LHP Garden Club

Thursday, Jan. 16, 11 a.m.

St. Paul’s Educational Hall 2700 NE 36 St. (E. Sample Rd.) Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Program: Bromeliads of the Americas by Ann Schandelmayer, NGC Master Judge FFGC Floral Design Instructor. Horticulture tips by Mona Johnston. Hostesses: Alice Lazowski, Elaine Snyder, Georgia Petkov. Ways & Means: Bromeliad sale and 50/50. For information, call 954-942-9310 or visit www.lhpgc.org and www.ffgc.org.

Food For The Poor: Designer Show House VIP event

Thursday, Jan. 16, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m.

2316 NE 30 Court Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Food For The Poor and Lighthouse Interiors have partnered with South Florida designers to showcase a multi-million-dollar Lighthouse Point home. “Savories and cocktails,” tour, silent auction. Proceeds will build homes in Haiti. $150. (Home also available to see Jan. 17- 19 from noon to 8:30 p.m. for $30.) 888-404-4248 or visit www.FoodForThePoor.org/ showhouse.

Boca Raton Children’s Museum Community Yard Sale

Saturday, Jan. 18, 8 a.m. to noon

498 Crawford Blvd. Boca Raton, FL 33432

Jewelry, skin care, handbags, toys, household items, clothing, collectibles and more. Food/ beverages available for purchase. In case of rain, sale will be moved to Jason’s Music Hall at Rickards House on Museum grounds. Seeking vendors, deadline Jan. 17. 561- 368- 6875.

Historic Butler House Tour

Saturday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

380 E. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Call for appointment: 954-429-0378 or history@Deerfield-history.org.

Hillsboro Lighthouse Tour

Saturday, Jan. 18, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Boat departs from: Sands Harbor Hotel & Marina 125 N. Riverside Dr. Pompano Beach, FL 33062

$25. Must wear flat shoes with rubber soles and closed toes. Children must be accompanied by an adult. No pets. www.hillsborolighthouse.org.

Three Tenors Concert

Sunday, Jan. 19, 2 p.m.

Pompano Beach High School 600 NE 13 Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Presented by New Presbyterian Church. Concert includes Philip Alongi and friends – Benjamin Sloman and Jeremy Blossey. No tickets needed, offering taken. 954-205-2533 or www.newpres.org.

Zonta Club meets

Tuesday, Jan. 21, starting at 11:15 a.m.

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

Meets 3rd Tuesday of month. Guest speaker: Tyra Bacon, Self-Discovery trainer. 561-392-2223 for reservations.

10th Annual Taste of Lighthouse Point

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6 to 9 p.m.

Lighthouse Point Yacht & Racquet Club 2701 NE 42 St. Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Entertainment, food, wine, craft beer samples. $50 advance/$ 60 at door. Sponsored by LHP Chamber. 954-946- 3838, www.LHPChamber.com.

Fun and fundraising!

Tuesday, Jan. 21, 6 to 10 p.m.

World of Beer 4437 Lyons Rd. Coconut Creek, FL 33073

50/50 and raffles. Proceeds benefit Relay For Life.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 10 a.m. to noon

NE Focal Point 227 NW 2 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Speaker: Cathy Autry – director of Nursing, Nurse Next Door Home Care Services. Topic: Becoming an Alzheimer’s Whisperer. Meets Wednesdays. 954-480-4463.

North Broward Democratic Club meets

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 7:30 p.m.

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

Speaker: Pompano Beach City Commissioner Barry Dockswell. Topic: Update on Pompano development. FREE. Refreshments served. 954-783-8232.

Discussion on Healthcare Act and tax returns

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 7 to 9 p.m.

Crystal Lake Golf Villas Clubhouse 4791 NW 18 Ave. Deerfield Beach, FL 33064

Tax Professionals from H&R Block lead FREE discussion on Affordable Care Act and how it affects income tax returns.

NE Focal Point Fashion Show Luncheon

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 11:30 a.m.

Lighthouse Point Yacht & Racquet Club 2701 NE 42 St. Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Theme: “Cruise Into Spring.” Includes lunch, fashion show, entertainment, door prizes and raffle. $50. 954- 480-4460.

