SONJI JACOBS AND WALTER PACHECO

 The customary scene outside Elian Gonzalez's house -- the massive antennas, television station
 vans and a forest of cameras -- moved to a new neighborhood Wednesday afternoon.

 The media horde was focused on the Miami Beach home of Barry University
 President Sister Jeanne O'Laughlin, who hosted Elian's reunion with his grandmothers.

 A few curious neighbors in the 4700 block of Pine Tree Drive took in the scene
 from their sidewalks, balconies and stairs, armed with their own cameras, eagerly
 awaiting a glimpse of the child and his grandmothers.

 Rows of cars and police vehicles lined both sides of Pine Tree Drive, which was
 blocked to traffic from 47th to 51st streets. A crowd of about 400 -- more than half
 of them media -- were concentrated in the area in front of O'Laughlin's home.

 ''It's the most interesting thing that happened here since Miami Vice was filming,''
 laughed Sally Goldberg, who lives at Esquire House, 4720 Pine Tree Dr.

 While many residents were not bothered by the news unfolding in their midst,
 others were furious.

 ''It's just an overwhelming spectacle,'' said Martin Miller, who lives at Lighthouse
 Apartments, 4730 Pine Tree Dr. ''I had to listen to vans and trucks all night long,
 piling up along our driveways and parking lots. It's just madness and this seems
 like overkill.''

 Earlier in the afternoon Bill Heede, who lives across the street from O'Laughlin,
 moved his car several blocks away in anticipation of a big scene.

 ''It's politicians just posturing. To award custody to a great-uncle when his father
 is alive is ridiculous,'' Heede said.

 Heede wasn't planning to stay home. He had plans Wednesday evening to attend
 a cocktail party -- in another neighborhood.

 For most of the residents, life went on as usual.

 Efren Izquierdo, who lives at Pine Tree and 45th Street, took his dog, Cherry, for
 an evening stroll. ''It really hasn't disrupted my neighborhood. I was preparing for
 the worst, but really it hasn't been that bad. It was handled really well by the city
 of Miami Beach Police.''

 Miami Beach Police had assigned extra officers for the area, said Miami Beach
 Detective Alfred Boza.

 As for Izquierdo, he sympathizes with the boy.

 ''My feelings are with the child. He's the one caught in the middle of this ordeal,''
 Izquierdo said. ''I think it's extremely out of hand.''

                     Copyright 2000 Miami Herald