| March, 2013

Woman ‘aces’ Norman Course

Posted on 28 March 2013 by LeslieM

By Gary Curreri

Lorraine Beaubien has only been playing golf for three years; however, she already has accomplished something people wait a lifetime for.

The 54-year-old Pompano Beach woman earned her first hole-in-one when she used a driver on the 149- yard, Par-3, 17th hole on the first round on the new Greg Norman Signature Course at Pompano Municipal Golf Course.

“I believe in numbers,” Beaubien said. “It happened the first day of the year, the first day The Pines Course opened. It was the first holein- one on the new Pines Course. It was my first hole in- one in my life and my score was 100.”

When the Norman Signature Course held its grand opening ceremony two weeks later, Beaubien had Greg Norman sign her ball. She said she used the driver because that was the distance it would cover given her relative inexperience in the sport.

“For me, it’s a new sport. I think I have an addiction,” Beaubien said. “I can play seven days a week. I play normally four to five times a week, and, the days I don’t play, I read golf books or I watch the golf channel to learn new tips.”

Beaubien enjoys being outside on the links. She likes nature and being out with positive and generous people.

“It is also a technical sport with rules,” said Beaubien, a mother of two. “You need concentration and silence. Who can ask for more? I am playing very well and my husband has been playing 40 years. To do this, I’m sure they are very proud of me and it gave me so much confidence.” “(Getting a hole-in-one) is comparable to something that unfortunately hasn’t happened yet,” Beaubien said. “It is unbelievable, like winning something in a casino.”

Beaubien said she returned the day after her hole in- one and hit a similar shot on the same hole.

“The day after, I returned to play another game on the same course and I hit my ball exactly at the same place,” Beaubien said, “but they moved the flag.”

Comments Off on Woman ‘aces’ Norman Course

FLICKS: “Flight of the Butterflies”

Posted on 28 March 2013 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

When we set my dad’s memorial for Dec. 1, we dreaded the grey Alabama winter. Instead, we enjoyed an Indian summer that lasted during our stay. As my mom, my brother and I said our final farewell to Dad, a bright yellow butterfly descended upon the flowers next to the gravesite, a spring miracle that does not occur in winter. Since that moment, butterflies have caught my attention in so many ways.

Eben Alexander’s recent best-seller “Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife” features a butterfly on the book cover. This work of non-fiction places an importance upon butterflies in the afterlife.

Flight of the Butterflies is a documentary currently playing at the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery IMAX Theater in 3-D. Under one hour long, this film presents two stories, one about biology, another about biography.

The biographical portion introduces Fred Urquhart, a scientist who devoted 40 years to the study of the Monarch Butterfly. With his future wife Norah as his assistant, Urquhart tracked the trails of butterflies. The two founded Monarch Watch, which recruited hundreds of “citizen scientists,” who tagged thousands of butterflies and reported their findings to Fred and Norah.

The biological section traces the lifespan and multigenerational migration of the Monarch Butterfly. While it takes three generations to migrate to Canada, it is the Super Generation of Monarch that flies from Canada to the mountains of the Mexican state of Michoacán.

While these creatures weigh less than a penny, on the 5-storey IMAX screen, one is treated to a well-produced Mothra movie from Godzilla productions. Scientific facts are of utmost importance, but Flight of the Butterflies is also an entertaining film and a beautiful piece of visual poetry that would inspire artists like Claude Monet and Vincent van Gogh.

In Tradewinds Park, 3600 W. Sample Rd., Coconut Creek, one can visit Butterfly World, a unique Botanical Garden that is now 25 years old. It would make for a wonderful Sunday afternoon visit, but it is closed this Easter Sunday. But Flight of the Butterflies will provide a great family experience as a substitute. Happy Easter!

Comments Off on FLICKS: “Flight of the Butterflies”

CRIME WATCH

Posted on 28 March 2013 by LeslieM

DEERFIELD BEACH

March 22 A woman reported her car stolen from 1321 SE 2 Ave.

March 24 A home at 3375 SW 4 St. was entered through a rear sliding glass door. The home was ransacked and a generator, two Kindle Fire Tablets and two credit union checkbooks were stolen. Total loss was estimated at $1,400.

March 24 A home at 3390 SW 4 St. was entered through an unlocked rear window. Tools were stolen. The home is under renovation.

March 24 A man reported his home at 3380 SW 4 St. entered through an unlocked door. A Kindle Tablet and USB cord were stolen.

March 24 The front door window at Top Notch Bicycle Shop at 1574 SE 3 Court was smashed. Three bicycles were then stolen. Total loss was estimated at $12,500.

