The Times

6 TIMES/GUIDE Weekend of August 28/29, 1976

opinion • editorials • commentary • letters Be informed, vote on Sept. 7

Several people have called our office recently asking about our political endorsements for the upcoming Sept. 7 primary election. Are we endorsing? When will endorsements be printed? The answers are yes and Sept. 4, respectively. Candidates running for public office are currently being interviewed by us — all 128 of them at last count, which puts us in a rather unique position. We will have had, by Sept. 4, the opportunity to have talked with just about everyone that is running for everything from school board to the state legislature. And we will try to communicate that experience with you in two ways. First, on Sept. 1, we will publish a special section containing pictures and biographical sketches of all those who have chose to seek public office. There will also be stories on the issues being raised by those same people. Then, on Sept. 4, we'll give you our opinion as to who might best serve South Dade and Coral Gables if elected. But more important than our recommendations of who to vote for will be our strong urging to simply vote, regardless of what levers may be pulled in the process. To provide adequate information about the election is our responsibility. Doing something with that information is the responsibility of all those registered to vote.

Pine trees spared . . . for time being

Those pine trees we talked about last issue, the ones standing in the way of creating a "natural" environment for animals at the South Dade super zoo, have been given a stay of execution. The county's Developmental Impact Committee, which heard environmentalists argue against removal of the trees, has agreed to "further study" the situation. It was a temporary victory for those who wanted to keep what is natural about South Dade from being plowed under, only for zoo architects to then recreate what is natural for African zoo animals. The decision to look closer at the plans gives us hope that the trees will be spared. What was at first thought to be a situation involving 120 acres of pineland turned out to be more than 200 acres, further magnifying the problem and increasing the need for a realistic alternative.

the gables publishing company serving south dade and coral gables since 1926

jim storey general manager | bea moss managing editor | gary gibbs news editor | carole myers advertising manager | bill mc hugh circulation | yvonne moss classified manager | address: 4627 ponce de leon blvd. coral gables, fla. 33146 | telephone: 666-7981

camera comment

Photo by ELIZABETH OWEN This trash bin, on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, adjacent to Florida East Coast railroad tracks, has had about all it can stomach. But it may get more, since boxcars plying the tracks are filled with new telephone directories, wrapped in plastic and other protective materials that are thrown away when the phone books are picked up by those who deliver them. A stiff breeze would decorate most of the area with garbage, and city officials should alert trash crews to pay special attention to such high use areas.

People poll | Are you ready for school to begin?

"It's been a boring summer. We went to Disney World, but the rest of the time I just stayed around home and swam." Bonnie Zoberg Leewood Elem. | "I'd like to go back and see all the people. I pumped gas all summer and it was a drag." Hamish Ziegler Coral Gables High | "I didn't have much of a summer because I only got out of summer school a week ago. But I'd rather be there with all my friends." Steve Williamson Palmetto Sr. High | "School's great. I can't wait to go back. It was a fun summer but I want something to do now." Barbara Soba Carrollton School | "I'm looking forward to it because it's going to be a brand-new school. I want to meet new people." Wendy Cooper McMillan Jr. High | "I'm ready for it since the summer was a drag. I'd rather be in school since there aren't any jobs around." Raymond Chambers Killian Sr. High