Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Guide
Thursday, May 25, 1961, page 1 (of 15)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
THE GUIDE
local news for South & West Dade Vol. 2, No. 50 16 Pages Thursday, May 25, 1961 Price 10c BULK RATE U. S. POSTAGE PAID Permit 742 Miami, Fla.
SM Proposes Halving Taxes, Yet Spend More
By ED KNIGHT Correspondent South Miamians are due for a tax decrease. South Miami's proposed 1961-62 budget, completed by City Manager C. B. Petry and handed over to Council members last week, shows a tax saving for taxpayers of some four and a half mills. This would be the savings if all his recommendations are followed. The decision, of course, is up to the council. The proposed budget shows a millage cut from 9.5 mills in the present operating budget to 5 mills for the next fiscal period. A four and a half mills cut in the city's millage rate means that homeowners will pay $4.50 less per $1,000 of assessed valuation following a homestead exemption of $5,000. CITY'S CUT The city's assessment is set as from 30 to 50 per cent of full evaluation. Under the city's charter, the budget must be completed by the city manager by May 15 and adopted by July 1. It will not go into effect until Oct. 1. A public hearing on additions or deletions to the budget will be held at 8 p.m. June 6 in the Council chambers. But between now and the public hearing the Council has at least one private meeting scheduled, and perhaps more, for preliminary Council consideration of the budget. The scheduled Council meeting for budget discussion is set May 25. At that time, Council may add to or delete from the budget as it chooses. The millage rate may increase or decrease during this period. Although the millage rate is set for a decrease, the overall appropriation is higher. Last year the city appropriated $856,676 for working funds. This year, the budget is expected to increase about $122,142 to $978,676. There is about $191,463 in surplus being brought over from the last fiscal period. Aiding in the millage decrease will be more income from utility and cigaret taxes, sanitation fees and auto inspection fees. FIRE INCREASE A highlight of the budget will be an increase in appropriations to the Fire Department. Ultimately, this is expected to enable the city to receive better fire insurance rating, which would lower fire insurance costs. South Miami is taking this step on recommendation of the Southeast Fire Insurance Underwriters Assn. which urges the city to add more men to the fire department. Also in the proposed budget are these items: Making the auto inspection station a separate operation from the police department. Combining the public works and public service departments under one head. Increasing recreation department funds to add more facilities at South Miami Field, Lee Negro Park and Fuchs Park.
WEST of the City Limits with Ron Levitt
SUBURBAN wives had better treat their husbands kindly (in fact, ALL wives should treat their husbands kindly). It seems that the newest athletic fad to reach the suburban male is learning karate and judo. This makes past athletic interests seem tame. Several judo schools have popped up in Our Town in the past few months. The judo instructors say that learning the Oriental art is especially good for alleviating the stomach pouch on the male — and that alone should be intriguing enough to keep the schools filled with the young suburban executives. ★ ★ ★ OUT OF THE GARBAGE CAN: If you have been wondering what to do with the small amounts of tree and shrub clippings, the Dade County Waste Collection Division has offered a solution. The division said that residents of the unincorporated areas can put "small amounts" of clippings into garbage cans or in one small separate container. These will be picked up on Thursday or Friday weekly. But the Waste Division said it would not pick up loose piles of trimmings or more than one separate container per home. ★ ★ ★ THE BIG PROTEST: We have our doubts how much good it will do — but at least the Post Office Department is picking up some revenue. A group of unhappy home-owners, lead by Mrs. Ruth Taffin, sent off 500 letters to state and local officials protesting the delay in getting Greater Miami's expressway system completed. The letter specifically protested the delay in completing the downtown expressway south of the Miami River. Mrs. Taffin said that because of the delay, home owners can neither sell their homes nor borrow money on them. She said the delay was causing many families "emotional strains." ★ ★ ★ PENNIES IN THREE-QUARTER TIME: The Greater Miami Drum and Bugle Corps are holding a "pennython." Their goal is to get a million pennies in donations so they can buy buses, uniforms and instruments. Since the "penny-thon" began, they have collected 100,000 so far — pennies, that is. ★ ★ ★ SONS AND FATHERS: The West Dade Father's Association is sponsoring and supporting again a complete program of baseball for youngsters in the Westwood Lake area. The group, under the directorship of Terry Ward, has started six "C" league teams for boys up to nine years old. They have organized four Little League Teams, Three Pony League clubs and one Senior League outfit. The games take place at the West Dade Boy's Club next to Cypress Elementary School in Westwood Lake. Plans now are to also sponsor basketball, boxing, track and weight-lifting teams. Ward says that the big project for the year is to get some bleachers for the Boy's Club — probably so the fathers can watch their sons at play. ★ ★ ★ SOMETHING TO DO: If you are looking for somewhere interesting to take the family on the weekend, why not try the new Junior Museum of Natural History next to Vizcaya. The museum is still quite small compared to those in other cities but it will make an interesting Sunday afternoon excursion. There are Indian displays, one of the finest collections of stuffed fish (not the kind you eat at home), natural history movies and visits to the Museum's Planetarium. And it's all free. ★ ★ ★ MAGNA CUM SOMETHING OR OTHER: I'm looking forward to graduation time. Especially when the Kinlock Kindergarten holds its exercises the first week in June for its four and five year old "grads." But I guess the exercises are really for the parents who have been shelling out money weekly because Dade County can't afford public kindergartens. (This is no reflection on the private kindergartens because the job they are doing in our area because of the LACK of public facilities is well worth the money.)
