Report on sexually abused 8 girls in a community school, theater proposal for the Marine Stadium and traffic among the headlines of 1984 | Key Biscayne

Heavy traffic is forecast for Sunday

Spokesmen for Metro and Miami Police predict very heavy traffic this Sunday, June 17. Peak traffic times will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. entering the island and from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. leaving the island. Part of the very heavy traffic will be due to the first of three planned Family Splashdowns this year, which will take place on Virginia Key Beach. Antonio Lizaso, doctor of internal medicine The Miami Parks and Recreation Department expects at least 20,000 people to participate in the splashdown.

Willie E. SimsCommunity Relations Specialist from Metro’s Public Affairs Department, said, “We should have 20,000 to 25,000 people if the weather is good. However, we also have a lot of built-in safety precautions in terms of extra police, fire units, tow trucks, helicopters, boats and observers. We expect nothing to go wrong, but we are prepared if it does.”

A Metro Police spokesman said traffic shouldn’t be any worse than it was last Sunday, when 20,000 people attended the Unlimited Hydroplane Regatta at Miami Marine Stadium. If there are no accidents and stranded vehicles are quickly removed from the roadway, traffic should flow smoothly, police said. The city of Miami has promised as much additional help as possible to ensure traffic flows consistently. “The Rickenbacker Causeway can only accommodate a certain number of vehicles at a time. When a saturation point is reached, traffic must move slowly even without accidents.”

Police have advised Key Biscayne residents who have flights or business outside the island to plan their departure on Sunday either before 3 p.m. or after 9 p.m.

Sundown Run planned for Tuesday

Rain or shine, the annual Bud Lite Sundown Run, sponsored by Eagle Brands, The English Pub and Hall Graphics, will take place on Tuesday, July 3 at 7 p.m. The five-mile run through residential Key Biscayne will begin and end at the English Pub on Crandon Boulevard.

Hosted by several charities, the run benefits the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the Key Biscayne 4th of July Parade Committee. Winners in each of the 65 categories receive engraved pewter mugs.

Substitute teacher suspended for sexual abuse

Eight girls at Key Biscayne Community School were allegedly sexually abused by a male substitute teacher from Dade County on May 11. The students complained to their parents that they had been “inappropriately touched” by the teacher. According to school officials, the same teacher made sexual advances to a girl at another school two weeks later. Reports of both incidents were sent to Patrick GrayExecutive Director of the Department of Personnel Control at Dade County Public Schools, who immediately suspended the substitute teacher. “The teacher is still under criminal investigation and once the police report is received, we will conduct our own investigation,” said Dr. Gray. He also explained that all substitute teachers must have a teaching license before they can work in the schools. The principal of Key Biscayne Community School, Betty Carrollwas very upset about the incident. She wrote letters to all the parents of the children involved, explaining that the substitute had been reported to the school board. “We are always very careful in choosing substitutes,” said Mrs Carroll.

Broadway On Causeway proposed

Palace Players Theater Enterprises, a Fort Lauderdale-based company, has proposed a Miami Marine Theater for Miami Marine Stadium on the Rickenbacker Causeway. The proposal from the group, led by President Paul Hollenbach, was announced in a letter from Mr Hollenbach And George GillPublic relations for the Professional Film and Video Association. The letter stated that the Palace Players’ goal was to

“Build a spectacular tourist attraction to boost Miami’s economy.”

The proposed project calls for the creation of an outdoor theater that would “present popular Broadway musicals (year-round) on a spectacular scale, using trained talent, live orchestras, water ballet, dancing water curtains, closing fireworks, simulcast in multiple languages, and national television coverage.” The group also proposed presenting orchestras, water shows, pageants, competitions, sports, and other entertainment.

The proposal goes on to list eleven points that would hopefully make the idea palatable to the City of Miami Commissioners and City Manager. Gary by Howardincluding: (1) creating jobs at a time of high unemployment, (2) generating tax revenue, (3) positive advertising for Miami/South Florida, (4) leasing the facility, (5) attracting tourists to Miami, (6) attracting tourists from Orlando to travel on to Miami/South Florida, (7) improving the quality of life in Miami/South Florida, (8) providing an opportunity for local talent to develop, (9) attracting federal government foundations for the performing arts.

Holiday weekend marred by seasonal rains

Cloudy skies on Saturday and periods of heavy rain on Sunday and Monday marred what was expected to be a very busy weekend on Key Biscayne. There were very few beachgoers on Saturday, and no one was on the beach on Sunday and Monday. The City of Miami and Metro Police had planned to deploy several officers, motorcycle patrols and special operations teams to handle the expected heavy traffic and control problem areas at the north end of Crandon Beach, Bear Cut Beach and the Rickenbacker Causeway.

On Tuesday morning, rains caused severe flooding on Key Biscayne and throughout Dade County. The lower parking garage of Crandon Towers was under 4 feet of water and several cars were destroyed. Galen Drive, West McIntyre, West Enid, West Heather, Ocean Lane Drive, Palmwood and Crandon Boulevard near the Key Team Police substation were under 1-2 feet of water. Driving was dangerous and many businesses and homes were severely flooded and damaged.

Golfers can drive to Crandon Links

The Metro Dade County Parks and Recreation Department plans to build a 15-foot dock near the 18th fairway of the Key Biscayne Golf Course in Crandon Park. The dock will be used to ferry golfers’ boats from some downtown Miami hotels to the island’s golf courses. Last week, the project received a boost when it was endorsed by the Metro County Environmental and Use Commission. County commissioners are expected to give their approval at their July meeting. The Key Biscayne Property Taxpayers’ Association, Inc. will hold its monthly board meeting and will issue a statement on the dock proposal after the meeting.

Opinion article – Beware of the snake in the grass

For the residents of Key Biscayne, the new bridge is a long-awaited dream that will hopefully alleviate the dangerous traffic problems that get worse every year. However, for the City of Miami and Dade County, the Rickenbacker Causeway Improvements Program seems to have another purpose – making money!

Virginia Key could soon be awash with restaurants, shops, private clubs, a Broadway-like theater, marinas and more. Developers are constantly submitting proposals to city and county officials, presenting “attractive” revenue streams for this prime piece of land.

Even the simple plan to convert the old bridge into a fishing pier could change if county officials move forward with a proposed plan to put small shops and restaurants there too – a sort of “Ponte Vecchio of Miami.” Charming – if there was another access road to our island and back again. This strip of land happens to be our front yard and we don’t see what’s coming.

Private companies would make money, and the city and county could make money on their leases, but Key Biscayne residents would lose out. Like the gentle crawl of a snake, the above proposals could become reality right before our eyes. Key Biscayne residents need to stand firm — beware of sweet-talking officials who say they will keep development to a minimum. There are dollar signs in their eyes.

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