The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 79

Home The Miami Herald The Miami Herald Section Vero Beach JO 2-5985 Thursday, August 7, 1969 Indian River 6 Surfers Make Splash, Gain Beach Space By EVAN LANGBEIN Herald Staff Writer VERO BEACH Surfers, after making a big splash at City Hall, were promised temporary relief when the City Council extended their Conn Beach surfing area northward to Conn Way, doubling the area. The Council Tuesday said the move would be contingent on approval of City Attorney Fred Gallagher, who needed time to study the city surfing ordinance. And the City Council turned the surfing problem over to its recreation director and head lifeguard for a study aimed at reaching a permanent solution, hopefully before the council's next regular meeting Aug. 19. MAYOR TAYLOR C.

Simpson vowed Tuesday night before a packed house at City Hall, prominently made up of the tow-headed surfers, that the city would move just as rapidly as possible to satisfy all parties in-volved in the dispute. "We will attempt to have this study complete just as quickly as possible, hopefully before our next regular meeting Aug. 19, and we are prepared to call a special meet iog to work this out," Simpson promised. The Council spent an hour listening to a parade of speakers with the exception of a motel owner and a fishermen's representative all supporting he surfers' request for another surfing area at Seahorse Beach and free access to all public -Herald Photo by EVAN LANGBEIN Angry Surfers Protest Film Company's 'Occupation' calmer show Tuesday won them praise from councilmen River Tax Roll Stalled; Now Due Wednesday By JACK FAY Vero Beach Bureau Chief VERO BEACH The Indian River County tax rolls will be next Monday but readscheduled, necessary approval by the Florida Revenue Commission is expected to delay its being made public until next Wednesday. The announcement was made this past Wednesday by County Tax Assessor Homer Fletcher, who said he would be in Tallahassee Monday attempting to get the necessary approval from the state officials.

He told the County Commission that he hoped to be back by late Monday, but that it would be impossible to get state approval of the Better Education Is Simple Aim of 'Gradeless' Trial JACK FAY Vero Beach Bureau Chief VERO BEACH "An attempt to provide better education for the students of Indian River County," was the way Miss Ruth Douglas, elementary supervisor of Indian River County schools, descirbed Tuesday a pilot program of ungraded teaching to be tried at Rosewood Elementary School next fall. first three grades at The program will cover the school. Miss Douglas, who spoke to members of the Vero Beach Exchange Club, said the program permits development of a child's education in four different areas. They include: THE OPPORTUNITY for a student to develop educationally at his own rate of speed and within his own abilities. THE OPPORTUNITY for a child to achieve success.

There will still be some failures according to adult standards since it may take some children four years to cover the work most children can do in three, but they will not be failures on the basis of their own abilities. In rare cases a child may achieve a level of success that would permit him to complete the three-year program in less than three years. THE OPPORTUNITY to develop socially the plain and simple effort that individuals must make to get along with other people having different outlooks and different backgrounds. beaches before 10 a.m. and after 5 p.m.

excepting public park areas Jaycee, Humiston Park and south beaches. THE TWO negative speakers each claimed they had no objections to surfing, but they said the sport and swimming just don't mix. There must be clear separation, they maintained. WHEN THE discussion concluded, complimented for councilmens their behavior. "You did this like it should have been done," Simpson said.

Recreation Director Charles Parks explained that the issue concerns the "rights of everyone. "We want, of course, for there to be enough surfing area for the surfers, but we need to study with motel owners and bathers just what can be done," Parks said. Head lifeguard Charles Gollnick told the council he was sorry to see the surfers confined to the 300-foot surfing area three weeks ago. Gollnick credited surfers Consultant: Reject All Bids Council Meets Today On Power Plant Cost with "well over 100 rescues of stranded swimmers. "I consider the loss of the surfers a loss to us because they did cover many of the unprotected beach areas," Gollnick said.

ONE SURFER pointed out to the Council that he knew of "not one injury to a swimmer by surfboards. The only ones hurt have been surfers due to overcrowding on Conn Beach." Carol Gallup, wife of Jerry Gallup, who initiated a ques- Black and Veatch Consulting Engineers, also advised the council to validate $2 million in additional revenue bonds to cover spiraling expense of the project. THE COUNCIL on July 25. received bids from Livsey The Miami tionnaire outlining the surfer's request, complained about a beer commercial Monday that ejected surfers from part of their beach. "I don't think surfers are particularly flattered by associated with beer," being, "And, I think with the limited space we already have they could have looked for another spot." A mother, Mildred Bunnell, said surfing has been a great pastime for her son.

