South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 15

LOCAL SUN-SENTINEL, SOUTH FLORIDA 4B Sunday, May 23, 1999 pb SOUTH FLORIDA Bulletin Board Compiled by LAURA SIMON gloiy Reviving a landmark's '20s 1 city's pier. Last year, a Sportsman's Park complex with an estimated $35 million impact on the local economy opened on the west side of Interstate 95 near Griffin Road. The complex includes the Outdoor World Bass Shops retail store, a seafood restaurant and the $32 million International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame Museum. It was built on 45 acres. Michael Thomas, the developer of the Springhill Suites by Marriott that had its grand opening this month, is proposing an $18 million hotel, conference center and restaurant on the northeast corner of Interstate 95 and Stirling Road.

Thomas said the proposal, called the Oakridge Center, will open on New Year's Day. On East Sheridan Street, developer Kevin Guthard has plans for the Sheridan 400, a gated community of 240 apartment units on 9.5 acres. "People are realizing there's a lot of potential here," said Michael Garrett, the city's Main Street director. "You can be close to the beach, the airport, the seaport, and it's still affordable." Location is what lured the Shiffs to Dania Beach. "It's a neat, old building," Justen Shiff said of the hotel.

"We think a jam LANDMARK: The Italian-Spanish-style Dania Beach hotel, which was built in the 1920s, is being bought, and developers plana renovation restoring the architecture they say will make it into a showpiece. Staff photo Ursula E. Setmann 4 I- vvt Dania Beach has a lot of opportunity. The hotel is going to be a draw) with its location." v. The Shiffs said the potential for the hotel's success is so great they will operate it.

The hotel, designed by architect Francis L. Abreu, was built in 1925 next to tomato farms by a group of developers who included A. J. Ryarji Sr. and I.

T.Parker. The Shiffs say they will not alter the structure, which by Dania Beach standards is a historical building that needs to keep its orig- inal shape. Because Main Street emphasiz-3 es the restoration and preservation1 of old buildings, Garrett said the program is willing to assist thel Shiffs with the design work. The improvements call forcotj tages, a large garden and banquet rooms, among other features. The Shiffs will redo the building so it fits into the antique district and the Main Street concept.

Each of the hotels' 50 rooms will be renovated to be different from the other in a' 1920s motif. Ja Thomas Monnay can be reached at or 954-385-7924 i Robin Benedick can be reached or 954-385-7914. 1 i Call 561-272-2220. Poets of the Palm Beaches meets, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Borders Books Music, 9887 Glades Road, Boca Raton.

Call 561-883-5854. West Boca Toastmasters meets, 7:1 5 p.m. Wednesday at Loggers Run Middle School, 11 584 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. Call 561-447-0572.

Women's American ORT, Pointes of Boca chapter, installation luncheon, 1 1 :30 a.m. Wednesday at Brooks Restaurant Deerfield Beach. Call 561-392-0672. "The Sounds of Music," featuring Ray Ray Jazz Mix, noon Wednesday at the Boca Raton Museum, 801 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton.

Free. Call 561-392-2500. Irish-American Memorial Day Fleadh (festival), noon May 30, Anglesea Pub, 200 E. McNab Road, Pompano Beach. Irish music and dancing on two stages, a ceili, raffle, booths selling Celtic clothing, jewelry, arts and crafts and souvenirs, full Irish menu and American barbecue.

To benefit the United Irish Appeal. free for children younger than 1 2. Call 954-785-8878. Memorial Day picnic, 9 a.m. May 31, Pompano Beach Elks Lodge, 700 NE 1 0th Pompano Beach.

Picnic, games and activities. Call 954-781-2300. Memorial Day parade, 10 a.m. May 31, East Atlantic Boulevard and Northeast 27th Avenue, Pompano Beach. Veterans of Foreign Wars, 81 82, will organize a picnic.

Call 954-941-6863. AARP, noon June 2, Sartory Hall in Mullins Park, 10000 NW 29th Coral Springs. Call 954-346-2124. Garage sale, 8 a.m. June 5, 1400 SW 67th Ave, Plantation.

Sponsored by the Parents of Multiples West Broward Club, to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Call 954-792-7159. Sailing lessons, 7 p.m. June 7, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 34, Pompano Beach. Call 954-781-9292.

Seniors and Law Enforcement Together, 11 a.m. June 19 at Sartory Hall in Mullins Park, 10000 NW 29th St, Coral Springs. Police Department will conduct monthly SALT meeting. Free light lunch. Call 954-344-1833.

ETC. 48th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibit, Jerry Weiss, Herman Somberg and Mary Ellen Mark exhibits, through July 1 1 at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, 801 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton. Call 561-392-2500. Ursula Huelb exhibits her award-winning art through May at Borders Books Music, 525 N.

