A commercial Structure at 849 S Deerfield Ave ignited just before 3 p.m. on Tues Apr 10.  First units started attacking a 2 bay garage and called for a 2nd alarm. Ladder 102 put a crew on the roof and multiple lines were pulled which knocked this thing down quick.

VIDEO of the crews and command on OBSERVERTV

A group of dignitaries gathered atop the new Dixie Flyover bridge Tuesday morning, April 10, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony before the flyover opened to the public around 11 a.m. As Deerfield Beach Mayor Peggy Noland said, “It’s been over 25 years that this bridge has been talked about. I’m glad I lived to see the day!” State Rep. Gywndolen Clarke-Reed called this “a momentous occasion. I was on the city commission when the idea first came to fruition. To be in Tallahassee now, bringing home the dollars…” Clarke-Reed said she was very pleased that the bridge does not disconnect the community — that District 2 was especially concerned about this. She commended Deerfield Planning & Growth Management Director Jerry Ferguson for the design. “He worked very hard on this,” she said. The bridge structure gives multi-lane access to connect Deerfield Beach with Boca Raton. There are two lanes and a bicycle/pedestrian walkway southbound. Two more lanes and a bicycle/pedestrian walkway go northbound. Below that is a secondary, smaller bridge over the canal that will ultimately only be open to southbound traffic, according to FDOT Public Information Officer Miranda Iglesias. It will remain closed during brick paving installation at NE 2 Street and NE 2 Avenue.  *For more information about the Dixie Flyover Project, visit the FDOT project website, www.dixie-flyover.com, or call FDOT at 954-777-4090. The Dixie Highway Project Field Office is located at 81 NE 3 Avenue in Deerfield Beach.* See video Of Ceremony and full speed ride over Flyover on ObserverTV.*

DOT Officials plan to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the span at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday Apr 10. By 11 a.m. Cars should be cruising across the bridge. it is going to be a little tricky with the speed limits. Here is the deal: When you are heading  into Broward southbound the speed is 40, then somewhere on the bridge just before you hit the lights at Hillsboro it changes to 35. Northound into Palm Beach it will be 40 all the way.  Pay attention.

The $39.5 million, four-lane bridge carries Dixie over the Florida East Coast Railway, several Deerfield Beach streets and the Hillsboro Canal.

Broward and Palm Beach counties received federal economic stimulus money to pay for the construction.

Officials say they pushed for the span to eliminate a bottleneck where Dixie narrowed to two lanes through Deerfield Beach and crossed the tracks. They say it will ease travel between the two counties and serve as a hurricane evacuation route.

A smaller bridge was built to carry Northeast Second Avenue over the canal. That bridge, which has been carrying two-way traffic, will become one-way southbound after the flyover opens and serve as a ramp for southbound Dixie drivers coming from Boca who want to go to downtown Deerfield Beach or Pioneer Park.

Although the flyover is finished, the entire project won’t be completed until June.

Workers still have to install street lights, signs and landscaping, paint the bridge and put down permanent lane striping and a final layer of asphalt.

After the flyover opens, the intersection of Northeast Second Avenue and Second Street will close for about four weeks while it is rebuilt with brick pavers.

Observer TV will be the first video at full speed crossing the bridge.

Zion Lutheran School recently hosted a football combine for high school football players from both Broward and Palm Beach counties. Athletes line up for the 40-yard dash. Submitted photo.

By Gary Curreri

Zion Lutheran School recently hosted a football combine for high school football players from both Broward and Palm Beach counties.

A total of 75 athletes come out from area schools including Deerfield Beach High, Zion Lutheran, Highlands Christian Academy, Coral Springs Christian School, Pope John Paul II, Ely, Piper and Coral Springs Charter.

Event featured testing in the several categories, as well as 7-on-7 passing competition. The players were evaluated by height, weight, reach, vertical leap, shuttle, L-Cone, bench press reps (185-lbs.), 40-yd. dash (laser timing provided by Impact Sports in Boca Raton).

Some of the top performers included Vincent McIntyre (Zion, 2013), who ran a 7.04 second L-Cone, and a 4.36 time in the shuttle; Rylee Hage (Highlands, 2013), who completed 24 reps of 185-lbs. on Bench Press and exhibited a 32-in. vertical jump; Bobby Lentz (Pope John Paul II, 2013) had a 6.84 time in the L-Cone drill, a 4.30 shuttle and a 32-in. vertical jump, while Ryan Davis (Highlands, 2013) had a 4.65 effort in the 40-yd. dash.

“For our first attempt at hosting a combine, I’d say it was a huge success,” said new Zion Lutheran coach Jordan Adair, who previously coached at Highland’s Christian. “The kids and coaches in attendance seemed to be pleased with the opportunity to come out and compete against each other. We know that future combines will only get bigger and better. We plan to host the ZL Combine as an annual event, from here on out.”

There was a charge of $15 per athlete to cover the costs of having a camera person in attendance (to film 7-on-7, and take photos) in addition to purchasing necessary equipment for the combine.

