The Times

Thursday, March 16, 1961, page 11 (of 26)

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THE TIMES

the local community newspaper for all South Dade. John T. Watters, President Robert M. Slane, Advert sing Manager Rolfe Neill, Publisher Subscription: $3.00 year by mail anywhere

The Task Of Billy Graham

Thousands of residents, seeking spiritual guidance in this playground of the world which is Miami, are listening to Billy Graham, one of the world's great evangelists. Mr. Graham's task is to bring as many people to Christ as he can during the Crusade which he is conducting here. His task is formidable. In few cities in America are the things which detract from God more enthroned than they are in Miami. The glamor of Miami Beach, the ostentation which is the sine qua non of our hotels, the oceans of print which gush forth in praise about our horse and dog racing and sports events, particularly the brutal game of boxing which has the city in a frenzy at the moment (imagine Christ at the ringside), are mighty competitors for the success of Billy Graham. However, Miami is only an exaggerated symbol of what America has become, a stronghold of materialism, the very sin which we are fond of placing at the feet of the Communists. Nearly every institution in our society is oriented toward material success — our schools, our service clubs, our social organizations and, yes, even our homes and churches. The truth, nevertheless, is that we do not have a choice between respectability, which we measure in material success, and spiritual peace. America and much of the world is in a mad race to fashion a compromise between these two goals, but the tragic fact is that such a thing can not be accomplished. A society such as ours which chooses to enshrine material success as the criterion of acceptability can not have spiritual success at the same time. In our attempt to achieve this compromise, we have relegated religion to a polite exercise practiced on Sunday by some and in an apathetic manner by others every day. In the meantime, we continue to concentrate on piling up money in banks, filling our homes with more and more possessions and lauding the elusive phantom of success in business, the open sesame to leadership in the community. Once in a while we are told of the lack of wisdom of our pursuit by such an evangelist as Mr. Graham, but even he comes to us in such a panoply of organization, loud speakers and press agentry that much of his mission is lost. Miami may or may not be a better place as the result of Mr. Graham's visit, but unless the enemies of the spirit of which we speak here are dethroned, we can enjoy no optimism. Miami, we fear, will go right on being a modern-day Babylon, its praises sung by community leaders and others who strike the pose of the righteous because they neither steal or disobey the traffic laws.

Letters To The Editor Resident Is Opposed To 'Progress'

Editor, The Times, I am one of those residents of Coral Gables who came to this city because of its attraction as a residential community. Is there something wrong with such an idea? Every voice I hear quoted in your newspaper these days has the same thing to say, "Coral Gables must grow, grow, grow." Why does it have to grow? Why does progress have to be measured in terms of the number of people we can pack into a municipality? Growth for growth's sake will never impress me as a criterion of progress. Rather, the escape from the pressures of population, apartment houses stacked one upon another and thousands of people struggling for existence is not my idea of Utopia, although it seems to be the goal of those gentlemen who tell us we must "grow." These exponents of a bigger Coral Gables, I note, are people who will benefit financially from such growth. I don't hear any homeowners screaming for more and more people. I don't belong to the Chamber of Commerce, a local civic club or any kind of organization. I just want to live quietly in Coral Gables, and that is why I pulled roots and moved here. Now in the guise of progress that city I learned to love is being turned into another bustling metropolis. If this is progress, I am opposed to it. What do other of your readers think about this? I never hear their voices above the vocal expressions of the progress for progress sake boys. Old Fashioned

Remember The Times

Competition 25 Years Ago The Coral Gables City Commission, fearing an invasion of slot machines was underway in local stores, discussed ordinances to combat the one-armed bandits... Distinguished English actor V. L. Granville recited selections from Greek plays at the Miami Biltmore Hotel's Town Hall program... A Coral Gables City Commissioner along with prominent businessmen feared a rise in the price of copper and scrap iron. The fear arose out of the distinct possibility that a war might erupt in Europe... Mrs. Upton C. Ewing of the Gables headed a committee of the Junior Woman's Club trying to establish a permanent art gallery here. 10 Years Ago Dave Hendrick, a Gables attorney and City Commissioner, announced he would run for mayor in the upcoming election. ... final plans were made for holding the first Coral Gables Easter Sunrise Service across from City Hall... Coral Gables got an unexpected, indirect gift of $11⁄2 million. Southern Bell Telephone announced it was opening a branch office here. Florida Power and Light announced it was expanding its offices in the Gables. Both business moves meant a payroll of $11⁄2 million.

PROFILE of the week

"I have very optomistic feelings about Dade County and the State of Florida as far as economic growth is concerned," stated Edward M. Strawgate. This is a man who should know, because he is active in business as executive vice president of Webster Stone, Inc. The company develops and leases shopping centers and deals mainly with large chain stores. Though a permanent resident of Miami for only six years. Strawgate has lived in the area off and on since 1929. He was graduated from the University of Miami in 1949 with a Business Administration degree. After completing service in the Air Force, he apprenticed in the commercial financing field. The 35-year-old businessman founded his own company in his home city of New York in 1952. In 1955 he moved to Miami and became vice president of the Federal Title and Insurance Co. His present company was organized in 1956. Strawgate lives with his wife, Pat, and their three daughters, Nancy Lee, 5; Janet Linn, 3; and Pamela Dee, 5 months, in Westchester Homes section in the Southwest. He recently completed a modern home on his new home which includes a tropical garden, landscaped barbecue and dining patio. Active in civic and local affairs, Strawgate is on the Board of Governors of the Miami Beach Exchange Club and also is on the committee for Control Zoning and Planning in Dade County, sponsored by the Home Builders of South Florida. He is a member of the Dade, Miami, and Florida Chambers of Commerce and helps various charitable organizations. "I'm most active in my business," said Strawgate. He's talking about the work he's done on shopping plazas throughout the Miami area, including the new Miami Gardens Shopping Plaza. He is also at work on centers in Orlando, Tampa and Deerfield Beach. "It takes all of my time," the busy executive stated. Bn. New York | M. Pat | Ch. Nancy Lee, Janet Linn, Pamela Dee | Bus. Executive vice president of Webster Stone, Inc. | Ed. University of Miami

