| June, 2011

Publisher’s Perspective: Historical Series No. 69

Posted on 30 June 2011 by LeslieM

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, 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

 

College life was good, but not always fair

In my last Historical Essay, I shared about my first day in college at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, where I played a guitar with my new friend, Bob Bidwell, learning rock and roll. I then went out and pigged out on green olives the first evening, making myself sick.

My first roommate in that dorm turned out to be a rather difficult fellow named Dale from New Jersey, who did not want to be there and was determined to make both our lives miserable. He succeeded for a few days before I was able to arrange to get a new roommate who was more compatible.

David Eller and Bob Hutson

His name was Bob Hutson from Tampa, Florida, a quiet type fellow engineering student whose family owned an orange grove and who could have been a twin of the movie star Tom Selleck. We soon found out that he could attract the ladies with his tall good looks and I would schmooze them along with personality and guitar. We made a good team and had a great time the rest of our five years together in college as engineering students, 2½ at Stetson University in DeLand and 2½ at University of Florida in Gainesville.

Since I was on a scholastic scholarship, however, I had to make exceptional grades to keep my scholarship. Fortunately, I had had a high school teacher named Joe Calis at Pompano High School who had given me some good advice. He told me, “David, when you get to college, it is very important for you to make really good grades your first semester. If you make mostly A’s your first semester, the professors the second semester will know you are a good student and will ‘carry you’ going forward, giving you the benefit of the doubt and blaming themselves if you’re not doing quite as well in their class. They will grade you up. Meanwhile, most of your freshmen classmates will be partying their first semester, many flunking out. So, their second semester, they will have to study all the time and you can ‘take over’ their first semester girl friends. It’s a win/win for you.”  He was right, and it worked. Life was good.

Wally Smith was another friend I made on our dorm floor. His nickname was “spider” because he was real skinny with long legs and could literally walk up the wall in the hallway by spreading his legs out to each wall and jerking each leg up in spurts until he could touch the ceiling with his hands. He once bragged that he could get us good seats on Saturday night in the normally crowded theatre in downtown DeLand. When we got there, he bought a small bag of popcorn and water which he mixed together and took it up to the balcony of the theatre, telling us to stay below. He then leaned over the balcony, over the best seats in the theatre, and made loud “throw up” noises as he scattered the wet popcorn on the people down below. They started jumping up and running to the rest rooms to remove what they assumed to be nasty stuff. Wally ran down and directed us college boys to assume the great seats, which had just emptied. We tried not to look at them or smile when they came out of the bathroom and went down to find new seats down front.

Life was good, but not always fair.

David Eller

 

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New children’s consignment store opens in Deerfield Beach

Posted on 30 June 2011 by LeslieM

By Andrea Freygang

Playfully Panache owner Stacey Pesaturo with her daughter, McKayla, 17 months. Her 4-month-old was sleeping behind her.

 

Finding quality affordable kids items just got a little bit easier with the recent opening of Playfully Panache, a children’s consignment boutique.

Located inside Trail Plaza on W. Hillsboro Boulevard, the brightly lit shop is owned by a former teacher who began her own shop to stay at home with her kids.

“I was a teacher and went on leave with my pregnancy, but being out of work was hard with kids, so I decided to open a shop,” said Stacey Pesaturo, owner. “I just really wanted to be with my kids.”

When deciding what type of business to own, she said that she discovered that baby clothes and items were really expensive and decided to open a consignment shop to give people an affordable but quality option.

“Our biggest challenge was being so pregnant and finishing up the store,” she said. “And obviously juggling all that and two kids.”

Inside the store, Pesaturo has everything from Carter’s to True Religion and Rock-A-Bye bassinets to Bellini.

“We offer all brands and everything from $3 to $50,” said Pesaturo. “We have preemie up to size 8 currently available, but will accept anything up to size 12.”

One thing the new owner and mom is excited about is collecting uniforms to donate to needy children.