For any interested players or parents on future events, visit www.SouthFlorida Football Academy.com.

By Becki Coffy

Hungry for a great burger? Have a hankering for a hot dog? Then be sure to stop by the newly opened Gimme A Burger restaurant at 1200 E. Hillsboro Blvd. in Deerfield Beach. The easy access and ample parking make it a breeze to enjoy this restaurant. The first thing you notice is the bright white and orange (a nod to Syracuse) decor and how sparkling clean and neat everything is. Owners Yasmin and Serhad Oktay chose the color scheme, designed the interior and the menu and their daughter suggested the hungry wolf logo. (see ad below.)

The most popular item is the hungry wolf burger, made with your choice of 12 free toppings. Or, for a small fee, you may select other toppings, such as caramelized onions, bacon, wasabi mayo, Tahini sauce and fried egg, to mention a few.

Gimme A Burger has delicious hand-cut french fries, sweet potato waffle fries and onion rings. I hate to admit it, but we tried all three and they were wonderful. The onion rings were light and crispy with real onion inside. French fries were served with the skin on – my favorite.

My husband chose the chili made with just a hint of heat as the spoonful of thick, hearty soup slipped to the back of your throat. I chose their signature cheese burger soup, rich and creamy, filled with meat and topped with shredded lettuce and chopped tomatoes. Both soups are made fresh in-house. We moved to course No.2 and my husband chose the hungry wolf burger. The burger was big, very juicy and full of flavor. All burgers are made from 100 percent certified prime black angus beef.

To shake things up a bit, they offer four other burger types. The buffalo burger is made from ground bison meat, the wow burger is prime black angus beef mixed with spicy dried Turkish sausage, the gobbler is a fresh ground turkey patty served with cranberry mayo, and the mediterranean burger is fresh ground beef infused with onions, garlic parsley, herbs and spices.

I decided to take Yasmin’s recommendation and ordered her favorite, the ‘wazzup grilled fish sandwich.’  It was marinated in a blend of special herbs and spices to punch up the flavor of this flakey white fish, topped with lettuce and tomato and finished with a wasabi mayo to add just a little kick.

Also on the menu are hot dogs and chili dogs served on a grilled bun.  There are crispy chicken tenders, a ground beef quesadilla, a grilled chicken sandwich and for the vegetarian, a ‘red, red vegan’ stuffed pita sandwich and falafel in a pita with tahini sauce.

Their signature salad comes with mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, dried cranberries, walnuts, chick peas and greek olives. Garden salads are also available. Chicken, a burger patty, falafel or grilled fish may be added.

For dessert, try the cinnamon sugar puffs. Add a scoop of ice cream if you wish or order one of their homemade milk shakes.

Gimme a Burger recently began serving breakfast from 7 to 11a.m. The ‘cluck and moo’ sandwich is an egg and cheese muffin served panini style. The ‘howling’ gobbler’ is made with an egg, cheese and turkey sausage. The Timberwolf, a sandwich made with a burger, American cheese, hash browns and a fried egg, will keep you full until dinner.

As for me, I’ll be trying the Snow Wolf Bizkitz on my next trip. These fried biscuits are served warm with powdered sugar and a side of cream cheese or mixed berry jam. Could that sound any more delicious?

Indoor and outdoor seating is offered and online ordering will be available soon. Menu available at www.gimmeaburger.com or call 954-708-2553 to place order in advance. Stop by the next time you are out. Until we eat again…

Rylee Hage

By Gary Curreri

Craig Miller wonders if there is anything his semi-pro flag football team Apocalypse can’t accomplish.

The seven-man, Pompano Beach-based team recently won the United States Flag and Touch Football League national championship in Kissimmee by defeating a pair of former national titleholders from New Orleans.

Apocalypse defeated Quick-strike (2008 champs), 30-27, and the Untouchables (2005 and 2010 champs), 36-20, for the title. Both teams were from New Orleans.

“This USFTL national title was our biggest win because the league rules are different and difficult for us, and it was the last title we had not won,” said player/coach Miller, who lives in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.

“To be honest, our feelings, after the victory, were more relief than elation. This opportunity only comes once a year, and the stress is off-the-chart.”

Apocalypse, a semi-pro flag football team based in Pompano Beach, has finally added a national crown to its collection of titles. (Back row, L-R): Brad Corliss, Terrance “TB” Bunting, Bernard Summerall, Seneca Evans, James Panuindo, David “DJ” Brooks, John Wassmer, Brian Baer, Howard “Bud” Lewis; (Front row, L-R): Darrin “Tony” Walton, Reggie Haugabook, Coach Craig Miller, Derrick “Hollywood” Brown, Quinton McLendon. Submitted photo

Apocalypse was led by a pair of quarterbacks – Brian Baer of Parkland and Brad Corliss of Davie; rusher/center Derrick Brown of Tamarac; and wide receiver Quinton McClendon of Deerfield Beach. All of these players were named USFTL All-Americans.