Congress Ave, Boynton Beach. Call 561-734-2021. Artists Showplace Competition Winners Exhibition spring juried competition, through June 8 at the Showplace Gallery, 7749 W. Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth. Call 56M33-0635.

Memorable Images of Nature, a photography exhibit by Richard Halterman, through August at the Dagger Wing Nature Center, West Boca Raton. Call 561-488-9953. "Faith and Survival Ethiopian Jewish 1 983-1 992," an exhibit of 47 color photographs by Peggy Myers with text by Dr. Ted Myers, through Thursday at the Nathan D. Rosen Museum Gallery, Levis Jewish Community Center, 9801 Donna Klein Boca Raton.

Call 561-852-3253. Raoul Duffy: Last of the Fauves, an exhibit through June 6 at the Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S. Olive West Palm Beach. Call 561-832-5196. Lynn Butler photographs exhibit, through June 20 at the Norton Museum of Art, 1451 S.

Olive West Palm Beach. Call 561-832-5196. Watarcolor painting exhibit by Dorothy Greene and Jean Shine through June 4 at Palm Beach Gardens City Hall, 10500 N. Military Trail; and African American Artist Cultural and Heritage Showcase, through June 18 at Riverside Community Center, 1 01 70 Riverside Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, Presented by GardensArt, Call 561-775-8206. Florida Progressive Artists Group exhibits at the Sugar Sand Community Center, 220 S.

Military Trail, Boca Raton. Call 561-482-8074. Today's highlights Bird Fair, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern west of West Palm Beach. Sixty vendors of tropical and exotic birds for pets and breeding, as well as supplies and gift items.

$3 for adults; free for children younger than 12. Call 561-793-0333. Babas In th Woods program, p.m. at Okeeheelee Nature Center, 771 5 Forest Hill Blvd, West Palm Beach. To teach parents techniques to help infants and toddlers enjoy nature.

S3. Reservations required. Strollers suggested. Call 561-233-1400. Democratic Women's Club of Palm Beach County seventh annual luncheon reception at Benvenuto's Restaurant, 1730 N.

Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. $25. Guest speaker is Bill Nelson, Florida's commissioner of insurance. Call 561-338-0807. Golf tournament, 1 p.m.

at Binks Forest Country Club, Wellington. To benefit the West Palm Beach Barracudas baseball team. $75. Call 561-967-2992. "Night In the Catskills," 7:30 p.m.

at Temple Anshei Shalom, 7099 W. Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach. Call 561-495-1300. Tops of Temple Beth El Singles 65-Plus Dance, 7:30 p.m. at the temple, 333 SW Fourth Ave, Boca Raton.

$5 for members; $7 for guests. Call 561-241-5089. Boca Expo, a large community trade show, 1 1 a.m.-5 p.m. at Florida Atlantic University, Glades Road, Boca Raton. Call 561-395-5041.

Lana's Salon Cut-A-Thon, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Florida Atlantic University gymnasium, Boca Raton. To benefit The Haven. Call 561-362-0367. Boca Raton Chess Club meets, 1 p.m.

at Sugar Sand Park Community Center, Military Trail, Boca Raton. Call 561-347-3900. Gold Coast Radio Controller's Club flying lessons for beginners, at South County Regional Park, west of State Road 441, between Glades and Yamato roads, Boca Raton. Free. Call 561-477-0899.

New Horizons Club Dance, p.m. at St. Ambrose Hall, 380 S. Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach. $3 for members; $4 for guests.

Call 954-421 -8864. Jewish War Veterans, Delray Post 266, meets, 8:30 a.m. at Temple Emeth, 5780 W. Atlantic Delray Beach. Call 561-495-9104.

Fellowship for Ethical Humanism meets, 1 0:30 a.m. at 4755 W. Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach. Call 561 -477-9893. Jewish War Veterans, Sheldon Miller Post, meets, 9:30 a.m.

at Whisper Walk, Parktane Clubhouse, Yamato and Lyons roads, Boca Raton. Call 561-479-2438. Coming Monday American Tunes Performance, 1 1 a.m. at Mae Volen Senior Center, 1515 W. Palmetto Park Road, Boca Raton.

Call 561-395-8920, ext. 243. Oprah Book Club, 1 p.m. at the Delray Beach Public Library, 29 SE Fourth Ave. Featured book is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Call 561-266-9490. Women's Federated Republican Club of Delray Beach, 1 1 a.m. at the Holiday Inn, 2809 S. Ocean Blvd, Highland Beach. $13 for members; 1 4 for guests.

Call 561-852-9520. Fitness Fest, 10 a.m. North Broward Medical Center, 201 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach. AvMed Medicare Senior Fitness Fest '99 includes health screenings and information.

