South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 6

NORTH BROWARD uj LJ t-J taw Sun-Sentinel, Monday, December 12, 1988 Section mi: v. GARY STEIN Staff Columnist Conservation area Alligator Alley Black stadtents pranislLtedl mmw9 Andytown (27) Bonaventure Airport site draws objections Plan would affect prime wetlands area The proposed airport would be located on 790 acres just southeast of State Road 84 and U.S. 27. t. i- Milest 01- South New River Canal Angry readers send season's greetings Staff graphic i a he customers always write (or call) Dear Mr.

Stein, Your column wherein you arrogantly castigate Christian people who are trying to prevent the murder of ity and other talents need to be considered. We need to broaden the definition of gifted." The report worries black leaders in Broward. "We feel the numbers are unfair, they are very much unequal," said Roosevelt Walters, president of the Fort Lauderdale branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "Right now, you have students that are gifted, but because of the way the system is structured, they are not identified. We're working to find out the reason why." The disproportionate assignment of black students to special education classes continues, despite a 1981 lawsuit in U.S.

District Court in which five black students accused the Broward system of labeling them as disruptive and placing them in special programs. The lawsuit was settled in 1985 when the district promised to more carefully screen students assigned to alternative education programs. Still, of 862 students labeled as educa-ble mentally retarded in 1985-86, 530 were black, even though blacks make up only about 25 percent of the district. SEE REPORT 5B 7 By ARDY FRIEDBERG Education Writer Black students in Broward County's public schools are much more likely to be suspended, paddled and placed in classes for the mentally retarded than white students, says a national study to be released today. The report, from the Boston-based National Coalition of Advocates for Students, also shows that black students are less likely than whites to be placed in classes for the gifted and talented.

The study, which covered the 1985-86 school year, found that blacks in Broward's schools are nearly six times more likely to be placed in classes for the educably mentally retarded than whites. At the same time, white students are seven times more likely to be assigned to enrichment classes for the gifted. Linda Murray, associate superintendent for instruction for Broward schools, said the results of the survey reflect standarized test results that "tend to have cultural bias against minorities." "We haven't found the proper techniques to fairly represent minorities in that program," Murray said. "Creativ By ANDREW MARTIN Staff Writer The proposed site for an airport catering to small planes in southwest Broward County is in a prime wetlands area, meaning the project likely will face intense state and federal scrutiny as well as environmental The site, near the Weston development, also contains one archaeological site, and another is next to its southern boundary. Both possibly contain artifacts of early Florida Indians, according to a recent environmental impact study.

In addition, the study shows that a wide variety of plants, birds and animals, some of them endangered, could be uprooted. "At this time, it is probably the best wetlands in Broward County that is not in the conservation area," said Charles Schnepel, supervisor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' regulatory office in Miami. The site's environmental significance could boost construction costs, now estimated at $50 million, because Broward Practice of re-creating 3 wetlands challenged. 4B County officials may be forced to build new wetlands on a nearby site.

"Wetlands mitigation is going to be a large concern for any developer in the area," said Lisa Smith, who regularly reviews environmental impact reports for the South Florida Water Management District. Wetlands are swampy prairies that once covered much of South Florida, but now make up less than 5 percent of Broward east of U.S. 27. They are crucial for maintaining the water supply and controlling flooding, officials said. The county must acquire about 790 acres for the airport and another 600 or so acres for a conservation area and clear zones.

Of that, at least 350 acres of wetlands would be destroyed by con- SEE AIRPORT 5B 'f '3 unborn children only served to reveal your own self-righteousness and your ignorance of the subject. Abortion is a criminal act, not just an opinion, regardless of how you view it. Why don't you examine your conscience? D. Rowan, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Just to keep you up-to-date, abortion is a legal act, not just an opinion. Why don't you examine Supreme Court rulings? Dear Mr.

Stein, Concerning the column about the anti-abortion protesters arrested in Fort Lauderdale Probably without thinking it through, you offended many of the people whose concern for the rights of the unborn is not the result of some "self-righteous" bigotry but born of principles of moral theology. F. Gallagher, Fort Lauderdale Actually, I thought it through quite thoroughly before writing, thank you. Mr. Gary Stein, Re: the column about the threatened eviction of a 9-year-old girl from an adults-only condo It is not very often that an article is written which is more disgusting and insulting to others than the one you wrote about the board of directors and unit owners of Viewpoint Condominium.

L. Gould, Tamarac Does that mean I shouldn 't expect a Christmas card from the condo board at Viewpoint? Deaf Gary Stein, I Please do not paint condo dwellers as insensitive. We do have grandchildren who come to visit and are enjoyed by their grandparents. Please do not pick on condo dwellers. S.

Markell, iM Plantation When they stop acting like idiots, I'll stop picking on them. So don't expect any changes soon. Dear Gary, I read in the paper your plans to get married. To hear the talk shows, one would think marriage was a dirty word. A.

Tepe, Fort Lauderdale To hear the talk shows, all we have are dirty words. Dear Gary Stein, Concerning the column about which groups should be affected by the ridiculous English-only amendment I thought I was the only person that was irritated by people that stand "on line" to buy tickets. Should I care to get "on the line," I will call a radio talk show and talk with the host or hostess of the show. Would also like to know how the yuppies "do lunch." Is it fried, boiled, baked, or eaten raw? M. Jellerson, Fort Lauderdale Anyway they do it, it causes nausea.