MLK CELEBRATIONS

DEERFIELD BEACH

Deerfield Kiwanis Club West Breakfast

Saturday, Jan. 18, 9 a.m.

Westside Park Johnny L. Tigner Community Center 445 SW 2 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Donation: $20. For tickets, call: 954-428-1537.

BOCA RATON

MLK memorial, march & celebration

Monday, Jan. 20, 8:30 a.m.

Adjacent to Ebenezer Baptist Church 200 NE 12 St. Boca Raton, FL 33432

Event, planned by the Pearl City Dialog Group, will start at 9 a.m. Followed by march at 10 a.m. to Hughes Park, 200 NE 14 St., for celebration program beginning at 11 a.m. March led by Boca Raton Community High School Marching Band. Event includes speakers, music and fun activities. For information, call 561-393-7073.

POMPANO BEACH

“Let Freedom Ring” Parade/March

Monday, Jan. 20, line-up at 8 a.m.

Mitchell Moore Park 901 NW 10 St. Pompano Beach, FL, 33060

Followed by celebration at 10:30 a.m. at Blanche Ely High School Gymnasium, 1201 NW 6 Ave. Special Guest: Grammy & Stellar

I had a dream. I saw manna falling from the sky, but rather than it just being manna, it was falling as my favorite foods … that’s right, chocolate and corned beef on rye. Oh, my!

And, as if that wasn’t odd enough, everyone else in the dream had their favorite foods falling from the sky as well … and when the brisket started to fly, well, I had to cover my head or I was going to wind up getting injured by a whole roast turkey or a side of beef. I didn’t have an umbrella handy in the dream, but, thank goodness, I did happen to have a helmet. No, wait, it wasn’t a helmet. It was a metal kippah, a yarmulke.

Well, I woke up from that dream and headed into my office to turn on the computer and what do I see? I see a story about food, and the title of the article seems to have misspelled Yarmulke; but, as I look again, I see that it is not a misspelled word at all. It is a story not about food and a yarmulke, but, rather, about Yarmouk and the Palestinians in that particular refugee camp who are literally starving to death … and not via hunger strikes … but by leaders of a government stopping food and aid from getting into the Yarmouk Refugee Camp.

Can you hear the world screaming about how awful Israel is for doing this? Have you heard about all the special meetings at the U.N. condemning Israel for treating the Palestinians in such horrific fashion?

Oh, wait a minute … Yarmouk isn’t in Israel, nor are the Palestinians who are starving to death. Yarmouk is in Syria. That’s right, Syria is showing just how much they care about their beloved Palestinian brothers and sisters, and they are doing so by allowing them to starve.

Many of us keep our head covered with a yarmulke during the day or at least during prayer. It reminds us that HaShem has us covered, and, as Children of G-d, we try to emulate Him so now we cry out for those in Yarmouk to let them know that HaShem not only has us covered; but, through our acts, He has them covered too.

And now, let me get back to the manna for a moment … at least the manna in my dream … as it included beans, stuffed cabbage and all manner of things that can make one suffer from what Barry Fitzgerald would refer to as a wee bit of the winds …

Don’t be surprised if Israel will also be blamed soon for giving the Palestinians a lot of gas … only it’s not what you think … You see, the PA electric company just signed a $1.2 billion deal with Israel’s Leviathan group that will produce power for the West Bank in a new $300 million plant. This natural gas will be used to light up the life of those in the West Bank with a great source of electric power.

And, you should know that the Israeli Gas conglomerate is holding similar talks to supply this natural gas to Jordan’s Hashemite Kingdom. Baruch HaShem.

So there you have it my friends, Yarmouk … Yarmulke … HaShem … HaShemite …

What a wonderful world it would be if only we could remember that we all stem from the same Source. Maybe, just maybe, if we remembered that, we would feed each other and keep one another covered.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach. We welcome you to join our warm and caring family for Shabbat and festival services. We’ll make your heart glow…who knows, you might even fall in love with Shul all over again.

