New requirements: Beach parking stickers

Dear Editor:

Recently, the city commission changed the requirements for a resident being allowed to purchase a beach parking sticker.

They say the changes are necessary, due to limited parking spots. They also say that this is how surrounding towns handle this issue. I remember the phrase, “If all your friends jumped off the bridge, would you?”

The city has taken out of the ordinance that you need to be a property owner to purchase a beach sticker. Instead, a Florida Voter Registration Card is the key. While I haven’t researched for myself how surrounding towns handle this problem, I do know how they handle it where I come from [New York]. ALL property owners and year-round renters are entitled to a FREE parking sticker. “Outsiders” can purchase a beach sticker according to availability.

If we were a year-round community with no second homeowners, what would the city do then? Our second homeowner residents pay more in property tax than we do, because we are homesteaded. They pay three times as much for all the services that we, as homesteaded people, pay, at least where I live.

For instance, while I pay $65.53 to Broward Public Schools by state law; they pay $212. I pay $28.50 to Broward Public Schools by local board; they pay $92 and they have never had a child go to our schools.

I pay $65.75 to Municipal Deerfield Beach, while the second homeowner pays $213 to this line item on our property tax bill, and so on.

When I spoke at the Sept. 4 [commission] meeting on this subject, two organizations came to the podium to thank Deerfield Beach and its residents for supporting their organizations. Our second homeowners footed this support by three times as much as homesteaded property owners!

Now, the commission rewards these residents by taking away their perk of buying a beach sticker? I believe you are treating these property owners as cash cows. These people, while they can’t vote for you, are your constituents, nevertheless.

I believe ostracizing these residents by not allowing them a beach sticker is unfortunate. They never complained about paying full price for a sticker they could only use half the year.

Go to any restaurant owner and ask how they’re doing business-wise. They’ll all tell you they are waiting for the snowbirds to get back. You have offended this segment of residents greatly and I believe you need to rethink this issue.

Caryl Berner

Deerfield Beach

Greater Deerfield Beach Dem Club Campaign Rally

Thursday, Sept. 20 – 7 p.m.

Old School House 232 NE 2 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Guests: Senator, Maria Sachs, State Attorney Mike Satz, Sheriff Candidate, Scott Israel and HD 93, Gerri Ann Capotosto. Refreshments. 954-312-3662.

Garden Club of LHP meets

Thursday, Sept. 20 – 11 a.m. (doors open)

St. Paul’s Education Hall 2700 NE 36 St., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Guests welcome. Program: What’s A Flower Show All About? Horticulture Tip, W&M Table. Refreshments served. For more information, call 954-942-9310 or visit www.lhpgc.org.

Cresthaven Neighborhood Watch Meeting

Thursday, Sept. 20 – 7:30 p.m.

St. Elizabeth Hall (west side of building) 3331 NE 10 Terr., Pompano Beach, FL 33064

Inspector Sonny Martz will discuss codes. Everyone welcome. Refreshments served. 954-786-7536.

Broward League of Cities Candidate Forum

Thursday, Sept. 20 – 4 to 5:30 p.m.

Deerfield Beach Hilton 100 Fairway Dr., Deerfield Beach, FL, 33441

For Broward County commission, school board and legislative candidates to addres municipal issues. Candidates include Maria Sachs, State Senate, District 34; and George Moraitis, House District 93. The forum is open to the public. Attendees must preregister before noon Thursday by calling 954-357-7370. For more information, visit browardleague.org.

Deerfield Beach Computer Club

Friday. Sept. 21 – 10 to 11:30 a.m. Century Village East Le Club/Activity Center, Rm. B 3501 W. Dr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Every Friday, except holidays. Non-CVE residents must show valid ID at West gate off Powerline Road to enter. $1 per class-waived for first-time guests. For more information, call 954-725-9331 or www.db-cc.org.

