| August, 2015

Bridges on lockdown due to Erika

Posted on 29 August 2015 by JLusk

20700763The City of Deerfield Beach has received important storm update information from the Marine Industries Association of South Florida. At approximately 8 p.m. on Aug. 29, ALL bridges on the New River, Miami River and Intracoastal in Dade and Broward counties will be on lockdown based on the current track of Tropical Storm Erika.

For updates, go to http://homeport.uscg.mil/miami and look under “Port Conditions.” Vessels are advised not to go up the river if they do not have a destination.

 

 

 

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Authors and Autographs rescheduled for Sept. 26

Posted on 27 August 2015 by JLusk

butler_house-today-350Due to adverse weather conditions anticipated for Sunday, August 26, the event “Authors and Autographs” at the Butler House has been canceled.

It is RE-SCHEDULED for Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., as part of the SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM DAY LIVE!  They are a participating museum at this country-wide annual event.  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/?no-ist

Also during Saturday:

  •     Free Guided Tours of Butler House
  •     Free Guided Tours of Old School Museum
  •     Authors and Autographs Exhibitors in backyard at Butler House (if inclement weather, Authors will be set up in Old School Museum).

Sunday, September 27, Butler House, 2pm – 5pm, Backyard Sale of Crafts and “slightly-used” gift items.

 

 

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Dolphins swim team dominates again

Posted on 27 August 2015 by LeslieM

sports082715By Gary Curreri

Meghan Robenhymer said swimming has taken her pretty far.

The 14-year-old Coconut Creek teenager took third in the Girls 13-14 50-yard breaststroke, second in the Girls 13-18 100-yard breaststroke, and was on two winning relays to help the Deerfield Beach Dolphins win its eighth consecutive South Florida Recreational Swim League Summer Championships recently at the Coral Springs Aquatic Complex. The two-day meet was held in the Michael Lohberg Pool of Champions.

This is my entire life,” said Robenhymer, a freshman at Monarch High School and nine-year veteran of sport. “I was average when I first started. The work I bring to it made myself better.”

Robenhymer started swimming at a preschool program and was told she had really good form.

They said I should tryout for the recreation league,” Robenhymer added. “I was on that team for a couple of years and then I switched to Dolphins. It’s great to be winning races. It shows that all the hard work paid off.”

Parkland’s Emily Chen also turned in a strong performance for Deerfield Beach as she won three individual events and was on two winning relays at the event.

Chen, 14, who holds 12 individual league records dating back to when she was 7, added the Girls 13- 14 100-yard freestyle and the Girls 13-14 100-yard IM records to her credit. The Deerfield Beach High School freshman started swimming when she 7.

It has just been fun,” Chen said. “It has been a really great venture. I’ve been with the same coaches the whole time and it is just a great atmosphere. The sport means almost everything to me. It is practically my life now.”

Chen hopes for a long swimming career, first high school and then college.

It is definitely a dream to think of the Olympics,” Chen said. “It is always fun to watch. From afar, whatever is best for me in the long run. The sport definitely shaped my personality — from teamwork and how to support each other to learning how to lose. I learned not to be a sore loser.”

Chen said it has helped her stay determined.

You just keep trying,” Chen said. “You just keep going. If you never try, you are never going to go anywhere.”

The Deerfield Beach Dolphins won the Large Division with 4,455 points, while the Tsunami Swim Team based in Coconut Creek won the Medium Division with 2,219 points. The Margate Motion Swim Team was fourth in the Medium Division with 1,346 points.

The victory marked the eighth consecutive summer championship victory for the Dolphins since 2007, and 20th overall during the same span when counting the fall and spring seasons.

Ninth year Deerfield Beach Dolphins coach Rafael DaSilva said the victory was huge for the program. The Dolphins have 90 swimmers on its roster and had 83 swimmers compete.

This meet is the most important meet of the year,” DaSilva said. “It is the biggest championship of all three. This is where it started. The fall and the spring championships were added later.”

