The Guide

South Miami Roundup

By EDWIN KNIGHT KNIGHT THE MIAMI POLICE motorcycleman pulled up beside my car, revved up his motor and motioned for me to pull over to the curb. He parked his cycle behind my car and walked around to the driver's window. He was big and tall. All motorcycle officers seem to be the tallest of men. He was in his early thirties and had sparkling white teeth that showed when he smiled. He was polite. I saw his white teeth but once. He only smiled once. I KNEW WHY HE had stopped me. I had made a left turn at the intersection of SW 8th St. and SW 2nd Ave. It paid on the little white sign hanging under the traffic light that left turns were prohibited between the hours of 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. It was 4:55 p.m. He had seen me make the turn. He appeared from nowhere as the little white sign had. The turn completed, I looked into the mirror to see if he was following me. HE WAS COMING, not slow nor fast. Maybe if I slumped down in the seat and drove slowly he would go on by. It didn't work. He was nearing my car now and slowing down. My heart beat faster. He was at my window. "I didn't see the sign until I had begun to make the turn," I told him, swallowing hard and handing him my driver's license. I smiled but he didn't. "Is this your correct address?" he asked as he peered at me through huge sunglasses. ALL MOTORCYCLE OFFICERS wear huge sunglasses and helmets. They're all tall and big. "Yes," I answered, trying to find my cigarets. I knew there was no hope for me now. He went to the rear of my car and wrote the ticket. He returned and asked me a few more questions. I then signed the ticket and he handed me my license. He told me my trial would be held at 8:30 p.m., Dec. 8, in the courthouse. He smiled then. But I didn't. His job was completed. I HAD RECEIVED other tickets but not recently. This will be my first appearance in Metro Traffic Court. I read the ticket and put it in the glove compartment. I thought of $10, maybe $15, being handed over for the violation. I thought of what I could do with the money. DEC. 8 WAS A THURSDAY. It was dark when I entered the courthouse. Metro Traffic Court was on the sixth-floor. I learned as I entered the self-service elevator. All others in the car were headed for Metro Court. There were a few wisecracks on the elevator. My trial was scheduled for courtroom C. I slowly pushed the courtroom door open and peered in. There were nearly a hundred in the room. They were standing, sitting down and all very quiet. One man was at the bench talking to the judge. DURING THE DAY this courtroom is used for Criminal Court. I looked first at the crowd and then at the bench. There were four men there. The judge, in the black robe, was Charles Snowden. I had heard of him, but he didn't know me. Sitting beneath the judge was the court clerk. Near the clerk were the county's prosecutor and the officer who have given me the ticket. The officer looked different here in court. He was wearing a light blue suit. He resembled an attorney addressing the court. He was not as tall as I had thought. But the smile was there. NEARBY WAS ANOTHER clerk. He led the defendants, after they had been fined, to a desk in another office. Here they paid their fines. He also served as an interpreter for the large number of Spanish-speaking people in the room. I found a seat. The seat was hard. I waited for my name to be called. The man sitting beside me asked me if this was courtroom C. I looked at my ticket and told him I thought it was. The names were called and the violators went before the bench. IF THEY PLEADED GUILTY, justice moved swiftly. If the plea was not guilty, both the officer and the violator were sworn in for testimony. Some were found not guilty, but most were found guilty. The violator who pleaded guilty was asked if he had any comment before sentencing. This seldom aided the violator. An hour passed. The judge thought we needed a break and a smoke. The air conditioner wasn't working well. Court was called back into session now. There were more seats. We heard more cases. There were all types - speeding, careless and reckless driving, improper passing, failing to yield the right of way, failing to stop for a stop sign, making a prohibited U-turn and making a prohibited left turn. And there were all types of people. MY NAME WAS CALLED about 10 p.m. "How do you plead?" the prosecutor asked, "guilty or not guilty?" Pleading not guilty for making a prohibited left turn was senseless I had observed. "Guilty," I answered. The judge asked if I had any comment. I gave what reasoning I could for my having made the left turn. "Whenever I come to Miami I travel east on 8th St. to 2nd Ave. and make a left turn there," I told Judge Snowden. "The afternoon I received the ticket I was traveling west on 8th St. and made a left turn onto 2nd Ave. When traveling east on 8th St. the left turn is permitted and even encouraged because of 10-second lead." I was holding the judge's attention. "I PROBABLY MADE the prohibited left turn because I thought the same permission was granted to those traveling west on 8th St. "It was a poor excuse for the violation, especially since a sign had been there declaring no left turn. The judge said he knew of the intersection. He thought for a minute. "I find you guilty and fine you $10 or a day in jail in addition to court costs," he said looking at me. I was ready to pull out my wallet when I hear him say, "But the sentence is suspended." I thanked him and quickly left the courtroom. I smiled as I went down the elevator and out onto Flagler St. I was thinking of the uses I had for the $10 Judge Snowden had let me keep.

