A man with an apparent penchant for playing cops and robbers stole several video games and cash from a Deerfield Beach Game Stop on May 27. Around closing time, the robber approached the checkout counter with three games and an Xbox video game console. An employee scanned the items and told him the cost, but instead of paying, the man said he had a gun and demanded money from the clerks.

He grabbed cash from the register and had an employee throw a Madden football game in his bag. Among his other swag were the popular Grand Theft Auto game, where the player commits crimes such as stealing cars, and another game called L.A. Noire, in which the player is a police officer challenged to solve crimes. Surveillance cameras inside the store at 3928 W. Hillsboro Blvd. captured video of the robbery.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the robbery is asked to contact BSO Robbery Detective Matthew Marks at 954-321-4270 or anonymously report information to Crime Stoppers of Broward County at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or online at www.browardcrimestoppers.org.

The School Board of Broward County, Florida, today, named Donnie Carter to serve as Interim Superintendent, taking over from Superintendent James F. Notter, who is retiring from the School District on June 30. Carter is currently Chief Operations Officer for the Broward County Public Schools.

“After 10 years with the Broward County Public Schools, I am absolutely thrilled to lead our District at this time,” said Carter. “My priorities will be to keep our momentum while providing stability, and preparing for a smooth back to school for next year.”

Carter indicates that he will work collaboratively with the School Board and the District’s executive leadership team to ensure a smooth transition. His considers it a challenge to maintain a high level of service, while operating with fewer resources in the wake of a $141 million budget shortfall for next year.

School Board Names Chief Operations Officer Interim Superintendent

Carter, who has over 20 years experience in public education administration, has spent the last 10 years at BCPS. He has served in the position of Chief Operations Officer since 2007. Prior to joining the District, Carter served in administration at Miami-Dade Public Schools.

The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) has released state, district and school-by-school results from the 2011 Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Reading and Mathematics for grades 4 through 10 and Science in grades 5, 8 and 11.  Reading and Mathematics proficiency remained similar between 2010 and 2011 for all grades in Broward schools, while the District continues to lead the state’s big five school districts in elementary mathematics and was second in secondary mathematics.

Broward Commissioner Chip LaMarca with Gov. Rick Scott during the pill mill bill signing in Broward County.

Commissioner Chip LaMarca welcomed Florida Governor Rick Scott to Broward County today as the Governor signed HB 7095, the so-called “pill mill bill” into law at Fort Lauderdale Police Headquarters.

“This bill increases penalties for doctors overprescribing pain medications and bans doctors from prescribing narcotics except under special circumstances such as surgery or hospice.  Also, all staff with access to these medications will have to undergo extensive criminal background checks. This bill will save lives,” said Governor Scott.   The bill also authorizes a prescription drug monitoring database though out Florida that will begin operating in August.

“I applaud Governor Scott in realizing the severity of this epidemic, and using the full force of his office to aide in the fight to stop these senseless deaths.  I think it shows his awareness of the issue that the first bill signing took place here in Broward County-Ground Zero in the fight against this epidemic,” said Commissioner LaMarca.

Recently, Broward Commissioners passed a Pain Management Clinic ordinance for the unincorporated areas.  That ordinance strictly regulates zoning, hours of operation, business practices and prohibits pain management clinics from operating within 1200 feet of another pain management clinic, place of worship, child care center or educational center.  The Broward County Pain Management Clinic ordinance is intended to serve as a model ordinance for cities to adopt.  Commissioner Kristin Jacobs pushed forward the ordinance and Commissioners LaMarca and Jacobs participated in protests outside of pill mill clinics within their Broward County districts.

In March, the Broward County Pain Management Clinic Task Force issued its final report with recommendations for the licensing and location of pain management clinics otherwise referred to as “pills mills.” The Commission instructed the County Attorney to draft a model ordinance based on those recommendations.
Broward County has been referred to as the “pill mill” capital of America. In 2009, a Broward County Grand Jury issued a report noting the proliferation of pain clinics throughout the County. The number of pain management clinics in Broward more than doubled from August 2008 to November 2009.

Pompano Beach Library, located at 1213 E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, is currently closed due to flooding caused by a malfunctioning air conditioning unit. It is anticipated that the library will reopen on Monday, June 6, provided necessary repairs are completed.

Other nearby Broward County Library locations include:
• Beach Library, 221 Pompano Beach Blvd., Pompano Beach, 954-786-2197: Open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Saturdays.

• Jan Moran Collier City Learning Library, 2800 N.W. Ninth Court, Pompano Beach, 954-968-3820: Open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Saturdays.

