By Gary Curreri

There was some friendly family feuding at the recent Simply Soccer camp at the city of Pompano Beach’s
4-Fields Complex recently.

Three sets of brothers and sisters were among the campers who took part in learning a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting. Brooke and Kenny Morgan, Kayla, Allison and Bryce Cunneen, along with Grace and Olivia Pettee, said they all had an enjoyable time during the weeklong camp, which was held during the holiday break.

“I have been to three soccer camps in the past,” said Allison Cunneen, 9, of Pompano Beach. “I like this one because it was close to home and I really learned a lot. This one was different because you learned new skills and practiced them in scrimmages that same day.”

The children, ranging in age from 5-14, also watched movies during lunch and went swimming to cool off before ending the day with scrimmage games.

“The best game was steal the bacon,” said Kenny Morgan, 8, of Pompano Beach, who attended his first camp. “I learned how to pass the ball, control the ball and score goals.”

Brooke Morgan, 10, said she learned a lot and enjoyed when the coaches played with the campers during games.

“I made some new friends, and mostly the counselors would make me go home with a smile,” Brooke Morgan said. “They made me come back for more.”

Each player received a certificate and a written evaluation of their performance at the close of camp.

The Cunneen’s mom, Gloria, said they really enjoyed the experience.

“They would come home each day showing what new skills they learned, in addition to sharing the stories and experiences that were shared by their coaches that day,” she said. “From a parent’s perspective, this is great!  They enjoyed all of the coaches and looked up to the high school and college students. They are great role models for kids!”

Peterson wins

national awards

A day after being named the SEC’s Defensive Player of the Year and the SEC’s Special Teams Player of the Year, former Blanche Ely standout Patrick Peterson added two national awards to his collection.

Peterson won both the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and the Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player. The junior won both awards at the ESPN College Football Awards Show in Orlando.

“It’s an honor to be the first player at LSU to win these awards,” said Peterson, who is considering entering the NFL draft this year. “One of my goals at the beginning of the season was to win this award and be the best I could possibly be. I am very thankful for this opportunity and I owe it to my coaches and my family for putting me in the best position to succeed. This experience is something I will never forget.”

Peterson, a cornerback at LSU who was known as Patrick Johnson during his days at Ely, finished the regular season with 36 tackles and four interceptions. He also had 1.5 tackles for losses; six pass break-ups and a blocked field goal. Peterson earned his second All-America honor and became the first player since Glenn Dorsey and Craig Steltz in 2007 to receive Walter Camp All-America accolades.

Beach parking stickers – Deerfield

Dear Editor:

The increased fee for beach parking stickers [from $50 to $100] was part of the approved budget, which become effective Oct. 1, 2010. The $120,000 revenue amount had already been plugged into the budget. Not one of the commissioners dissented at that time. Why wasn’t the ordinance to approve the increase placed on the October or November agendas since the sale of stickers for 2011 was to begin in December?

Now that second reading of the ordinance establishing the new rate has been postponed until Jan. 11 [next city commission meeting], does that mean that bargain rate $50 stickers will now be available until the measure passes?

It is easy to blame the financial department for putting out the wrong information, but that further illustrates that most of what we receive on the back of water bills is already out of date. The blame here belongs to the administrative people who are responsible for what is placed on the commission agendas.

As of 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2011, the city had sold 1,270 beach parking stickers at the bargain rate of $50. This means the city has already lost $63,500 that would have been realized had the stickers been sold at the proposed $100 fee.

There was a great uproar recently when HUD demanded repayment of funds when the city failed to disclose Commissioner [Sylvia] Poitier’s conflict of interest. Placing the blame on the shoulders of Commissioner Poitier, the mayor demanded her resignation. Now that the city has already lost $63,500 with more to come, whose resignation will the mayor demand now?

Jean M. Robb

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note:

Beach parking stickers will be available for $50 through Jan. 13. Starting Jan. 14, stickers are slated to go up to $100. Residents must provide vehicle registration and proof of residency – either utility bill or voter’s registration card – to purchase stickers at City Hall, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Reader appreciates

Hillsboro Streetscaping UPDATE

Dear Editor:

Thank you for the timely update [Dec. 30 Observer] on my request for information regarding finalizing the construction on Hillsboro Boulevard.

Roger Reynolds

Deerfield Beach

DEERFIELD BEACH

Dec. 27 Police are investigating a home invasion robbery on SE 4 Avenue where two black males rang the doorbell and forced their way inside with guns to take money and jewelry.

Dec. 27 Two black males accosted victims outside Cracker Barrel in Deerfield and stole $500.

Dec. 29 Several unknown juveniles kicked down trees and tore down signs near city parks on NW 45 Avenue. They fled into Deer Chase and never were located.

Dec. 29 About $1,500 in electronics was stolen from a home on Tivoli Circle.