March 24 As a woman entered her vehicle at 365 S. Federal Hwy., a man snatched her purse from her left arm. The man entered a waiting car that drove off.

March 24 Someone entered a car parked at 131 W. Hillsboro Blvd. through an unlocked rear window and stole a checkbook.

DEERFIELD – District 4

March 19 Conveyance burglary occurred at Deerfield Mall, 3900 W. Hillsboro Blvd.Victim parked to the rear of the Deerfield Mall to walk her children to Quiet Waters Elementary School. Upon returning to her vehicle, she found the passengerside window smashed out and her black handbag missing from the floorboard. No suspects were seen and the vehicle was processed. The purse contained credit cards, jewelry, a driver’s license and an uncashed paycheck. Loss was $525.

March 20 Commercial burglary was reported at Tire Kingdom, 2525 W. Sample Rd. Complainant, who is the manager, reported that between 3 and 4 p.m. this date, unknown persons stole a laptop and a car scanner, total value of $10,500, from the business office. Complainant said that a male described as 20 to 30 years old, 5’9″, asked to use the bathroom located next to the office. The subject then left. After a short time, they discovered the items missing. Surveillance video will be reviewed by corporate office.

March 20 Conveyance burglary took place at Deerfield Sports Complex, 3650 SW 10 St. Victim returned to his vehicle and found his passengerside door open and some of his belongings scattered on the ground. Subject gained entry by breaking the passenger door lock. Subject took victim’s wallet with credit cards.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

March 14 A woman was detained for stealing two bottles of wine from Publix at 3700 N. Federal Hwy. The store manager did not press charges, but the woman was issued a trespass warning.

March 17 A woman reported her bicycle stolen from 3800 NE 21 Ave.

March 18 A man reported that someone entered his home at 2730 NE 30 Ave. and stole two television sets. Remember, if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately.

Comments Off on CRIME WATCH

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Posted on 28 March 2013 by LeslieM

To the residents of Century Village East (CVE)

Dear Editor:

I was hurt and offended when I returned from a cruise to find that I and the entire CVE Master Management (MM) Board of Directors had been recalled two days earlier. It was particularly galling that the members of the Board of COOCVE (Condominium Owners Organization of CVE), my neighbors, could not wait for my return to allow me to speak against the false accusations that were made at a hastily-called meeting of questionable legality by those who would then themselves be nominated to replace me, my [fellow] officers and the rest of my board.

I don’t believe the 140 members who voted to remove the Board and myself represented the true feelings of the community. Much was made of the urgency to buy the Hillsboro Pines Golf Course – but no matter how much my enemies may have made of it, good business judgment required that a Bank Appraisal, which I had already initiated, be obtained before beginning negotiations. I would never act without due diligence and the concurrence of the Board of Directors. It took the former Board members (who led the ‘coup’) 4 years to decide to spend $7 million on the new Irrigation System, but they couldn’t allow a few weeks for me and my Board to complete our due diligence and formulate a plan of action before spending millions for the golf course.

It is unforgivable that the COOCVE Board acted in such a hasty manner and allowed rumor and innuendo to replace facts when making such a momentous decision. I doubt that many of the 15 members of the deposed MM Board, all of whom were elected by the COOCVE Board over the past 3 years, would ever again have any interest in volunteering to serve a community where a lynch mob mentality could be so easily provoked. I certainly would not. And as for those who planned and instigated this takeover, you have set a terrible precedent and done great damage to the image and well-being of the community.

Anthony Falco

Century Village East

Deerfield Beach

 

Passover and Seder

Dear Editor:

[Sundown on Monday ] marked the beginning of Passover and the Seder.

While we all come from different faiths and backgrounds, each of us can learn much from this Jewish holiday commemorating the struggle of the Jewish people over 3,000 years ago, their emancipation from slavery in Egypt, receipt of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, and establishment of their homeland in the Promised Land.

The eight-day feast of Passover is a time when Jewish people reflect upon the story of their ancestors and retell it, parent to child, to ensure that the love of liberty is passed on from generation to generation.

The Jewish people’s liberation from tyranny is not so different from ours as Americans. Our Founding Fathers fought the British monarchy so that we could enjoy the fruits of our labors and the liberties they believed were inherent to all human beings. But today, too many of us have lost sight of this, and our freedoms seem not to be cherished as they should. This is abundantly evident in our political system that seeks to take away the very liberties enshrined in the Constitution — the right to bear arms, freedom of religion, freedom of speech and more.

