| June, 2017

Tornadoes fall in state semifinal

Posted on 15 June 2017 by LeslieM

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach baseball coach Joe Giummule said pitching and defense was his team’s strong suit as they advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals for the first time in school history.

Golden Tornadoes’ junior pitcher Trevor Kniskern took the mound against defending state champion Jacksonville Bolles and allowed the first two batters to score before settling down and pitched a gem.

Unfortunately for Kniskern and his teammates, Bolles went on to secure a 2-1 victory over Pompano Beach and then dispatched Bishop Moore, 7-2 in the title game the following day at Hammond Stadium in Ft. Myers to capture their second straight state championship. It was also Kniskern’s first setback in 12 decisions.

They gave us a good right jab in the first inning,” Giummule said. “We weathered the storm, and I guess we just ran out of gas.”

Kniskern gave up all three of his hits to the first five batters he faced – good for two Bolles runs – but retired 14 consecutive batters from the end of the first to the sixth inning.

Bolles’ Max Ferguson and Austin Knight, both Tennessee commits, reached on a single and double, respectively. Ferguson scored on an RBI groundout by Brendon O’Neil, and a ground rule double by University of Virginia commit Hunter Barco double drove in Knight.

I felt a little awkward [in the first inning],” said Kniskern, a Pepperdine commit. “Their whole lineup is pretty decent. I just had to work through the count, start off strong – changeup, fastball – work ahead. That first inning was a little bumpy, and after that I was settling in.”

The Tornadoes (24-4) got a run back in the second when senior left fielder Austin Carney doubled down the left field line to score junior shortstop Chase Costello.

Giummule said his team practiced coming from behind and winning a state championship since the first day of practice, so when the Tornadoes came up in the bottom of the seventh, he was confident.

The Tornadoes threatened in the bottom of the seventh as pinch hitter Alex Skirvin walked and senior catcher Jeremy Davis singled down the left field line and advanced to second on the throw to third base putting the potential tying and winning runs in scoring position.

Pompano junior center fielder Mike Schuler, who earlier in the game made a diving catch in center field to keep the game close, hit a slow chopper up the middle that Ferguson handled and threw to first to get him by a step and end the game.

The second baseman made a helluva play and he was out by half a step,” Giummule said. “Sometimes baseball isn’t fair. We deserved to win the game. We made tremendous play after tremendous play, as did they. We were just on the short end of the stick today.”

The Tornadoes reached states for the first time by knocking off powerhouse Miami Pace 9-0 in a regional final before other regional wins over Cardinal Gibbons and LaBelle. Pompano Beach is only three years removed from a stretch of four consecutive losing seasons.

Giummule believes his team can reach the state championship game next year.

If things go as they have in the past, we should be right back in this spot next year,” he said. “From that starting line-up, we lose two starters, our catcher and our left fielder and we return our juniors and a lot of our pitching staff. You got to have some breaks and you got to stay healthy and there is no doubt in my mind that we will be back in this position. We just have to stay healthy.”

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FLICKS: The Mummy, Meagan Leavey & Past Life

Posted on 15 June 2017 by LeslieM

By Cinema Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

The Mummy’s Tomb starring Lon Chaney Jr. was featured on Svengoolie last Saturday night. Despite being filmed over 75 years ago, there is a creepy charm to this flick that features likeable victims and nightmarish visualization. Much like Disney’s Marvel and Star Wars franchises, Universal Pictures has mined their classic monster domain and has created their own dark universe franchise. The Mummy starring Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe is the first film of a projected series, much like Marvel’s Avengers franchise.

The 2017 The Mummy starts off with good intentions. This new mummy is a female (Sofia Boutella) who has a sibling jealousy with her baby brother. She is buried alive. Five thousand years later, a soldier of fortune named Nick (Tom Cruise) stumbles across the tomb and the evil she-mummy is unleashed in Iraq. The mummy goes to London and Nick meets Henry (Russell Crowe), a curator for all things monsters.