There are always more people because, in the fall, you have high school swimming and, in the spring, you have water polo and some do middle school swimming,” DaSilva added. “There is a lot of competition per se to get the kids involved. The summer is where you prepare the kids for high school swimming and you have the bigger number and more quality swimmers returning. You have more teams and this is the only meet where you make the divisions based on sizes from team to team.”

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FLICKS:Unsullied

Posted on 27 August 2015 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

After retiring from the NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneer Superbowl Champion Simeon Rice attended a New York film school to prepare to become a filmmaker.

After directing his first short subject, When I was King, Simeon poured his energies into writing Unsullied, a gritty thriller that follows Reagan Farrow (Murray Gray), a track star, who is kidnapped by a pair of sociopaths after her car breaks down on a deserted road.

Being a student of Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles and Quentin Tarantino, Rice’s latest film feels like a cross between The Most Dangerous Game, Apocalypto and Deliverance.

Seeing Deliverance, I was on edge. Time is standing on its own high sense of tension and anxiety. With film, once you see an image, you cannot un-see it!” said Rice.

Deliverance shares the same rural landscape as Unsullied.

Rice and his crew spent more time scouting rural locations near Tampa Bay than the actual production of the film, which was shot in 23 days last autumn. Simeon has high praise for his production crew and he acknowledges the contributions of his leading actors.

Murray Gray is a deep thinker and is wise beyond her years.

Rusty Joiner, who plays Noah Evans, is the consummate Southern gentleman, often holding the door for a lady. On screen, he entered another dimension and created Satan personified, the kind of church boy you do not trust,” he explained.

Given that he chose to film Unsullied in Florida and had a good experience with the community, perhaps he can become an advocate for the Florida film industry; he defiantly has a streak of independence about him.

But Rice did not come from Florida originally. He grew up in the South Side of Chicago in the worst part of town.

Of his youth, he said, “Being a kid on the street with gang violence, you have to think. You become a straight shooter. It prepared me to make quick decisions on the set.”

Rice has already completed another script titled Full Tilt, a tense drama about backroom poker.

Although he has delved now into film, he still thinks about his previous career.

When asked if he misses football, he said, “Yes! Maybe not a preseason game, but I miss the game itself. It is something that is hotwired in me.”

The film will be shown at selected locations on August 28. To find out more about the film and where film is shown, visit http://unsulliedthefilm.com.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 27 August 2015 by LeslieM

Remember, if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately.

DEERFIELD BEACH

August 9 A woman reported that a man stole her cell phone by suddenly snatching it at 249 SW 1 Terr.

August 11 A motorcycle was reported stolen from 4387 SW 10 Place.

August 11 A van was reported stolen from 4300 Crystal Lake Dr.

DEERFIELD – District 4

August 20 Criminal mischief took place in The Waterways at 1600 Waterways Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Security guard observed a vehicle parked at the clubhouse with a smashed rear window. The security guard was unable to determine if there were any items missing from inside.

August 20 Criminal Mischief occurred in Deer Pointe at 433 NW 36 Ave., Deerfield Beach. An unknown suspect broke a window on a vacant house.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

August 8 A male subject was spotted inside the residence at 3830 NE 25 Ave. and arrested. It is unknown if anything was taken.

August 8 Someone entered an unlocked vehicle at 2700 NE 49 St. and stole $10 in coins.

August 9 Four checks were fraudulently cashed amounting to $10,000 at the 3600 block of N. Federal Hwy. Victim is unsure how the subjects obtained the account number.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Posted on 27 August 2015 by LeslieM

RE: Blaise Leone resigns

Dear Editor:

[On August 18] the city honored Blaise Leone with a plaque for 16 years of service to the Parks and Rec Dept.

That doesn’t touch the contribution he has given to the youth in Deerfield Beach in 16 years.

Just to mention a few things: to mention a few things:

Blaise is our resident “Elf” at the [holiday] tree lighting ceremony each year.

He is also the official “Voice of the Bucks” as the Deerfield Beach High School football game commentator.

He was the creator and instructor for the “Boot Camp” program here in Deerfield and made it so successful that it, in turn, created a position for a trainer.