South Miami Roundup By EDWIN KNIGHT

KNIGHT FRESH WATER FISHING — something new to many South Floridians, whose only contact with fishing has been with salt water, Biscayne Bay or the Keys. I've been try g my luck lately with my new spinning outfit, new lures and a drive west on Tamiami Trail. THE FISH ARE there — bass mostly for the guy with the spinning gear. I've tried blue, red and black imitation worms, imitation minnows and a topwater lure. My best luck has been with the topwater lure and the black imitation worm. Best times to go are the early morning and the late afternoon. BE SURE TO get a license. It costs $2.25 for a permanent resident, nothing if you use a cane pole. Be sure you go beyond the dike near the turnoff to Homestead via Krome Ave. The further west, the better the fishing. Parking is getting to be a problem at Trail fishing spots. The county would do well to cut down some of the pine trees. ANOTHER DRAWBACK to Trail fishing — the filth. The sport fisherman should not have to be subjected to the stench and unsightliness of the Trail fishing spots. I have never gone that I haven't been nearly driven off by the smell of dead fish and garbage. WHISKEY BOTTLES and beer cans are strewn along the canal banks as if it were a garbage dump. Other derbis is thrown about presenting the sport fisherman a most loa[?] some picture. Paper, bottles, tin cans and cartons are left for days, even weeks. And the county or the state does nothing. SPORT FISHERMEN buy a license to fish in the Tamiami Canal. Why isn't some of that money used in cleaning up the area so that the Trail can become a more pleasant fishing haven. The fisherman sees plenty of Conservation officers on the Trail. There is a tight check on licenses. But no check on the filth. IN CONTRAST TO the Trail Fishing holes is the neat-appearing, well-managed Trail-Glades shooting range not a mile from the Trail fishing sites. It's nearly spotless, with s young trees, well-policed grounds and strict rules on the handling of firearms. This is a Dade County park. But the fisherman wouldn't even know that the Trail Canal fishing area is even in Dade County. * * * * * A RASH OF HOME breakins in Coral Gables and South Miami lately prompted a query to police officials in the two cities about the best ways of avoiding a breakin. South Miami police investigator Thom Ford: Be sure to lock all doors when going out. Leave a light on in one of the rooms. FORD BELIEVES breakin homes are spotted when [?] intruders are riding around in a car. They spot a person or a couple going out for the evening and pounce on the home for a breakin as soon as the homeowners have left. It might be best to get the license number of a car whose occupants are giving your home the double-take. CORAL GABLES POLICE Chief William Kimbrough also believes in giving the home the appearance of being occupied. He concurs with Ford that a room should be lighted and the front and rear doors locked. An added means of caution, Kimbrough believes, is the playing of a radio or a t[?] vision set with the blinds drawn. CHIEF KIMBROUGH believes many homes are broken into through rear or Florida room doors so prevalent on many of the newer homes. Get a jalousie door lock that can withstand pressure, the chief advises. He has one on his home and the door and the glass slats are impossible to open. * * * * * IF METRO COMMISSIONERS are still considering a Dade County man for the position of County Manager, they might give due consideration to a man right under their noses. He's L. M. McConnell, Metro's present budget director t former South Miami city manager. McConnell did an excellent job as South Miami's administrator. South Miamians feel he could be a good replacement for O. W. (Hump) Campbell. * * * * * THE QUESTION OF whether to take parking off South Miami streets is still very much alive and may be decided within two weeks. Two surveys are underway now to guide South Miami's Council on the right decision. One survey is being conducted by Metro's Traffic and Transportation Department. THE OTHER SURVEY is being conducted by So.... Miami District Chamber of Commerce on whether the merchants want the parking reprieve or not. About 160 merchants have answered the question. Most want the parking lifted for two-hour intervals on the streets. * * * * * WHEREAS SOUTH MIAMI now has a single-lane inspection station, it will have a double lane setup when the present station is moved to 62nd Ave. and 62nd St. A new braking testing machine is on its way to be installed before moving of the present inspection which is adjacent to city hall on Sunset Dr. THE CITY'S NEW inspection station may be one of the most beautiful in the country. The city's nursery will be moved to the inspection station site and the area adorned with clusters of the city's most elegant flowers. Look for a new entrance to the city hall when the inspection station is moved to its new site. THAT ADDITION TO South Miami's police department will be completed about April 1... The city's community-wide credit union will be underway about the first of the month in offices donated by Arthur Vining Davis at 5900 South D[?] Highway... South Miami's Master Plan, already in the hands of Metro's Planning Boards, will be discussed at length at the board's weekly meeting Thursday.