• North Regional/Broward College Library, 1100 Coconut Creek Blvd., 954-201-2600: Open Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Northwest Library, 1580 N.W. Third Ave., Pompano Beach, 954-786-2186: Closed Fridays; open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Customers are also encouraged to visit the Broward County Library Web site, www.broward.org/library to find information on other library locations; to check out, place holds on and renew materials; check the status of their library account; and gain access to the library catalog, specialized databases, event calendars and more.

By Gary Curreri

(Left) Savannah Davis returns a shot in a recent Florida Beach Volleyball Tour 18-under girls division match in Ft. Lauderdale. Photo by Gary Curreri

Kristina Pellitteri and Savannah Davis have a lot in common. Both live in Deerfield Beach. Both are Pompano Beach High School students, and both love the beach.

So why not parlay that into a possible future in beach volleyball? They are well on their way, as they have been tearing it up on the beach volleyball junior circuit. The duo, who also play on their high school volleyball team, have won the past four tournaments they have played in together.

Pellitteri, who has been playing beach volleyball since her freshman year, took first place with her older sister Stephanie in an AAA Division earlier in the year and won the last four tournaments in the Florida Beach Volleyball Tour in the 18-under girls division with Davis.

“It really helps your defense a lot because you are used to playing with two people, and when you play indoors there are six,” said Pellitteri, 17, who also hopes to land a beach volleyball scholarship to Florida State University where her sister, Stephanie recently signed “It is not really a hard transition. It is probably a harder transition to go from beach to indoors than from indoors to beach.”

Pellitteri said it is exciting knowing that colleges are offering scholarships for beach volleyball.

“Before we were playing for fun and now we are playing to have people watch you,” Pellitteri said. “I don’t look around right now to see if there are college coaches around. I probably will be soon. It will probably make me nervous.”

“I think beach volleyball has improved my game all around more than indoors would because the conditioning is so much better,” Pellitteri added. “I just have more fun playing beach volleyball because that is what I want to do.”

Davis, 16, a Pompano Beach High sophomore, said she has teamed with Pellitteri for three years. She also likes the fact that there are college options on the horizon.

“It definitely gets more and more competitive as the season progresses, especially now that colleges are offering beach volleyball scholarships,” Davis said. “I was really excited because I liked beach more than indoor. It is more relaxed and you get to touch every ball.”

Davis, who used to play travel soccer, likes volleyball because her mom used to play, and her friends encouraged her to give it a try.

“I would love to play in the Olympics  or  be on TV,” Davis said. “I would definitely go that far. It would be a great opportunity. It would take drive and really being dedicated to the sport.”

Kristina Pellitteri returns a shot in a recent Florida Beach Volleyball Tour 18-under girls division match in Fort Lauderdale. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

With the financial success of The Hangover Part II, Bridesmaids and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, the movie industry is feeling confident that people are returning to the movie theaters, unlike last Memorial Day weekend, which pronounced the extinction of the community movie-going experience as we know it.  For the next two months, moviegoers can enjoy the traditional summer blockbuster fare.

Off the beaten track at the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery, one can find Born to Be Wild 3-D, a charming documentary about animal foster care in Borneo.  On the six-story IMAX screen, one can watch as two courageous women take in orphan orangutans and elephants.

The visuals are pure poetry.  We see elephants playing soccer.  Older orangutans teach the younger orangutans the value of swinging from trees and vines.  The most violent portion of this documentary is uttered from the lips of Morgan Freeman, who explains that these animals are orphaned because of the greed of poachers. Of all the movies released in 3-D this year, Born to Be Wild 3-D may be the most heart tugging.

Starting tonight and continuing through Sunday, the Ft. Lauderdale Interna-tional Film Festival Cinema Paradiso Theater presents its 2nd Annual Carrabba’s Italia Film Festa, featuring food, wine and 12 Italian films.

Among the highlights is Federico Fellini’s Oscar-winning masterpiece La Strada, starring Anthony Quinn and Giulietta Masina as carnival gypsies.  As a free Saturday Matinee, the theater will be screening Roberto Benigni’s Pinocchio, dubbed with the voices of Jim Belushi, Glenn Close and John Cleese.

This festa  will also present recent award-winning and critically-acclaimed motion pictures from the boot-shaped peninsula:

20 Cigarettes/20 Sigarette was recently honored at both the Venice and Dubai International Film Festivals. Anti-War protestor Aureliano Amadei is given the opportunity to go to Iraq as an assistant director. Ironically, Amadej becomes a victim of a suicide-truck bombing.

Martino’s Summer/L’Estate di Martino is a reflective drama featuring the terrorist attacks upon Italy during the Jimmy Carter Summer of 1980. Starring Treat Williams, this drama involves ghosts, surfing and personal redemption.

DB Historical Society Dinner & Fundraiser

Friday, June 3, 6 p.m.