Dear Mr. Stein, There are some bigots everywhere, of course, even among columnists. To categorize every one of the people who voted overwhelmingly for Amendment 11a bigot, is in itself a form of bigotry, accusing all of them without exception of wrongful motives. E. Butler, Coral Springs I never said that every person who voted for English-only was a bigot.

Of course, now that you mention Dear Mr. Stein, I second your request to establish an "Overwhelming Chutzpah Award." We seem to have so many candidates in Broward County. Please keep the spotlight of public opinion on these leeches. They don't care about the people who put them there. E.

Duffy, Sunrise Arrogance and chutzpah are two mandatory prerequisites for election in Broward. Dear Gary, I had become interested in the presidential campaigns, and followed along in the paper. Then, shortly after the conventions, I was no longer interested not even in my candidate. I was sick of it. After awhile, it seems that the candidates run out of things to say about the issues.

P. Lutwiniak, Tamarac Are you insinuating the Pledge of Allegiance wasn't a dandy issue? 1 1, 'mm- Staff photoJIM VIRGA A yuletide boat passes by spectators on the Atlantic Boulevard bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway during the Holiday Boat Parade. nn PARADE WINNERS A brightly lit boat parade in Pompano attracts thousands. Holiday Boat Parade awards included: BEST IN SHOW: Tail Piper, a private entry owned by Don Schwenn. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AWARD: Helen S.

VI. commercial entry owned by Tom Hall. THE JUDGES AWARD: Mr. Bobb, owned by Bobb Messingsch-lager, owner of Bobb's Pianos and Organs. BEST PRIVATE BOAT: Rainbow Chaser.

noon, watching the boats make the trip down the waterway to the starting point. "We brought dinner and got here early," said Jack Lalor, who staked out a spot next to the Atlantic Boulevard bridge. "Only in Florida would you see this. It's kind of unreal." Jim Malone, Lalor's buddy, agreed. "These boats are incredible," he said.

"Some really took a lot of work." At least 100 boats were expected for SEE PARADE 7B Julio Aguillar has not missed a parade in several years and turned out early for a good seat along the docks near the Atlantic Boulevard bridge. "This is a great way to spend an evening," Aguillar said. "It's kind of like looking at decorations people put on their houses, except this is boats. It's great" The parade set out about 6:30 p.m. from Lake Santa Barbara and ended at the Hillsboro Boulevard Bridge in Deerfield Beach.

Spectators began lining the Intracoastal In the late after By TOM LASSITER Staff Writer POMPANO BEACH Thousands of holiday season revelers lined the shores of the Intracoastal Waterway on Sunday to watch the Holiday Boat Parade of floating yuletide decorations and shipboard Santa Clauses. "I'm not really used to Christmas in this kind of weather, but this is fun. It puts you in the spirit," said Tina Marshall, who is spending her first Christmas season away from Gary, Ind. As season closes, Dolphins traffic improves couple of months due to the pressure that's been put on them." The council, which had appealed a new development order allowing Robbie extra time to complete road improvements, may now drop the anneal INSIDE LOCAL A four-day conference on legislative issues begins at Bonaventure Resort and Spa on Sunday with a decision to let the state pay Miramar Mayor Frank Branca a past critic, said: "I'm reallv han't Traffic, as far as I'm Dolphins' owner Joe Robbie promised to make before the opening are either completed or under way. "All the major road work has been completed," said Tim Robbie, the Dolphins' vice president for public affairs.

Some minor improvements are unfinished, he said. The completed projects include: The interchange at Florida's Turnpike and. Northwest 199th Street, which allows northbound and southbound traffic to ejtit the turnpike at the east end of the stadinm. Turn lanes added at University Drive and the Homestead Extention of Florida's Turnpike. Turn lanes added to the intersection of Miramar Parkway and University Drive.

Improvements to intersections on State Road 7 at Miramar Parkway and Hollywood Boulevard are under way, according to state Department of Transportation officials. The road improvements have helped, according to officials who have been critical of Robbie in the past. Bill Cresswell, chairman of the South Florida Regional Planning Council, said traffic tie-ups last week were "very, very minor, nothing like it seemed to be there a few games ago. Overall, I think there have been great strides in the past By DON MELVIN Staff Writer As the Miami Dolphins prepare for their final home game the season tonight, traffic is flowing into and out of Joe Robbie Stadium bqtter than in the past. That's good news for ticket holders, at least for most games.

The exception is Monday night games, area officials say. i Once in the stadium, parking is still a problem, regardless if the game is on Sunday or Monday. Now, 16 months after the stadium opened, most of the road improvements a not a Droblem." for the meals. 3a Not all of the decrease in travel tim is related to the roadwork. Several offi cials pointed out that attendance at rL cent Dolphins games has dropped, cr SHE DOLPHINS 4B Two Canadian tourists walking back to their motel after the Fort Lauderdale boat parade are killed when a car skids out of control.

3B.