“There are so many kids in need …  At schools, the families don’t have the money for uniforms, and I want to gather and donate,” she said. “There’s so many people out of work, so if you bring them here, we will donate them and give back to the community.”

She also tries to give back to what she calls “local heroes.” Firemen, policemen, teachers, nurses and the military get an additional 10 percent off in the store with the proper identification.

Six days a week, you’ll find Stacey in the store minding both her kids and the sales.

“It’s a challenge, but I love it,” she says.

Playfully Panache is located at 1867 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.  to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (Closed on Monday). 954-426-6060.

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Sharks take bite out of competition

Posted on 30 June 2011 by LeslieM

By Gary Curreri

Shortstop Mia Veliz fields a grounder during a recent practice at Deerfield Beach Middle School. The Sharks are the No.1 one USSSA 10-Under girls softball team in the country. Photo by Gary Curreri

Deerfield Sharks girls softball coach Karla Antonio had a feeling her team would be good, just not this good.

The 10-Under girls team added another tournament title to their growing resumé as they hope to close out the season as the top-ranked USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) team in the country.

The Sharks won the Swamp Classic in Palm Beach Gardens recently to run their overall record to 64-3. The team is still 56-1 in the USSSA, the organization that hosts the World Series. Deerfield Beach has won 13 out of 15 tournaments since October.

Antonio said they started the team in 2009 and were playing out of a local high school before getting “kicked off their field.”

“So, for six months, we were homeless,” said Antonio, who also has an alliance with Nova Southeastern University softball coach Lesa Bonee, one of the team’s coaches. She has also allowed them to use their Davie facility.

“We were just going to different parks or we would play in the grass. We spoke to [Deerfield Beach Parks and Recreation Manager] Blaise Leone and asked, ‘if he could please, please, please let us practice at [Deerfield Beach] Middle School. He caved in last year and gave us a home and ever since, we have been doing really well.”

And how … The Sharks finished last season 45-17 and in the top half of the USSSA, taking 17th out of 34 teams at the Disney Wide World of Sports venue.

“This year, we hope to win it,” said Antonio, who has a couple of 11-year-olds on the team because their birthdates fell inside the eligibility rules. Players need to be born in 2000 or later. “Last year, we were mainly an Under-9 team, so we are a year more experienced.”

Shortstop Mia Veliz said when she started on the team in the beginning, she wasn’t sure how good they would be.

“I definitely did not think we would be this good,” Veliz said. “We got a lot of new girls and we improved in offense and defense and we’ve gotten better as a team.”

One of Antonio’s twin daughters agreed:

“It is awesome that we are No.1,” said Brooke Antonio, who, along with sister Brandi, is one of two of the key players on the squad. “It means we are the best team in the nation. I didn’t know we’d be this good! After a few tournaments and we didn’t lose, I knew we were pretty good. Some of them were tough and some were pretty easy.”

The team will open its quest for the USSSA World Series title when it plays in the USSSA State tournament in Vero Beach from July 8-10.

 

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4th of July Events

Posted on 30 June 2011 by LeslieM

Deerfield Beach

Main Beach Parking, Ocean Way & SE 1 St. , Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Free concerts all day and a variety of food vendors. Smuggling YoYos – 1-3 p.m., Scott Ringerson, “The Elvis Experience” – 4-6 p.m., The David Ray Band – 7-9 p.m. Fireworks (off the pier) – 9 p.m. Free shuttle available – between The Cove and the beach 11 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. 954-480-4430.

Road and facility Closures

International Fishing Pier closes at noon, July 3, reopens 5 a.m., July 5. Ocean Way from Hillsboro Boulevard to SE 3 Street closes 6 a.m. July 4,  reopens morning of July 5. Hillsboro Boulevard Bridge and A1A, from NE 1 Street to SE 3 Street, will be closed to traffic 6-11 p.m. July 4. www.Deerfield-Beach.com or call 954-480-4430.