So, as we wish our Jewish friends a happy Passover, let us also reflect on the freedoms so many have fought to preserve in our own nation, and ensure that the love of liberty is passed on.

Lt. Col. Allen B. West USA (ret)

Palm Beach Gardens

Comments Off on LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

HAPPENINGS

Posted on 28 March 2013 by LeslieM

Maundy Thursday

Thursday, March 28, 7 p.m.

Community Presbyterian, Chapel 1950 SE 5 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Holy Communion will be offered. Info: 954-427-0222 or www.communitych.org.

 

Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt

Thursday, March 28, 8 p.m.

Constitution Park 2841 Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Ages 7-14. 954-480-4494.

 

Good Friday Public Procession Stations of the Cross

Friday, March 29, 3 p.m.

St. Nicholas Episcopal Church 1111 E. Sample Rd. Pompano Beach, FL 33064

 

Egg-Stravaganza

Friday, March 29, 6 p.m.

Westside Park 445 SW 2 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Ages 3 & under, 4-6, 7-10. 954-480-4480.

 

Easter Egg Run

Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m.

Deerfield Beach Athletic Complex 501 SE 6 Ave. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Ages 3 & under, 4-6, 7-10. 954-480-4429.

 

Movie Night – “The Passion of the Christ”

Saturday, March 30, 6 to 8 p.m.

Community Presbyterian Church, Briggs Hall 1920 SE 4 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

 

Spring Fling Family Fun Day

Saturday, March 30, noon to 3 p.m.

Memorial Park Field 150 Crawford Blvd. Boca Raton, FL 33432

Entertainment for children by Puppetone Rockers. FREE children games, inflatables, kiddie train, obstacle course and bounce house. Other activities for a fee include tattoos, face painting, sand art and crafts. Photos with bunny. Food available for purchase. For questions, call 561-393-7807.

 

Arts & Crafts Show

Saturday, March 30, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sanborn Square 72 N. Federal Hwy., Boca Raton, FL, 33432

Info: 561-393-7806.

 

Easter Celebration

Saturday, March 30, 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Pompano Citi Centre 1955 N. Federal Hwy. Pompano Beach, FL 33062

FREE. Easter Bunny meet & greet, bounce house, LIVE music, arts & crafts, popcorn & cotton candy, face painting and more. 954-943-4683. www.pompanociticentre.com. Easter Sunday Non-Denominational

 

Sunrise Service

Sunday, March 31, 7 a.m.

Red Reef Park 1400 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton (just north of Palmetto Park Road)

Sponsored by Kiwanis Club of Boca Raton. FREE. Bring a beach chair for your comfort. Free Parking (no need for beach permit). Free Refreshments: coffee, juice, donuts. For more information, call 561-395-8446.

 

Easter Sunrise Service

Sunday, March 31, 6:45 a.m.

Pompano Pier Parking Lot, Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Sponsored by the Pompano Beach Kiwanis Club. Seating provided, all welcome to attend. Our guest speaker is Pastor Larry Vinkemulder from First Baptist Church. Music will provided by Bob Terch, First Baptist Church of Pompano Beach.

Comments Off on HAPPENINGS

CLERGY CORNER: Easter traditions “Sacred and secular”

Posted on 28 March 2013 by LeslieM

On Easter, we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, but what does this amazing life-yielding miracle have to do with a bunny and painted eggs?

The short answer is, “Maybe not so much!”

Every year, Christians revisit Jesus and his disciples entering Jerusalem to celebrate Passover, the Jewish holy season that commemorates the Hebrews’ release from slavery. And, every year, we study our Lord’s arrest, crucifixion, death and resurrection.

It’s no surprise people of Jewish origin were among the first to celebrate the resurrection, likely as a new facet of the Passover festival. In fact, the Easter celebration, Pascha, in Aramaic and Greek, is derived from the Hebrew Passover. An early sacred ritual of Easter was the lighting of the Pashcal candle. You can see where this candle derives its name. The Pashcal candle symbolizes light out of darkness similar to the Christ candle of Christmas.

Originally, Easter was celebrated two days after Passover but this meant Easter could fall on any day of the week. In 325 A.D., Roman Emperor Constantine and the Council of Nicea ruled Easter would always fall on Sunday, this being the day of the week Christ rose from the dead.

It was also the Council of Nicea that decided Easter would be celebrated the first Sunday following the full moon after the spring equinox. Easter would then always fall on a Sunday between March 22 and April 25. As Christianity spread through Europe, pagan European customs began to emerge and spread. In fact, some argue that Easter may have received its modern -day name from Eostre, the goddess of spring and fertility, which brings us to the Easter bunny and Easter egg.

