Coral Gables Historical Archive
The Times
Wednesday, February 2, 1977, page 6 (of 29)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
All's fair?
It has come to our attention that the Dade County Youth Fair, that show of shows, that wonderful outlet for the creative and ambitious projects of Dade County young people, apparently made some citizens hopping mad. And they were not alone. We were more than a little upset as well. It seems, according to the Fair's General Manager Darwin Fuchs, that a creative writing contest which first became a part of the Youth Fair scene three years ago, was such an overwhelming favorite, with thousands and thousands of entries last year (and anticipated this year), organizers couldn't find enough judges to bear the burden of judging them all. So they came up with a solution. Only fiction written by Spanish-speaking students would be accepted. Some solution. All of the hundreds and hundreds of English-speaking students whose talents lie in writing fiction, were eliminated. The Fair's organizers said, despite the outrage of English-speaking parents, the rule books were out and a change was out of the question. Let the parents explain to the youngsters that because they're English-speaking, they can't enter any fiction at the Youth Fair. Lest anyone mistake our motive for being upset, add this to the scenario. It was also decided that only poetry written in English would be accepted. What? They couldn't find enough judges for one contest in two languages, so they'll have two contests in one language each. Now how about the hundreds and hundreds of Spanish-speaking students whose talents lie in poetry? Forget it. Let the parents explain to the youngsters that because they're Spanish-speaking they can't enter any poetry at the Youth Fair. We find it peculiar also, that with the help of the bilingual department of Dade County Schools, enough Spanish-speaking judges were found. We find it difficult to believe that Fair directors seriously pursued English-speaking judges. We know of many qualified people who, if they had been asked, would have been happy to take part in determining who the winners would be. Well, this could have been a story with an extremely unhappy ending. However, on Monday of this week, the Fair directors had a change of heart. But let us stress here, it certainly was not voluntary. So many complaints rolled in that they had to do something to rectify this gross error in judgment. The creative writing contest is now open to all students and the deadline has been extended for a week. Never underestimate the power of a parent.
the gables publishing company serving south dade and coral gables since 1926
leonard h. chusmir publisher 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
Restore Biltmore for elderly
(Editor's note: This is a copy of a letter sent to Coral Gables Mayor Robert Knight.) Dear Mr. Mayor: In response to a copy of your letter dated Jan. 24, 1977, to Mr. W.L. Philbrick, relative to the Biltmore Hotel Complex, I wish to express my views in this matter. As far as the legalities and technicalities of this issue are concerned, I am not familiar with the resolutions, ordinances, etc. My main concern is that the Biltmore Hotel be restored and maintained as a retirement home for elderly Coral Gables residents who are unable to maintain their own homes. The only retirement homes in Dade County are in the "boondocks" and we need a home of this type for the convenience of our retired residents in this area. Whether this is accomplished through Federal funding, private enterprise, or the City of Coral Gables, this is what I felt Mr. Philbrick was working for along with the museum and art center. If the City can't afford to restore the Biltmore and collect taxes from the rental revenues in the future, then there must be another alternative to accomplish these goals. I know your commission has been working on a possible solution and I do hope a retirement home will be the end result. We are all interested in preserving the Biltmore Complex and I feel the City of Coral Gables should work as a team with its residents to meet the needs for the best possible interest of all. BETTY McDAVIT Coral Gables
Alhambra traffic control needed now
EDITOR: Speeding on Alhambra Circle has been a dangerous problem for years. The Coral Gables Police Department has documented Alhambra Circle as being in first, second and third place for speeding in the entire city. Though we appreciate the current stepup in radar control, we need some definitive action to control the reckless, life-threatening traffic situation we are enduring and have persistently tried to alleviate with no real success. After a lengthy and (we thought) thorough study, Metro's Traffic Department suggested an experimental cul-de-sac as the ideal solution for Alhambra Circle's traffic problems. With this plan, we were told, commuter traffic would be diverted from the residential street of Alhambra Circle to the arterial streets of Coral Gables and hopefully out of the Gables. As a result of the Jan. 11 City Commission meeting, we must now endure a further delay of three months until the completion of yet another Metro traffic study. The results of this study should enable all concerned to arrive at a solution which advances the safety and quality of life to which all our residents are entitled. I plead that Metro then wastes no more time in expediting the agreed upon solution. Until then, I can only hope there will be no more deaths on Alhambra Circle or any other street in Coral Gables due to speeding and poor traffic control. JULIANE BISHOP 1316 Alhambra Circle
CG residents helped quake victims
EDITOR: February 4 marks the anniversary of one of the worst tragedies ever to strike Latin America. Earthquakes in Guatemala killed almost 22,000 persons and left millions homeless. Within hours CARE was repairing water systems, providing blankets and medical supplies, and soon was feeding 300,000 people daily. The people of Coral Gables and the rest of the nation and Canada responded magnificently to this emergency. Over $3,666,000 was given to CARE to assist the stunned survivors. This is the kind of help those dollars made possible: Because the earthquake struck at 3 a.m. most of the deaths were caused by the heavy tile roofs falling on the sleeping occupants. Now, with a model and materials provided by CARE, the people have been taught to build a new kind of house with a lightweight zinc roof which is much safer. Some 2,500 of these have been constructed every month with an anticipated total of 21,000. Water systems have been repaired... 150 of them so that epidemics were averted. Ten million pounds of food have been distributed to 450,000 people, much of it in Food-For-Work programs. But, of course, statistics can never tell the human story. On behalf of these people whose shattered lives you are helping to rebuild, CARE says a heart-felt "thank you". GLENDA W. NELSON CARE Florida Regional Director 121 Majorca Ave. Coral Gables