| May, 2016

CLERGY CORNER: Give me some passion

Posted on 19 May 2016 by LeslieM

Joshua 24:2 And Joshua said unto all the people: “Thus said the LORD, the God of Israel: Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor; and they served other gods.”

Why does Joshua begin admonishing the people with the observation of how morally degraded our ancestors were? Besides, which of our ancestors worshiped idols? Abraham smashed the idols and embraced Monotheism! True, it took Abraham some time until he discovered that the idols were futile. But why would we make mention of that at this point?

The answer is powerful. Joshua is not simply describing our disgraceful past, “In the beginning our fathers served idols; but now the Omnipresent One has brought us close to His service.” Rather, Joshua is explaining why indeed G-d brought us close to His service. “In the beginning our fathers served idols”— and that is why “now the Omnipresent One has brought us close to His service.” Had our fathers not worshiped idols, G-d could have never brought us close to Him.

What indeed was the difference between our grandfather Terach and our father Abraham? If Abraham rationally realized that the statutes of his father were nothing but lifeless, stone images, and that the universe must have a transcendental designer and creator, why could his father not understand this?

The foundations of Judaism do not require blind faith. They are rational. To assume that a house was built by contractor, not by mistake as a result of an avalanche randomly combining the bricks, is not irrational. To accept that an infinite and brilliant world has a designer who is mindful is rational. To accept that quintillions of atoms, structured in a way to create all the matter around us, were organized by intent is not foolish. To observe billions of units of DNA embedded in a single cell of a tiny organism and assume someone organized them is as irrational as thinking that a computer program consisting of three billion organized codes was randomly compiled by error. And remember, DNA does not create a computer program; it is the source of life.

If so, why is it that some are like Abraham — they will reject the deities of the time and embrace truth, while others will be like Terach, continue to stick to old, comfortable irrational notions?

The answer is “In the beginning our fathers served idols”— and that is why “now the Omnipresent One has brought us close to His service.” Abraham worshipped idols! That is the key. He took faith seriously. He craved to know the truth. He was idealistically searching to find what is at the core of life. He served idols with passion, and deep commitment, believing that they constitute the answer to the question of life.

His father Terach was not searching for truth, only for comfort. The god statues provided a fine business and he would not be disturbed by philosophical questions.

Do you care for truth or not? That makes all the difference. Our forefathers worshipped idols. They passionately believed this was “it.” When they found the real G-d, they channeled their passion toward truth.

But if you are a person who does not worship anybody or anything — only your own needs and comforts at any moment, then even if you understand the truth about the universe, it makes little difference.

Rabbi Tzvi Dechter is the Director of Chabad of North Broward Beaches. New location coming soon. For all upcoming events please visit www.JewishLHP.com.

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Historic caboose gets new home

Posted on 12 May 2016 by LeslieM

caboose051216By Rachel Galvin

On the corner of Hillsboro Boulevard and Dixie Highway, a lonely red caboose sits where it has lived since 2002. Seemingly abandoned, left behind from days gone by, this lonely caboose seems to have quite a story. Passersby have wondered what mysteries lie in its past and how long it would sit on this stretch of track. Graffiti has many times marred its sides and it was painted again and again. It seems to beg for a better home. Now, its wish has been granted.

This historic caboose originally began its life as a box car, according to Bill Muenzenmaier. Its wheels are dated 1951. But it wasn’t until the 1960s when it became a caboose.

Back in the olden days, cabooses were used for many purposes, including as a place for a man to act as a lookout for the engineer in front, signaling in case of any sign of trouble or if it needed to back up, for example.

Guys could sit up high in the cupola and look for signs of smoke. Trains had friction bearings then and each time the train would go into service yard, the [workers] were supposed to check the wheels and squirt oil to keep it lubricated. If they should miss some, as they are going down the road, it can run hot and turn to smoke and then to fire. [Back then], boxcars were made out of all wood. Today, [they are not] and they use regular ball-bearing wheels. The only thing that can happen now is that you could break a coupler and the air hoses could get disconnected [so cabooses are no longer required].”

When this little caboose was no longer in service, it was purchased by a private collector, Richard Weiner, and when he needed a place to put it, he gave it to William Thies & Sons, the beer distributing company, along with four other boxcars he owned. Eventually, the company sold the property and needed to move the caboose. When they tried to give it back to Weiner, he gifted it to the Deerfield Beach Historical Society.

The railway moved it 11 miles up the track to the side track where it now resides. It was neighbors with the recently demolished Deerfield Builders Supply, which once received carloads of material on those tracks from areas as far away as Oregon or even Western Canada.

