DEERFIELD BEACH

March 7 A business on W. Hillsboro Boulevard was burglarized, and a PlayStation 3, $500 and shoes were stolen.

March 7 A purse left in the car at Berkshire Motel was stolen from an unlocked car.

March 9 A victim put a Rolex watch poolside at a Deerfield Beach hotel and it was stolen.

March 10 A boat trailer was stolen from an owner at Freedom Marina.

March 12 Victual McNeal, of Deerfield, who had two prior robberies and was also out on bond for other Deerfield burglaries, was arrested for stealing a purse. He had to be chased on foot and tased.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

March 4 Unknown thieves stole a victim’s cell phone and $291 in cash while she waited in line at the deli inside Publix, 3700 N. Federal Hwy.

March 5 A male called the victim, pretending to be her 28-year-old grandson. Suspect told the victim he came with a friend to Canada and the friend had gotten busted for drugs in the vehicle, had to appear before a judge and needed $9,390 in attorney’s fees. Victim believed it was her grandson and made three wire transactions before another “attorney” called asking for two more payments of $2,900. Her real grandson finally called, and she realized it was a scam. The victim told police she had heard of these scams before, but really believed it was her grandson.

March 5 Two locked kayaks worth $900 were stolen from a home on NE 29 Street.

DEERFIELD – District 4

March 12 Conveyance burglary occured in Constitution Park, 2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd. between 4 and 5 p.m. Victim said unknown person(s) smashed the windows on a minivan, removing a purse, debit cards and Social Security cards.

March 11-12 Auto theft was reported in Deer Pointe, 263 NW 36 Ave. between 6:30 p.m. and 7:55 a.m. Victim stated unknown suspect(s) removed 2005 Acura RSX from the parking lot. No suspects, witnesses or video. Vehicle entered into teletype.

March 9-10 Grand theft occured at Waterford Courtyards, 2965 N Waterford Dr. between 9:30 p.m. and 8:30 a.m.Victim said unknown suspect(s) removed the stock rims and tires from his 2008 Infiniti G35. No suspects, witnesses or video. Area canvass came up with negative results.

March 5-11 Attempted residential burglary at Crystal Heights/Waterford Homes, 1451 SW 25 Ave., sometime between March 5 and 11. Victim advised that during this period, unknown person(s) caused damage to the door jam of the side garage door and bent the window frame to a side window. It appears that unknown person(s) attempted to enter into the home to no avail. Victim did not see any damage to the door or window last week when cutting grass, but does not know when damage occurred. Total damage estimated at $200.

Since our family, the Eller family, has lived in Deerfield Beach since 1923, I’ve often been asked to put in writing some of the history of the area, that I either experienced personally or that I heard from my parents or grandparents. For some of you old timers who might be worried about certain old “scandals,” don’t worry, I won’t be writing about those (smile).

— David Eller, Publisher

From Pompano High— to Stetson University in 1959

In September of 1959, I packed up my belongings in my green 1949 Ford and headed north to DeLand, Florida to attend Stetson University on scholarship. About a one-hour drive west of Daytona Beach, Florida’s first private university was established in 1883 by Henry DeLand, in cooperation with the Baptist Church organization. Later endowed by the famous hat maker, John B. Stetson, it was best known for having Florida’s first College of Law, as well as its first School of Business Administration, School of Elementary and Secondary Education, Pre-Ministry and Florida’s first intercollegiate basketball, baseball and football teams. I was enrolled in its well-respected pre-engineering program, which was co-operating with Georgia Tech and the University of Florida to educate mechanical and civil engineers.

Having been pre-assigned a dormitory room, I drove my green ‘49 Ford up to DeLand – 40 miles west of Daytona Beach – found a parking spot in front of the dorm and got out to go find my room. Not wanting to leave my solid body Melody Maker Gibson guitar in the car, I strapped it over my back and started in. Suddenly, I heard a strong male voice say, “Hey, can you play that thing?” I looked up from under the baseball cap I was wearing to see a tall fellow with wavy black hair and a big grin on his face. I thought for a moment that he looked like a poor man’s version of Elvis Presley. I smiled back and said, “I wouldn’t be carrying it if I couldn’t play it!” He laughed and said, “My name is Bob Bidwell and I’m the sophomore in charge of this freshman dorm. After you get your stuff inside, bring your guitar down to the dorm lounge and show me what you can do. I’m looking for a rhythm player for the band I’m forming to play at fraternity parties.”  “That sounds great!” I replied. (Thus began a friendship that continues unto this day).

