The Times

Thursday, March 23, 1961, page 10 (of 24)

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THE TIMES

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

What Kind Of 'Progress'?

A letter to the editor printed in The Times last week raised the question of what "progress" means to Coral Gables. The letter writer's idea was quite clear on the subject. He flatly stated that he is opposed to "progress" if it means changing Coral Gables from a residential community into a bustling metropolis. While he was about it, he also registered another complaint. He said that in his opinion, those residents who advocate that Coral Gables become a people packed metropolis are people who would benefit financially from the population increase. Where are the voices of the quiet homeowners who want to keep Coral Gables as is?, he asked. Homeowners in Coral Gables, those who moved here for the serene, unruffled atmosphere, are not as apathetic as our correspondent pictures them. They can become pretty irate at times and when they do, they frequently get action. Unfortunately, the recent history of the city shows that homeowners are only prodded into action after the thing they oppose has progressed to a point where the only recourse left is the courts. This has been the story of several monumental struggles over zoning in this city. What can the homeowners do to take a more active part in Coral Gables' affairs? How can he take steps to make it known that he is just as interested in the future of Coral Gables as is the businessman and the merchant? There are several organizations in Coral Gables which have been formed solely for the discussion and study of local problems. They welcome new members. There are other oganizations, composed of apartment and home owners, who seek support. And last but not least there is the local government which, in Coral Gables, receives small attention from the citizens. The state of voter apathy has been becched-tteeched over many times. The opportunity to remedy this state of affairs is being extended to every registered voter on April 11, the date of the city election. A good way to plunge into local affairs is to take an interest in the campaigning now and Election Day — and then to the polls. There is still time to meet the candidates and hear the issues before April 11. All of the organizations mentioned here are calling public meetings to introduce the candidates and to discuss the issues. By attending these meetings, you can kill two birds with one stone. You'll be taking a part in local politics and you will become familiar with organizations which are formed to protect certain interests in Coral Gables. Your particular interest is probably one of them. Homeowners, we can assure our letter writing friend, do have a voice in Coral Gables. But it is a voice that must be raised in unison, if it is to be heard. No better time than now exists to let it be known what kind of "progress" you want for Coral Gables.

If You Really Want To Be Heard....

STATUS QUO KNOW AND DISCUSS THE ISSUES TAKE PART IN LOCAL POLITICS VOTE If You Really Want To Be Heard....

Remember The Times

25 Years Ago John J. Stillman of Coral Gables was named one of five Americans to make a good will trip to Japan. With no evident premonition of war and Pearl Harbor only a place with a quaint name, Stillman and his group learned they would meet the emperor and other top government officials... Mounting friction between Italy and Ethopia and names such as Benito Mussolini and Haile Selassie caught the interest of Gableites as local newspapers and public speakers told of the conflict blistering in North Africa... Mrs. H. H. Trice, general chairman of the American Red Cross in Coral Gables, appealed for $1000 in donations to help flood victims in the North. 10 Years Ago Last minute plans were made for groundbreaking ceremonies of the Church of the Little Flower at Indian Mound Trail and Sevilla Ave.... Lewis Pomerantz was elected president of Coral Gables Lodge, B'nai B'rith... What was hailed by many as the Gables' biggest building boom even boomed louder as permits for March drew near the $11⁄2 million mark ... It was a proud moment for Gableites Marilyn Dean, Nancy Einfeldt, Billie Harding and Jean McMath when they received their uniforms and caps as student nurses at Jackson Memorial School for Nursing. 1 Year Ago The Coral Gables City Commission adopted a policy that spelled an end to room renting in residential areas... Coral Gables has enough off-street parking facilities to meet its needs. That was the finding of a survey conducted by a local committee of realtors.

PROFILE of the week

Nick Gerardi has been serving food at his College Coffee Shop, 214 Almeria Ave., six days a week for nine years. Opening the restaurant in 1951, his only specialty was to be, he said, "low prices and good food, that's all I have to offer." He is well-known to many of the nearby businessmen who eat a quick breakfast or lunch there. Later in the afternoon, the restaurant is filled with the college people who have discovered "Nick's." The atmosphere is dependent on the time of day. He was born in Waterbury, Conn., in 1916 and moved to Stanford shortly after. He graduated from Stanford High School in 1934. Before World War II, he was a machinist. In 1942 he enlisted in the Army. He was assigned to the Army Medical Corps as a cook, and became a sergeant before being discharged in 1946. While still in the service, he met his wife, Sue, in San Antonio, Texas. They were married in 1945. In 1947, Nick came to Florida. Climate was the principle reason for his choice. "I came to Miami," he said, "to get away from the cold weather and the taxes." Since 1952, he and his wife have resided at 2401 SW 58th Ave. He is a member of the Elks and the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Coral Gables. For relaxation, Nick takes his wife dancing. "My wife and I love to dance," he said, "so we go quite often." Bn Waterbury, Conn. Bus College Coffee Shop M. Sue Edu. Stamford High School