Brooks Restaurant, 500 S. Federal Hwy., Deerfield Beach, FL  33441

Help the Historical Society at this elegant dining experience, with guest speaker – Dr. Kitty Oliver – who will talk about importance of preserving history and will sing (she is a Jazz singer!). $45/person. RSVP: 954-429-0378.

East Village Uncorked

Friday, June 3, 6 to 9 p.m.

Harbor Village & Atlantic Square Shopping Center,

2600 & 2700 block of E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach, FL 33061

Stroll, look at art, taste wine and food, mingle, or win a giant lobster or a shopping spree!  Artists can do charcoal work under teacher’s watch. Info. about East CRA project. 954-786-7824.

“ABC’s and 123’s” Musical & Graduation Ceremony

Saturday, June 4, 9 a.m.

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

Featuring NE Focal Point Intergenerational Childcare Students. 954-480-4473.

Audition: The Marvelous Land of Oz, the Musical

Saturday, June 4, 10 to 11 a.m.

Sol Children Theatre, 3333 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Strong, mature actor needed for role of “Scarecrow.”  Bring 1-minute prepared monologue from published play or classic literature; prepared musical theatre solo using backing track accompaniment; no piano available, no a cappella please. If new to Sol Children, bring brief bio and headshot (does not need to be professional). By appointment only. 561-447-8829. www.solchildren.org.

Top designer & pro-surfer at Macy’s

Saturday, June 4, 2 p.m.

Town Center Mall, 5700 W. Glades Rd., Boca Raton, FL  33431

Designer Rachel Roy and pro-surfer Karina Petroni host event at Macy’s, introducing limited edition footwear capsule collection. Meet icons, watch fashion show, enter to win prize, get special gift with purchase.

Summer Fun in the Sun

Saturday, June 4, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Trinity United Methodist Church, Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

2nd Annual Family Fun Day. Admission, parking, waterslides and activities are free; tickets available to purchase food and beverages. Raffles and silent auction. Accepting registration for Camp Trinity for K-5 June 13 to Aug. 12. Theme: Around the World in 50 Days – each week, travel to a new country/region of the world and play sports, prepare regional cuisine and more. www.TrinityChristianSchoolOnline.com.

Bake Sale for Louie

Saturday, June 4, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Gigi & Luca Pet Boutique, 1825 NE 24 St., Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Three-month old Yorkshire terrier needs heart surgery. 954-784-8755. www.gigiandluca.com.

16th Annual Brad Vestal Memorial Golf Tournament

Saturday, June 4, 7 a.m. (Registration)

Pompano Golf Course & Galuppi’s, 1103 N. Federal Hwy., Pompano Beach, FL 33062

For various charities, medical research and scholarship programs. 954-856-4562 or allieddoors@gmail.com. Allied Doors Foundation on Facebook.

Shakespeare to Go!

Sunday, June 5, 2 p.m. and 7p.m.

Sol Children Theatre , 3333 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Bright, bubbly, fast-paced comedy. Featuring scenes from Taming of the Shrew, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and As You Like It. Reservations suggested. $12 ea., includes refreshments. 561-447-8829. www.solchildren.org.

Calling all Deerfield Beach residents

Monday, June 6, 7 p.m.

All My Children Daycare IV, 355/377 NW 3 Ct., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Discussion of upcoming City Commission Agenda, 2011 Public Utility Tax and Sports Ordinance. Information on programs available to city residents. 954-871-2280.

Create financial freedom

Wednesday, June 8

Renaissance Boca, 2000 NW 19 St., Boca Raton, FL 33431

Master trader expert and educator Oliver Velez to present 3-day “Building Sustainable Wealth in Today’s New Market” power talk. Free, but must register at http://ifund
tradersevents.com/ or call 866-877-6124.

Small Business: Innovation Tools

Wednesday, June 8, 8 a.m.  to 12:30 p.m.

1501 FAU Research Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Keynote speaker: Allen West. Learn new financing options, resources in import/export, where to invest/ find tax breaks, methods for attracting/retaining best employees. Breakfast, networking. RSVP: cc@research-park.org.

LHP Library Fun & Fit registration

Register today before space runs out! Camp run by mad scientists! For children 6 to 12. Learn how human body works, participate in hands-on educational activities, games, fitness activities and more. Camp runs June 13-17. $185. Call 954-946-6398.

Save the Date: City of Lighthouse Point Summer Youth Soccer Camp

Monday, Aug. 1 through Friday, Aug. 5

Frank McDonough Park, 3500 NE 27 Ave., Lighthouse Point, FL  33064

“British Soccer Camp,” ages 3 through 16. For Information and registration: www.challenger
sports.com or John Trudel 954-784-3439.