The Times

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Not second class

South Dade is usually loosely defined as everything South of South Kendall Drive. It is one of the largest and fastest growing areas in all of Dade County and more and more people are flocking to South Dade every day. And of course there are the citizens who have lived there for many years and who plan to stay. Unfortunately, for those people who need a certain kind of medical treatment, South Dade is NOT the place to be. For those with cancer who need radiotherapy treatments, it's a long haul to Mercy Hospital and four other hospitals even further north, from Cutler Ridge, Perrine and other South Dade communities. Why? Because the Federal Health Agency has, time and time again, turned down requests for such a treatment center in South Dade. Both South Miami Hospital and Baptist Hospital have been turned down even though funds were available. Some have said that politics play a part in where these treatment centers are located. Since when do we equate illness with politics? And since when does a group of people have to suffer because a Federal Health Systems Agency elects to make them travel long distances in their misery to seek treatment? The South Dade Chamber of Commerce plans to gather their troops together and prove to the Federal Health Systems Agency that South Dade area citizens are not second class. They think South Dade needs the facility to treat cancer patients and they're going to fight for it. We certainly cheer them on their way.

Some who care

There are some citizens who are an asset to a community and then there are those people who delight in being destructive. There are those who, in spite of adversity, pick up the pieces and try, try again. Two such people are Donna Hair and Mid Nanowsky, who continue to strive for beauty and a better neighborhood atmosphere but who must also tolerate those few people who really don't give a hoot. Nearly two years ago, these two women decided to clean up and beautify an intersection at U.S. 1 and Colonial Drive in South Dade. And every time they tried, plants were stolen, more trash was tossed and people shouted obscenities at them as they worked. But it remains their project and it remains their hope that maybe one day, the entrance to their neighborhood will be the lovely spot they have envisioned for so long. If people will stop stealing what they plant and start throwing their trash in proper receptacles, it can become a reality.

Gables police dedicated, considerate

EDITOR: Some 20 years ago I was a paperboy for your predecessors, the Riviera Times. Lately, I have noticed that the police force of Coral Gables has had detrimental remarks said about it in your paper due to the conduct of a few officers. I am enclosing a letter to the Mayor of Coral Gables about some outstanding officers and what a good police force he really has. I would hope you would publish it or parts of it, as you see fit, to show the other side of our fine police department. GEORGE T. LLOYD JR. 443 Navarre * * * Dear Sir: At 3 p.m. Dec. 17, 1976, my eight year old son ran away from home. He turned up at 11 p.m. that same night, cold and hungry. I am employed as a tax examiner for the State of Florida. During the hours he was missing, I could not help but feel that there was a possibility that he had been kidnapped, despite the fact that I knew he had been in trouble in school that day at Coral Gables Elementary. This is sufficient to show you how upset and worried both my wife and I were. We reported him missing to the Coral Gables police at 4:30. Officer Scanlan took the report from my wife; he was very courteous and eased her mind considerably. I arrived home at 5:45. At 8 p.m. I called the Coral Gables Police again and informed them that little George still wasn't home. Sgt. Height came over, placed a statewide APB out for my son and arranged for Officer Holt and another detective, whose name I did not catch, to look for him. They explained to me that, while he would hide from a marked patrol car, an unmarked car might find him. At approximately 10 p.m., my son still had not turned up. Sgt. Height and Lt. Bannon came by my home again. During our conversation, they showed me what they had been doing to find George; what they intended to do, and embarrassed me totally. How did they embarrass me? By very good police questioning techniques. As a result of their questions, I realized how many of my son's friends, I don't know; and how many of his hang-outs I also don't know. Through their questions, I hope I have become a better parent as I will know the answers next time. At 11:30, my son called home from a lady's house in South Miami, nine miles from my home. Just after she called, as I was going out the door to get him, Sgt. Height returned to tell me that he hadn't found George. (When he last left my home at 10:45, he was going to Anthony Abraham's car lot to see if maybe George had gone to sleep in one of the back seats of the cars there.) I told him George had turned up; he said he was glad and promptly exited the scene so I could go get him. Please, record my opinions of the Coral Gables Police on courtesy, professionalism, dedication and concern for citizens, in light of the fact that I was a Captain in the Army for four years and held the post of assistant provost marshal (deputy police chief in civilian terms) for one of those four years. Than you for employing these fine men and for having a police force of which I am proud. Sincerely George T. Lloyd Jr.

Death of pioneer great loss to community

EDITOR: Dade County lost a pioneer woman, who had dedicated 51 years to the progress of this area, when Mrs. Charles K. Weaver of Coral Gables died a few weeks before her ninetieth birthday this week. She was a small woman who had physical setbacks but we heard little about them. She talked instead of many welfare, education, civic, patriotic and cultural organizations which needed help and she drew many people into service for them. She worked 30 years with Girl Scouts and helped organize the present Council. She was president of the Women's Advisory Board of the Children's Home Society and president of the Council of Garden Clubs. She also chaired the organization of the library in Simpson Garden Center. Her constant work on the finance, membership and hospitality committees of the Y.W.C.A. helped it to grow and build to its present status. She was a founder of the University of Miami. She not only gave continuous and generous financial support to many community projects and scholarships but she quietly and steadily contributed much personal effort with no fanfare. She was looking forward to more busy, helpful activities when pneumonia terminated her life. The poet wrote, “It is harder to give one's life for 50 years than to give it in one moment gloriously.” Mrs. Weaver gave herself gladly and, many think, gloriously to service for this community. Would that we had more to follow in her footsteps. MABEL M. STAATS Coral Gables

Thanks for Christmas party

EDITOR: On behalf of Protective Services and the children in our care, I wish to thank you for the (Christmas) party on Dec. 11. The children enjoy such activities so very much and we appreciate your interest and concern for them. (MRS.) JANICE A. MONROE Protective Services Worker, Unit 65

the gables publishing company

serving south dade and coral gables since 1926 jim storey general manager bea moss managing editor bob levine advertising manager richard linn circulation manager address: 4627 ponce de leon blvd. coral gables, fla. 33146 telephone: 666-7981