The Times

Saturday, February 12, 1977, page 1 (of 23)

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- Valentine's Day - Is it still the day to pop the question?

By KAY SEVERINSEN and PAUL BUSH Staff Writers So you just met her last week, but you know it's true love and you want to pop the big question? Is it in vogue to propose on Valentine's Day, should you buy a big diamond, a token ring or no ring at all? Worry not, the answers are here. In spite of a trend away from marriage traditions, South Dader's are still buying engagement rings, say owners of local jewelry stores. Most young people cannot afford the large "investment" stones, but they are still buying rings, in the $100 to $300 range, jewelers say. An employe at Lawton's Jewelry, in Midway Mall said that inflation hasn't really affected young people buying diamonds. "More young people are working and save up the money," the employe said. Ronald Speigal of Leonard's, 2352 Salzedo, agreed. "Engagement rings are still very much in fashion," he said. "On the average, a person spends about $250 to $1,000 on a ring, although sometimes the price goes up to $2,000 or even $3,000." Although most jewelers agreed that engagement rings are selling well, one jeweler dissented. "Today, getting married is not every girl's dream," said Howard Greenstein, owner of All that Glitters, 8823 SW 107th Ave. "So getting an engagement ring, whether it's a diamond or not, isn't every girl's dream, either." He added that other ways to seal an engagement often suffice. Greenstein, like other store owners, did not think Valentine's Day was an especially popular time to give a diamond. "Surprisingly enough, most are purchasing rings any time and giving them as gifts," he said. Although Greenstein, like other store owners, did not think Valentine's Day was an especially popular time to give diamond rings. "Surprisingly enough, many are purchasing some kind of ring, rather than a card and giving them on Valentine's Day." Still, for economy-minded young couples, a diamond can be something of a luxury. "We looked at rings," said one recently married woman. "But we realized that to get a good one we would have to spend $1,000. So we got plain gold bands for the ceremony."

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Serving The City Beautiful Since 1926 4627 Ponce de Leon Boulevard Coral Gables, Florida 33146 Florida's Best Suburban Newspaper Phone 666-7981 24 Pages Vol. 51 No. 13 February 12/13, 1977 ** 10 Cents Weekend Edition

People arrested in W. Dade for target practicing

By KAY SEVERINSEN Staff Writer People have been using James Pace's West Dade field for target practice, and it's made him nervous enough to call the police. Separate groups of people are using the field simultaneously on nice days, police say, and could accidentally shoot each other. But Pace's field isn't the only one used by South Daders for target practice, says Officer Patricia Slack. There are bullets whizzing all over the remote areas of Southwest Dade. Target shooters shoot at bottles, paper targets, anything they can find, says Officer Slack, who has cited several people in that field. "Sunday, they were shooting all different directions, she said. "'Conceivably, they could have shot each other,'" most didn't seem to know they were on private property, she said, even though there are signs posted at the entrance to 170th Avenue. Last Sunday, Feb. 6, Slack and other officers cited five people in three separate groups with discharging See STIFF, Page 2

In Gables police station Civil Defense center opens

Members of radio group try out the new ham radio equipment. From left to right: standing, Andy Clark and Bill Duggan; sitting, Dorsey Williams and George Singer. By ANA MARIA ALVAREZ Staff Writer The county's newest and most modern Civil Defense Center, located at the basement of the Coral Gables Police and Fire Station, was completed Thursday. "Anything from an atomic attack to a major hurricane, the city is now equipped to handle," said Hank Porterfield, the administrative officer of the center. Whatever the emergency, the city could now continue its operation from the lower floor of the building at 2601 Salzedo Ave. Not only does the $250,000 center have its own power system, huge water and fuel supplies, See IN, Page 3

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