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

Top 10 films of 2013

(in reverse alphabetical order)

Still Mine

One Chance

Lone Survivor

The Lone Ranger

Gravity

Frozen

42

The Conjuring

CinemAbility

American Hustle

Honorable mention:

(These might not have been technical masterpieces, but these films had something to say…)

Wolf of Wall Street

Star Trek Into Darkness

Philomena

Metallica Through the Never

Hunger Games: Catching Fire

The Great Gatsby

Flight of the Butterflies 3D

Comedy Warriors

Bianca Nieves

Before Midnight

All is Lost

2014 looks like a tentative year compared to the franchise blockbusters planned for 2015, with the release of Star Wars: Episode VII, The Avengers: Age of Ultron, the Avatar sequel and a James Bond movie. Yet, when the award season wraps up after the Winter Olympic Games, there will be some fascinating movies opening up (maybe not as dramatic as Florida State Seminoles Championship Game, but fascinating nonetheless).

George Clooney directs and leads an all-star cast in The Monuments Men, in which a team of soldiers rescue art from the destruction of World War II. 300: Rise of an Empire is graphic artist Frank Miller’s story about the Spartan’s ancient conflict with Persia before Jesus Christ was born. Frank Miller’s much anticipated film noir anthology, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For opens in August with most of the ensemble cast returning.

Comic books and graphic novels have proven to be reliable box office hits, with 2014 exploiting full potential. X-Men Days of Future Past combines the ensemble of actors from all six of the XMen movies. April sees Chris Evans return in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, with Robert Redford as a government liberal.

For non-comic book aficionados, Clint Eastwood steps behind the scenes to direct Jersey Boys. Based on the Broadway hit show, Jersey Boys details Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons’ rise in the music industry. Christopher Walken portrays a mobster/ mentor.

In terms of local events, the 19th Annual Palm Beach International Film Festival will resume the first week in April, while Fatality Fest is scheduled to compete with the 29th Annual Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival in October. The locally-produced Fright Asylum has completed its 7th year. With founder Woody Meckes and co-host Manny Colon, I have joined Fright Asylum as a semi-regular inmate.

Reporting on films for 15 years for the Observer has been a joy that has allowed me to branch into a variety of projects in public performance and writing. Besides funding Steve Hunter’s The Manhattan Blues Project, my latest book Davy Jones & the Heart of Darkness would not have been created without the discipline of writing a column each week. This month, I have begun editing my latest book, a Christian horror novel about an aging actress, that I hope to publish this year. As long as I keep receiving positive feedback from my neighbors, I will keep writing in the South Florida community.

Thank you, dear reader, for sharing the ride.

DEERFIELD BEACH

Dec. 29 A woman reported being the victim of an auto theft. She said her motorcycle was stolen. Report was made at 651 NW 42 Court.

Dec. 29 An attempt was made to break into Radio Shack at 665 S. Federal Hwy. via the rear door.

Dec. 30 Dr. Philgoods at 3774 NE 3 Ave. was broken into through the front door. A television and the cash register were stolen.

Dec. 30 It was reported that a window on a home at 5291 NE 9 Terr. was broken. Nothing was stolen from the vacant home.

Dec. 30 The front-door window of Vida Nova Church at 1307 S. Federal Hwy. was broken. A laptop was stolen from the music room.

Dec 31 A former employee of a business was reported for stealing $1,800 in business funds. She has since moved to California. Incident was reported at 1140 SW 34 Ave.

Dec. 31 A woman reported her home at 131 Lock Rd. broken into and her bedroom drawers rummaged. Nothing was stolen.

Jan. 1. A woman was observed stealing 10 shirts from Family Dollar Store at 4811 N.Dixie Highway. She fled in a car.

Jan.1 A man was observed stealing an amp from the West Marine Store at 110 N. Federal Hwy. The man escaped in a car.

Jan.1 A business at 875 NE 48 St.was broken into and $300 in cash was stolen.

Jan. 3 A man was observed stealing a jacket and pants from Bealls at 1079 S. Federal Hwy. He went into a changing room with the clothing and put the items on. He then left the store without paying for the clothing.