Elvis & Legends perform

Friday, Sept. 21 – 6 p.m. (doors open)

Cafe Med By Bice 2096 NE 2 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Are you lonesome tonight? Meet some new friends and watch the stars perform. Join Elvis, Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra and special guests Louis Armstrong and Barbra Streisand for an incredible night of dining and dancing. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. followed by the show at 8 p.m. For more info., visit www.sflreservations.com or call 954-596-0058. Call NOW before it’s SOLD OUT!

U.S. Air Force Reserve Concert

Friday, Sept. 21 at 7 p.m.

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

The City of Deerfield Beach Cultural Committee proudly presents a six-piece rock band of the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Refreshments including popcorn and hotdogs are available for purchase. Bring beach chairs and blankets. Wear red, white and blue, bring a flag. Call 954-480-4433 for more information or visit www.Deerfield-Beach.com.

Luminotti plays

Friday, Sept. 21 – 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

111 SE Mizner Blvd. Royal Palm Plaza, Boca Raton, FL 33432

Classic rock band plays music from the ‘70s ‘til today. For more info., call 561-750-5208.

Library Card Sign-up Month event

Saturday, Sept. 22 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Museum of Art Ft. Lauderdale One East Las Olas Blvd., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

Held in conjunction with launch of the newly-designed Broward County Library “BCL WoW” card and the Shark Tales exhibit at museum. Children who sign up for free Broward County Library card also receive free admission to the museum on the first Saturday of every month. Event features storytelling at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon. Screening of Shark Riddle at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., face painting, games and activities. Information: 954-357-7344.

Dixieland Hot Jazz session

Sunday, Sept. 23 – 1 to 4 p.m.

Henry’s Hideaway 1500 S. Andrews Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Presented by the Hot Jazz & Alligator Gumbo Society. Admission: $10. 954-563-5390.

Ministry/Business Fair

Monday, Sept. 24 to Thursday, Sept. 27 – 6-7:30 p.m.

South Florida Bible College 1100 S. Federal Hwy., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Call 954-545-4500 for information.

Card Party

Tuesday, Sept. 25 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Pompano Beach Elks Lodge 700 NE 10 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Cost is $4, which includes dessert, coffee or tea. Call 561-479-2002 for reservations.

Yom Kippur services

Tuesday, Sept. 25 – 7 p.m. Kol Nidrei Wednesday, Sept. 26 – 9:30 a.m. prayers 11:30 a.m. Yizkor

Temple Sholom 132 SE 11 Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Info: www.JewishLHP.com.

If I were to talk to either of my brothers, it would not surprise me to find that they have purchased a new article of clothing for the Jewish New Year. It might be a suit, or a tie, or a shirt, but they will both have something new to wear.

And yet, the same time, they, and I, will be wearing something old. We might wear something that was from one of our parents of blessed memory – a tie, a ring, a watch, a tallit, a skull cap (better known as a kippah or a yarmulke).

You see, we maintain some of our parent’s traditions with some of what we wear, especially in regard to religious articles, but we also realize the importance of having something new, not just new clothes, but something new in our approach to Judaism.

Keeping some of the old and adding some new is not such a bad thing. In fact, it just might be a great way to enter the New Year with a new outlook.

Today, I would like to approach this focusing on one article that easily identifies one as Jewish. Let me introduce it with a story from a cartoon that appeared in an Israeli paper many years ago during a visit from the Pope in which the caption read, “The Pope is the one with the Yarmulke.”

Yarmulkes or, Kippot (in Hebrew), have come a long way from my zaide’s time. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes – silk, knitted, crocheted, leather. They come with the logos of your favorite sports team. They come with pictures of super heroes, almost any design you can imagine can be put on a kippah now.

Some wear them all the time. Some only wear them in the Synagogue. Some wear them at work and some only at home. In Israel, you can actually tell someone’s religious leanings by the size and color of their Yarmulke, and, with the elections coming up here in America, don’t be surprised to see some of our people in blue and some in red, instead of the traditional white for the High Holy Days.

If you are walking out on the street, or going into a store, or heading into a meeting and you want people to know that you are Jewish, all you have to do is wear a Kippah … and, sadly, in many cases, you will be looked on with hate and scorn.