When we got together later that evening to play for the first time, I quickly realized that, although I knew most all the chords and had played a lot of country music and church hymns, I knew nothing about playing rock and roll. My new friend Bob started off by calling out different chords for me to play. When he was satisfied that I knew the chords, he started asking me to play them using several different types of beats or rhythms. I confessed that I only knew the standard rhythms used in country and church music. He laughed and said, “That’s alright.” He then picked up his guitar and said, “But now I’m going to teach you some rock and roll, which begins with learning how to play the “blues.”

I was excited and immediately agreed. He continued, “Watch the fingers on my left hand press the strings down at the right places right behind the frets, and do the same thing I do. Now, with the pick in your right hand stroke only the top two strings at the top, eight times on rhythm, then drop down a string and do it again but only four times, then back up for eight, etc, etc….” I caught on quickly, and was soon able to follow his lead on several blues songs. We played for over two hours without stopping. Suddenly, I realized the tips of the fingers on my left hand had started to bleed from the continual pressure on the strings making the chords. I’d never played continually that much time before, thus hadn’t developed the calluses needed on those fingers.

So I bid Bob goodbye and drove to a nearby convenience store to get some snacks to keep in the room. I picked out a few items when I noticed a bottle of pimento-stuffed green olives. My mind flashed back home, where my mother would only let us have two or three olives at a serving with a meal. I was never satisfied and always wanted more. Suddenly, I realized that in my new freedom away from home, I could have all the green olives I wanted. So I started eating them and I didn’t stop with two or three. I ate the whole big jar of olives. Then when they were all gone, I drank all the brine juice. Shortly afterward, my stomach started to hurt. And my sore fingers hurt. Thus, my first day at college taught me two important lessons: Don’t overindulge in anything. All things should be done in moderation.

David Eller, Publisher

Gymnast Jennifer Fishman

By Gary Curreri

Jennifer Fishman spends 30 hours a week in the gym to do four total minutes of routines.

The 18-year-old Lighthouse Point girl is used to it. She has been a gymnast since she was 3 and is a Level 10 gymnast at American Twisters Gymnastics in Coconut Creek.

She hopes to bring home a state title when she competes in the 2011 Florida USAG Level 8, 9 and 10 State Championships in Lakeland at Florida Southern University next week.

Fishman prepped for the meet as she placed 12th in the vault (8.750), seventh in the bars (8.500), eighth in both the beam (8.875) and floor (8.875) en route to a seventh place finish in the all-around (34.725) at the Tim Rand Memorial Invitational, Coral Springs Gymnasium, recently.

More than 900 gymnasts from around the country competed in the meet.

“It’s been hard,” said Fish-man, a St. Thomas Aquinas
senior. “It has been physically tough and mentally tough. You get close to people and then they leave or quit the sport. Sometimes, it is hard to make new friends.

“I did have those feelings about quitting, but once you start getting better and see the potential you say, ‘this is why I am in the sport and why I enjoy doing this.’” Fishman added, “I was just doing the sport when I was younger and I wasn’t really thinking of going to the Olympics. I still enjoy it now and I am glad I stuck it out.”

Fishman said she enjoys the competition.

“It is kind of frustrating because you can knock out a million and one routines in the gym that are perfect and then you come here because you are a little nervous, you don’t do your best,” Fishman said. “It is really aggravating, but you just think, ‘can’t wait until Monday.’ It is rewarding when you do well.”

By Diane Emeott

“Most people don’t realize, it’s as hard to go out as to come back,” said new Senior Pastor at First Baptist, Deerfield Beach, Deron Peterson, about his time on the mission field in Argentina.

He said it takes about 6 months after you return to get acclimated, that something as simple as going to the mall – where you expect them to be speaking Spanish to you, and they’re speaking English,” takes some getting used to.

Pastor Daron and his wife Beth were missionaries for nearly 10 years — for 6 years in Buenos Aires (the capitol of Argentina) with Word of Life ministries. [He was Director of a Bilingual High School there.] and for 3 ½ years with the International Mission Board in Corrientes, where he provided Leadership Training.

He called the two places completely different in spirit and attitude, comparing the suburbs of Buenos Aires to downtown Miami. “It was the mouth of Argentina.” Corrientes, a city of about 500,000 felt more like Deerfield Beach. He called it “the heart of the people.”

“Eventually, you get to the point where it’s your home. We loved living there as much as we do here.”

He said people going on short-term missions trips are always worried about what they’re going to do. He said just by getting on a plane and going, you are already doing more than expected. “Anything you do is beneficial. Through the simple things, you learn a lot.”

He encouraged anyone going on a short-term mission trip to stay long enough to have to buy toiletries.