DEERFIELD – District 4

Jan 3. Auto theft was reported at Powerline Industrial Park, 3439 SW 11 St. A rented white U-Haul E250 van with keys was reported taken from outside of the business between 01/01/2014 in the p.m. and 01/02/2014 in the a.m.

Jan. 4 Battery was reported at Deerfield Mall, 3984 W. Hillsboro Blvd. BSO responded to Paragon Theaters to a possible battery with multiple parties involved and conflicting stories.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Dec. 13 A man reported that someone attempted to empty a hot tub in his backyard by opening a valve at his home at 3232 NE 31 Ave.

Dec. 16 A woman reported that someone entered her yard and cut wires to two sets of Christmas lights on the back porch of a residence at 2650 NE 49 St. The damage was $100.

Dec. 16 A woman reported that she received a bill from a clothing company at 4440 NE 30 Terr. for merchandise she did not purchase. The statement showed a purchase totaling $973.23 made in the Miami area. While investigating the charge, she found another fraudulent purchase for the amount of $606. The woman said she was not sure how the credit card information was obtained.

Perhaps it’s time for all religious people to return to England

Dear Editor:

I would remind everyone of how our nation was founded. A group of Pilgrims fled England due to harsh religious persecution to find religious freedom in the New World.

The New World turned into a new country–the United States of America. Then came our constitution and the First Amendment. Read it:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

What does “the free exercise thereof” mean to you? What does “free speech” or “free expression” mean to you?

To me, it means that NO ONE has the right to abridge my right to believe in a higher power that governs life.

Now let’s talk about what a “Nativity Scene” is. A Nativity Scene, typically, is a group of figures or statues representing certain people (and usually animals) that were present at the birth of the founder of a particular worldwide group of religions. What is a “Menorah?” It is a candle holder with a specific configuration commemorating the “miracle of lights” that transpired when the members of one of the oldest established religions in the world returned from exile and rebuilt the temple to the higher power that they worshiped.

During a certain month of the year, both of these representations are placed conspicuously on the corner of Hillsboro Boulevard and Federal Highway.

Last year, the city [commission] allowed an individual to hoodwink them into adding a “Festivus” pole made of beer cans to the tableau.

They failed to recognize that this was a mocking skit from a Jerry Seinfeld show.

To cover their embarrassment, they decided that the city would not officially sponsor the display of the aforementioned religious holiday symbols, citing their fear of lawsuits. I’d like to mention that the writer of that skit, in a recent interview, stated that he was coerced by his fellows into writing up the skit based on some silly behavior of his own father. He never thought the skit would make it into production. He was mortified at how it took off and became part of the cynical sub-culture.

So what happened this year? A group of people, on their own accord, placed the Nativity Scene and the Menorah at the corner of Hillsboro and Federal.

The ACLU and Channel 10 showed up and discussed the separation of church and state. The next day, the symbols of two major religions were taken down.

What are these symbols, after all? Some figures and a candle holder.

In and of themselves, they do not proselytize, they do not criticize, they make no verbal or written statement abridging the rights of people who do not believe in a higher power. All they do is stand mutely on the corner of two heavily traveled roads, in quiet testament to those who choose to believe that there is a higher power governing our lives.

I hereby demand that the ACLU represent my interests as one who believes in a higher power and defend me against those who misinterpret the meaning of the division of church and state.

I demand that they send a representative to the city [commission] and persuade them to reinstate the long-standing tradition in Deerfield Beach of respecting the beliefs of many of its citizens.

I’m willing to tolerate your non-religious belief if you are willing to back off and learn to tolerate my religious one.

Deborah Welgoss

Deerfield Beach

NOTE: The Menorah was removed prior to the nativity scene

Movies in the Park

Friday, Jan. 10, 7 to 9 p.m.

Villages of Hillsboro Park 4111 NW 6 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Free. Presented by the City of DB Parks & Rec. Dept. in conjunction with Paragon Theaters. Bring blankets/ chairs. Refreshments sold. 954-480-4429.