Owner of the now closed Deerfield Builders Supply, Ed Dietrich Jr., is spearheading the effort to give the caboose a new home, along with Muenzenmaier and the rest of the Deerfield Beach Historical Society.

Dietrich said, “We are going to roll the caboose about 400 ft. south for the people with the crane [Emerald Towing] to lift out and transport it to the former Deerfield Builders Supply lot [currently owned by Stor-All] to do necessary repairs. Dana Eller and Moving Waters Industries are graciously assisting with necessary welding repairs. Professional rail painter Jeff Conner [Show Paints by Conner] will prep and paint the caboose outside prior to moving its new home.”

The caboose will be painted “safety orange” the way it originally was, according to Muenzenmaier.

Its new home will be just east of the Old School House, a place suggested, said Dietrich, by City Manager Burgess Hanson.

The site will be authentic rail trackage (wood ties, steel I-flange rails, hand spikes and rock ballast),” said Dietrich. “Capital Project Engineer Charles DaBrusco will be coordinating site preparation. “When site and caboose are ready [in a few weeks], Emerald Towing will employ their high capacity cranes to load the caboose body and wheel trucks onto the low-boy trailers for the short trip from Ed Dietrich Sr. Ave. to City Hall. The wheel trucks will go down first and then the caboose body and chassis will be lowered onto them, and the caboose will be put into its permanent position. Eventually, an access ramp will be constructed, along with landscape improvements. Interior restoration will proceed onsite. [It] will include interactive educational components and various historical archives.”

Dietrich added, “This has been 15 years in the making. We appreciate the tremendous contributions and cooperation of the City of Deerfield Beach, the Broward Sheriff’s Office in Deerfield, the Florida East Coast Railway, Stor-All LLC, MWI and Emerald Towing.”

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Adopt With a Cop at Pioneer Park

Posted on 12 May 2016 by LeslieM

adoptacop051216By Rachel Galvin

Animal lovers swarmed through booths set up in Pioneer Park on Saturday, May 7, to see what animals were available for adoption from the various groups there. The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) and Broward County Animal Care hosted event was put together by Sgt. Andrea Tianga, who was on hand with her husband Lt. Ozzy Tianga. Even their son, Joshua, got into the event as DJ SoFlo. There were many vendor booths and BSO brought some K-9s.

I have been doing animal rescue since [before I was a teenager]. I am a huge animal lover. When I heard that the sheriff is a big animal lover, I jumped at the opportunity [for us] to partner with Broward Animal Care,” said Sgt. Tianga, who added, “With Mother’s Day, the Air and Sea show, [and all the other events going on, it is great that] people are still jumping at the chance to be a part of it.”

Lt. Russo added, “It is a great thing to have out here … to give pets a forever home.”

Helen Santana, who happens to be a volunteer for C.O.P.S., adopted a terrier at the event. Adoption fees were waived this day for most of the dogs. Pet Supermarket gave her a goody basket of products to help her get started.

I think it is great,” she said of the event. “It is a good way to adopt a dog.

I have bought all of my dogs through a shelter, not a breeder. This is our third dog. I have two cats at home.”

It was not just about dogs; the nonprofit Lumen LS (www.LumenLS.org) had a booth with cats for adoption.

Our goal is to eliminate shelter euthanasia [for cats] in Broward County,” said Director Andi Kola about his organization, which opened a year ago. He brought out kittens who have FIV (or Feline immunodeficiency virus) to educate people that even these cats can go on to live healthy lives and do not have to be euthanized.

We have rescued up to 91 kittens in the last three weeks,” he said, adding that his organization offers a place for the cats to stay while they find homes.

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Deerfield Beach Bison kickoff

Posted on 12 May 2016 by LeslieM

sports051216By Rachel Galvin

May 7 was the kickoff for the Deerfield Beach Bison football team’s registration. Over 100 kids came out to run drills, featuring hurdles, knock-away dummies, ladders and halfback pads, during the Miami Dolphins Jr. Training Camp. The first 50 kids to sign up received free registration. Former players were on-hand, as well as current player Lousaka Polite. Cheerleaders Paige and Kristan taught Bison cheerleaders a cheer and gave them an opportunity to do a dance. Former Florida Atlantic University Head Coach Howard Schnellenberger even made an appearance to speak to the kids.

Following the festivities, kids could pick up information from Beauty Anatomy Institute (a cosmetology and wellness school) and get a pair of free sunglasses. FAU gave out some goodies and each child got a Deerfield Beach Bison bag.