If a monster maven like Guillermo Del Toro had been involved, The Mummy would have been a memorable movie. The best action scenes occur early in the story and the last third of the film drags with repetitive action in the dark. A fight scene between Cruise and Crowe is marred by two other action sequences that occur at the same time. I love my classic monsters, but The Mummy does not jump start Universal Picture’s new universe.

Fortunately, Megan Leavey has finally arrived on the big screen. Based on a true story, New Yorker Megan Leavey (Kate Mara) has an attitude problem. She joins the United States Marines and becomes a Corporal. Having been a K-9 handler for the military police, Megan develops a special relationship with Rex, a dog who also has an attitude problem. The dog and the soldier develop a special relationship.

Rex and Megan go on two tours in Iraq before President George Bush ordered “the surge.” During the second tour, Megan and Rex are injured by an explosive device. Megan is sent home to recover, but Rex continues to serve in the war on terror. Despite having the comforts of home, Megan suffers from PTSD and longs to be reunited with Rex.

Megan Leavey is an emotional roller coaster ride from laughter to tears. Megan is Rex’s master, despite the fact that little Kate Mara could ride Rex like a pony. As the title character, she captures the authenticity of being a soldier. She is a stoic character with strength, but with real vulnerability. Given the audience reaction, Megan Leavey is easily the best movie on the big screen today.

Past Life opens Friday, June 16. Set in 1977, Past Life is directed by Avi Nesher and is based on the story of Israeli composer Ella Milch-Sheriff. It follows the life of her character and that of her sister, a journalist. The siblings uncover secrets about their father during World War II. There may be a Skype Q&A with Milch-Sheriff on Sunday, June 18 at the Living Room Theater, at Florida Atlantic University at 777 Glades Rd. For more information about theater, www.fau.livingroomtheaters.com.

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The Therapy Room: Risks and rewards of online gaming

Posted on 15 June 2017 by LeslieM

Are you a “Gamer?” Someone who consistently spends time playing online video games on a personal computer (PC), console or a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet at least three to four times a week. Today, there are 2.2 billion gamers worldwide generating over $108.9 billion in revenue.

Playing online games over the Internet has become second nature. Millions of users enjoy playing with their family, friends and strangers competitively, and just for fun. The current on-board hardware of gaming consoles, PCs and other mobile devices can only offer certain levels of performance. The capabilities of cloud computing has the attention of gaming developers and gaming will see non-time sensitive processes, such as artificial intelligence taken on by cloud servers.

Many of my Psychotherapy patients, ranging in ages from 10 to 90 years, are gamers. Those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experience positive interaction with peers and develop social skills playing a game called Minecraft. A CEO plays online games that involve strategy and skill while traveling on business. A freelance writer has joyfully confessed that she was a Pac-Man fanatic in the 1980s and continues playing Pac-Man online today. She told me she learned a life lesson playing Pac-Man, that you don’t always have to keep going or playing fast to meet goals, you can actually achieve great thing by stopping or being still. An accountant believes that if the time and energy put into gaming were applied to something worthwhile, positive results would be endless. There are numerous opinions, as well as risks and rewards, when it comes to online gaming. Let’s highlight a few:

Rewards:

Gaming allows you to interact online with other people and be social.

No need to disclose your identity (unless you want to); you can use a fictitious name.

Gamers have fun and experience good feelings about self and others while playing various online games.

Risks:

Absenteeism from work, school and other commitments can be high due to competing in and playing online games.

Relationships may suffer due to a partner’s invested time playing online games and interactions that develop with other gamers.

All ages play online games; a child might represent them self as an adult and an adult may present as a child.

There are dangerous “games” (For example, those introducing swallowing cinnamon, huffing and more).

Parents be aware of a game’s child safety measures and guidelines. Understand what single player and realms are and monitor your child’s online playtime.

Online gaming is here to stay! Rather than dismiss it, be curious and ask your children, and others, about their online gaming knowledge and experiences. Gaining new insight to others’ interests allows you to realize that within you … change is possible.

Dr. Julia Breur is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private clinical psychotherapy practice in Boca Raton. For more information, visit www.drjuliabreur.com.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 15 June 2017 by LeslieM

Deerfield Beach

May 30: A man reported his front grill and tailgate and a camera stolen from his F350 vehicle parked in his driveway at 1311 SE 12 St. Other items stolen included a watch, wedding ring, generator and three chain saws for a total loss of $13,050.

