FYI Miami is a weekly feature of Miami Today, keeping readers ahead of the news. Here are highlights from the most current edition.

HISTORIC HURDLE: Peebles Atlantic Development got approval from the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board of its plans for restoration and development of the Bath Club, 5937 Collins Ave. Developer Don Peebles plans to restore the clubhouse and add a 112-unit modern condominium tower and six oceanfront villas to the site. Architect Luis Revuelta is designer. The project goes before the city's zoning board of adjustment next month. A summer 2001 groundbreaking is planned.

COUNCIL CHAIR: John C. Breder, president of The Breder Cos., was named chairman of the board of directors of the Perrine-Cutler Ridge Council.

REALTOR BOARD: The Residential Realtor Association of Greater Miami & the Beaches installed its '00-01 board of directors. Deborah M. Valledor of Valledor Co. Realtors is president. Keyes Co. associate Jay Chernoff is president-elect. Coldwell Banker's Liza Mendez was installed as secretary and Sidney S. Koslovsky of Koslovsky Realty as treasurer.

BANK BUILT: Expansion and renovation at First Union Bank's Aventura South branch, 18545 Biscayne Blvd., is finished. The project, which included an 875-square-foot expansion, two drive-through lanes and an interior lobby rehab, was handled by Harper Partners.

A MATTER OF TASTE: Organizers say more than 30 Miami Beach eateries are participating in the 13th annual Taste of the Beach Oct. 20-22 on Lincoln Road to benefit the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce. Hours are 6-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-7 p.m. Sunday, with food samples priced from $1. Other features include jazz, country blues, rock and pop music and a cabaret showcase by Gold's Gym South Beach. Details: (305) 672-6050.

APPRENTICESHIP FAIR: Metro-Miami Action Plan Trust is sponsoring Apprenticeship Job Fair 2000 at 11 a.m. Oct. 21 in Miami Lakes Technical Center, 5780 NW 158th St. Programs are available for plumbers, electricians, welders, construction workers, carpenters, air-conditioning mechanics, asbestos removers and sheet metal developers. Co-sponsors include Florida Memorial College and Miami-Dade public schools. Details: (305) 579-3618, ext. 238.

UNHARMONIC: Faced with a musicians' strike, the Florida Philharmonic has cancelled community tour stops scheduled through Oct. 14, including Sunday's AT&T Amphitheater show in Bayfront Park. Performances have also been cancelled today (10/12) in the Lyric Theater and Friday at Christ Episcopal Church. A concert that had been scheduled this week at the Ransom Everglades school has been rescheduled for Feb. 21.

URBAN TALK: The Miami chapter of the Construction Specification Institute is holding a talk on "New Urbanism" in conjunction with the University of Miami School of Architecture at 6:30 p.m. today (10/12) in the Coco Plum Women's Club, 1375 Sunset Drive, Coral Gables. Details: (305) 444-7100.

EMPLOYMENT LUNCH: The law firm Ruden McClosky et al. rescheduled its lunch program, "Developments Under the Family Medical Leave Act," as part of its ongoing employment law and personnel briefing series to noon Nov. 9 in the Sheraton Biscayne Bay Hotel, 495 Brickell Ave. Details: Ms. Sanchez, (305) 537-3952.

FIXED TALK: The Miami Society of Financial Analysts is holding a presentation, "Fixed Income Fundamentals," from 8 a.m.-noon Oct. 20 on the fifth floor, 801 Brickell Ave. Thomas R. Robinson, a Ph.D. and a CPA, is to talk. Cost is $75; $50 for members. Details: e-mail, clar327@aol.com.

ABOUT GRANTS: The Dade Community Foundation is holding a "Grantseekers Workshop" at 9 a.m. Oct. 18 in Room 3208-9, Wolfson Campus, M-DCC, 300 NE Second Ave. "This," says Ruth Shack, foundation president, "is an opportunity for our local nonprofits to join in our mission to work toward a more cohesive community." RSVP. Details: Claudianna Williams, (305) 371-2711.

NOT TONGUE-TIED: Philippe Chatignoux, consul general of France in Miami, invested Coral Gables Mayor Raul J. Valdes-Fauli with France's Legion of Honor in the rank of chevalier last week at the Douglas Entrance in Coral Gables. Fittingly, he performed the ceremony in three languages, Spanish, English and French — not translating, but using a different language for each section of his remarks. The mayor, in reply, used two languages very fluently: English and French. He skipped his native Spanish.

AIX & WINDOWPANES: The Coral Gables link to France — which already includes local offices of Club Med, the French-American Chamber of Commerce and more — will be strengthened by a mission to sister city Aix-en-Provence Oct. 18-20, Mr. Valdes-Fauli said. He, City Manager Jack Eads, representatives of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce and others plan the mission to make Aix France's window to Central and South America through Coral Gables.

WELCOME, I THINK: An ebullient Mayor Valdes-Fauli told the audience for his investiture that in preparing for his April re-election he plans to have a campaign T-shirt made. It would read "Welcome to Miami — Gateway to Coral Gables, the City Beautiful."

ROUNDTABLE CUBA: The Codina Group will join Miami Today to sponsor an International Roundtable on the outlook for Miami's future links with Cuba. Scheduled speakers at the 5 p.m. Nov. 2 forum in the Coral Gables Biltmore include Joe Garcia, executive director of the Cuban American National Foundation; Carlos Saladrigas, CEO of ADP TotalSource and co-chair of the Miami-Dade Alliance for Ethical Government; Manuel Lasaga, president of Strategic Information Analysis Inc., and John Kavulich, president of the New York-based US-Cuba Trade & Economic Council. Reservations required. Details: Jody Bray, (305) 358-2663.

RUMOR CONTROL: That's the heading Merrett Stierheim stuck atop a memo to Mayor Alex Penelas, county commissioners and department heads following an Internet report that he would be stepping down as Miami-Dade's county manager in March. "I just want to inform everyone that I do not have any time line to leave, either in March or any other month," he wrote "When the decision is made, the mayor and Board of County Commissioners will be the first to know. My advice: don't believe everything you hear."

TIB TIP: TIB Financial Corp. announced acquisition of Homestead's Republic Security Bank for an undisclosed sum. The transaction, says TIB CEO and President Ed Lett, "is scheduled to be completed by year's end." He said the purchase will boost TIB's financial base in southern Miami-Dade to more than $60 million in deposits.

MASQUERADE: The Miami-Dade Coalition for Community Education is holding its 14th annual Masquerade Scholarship Awards Ball at 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in the Hyatt Regency, 400 SE Second Ave. A silent auction and reception precede the presentation of School House awards for major supporters of community education. Cost is $55; $500 for a table of 10. Details: Diana Venturini, (305) 995-1215.

SUNPASS MARK: The Florida Department of Transportation this week announced sales of SunPass transponders for use on Florida toll roads have exceeded the quarter-million mark. Jeanne Kluka of Boca Raton got her transponder free and a gift of $250 in toll credit for being the 250,000th customer. The transponders, says Deborah Stemle, director of toll operations, can reduce the time a car needs at some toll booths from 20 minutes to 20 seconds. By the first quarter next year, the SunPass system is expected to be active at toll operations statewide. Cost is $25 and a minimum opening balance of $25. Details: (888) TOLL-FLA.

RONEY RETENTION: The Roney Palace Beach Resort & Spa in Miami Beach has retained Colorado-based Gemstone Resorts International to manage the 17-story complex.