Call 954-418-0554. Swing Dance Lessons, 7:30 p.m., Pompano Beach Civic Center, 1 801 NE Sixth St, Pompano Beach, Five-week session. $25 for residents; $26 for nonresidents. Call 954-786-41 11. Looking ahead Democrats of Greater Boca Raton meets, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday at the Holiday Inn, 1950 Glades Road, Boca Raton. Call 561-487-4496. Levis 55-Plus Singles Dance, 0 p.m. Tuesday at Levis Jewish Community Center, 9801 Donna Klein Blvd, Boca Raton. Performance by Bernie Miller's Big Band.

$5 for members; $7 for guests. Call 561-852-3226. AARP 55-Alive Mature Driving Class, 1 -4 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Sun-Sentinel Building, 3333 S. Congress Ave, Delray Beach.

$8. Call 561 -496-71 72. An Anwican In Paris, the musical featuring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, 2 p.m. Wednesday at the West Atlantic Avenue Library, 7777 W. Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach.

Call 561-498-3110. Democratic Club of Delray Beach meets, 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Delray Beach Community Center, 50 NW First St, Delray Beach. Developers plan for comeback of beach hotel By THOMAS M0NNAY and ROBIN BENEDICK STAFF WRITER DANIA BEACH Tourists and business owners no longer eat sandwiches or sip drinks on the porch of the cream, two-story Italian-Spanish-style hotel on East Da-nia Beach Boulevard. No one plays pool in the lobby, where ventilators blow out the stale smell created by humidity, dirt and old paint.

Once called Florida's beauty spot, the Dania Beach Hotel has degenerated into a hangout for transients, who rent rooms for $38.95 a night and drink booze in the dark bar lounge. Something, however, is about to happen that might restore the facility to its glory days, when it attracted tourists and businesspeople who came to spend money in the former Tomato Capital of the World. Fort Lauderdale architect Michael Shiff and his son, Justen, will spend $3.5 million renovating the hotel. They want to create a bed-and-breakfast-style hotel, where people could enjoy a continental breakfast in the parlor and share afternoon tea. "We've met with a lot of caterers and people in the community, and they say there is no place like this," Justen Shiff said.

"We think there is a real need on the east side for a place where people can have weddings, celebrate 50th anniversaries and hold regional meetings." The Shiffs, who are buying an empty lot east of the hotel, hope to close on both properties by July 1. They would not disclose the cost of either property. Jack Christy, who owns the hotel, was not available for comment. Christy bought the hotel property, which is assessed at $6 17,240, in Union drops local chapter for unpaid fees By BRAD BENNETT STAFF WRITER FORT LAUDERDALE The city's largest labor union has been suspended for not paying dues to its national headquarters. The local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has collected about $45,000 in dues from its members since last fall.

But local union leaders say they have not paid the state and national organizations because they have received no services from them. Those services supposedly the benefits of state and national union membership include contract negotiations, handling of grievances and training of local union officers by more experienced union operatives. State and national union officials did not return phone calls seeking comment. "We're paying a lot of money and receiving nothing," said Catherine Dunn, president of the union Local 532, which represents more than 1,000 city employees, including maintenance workers, clerks, parks and utilities employees, and dispatchers. More than 500 city employees pay $10 in union dues every two weeks in the form of payroll deductions, Dunn said.

The money goes directly to the local union, which then is supposed to pay a percentage to the larger union. Dunn said she has left the dues in the local union's account since last fall. She said the local union has not been receiving services from its national headquarters for at least three years. Although some rank-and-file union members agree the larger union has not provided adequate services, they say Dunn is wrong for holding onto their dues. Employees said they will ask the State Attorney's Office to bring charges if Dunn does not pay the dues in full by Wednesday.

Brad Dennett can be reached at bbennettdi or 954-356-4541. if fcii 1994 for $1.1 million, according to records from the Broward County Appraiser's Office. City officials, who said the hotel's current clientele have been contributing to the area's prostitution problem, said the proposed improvements are a godsend for the community. They said the project blends well into the downtown antique district, as well as into the Dania Main Street Program, which focuses on revitalizing downtown. "It's a real good economic engine for Dania Beach Boulevard," Mayor John Bertino said.

"I'm personally very happy that he Michael Shiff is doing it. That will be good for the city, the neighborhood and everybody." The Shiffs' interest in investing millions in the downtown is a shot in the arm to a renaissance that began several years ago in Dania Beach: Across from the Dania Beach Hotel, businessman Joe Maggie is renovating the Pirates Inn hotel, one of the city's landmark buildings. He could not be reached for an interview. But Bertino said Maggie's plan calls for a first-class seafood restaurant on the second floor of the Pirates Inn, among other things. Florida Atlantic University's SeaTech campus opened this year on Dania Beach, just west of the 1 1 STSHrM'l SOUrFLOHIOA iJ wwfuatfti (at 1 dMlirlri found biifd your lurch DFIF( Mwnt Cari rom ll a trademark of ClaMlfltri Venture, I fWtwilotoW)lW I car the mm Finally, shopping way it should be.

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