May 30: A woman reported her credit card, BJ’s customer card, a debit card and $60 stolen from her workplace at 786 S. Military Tr.

May 30: A woman reported her wallet stolen while she was at a house party at 4373 SW 10 Pl.

May 30: Two men stole three bottles of Patron from a Walgreens at 1325 S. Military Tr. They escaped in a car.

June 3: A woman reported her wallet with $40 stolen from her purse while she was shopping at 3825 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Lighthouse Point

May 17: Someone entered a 2009 Infiniti that was parked in a driveway at 2180 NE 44 Ct. The victim said the vehicle was rummaged through; however, nothing appeared to be taken.

May 17: Someone entered a 2017 Nissan Titan and a 2014 Ford F-150 in front of a residence at 4431 NE 24 Ave. Nothing appeared to be taken.

May 17: Someone entered a 2016 Kia Optima that was parked in a driveway at 4000 NE 22 Ave. The victim said the vehicle was ransacked; however, nothing appeared to be taken.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

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HAPPENINGS

Posted on 15 June 2017 by LeslieM

Deerfield Fishing Pier Night Dive

Friday, June 16, 7 to 10 p.m.

Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier

200 NE 21 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33073

Hosted by Dixie Divers. Pull up and drop off your gear at the pier and find parking along S. Ocean Way or the parking lot across from the fire station. You will need to pay for parking (cash and credit/debit cards accepted). There will be a support team to help with gear and to check divers in and out of the water. No charge for the dive, but divers must provide their own gear including lights and tank beacons. The City of Deerfield has arranged to close the pier so divers may enjoy it safely. For more information, call 954-420-0009.

The Writer, The Actor & The Director”

Friday, June 16, 7:30 p.m.

Ali Cultural Arts

353 MLK Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

The Pompano Beach CRA, The Historic Ali Cultural Arts Center and Ashanti Cultural Arts are proud to present “The Writer, The Actor & The Director – The Big Screen Panel Discussion” featuring Jaden Piner from the Academy Award-winning film Moonlight; Jacqueline McKinley-Lee, a television writer of eight different sitcoms and two dramas; and Jeffrey Battie, rising director. The panel discussion will be moderated by nationally ranked poet Eccentrich Richardson. Tickets are $10 for general admission, with Meet-n-Greet Reception at 7 p.m., $20. For more information, visit www.aliarts.org or call 954-786-7876.

Juneteenth Festival

Saturday, June 17, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Northwest Library

1580 NW 3 Ave.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

This all age event includes face painting, a toddler train, BBQ food, a historical antique display, historic quilts, a Civil War reenactment display provided by the Key West Society, live music, poetry readings and more! Children under the age of 18 will be treated to free pizza. There will also be a “Harlem Renaissance” presentation and a performance by violinist Biana Pinchuck.

Mizner Park Downtown Drive Car Show

Sunday, June 18, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mizner Park

327 Plaza Real.

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Celebrate Father’s Day at Mizner Park with a showcase of antique, classic and European sport & exotic cars. Also, free Father’s Day Concert starting at 7 p.m. at the Mizner Park Amphitheater. There is free admission and garage parking.

Tuesday Night Beach Dance

Tuesday, June 20, 7 to 9 p.m.

Main Beach Parking Lot

149 SE 21 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Performer: Johnny Vincent. Wear your dancing shoes and bring your beach chair for a fun evening under the stars. Free. For more information, call 954-480-4429.

Save The Date: Hot Summer Solstice White Party

Friday, June 23, 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

City Pub

956 S. Federal Hwy.

Deerfield Beach, Florida 33441

Don’t miss this sensational event! Dance to the amazing music of the It Takes Two band. There will be a prize for the hottest male & female white attire. There will be high energy people, music & fun! Also come in for dinner.Enjoy a rib dinner for only $9.99 before 8 p.m. Full menu all night. Enjoy a slice of white cake as well. There is a $5 entertainment fee. For more information and to R.S.V.P., call 954-427-8213 or visit www.deerfieldcitypub.com.