I have had the opportunity to work with Blaise for the past 11 seasons at Deerfield Beach Little League (DBLL).

His attention to all of Deerfield’s youth programs is endless. He knows most of these kids by name, can tell you where they live and go to school, and he truly cares about each and every one of them.

This was never a “job’ to him. It was [about] being part of a community.

The kids, as they got to be in high school, would often stop to speak with him about college, training techniques, etc. He was part of the family.

We at DBLL wish his family great success in Satellite Beach. Their gain is most certainly our loss. Our City will never find an individual that equals the character and integrity of Blaise Leone. We will miss him forever.

Kathleen M. Williams

Deerfield Beach

Property tax notice received

Dear Editor:

Just received our TRIM notice from Broward County.

Noticed that once again the City of Deerfield Beach has raised the property tax rate — in this case from 6.2745 to 6.2949.

The good news is this is the smallest rate increase from the city in several years.

However, I’m guessing that the city officials will try to tell you that the rate is the same as last year, just as they did last year compared to the year before.

The deception in that statement is that the city officials include the mandated reduction in the Deerfield Beach debt service to get to the “no increase” statement.

Check your TRIM notice and prior tax bills and you’ll confirm what really happened.

Consider that in 2010, the last year before the Utility Tax was implemented, the property tax rate was 6.2482.

City officials promised that with implementation of the Utility Tax, property tax rates would come down.

That happened in 2011 and 2012 when the property tax rate came down to 5.1865 and 5.1856, respectively.

However, 2013 brought an increase back to the pre-Utility Tax, property tax rate to 6.2317 in 2013 (a whopping 20 percent increase in the rate alone) and it has climbed each year since then. So much for the promises about the utility tax benefit.

The utility tax just became extra funding for the commissioners to spend.

Knowing that the city commission takes more from you in property taxes through rate increases each year should be remembered at the ballot box.

Unfortunately, this year, it wasn’t.

Dave Nace

Deerfield Beach

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HAPPENINGS

Posted on 27 August 2015 by LeslieM

Free Flicks: The Great Budapest Hotel

Friday, August 28, 8 p.m.

The Great Lawn (Atlantic Blvd and Pompano Beach Blvd) Pompano Beach, FL 33062

The movie starts at dusk. It is rated R. You must be 17 or older, or with an accompanying adult over 21. For more information, visit www.pompanobeacharts.org.

Beach party

Friday, August 28, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

NE Focal Point Senior Center Multipurpose Room 227 NW 2 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

The Senior Center is transformed into a beach oasis complete with games, such as horseshoes, bowling, miniature golf, tabletop games, a hula hoop contest and a water balloon contest. Italian Ices and fresh fruit will be on-hand courtesy of Humana of Broward County. They will be raffling off a Staycation at Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort for a one night Oceanfront Room. Raffle tickets are $10 each or 6 for $50. For more information, call Tamara at 954-480-4447 or email tsutton@deerfield-beach.com.

Pirates & princess party

Friday, August 28, 10 a.m. to noon

Pirates Cove Playground 2000 W. Yamato Rd. Boca Raton 33431

Looking for something a bit different to do with the kids? Get ready to walk the plank, dig for treasure, play in water play area and more. For ages 2 to 5. $5 donation suggested. For information, call 561-367-7035.

Art in the Park

Saturday, August 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sullivan Park 1601 E. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Hosted by The City of Deerfield Beach, Community Redevelopment Agency and the Sullivan Park Public Art Committee. Event is open to all K-12 students living in Deerfield Beach who would like to participate in the Sullivan Park Public Art student competition. Students will receive information about the Sullivan Park Public Art project and be able to create art for the competition. All art supplies will be provided by Jerry’s Artarama and lunch will be sponsored by Mississippi Sweets Barbecue and Tijuana Flats. For questions about the event, contact Ashlee Temple, CRA Administrative Coordinator at 954-480-4262.

Hike at Deerfield Island Park

Saturday, August 29, 9 to 11 a.m.