Back in Nazi Germany, wearing a Yarmulke could be a death sentence – a one-way ticket to the gas chambers. Well, let me tell you how things have stayed the same in the world and also how things have changed as we approach the New Year 5773. Rabbi Alter was wearing a Yarmulke walking down the streets in Vienna a few weeks ago and a group of antisemites beat him to a pulp.

As I said, some things haven’t changed. Some things remain the same and that is not always such a good thing. But, things have also changed and, sometimes, that is a very good thing, such as, after the attack, several residents of Berlin decided to show their support for the Rabbi and for the Jewish people by donning yarmulkes on their keppes… now that’s what I call using your noggin (using your head).

If non-Jews in Berlin can openly show solidarity with us by wearing Kippot, perhaps, in the year ahead, we will come to show more solidarity with each other and, if so, what a wonderful year this could be.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains and serves in this capacity in a number of Health Care settings in the area including Advocate Home Care Services and L’Chayim Jewish Hospice in Partnership with Catholic Hospice of Broward County.

Looking for a place to dine in North Broward? It’s time to join FeedingFrenzee.com, a restaurant discount community and customer loyalty network which brings you events and deals from many local restaurants. Observer favorites (check out our reviews on our website) such as Hot Tomatoe, Galuppi’s and Spanx BBQ-The Hog have all partnered with FeedingFrenzee.com. The new Lighthouse Kitchen in Shoppes of Beacon Light is offering buy one get one free on crepes with your FeedingFrenzee card (get it for free at the restaurants or sign up online at FeedingFrenzee.com). Dandee Donut’s in Pompano Beach is giving 5% off if you show the card.

Diners can join the FeedingFrenzee.com community for free and get a discount card that entitles them to benefits at all restaurants in the FeedingFrenzee community. For example, dine at Galuppi’s and buy one entrée, get the second one 50% off with your card or use in Deerfield Beach at Café Med by Bice for 15% off. Amasianing in Lighthouse Point is offering free soup or eggroll with lunch/free glass of wine with dinner if you use the card.

Owned by Tinka Hooper, a Pompano Beach resident, FeedingFrenzee was started as a way to help local restaurants increase exposure to local residents and also to help them build a regular loyal following through the discount card.

“Diners love the card because they are saving at great local restaurants,” said Hooper who, together with her team custom developed the software that sends out weekly updates to diners about specials and events in the local community. “It’s really important to support local businesses and this is one way to help them grow.”

Learn more or sign up for your FeedingFrenzee card at www.feedingfrenzee.com.

By Gary Curreri

While the Deerfield Beach Dolphins swim coaches spend each day of the South Florida Recreational Swim League Summer Championships dressing up in costumes for fun, it is serious business when it comes to the meet.

The Deerfield Beach Dolphins Swim Team won its 11th consecutive championship and 14th overall as it racked up 1,454 combined points to take the Large Division title South Florida Recreational Swim League Summer Championships recently at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

Deerfield Beach swim coach Rafael DaSilva, who brought a league-high 124 swimmers to the championships, understandably was pleased with the performance.

“We did a great job with the returning swimmers on our team,” said DaSilva, who is in his seventh year with the program. “We didn’t set any records this year, but we also lost some key swimmers on our relays. We had some close swims among our own swimmers and went 1-2 or 1-2-3. Our main motto is to have fun whatever we do.”

There are 150 swimmers in program and DaSilva said they were hit by the economy and were down a number of swimmers compared to a few years back.

“We had a number of kids that we brought up from the noncompetitive and pre-competitive groups who are now on the fully competitiveteams,” DaSilvasaid. “They are really coming out of their shell and, with the work they are doing, are really improvingtheirtimes… theirstrokes.

We have a lot of new surprises.” DaSilva and his coaches dressed as zombies the first day, Ninja Turtles the second and “Where’s Waldo” characters on the final day.

