Some of the most memorable Talk of Our Town entries, edited for length:

CH. 7 ANCHOR SAYS OBSCENITY

WAS `MISUNDERSTANDING'

Sept. 25, 1992

Did WSVN-Channel 7 anchor Sally Fitz say ''up your a--'' on live TV during her in-the-field hurricane coverage? Absolutely, say late-night viewers who swear they distinctly heard her in the background while cameraman Ralph Rayburn shot footage of cops unloading relief supplies from an 18-wheeler. In fact, they insist, Fitz said it twice. Fitz, chuckling, says they must have misunderstood. Her explanation: 'I was pointing to Ralph at this little apparatus, this little gizmo on the camera. It looked loose and Ralph was obviously having trouble. I said, `apparatus, apparatus.' We say it different in the Midwest.'' Insiders say Fitz was ticked at her cameraman because he narrated a live shot that she planned to do.

DADE SCHOOLS' NEW MATH: 1 + 1 = 0

Feb. 23, 1993

A computer consulting firm equally owned by two partners -- one black, one Hispanic -- was told by the Dade County School Board that it isn't a minority-owned business. The reason? To qualify, a company must be controlled by one minority group -- at least 51 percent.

Charles Duval and Paul Raifaizen each own 50 percent of Data Industries, which wants to do business with Dade schools.

(Note: Data Industries eventually was awarded a consulting contract.)

LAWYER PLEADS GUILTY TO THEFT; BLAMES ADDICTIONS

Oct. 13, 1995

Busted: Arthur Garel, attorney at law. Crime: stealing $260,000 from clients. Victims: a Hialeah cop, a mentally handicapped man -- and his own aunt. Addictions to the narcotic cough syrup Hycodan, sex and gambling made him do it, says Garel. In a rambling confession to the Florida Bar, Garel, 47, wrote: ``It is with deep regret that I must inform you that I am a crook. I hate myself.''

(Note: Garel, who went to jail, got in more hot water. A judge released him for an emergency root canal, only to learn that Garel showed up at the opening of The Lipton tennis tournament during his dental furlough. He got extra time in the slammer.

Garel, 60, who resigned from The Florida Bar, was readmitted in '06 and practices personal injury law with his ex-wife in Coconut Grove. He's been clean for years, he says. ``No drinks, no drugs, no gambling.'')

SOCIETY GUESTS AT FUNDRAISER

GET SLAP HAPPY

Feb. 17, 1997

No love lost at the Love & Hope Ball. Three ladies got into a fight at a fancy black-tie fundraiser when one pitched a hissy fit over seating arrangements. Raquel Woolin, 51, Sonja Zuckerman, 77, and Betty Rothbart, 70, say the Feb. 8 slugfest left them battered and bruised -- and Rothbart with a black eye. Woolin and Zuckerman, both in long gowns, filed police reports, each accusing the other of starting it.

MINISTER QUITS RATHER THAN

FIGHT SEX ACCUSATIONS

May 12, 1997

The Rev. Lex Rivers, charismatic pastor of St. John's United Methodist Church in Miami Beach for nine years, is quitting the ministry -- after a female parishioner complained of sexual harassment.

''I had an affair with someone,'' says Rivers, 38, who is divorced. ``That's not good, I guess, in religious circles.''

DINERS ALLEGE BIAS OVER TIP

ADDED TO BILL IN SOUTH BEACH

Oct. 27, 1999

Two patrons of a South Beach restaurant say the proprietor added an automatic 15 percent gratuity to their check, then explained why: ''Black people don't tip good.'' Charles Thompson, 40, a travel counselor for American Express Platinum Card, said the episode occurred at Thai Toni, 890 Washington Ave., and he was so upset that he called Miami Beach Police -- 911 -- to complain.

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