Family

The Petersons have three adopted children: Samuel, 13, born in Argentina, attended K-3rd grade here in the states. Isaiah, 7, was born in Philadelphia. Anastasia, 3 ½, was also born in Argentina. She  has a genetic disorder called Williams syndrome which makes her unusually gifted in languages. The three children are bi-lingual, although Isaiah is beginning to lose his Spanish, he said.

Pastor Deron is a Leukemia survivor.

He said his wife Beth was nicknamed “squirrel” in Argentina because she is always on the go. She is a runner who ran in Dunn’s Run and recent marathons in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. “Everywhere we’ve been, she has gotten involved in the community and the church.” She helps out at Crossroads preschool, in addition to focusing on raising three children.

From missionary to pastor

Pastor Deron said it was his first Sunday at First Baptist [June 2010] that Pastor Jeff Knight announced he was leaving. He said he was surprised to hear of Pastor Jeff’s departure. That his first thought was just to be available to help out or be a presence in any way he could.

Initially, the Peterson family was simply looking for a place to stay while working with the Florida Baptist Convention on church planting in Miami. In August, First Baptist, Deerfield Beach, asked Deron to teach the Wednesday night Bible study.  The end of October, they asked him to fill the Sunday pulpit for November and December, later extending it to January and February. Jan. 18, the deacons and elders unanimously voted for him to be Pastor. Jan. 23 was his first Sunday preaching as the new Senior Pastor.

“I really didn’t think this was going to happen. I was surprised. I’m still a little surprised and very excited! He said his master’s degree is in Leadership rather than the usual Master of Divinity degree associated with pastors. He also served as Youth Minster for 15 years — 4 of those at First Baptist of Dallas, TX.

Pastor Deron said his message is: “I don’t care what you did last night, the day before. I care about the truth – the word of God – you are hearing this morning and what you are going to do with it.  Jesus taught about external change = false righteousness vs. internal change, which calls for a loving response to others… My job is to teach the truth,” he said.

Deerfield Beach/BSO boxer Jordan Murphy won his fight in the inaugural Florida Gold Coast Boxing tournament at Deerfield Beach High School on March 12. There were 15 fights that attracted boxers from PAL programs in the tri-county area. Submitted photo.

Dredging equipment is now located offshore of Deerfield Beach and is pumping sand as part of a joint beach nourishment project between the City of Deerfield Beach and the Town of Hillsboro Beach.

The project was originally scheduled to begin in early March, but was delayed due to inclement weather. Because of this delay, the project plan has been modified so that work in Hillsboro Beach will be completed prior to moving back north into Deerfield Beach.

Work in Hillsboro Beach began this past weekend and is expected to take several weeks.

Once the Hillsboro portion is complete, the project will proceed into Deerfield Beach. The city will do its best to coordinate with the contractor so that advance notice is provided before the work in Deerfield Beach commences.

The Deerfield Beach portion should be completed in approximately 2 – 4 days. The entire project is expected to take just over a month, with operations running 24 hours a day.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
The project will include the placement of approximately 25,000 cubic yards of sand on the public beach from SE 6th Street to SE 10th Street. Not only will the project replenish an area of the beach that has eroded due to wind and storms, but it will also serve to beautify and protect the area though the installation of native dune vegetation. By partnering with the Town of Hillsboro Beach on this renourishment project, the City of Deerfield Beach is able to address its most eroded beaches in a cost effective manner.

The City of Deerfield Beach and the project contractors are committed to minimizing the impact to the public during this work. Efforts will be made to limit beach closures as long as it is safe to do so. Updates with more specific information on the construction schedule and related beach closures will be posted on this website. To receive e-mail updates on this project, sign up for “Citywide Project Updates” under E-Subscriptions. For additional questions, contact the Environmental Services Department at 954-420-5562. Hillsboro residents can visit www.townofhillsborobeach.com for regular updates on the project

By Dave Montalbano

www.AdventuresofCinemaDave.com

Mars needs Moms is frantic action mixed with corny homespun values about respecting motherhood. It opens with Martians observing Earthly domestic life. They run across a mother (Joan Cusack) disciplining her teenage son, Milo (Seth Green), who says something mean and makes his mother cry. Moments later, Martians abduct her, taking her to Mars.

Milo gives chase, accidentally goes to Mars and spends the rest of the movie trying to rescue Mommy from Martians. Along the way, he meets Gribble (Dan Fogler), a 30-year-old overgrown child claiming to be from the Reagan administration’s Secretnaut Program, and Ki (Elisabeth Harnois), a Martian artist who confronts conformity in her Martian Government. One sees the absurdity of the Martian Culture, which lacks emotional connection, and the battle between order and chaos that is played in every household in America.