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CLERGY CORNER: Uniting the generations

Posted on 15 June 2017 by LeslieM

In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.”(Acts 2:17 and Joel 2:28 NRSV)

On Pentecost Sunday, we read Acts 2, as we always do, and heard Peter quote Joel 2:28 in his message to the pilgrims at Jerusalem. Among the many things I loved about his words, or Joel’s words, or God’s word, to be more exact, was the intergenerational vision of the church. Recognizing the gifts of the elderly and the young, the Holy Spirit definitely saw generations as interdependent. And, I have to say, there is a growing recognition within my denomination, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, that cross-generational ministry is God’s vision for the church.

That being said, this wasn’t the way it has always been. I may have exacerbated that problem by some of the actions I took, not by accident, but very much on purpose. I separated the worship service into two. One service I called “traditional” and the other service I called “contemporary.” One service was a little more liturgical with the organ being the primary instrument. The second service was a little less liturgical and included guitars, drums, keyboards and singers. Naturally, I envisioned the older members would attend the “traditional” and the younger members would attend the “contemporary.” Every once in awhile, we would create cross-generational events, such as picnics, potlucks and, of course, the annual meeting.

At first, everybody fell in line with their age appropriate service. Peaceful coexistence and cooperation was maintained. But, as time went on, surprises started to occur.

The first surprise came with two elderly members who stopped attending the “traditional” worship service because they were, in their words, tired of the hymns. They liked guitars and drums, and they appreciated being surrounded by younger members.

At first, I thought that this was not going to end well. How would the young members receive them? Some chose the contemporary service specifically because of the younger population and now my service was beginning to “gray.” Well, as surprises go, the young people loved this couple. In fact, when the husband died, my 18-year-old daughter was beside herself in grief. His funeral was well-attended by the members of the youth group and the Praise Band played the music. His wife was delighted.

The second surprise came with a young family that attended the “traditional” service. The three young kids were all elementary age and the husband and wife were actually quite a bit younger than me. After the service was over, I took them aside and assured them that we had younger members and they attended the “contemporary” service. Looking back at this, I am ashamed to admit it. But the wife smiled and said, “Thanks, we prefer this service.”

Later, when the family attended the new member class, the wife shared what she appreciated about the church. She said, “With my parents in Illinois and my husband’s parents in Washington, we knew our kids would miss out not having their grandparents around. But the people we worship with are like grandparents to my children and we love it.”

As time went by, the contemporary service started to age and the traditional service started to get younger. The ages became less relevant and the services really distinguished themselves by style alone, as opposed to age preference.

One of the many things I love about Zion is that the young and older members truly do love each other. I may explore different styles of worship, but not to separate the ages. And I am exploring a Sunday School curriculum that is cross-generational in nature.

The Holy Spirit surprised the disciples, who spoke in different languages to the pilgrims who travelled to Jerusalem on Pentecost. The way the Holy Spirit chose to speak was in a manner that honored the diversity of cultures. Each heard the message in the language they spoke. And what was the message they heard? It was a cross-generational message honoring the elderly and the young.

May we be surprised by the Spirit and may those walls that separate the ages come tumbling down.

Pastor Gross is a pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, located at 959 SE 6 Ave., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. For more information, call 954-421-3146 or visit www.zion-lutheran.org.

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Weather Update – Deerfield Beach Wing Warrior Cook-Off & Music Festival

Posted on 09 June 2017 by JLusk

The City of Deerfield Beach is currently monitoring the weather as it relates to the Wing Warrior Cook-Off this Saturday, June 10. At this time, the event is scheduled as planned. Should inclement weather come Saturday, the decision to cancel the event will be made by City administration Saturday morning by 11 a.m. We will have event updates available on our City Facebook page.

Should you have any questions regarding the event, please visit www.dfb.city/wingwarrior or call the Community Events and Outreach Division at 954-480-4429.