 

Pompano Beach

Pompano Beach Main Public Beach

222 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., Pompano Beach, FL  33062

FREE. Fireworks – 9 p.m. Blankets/chairs welcome. Refrain from bringing fireworks, glass containers, alcohol or pets. NE 14 Street Causeway and Atlantic Boulevard bridges will be in the “down” position from 9 to 11 p.m.  954-786-4111.

 

Rocketown celebrates 4th

371 S. Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Teens celebrate! Concert-6:30 p.m. Group 1 Crew performing with Authentik, Twenty 2 G Crew and other Christian rock/ hip hop music. $12 before, $15 at door. 954-786-1116. www.rocketownfl.com.

 

Boca Raton

Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431

FREE. 4 p.m. — “1940s Radio Hour,” University Theatre on campus. 6 p.m.—family-friendly activities. 7:30 p.m. – Florida Wind Symphony plays patriotic tunes. 9 p.m. – Fireworks. Bring blankets or chairs. Food and beverage vendors on site. Bring canned or non-perishible food item to help Operation Food Bank. 561-393-7827.

 

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Happenings

Posted on 30 June 2011 by LeslieM

FAU to test emergency alert system

Thursday, June 30, 9:50 a.m.

Don’t worry, it’s not ringing in your ears. FAU is scheduled to test its emergency broadcasting system this morning. Those near the campus are likely to hear the loud sirens and a spoken message. They will also test their toll-free emergency number – 1-888-8FAU-OWL (8328-695).

 

Barefoot on the Beach

Thursday, 6 to 9 p.m.

Residence Inn Marriott, 1350 N. Ocean Blvd., Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Drinks by Barefoot wine. Raffles, door prizes and art will be on sale. Proceeds benefit Food For The Poor. Monies from event will specifically go to 11-year-old philanthropist Rachel Wheeler’s effort to build a school in Haiti in Rachel’s Village, a village she helped build through her fundraising efforts. $15. R.S.V.P.: 954-783-5327.

 

East Village Uncorked Event

Friday, July 1, 6 to 9 p.m.

Harbor Village , 2600-2700 block of E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Free. Art and wine strolling event. Find out about planned improvements in East Community Redevelopment Agency. Free parking available. 954-786-7824.

 

About Boating Safety (ABS) Course

Saturday, July 2, 8 a.m.

Dixon Ahl Recreation Center, 2200 NE 38 St. , Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Presented by U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 3-7, Lighthouse Point. Cost: $45 (includes materials/lunch). Limited space. Information/registration, call Gene Cain, 954-557-0582 or auxcain@hotmail.com. www.flotilla37.org.

 

Fortnight of Freedom, Fourth of July sale

Saturday, July 2 to Saturday, July 16

The Book Nook, Percy White Library, 837 E. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Buy any item (books, CD’s, tapes, art, everything goes). Get a 2nd item of equal  or lesser value FREE, mix or match. Proceeds generated by the store are used to help the library. 954-360-1380.

 

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Transformers, Lucky Streak & 2nd Annual Blues Festival

Posted on 30 June 2011 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

The Bucks Class of ’81 has been reminded of another milestone with the release of Transformers: Dark of the Moon. X-Men: First Class featured the Cuban Missile crisis of Oct. ‘62, and now the third Transformers flick reveals the secret reason why President John F. Kennedy insisted that America land on the moon by the end of the decade.

Using planet Earth as the arena, the intergalactic feud between the good guys, Autobots, and the bad guys, Decepticons, continues. In the middle of this mess is Sam Witwicky (Shia LeBeof) and U.S. Army Lt. Colonel William Lennox (Josh Duhamel), two characters who save the world in the previous two Transformers movies.

Sam and William are aligned with Optimus Prime (voiced by Peter Cullen), who awaits the second coming of his mentor, Sentinel Prime (Leonard Nimoy). Feeling snubbed by this reunion, the menacing Megatron (Hugo Weaving) plots mass destruction, beginning in Chicago.