“Some of the kids were questioning it,” DaSilva said with a laugh. “They thought we were Santa Claus. I want them to have fun, and, if we put a smile on their face, that is all we want to do.” Deerfield Beach Dolphins’ Tayme Thomas won the Boys 50-yard butterfly event and was on two winning relays. He said it was important because it was likely his last meet in the league. His family is moving to Titusville in October or November, he said.

“It is something you have to put the work into,” said Thomas, 13, an 8th grader at Boca Middle School. He’s been swimming since he was 7. “In other sports you can be good and get away with it, but in swimming, you have to put in all of the work. It just makes it better when you win. This meet is a big deal because it is the last one of the year and everybody is here.”

There are three seasons in the South Florida Recreational Swim League – Summer (May to Aug.); Winter (Sept. to Dec.) and Spring (Jan. to April). There is a three-week break between each season; the league is in its 25th year.

SFRSL chairman Chris Hoch said there were 19 teams that featured 1,000 swimmersthis summer. He believes the numbers will grow with it being an Olympic year.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

We are approaching the four-year anniversary of the September stock market crash. While the market has rebounded with a better rate of return than the 2009 Federal Job Stimulus Bill, Hollywood Producers have created several movies about this subject, most notably Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.

While the Manhattan media has generated some buzz, Arbitrage opens this weekend locally. The film reteams Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon as successful robber barons from Wall Street who are nearing retirement. As we have learned from the Greek family tragedies, a simple character flaw can undermine the family dynasty.

Limping along at the box office is ParaNorman, a stop-motion animated film. This poorly-marketed movie is a gem of a monster movie that has generated much positive word of mouth. If you get a chance, see ParaNorman on the big screen before it is too late; it is the best animated film of the year.

The film opens in a New England neighborhood that looks eerily similar to that of Haddonfield, Elm Street and Chrystal Lake. Young Norman is a freaky kid who sees dead people. Since Norman is basically a nice kid, he gets along with the ghosts that haunt his neighborhood.

Enter the scary and bloated Mr. Prenderghast, who warns Norman about the 300-yearold curse of the Old Witch. Like Norman, Mr. Prenderghast sees ghosts and has failed to warn the town of the Old Witch’s revenge.

With such a Gothic setup, ParaNorman succeeds by being contemporary fable. Frightening at first, zombies rising from their graves are less scary than mob rule inspired by reality television shows like Jersey Shore and Honey Boo Boo.

Besides telling an entertaining story for both children and adults, ParaNorman succeeds by presenting a fable worthy of Aesop. We learn that the cause of the Old Witch’s curse is a contemporary problem that has been the plague of all public schools. ParaNorman can provide a great resource for a lesson about bullying.

DEERFIELD BEACH

Sept. 9 A man reported that two men approached him at 311 SE 1 Way. One man was holding a gun and demanded his gold chain and cash. The man surrendered it. The robbers fled.

Sept. 9 A woman reported that someone stole a tag from her vehicle parked at 740 SE 1 Way.

Sept. 9 A woman reported that she put $1,000 in the top dresser at her residence at 424 Lock Road, #71. She reported the money missing. There were no signs of a break-in.

Sept. 9 The front glass at Valero at 710 S. Federal Highway was smashed. It was reported that $200 was stolen from the cash register.

DEERFIELD – District 4

August 29 Conveyance burglary was reported at 2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd. at 7:33 p.m. Victim’s Nissan Rogue was parked in front of office building. Unknown person smashed right rear passenger window, reached inside broken window without opening the door and removed a small brown canvas of clothing, $150, and left the location.

August 30 Conveyance burglary was reported at Pine Tree Apartments on Lock Road at 2:48 p.m. Victim advised that unknown suspect(s) broke into two of his work vans by unknown means. No forced entry to either vehicle. From Vehicle #1, a blue 1992 Ford 150 Econoline van, suspect(s) stole a Briggs & Stratton pressure cleaner. From Vehicle #2, a white 2005 Ford E150, suspect(s) stole an Echo blower, a Pullman backpack vacuum and sunglasses. Loss: $950. No video. Latent fingerprints were recovered.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Sept. 4 A woman reported that someone broke into her car at 2000 NE 39 St. and stole her purse.