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FLICKS: The Man Who Knew Infinity, Papa Hemingway in Cuba

Posted on 12 May 2016 by LeslieM

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

The Big Bang Theory reaches its 10th season finale this evening. Much like Frasier, The Big Bang Theory does not talk down to their audiences with its references more often found in the halls of academia. The Man Who Knew Infinity would feel comfortable hanging out with the likes of Sheldon Cooper and Frasier Crane.

Based on the real life of mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), The Man who Knew Infinity is a biopic about an Indian who earns admittance to the University of Cambridge in England. Due to colonialism, Ramanujan confronts racism from academic circles.

Seeing Ramanujan’s potential, tenured professor G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons) takes the Indian genius under his wing. His formulas and proofs earn Ramanujan an international reputation during World War I. Unfortunately, his health deteriorates as his mathematical discoveries begin to change the world.

For those who are not academically-inclined, The Man Who Knew Infinity will be a dull film to watch. Yet, the performances and relationship between Patel and Irons keep this film interesting and honest. Sheldon Cooper and Frasier Crane would love it.

Being advertised as “the first Hollywood Film made in Cuba,” Papa Hemingway in Cuba has been lingering in local cinemas. This biopic details Ernest Hemingway’s (Adrian Sparks) final years in Cuba before Fidel Castro took over the island.

Despite some gorgeous cinematography and memorable one-liners, the film looks amateurish. With a muddled narrative, the acting and the editing feel out of sync.

Can’t get enough of Cuban landscapes? Look for Three Days in Havana, which premiered at last year’s Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival and is available for streaming on Amazon.com. Gil Bellows (who co-directed with Tony Pantages) stars as an insurance salesman who gets caught in comic noir intrigue.

Papa Hemingway in Cuba and Three Days in Havana, which used many of the same locations, are sure to sell many cruises from South Florida to Cuba.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 12 May 2016 by LeslieM

Deerfield Beach

April 23: A man reported his truck stolen from 4763 NW 9 Ave.

April 26: A computer was reported stolen from a car parked at 234 Ocean Dr.

April 26: A home at 294 NE 47 St. was broken into and jewelry was stolen.

April 26: A man reported that his cell phone was stolen from his place of employment at 201 E. Sample Rd.

May 3: A Florida license plate decal was stolen from a vehicle at 386 SW 35 Ave.

May 4: Unknown suspect stole a company truck and trailer from 1501 NW 49 Ct.

May 4: Vehicle burglary at 333 NE 48 St.

May 4: Victim reported that an unknown suspect entered his vehicle at 545 Deer Creek Jefferson Dr. and stole a laptop computer.

May 5: Victim told BSO that an unknown suspect entered his vehicle at 540 Deer Creek Jefferson Dr. and stole a black Ruger 380 handgun and $20 in loose change.

Lighthouse Point

April 10: The victim held a house party at 3700 NE 28 Ave. and, upon cleaning up the next morning, realized that someone had taken his Apple laptop computer valued at $1,000.

April 11: The victim said a license plate was missing from a boat trailer parked at 2100 NE 32 St. The victim found the tag lights dangling and said someone had removed the plate that was bolted on. The loss was $25.

April 12: The victim received notification from BB&T located at 2800 NE 34 Ct. that he was overdue on a credit card. The victim said he didn’t have an account with them. The victim pulled a credit report and found several credit card accounts and other accounts were opened under his name.

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HAPPENINGS

Posted on 12 May 2016 by LeslieM

Friends of the Deerfield Beach Arboretum

Thursday, May 12, 7 p.m.

Deerfield Beach Arboretum

2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Rose Bechard-Butman, the Naturescape Coordination and Natural Resource Specialist for Broward County, will teach residents how to create a landscape that conserves water, reduces pollution and adds property value. Free. Refreshments available. Last meeting until September 2016. For information, call 954-480-4495.

2nd Annual BSO Golf Tournament

Saturday, May 14, 8 a.m. shotgun start

Crystal Lake Country Club

3810 Crystal Lake Drive

Pompano Beach, FL 33064

All proceeds benefit the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County Fallen Heroes Fund, to assist the families of officers who die in the line of duty. Register at www.deerfield-beach.com/golftournament or call 954-480-4429.

Hillsboro Lighthouse Tour

Saturday May 14, hourly 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sands Harbor Dock

125 N. Riverside Dr.

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

$25; free to HLPS members. Transportation is by boat. Must wear flat, closed shoes. Children must be 4 ft. tall to climb the tower. No pets. Visit www.hillsborolighthouse.org/tours.

