Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Saturday, May 1, 1976, page 6 (of 30)
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TIMES/GUIDE Weekend of May 1/2, 1976
6 TIMES/GUIDE Weekend of May 1/2, 1976
opinion • editorials • commentary • letters Bravery is here
We've often wondered why there are no black firemen on the Coral Gables Fire Department and why there is but one black officer on the city's police force. We asked city officials why and they had a ready answer - blacks tested did not score well enough to make the grade. Oh, they did well enough on the nuts and bolts questions, the basic academic stuff, but according to officials, blacks came up short when tested (by interview) for things like "bravery" and "dedication to duty." How do you determine such qualities in a person? You can't until they are put to the test of performance, a test that can only be taken once they are on the job and faced with a real-life situation. Such a situation confronted three black employes of the city's waste division earlier this week when they saw the daylight robbery of a Coral Gables house, in progress. They tried, without thought for personal safety, to block the thieves' escape by using a trash pickup crane, and nearly succeeded in their efforts. Not only dedication, but bravery was displayed by these men. They should apply to become police officers or firemen. They can't possibly come up short when an interviewer orally tests their mettle.
Encourage all youngsters, future is in their hands
bea moss If, every once in a while, you think the country is going to the dogs, that there is absolutely no hope, have no fear. The future of the nation is in good hands. This was dramatically brought home to me as I witnessed 312 Dade County students receive honors at the 18th Annual Silver Knight ceremonies held last Thursday evening. Out of the 312 students who are chosen from Dade schools, only 14 can receive the coveted top award for excellence in leadership and community involvement, each of the 14 awards given for a specific category. The others receive beautifully embossed certificates. Eight of the recipients of Silver Knights this year, were South Dade residents. Another 19 received Honorable Mention awards. But every nominee is a winner. Consider these young people who not only find time for studies and excel in them, but find the time and have the inclination to help and contribute to the community in which they live. They not only make their own lives more meaningful but help others whose lives become richer because of them. I had the distinct good fortune of being selected as a judge for the Journalism category and believe me, it's no easy task deciding who the winners will be. All of the nominees have a common bond. They care. They care about underprivileged children and retarded children. They care about the forgotten elderly and the sick and their houses of worship. They care about their schools and they care about children who have no parents. They care about medical research and agriculture and they care about helping their peers. They care about enriching our lives with music and art. They love their homes, their families and their country. And, yes, fortunately there are other fine and caring students in our schools who have these same attributes. Too many times the bad things that youngsters do are brought to our attention and have a tendency to make us forget how many outstanding young people we have in our midst. But don't ever forget them. Encourage them all, give them your support, your love, your understanding. Not only is their future in your hands, but yours is in theirs as well.
Homes bugged
School portables. In the summer they're hot, in the winter they're cold. They're made of wood and like most wooden structures in Florida, they attract termites. Homeowners living adjacent to Village Green Elementary School, say that termites with a penchant for learning, have infested the seven portables at the school and are now moving over to their homes. Some homeowners say the portables have been fumigated on a regular basis. Others say they've never seen them tented. But an exterminator, according to one resident, says the termite infestation is definitely originating from the school. The portables, which are as old as 30 or 40 years, have been used at the school for the past nine years and this would indicate that perhaps the school needs more permanent facilities. And why should homeowners who already pay school taxes have the added burden of fumigating their homes because of termite infested school buildings? In the interest of good school-community relations, it would seem the only proper thing to do, would be either fumigate the portables on a regular basis or get rid of them altogether.
WM voters heeded Watergate's lesson
reader response EDITOR: The lessons of Watergate came to roost at the recent West Miami election campaign. Unfortunately, the candidates were not listening. The placidity of a West Miami council election was disturbed this year by shouts of protestations from the three incumbent candidates. "What looks like conflict of interest is perfectly legal," they all shouted. Indeed it was legal, the West Miami Town Attorney ruled that way. But the lesson was the Watergate lesson that those who enjoy the public trust should have learned in this campaign. It is that not only evil should be avoided but that the appearance of evil must be just as scrupulously avoided. A good case-in-point on how to keep public trust would be former state Senator Bill Gunter of Orlando, who is presently a candidate for state Insurance Commissioner, refusing to accept campaign contributions from anyone in the insurance field. Another excellent example of a method above and beyond the legal interpretation of the law is Senator Lawton Chiles' refusal to accept campaign contributions over $10. There seems to be a depth of understanding here of the realities of today's meaning of "conflict of interest" not fully grasped by the West Miami council candidates. This lesson has evidently filtered down to the voters by their rejection of one of the incumbents. Hopefully, next time the lesson will have been learned. Your paper is to be commended for its part in bringing this lesson to the voters. LEO GELBER 6357 SW 15 St.
Youth Center is a fine institution
EDITOR: It is impossible to measure the care and training that my five children have received as participants in the Coral Gables Youth Center Programs. My boys in particular have spent practically all of their spare time in the sports program and other activities that are offered at the Youth Center. The Coral Gables Youth Center is one of the finest institutions of its kind in the United States and the entire staff, in my opinion, is well qualified both administratively and by experience in the various activities that are offered. It seems to me that the minor criticisms that were made by the Rooters Club are unfounded. I wholeheartedly recommend the Youth Center Program and feel that the money spent by the city in this regard is unquestionably the best use that could be made of it. I feel that the extra taxes more than accomplish their value in bringing the boys and girls involved into these programs and making all of them better citizens for it. JAMES J. McVEIGH
Thanks for Ponce article
EDITOR: Thank you so much for the delightful article in your March 31 issue about Ponce de Leon Junior High's cookbook. We appreciate the time and interest you gave Mrs. Gelfand, on behalf of our school project. MARCIA HEMINSKI President, Ponce PTA
Henry, come home
EDITOR: I sure was pleased to see Secretary Kissinger preaching the doctrine of majority rule to the government of Rhodesia. But, I would be a lot more pleased if he would come home and preach the same doctrine to our own Federal Government. ROBERT A. WOLLEY 8320 SW 119th St.
the gables publishing company serving south dade and coral gables since 1926
jim storey general manager gary gibos news editor bea moss managing editor carole myers advertising bill mc hugh circulation address: 4627 ponce de leon blvd coral gables, fla 33146 telephone: 666-7561