The Times

You Can File For Exemptions In Coral Gables

Applications for Homestead exemptions are being taken at Coral Gables City Hall, Tax Assessor T. C. Blount said Friday. Mrs. Violet Sampson, of the Dade County Tax Department, is receiving applications from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday on the second floor. Widow and other exemptions will also be taken at the same time. Exemptions are applicable on both city and county property. The county record will be forwarded to Coral Gables for use on its own rolls, Blount said. This will probably be the last time that municipalities handle their own rolls independently. Jan. 1, 1962, is the cut off date after which Metro is scheduled to take over tax assessment functions throughout Dade County. Cities will then set millages according to assessments set up by the county. The tax money will be collected by the county and redistributed to the cities. The Homestead exemption of $5000 will not be affected.

BUY FRUIT CAKE, HELP THE MENTALLY RETARDED. That's the idea behind the Coral Gables Civitan Club's efforts to sell fruit cake to help the Mentally Retarded Children's Society, just one of the club's projects. Leading a giant, publicity box of fruit cake onto a panel truck are left to right, Foster Stearns, Phil Regan and M. D. "Butch" Streaker. The panel truck, purchased with funds derived from past fruit cake sales, was given recently to the Children's Society. This year, you can buy a box of fruit cake, until Dec. 31, from any Civitan member or by contacting Bill Reynolds at Coral Gable Transfer and Storage. The fruit cake, perfect for the person "who has everything," is $1 a pound and comes in one, two, three and five pound packages.

Inside Job Suspected At Fraternity House

It had to be an inside job, Pi Kappa Alpha president Ralph Salerno told Coral Gables police Dec. 1, when he reported the theft of a money box containing approximately $400 in checks, bills and coins from the fraternity house at 5800 San Amaro Dr. The money, taken from an upstairs bedroom, was to have been banked, Salerno told police. Gables police were to question all residents, including the housemother, for possible leads on the theft.

HARRY GRAND SALES ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES

146 GIRALDA AVE. For all Westinghouse Light Bulbs, Flourescent, Regular, Photo, Automotive, Industrial. —Smith-Corona Typewriters— Adding Machines— (Repairs) Cash Registers Phone HI 3-7892 Xmas Lighting Hdqtrs. (Santa Item)

NEISNER'S Shoe Repair

3721 NW 7th St. (Central Plaza) (Santa Item) SPECIAL LADIES TOP LIFTS 19c FOR RESULTS READ THE TIMES WANT ADS

SHOHFI'S

Lovely Lingerie... (Santa Item) Gifts of Lasting Beauty The Best In Style, Quality and Value SHOHFI'S "Since 1910" 239 MIRACLE MILE CORAL GABLES

Gables Gets The Bill Final Hurricane Cost — $108,000

Doubling of Coral Gables special disaster levy is recommended by City Finance Director Kenneth Allyn following additional tabulations indicating that Hurricane Donna cost the city between $18,000 to $112,000 to clean up. This is nearly twice the original estimate of $65,000 made immediately following the Sept. 9-10 windstorm. When it became apparent a few weeks later that the total would exceed $80,000, Allyn submitted a report to the City Commission recommending that the present 1⁄2-mill levy for the "hurricane fund" be increased to 1 mill. The 1-mill rate had been in effect for 11 years since it was first adopted in 1946. Reserve Balance "By June 30, 1961, the reserve balance will probably be below $135,000," Allyn pointed out. "This is obviously insufficient for full self insurance. This has resulted from the fact that, in 1957, the millage levied was cut from 1 mill to 1⁄2 mill which now produces about $66,000 a year. "Since $34,000 is committed for the storm sewer bonds and continuing development will require more drainage ditches, consideration should be given to returning the levy to the 1 mill level next year (when the refunding debt levy drops). "This reserve is too valuable to our people to allow it to approach exhaustion," Allyn concluded. The finance director pointed out that the cost to the city of the 1945 hurricane, originally estimated at $70,846, eventually cost $96,000 to clean up. Allyn estimated that, if the 1945 storm had occurred this year, damage could have cost the city almost $200,000. Between 1948 and today, Allyn reported, a total of $645,605 has been spent for "precautionary measures and preventative steps." 14-Year Period By the end of fiscal 1960-61, Allyn estimates that nearly $1 million will have been collected in taxes in the 14-year period. How did the "hurricane reserve fund" come to be created? During the 1930's, storm damage was paid for by temporary borrowing and repayment from subsequent budgets or from salvage operations, according to Allyn. The salvage of the street railway system abandoned after the 1935 hurricane, is an example. During the war years, 1941-45, capital improvements were practically impossible, and the city built up a large reserve of money from taxes levied during this period. Part of this fund was used to pay the cost of cleaning up after the 1945 hurricane. It was former city manager William T. McIlwain who foresaw the need for a special benefit fund to handle hurricane and other emergencies. City Attorney Ted Semple in 1946 rendered the opinion that such a levy would be legal and could be levied without regard to homestead exemption.