Professional Packers
and wrappers for shipping or mailing. "The Barefoot Mailman", 234 Valencia Ave., C. Gables-Adv
Air Conditioning Yet Fast, Economical Buses To End Annoying Delays?
By MAURICE LABELLE Correspondent A unified transit system to provide residents with fast and economical service was promised Friday by members of the Metropolitan Transit Authority. The role of the Coral Gables bus system and that of three other companies not involved in the $7.7 million purchase by Metro of four William Pawley-owned lines is not clearly established. But the Authority is confident these and other problems will be solved shortly and the unified countywide system will be a reality in a short time. Here are some of the basic objectives revealed by the Authority Friday in a briefing session held for new County Manager Irving McNayr and representatives of the press: Increase the percentage of bus riders from the present nine per cent of transportation users to perhaps 20 per cent. Set fares at 20 cents within zones and 10 cents from one zone to another. Create cross-town runs that will eliminate numerous transfers. Establish countywide park and ride facilities. Get ride and shop agreements with merchants and use of tokens. Erect shelters for bus riders. Use air conditioned buses on express routes. The Authority also plans to build a downtown Miami bus terminal and others in principal population areas such as Cutler Ridge, which figures big in their thinking. In the future, the Authority hopes to establish a rapid transit system utilizing mono-rail or other method. Use of the Florida East Coast Rail-road tracks for a commuter system between Homestead and West Palm Beach is being considered. The entire system will be run by a private management firm to be selected by the Authority in the next few weeks.
Coral Gables Girl Dottie Seipp Named Miss South Miami
Miss South Miami ... Dottie Seipp The usual experience of South Miamians participating in and winning Coral Gables events was reversed Saturday night when a Gables girl, Dottie Seipp, 19, of 431 Villabella Ave., was named Miss South Miami by the South Miami Jaycees. A blonde, green-eyed beauty, Miss Seipp captivated the judges with an Indonesian dance in a gown she had fashioned herself. Also catching the judges' eyes, were her 37-24-36 measurements on a five-foot seven-inch frame. She weighs 124 pounds. The Coral Gables High School graduate will compete later in the Miss Florida contest. She won an expense-paid trip to Sarasota, an evening gown and a play suit. Runner Up was University of Miami pre-med student Amelia Herrell, 18 from Arkansas, Miss Herrell is a Chi Omega, and baton twirler. Third place winners were Diana Ruff, 18, of 8225 SW 112th St., and Dianne Dalbey, 18, another University of Miami student from Norfolk, Va. Miss Ruff gave a dramatic reading and Miss Dalbey sang. The judges couldn't choose between them and awarded them both third place.
Sunset Store Going Up
A permit has been issued and a $9,800 contract has been awarded to Paul E. Rosen of Miami Beach for the construction of a one-story store building at 9875 Sunset Dr. Florida Service Stations of Miami Beach is the owner. Architect is John B. Maylard of Hialeah.
Strike Your Colors
A campaign to get the public to display the American flag Memorial Day, and Flag Day (July 4) has been launched by the South Miami Kiwanis Club. "The promotion is to make the American people more conscious of the American flag and have them display it on holidays," said Edward Grout, president.
THE GUIDE
TIMES & GUIDE CIRCULATION 40,095 Published by Gables Publishing Co. 364 Sevilla Ave., P.O. Box 599, Coral Gables 34, Fla. Phone HI 3-1661 ROBERT SLANE.......Adv. Mgr. ROLFE NEILL...........Editor
Pool owners hdqtrs.
Chemicals. Patio items. Sun n' Fun Pool n' Patio. CE 5-7333. —Adv.
Reassessment Is on Menu For Chamber Meeting
A public forum meeting to discuss Metro's reassessment program will be held by the Southwest Miami-Dade County Chamber of Commerce at the Coral Villas Baptist Church, 3200 S.W. 67th Ave., Thursday, May 25, at 7:30 p.m. Southwest Division President Dave Kennedy has asked County Commissioner Arthur Patten and Bob Daly, public relations consultant for the County reassessment program, to be guest panelists.