1720 Deerfield Island Park Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Participants will learn about the island’s history dating back to the days of rum runners and Al Capone, and each hiker will receive a set of Deerfield Island Species Identification Cards to take home. Tour includes boat shuttle transportation to and from the island park. For ages 8 and up. $20/person, or $10/person for two people registering together. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 954-357-5100.

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Grand Opening

Saturday, August 29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

2016 NE 36 St. Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Locally-owned and operated by Clarissa Brillembourg, this Lighthouse Point locale will offer full service grooming and a wide selection of pet foods, treats, toys and supplies. First 20 customers in line at the store will receive FREE Woof Gang Bakery Brand Treats for 1 year! Free samples, giveaways and rescue animals in store as well! For more information, visit www.WoofGangBakery.com.

Authors and Autographs

Sunday, August 30, 2 to 5 p.m.

Historic Butler House 380 E. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach FL 33441

30 local published authors who will be autographing and selling their books. In addition, there will be a Used Book Sale and a concert by The Earl Trio, and ice cream treats. Entrance to the event is free, with optional purchases for food, gifts and other mementos. Parking is available at the Post Office, with limited parking adjacent to the Butler House.

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CLERGY CORNER: Hope for a turnaround

Posted on 27 August 2015 by LeslieM

The city of Newark, NJ has the distinction of being one of America’s oldest cities, behind Boston and New York.

During the early 19th Century, it thrived as an industrial giant; but, after WWII, it suffered a fate similar to other urban cities that saw a loss of manufacturing jobs. As residents left to find work in other places, urban decay and societal decline set in, culminating in the riots of the 1960s.

What was once a thriving city was reduced to an urban wasteland and a dilapidated relic of a bygone era.

Things slowly began to turn around, however, as city planners and officials sought to adapt to the changing times by refocusing and rebuilding the city.

Today, Newark boasts a reduced crime rate, a vibrant downtown area with hotels and entertainment venues, an arena home for an NHL hockey team, a major league baseball stadium and gleaming office skyscrapers.

Unlike some other cities across the country that have failed to emerge from a ghost-like existence, Newark has demonstrated that an environment once deemed to be dead can be reanimated and experience new life.

What is true for turnaround cities is true for people as well.

I recently heard the inspiring story of a young man who wandered into a church several years ago. He had been in and out of jail and was trying to turn his life around. No one would hire him because of his criminal record but he was determined not to end up a statistic.

The pastor encouraged him to give his life to God and to trust Him for his future, which the young man did.

What skills do you have?” the pastor inquired.

I’ll do anything,” he responded.

Would you be willing to try your hand at a property cleaning business?”

The young man agreed to do it, and the pastor helped him to produce dozens of flyers advertising his services and placed them all over the town.

Within weeks, he had his first cleaning job, and soon other calls began to come in. The young man partnered with a friend in a similar situation, and they soon saw their business grow. They were now able to comfortably take care of their families and were making more money than when they were hustling in the streets.

There is always hope for a turnaround from the failures and setbacks in our lives.

Opportunities are always lurking behind the obstacles that confront us. We must be prepared to make adjustments and adapt to new realities or we may find ourselves mired in stagnation.

To His ancient people, who were suffering in captivity and oppression, God gave a powerful promise: “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert” (Isaiah 43:19).

Those who trust in God today can count on Him to be of similar assistance in their lives.

He can show you a way through the wilderness, and He can sustain you in the desert.

What challenges are you facing that appear to be hopeless? What deteriorating situation are you desperate to break free from?

Invite God into your life and trust Him for direction. Examine all the options around you and prayerfully pursue the opportunities that emerge.

Remember that any difficulty that is lasting does not have to be everlasting. There is always hope for a turnaround.

Bishop Patrick L. Kelly is the pastor of Cathedral Church of God, 365 S. Dixie Hwy., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. 954-427-0302.

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Senior-laden team spurs Ely

Posted on 20 August 2015 by LeslieM

sports082015tigersBy Gary Curreri

With 20 senior players returning from last year’s squad, Blanche Ely football coach Nakia Jenkins believes that his team will fix last year’s late-game woes.