Worth the Drive! Art Show: Lori Pratico

Saturday, May 14, 6 p.m.

Gallery 2014

2014 Harrison St.

Hollywood, FL 33020

Deerfield Beach-based artist Lori Pratico, widely recognized for her nationwide mural project “Girl Noticed,” will be the featured artist at Gallery 2014 with her show “Learning to Dance.” The public is welcome to attend the opening reception. Free. Call 954-505-3291 or visit www.gallery2014.com.

Farm Heritage Day

Sunday, May 15, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sample-McDougald House

450 NE 10 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

This event will make you feel like you are stepping back in time when this was a farming community. This is part of the centennial celebration of the historic home. There will be classic cars and tractors, a blacksmith to talk about the trade, live entertainment, food and so much more. $5 per person. For information and tickets, visit www.SampleMcDougaldHouse.com or call 754-307-5446.

Pancake Breakfast

Sunday, May 15, 9 a.m. to noon

Pompano Elks Lodge

700 NE 10 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

A delicious pancake breakfast hosted by Benevolent Patriotic Order of DOES, Drove 152. $5 adults, $2.50 children. Open to the public. Call 954-255-3130 for information.

BSO Community Hero Night

Monday, May 16, 5 to 8 p.m.

Chick-Fil-A

3648 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Kids, dress up as your favorite superhero and come meet the real BSO heroes who serve our community! Kids dressed in costume get a free 4-piece Nuggets Kids Meal. Call 954-570-0404 for information.

Broward Nature Book Club: The Old Man and the Sea

Wednesday, May 18, 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Deerfield Island Park

Shuttle boat: Pioneer Park Dock

217 NE 5 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

The Broward Nature Book Club meets monthly at nature sites for a 60-minute book discussion, followed by a 30-minute light hike led by a Parks naturalist. This month, the great Hemingway classic is up for discussion. Free. RSVP to NaturalAreas@Broward.org or call 954-357-5100.

History at High Noon: Author Susan Gillis

Wednesday, May 18, Noon to 1 p.m.

City Commission Chambers

150 NE 2 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Susan Gillis, Curator and Archivist, Boca Raton Historical Society and Museum, will discuss her new book, Palm Beach County During World War II, a pictorial history of our area during World War II. Free; donations accepted. Light refreshments. Call 954-428-0378 for information.

Save the Date! 8th Annual Congemi Beach Tennis World Cup

Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22

Top beach tennis athletes from around the world meet on the beach in Deerfield to compete for the $5,000 first prize.There will not only be plenty of tennis weekend-long but a Havana Nights Welcome Party at 2 Georges at The Cove on Friday. Don’t miss the awards presentation and JB’s Players Party on Saturday, and Flanigans Beach Bash on Sunday. Pre-register at www.beachtennis.us.

Save the date! Miami Marlins Baseball Event

Tuesday, June 21

Tickets must be purchased by May 13

Herb Skolnick Community Center

800 SW 36 Ave.

Pompano Beach, FL 33069

Come see the Miami Marlins v. Atlanta Braves game. $50 per person includes BBQ, home plate seating and transportation to and from game. All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult. Handicapped accessible. Tickets available at the community center. For more information, call 954-786-4590.

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CLERGY CORNER: The way a child should go

Posted on 12 May 2016 by LeslieM

I dare say that my role as a pastor for students and their families is considerably more challenging than my previous one as an airline captain. That’s not to downplay the demands of the airline profession — trust me, it’s intense. It’s just that when you find yourself embedded in the clouds, with no land in sight, the instrumentation, airport technology and air traffic control perform exactly as they’re designed to: guiding the plane safely, under zero visibility, to the runway. And, let me tell you, when you break out of the cloud deck at 50 ft. above the runway while hauling toward the Earth at roughly 150 miles per hour, it’s exhilarating … but, predictable … quite the opposite from children and teens.

There is the messy business of being called to “Train up a child in the way [they] should go” so that when they are older, “[they] will not depart from itProverbs 22:6. That begs the question: In which way should they go?

Dr. Seuss has a few suggestions, as do the authors of Nurture Shock, Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman. They set out to identify a list of “supertraits” hoping children with a firm grasp of “gratitude, honesty, empathy [and] fairness” would become “good children” in which problems such as “stealing, feeling bored or distressed, excluding others, early sexual activity and succumbing to peer pressure” would essentially “bounce off them just as easily as bullets bounced off Superman.” What they discovered though, through copious amounts of research, is that these “supertraits” can’t be relied upon to act as “moral Kevlar.”