"I know he's not out drinking or shooting pool, and surfing and Co. of Decautr, $4.2 million, Power Service Co. of Minneapolis, $4.1 million; and Rust Engineering Co. of Pittsburgh, $4.3 million for construction of the plant. Wallace said the lowest -Herald Staff Photo Comic-Reading Robot Is Charles (Berkey) Folds reads Herald funny pages with Charlie Baxter The city's consulting engineer recommended to the city council Wednesday that it reject three bidders whose bids all exceeded $4 million to build an addition to the power plant.

F. C. (Bud) Wallace, of Former Vero Resident Now Is Friendly Robot By JACK FAY Vero Beach Bureau Chief VERO BEACH If you see a robot walking down the streets of Vero Beach this month don't chalk it up to the summer heat and don't call your family psychiatrist. For underneath all that metallic garb there is a former Vero Beach resident, who now spends his days on a Miami television station making children giggle at The Miami Herald's Sunday comics. TOBY, THE ROBOT is really Charles (Berkey) Folds, and he's spending his August vacation time, during taping sessions, with his parents, Mr.

and Mrs. Curtis Folds 1545 14th Ct. Berkey was born and educated in Vero Beach, and he now costars with Charlie Baxter, host of "Charlie Reads the Comics," on Channel 7's Sunday morning children's television show. The job of making Toby mobile fell into the hands of Berkey, a 1955 graduate of Vero Beach High School. He spent most of his childhood and teenage years as Vero Beach's "town magician." His earliest job in television was has put shoulders on him like nothing else could, and he comes home and eats good," she said.

"And, he comes home tired and goes to bed early too," Simpson jokingly interjected. Mrs. Bunnell added, however, that she does not permit her son to surf at Conn Beach any longer because the city ordinance has made it too dangerous. "You can't mix surfers and the learners. I'm afraid the learners will get him," she said.

By EVAN LANGBEIN Herald Staff Writer VERO BEACH The City Council will meet at 1:30 p.m. today to decide what to do about the unexpected high bids on the city's power plant expansion program. Candidates To Face Council VERO BEACH The City Council will hear nine candidates for a vacant council Tuesday. The council accepted the nine names for consideration Tuesday night, and then approved unanimously a motion by Councilman Jack Sturgis to hear each candidate for five minutes. "Several of these names are new to me, and I think we should have a get-acquainted meeting with the candidates," Sturgis said.

also be an excellent opportunity the press and public to become familiar with each candidate," he added. The nine names being considered are: James W. Coffey, Elmer Olexo, Dr. Aris C. Lindsey, Alfred E.

Fletcher, Robert R. Holmes, Mrs. Lina P. Reese, Henry O. Parman, Frederick C.

Newsome, and John H. Lea. Other action, the Council: APPROVED a $1,000 contribution to the "Treasure Coast Golden Jubilee" celebration of the city's 50th anniversary. TOLD City Manager James F. Pryde to give further study to a request from Tom Dixon to operate a pony ring ride in the Miracle Plaza shopping center.

The Council would like the manager to determine if any of the city's zoning or health laws would be violated. APPROVED of a sevenman liaison committee to pick a joint city-county planner. The committee will be comprised of three from the county and three from the city, as well as the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce's long-range planning committee, Merrill P. Barber. Bandsman Is Top at Clinic Herald Bureau VERO BEACH A Vero Beach High School student, Eugene Thorne, has been selected the outstanding band student at the Gator Land Music Clinic at Gainesville.

Thorne, who plays the alto saxophone and three other students took part in the 180- member clinic that attracted students from 58 other bands throughout the state. The three were Jeanine Reed and Mary Ranson on the bassoon, and David Britt on the trumpet. Deaths Watson, Hugh 38, of 1870 37th Ave. He moved to Vero Beach four years ago from Columbus, Ohio, and was the owner of Watson's Garage and Transmission Service. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m.

today in the Floyd Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Robert Talbot officiating. Burial will be in Winter Beach Cemetery, bidder, Power Service, exceeded his final estimate, made six months ago, by $1.5 million. The bid exceeded his original estimate made in November 1967 by more than $2 million. He explained that due to the inflation the city would need the extra $2 million in bonds.

The city has already floated $6 million in bonds for the project. THE ENGINEER told the city that rising labor costs and the general competitive situation caused the high bids. "All the wages for the trades are rising at ever increasing rates, and they will not accept contracts unless are assured of overtime pay," Wallace said. He said the reason the city had only three bidders July 28 is because of the building load in other regions of the state, particularly Southeast Florida, which draws available contractors away. However, he told councilmen that if they refuse the three bids they can expect possibly five and as many as seven bidders by Sept.