Apocalypse tied the all-time state record set by Palace Saloon of Tallahassee in the 1980s with four consecutive A Division FFFL State Championships with its win last year and has already begun its quest for an unprecedented fifth crown in June.

Miller said the team has been so potent that it has had to cut former NFL players from its squad. The national title completed an “Apocalyptic” six-month head-to-head sweep of all national championships for the past seven years.

“We’ve had former NFL players with Division I College National Championship rings who we had to cut from our roster – including a Raider, Titan and Dolphin,” Miller said. “We had NFL receiver Chad “Ocho Cinco” Johnson on our roster for some local tournaments … He became a “shut-down” corner who saved a game for us in the Willis McGahee (Miami) tournament, which we won.”

The Pompano Beach-based team is slated to play in three more tournaments before the state tournament in Brevard (June 23-24). It will play in Palm Beach (April 14-15), Cocoa Beach (May 19-20) and in Ft. Myers (June 2-3).

Surveillance cameras in a Deerfield Beach Dunkin’ Donuts at 3390 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, captured clear images of a man with a T-shirt or cloth wrapped around his hand who demanded money from the cashier. Broward Sheriff’s Office robbery detectives are asking for the public’s help identifying this criminal, who calmly took the money from the employee’s hand and left the restaurant around 9:40 p.m. Feb. 27. He was wearing dark pants and sneakers, a black, long-sleeved athletic shirt with white piping and a tan cap with writing on the front.

To see video of the robbery live click ObserverTV-Crime Watch videos

Every day, in Broward County alone, hundreds of dogs are euthanized. In November of 2010 Dogs Rule Rescue was born, started by, Lisa Congemi and a small committed group of  animal lovers. DRRG a non-profit 501(c)3, all volunteer organization, based here in Deerfield Beach.

Their mission is to save the lives of homeless and abandoned dogs from high-kill shelters that would otherwise be euthanized and find them loving and forever homes, along with educating the public on the importance of spay and neuter.

To date they have rescued and found homes for over 125 dogs, and they are just getting started. That is an incredible number of lives saved considering DRRG relies solely on donations and foster homes. All DRRG dogs are spayed and neutered, micro chipped, fully vaccinated and given any medical care needed before being adopted.

Any pet landing in a rescue means it has been through some type of traumatizing situation, each prospective person looking to adopt is screened to find the best possible match for both the dog and adopter to ensure the pet finds it’s forever home.

Lisa credits her core supporters and rescue partners, John Prichard, Phyllis Pastore, Stephanie Mink, Donna Wiles and Frank Congemi for getting this organization off to such a successful start. Stray Aid Spay and Neutering Clinic has also been key by providing low cost services for the dogs.

Exclusive Story about this dog coming next week in The observer

     ~~ Saving One Life At A Time~~

Visit us @ www.dogsrulerescue.org

Golf trick shot artist Dennis Walters, 62, of Jupiter, hits a shot as students from Deerfield Park Elementary look on during a recent show. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Dennis Walters said he is living a dream, just not the one he originally had 50 years ago after his father took him to a professional golf tournament.

His message today is a simple one.

“If you have a dream and it doesn’t work out, never stop dreaming, get a new one,” said Walters, who was left paralyzed from the waist down when his golf cart flipped over in 1974.

“That’s what I did and I use my own personal experience as an example.”

Since then, the 62-year-old Jupiter man has put on more than 3,000 shows featuring golf trick shots in a 38-year career. He averages between 90 and 100 shows a year.

“Almost every person I met 38 years ago said it would be impossible to play golf because I couldn’t stand up and they were 100 percent correct,” Walters said after performing a recent show for the South Florida PGA Foundation at Deerfield Park Elementary School. “That’s when I started hitting them sitting down.”

Walters’ show featured amazing golf tricks, a message of inspiration, along with a special performance by Bucky, who is best known for his uncanny ability to correctly answer questions by barking out the answers.

“I didn’t think he could play when I first saw him,” said fourth grader Caroline Maya. “He’s very good. I was really amazed because I don’t think I would do that if I was in a wheelchair.”

Deerfield Park P.E. teacher Shelton Smith said this is the annual field trip that the school generally attends in Boca Raton.

“They weren’t able to hold it there this year,” Smith said. “They asked if they could bring it here to the school. My principal thought it would be nice to make it an incentive for third, fourth and fifth grade so they could improve on their academics. The students who scored three or higher on the mock, standardized FCAT tests were allowed to come out.”

“I am trying to grow the game of golf,” Walters said. “Golf is a game for everyone. I am living proof of it. I think if we can [get] more of these young people exposed to the game of golf, some of them will take it up.

BSO deputies conducting an investigation discovered a chop shop at 116 S.E. 3rd Street, Deerfield Beach.  So far, at least 6 stolen vehicles have been found inside multiple bays at this warehouse. One man is in custody: Delano Carlo Henry, B/M 07/01/1987, 8040 N.W. 54th Court, Lauderhill. The scene is still active. Vehicles and car parts are being inventoried.

Video on ObserverTV