Daily News from New York, New York • 217

r-l-y -yyy this I CICTION ML MJ 1 Thursday, December 8, 1988 n' 1 'jmm XT .) L. a I "Zlm ir- cr Scouts Christmas came early for a special group of Manhattan Boy and Girl Scouts who yesterday laughed and giggled with Santa Claus as he handed out scarves, books and toys. Santa also saw to it that they got all the burgers, dogs and fries they could eat during a party at Daytop headquarters in Mid-Manhattan. "Have you been good?" Santa asked seriously. With smiles, giggles or somber nods, the children said they had.

A few checked Santa's honor by tugging his beard to see if it would come off. It didn't And Santa picked up lots of hugs and kisses as he went from table to table greeting the 108 Boy and Girl Scouts who have physical, mental or emotional disabilities. Their annual party was sponsored by the New York City Kiwanis Club and Daytop, a drug-free treatment program that has 14 sites throughout the five boroughs. Charles Devlin, president of the Kiwanis chapter and vice president at Daytop, said Kiwanis also supports the New York City Handicapped Scouting Program. It does so by giving money to start new units, sponsoring field trips and sending a youngster to camp each summer.

Tony Cardiello, executive director of the program for handicapped scouts, said there were 770 units, serving approximately 28,000 kids in the five boroughs. Most of the units are based in schools, but the aim is to move as many youngsters as possible into traditional troops. Yvette, 11, said she had learned to play games in her unit at Public School 226. Courtney, 11, from Public School 162 said, "We learn to be good people and to help others." Cora Percival, a teacher at Public School 138, said the program had benefits for even the most severely disabled Scouts. "They may or may not understand what's going on, but they are exposed to a different environment Some of the children's parents are embarassed to take them out because of their handicaps.

A program like this one is really a great help," she said. Participants in Daytop programs served as Santa's helpers yesterday, following him around as he handed out presents and cheer. Carmelo Martinez of the South Bronx drew the honor of donning Santa's red suit "I just celebrated 20 months of sobriety yesterday," said Martinez, who used to use heroin and cocaine. "Before Daytop, my life was so down and out, I took so many drugs, I don't know how I woke up again the next morning. I'm grateful.

My family is grateful. It's unbelievable the way things can turn around." Joyce Young WW LMMIHMi SHOPPERS YESTERDAY at Scnbner's, 48th St and Fifth Ave. MM MMTN DAILY NEWS By QUS ALIAS Daily News Staff Writer mark status. If the Interior is designated a landmark, its architecture could not be changed without the commission's consent, but that wouldn't necessarily mean the building would continue to house a bookstore. "A chapter of history is about to close," said Charles Scribner 3d, a direct descended of the Charles Scribner who in 1846 established the publishing house whose 20th-century authors include Ernest Hemingway and F.

Scott Fitzgerald. Scribner is a vice president at Macmillan, which acquired the Scribner Book Companies in 1984. Duane Reade the drugstore chain that bought it from Scribners in 1984. Frank Mariani, vice president of the Benetton realty company, said the building was not in very good shape and renovations are necessary. He said the work would take six or seven months, and that he hopes another bookstore will move in.

In 1982, the city Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the building's exterior a landmark. Commission staff members reportedly have been looking to see whether the interior also could be eligible for land spiral tfmmm Dinkins, others are invited The Scribner Book Store, a literary landmark on Fifth Avenue since 1913, will close on Jan. 22, victim of the sky-scraping costs of Manhattan property. The bookstore's building has been sold to a new owner who plans extensive interior renovations, which the store's owner says will make the rent unaffordable. With a two-story ceiling height and bookshelves beneath a grand staircase, the store occupies the ground floor of a 10-story Beaux-Arts-style building that actually was built to house a book store.

Two upper floors are occupied by offices of Rizzoli International Bookstores, which bought all the Scribner Book Stores in 1984. A spokesman for Rizzoli said another location is being sought for the Scribner store, preferably in midtown. No new lease has been officially offered by the new owner, the spokesman said, but belief is that because of the market value of Fifth Avenue proper-, ties it could be at triple the current rent Rizzoli, a New York company that is linked to Italian and Swiss interests, plans to move its offices into the SoHo area. Rizzoli's main bookstore will remain at 31 W. 57th St Riches to rags The building's current owner, 597 Fifth Avenue Realty is a holding company of the Benetton family, owners of a clothing chain headquartered in Italy.

Benetton has stores throughout the metropolitan area, including one next to the bookstore. Benetton bought the building in June, from- the meditation room or Zendo with hand-polished wood floors, sitting cushions and an altar with a Buddha adorned with a white silk scarf presented by the Dalai Lama. Chanukah fete A fami ly Chanukah celebration featuring the Parparim Ensemble dancers will be held on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the 92d St Y. At 5 p.m., after the show, a public candle-lighting ceremony will take place in the lobby of the Y.

Festivities will include singing, refreshments and "Chanukah gelt" for the children. Tickets are $7.50, available at the box office at 1395 Lexington Ave. or by calling Y-Charge (212) 996-1100. Group rates for 20 or more are available. Call 427-6000 extension 162.

Church bazaar The Women's Charitable Society pf the Greek Orthodox Church Evangelismos (Annunciation) will hold a holiday bazaar Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Toys, jewelry, books, gift items and pastry will be for sale. Overeating A free lecture on overcoming overeating will be held at The Eating Disorders Support Group meeting at Gracie Square Hospital Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

The speaker is Jane Hirschman, coauthor of a book on adopting a normal attitude towards food. The lecture is part of a monthly series for those with overeating problems that is held on the second Saturday of every month at Gracie Square Hospital. For information, call the Eating Disorder Helpline at 222-2832. Zen art sale A Zen Arts sale featuring pottery, antiques calligraphy, scrolls, clothing and basketry will be held Saturday and Sunday between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

at the New York Zendo at 223 E. 67th St Ceremonial Japanese tea will be served throughout the sale. The Zendo is celebrating its 20th anniversary. It is housed in a former carriage house which has been transforrited into a large Japanese-style mayoral players, with the exception of Mayor Koch, who is not on the group's invitation list Other major participants include former City Council President Carol Bellamy, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor against Koch in 1985, and Sarah Kovner, who has been active in state Democratic campaigns. The prime organizer of the ad hoc group is Elinor Gug-genheimer, who served as the city's Consumer Affairs commissioner for four years in the Beame administration.

'Straw vote' Guggenheimer said the group will take a "straw vote" on the completion of its sessions with the mayoral aspirants and try to join ranks with other coalitions in backing By FRANK LOMBARDI Dairy News Political Editor Saying that they want to foster "an orderly type of election that gives people a choice," a group of politically savvy women yesterday launched a series of discussions with potential mayoral candidates. The group's first guest at a breakfast meeting at the Harvard Club was Manhattan Borough President David Dinkins, who said he is "very actively considering" challenging Mayor Koch next year. Other players "I am in a deliberate fashion considering this," Dinkins told the 50 women who attended the meeting. "I want to make an intelligent informed judgment" Similar sessions are being scheduled, with, other-. likely.