The film opens this weekend at the Museum of Discovery IMAX Theater. For a few dollars more, one can explore the astronomy exhibit which emphasizes Mars.

For those seeking a more Earthly experience closer to home, Celtic Weekend, March 12-13 is the final weekend for the Florida Renaissance Festival at Quiet Waters Park. Last weekend featured the epic Wenches Weekend with Bodacious Bodices, which served as a rendezvous point for some Class of 1981 Deerfield Beach High School graduates.

DEERFIELD BEACH

Feb. 28 A 40-foot shipping box was stolen from SW 30 Avenue with $4,000 worth of items.

March 1 Three cars were burglarized at Quiet Waters Apartments on NW 45 Avenue.

March 1 More than $5,000 in jewelry was stolen from a home on Eastridge Drive.

March 1 Jason Walker, 28, was an employee of Hess, 714 S. Federal Hwy., when he was arrested for stealing $2,000 in cigarettes and other cash.

March 4 A car parked on NW 1 Drive had its window broken. Stolen was: a wooden chest with a Taurus .357, money, and a stamp and coin collection.

March 5 A juvenile victim outside 380 S. Federal Hwy. claimed two unknown Haitians hit him in the face with rebar. Another juvenile was also attacked here and a cell phone and bike were stolen during the carnival.

March 6 A home on SE 2 Avenue, with an unlocked bedroom window, had over $3,000 in electronics stolen.

DEERFIELD – District 4

March 1 Residential burglary at Crystal View Townhomes, 4057 Eastridge Dr., between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Upon returning home, victim discovered house was burglarized. Point of entry was a rear sliding glass door. All rooms were heavily ransacked. Jewelry was taken from the upstairs master bedroom. Scene was processed and area canvas conducted.

March 4 Residential burglary attempt in Deer Creek at 25 Deer Creek Rd. between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. Victim reported unknown subject broke his rear glass slider and possibly fled when alarm sounded. Victim reported nothing appeared to be taken. Area was checked with negative results.

March 4 Residential burglary in the Gates of Hillsboro, 4100 block of NW 1 Dr., at approximately 12 p.m. Suspects broke a rear window to gain entry and removed several items. A canvass of the neighborhood by deputies revealed a neighbor saw a male in a white van soliciting a lawn service door-to-door.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Feb. 26 A truck parked in Shoppes of Beacon Light had its tire and rim, worth $200, stolen.

Feb. 26 One truck on NE 22 Avenue and another on NE 27 Court were burglarized.

March 3 A car parked outside ABC Daycare on Federal Highway was burglarized after thieves smashed a window to get the purse the victim left in the car while she ran into the daycare.

March 3 Two flat screen TVs were stolen from a home on NE 26 Street.

March 3 A Garmin GPS was stolen from a car burglarized at 2470 N. Federal Hwy.

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS — A Form of Disenfranchisement

Dear Editor:

My wife and I proudly cast our ballot this morning [Tuesday] for our choice for Deerfield Beach city commissioner. Upon arriving at the assigned voting place, we were surprised to see that no one was in line ahead of us to sign up.  No one was in line at the voting booth and no one was in line at the voting authentification area.  We virtually had the place to ourselves except for the six or so workers who were very friendly and courteous. We were also reminded that there was only one item on the ballot.

At this point, I’m wondering why the city is willing to expend funds for the March elections when it is apparent that very few of the electorate are motivated to take the time and effort to vote for only one item.  It almost seems like the city officials like the prospect of being voted in (or not) by a small minority of the city’s voters (as few as 10 percent by some reports).

Is this a form of disenfranchisement cloaked in the message that perhaps we as voters are not able to handle multiple items that normally appear on the November ballot?  Do those who advocate the March municipal elections really believe that we couldn’t have handled ONE MORE item on the ballot last November? Do separate municipal elections favor incumbents? I think they do and I believe that is the only reason the mayor and the commission continue to support them.

Should we as voters and taxpayers continue to support a budget that perpetuates excess spending and possibly disenfranchisement like the separate municipal elections while cutting programs that directly affect our citizenry or raise taxes to support such waste?

The budget allows for $74,384 for elections.  Could we save $25,000 or more by combining municipal elections held in March with general elections held in November?  Would that allow for a higher number of voters to cast ballots for city officials?  Boy, what a concept!