Boy, 11, Sought For Smashing Car Windows

A youth, about 11 years old, is being sought by Coral Gables police after he tossed rocks through the windows of two station wagons within minutes of each other Saturday night. According to Gables police, the youth, who wore a white shirt, tossed a rock through a left rear window of a station wagon owned by Robert M. McCarthy, 7300 SW 10th St. McCarthy was southbound at the intersection of Dorado and Red Rd. at 9 p.m. when hit. Approximately five minutes later, James C. Mahony, 5900 SW 79th St., was driving along in the same direction when another rock came smashing through his left rear window, sending pieces of broken glass flying all over the inside of the vehicle and over the road. No injuries were reported.

Vandals Set Fire To House

Vandals set fire to one vacant house and created havoc in another Dec. 2 and 3 in Coral Gables. Coral Gables police reported that a home owned by Mrs. Henry W. Graham, 65 Morningside, was damaged when the vandals broke in and started a fire in a bedroom. The fire stained the floor, which may have to be rebuilt. At a home owned by Francisco Montera, of 2820 Columbus Cir., at 2834 DeSoto Blvd., two teenage vandals were seen leaving the building after they had spread the contents of three soap boxes all over the house. They also broke a mirror.

BOTTLE GAS LOW INSTALLATION RATES ● TERMS STEVENS PROPANE SERVICE

CA 1-5873

STERLINGS DEPARTMENT STORE CENTRAL Shopping PLAZA N.W. 7th ST. & 37th AVE.

5717 SW 8th ST. — Red Rd. and The Trail OPEN SUNDAYS 10-6 P.M. OPEN EVERY NITE TILL 9 P.M. CENTRAL Shopping PLAZA N.W. 7th ST. & 37th AVE. SEE & TALK To Santa in his "TV WORKSHOP" Talk to Santa in his North Pole Workshop on the Telephone while you watch him on the giant 8' TV set. Open Mon.-Fri. 5-9 P.M. Saturdays, 12-9 p.m. Dec. 19-24, 12 - 9 p.m. FREE WALT DISNEY COMIC BOOKS to all youngsters who visit Santa... 16 fun filled pages... puzzles, games, magic! CENTRAL PLAZA "The Christmas Shopping Center"

Curlee's Beauty Salon

105 Miracle Mile Completely Renovated, Under New Management of Guy Forgues of Miracle Mile. Phone HI 8-7968 PERMANENT WAVES From 8.00 and up (Santa Item)

Lifesize Santa Doorman MAIL ORDER ONLY

ELECTRIC Plain Santa Doorman ... $1.00 Personalized ... $1.50 Electric ... $2.98 GIFTS FROM NELSONS 9825 SW 47th St. (Santa Item)

EVELYN MR. MARIO BEAUTY SALON

Formerly of Curlee's Beauty Salon—is NOW ASSOCIATED WITH MR. MARIO BEAUTY SALON 141 GIRALDA AVE. CORAL GABLES HI 4-1085

MR. MAURE, Inc.

English Custom Tailors Formerly Of London England 206 Alhambra Circle Coral Gables Hand Tailored Suits HI 5-3232 SUITS REMODELED (Santa Item)

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING IS EASY AT — ROBINSON'S JEWELERS

143 MIRACLE MILE GIFTS TO BE TREASURED ALWAYS (Santa Item)