MLK Rib Cook-Off & Cake Bake-Off

Saturday, Jan. 11, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

601 Martin Luther King Blvd. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Enjoy ribs, cakes and more. Live music by The Joey Gilmore Band plus other local community performers. Shop, Dine, Create. 954-786-7824. Sponsored by Pompano Beach CRA.

Yard Sale

Saturday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. to noon

Community Presbyterian Church 1920 SE 4 St. Deerfield Beach, Fl 33441

Hosted by The Prime Timer’s Group. Clothes, books, furniture, assorted items. Proceeds to Community Presbyterian Church. 954-944-3526.

“About boating safely” course

Saturday, Jan. 11, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Flotilla 36 Spanish River Park 3939 N. Ocean Blvd. Boca Raton, FL 33431

Everyone who completes the class is given a certificate and will be sent a Florida Boating ID card, required for boaters under 22 years. Many insurance companies give annual discounts for completing this course. Topics include: boating terminology, boat handling, navigation rules, aids to navigation, federal and Florida regulations, safety equipment and other boating techniques. $25 per person. Bring lunch. For pre-registration or information about upcoming classes, call 561-391-3600 and leave a brief message for a call back.

Boca Green Market

Saturday, Jan. 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Royal Palm Place S. Federal Highway & SE Mizner Boulevard Boca Raton, FL 33432

Boca Raton Green Market, in its 17th year, has farm-to-table, freshly-picked produce (organics, too) from local growers. Local teenage country sensation, Brooke Galmarini, will perform live from the Piazza stage.

Community Garage Sale

Saturday, Jan. 11, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Palms of Deerfield Beach 425 NW 1 Terr. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Sponsored by F.A.C.T. Resident Council Board. Free. Speakers and guests promote growth through friends, family and finances. 954-675-9449.

27th Annual Boca Fest

Saturday, Jan. 11 to Sunday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m to 5 p.m.

The Shops at Boca Center in Boca Raton 5250 Town Center Cir. Boca Raton, FL 33486

Approximately 150 artists from around nation are scheduled to take part in this popular art show. FREE. 561-746-6615, www.artfestival.com.

Oshogatsu

Sunday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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

Traditional New Year celebratory festival. Rice-pounding, making mochi rice cakes, sado tea ceremony, omikuji (fortune telling), Games like hanetsuki, similar to badminton, and fukuwarai, similar to pin-the-tail-on-the- donkey, in addition to shishimai, the lion dance, are sure to bring good luck for New Year. $15 adults, $10 children 10 and under (at door); FREE — museum members, ages 3 and under. Rain or shine.

Sunday Matinee Music Series Concert

Sunday, Jan. 12, 3 to 4 p.m.

Downtown Library 400 NW 2 Ave. Boca Raton, FL 33432

The Les Mack Trio Performs “Music of the Ages.” Sponsored by Friends of the Boca Raton Library. Free admission/open to the public. Register at www.bocalibraryorg to reserve your seat.

Pompano Beach Garden Club Meets

Monday, Jan. 13, 12:30 p.m.

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

“Wildlife Yard Habitat Certification” presented by Master Gardener & Naturalist Mona Johnson. Open to the public. Refreshments served. 954-943-0029.

Art Hall

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

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

Artwork displays by Nik Satterfield with live music. Food trucks/refreshments available. FREE. 954-586-1111.

Democratic Women’s Club of Northeast meets

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 7 p.m.

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

Celebrating Roe v Wade 41st Anniversary. Speaker: Dr. Jane Caputi, professor Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies and Communication, and Multimedia, FAU. Refreshments served. FREE. 954-942-8711.

Fundraiser for James Suh Memorial Scholarship

Wednesday, Jan. 15, 6 p.m.

Paragon Theater 3984 W. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Wine wagon raffle, silent auction, 50/50 drawing. Showing of Lone Survivor at 7 p.m. Food available for purchase. Scholarship benefits senior students at Deerfield Beach High School. $15. 954-782-1864.

Relay for Life Fundraising Dinner

Sunday, Jan. 12, 4 to 10 p.m.

