The Times

Saturday, January 8, 1977, page 1 (of 24)

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Chamber envisions 'Giralda Plaza'

By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer There is already an international flavor to Giralda Street in Coral Gables. A butcher, a tailor, a German deli, the Italian and Cuban restaurants, as well as many other shops along the 100 block of Giralda, give the street a continental quality. Now the members of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce Keep the City Beautiful Committee would like to enhance that existing atmosphere by unifying the exterior architectural design of the shops and creating a "Giralda Plaza." On Tuesday, Jan. 11, the Coral Gables City Commission will consider a resolution to improve and "make unique" the area of Giralda between Galiano and Ponce de Leon Boulevard. Submitted by the Chamber, the resolution also calls for the commission to promote and give encouragement and incentive to the owners and merchants situated along the area to work together to make this project possible. "For the most part, the merchants and property owners along Giralda agreed on the idea," said Tom Chegin, executive director of the Chamber. "The idea is to make Giralda into an area similar to Commodore Plaza in Coconut Grove." Although no definite architectural design has been chosen, the idea is to make each store facade consistent with the type of business, while maintaining harmony throughout the block. Headed by Ron Robson, the Keep the City Beautiful Committee is hoping to bring the area international recognition for its aesthetic appearance.

Times Guide

Serving The City Beautiful Since 1926 Florida . A Suburban Newspaper 2627 Ponce de Leon Boulevard * Coral Gables Florida 33146 * Phone 665 7981

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She dons roller skates despite handicap Page 2 It took a baby to get them to stay home Page 9

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24 Pages Vol. 51 No. 3 January 8/9, 1977 10 Cents Weekend Edition Residents voice concern, but planners stick to recommendation

24 Pages Vol. 51 No. 3 January 8/9, 1977 10 Cents Weekend Edition By KAY SEVERINSEN Staff Writer Despite opposition from about 50 emotional residents, 1,400 acres south of Cutler Ridge must still be replanned for urban uses, according to Reginald Walters, director of the Dade County Planning Department. Residents fear that the possible addition of 1,400 new people in the area will further plague police and school services, which they say are below par. But according to Walters, changing the land to urban usage on the Master Plan will call attention to the lack of vital services. "We can't add more police or schools, the commission does that," he See RESIDENTS, Page 16

He's a nice guy, but why is everybody gunning for him?

By FRANK TURSI Staff Writer At 23 years old, Duff Daily is a marked man. When he's not battling fires for the City of Miami Fire Department, South Miamian Daily tackles choppy seas and speeds of up to 95 m.p.h. as an inboard powerboat racer. But it's not the seas and speeds that are out to get Daily. It's the other drivers on the Grand National (GN) racing circuit. They're gunning for him. Daily is the premier GN skipper in the country. He hasn't lost a GN race in five years and he's the defending GN national champion, all of which tends to frustrate the other drivers. "We're out to beat Daily this year," one local GN driver was quoted as saying recently. "It gets pretty frustrating year after year, race after race, seeing Duff take the checkered flag." The drivers will get their chance Sunday, Jan. 16 at Miami Marine Stadium, when Daily defends his title in the Mike Gordon 100, a race the young skipper has won four years in a row. The promoters of that race have circulated flyers among GN drivers, inviting them to a turkey shoot. Daily, in his famous "Oh Mona" boat, is pictured as the "head turkey." Sitting in his father's home in South Miami, surrounded by dozens of trophies and two Doberman Pinschers, this sandy haired "head turkey" takes all the fame and Photo by FRANK TURSI Duff Daily and Oh Mona ... an unbeatable pair talk of irritated drivers in stride. "I know the majority of drivers appreciate what I'm doing," he says softly. "and all their talk is usually done in good fun. Anyway, I'm used to all that stuff about turkey hunting and beating me. They say it before every race." He tells of the Cotton Carnival race in Memphis last summer when promoters offered an extra $500 to the driver that beat Daily. The bounty went uncollected. Daily won the race. Daily got interested in racing through his father, Dell, who has been driving powerboats since 1949. The elder Daily doesn't race anymore, but he's his son's mechanic, advisor and general right hand. "I was lucky enough to have Dad," says Daily, explaining how he rose to the top of the boat racing scene at such a young age. "I started riding with him when I was 11, and we've been a team ever since. I guess you can say he's taught me everything I know.". Dell Daily is presently in Panama recuperating from a heart attack. He and his son traveled to the Latin American country to compete in the President's Cup race, which, by the way, Daily won, but the excitement and bustle was too much for Dell. "He's doing fine," the young Daily says, "but the doctors won't let me see him too much. Everytime I do he starts talking See OH, Page 18