South Dade Business Review Ply-Gems — Decorative, Distinctive, Practical

FOR INFORMATION ON THIS SECTION CALL HI 8-1661 Ply-Gems — Decorative, Distinctive, Practical That flurry of activity you hear means that homes are being "spruced up" for the soon-to-come holidays and the busy winter season. Nine times out of ten the swish of vacuum cleaners and paint brushes is accompanied by the rat-a-tat of the suburban handyman's hammer. Today the handyman isn't relegated to mundane repair jobs, but can revel in the glory of creativity. Renuart Lumber Yards, Inc., 4400 Ponce de Leon Blvd., can take a bow for sparking the imagination of these weekend carpenters. Right now Renuart has a fantastic selection of Ply-Gems prefinished hardwood paneling that can give your home that extra sparkle for the holidays. Today's decoratrs have incorporated this wood paneling in all types of decor-from Early American to gracious town houses. Our modern hero, armed with measurements, can come into Renuart's and pick his paneling from walnut, mahogany, birch, oak, cherry and many other superb hardwoods. Ply-Gems is the wood paneling that has received national acclaim from thousands of home builders . . . "quality refinished hardwood at low, low prices." There are no limitations on your decorating plans when you use Ply-Gems. You can create any mood . . . any period, modern, traditional, formal or casual. Wood blends perfectly with any decor to create a wonderful atmosphere. It's perfect to accent walls, ceilings or room dividers. Renuart has provided Ply-Gems so inexpensively that wood paneling can do away with the tedious chore of redecorating homes and apartments. This laminated plywood wall paneling has a finish that will last for years with occassional waxing. Perhaps Ply-Gems are the answer for your decorating problem. When you decide just where your home can use Ply-Gems to the best advantage, bring in your questions to Renuarts Lumber Yards—they will be happy to serve you.

DECORATE your home in Renuart's Ply-Gems. They mix well with other materials, serving to compliment stone, glass and fabrics—there is no limit to their decorative possibilities.

CLOSE OUT SPECIALS

20" Rocket Reg. $146.50 . . . $124.50 21" Lawn Boy self propelled with "wind up starter. Reg. 124.95 $99.95 19" Lawn Boy with grass catcher Reg. 99.95 . . . $79.95 Lawn Boy edger Reg. 69.95 . . . $62.50 Edger Reg. 59.95 . . . $52.50 ACE LAWN MOWER SHOP 2232 SW 32 Ave. HI 8-1008

KIRT'S PIPE SHOP

2413 Galiano (S.W. 88th Ave.) 1 Door South of Miracle Mile HI 8-4916 KIRT KNOWS TOBACCO

FRAZIER'S

FOOD TO PLEASE ALL THE FAMILY BREAKFAST FOUNTAIN LUNCH DINNER 2208 Ponce de Leon Blvd. (near Alhambra Circle) Open 7 A.M. to 8 P.M. CLOSED SUNDAYS

Travel Inc., Advises You...

Modern travelers are lucky. Thanks to science, air and sea-sickness are things of the past. They can have prescriptions filled as easily in Paris, France as in Paris, Kentucky. The doctor in Rome, Italy supplies the same wonder drugs as his counterpart in Rome, New York. And the dentist in Birmingham, England uses the same techniques as the one in Birmingham, Alabama. Because of improved health and sanitation conditions all over the world, comparatively few medical precautions are necessary — but it's smart to check before you go on the specific situation at your destination, and to follow a few simple precautions. When visiting certain areas of the globe, you will find it either required or advised that you have shots for diseases such as typhoid and typhus. Even where they are not considered a necessity, the few days discomfort or inconvenience is more than repaid by the feeling of security and freedom of movement that you have when you know you are protected. Though not required anywhere, it's wise to have the whole family take the three Salk shots needed for protection against polio before leaving on vacation. You need carry your own special medications only if you are really going far off the beaten track, but do carry a copy of any prescription that you use regularly. If you wear glasses, take along an extra pair. Don't go on a gourmet binge the minute you arrive in Paris — the clock may say breakfast, but your stomach may say midnight. Start your vacation eating pleasures gradually, especially if you have been on a fairly strict diet to shed a few pounds before leaving. You'll get less complaints from the inner man (or woman) that way. A sunburn that you get this year on the Riviera will be just as painful as the one you got last year at Jones Beach. Keep the suntan lotion handy — and use it liberally, especially at the beginning. Follow a sensible program of graduated exposure time and when you've had enough, crawl under a beach umbrella. Take just a few simple precautions and your mind and your body will be free to enjoy those precious vacation days to the fullest.

RIVIERA KOSHER RESTAURANT

Serving Traditional Friday Night Dinners Special Smorgasbord $1.89 1830 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. HI 8-5441 Open Daily Sunday - Fridays — 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.

TRAVEL REPORTER By Bill Mason

Question: Why does a travel service normally work for nothing for the public? Answer: Because a travel agency performs a valuable service for everyone in the travel industry and, consequently, receives its income from the travel industry itself. MEMBER AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ASTA TRAVEL AGENTS Highland 8-2646 TRAVEL INC 2700 PONCE DE LEON BLVD. CORAL GABLES

Lawrence RADIO-ELECTRIC

15 Years In Coral Gables Member Radio-Television Technicians Guild Lawrence RADIO-ELECTRIC EST. 1944 Radio - Television - Hi Fi - Phonograph - Stereo SALES & SERVICE 2422 Ponce de Leon Blvd. HI 8-3456 HI 3-0347

WE STOCK PLY-GEMS GENUINE HARDWOOD PANELS

A lovely panel wall in your home for no more than the cost of bare plaster. Walnut · Mahogany · Birch · Oak · Cherry AND MANY OTHER SUPERB HARDWOODS RENUART Lumber Yards, Inc. "Everything To Build Anything" Coral Gables 4400 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Perrine 17750 Cleveland Avenue

DUNMIRE'S GARAGE

● Wheel Alignment and Balance ● Engine Tune-Up ● Carburetor & Electrical Service ● Adjust Headlights ● General Repair ● Brake Service 241 Almeria Avenue HI 6-9416

Bavarian Pine Tree Inn

GERMAN AMERICAN CUISINE EXCLUSIVE FAMILY RENDEZVOUS WITH AN OLD WORLD ATMOSPHERE 2441 S.W. 87th AVE. HI 6-6480