Heeding my criticism about attention deficit disorder editing, this new Transformers movie is easy on the eyes, making the action sequences the most thrilling of the three movies. The characters are less cartoony and there is a sense of danger in the science fiction violence. The humor is situational, with many in-jokes for science fiction aficionados. On a six-story IMAX screen, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is Saturday matinee popcorn-eating fun.

For those seeking similar entertainment minus the budget of a Spielberg production, Kurt Donath’s locally-made Lucky Streak and the Crime Fighters will be screened and discussed tomorrow at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 11:15 a.m. at the Florida Supercon (www.
floridasupercon.com). Lucky Streak (Darlene Dinges), teenage daughter of Amazing Grace (Rachel Galvin), joins crime fighters to foil Dr. Dragon’s plot for world domination. If one can get over theatrical acting, the dialog is quite funny. Anthony Espina’s musical score carries the film.

For those seeking to renew the roots of American culture, Boston’s on the Beach will present their 2nd Annual Red, White and Blues Festival on A1A off Atlantic Avenue, from July 1-4. Much like the late Don Cohen’s Riverwalk Blues Festival, Red, White and Blues will host a three-ring circus of musical performers, such as Joey Gilmore, Iko Iko and Matt “Guitar” Murphy.

Best known as Aretha Franklin’s henpecked husband from the two Blues Brothers movies, Murphy brings Blues authenticity to Delray Beach. Support this Blues legend this Saturday
at 4 p.m.

 

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Letter to the Editor

Posted on 30 June 2011 by LeslieM

RE: Utility tax

Dear Editor:

I am very upset about the utility tax. We also live on a fixed income. To some, it may not mean much. With the price of gas, decline of the dollar, and food prices roaring with inflation, a 10 percent  tax hike is not needed right now.

The problem is once the tax is approved, I’d have a heart attack if it ever was removed or went down. The majority of the times, it eventually goes up.

Prior to the recession, when property taxes were rolling in, the politicians never seemed to have enough money. They do what is required by law or whatever, but they never put extra monies away for a “rainy day.” They have to spend every dollar and then try to figure out how to get more. They never have enough to spend of taxpayer money.

On the front page of the [June 9] Observer, right next to “Utility Tax,” is an article “Broward School District loses millions in grant money.”

As usual, it’s “always the other guy’s fault.” I sure hope the voters remember this at the next election! I sure will!

Bob Zukas

Deerfield Beach

 

Dear Editor:

A 10 percent levy on water and electricity will only cost the average homeowner $10 a month.  Of course, that is if you never drink water, take a shower, live in a cave and use your electricity sparingly.

How come no mention is made of the real cost of this fiasco as it affects the business community? Didn’t someone from Publix at the public hearing mention it would cost them another $400,000 annually? Do you really believe that Publix will not turn around and increase their costs to the consumer?

If there is such a crying need for the improvements claimed, why is the commission using a revenue tax to make the improvements? Could it be because the voters have no say when it comes to a utility tax, as long as the city can identify a source for repayment? That is the reason for utility tax. The millage could be reduced 1 mill without it, but then the commission would not be able to go out on a spending spree to finance their pet projects.

Do not allow your financial future to rest in the hands of three commissioners who never heard what the public had to say. If you really love your city, you will sign the rescind petition as soon as it is available. Let 4,500 voters be your voice.

Lillian Lorraine

Deerfield Beach

 

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Crime Watch

Posted on 30 June 2011 by LeslieM

DEERFIELD BEACH

June 20 While driving on NE 1 Terrace, an officer saw a suspect vehicle driving and chased it before two black males eventually fled the car. A BOLO was issued and the two suspects, Jagqhon Wigley and Tevin Brown were arrested for theft of the vehicle.

June 22 Thieves stole a laptop from a business on NE 2 Street.

June 22 A home on SW 12 Court had three cameras, a 42” LCD flat screen LG Television, an iMac desktop, an HP laptop, a large amount of jewelry, medals  and other items stolen.

June 23 A vacant home on NW 38 Court was burglarized and two mattresses, two fuse boxes and the compressor for the fridge were stolen. Thieves attempted to take the A/C, but were unable to.