Liked Editorial

Editor, The Times, I wish to commend you for the very fine editorial entitled "The Task of Billy Graham". In these times, when it is so easy for people to compromise for their own self interests, it is encouraging to find those who will stand up for Christian ideals and admonish us for our complacency and laxness of moral ethics. Thank you for this article and please continue to give us these forthright editorials. Frank H. Pearce, O.D. 59 Miracle Mile

Opera Guild

Editor, The Times, The executive board of the Opera Guild and I, personally, are very grateful for the contribution you have made in publicizing our Twentieth Anniversary season. We appreciate your generosity and the time you spent in bringing our season to a very successful conclusion. Thank you again, I am Arturo di Filippi Opera Guild of Miami

South Miami Roundup By EDWIN KNIGHT

SOUTH MIAMI RECREATION — Two programs not tried before in South Miami will be initiated this year by South Miami Recreation Director Charlie Skalaski to give youngsters more interest. One is the first annual Easter egg hunt which will be held Easter Sunday afternoon at Fuchs Memorial Park. THE OTHER PROGRAM is a series of teenage dances to begin this summer at South Miami Junior High School cafeteria. The dances, for youngsters from 14 through high school age, will be informal, well supervised and well chaperoned. THE CITY'S recreation program costs South Miami some $22,000 a year and is getting bigger each year. Baseball, football and basketball are still the principle interests, with baseball far and away the largest attended. Hundreds of youngsters have already signed up for the junior league ball teams which should begin playing in several weeks. THE CITY ALSO has contracted for the construction of several tennis courts at a park at Miller Road and Brewer canal which will be in use soon. What the city recreation program urgently needs is a swimming pool and a youth center. Also needed is help from Metro in support of the large number of county children who are active in South Miami's youth program. LATEST ESTIMATE is that some 80 percent of those receiving benefits of the program are county residents. South Miamians are footing the bill for these. They can't be turned away. Metro should realize this and offer the city some much-needed aid. ONE GROUP of citizens, mostly parents of those lads and lassies in the baseball program, are so interested in the city's recreation program that they offer free their services in manning the refreshment stand open nearly every night during the summer at South Miami Field. Since baseball or softball games are played almost every night, the stand must be manned. YES, A PROFIT is made — but it goes right back into the recreation program. From this fund are purchased trophies and cups for winning teams. City of South Miami recently granted the group, South Miami Junior Athletic League, a two-year franchise to operate the refreshment stand. It's saving taxpayers money and helping the youngsters. * * * * * SOUTH MIAMI'S hard-working Jaycees, one of the more industrious groups in the city, are planning ways and means of curbing breaking and enterings. Spokesmen for the Jaycees offered South Miami Council Tuesday night a proposal to photograph the sellers of all merchandise sold to pawnbrokers, trading posts and the like throughout the city. THE CITY FATHERS took no action on the proposal, preferring instead to have the city attorney check with the Jaycees' attorney on the validity of such an ordinance. The Jaycees reason that most breakins occur for money and valuables. THE MONEY IS KEPT and the valuables are sold to unsuspecting pawnbrokers. By keeping a closer check on the selling to the hock shops, police will know who is selling what. The idea is a good one. But is it legal? The city will soon know. BREAKINS ARE OCCURING at an alarming rate in the county, South Miami and Coral Gables. Authorities believe the culprits are Negroes, mostly juveniles. These are hard times for many Negroes. There is not as much construction as there used to be. Not as many odd jobs. Some turn to breakins for cash and valuables. ONE SUCH BREAKIN occurred in South Miami this week. Richard Wellman, 6531 SW 58th Pl., not from South Miami's Negro district, reported to police the theft of a $65 transistor radio, an $85 polaroid camera and a $500 shotgun. Police later got a call about a Negro attempting to sell the shotgun in South Miami. The police arrived before the sale was consumated and recovered the gun. But the Negro escaped. * * * * * IT WOULD BE TO everyone's advantage for South Miami to service a large county area with garbage and trash collection. This was the opinion of Metro's advisory planning Board last Thursday. This was the recommendation which the Board gave to the Metro Commission. THE COMMISSION RECEIVED the proposal at its Tuesday meeting and elected to table any action on the recommendation until the county manager's office could make a study. Both the city and the county residents should know within two weeks what action will be taken. AS ALL COUNTY residents know, Metro's garbage and trash pickups are the worst in the county. What the city is offering Metro is a chance for those residents living as far west as the Palmetto Expressway to get better and more pickups at a cheaper price. South Miami, according to its master plan, reasons this area is South Miami's logical service area anyway. THE PROPOSAL must have jolted Metro. Metro viewed itself recently as near able to take over many municipal functions. And the county government could take over some city functions. But we're afraid garbage collection is not one of them. The county's waste collection department is one of Metro's chief headaches. IT WOULD HELP if South Miami did aid in some of Metro's garbage pickups. And it would help the resident a great deal, too. It also would develop a warmer feeling between the city and many county residents who view South Miami as an annexation monger. But it's not true.