Dec. 30 Anita Rozier, of Pompano Beach, was arrested for trying to pass a counterfeit check at Wachovia Bank, 1007 S. Federal Hwy. Karriem Davey, of Miami, was also arrested that day for a counterfeit check at TD Bank, 3325 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Dec. 31 Gary Stambaugh was arrested by Deerfield police after an investigation revealed he had stolen at least four vehicles in the last three weeks.

Dec. 31 Four A/C compressors were stolen from a building on SW 34 Avenue.

Jan. 2 A victim from Margate met someone who responded to his Craigslist.org ad to sell his scooter. The man met the victim, asked to test drive the scooter, and drove off.

WEST DEERFIELD BEACH

Jan. 3 The BSO helicopter was flying over the Deer Creek, Lock Road and Military Trail area at 7:39 p.m. Monday. They were trying to locate a missing mentally ill 40-year-old male. He was last seen at 430 Lock Rd.

Jan. 1 On Saturday evening, at the 2400 block of Lob Lolly Lane in the Deer Creek area, police responded to a domestic issue in which a firearm was discharged. No injuries were reported. At this point, no other information is available.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Lighthouse Point had no reports ready to go due to the holidays.

Try the Food! That’s the one thing American Rock Bar & Grill owner, Gustav Pavone, wants everyone to know.  It’s more than a great neighborhood bar, it’s a great restaurant.  Our lovely waitress, Kara, helped us navigate the extensive menu.  All the dishes are cleverly named after classic rock groups and singers. It was difficult for us to narrow our choices since so many of the items sounded very enticing.  We started with “The Wailers,” the chicken wings served with blue cheese, celery and carrots. The hot, medium or mild signature sauce is served on the side so you may add as much or little as you like.  You may order them wet if you prefer but these meaty wings stay extra crispy until you dip them into a sauce that keeps you going back for more.

Spinach dip made with artichoke hearts and three cheeses; nachos loaded with jalapenos, lettuce, tomatoes, olives, cheddar cheese, salsa and sour cream;  calamari and even homemade potato chips served with white wine vinegar and Cajun spices are just a few of the appetizer choices.

American Rock Bar & Grill also offers margarita and garden pizza, soups and a large variety of salads.

“The Madonna,” a caprese salad, made with beefsteak tomatoes, fresh basil, mozzarella, olive oil and sea salt is one of my favorites. The Hawaiian salad, featuring pineapple, chicken, mango, macadamia nuts, onion, carrots and snap peas in an oriental ginger dressing, is not to be missed. For someone who enjoys a heartier salad, the fried chicken or steak salad is a must.

Plenty of sandwiches are offered, ranging from the “Black Flag” angus burger and “The Doors” grilled chicken sandwich with bacon and cheddar to “The Smiths” club sandwich or the “Billy Idol” Italian.   However, the most popular item on the sandwich menu is the owner’s creation, the Rock’s rib eye —a grilled rib eye steak served with fresh tomatoes on a toasted baguette with fresh mozzarella.

The restaurant offers an early dinner combination that allows you to choose one item from a select group of entrees including mahi-mahi, New York strip, shrimp, meatloaf, etc. and then choose  a second dinner for only $.99 from another select  group of entrees including: spaghetti and meatballs, eggplant parmesan, risotto and chicken parmesan to name a few. This value also includes warm crusty bread and a choice of soup or salad.

My husband decided on the New York strip steak served with baked potato and vegetables grilled to perfection. I selected meatloaf — easily enough to feed two hungry people. It had finely minced onions and peppers that added to the rich flavor and was served with mushroom gravy, whipped potatoes and topped with crispy fried onion rings — absolutely delicious.

Chef Tony Anelo creates two homemade soups every day. I chose the fresh tomato basil, which was rich and creamy and served with shaved cheese and toasted croutons on the top. My husband selected  homemade beef stew. This thick, hearty stew had been simmering all day bringing out the delicious mix of carrots, onions and potatoes, making the beef “fall off the fork” tender. Believe me, it is worth the trip for the soups alone!

Several pasta entrees, such as penne alla vodka, baked ziti and ravioli, are available along with steaks, ribs, chicken and fish. For the vegetarian, risotto cooked with fava beans, onions and vegetable broth; pizza, salads and eggplant parmesan are there for the asking.

And don’t forget the desserts. Hot lava cake, ice cream with candied pecans, and chocolate mousse. The restaurant’s signature dessert is the caramel crepe. This decadent thin crepe is rolled with a creamy caramel sauce inside, dusted with powdered sugar and served warm with vanilla ice cream, which I highly recommend as the perfect way to end your meal.