In this absence of a predictable outcome, control has become our new idol. In the documentary Trophy Kids, one parent of a 9-year-old shares his belief about the goal of parenting: “Get [your] kid to buy into your dream and to your ambition, that’s the key.” Another parent with twin 14-year-old boys informed them that their identity is in playing tennis, and that her will for them, for which she’s made a covenant with God on their behalf, is that they become tennis superstars.

Maybe the aforementioned parents teeter on the extreme, but a new generation of controlling parents has materialized called “Helicopter Parents.” Dr. Tim Elmore in his book Generation iY: Our Last Chance to Save Their Future says this of Helicopter Parents: “These hovering ‘helicopters’ can be controlling and obsessive in their efforts to ensure that everything goes well for their children and that no negative incident affects their self-esteem or their prospects.” Little do these parents understand that, because of their actions, their child isn’t learning the ability to fail and persevere. The “hovering” parent is “[preparing] the path for the child instead of the child for the path.”

In Scripture, time and time again, God prepares the individual for the path, not the other way around. Take David for example. Battling Goliath wasn’t his first altercation. In 1 Samuel 17:33 we see that David “has been a warrior from his youth”— going all commando against lions and bears (“Oh my!” says every parent). Prior to the big match-up, Saul offered up his armor to David, which he declined, knowing it wasn’t needed. (How many times do we try to put our identity — that we rationalize as “armor” or “protection”— on the children under our care?) Later, we see that David “ran quickly toward the battle…1 Samuel 17:48, signifying his eagerness and trust in the Lord, slinging the stone, which had the same take-down force of a .45 caliber pistol, into the forehead of the towering infantryman armed with a spear — talk about your classic bringing a knife to a gun fight — “… thus David prevailed over the Philistine1 Samuel 17:50.

In David’s story, we see God’s design for the way a child should go — to prevail. They are to be equipped through undergoing challenging experiences, yes, struggles that reveal a true relationship with their Father, creating in them a secure understanding of their identity — who God has ordained them to become. From there, we can trust (in God) that they will eagerly take up their calling and accomplish — prevail in — His work, not ours.

C.J. Wetzler is the NextGen pastor at First Baptist Church of Deerfield Beach. Before transitioning into full-time ministry, CJ was a commercial airline captain and high school leadership and science teacher. For questions or comments, he can be reached at cj@deerfieldfirst.com.

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Indie Craft Swell at IWS canceled … for now

Posted on 07 May 2016 by JLusk

If you were thinking of stopping by Island Water Sports for the Indie Craft event today (May 7), you might as well go home. It has been canceled. It appears the city told them on Wednesday or Thursday that their permit was not approved. Evidently, there is a rule, which is posted somewhere in City Hall, that venues can only have an event once every 90 days, according to a source at Island Water Sports, who added they have worked hard on this event and will hope to reschedule it soon. Stay tuned…

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Bank Robbery – UPDATE 5-6-16

Posted on 05 May 2016 by LeslieM

FBI ANNOUNCES ARREST MADE IN CONNECTION WITH A BANK ROBBERY TODAY

The FBI announces the arrest of Eric John Lamb, 34, of Pompano Beach, FL, for his alleged involvement in the robbery of a TD Bank branch, 1011 S. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach, FL.
The arrest was made today, without incident, by the Broward Sheriff’s Office shortly after the alleged robbery.
Lamb is in federal custody and is facing federal charges.  His initial appearance is expected to be in Fort Lauderdale Federal Court tomorrow.
The criminal complaint may be found in PACER in due course.  No picture(s)/mug shots are available.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office, the South Florida Violent Crimes Task Force and the FBI continue their investigation.
No further information will be released at this time.

Michael D. Leverock
Special Agent
FBI Miami

Jim Marshall
Public Affairs Specialist
FBI Miami


 

Posted 5-5-16

The BSO Public Information Office is currently working a developing incident regarding a Bank Robbery – Suspect in Custody located at: Southbound I-95, just south of Atlantic Boulevard.

Public Information officer Keyla Concepcion is currently gathering the details. Here’s what we know so far:

BSO Communications received information about a robbery in progress at the TD Bank at 1011 S. Federal Hwy. in Deerfield Beach. BSO units responded as the suspect fled. Deputies conducted a stop on the southbound lanes of I-95 and apprehended the suspect.

FBI is responding to the scene and will handle the case.

Traffic advisory: Please advise motorists on the southbound lanes of I-95 to expect traffic delays between Atlantic Boulevard and Cypress Creed Road due to this incident.

This information should be considered preliminary, and as with any developing situation, the details may change.

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