Save Quiet Waters Park cats from death

Dear Editor:

I am writing to you because I am trying to change Broward County’s ordinance on Feral cats in County Parks. The ordinance is to trap and send to Animal Care, where these cats will be euthanized.

I have a meeting with [County Commission] Vice Mayor Kristin Jacobs on Oct. 4 to change that ordinance, instead of trap and kill, to Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR).

The parks can never get rid of Ferals, because it’s called a Vacuum Effect. Once cats are removed from an area, a new colony of cats move in.

If TNR is in place, those Ferals keep the outside cats from coming in.

I would like the public to beware of this, for I am only one voice. I have done plenty of research and studies show that the county will save money and be saving lives in the long run.

Mary Mollo

Deerfield Beach

A Safety Fair

Thursday, Sept. 13 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Breezway, 777 Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Displays and demonstrations, giveaways, free food and drinks. Focus on pedestrian safety with events and activities reminding students to be aware of their surroundings. 561-297-3516.

Re-Grand Opening of Elite Force Martial Arts

Saturday, Sept. 15 – 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Elite Force Martial Arts, 4754 N. Federal Hwy., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Lots of activities and demonstrations. 954-785-1348.

The Fit Expo

Saturday, Sept. 15 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Indoor Sports Complex, 3650 SW 10 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Benefits: Susan G. Komen for The Cure Foundation. Everyone invited. Health screening, food sampling, massages, nutrition, bounce houses. 954-574-6750.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Safe Boating Course

Saturday, Sept. 15 – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Imperial Point Medical Center, 6401 N. Federal Hwy., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308

All materials and lunch are provided. Cost: $50 per person, includes materials. Information/ registration: 954-942-8108.

Ghosts, Goblins and Gods: The Supernatural in Japanese Art

Through Sept. 16 – call for hours

Morikami Museum, 4000 Morikami Park Rd., Delray Beach, FL 33446

Ghosts, Goblins and Gods comprises an array of paintings, prints, sculptural figures, masks and other objects depicting other-worldly beings. For more information, visit www.morikami.org.

Lighthouse Point Chamber Social

Tuesday, Sept. 18 – 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Body & Soul Retreat, 2024 E. Sample Rd., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Info: 954-822-7501.

Zonta Club meets

Tuesday, Sept. 18 – noon

Deerfield Beach Country Club, 50 Fairway Dr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Networking from 11:15 – 11:45 a.m. and lunch at noon. Guest speaker: Dr. Denise St. Patrick-Bell, executive director of The Boca Raton Children’s Museum. Zonta Intl. is a classified service organization of executives and professional women working together to advance the status of women locally and world-wide through service and advocacy. RSVP: 561-392-2223.

ArtHall

Wednesday, Sept. 19 – 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

CRA Business Resource Center, 50 NE 1 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

FREE and open to the public. Works of local photographers, Jody “JR” Leshinsky and Joseph A. Grisafi, displayed. Event held by CRA and Business Resource Center. Call 954-586-1111.

History at High Noon

Wednesday, Sept. 19 – noon to 1 p.m.

Old School Museum, 232 NE 2 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Guest speaker: Peter Colon. Peter will be speaking on South Florida and WWII. FREE. Donations are welcome. For more information, call 954 429-0378.

Democratic Women’s Club meets

Wednesday, Sept. 19 – 7 p.m.

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center, 1801 NE 6 St., Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Monthly program meeting. Speaker: State Senator Maria Lorts Sachs, candidate for State Senate District 34. Refreshments will be served. For information, call 954-942-8711.

Save the date: Haircuts for Make-A-Wish Foundation

Sunday, Oct. 7 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Shear Excitement Salon and Spa 2101 N. Federal Hwy., #107, Pompano Beach, FL 33062

100 percent of proceeds benefit Make-a-Wish. Information: 954-782-0088.