American Rock Bar & Grill offers a “happy hour that never ends” with 3 for 1 drinks every day from 4 to 8 p.m. and 2 for 1 drinks every evening after 8 p.m. There is a DJ each Friday night and a different local band every Saturday night. Sunday nights are Brazilian nights with dancing and music for everyone. Ladies drink free from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. every Friday night. The bar and restaurant is available for special events such as birthday parties and banquets. They are also available for fundraising events and have hosted several for the American Cancer Society and for the ‘Grind for Life’ charity, which helps children with cancer.

The restaurant and bar opens at 4 p.m. daily, but will open earlier on Saturdays and Sundays during football season. American Rock Bar & Grill is located at 1600 E. Hillsboro Blvd. in Deerfield Beach in The Cove shopping center. Contact: 954-428-4539., www.AmericanRockBar.com. Until we eat again…

By Becki Coffy

With the cooperation of  the Observer management, my book The Adventures of Cinema Dave in the Florida Motion Picture World has been published.

This 662-page epic features a decade of movie reviews, interviews and memorable pictures that we have shared together since 1999.

The final edits have been painstaking, but I am pleased with the final product, which celebrates film, our South Florida culture and individuals like Rich Zapata, who was the caretaker for Christine Clone Zapata, a 1958 Plymouth Fury modeled after Stephen king’s best-selling book, Christine.

The Film Industry had a choppy experience in 2010. The Memorial Day 2010 box office was the worst on record since the Carter Administration. Although, the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery IMAX Theater consistently had successful openings while playing No. 1 movies.

South Florida Film Festivals proved their grit in 2010. The 25th annual Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival was the most organized of the neighborhood film festivals. This discipline paid dividends when a celebrity, Judd Nelson, cancelled his appearance and director George Hickenlooper passed away four days before the screening of his movie, Casino Jack, which opens next week nationally.

A few weeks after receiving open heart surgery, Burt Reynolds added some Hollywood glamour to the 15th annual Palm Beach International Film Festival.

Yet, it was The Blind Side’s Quinton Aaron who became the crowd favorite. Besides posing with everybody at the festival, Quinton served as the festival disc jockey. PBIFF took financial lumps in 2010, but there are plans for an 8-day festival the last week in March.

Meanwhile, the inaugural Palm Beach Women’s Festival will go head-to-head with the former Delray Beach Film Festival (renamed Downtown Boca Raton Film Festival) on the same weekend in April.

There was growth in indie films made locally, including Lucky Streak and the Crime Fighters, a direct to DVD feature that showcased local talent, great one liners and a fun musical score from Anthony Espina. Espina also contributed the musical score to The Incubus, which enjoyed a run on the big screen last Autumn.

Next week, the Observer will reveal the best flicks of 2010. Unlike the media Goliaths who have been on holiday vacation, this film columnist is still reviewing films of merit that are being released. Happy New Year!

In 1959, Paige West was a part of history and three was the lucky number. West trained Adios Butler, who won the first Triple Crown in harness racing history.

So, it is only fitting that some 51 years later, West and the number three came up again as the Pompano Beach resident aced three different holes in three weeks at the Carolina Club in Margate.

“It was unbelievable,” said the 78-year-old West, who lives in Palm Aire. “I play three or four times a week here. “There were three of the same golfers each time. There was one different guy each time. They were probably more excited than I was.”

West, who has had five hole-in-ones in his lifetime, waited more than 24 years between aces. His previous hole-in-ones in 1986 and 1987 came a year apart to the day. West got hole-in-ones on three different holes – 7,
9 and 17 at the Carolina Club last month.

One of his playing partners, Paul Wittenberg, 67, of Boca Raton, who saw all three aces, said West was more happy that he “took their money” by winning the holes than getting the hole-in-ones.

“It was pretty amazing,” said Wittenberg, who plays with West three times a week. They have been playing together for seven years at Carolina Club. “One shot was lucky; the other two were right on the pin all of the way. He was very happy, probably because he took our money. It’s incredible. He’s not a very good golfer.”

West said he used an 8-iron from 125 yards to ace the 7th hole; a 9-iron, from 115 yards on the 9th hole, and an 8-iron from 120 yards out on the 17th hole.

“I had to buy the guys drinks,” West said. “I am not that great a golfer, so this was pretty incredible. They were kind of shocked the second time I got one. The third one I didn’t see go in the hole because there was a bunker. I knew it was close. When we got up to the green, we saw it in the hole.”

West said he used to come down in the winter when he trained horses at Pompano Park . He moved permanently in 1988. He retired in 1990.

“I was the first man to win the Triple Crown in 1959 with Adios Butler,” West said. “You dream about it. That was not an easy thing to do and a great experience too. It is three races and you have to be good and sharp, and good in form, for a long period of time.”

West said he has changed his sports now.

“Golf is my passion now, that’s all,” West said. “You just try and hit it the best you can. It is a lot of luck. The hole isn’t that big you know.”