The Times

Gables recreation head advocates city funding for community schools

By ERICA MEYER Staff Writer The Coral Gables Recreation Department, which almost caused the death of Merrick, Ponce and Carver Community Schools last year, may be their salvation this year. When the department's director, Don Hart, insisted last year that the obligation to fund community schools be removed from his budget, the city commission warned the schools they would not be funded beyond last summer. Now Hart — saying he has received new information — intends to ask City Manager Martin Gainer to add the needed $15,000 for community schools to the city budget in lieu of a recreation department request for $16,000 for a summer recreation program. Hart said he had learned, after his recent 1976-1977 budget conference with Gainer, that the community schools could run a summer recreation program of equal quality plus remain open for the rest of the year for $1,000 less than his summer program budget bid. The community schools received $26,000 from the city last year, but only $15,000 is essential for directors' salaries. The additional money was spent for programming. "Why should I request $16,000 when I could have the same thing and more for $15,000?" Hart said Monday, May 3. "I need to inform Mr. Gainer of this new information and I intend to change my budget request," Hart said. Hart met with the three Gables community school directors last week and found out, for the first time, that $5,000 each would keep the schools open. The money pays half the directors' salaries with the School Board providing matching funds once local municipal support is confirmed. A community school representative said the $11,000 programming money would be badly missed but that the only city funding essential to keep the schools open is the $15,000. "If the community schools can indeed provide a summer recreational program in addition to what they are doing now, I could present their case," Hart said. The recreation director still feels that community schools don't belong in his departmental budget, but is willing to forfeit his $16,000 See GABLES, Page 20

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The Times Guide

"Serving The City Beautiful Since 1926" Florida's Best Suburban Newspaper 4627 Ponce de Leon Boulevard Coral Gables, Florida 33146 Phone 665-7981 44 Pages Vol. 50 No. 37 Wednesday, May 5, 1976 10 Cents

CG worker cites cop brutality

By ELIZABETH OWEN Staff Writer Louis Bryant, a 39-year-old Coral Gables sanitation worker who, along with two companions, recently tried to foil a house burglary they witnessed, claims he was a witness to police brutality in another unrelated incident. Bryant said that two weeks ago, he was in his South Miami neighborhood when he saw Metro and South Miami policemen rough up a 16-year-old youth and practically choke him as they handcuffed him. The youth, he said, was arrested as a suspect in the April 14 suffocation murder of 78-year-old Mrs. Amelio Gaifrido. To protest the incident and to better relations between police and South Miami citizens, Bryant said he plans to form a citizens action committee in the Lee Park area. "I feel that Lee Park needs leadership and I want to form a group to bring about better uuderstanding between police and citizens," said Bryant, a South Miami resident for 21 years. "Anybody that commits a crime should be arrested, but not roughed up. "I was on the scene. The police called to the boy, and when he kept on walking. They grabbed him, wrestled him to the ground and nearly choked him when they handcuffed him. "A lot of people don't understand that once teenagers and police start hassling, one thing leads to another." Bryant said he later had a conference with South Miami Police Chief Sal Vizzini, and that Vizzini assured him he would investigate the incident. "I told Vizzini I was a non-violent man protesting the way some of my people are being treated. You know how it is in the ghetto — See GABLES, Page 2

Puppets and moppets

Photo by ELIZABETH OWEN Steve Henry, art teacher and professional puppeteer, recently gave a group of South Dade children an afternoon of giggles with his puppets. Four-year-old Janna Merkle, 2849 Village Green Dr., squeals with delight as one of the furry creatures cuddles on her lap while Bobby Lippman, 4, of 2901 Village Green Dr., and Ricardo Gonzalez, 11780 SW 30th St., try other puppets on for size. See story, Page 1B.

She didn't keep job long — one day

By EDWIN KNIGHT Staff Writer After a four-month search which led to the appointment of a new city clerk, the City of South Miami council must once again look for a replacement. The person the city council picked to be the keeper of the city's records, Rose Mary Phillips, 57, has changed her mind about becoming city clerk. Her first, and last day on the job, was Monday, May 3. Although Mayor Jack Block was out of town and not available for comment, Vice Mayor Mrs. Cathy McCann said there was no reason given for her change in plans. Mrs. Phillips was chosen from more than 100 candidates for the position due to her background in having served as the city clerk and secretary to the mayor of New Rochelle, N. Y. during her 10-year stay there. She initially applied for a position as secretary to City Manager Jack Present, but applied also for city clerk when she learned that job was also open. She was appointed city clerk at the council's April 6 council meeting, when the council also passed another resolution removing Sarah Cadenhead as acting city clerk and appointing her the deputy city clerk, a position she has held on a part-time basis since 1971. Mrs. Cadenhead has handled most of the duties of city clerk since the sudden resignation of former city clerk Mrs. Carmen Wayne Ray in December over disagreements with Mayor Block. At the Tuesday night, May 4, council meeting, the council had to rescind resolutions appointing Ms. Phillips as clerk and Ms. Cadenhead as deputy city clerk. The council now must either dip into its file of applicants and begin interviewing again or appoint Ms. Cadenhead as the permanent clerk. Meanwhile, Ms. Cadenhead is continuing as the acting city clerk, position she thought she wouldn't have See SM, Page 21