Easter bunnies and Easter eggs were a perfect match, although one probably not made in heaven. The fertile bunny, at least in connection with Easter, didn’t show up until about the 16th century, but had long been a symbol of new life. Eggs, on the other hand, have been a symbol of life and birth for thousands of years.

The advent of Easter bunnies and Easter eggs led to children being told, if they were well-behaved, the Easter bunny would visit and leave Easter eggs as presents. It seems we are always looking for incentives to make children behave; thus, chocolate eggs and other gifts enter the Easter equation too!

President Rutherford B. Hayes, who served in the White House from 1877 to 1881, once said, “To avoid even the appearance of evil, I think sometimes I have unnecessarily deprived myself and others of innocent enjoyment.”

President Hayes deprived no one of innocent enjoyment when he approved egg rolling and egg hunting for the first time on the White House lawn, a tradition that remains today, at least unless it is cancelled due to sequestration …

I encourage you not to deprive yourself this Sunday. Celebrate the miracle of the resurrection.

If you choose to do so at Steeple on the Beach, please know we will have an Easter bunny and an Easter egg hunt for the children at 9:45 a.m. between Easter Sunday worship services! Why? Because children and church are the perfect match made in heaven!

Join us Holy Saturday at 6 p.m.in historic Briggs Hall to watch Mel Gibson’s movie “Passion of the Christ.” There is no charge for admission and refreshments will be provided.

Join us for a spectacular Easter Sunday Celebration at 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. in our beautiful sanctuary. The message this weekend is “Conquering the Inevitable” based on the 15th chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians.

Reverend Andrews is Minister at Community Presbyterian Church of Deerfield Beach (Steeple on the Beach) located five blocks south of Hillsboro on AIA. www.communitych.org or find us on Facebook.

Comments Off on CLERGY CORNER: Easter traditions “Sacred and secular”

Michael Brewer arrested on drug charges

Posted on 21 March 2013 by JLusk

Michael BrewerAt 1:44 a.m., on Thursday, March 21, Michael Brewer, known for the incident in Oct. 2009 in which he was set on fire by other teens, was arrested on drug charges and booked at the Palm Beach County Jail.

It is reported he was stopped for making a u-turn on a red light and, as the officer patted him down, he discovered substances which tested positive for marijuana and crack cocaine. While the other occupants of the vehicle had nothing illegal on them, other drug paraphernalia was found in the vehicle, including 24 glass bongs, 14 glass pipes,  three pills of oxicodone 30 mg, an empty prescription bottle of morphine, empty pill containers, a drug grinder and cigarette papers. The officer also reported a strong smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

Look for an update on this story in next week’s Observer.

 

 

Comments Off on Michael Brewer arrested on drug charges

Murphy attains success in and out of the boxing ring

Posted on 21 March 2013 by LeslieM

Pages 09-16By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach’s Jordon Murphy has enjoyed success in and out of the boxing ring. The 13-year-old Murphy recently took second place in the National Silver Gloves Championships in Independence, Missouri and was also presented a proclamation at the March 5 City Commission meeting.

“It is very humbling,” said Murphy, who has been boxing for the Deerfield Beach BSO-PAL for the past five years. The two-time national boxing champion has logged more than 500 community service volunteer hours. “I go around picking up trash and help with art festival and do other things around the community.”

It is a tall order for Murphy, who dropped a narrow decision to New Jersey’s Malik Nelson in the championship bout of the 75-pound division.

Murphy, who won the state and regional silver gloves titles to reach the national finals, is also an outstanding student in the classroom with a 3.4 GPA at Lyons Creek Middle School.

Murphy, a seventh-grader, runs track for Lyons Creek Middle School, wrestles for the Deerfield Beach BSOPAL and plays Little League baseball.

“I like (boxing) a lot,” said Murphy, who won national titles in 2010 and 2012. “It is the best sport I do. I like fighting and training to get ready for the big tournaments. I train Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for two hours a day. I want to be a professional.”

“I think the best part is training for a fight because it helps me get conditioned,” Murphy added. “It helps me in school, and if I am doing track, it helps me with my energy and stuff in other sports.”

Murphy said he wasn’t disappointed with his performance at this year’s national competition because he tried his best.

“It has been a pleasure to watch him grow as a person and as a boxer,” said Deerfield Beach BSO Deputy Butch Santy, who heads the PAL program. “The one constant about Jordon is his desire to win and his willingness to put in the hard work to be one of the best boxers, poundfor- pound, in the country.”