Amato’s Pompano CitiCentre 1901 N. Federal Hwy. Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Complete dinner, $25, 50 percent goes to Relay For Life.

Relay for Life Fiesta

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 5:30 p.m. til close

Baja Café Deerfield 1310 S. Federal Hwy. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Raffles & 15 percent goes to Relay For Life.

It is a new year and that is always a good time for us to evaluate our lives and all the things we like and do not like that is a part of our lives. I am so grateful that God loves me enough to allow me to start over whenever I mess up and make a mistake. With God, I do not have to wait until New Years Eve to start over or to start something new in my life. God allows me to start new every morning if need be. Some things in life we want to (or need to) change are easy and we have no problem at all making the change. However, we all know that there are some things in life that are very difficult to change in our lives. Some things in life feel like we have been struggling with for years but we can do it. God will give us the help we need to become victorious over things that we may tend to struggle with and have a hard time changing.

Philippians 4:13

13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. NLT

If I can encourage you to do anything different this year, it would be to go to church, to read your Bible, and to pray and talk to God. If you already do those things, then, I want to encourage you to do those things a little more and also, at the same time, encourage someone else to join you. I know, at times, we do not like change; but, I think that change can be exciting and fun.

We are very thrilled about changes at our church starting in January. Right now, we have church services on Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. and we are adding a new service on Saturday nights at 6:30 p.m. Many people have to work on Sundays now, so we wanted to have an alternative in our weekend services for people to choose from. We are also delighted to be adding home group Bible studies during the week for our members to be able to have an opportunity to discuss topics from the weekend services and to connect with other church members by building trusting relationships. It is always exciting when God adds something to your life, and I am looking forward to starting our Saturday night services. This Saturday will be our very first service we are having. We are very thrilled to meet new people and to have a great experience with God, and have Him change lives, help people with hurts and to introduce the God I know to some people who maybe do not know Him.

Please pray for us as we pray for you. I want to pray the following Bible verse over your life and I believe that, with God’s help, you can do the things you know you need to do, and have wanted to do in your life.

Ephesians 3:16

16 I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources, He will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. NLT

Tony Guadagnino is pastor at the Christian Love Fellowship Church in Deerfield Beach.

By Gary Curreri

Approximately 130 cheer and dance squads recently competed in the Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance (OBYFA) Cheer & Dance Championships at the University of Miami’s Bank- United Center.

The day consisted of competitive choreography performed by the nearly 2,000 participating 4- to 16-yearold girls from throughout South Florida. With squads traveling from OBYFA parks, ranging from as far north as Lake Okeechobee to as far south as Key West, girls competed for first, second or third place in their respective divisions, top winner in both the morning and afternoon sessions and grand champion with the highest overall score.

There were also trophies handed out to the team with the most spirit and the team with the best sportsmanship. The top scholar athlete from each park was recognized as well. The Sports Authority presented the competition.

Orange Bowl Committee member and Chair of the Orange Bowl YFA, Gerald Grant Jr., who has personal ties to the cheer and dance community, assisted in presenting the awards.

“My daughter was involved in middle school and it helped develop her character and leadership skills,” Grant said. “This is really what the Orange Bowl is all about, impacting the lives of young people.”

The Deerfield Beach Packer Rattlers program (National YFL) took first and third in the Jr. Prep Division- Small (Cadets, first; Pee Wees, third), was second in the Mini Division – Medium (Bandits), and placed third in the Prep Division – Medium.

The Pompano Steelers (Glades Tri-City YFL) also captured three awards as it won the Sportsmanship Award for the Mini Division – Small, the Semi-Pro Division – Medium, and took second in the Pee Wee Division Small.

Flegel wins gold

Lighthouse Point’s Noah Flegel won a gold medal recently for the United States in the 10th IWWF Wakeboard World Championships recently in Busan, Korea.

Flegel, who won the gold medal in the Boys’ division at the 2011 world championships, won the gold medal in Junior Men, scoring 80.56 points in the finals. Australia’s Cory Teunissen (57.67 points) earned the silver medal and the Netherlands’ Marc Kroon (55.78 points) earned the bronze medal.

