giralda between Salzedo and Le Jeune. Close Galiano between Merrick Way and Alhambra Plaza subject to consideration of affected property owners. Remove parking on west curb north of Miracle Mile on Douglas Road. The Commission asked that Metro defer plans to remove the median curb east of the crosswalk on Miracle Mile at Douglas Road to provide left turn bay until plans are shown. Restrict parking on Andalusia at Ponce de Leon approach to provide turning lanes. (North side only approved). Mark Andalusia east of Ponce de Leon for better distribution. Restrict parking on Galiano south of Miracle Mile, two blocks on west curb and one block on east curb. (Approved for the north side of Andalusia only.) Widen pavement westbound several hundred feet west of Le Jeune Road on Alhambra to provide better alignment. (Providing existing trees will not have to be removed.)

Tinder Contract Inked by Parties

The City Commission Tuesday renewed a three-year contract with Biltmore Pro Bill Tinder which it claims will cut his annual income to between an estimated $15,000 to $17,000. His net income from the operation of electric carts, Pro Shop and 19th Hole Restaurant had been estimated by the City at $23,000 under the old contract which expired Nov. 14. The new contract, which was made retroactive to that date, takes from Tinder the operation of the controversial electric golf carts which grossed $40,000 last year. The City must now negotiate with Pargo Inc., owners of the present 41 carts, for purchase or obtain them from another firm. Under the terms of the agreement, unanimously agreed to by the City Commission Tuesday, Tinder: Retains his $5,500 salary as manager. Receives 30% of the first (See Tinder, Page 2)

We Ship Bikes South To Cartagena Friends

(Picture on Page 21) Young Cartageneros of Colombia will receive between 29 and 34 reconditioned bicycles from the People to People Program. This is more than half the total number of bikes turned over by the City of Coral Gables to the exchange program. They were bikes stolen or lost and not claimed. Arrangements are being made to send the bikes by ship to Colombia in the near future. At Friday's meeting, the group heard a medley of Colombian songs by Alberto Lenis P., presently residing in Miami at 652 SW Second St., but a native of Ibague, Colombia.

Air Rifle Imperils Waterway

The shooting of a 13-year-old boy in the mouth with a powerful air rifle Sunday morning, the latest in a series of shooting incidents along Granada Boulevard, has led to an investigation by police. Mike Arden, 13, son of Don Arden, 440 Sansovino Ave., had an air rifle shot removed from his upper lip at Doctors' Hospital following the incident. Police have questioned a Granada Boulevard youth who has admitted the shooting, but said the youth said it was accidental. The boy was known by the Ardens. Sgt. Charles Skalaski, who is conducting the investigation, said Tuesday that the gun has been taken away from the youth and that other youths in the area are to be questioned in connection with at least four other shooting incidents in recent weeks. Arden said his boy was along a Granada section of the waterway with a friend, Gerald Keller, also 13, when he was hit suddenly by the BB and it became lodged in his lip. "All the while he was in the emergency room, I was thinking to my self how lucky it was not his eye," said Arden. Arden, who owns a bar and grille on Le Jeune Road, has been displaying the shiny BB to customers as evidence of the close call. Police Chief William Kimbrough said Tuesday that the investigation, originally conducted by Officer Robert Seebee had determined at that time Arden was willing to forget about the whole thing. But, Arden later wrote to The Times to complain about the unsafe conditions along the Coral Gables Waterway. "We are making every effort to make the canal safe," said Kimbrough. The chief also defended the actions of some of his men who investigated the complaint of an area minister two weeks ago who had a car window shot out by a high powered air rifle, also in the same area. The minister was the Rev. Orville Smith, pastor of the Full Gospel Tabernacle, 4801 West Flagler St. Three others persons reported similar shooting incidents. Gables Bus driver Jack Callahan, 1110 SW 93rd Pl., said the third window back on the driver's side was hit as he drove in the 4000 block of Granada Boulevard Nov. 15. On Nov. 16, two residents, Marvin Adams, 5711 Granada Blvd., and Frank N. Holley Jr., 5835 Granada Blvd., both reported having windows broken in the rear of their homes, also presumably from the waterway.

We Lag In Building

Building activity in Coral Gables is dragging behind last year by nearly $2 million with only one month left to compile. The total this year stands at $11,487,097, compared to $13,232,537 for the same 11-month period last year. Last month's total, $815,052, however, was well of the same month last year, $491,976. Additions made up the largest single item in November's building activity, $397,170.

'Let Me Out'

Little five-year-old Steve Bells, 1618 Cortez Ave., locked himself in a bedroom Monday morning and before he was through Coral Gables firemen had to break down the door to get him out. Mrs. Rose J. Bells, called for help after the boy locked himself in. She gave permission to Firemen Lloyd G. Griffith and Donald V. Spry to break the door.

Apartment Building May Be Sold

(Picture on Page 2) The 650 Building, a five-story apartment at that address on Coral Way, has been ordered sold by a master who heard the case and ruled that two of the four mortgage are usurious. When the interest rate is in excess of 25 per cent, which the master held these are, the lender forfeits the entire loan. The master's report, made by J. B. Booher, will be heard shortly by Federal Judge Emett C. Choate. There, the master could either be upheld or reversed. When mortgages are held to be usurious — over 10 per cent on individual and over 15 per cent on corporate mortgages—there is an legal escape up to 25 per cent. If the interest rate is over the legal limit but under 25 per cent, the mortgage lender is assessed a penalty double the interest charged. Over 25 per cent, he loses the whole principal. The 650 Building's owner's, Kathling Corp., ran into financial difficulty when it couldn't meet its financial obligations on four mortgage and also pay off other creditors. It filed a petition for reorganization under the Federal bankruptcy laws and the usurious mortgages turned up publicly in the process. Jerome Voletsky originally (See Apartment, Page 2)

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