The Times

'Boot Hill Bridge' Residents Demand Action At Deadly Intersection

By MAURICE LABELLE Residents of the Westchester area lining the Coral Way Canal are ready to march on the Metro Commission following Saturday night's two-car collision which took two lives and left the survivors in the hospital. At least 50 residents near the Coral Way-SW 82nd Ave. death scene are fighting mad after approximately 100 accidents in five years at the dangerous intersection culminating late Saturday night in the tragic death of Ralph Eugene McCullough, 30, of 10320 SW 34th St., and Richard H. H. Abicht, 29, of 11285 SW 47th St. Mr. McCullough's wife, Katherine, 26, is still in "critical" condition and son, Ronald, 9, in "serious" condition. Boat Hill Bridge Joe Mantinan, administrative assistant to the city manager of Coral Gables, who lives at the intersection, described it as "Boot Hill Bridge." Countless times, Mantinan said, he and his wife have jumped out of bed, awakened by the loud thud of colliding cars. He and his wife have been made nervous wrecks helping the injured and having their house turned upside down by rescuers, survivors and police, he said. "We're going to sell out," Mantinan declared. Mantinan said that he and his wife were entertaining guests, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Gilbert, of 9325 SW 48th St., around midnight when they heard the sickening sound of cars colliding at the intersection across the canal. Called Police The Gables employe said he immediately called Metro police while Gilbert, husband of the city manager's secretary and an insurance agent, jumped into the filthy water in the canal to pull out Mr. and Mrs. McCullough and her son. Mr. McCullough was pinned in the car and his body was not retrieved until wreckers pulled the car out of the water later after police and ambulances arrived more than a half hour later. The other victim, Mr. Abicht, who applied for a job with the City of Coral Gables as a fireman but had ironically been turned down because of his bad driving record, was pulled out by other unidentified persons. He died about 12 hours later. Mr. Abicht, northbound on SW 82nd Ave., apparently failed to stop for the stop sign and slammed into the side of the westbound McCullough car. Both cars then plunged into the narow canal in front of Mantinan's home. Studying Intersection Metro is now studying the dangerous intersection, made up of two heavily traveled thoroughfares. SW 82nd Ave. is a throughway from Bird Rd. to Coral Way, which has the right of way. Mantinan, who said the county applied strong pressure on the Westchester Shopping Center to build wide bridges safeguarded by adequate railings, has failed to do the same for several canal crossings it is responsible for. A blinker or stop light also should be installed to warn SW 82nd Ave. traffic of the stop at Coral Way, he suggested.

A 50 STAR FLAG was presented to two Girl Scout troops by the Tequesta Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Lookinda Blvd.; Scout leader Mrs. Sigfried Gross, 4 5 533 Alhambra Cir.; Anna Ehlert, 3205 Granag at the flag are, left to right, Ginger Perkins, Velarde Ave.; Cheryl Leavengood, 418 Candia Ave.; Mimi Gross, Mrs. Philip Anderson, of the DAR, and Scout leader Mrs. Thomas J. Perkins.

Will Gables Hold Zoning On LeJeune?

What will happen to LeJeune Rd. after it is converted into a major commercial artery? City Commissioners Tuesday indicated that they intend to hold the line on zoning but will consider any proposal for levelopment and change on its merits. This expression from the Commission came following the appearance of James B. Paris, 3400 LeJeune Rdr., well-known horse trainer and owner. Paris told the Commission that LeJeune Rd., soon to be widened to four lanes from South Dixie Hwy. to Tamiami Trail, is "neither fish nor fowl." He pointed to the varying types of zoning along the length running through Coral Gables and asked the Commission to give property owners economic relief. Paris indicated that changes in zoning to allow multiple apartment units or other develop ment are needed if property owners are to survive conversion of the road into an even more heavily travelled artery, than it is now.

Election Was No Surprise In Coral Gables

Coral Gables surprised no one by voting overwhelmingly for Republican candidates in Tuesday's general election which saw voters turn out in record numbers. Unofficial totals gave the Nixon-Lodge GOP team commanding leads in all precincts — some nearly 2-1. Republican gubernatorial candidate George Petersen also did handsomely in the Gables, winning by large margins in all precincts. In South Miami, the GOP margins were less. One precinct reversed the trend. West Miami went the way of Dade County, giving the Kennedy-Johnson ticket comfortable margins. But the large pro-Democratic victory in Dade County was not enough to offset the GOP sweep in the rest of South and Central Florida.

Auto Inspection Station To Open

Coral Gables' glamorous new auto inspection station on Ponce de Leon Blvd. is tentatively scheduled to open next Monday. Acting City Manager Kenneth Allyn told the City Commission Tuesday that work on the new station is expected to be completed by that time. The station, with an entrance at LeJeune Rd. and running the full length of Ponce to the end at Ponce extension, will also handle trucks. Its two lanes and modern inspection machinery will greatly speed up inspections, long a bone of contention with Gableites used to long waitte at the delapidated old station on San Lorenzo.

Search For Dancers

Arturo di Filippi, managing director of the Opera Guild of Miami, has issued a call for professional ballet dancers, four men ad four women. These dancers will be used in both operas, "Andrea Chenier" in January, and "Martha" in February. Interviews will be held on Monday, Nov. 14, from 4 until 6 p.m. at 625 SW 20th Road. Union wages will be paid.