The U.S. Wakeboard Team earned the silver medal, and Flegel was one of four U.S. team members to earn individual medals in the event that included athletes and teams from 28 countries. Australia won the gold medal, while Korea earned the bronze medal.

Divisions for competition at the 2013 IWWF Wakeboard World Championships were as follows (all ages taken as of Jan. 1, 2013): Boys/ Girls (14 and Under), Junior Men/Junior Women (18 and Under), Masters Men/Masters Women (30 Years and Over), Masters 2 Men (40 Years and Over) and Open Men/Open Women (Open).

The United States has won world team titles in 2004, 2005 and 2011. Australia has won team titles in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2013. South Africa won the team title in 2001.

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

2013 has shown that the youth and family markets drive the box office dollar. The Top 5 box office motion pictures, Iron Man 3, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Despicable Me 2, Man of Steel and Monsters University had a cumulative gross of nearly $2 billion.

With rising ticket prices, consumers are being pickier than ever. Social Media can destroy a motion picture before it can get out of the gate, witness The Lone Ranger.

A success two years ago (Machete) became one of the biggest box office bombs of the year (Machete Kills). Harrison Ford seemed to be on career redemption with 42, but he contributed to two of the biggest box office flops of the year, Paranoia and Ender’s Game.

Film festivals and conventions are becoming more and more important to the film industry. The major studios targeted the Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) with Nebraska, starring Bruce Dern, and August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts. Gregory von Hausch, president and FLIFF CEO, managed to produce the best local film festival in five years. It helped that the celebrities he invited this year were Class Acts.

Class Acts are hard to find in the entertainment industry, most individuals are very self-centered. Lea Thompson, John Shea, Stephen Moyer, Tab Hunter and Ann Margaret proved to be Class Acts by living up to fan expectations and having grace under pressure at FLIFF. Behind the scenes, the volunteers and Cyndi Boyar helped make FLIFF run smooth.

Pain is a rude awakening from grief. Last January, my chronic back pain got the best of me and I have spent all of 2013 treating it. Besides reading my column on a regular basis, Dr. Thomas Goberville has gotten at the root cause of my problem, prescribing regular physical therapy. Thanks to the Angels at MedDiagnostic Rehab, I was released last Friday.

Any sense of self pity was knocked out of my psyche when the Palm Beach International Film Festival presented the documentary Comedy Warriors. Severely injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, these wounded warriors found therapy in making others laugh.

This lesson was reinforced at FLIFF with the screening of the documentary Cine- Ability featuring local Class Act and now BackStage Angel, Danny Murphy. This excellent documentary looks at how Hollywood views people with disabilities. When CinemAbility ends, one realizes that everybody faces hardship. How one reacts to such hardship defines if they are a winner or loser in life.

DEERFIELD BEACH

Dec. 19 A lock was cut to a building at 610 SE 2 Ave. The meter room was entered and a digital electronic meter was stolen

Dec.19 A woman reported that someone stole $2,000 worth of costume jewelry from the apartment of her deceased mother. Report was made at 2403 W.Hillsboro Blvd.

Dec. 19 A vehicle was entered at 71 SE 7 Ave. The steering column was broken and a power converter, and cellphone were stolen.

Dec. 19 Three women entered Target at 1200 S. Federal Hwy. and stole electronic equipment.

Dec. 19 A woman reported her home at 299 NE 46 St. entered and Christmas gifts scattered and a television stolen.

Dec. 20 A home at 810 NE 51 St. was entered and electronic equipment and jewelry taken. Most of the property was recovered in a neighbor’s yard.

Dec. 20 Two women were observed on video surveillance stealing nine tablets from Target at 3599 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Dec. 12 A man reported a burglary at his home at 2359 Vintage Dr. The man reported a smashed window at his home and evidence that someone tried to break into the home.

Dec. 13 A woman reported that someone entered her yard, broke a child fence encircling her pool. The fence was valued at $1,000. Incident was reported at 3201 NE 31 Ave.