Murphy’s coach, Steve Collazo, said he’s proud of his boxer’s accomplishments.

“He’s been tremendous,” Collazo said. “Jordon is one of the hardest workers in the gym and then he gives back to the community. He’s at everything … the DJ Program, the tutoring program … He boxes, does wrestling and baseball. He’s always busy.”

The program is free and Collazo said there are 10 boxers in the competitive program and between 35-40 in the recreational program. Collazo also said there were about 10 who just train.

“We work hard to give these kids the opportunities,” Collazo said with a smile. “The price they pay is the community service to the people who help us keep this going. They pay with their sweat and effort, so it really isn’t free.”

Comments Off on Murphy attains success in and out of the boxing ring

FLICKS: “Koch”

Posted on 21 March 2013 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

New York Mayors are colorful characters; Jimmy Walker, Firorello La Guardia and Rudy Guiliani come to mind. Each individual represented a distinct era of their time. The documentary Koch is a slice of 1970s and 1980s Manhattan history.

Mayor Ed Koch’s threeterm reign is a lesson in political reality. Opening with great 1970s Studio 54 disco images and closing with images of electrified Manhattan, we see a principled individual who does not change, while the world around him changes.

Director Neil Barsky presents his lion in winter.

Although he has been out of office since 1989, Ed Koch has remained a political influence as a book writer, talk show commentator and fellow movie columnist. A lifelong Democrat, Koch earned Republican respect because the mayor referred to himself as “a liberal with sanity.”

During the AIDS hysteria of the mid 1980s, Mayor Koch was presented as just another uncaring politician. Although the Koch Administration took steps in AIDS prevention for the city, the residue anger zapped Koch’s political mobility. Aggressive AIDS advocates also publicly questioned Mayor Koch’s sexual orientation.

Given this invasion into his privacy, Ed Koch gives a public response that is R rated. However, Koch is a very approachable documentary. In his eighties, we see Koch as a political power broker who is very family-orientated. He shares a Yom Kippur meal with his family and attempts to see his niece when she is performing in a New York concert. We see a man who takes 10 pills a day and who visits Trinity cemetery, his future resting place. Despite his Jewish heritage, Koch takes pride in being interred in “a W.A.S.P.” graveyard.

His honor died right after when the documentary Koch made its New York premier. This film is a celebration of life and is an entertaining piece of history.

Comments Off on FLICKS: “Koch”

CRIME WATCH

Posted on 21 March 2013 by LeslieM

DEERFIELD BEACH

March 15 A man reported his car stolen from 1110 S. Military Trail.

March 15 A woman reported that her husband was kidnapped from 900 NE 48 St., Lot 63. She saw him driving a vehicle with another man in the vehicle. She called him on his cell phone. He answered and said that the man next to him had a gun and that he was the victim of a carjacking.

March 16 A home at 4329 NW 3 Ave. was broken into and two laptops, an iPhone, three watches, a camera, camera earphones, $500 in cash, and a box of quarters valued at about $400 was stolen. Total loss was estimated at $3,245.

March 16 A woman reported her home at 4331 NW 3 Terr. broken into and ransacked. She said a laptop and a camera were stolen.

March 17 A man was arrested at 417 NE 1 Ave. on an active violation of probation warrant for delivering cocaine.

March 17 A man reported his utility trailer stolen from 1601 SW 11 Way.

March 17 A woman parked her car at Target at 1200 S. Federal Hwy. When she exited, a man knocked her down, stole her purse and fled in a gray-colored vehicle being driven by a woman.

 

DEERFIELD – District 4

March 9 Burglary was reported at 1520 S. Powerline Rd. at 4:09 p.m. A business vehicle, 2012 Ford van, was parked at the rear of the location overnight. An An unknown suspect gained entry and unlocked the rear cargo door. Once inside, the suspect removed a spare tire from the cargo area. Estimated loss was $200.

March 11 Conveyance burglary was reported at Radio Shack, 3760 W. Hillsboro Blvd. Victim stated that approximately 7:30 p.m., two unknown females entered the store and remove a power adapter.

 

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

March 11 A man reported a burglary on his boat at 2530 NE 31 Court. A Garmin GPS valued at $5,500 was stolen.

March 11 A boat burglary was reported at 2520 NE 31 Court. Two Garmin GPS units were stolen. The owner estimated the loss at $14,000.

March 11 A man doing work on a home at 2611 NE 18 Terr. reported sod stolen. He estimated the loss at $150. Remember if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately.

Comments Off on CRIME WATCH

Advertise Here
Advertise Here