David Nace

Deerfield Beach

Security at City Hall

Dear Editor:

Why is the public being denied access to the entranceway that is closest to the second floor elevator [near city commission chambers at Deerfield Beach City Hall]? I had occasion recently to go to City Hall in an attempt to conduct business with the City Clerk’s office. I have a bone spur in my right heel which makes walking extremely painful. I was forced to walk to the only public access entrance and then walk down the entire corridor to get to the elevator. Who makes these ridiculous decisions? I am sure there are other more disabled citizens that will find this completely unacceptable. What is the reasoning behind such a stupid regulation? And how much did this insanity’s implementation cost the taxpayers?

Don’t tell me it is for security reasons. If the reason for this fiasco is because some intruder was caught in the staircase leading up to the second floor, then why wasn’t something done to secure the stairway instead of inconveniencing everyone who wished access to the first floor and the elevator? Who are you afraid of, and do you feel more secure when everyone is forced like cattle to use one doorway?

Who decides who is entitled to an entrance card? This city seems to be getting nuttier and nuttier every day.

Jean M. Robb

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note: Since Monday, Dec. 6, 2010, the doors at the northeast entrance of City Hall have only been accessible to the public when there are meetings in City Commission Chambers. During normal business hours, the public has free and open access at the main lobby through both the east and west entrances. These measures were put in place as a complement to implementation of an upgraded city identification access card program, according to Rami Altherr Musto, marketing communications manager for the city.

Many municipalities across the nation have tightened security following the incident involving U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, which occurred Jan. 8, 2011.

Getting out the vote

Dear Editor:

There, obviously, were more votes AGAINST Joe Miller than FOR Joe Miller. It seems as though he thinks the complete district lies on “the island.” Maybe District 1 needs to be divided so that we, on the ‘wrong side’ of the water, also have representation.

Sneaky how Mr. Miller parked his company vehicles in the library’s parking lot on Election Day. Sneaky, but not surprising.

Lynne Newberry

Deerfield Beach

By Scott Morganroth

Although the FAU Owls Men’s Basketball team lost in the opening round of the Sun Belt Conference Basketball Tournament to North Texas, 78-64, the players still have at least one more game left.

The Owls finished with a 21-10 record and won the Sun Belt Conference regular season championship. FAU will play in the NIT, and the Owls opponent, time and date will be announced March 13.

FAU’s drive to the post season began on Feb. 19, as they won an overtime thriller in Miami against rival Florida International University at the Century Bank Arena. The Owls had luck as the Golden Panthers 21-33 free throw attempts enabled the Owls to emerge 80-78.

Those 12 missed free throws had Golden Panthers Hall of Fame Coach Isiah Thomas smiling and asking reporters if we knew of any players that could convert their shots at the charity stripe.

Meanwhile, FAU Coach Mike Jarvis couldn’t offer Thomas any suggestions to find a cure for his team’s free throws.

Jarvis just wanted his team to win two more games and end the season with a three-game winning streak. The coach saw that come to fruition as FAU trounced Troy, 77-60, at home on Feb. 24, and three days later, the Owls cruised past South Alabama, 74-64, in Mobile, AL.

When I spoke to Jarvis three years ago, after his first season, he knew he had a tough challenge building this program. In his first season, FAU finished with a 6-26 record and he told me that this was a “gut job; therefore, the team was going to be overhauled.”

In his second season, Jarvis brought in freshmen Raymond Taylor, Greg Gantt, Kore White, Jordan McCoy, and junior Brett Royster began to mature. These players demonstrated a great work ethic and FAU finished the year 14-16. This progress would lead to what transpired in Jarvis’ third season that has him going back to the post-season.

Now in his 22nd season as a coach, Jarvis has led three programs to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
His three stops include Boston University (1985-90), George Washington University (1990-98) and St. Johns University (1998-2004). Jarvis has a 404-254 record.

Jarvis said, after the Owls defeated FIU, that any tournament  his team would play in would be a good accomplishment.

“For our program, an NIT berth would be a fantastic accomplishment, and the players deserve to be rewarded for an excellent season,” Jarvis said.

Jarvis added that he’s enjoyed coaching at FAU, even though  he’s coached at St. John’s, which played its home games at the 20,000-seat Madison Square Garden, compared to the 3,000 seat FAU Arena.

“I haven’t had as much fun coaching since high school,” Jarvis said. “I coached Patrick Ewing and Rumeal Robinson. I got into it because I wanted to teach and coach. I’m having a lot of fun even though it looks tough, and I’m in a lot of pain. On most nights, it’s like a mother giving birth to a child. It feels like hell until the child comes out.

“I told these kids that they are killing me, and I told three of them if I die, they’ll be pallbearers at my funeral. I’ve already asked 100 guys to be pallbearers.”

Scott Morganroth can be reached at www.scottsports 33.com.