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Over 50 Softball

Posted on 08 June 2017 by LeslieM

For over 30 years, softball enthusiasts have been coming out to play in the Deerfield Over 50 Softball games. For 22 years, their home was Pioneer Park and then they moved to Westside Park, now called Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex. Right now, they have 92 players, ranging in age from 50 to 87 years old.

Dr. Arnold Elkind, one of the players, said teams are made up depending on how many people show up for these pick up games. They play on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. They modify the game in order to ensure safety. It is slow pitch as well.

We play three days a week and we have beer on Fridays,” said Elkind, adding that they tend to do more for someone’s birthday and also have a yearly Valentine’s Day dance at Century Village.

They also get sponsors for their tournaments. They just had a one-pitch tournament on May 17 with the Kraeer-Becker team coming in first, Duffy’s coming in 2nd and Advanced Auto Parts coming in third.

Interested in playing? It is only $45 a year. For more information, call Commissioner Denis Tranchida at 954-647-1621.

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FLICKS: Wonder Woman & Megan Leavey opens

Posted on 08 June 2017 by LeslieM

The box office records broken by Wonder Woman reveal that many people preferred pure escapism last weekend. The film will be remembered as saving the DC Comic movie franchise, which featured decent box office but lousy critical acclaim, unlike arch rival Marvel’s multiple motion picture box office juggernaut. Wonder Woman has its flaws (mostly an overkill of computerized special effects in a showdown with the master villain that is unnecessary), but the story is good, the lead characters are multidimensional with visual scenes that will invoke an emotional response.

With a nod to Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code, the new film opens with Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) going to work in the Paris Louvre Museum. When a Wayne Enterprises courier gives her a secret briefcase, Diana sees a picture of her alter ego, Wonder Woman, taken a century ago during World War I.

We flashback to Diana’s youth on Themyscira, the home of Amazon female warriors. Diana is the daughter of Queen Hippolyta (Connie Nielsen), who shelters her offspring from the darkness of the world. When Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crash lands his plane near her home, the Kaiser Germans pursue the aviator. After Diana rescues Steve, the Germans start a battle with the Amazon Women … not a wise move.

Disobeying her mother’s orders, Diana takes Steve to London so that he can report his findings; the Germans have new chemical weapons they want to unleash on the front lines of battle. Being a fish out of water, Diana tries to adjust to the contemporary culture that features high heels, petticoats and slow dancing.

These character-building moments between Diana and Steve are the best parts of Wonder Woman. Director Patty Jenkins slows down the story momentum for these key romantic scenes, which helps build audience empathy for these two people who respect each other. These scenes provide a breather for the audience, which makes some of the action highlights more bearable.

This is Gal Gadot’s movie from start to finish, besides being a beautiful Wonder Woman, she manages to convey both intelligence and naivete. Portraying Steve Trevor as a spy, Chris Pine is able to portray multiple characters while maintaining classic World War I heroism. Given the recent terrorist attacks in Great Britain, Wonder Woman’s last scene closes with an unexpected poignancy.

It is June and the summer Blockbuster season is in full force with good escapist fare like Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man Tell No Tales and Wonder Woman. Also see a real ‘wonder woman’ in the film Megan Leavey, which opens this weekend starring Kate Mara and Rex the Dog.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 08 June 2017 by LeslieM

Deerfield Beach

May 23: Someone entered a vehicle parked at 3315 Deer Creek Alba Way and stole $200.

May 23: The manager of Dollar General at 1377 S. Dixie Hwy. reported that someone ran out of the store with a basket of merchandise.

May 23: A man reported a burglary on his property at 370 SW 14 St.

May 23: A man reported the theft of a television from the residence where he is living at 710 NE 50 St.

May 23: A man reported that he fell asleep at a community pool at 777 SE 2 St. When he awoke, he noticed the gold chain that had been around his neck was missing.

Lighthouse Point

May 17: Someone entered an unlocked vehicle parked at 2230 NE 46 St. during the night; nothing was missing.

May 17: Someone entered an unlocked vehicle at 2220 NE 46 St. during the night and stole $5 in change.

May 17: Someone stole $2 in coins from a vehicle that was parked in the driveway at 2660 NE 46 St. overnight. There were no signs of forced entry.

(Partial list)

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