Temple Judea Threatens Suit Over Gas Station

A suit has been threatened by Temple Judea to block the proposed construction of a gas station on LeJeune Rd. between Palermo and Sevilla. The Coral Gables City Commission was informed of the congregation's intention to sue if the station move goes through. The City Commission voted 4-0, with Commissioner Frank Kerdyk abstaining, Tuesday to deny the proposal to Orange State (Cities Service Oil Co., but the door was left open for another appeal by the company when the six-month waiting period was waived. Commissioners indicated they would meet again with Temple Judea officials to attempt to eliminate their objections. Rabbi Morris Skpo and Al Jacobson, who appeared before the Commission recently, have indicated that their objections would be removed if the city provides another suitable location for the temple. Won't Tie Together City officials have indicated that they will work with Temple representatives on this problem but do not want to tie the two problems together. There are other objectors, including owners of the Deerborne School, whih already has a gas station across the street from it. City National Bank on LeJeune Rd. also opposes the station on the grounds that it would depreciate the bank's property.

Where's Rudolph For Our Santa?

"Where's Rudolph?" may be Santa's cry when he lands in Coral Gables next month. Santa, who will arrive on the City Hall lawn at 10 a.m., Nov. 26, is coming by helicopter, but he has requested that a reindeer be present to greet him. So far, none has been found. Mrs. Fran Beecher, in charge of the reindeer committee for the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, said, "We've tried everywhere, parks, ranches, even wild life societies, but there just don't seem to be any reindeer in the Coral Gables area. We do have a few leads though and we're going to keep trying." Anyone who can assist in locating a "Rudolph" for Santa, please contact Mrs. Fran Beecher, HI 5-3716.

Twins To Be Bas Mitzvah

Rabbie Alfred Waxman will officiate at the Bar Mitzvah of Rae and Anne Weiss, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Morris Weiss, at Temple Zion, Friday, Nov. 11, at 8:30 p.m. The Oneg Shabbot will be sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Morris Weiss. The congregation is invited. On Saturday at 5 p.m., Nov. 12, Rabbi Alfred Waxman will officiate at the Bar Mitzvah of Paul Friedlander, son of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Friedlander. The Shalor Shuddis will be tendered by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Friedlander. The co congregation and friends are invited.

Doctor's Office Ransacked

The office of Dr. Thomas Armour Jr., 144 Madeira, was ransacked Friday during the night, but nothing was reported taken.

Traveling Gableites To See Charming Land With Touch Of Spain

By ERIC ALLEN Coral Gables residents going to Cartagena, Colombia today as part of the "People to People" program will discover a charming South American country that retains the colonial Spanish mood of the 16th and 17th centuries. Situated in the extreme northwest of South America, Colombia is bounded by the Blue Pacific and the crystalline waters of the Caribbean. Its neighboring countries are Venezuela and Brazil to the east, Peru and Ecuador to the southwest. Snow-capped mountains range across the country from north to south. Named the Cordilleras, these peaks are part of the Andes Mountains that stretch along the entire west coast of South America. Small Country Colombia is a small country that would fit easily into our own state of Alaska and still leave room for much of Florida. Its population is over 13 million and it is the second greatest coffee exporter in the world. Two attractions are the active volcano "Purace" that last erupted in 1950 and the breathtaking Tequendama Falls, nearly three times higher than Niagara. Destination of the Coral Gables "ambassadors of good will" is their Colombian sister of Cartagena just six air-hours from Miami. Over four centuries old and once a Spanish treasure port, Cartagena's strategic waterfront location made it a stopover for gold-laden mule trains. The Spanish "conquistadores" brought rare treasures from the interior of South America to this port for shipment to Phillip the Second's lavish Spanish court. Colombia's foremost seaside resort Cartegena is situated on islands, a curving peninsula and the mainland. The city has two sandy beaches, Marbella and Boca Grande, and is enclosed by monumental walls that once served as protection against pirate invaders. Tall In Lives These walls were built at the cost of 300,000 lives. Originally 40 feet wide and 60 high, they supported 27 bastions and 480 cannon. Beyond them was another walled section where the slaves were quartered. Centuries-old Jesuit monasteries and convents are now a hospital, theater and even a penitentiary, while the home of Cartegena's founder is the seat of state and municipal offices. The ancient Palace of the Inquisition is now a commercial and college university classes are held in old buildings erected by Augustinian monks. An old fort is an attractive fishing club and seafood restaurant. The fort of San Felipe de Barajas is the most elaborate built by the Spaniards in the New World. Beneath its battlements is a myriad criss-cross of tunnels that once housed soldiers and a hospital. Another attraction is the sun-baked monastary where priest Pedro Claver used to watch galleys bringing wretched human cargos of slaves to toil under the Spanish whip. The patron saint of Cartagena, Pedro Claver came to Cartagena in 1610 and became the "slave of the slaves" spending his life caring for the tortured people. His remains lie in a glass coffin beneath the main alter of the shrine. Narrow Streets Narrow, crooked streets, carved wooden doorways and balconies decorated with the coat of arms of Spanish dons and cool, shady plazas all lend a Spanish atmosphere of centuries ago to this lovely city. The people of Cartagena are sunny and fun-loving hosts to all visitors. Unlike their sombre Andean-valley countrymen, these people love to sing and dance. During the week-long independence fiesta, visitors can see their native dances, the "cumbia" and the "porro." Not unlike the Latin rumba, these dances are based on Afro-Spanish rhythms that originated with the first intermingling of the Spanish conquerors and their African slaves.