June 24 Lukes Louis and Hannah Rodriguez were arrested for burglarizing multiple vehicles in Deer Creek.

June 26 Victim allegedly placed $17,000 worth of jewelry into a storage unit outside her apartment building that went missing.

June 26 Two A/C units were removed from behind a duplex on SW 14 Street.

June 26 A Hollywood man visiting a home on SW 6 Way was shot by three unknown black males who “appeared out of nowhere” and shot him as he tried to flee from his vehicle. Victim had one gunshot in his back, but his story changed frequently as deputies began to investigate.

 

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We are all dependent

Posted on 30 June 2011 by LeslieM

Independence Day is soon upon us. There will be fireworks that light up the night sky as we celebrate the many freedoms we are blessed with here in America that so many others across the globe are denied.

And yet, on the very same day that we will be celebrating our independence, I will be spending time with a number of people who have seen themselves become more and more dependent on others for their most basic of needs. Some of them are dependent on a dialysis machine to do some of the work that their kidneys used to do. Some are dependent on oxygen to ensure they get enough air to breathe. Some are dependent on others to change them, feed them, clean them and get them up into a chair. The truth is, we are all more dependent on others than we would like to believe.

And sometimes, even a temporary loss of some of our independence reminds us of that very fact. Take, for instance, one beautiful young woman who recently felt what it was like to lose a blessing many of us take for granted — the freedom to walk without pain. She suddenly had a lot of pain … it was in her foot, her heel, and it took away some of the joy in her life. Tennis, which she has an incredible passion for, became almost impossible to participate in. Dancing, which she has a knack for, became another activity she had to stop. And, as the pain got worse, she wound up in one of those special boots to take all the pressure off a specific area of her foot. On top of that, she needed crutches for a while. (Yes, I do have a bit of a ‘crutch’ on her)

So how do we help someone who is dealing with such a loss of independence, even though that loss may only be temporary? Well, in this case, I decided to use humor, albeit sick humor, humor that had her groaning and probably shaking her head, but humor that helped ease her burden. She was stuck in the house and spending a lot of time on the computer, so I sent her the following e-mail:

“I just BOOTED up my computer so let me see what I can come up with on the SPUR of the moment…”

“It’s Aboot time, its aboot space about two men in the strangest place…”

“Tell her aboot it…..”

“There’s a hole in the bootom of the sea…”

“Let me tell you all a story ‘boot a man named Jed…”

“One hundred bootles of beer on the wall, one hundred bootles of beer, take one down and pass it around, ninety-nine bootles of beer on the wall. (If you think I’m going to type out the whole song then you are more than a little bit wobbly)…”

“I’ve looked at life from boot sides now…”

“Wasn’t Abe Lincoln killed by a boot? John Wilkes Boot…”

“What do you call it when you kick a guy in the ear? A bootinear!”

“Everybody loves some booty sometime…”

“Booterflies are free and so are we…”

“Have you seen the greatest movie of all time? Mutiny on the Booty…”

“If you put your cell phone down on your foot, does that make you a phone boot?”

“Shake, shake, shake your booty…”

“If you come over to see me, are you making a booty call?”

“Oh what a bootiful morning, oh what a bootiful day … I got a bootiful feeling, everything’s going my way …”

“Have you heard the good news? If not, be sure and read the Good Boot…”

I hope some of you reading this will be able to come up with better ones to cheer up someone you know who is going through a loss of independence. In the meantime, hope you have a bootiful day…

Shalom My Friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

 

Rabbi Ezring is a Hospice Chaplain and Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He also provides Professional Pastoral Care Services to a number of health centers in Broward County.

 

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Pup Needs Help

Posted on 28 June 2011 by Observer

This pup was tossed out of a car.  He is at Coral Springs Humane Unit.  His time is up and his next stop is Animal Control. If you or anyone one you know can help please let us know. Contact us at 954-263-5934 or www.dogsrulerescue.org.

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