The Times

Wednesday, February 9, 1977, page 2 (of 36)

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-news briefly- West Dade man shot in argument

A man shot to death outside a Cuban restaurant Sunday night has been identified by Metro police as Teodoro Maria Sicle, 42, of 3425 SW 88th Pl. Sicle was sitting in the El Cochinito Restaurant, 7390 W. Flagler St. when Ulises Cruz, 28, of 5501 NW Seventh St., asked him to go outside. Police say the two men argued and Cruz shot Sicle. Cruz was arrested Monday morning and charged with first-degree murder. Metric course A "quickie" course in "Metrics for Consumers" is scheduled at the following South Dade locations: Richards Department Store in the Cutler Ridge Shopping Center, 20475 S. Dixie Highway, on Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 10 a.m. Human Resource Center, Conference Room 3, 3750 S. Dixie Highway, on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. YCC recruiting The Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) program in Florida is now recruiting boys and girls between 15 and 18 years old for summer employment. About 500 young Floridians will participate in the work learn environment of Florida's National Forests, National Parks and other public areas. There will be both residential and non-residential opportunities. The applications are available from high school guidance counselors or from the Florida Office of Environmental Education, Department of Education, Tallahassee, Fla. 32304. Applications must be completed and mailed no later than March 15 to the YCC Selection Office, P.O. Box 23400 L'Enfant Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20024. Flower show cancelled As a result of the recent frost, the Metropolitan Miami Garden and Flower Show Board of Governnors voted to cancel the Flower Show which was scheduled for April 1, 2 and 3 in Dinner Key Auditorium.

-Update- Woman and kids move from home

As soon as Mamie Lee Sanders finds someone to help her move, she will have a new, four-bedroom apartment to live in. Several weeks ago, The Times/Guide reported that Mrs. Sanders was living in a cramped, condemned home in South Miami. Her application for low-cost housing had not yet been approved. Last week it was approved and now all she needs is some help moving her family of six children and their few belongings to the new apartment. The Salvation Army gave the family a bed, but they had only one decent one before. They still need another bed, chairs and other household items. Mrs. Sanders has been receiving groceries from the Rev. Stanley Stewart of the House of Peace in South Miami. Rev. Stewart reports that a neighbor of Mrs. Sanders, is also living in a condemned home. "We're going to keep working on it, trying to get her out, too," he says.

Bargains abound at flea market But if you're not careful you can go broke

Margaret Laure holds up some of the wares she sells weekly at the Tropicaire Flea Market. She, like many sellers, goes to clean out her closets. By KAY SEVERINSEN Staff Writer It's a poor man's shoe store, an antique collector's dream, a bargain hunter's nirvana. If you love a bargain, you could go nuts. If you're not careful, you could also go broke buying up knick-knacks at the Tropicaire Flea market on Bird Road. There, vendors come from all over South Florida to sell their wares, their factory remnants, their grandmothers jewelry or their attic's overflow. And shoppers come from all over, to browse and buy, to delight at bargains and scoff at "rip-offs." Prices are low, for sellers come not just to make a few extra bucks, but to swap, barter and have a good time. Margaret Laure, from Miami Beach, came just to clean out her closets. "Some days you can't even make back the entrance fee ($3.50)," she says. "I just sold some Saks Fifth Avenue purses for a quarter. That hurt! But it's fun and you meet a lot of nice people." Other vendors complained that times are hard at the Swap Meet. Agnes Skinner, from Ochopee for one, was feeling the pinch. "I can't make any money any more. People don't have it to spend," she says. Bill Bucholz, manager of the flea market, has noticed the problem. "It took us a long time to get popular. We started 15 years ago, and now we average 12,000 to 15,000 shoppers on a Sunday alone. But people who are buying now are looking for better and better bargains," he says. "Those who sell jewelry will have to make a bigger cut, but clothes are selling even better. "People are also coming with personal things to sell that they would rather keep, but they sell them to make money or meet the mortgage or whatever," he added. But not everyone suffers. Rumor had it that one vendor had made $6,000 the previous weekend. Regular or professional dealers seem to fare better at the market. They are the ones who seek out businesses going out of business or manufacturer's leftovers and sell them very cheaply. One man selling sleepware said it was a tricky business to stay on top of. "You have to have five or six sources," he said. "Then if the manufacturers only have tinted yellow nighties in size two, that's what you sell. It takes awhile to build up the contacts. You have to be in the business for awhile." He said his wife had been doing it for several years. Another man refused to reveal the source of his low cost merchandise. "That's a secret. There's a lot of competition. The secret is to buying at the right price." Sometimes a vendor's best customer is another vendor. Doris Dalton displayed a sapphire ring she had just purchased from another dealer for $200. "I'll take it to my store in New York and sell it next week," she said. Ms. Dalton is one of the dealers who'll swap. "I just traded a bracelet for a pair of blue jeans," she said. Although open both Saturday and Sunday, vendors agreed that Sunday was by far the busiest day. Most vendors were packing up by 2 p.m. on Saturday, since most of their business came and left by noon. The flea market has become a social gathering place for many. Those who come regularly know most of the sellers and many of the buyers as well. But what of buyers that are new to the scene, unused to sorting junk from valuable goods, and new to the atmosphere of trust that prevails among regular buyers and sellers? Buyers are understandably reluctant to part with their money for electric typewriter they can't plug in, a car battery they can't test, or a gold cigarette case selling for hundreds of dollars. For the most part, however, vendors are honest and try to reassure the buyers. The typewriter seller types something on the machine at home, the battery seller offers to buy it back if it doesn't work. "I'll be here till three," she says. "Bring it back if it doesn't work."