Jenkins, in his second season at the helm of the Tigers football team, said his team has a wealth of experience.

Last year, we had a lot of talent, but we were young,” said Jenkins, whose team finished 6-4 with three losses in the closing moments of games. “We are returning about 20 seniors this year that played last year so we are really senior heavy this year with a lot of experience. That should be our plus this year. We should know how to finish ball games.”

The Tigers reached the first round of the FHSAA Class 7A state playoffs where it fell to visiting Atlantic, 21-13, in the closing moments, much like two other losses during the season to Miami Northwestern (23-20) and Plantation (31-23).

Last year, we lost three games in the last minute and a half that we were winning,” Jenkins said. “We should have easily been 9-1 last year instead of 6-4.”

It still stings,” Jenkins added. “It is going to sting probably until our first regular season game. We have about 15-20 players who contributed last year and helped us out.”

Jenkins will need to get some rapid growth from an inexperienced offensive line; however, they will have three strong running backs to run behind them, including Arthur Forest, Demeterice Bellamy and Robert Williams. Quarterback Zackery Purdue also returns and has talented wide out Thomas Geddis to throw to.

The offense is going to be loaded,” Jenkins said. “A couple of other wide receivers who are going to help us are Jeremy Taylor and Leonard Williams.”

Defensively, look for senior David Francis to lead the way.

He’s a leader, captain and three-year starter,” Jenkins said. “He knows where everybody should be.”

Purdue is looking forward to the season.

This year, I am more confident,” he said. “Last year, I didn’t really read my coverages and go through my progressions. This year, we are loaded with seniors and we are going to be a better team.”

Bellamy, 17, a senior in his fourth year at the school, said he’s excited for the season.

I have to prove a lot of people wrong,” said the 5-ft., 6-in., 165 lb. running back. “They underestimate me. They say I am too small and not fast enough, and not strong enough. I have been doing two-a-days, and sometimes three times on weekends.”

The 18-year-old Geddis agreed and said the seniors could make the difference.

We have a lot of guys who are going to go out there and compete and go hard, and are very experienced,” Geddis said. “Being seniors, it makes you want to go harder. Our coach says you only got one game and you have to take every game like it is your last high school game.”

Geddis, who received 18 college offers during the spring, said last year’s tight losses were frustrating and they will look to change that this season.

You don’t have the time to come back and redo the mistakes you made,” Geddis said. “You have to go 110 (percent) on every play and just know that you are putting everything on the line.”

Jenkins said the team would have to fight through adversity.

What I am teaching my guys now is football in four quarters,” Jenkins said. “It is not three quarters and we have to finish until the last whistle blows. That is the one thing that we are teaching day in and day out. It is fighting to the last whistle. If we do that this year, we should be in the thick of things this year.”

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Beach Tennis Series on Pompano beach

Posted on 20 August 2015 by LeslieM

sports082015beachPhotos by David Volz

Laryssa Booth has a passion for Beach Tennis. She excels in this sport that is growing in popularity.

I love to play Beach Tennis. It is a lot of fun and we are winning today,” said Booth.

She was among about 100 men and women who participated in the Pompano Beach Summer Series Beach Tennis Tournament on Pompano beach, on Sunday, August 16. The game is similar to tennis. It is played in a beach environment and on sand.

Beach Tennis is a game I love to play,” said Rachel McGinnis. “It is a fun game and there is a great group of people here.”

Adrienne Cerra Simeon is a leader of the Beach Tennis sport and is president of IFBT-USA. The sport is very popular in Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach. There is a large permanent Beach Tennis training facility right on the beach in Pompano, with eight courts. People can play singles, doubles and mixed doubles.

We have a tournament about once a month. A lot of the people who participate have played volleyball and tennis,” said Cerra Simeon.

And Beach Tennis offers a fun atmosphere. Steve Culver, a Beach Tennis player said he loves the atmosphere and the camaraderie of the tournaments.

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