12. He is recommending that the council reject the bids today and immediately begin advertising for new bids to be taken Sept. 12. rolls in time for the Board of Equalization meeting at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

COUNTY ATTORNEY Sherman Smith advised the commission that it would have to meet as scheduled Monday, since the meeting was publicly advertised, but that it could be immediately adjourned. The commissioners then decided to meet Monday and adjourn until 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, by which time Fletcher is expected to be back from Tallahassee. Fletcher said to avoid any further delay, he would hand deliver the roll to the State Revenue Department and would ride herd on it until it is approved. IN OTHER business, the Commission set up a fivemember body to establish drainage guidelines in county areas that would satisfy state health board requirements.

The step was taken following a complaint by Bud yrmple, developer of some land north of Vero Beach. One of his lots has just been sold to a couple who want to place a trailer on the property. He complained to the commissioners that the State Health Department had denied him a permit until he installed an individual sewage system. "I DON'T think each individual county resident should have to put in their own individual system," Dalyrmple commented. The County Health Department Director Dr.

C. C. Flood, said his department had temporarily denied the request "until we investigate further the situation in that area." Flood said his department already had looked into the situation enough to know that the would not support He said properanks. his staff would have to obtain other information before a final decision could be made. The committee to set up the guidelines will be composed of Dr.

Flood, State Rep. Charles Davis County Commissioner Richard Bogosian, County Sanitarian Bob Jennings and County Commission Chairman Jack Dritenbas. ADDITIONALLY, Wallace said the council should validate the additional $2 million in bonds anyway in case prices continue to rise. The city has sold $4.5 million of the original $6 million it floated, so the added bonds would give the city $3.5 million in valid bonds it could float if necessary. Wallace stressed that the city would not necessarily have a need to float more bonds, nor would the added bonding in any way affect the utility revenues to.

the city's general fund or bring about rate increases to customers. THE OPPORTUNITY to develop emotionally or in everyday language, the opportunity for a child to stand up and be counted. The speaker told club members there will be no report cards, no failures and no promotions just levels of achievement. The student will be placed where he can work best and this will be determined by the teacher's observations and through testing. Parent-teacher conferences will take the place of report cars.

Miss Douglas emphasized that the outcome of this year's pilot program will determine whether or not the system will be expanded throughout the county's schools and into the upper grades. She pointed out that this is not a new educational system. Brevard County has it throughout its entire public school setup. WE STUDIED Brevard's sytem before we set up our own program. We did not copy their system, but developed on that we think will fit the needs of Indian River County students." she said.

Miss Douglas also pointed out that the program is designed to provide individualized instruction, but not to the extent that it is on the level of tutoring. "Indian River County has a school system it can be proud of but there are children it does not reach. we hope to lessen the gap with this new system of education." she said. COUNCILMEN were disa stint on a Palm Beach station where he appeared with Bob Green, now the husband and manager of Florida singer Anita Bryant. After some school in New York City, Berkey worked for awhile at WAGA-TV in Atlanta.

But he longed to get some Florida sand back in his shoes, and when he was offered a position at WCKT-TV in 1958, he snapped it up. Berkey and Charlie Baxter be. came close friends and they have been doing children's shows throughout the years since they first got together. AT ONE TIME Berkey created a vampire character and appeared with T. Graves" on the Saturday morning program, "The Dungeon." He also created a popular clown character and hosted a circus show for five years.

Toby the robot was actually born in Vero Beach when Berkey constructed him from a plastic garbage can. Since then the friendly Toby has been charming many of Indian River County and South Florida youngsters with his interpretation of the The Herald's Sunday comic section. mayed by the inflated figure of bids by the three bidders. "What you are really saying, Bud, is that by waiting some this year and a half, we are paying an extra $1.5 million for this plant," Councilman Jack Sturgis said. The councilmen for almost a year and a half had the plant additions under review by a utilities study committee at the demand of Councilman Fred Prestin and the late J.

Noble Richards. The councilmen, along with several representatives of the local Taxpayers' Assocation, has been predicting the costs would diminish if the Vietnam war ends. "History shows us, however, that prices never go down after a war," Wallace maintained. FRED GOSSETT, director of the city power plant, lamented the council's delay. "In my life, I have learned that the longer you wait to stare a problem in the face, the worse it gets," he said.

Gossett said utilities are a problem nationwide. Wallace produced figures showing that 18 major utility companies nationwide sought increases this year. "You are going to find some big cities with some dark nights in this country because they are not keeping pace with growth requirements," Gossett warned..