Fourth of July Happenings in Blue!

Deerfield Beach

Thursday, July 4, noon to 9 p.m.

Main Beach Parking Lot 149 SE 21 Ave. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Food, arts and crafts, kid’s zone, live music and fireworks beginning at 9 p.m. See Pg. 1 for more information on parking/ shuttle service.

Band line-up:

Brian J Cline______________________ 12:30 -1:15 p.m.

Keba________________________________1:15- 2 p.m.

Bill Hartmann________________________2-2:30 p.m.

The Hucklebucks____________________2:30- 4:30 p.m.

**(Matt Edrington)__________________3:15- 3:45 p.m.

Steve Minotti Band__________________4:30- 6:30 p.m.

**(Paul Allen Christoper)_____________5:15- 5:45 p.m.

Ciara Rae__________________________6:30- 8:30 p.m.

For information, call 954-480-4429 or visit www.deer field-beach.com/4thofjuly.

 

Pompano Beach

Thursday, July 4, starts at noon

Pompano Beach Fishing Pier 222 N. Pompano Beach Blvd. Pompano Beach, FL 33062

12 p.m: Watermelon eating contest, relay races, arts and crafts, airbrush and glitter tattoos, bounce houses, food and live entertainment.

2 p.m: Bands — 4th Dimension, Slip & the Spinouts, Rodeo Clowns and Sekond Nature. Followed by game show “What’s the Deal?”

9 p.m: Fireworks. No glass containers, alcohol, pets. For more information, call 954-786-4111.

 

Boca Raton

Thursday, July 4, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Countess de Hoernle Park 1000 NW Spanish River Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33432

6:30 p.m: Family activities

7 p.m.: All-Star Band playing Rock & Roll from the ‘60s and ‘70s.

9 p.m: Fireworks

FREE. Food available for purchase. Open grills and alcoholic beverages personal fireworks, and pets prohibited. 561-393-7807.

 

West Boca Raton

Thursday, July 4, 6: 30 p.m.

12551 Glades Rd. Boca Raton, FL 33498

FREE. The Shindigs kick-off the event performing classic hits from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s accompanied by several costume changes. Following the concert will be a musical fireworks display by Zambelli Fireworks. Food trucks will be on-site. Picnic baskets and lawn chairs permitted. No BBQs, pets or personal fireworks allowed. 561-488-8069

—————————————————————————————

 

Sushi & Stroll Summer Walk Series

Friday, July 5, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.

4000 Morikami Park Rd. Delray Beach, FL 33446

Stroll through gardens, try something from Cornell Café, shop at museum store or listen to Fushu Daiko playing drums. $8 adults, $6 children (4-10) (museum members and children 3 and under FREE); $2 for taiko performance (optional). Reservations not required. For more information, visit www.morikami.org or call 561-495-0233.

 

Voice lessons

Saturday, July 6, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Source 230 Lock Rd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Hosted by Gene Townsel. 561-436-0868.

GREEN MARKET

Sunday, July 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Indoor Sports Complex 3650 SW 10 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Every Sunday through Sept. 29. Fresh food and veggies, as well as herbs, soaps, baked items, prepared items, doggie treats and more. 561-299-8684.

Deerfield Beach Democratic Club

Monday, July 8, noon

Le Club 3501 West Dr. Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Guest speaker: Dr. Brenda A. Snipes. Lunch to paid up members.

Zonta Club of Boca Raton meets

Wednesday, July 10, 6 p.m.

The Holiday Inn 2809 S. Ocean Blvd. Highland Beach, FL 33487

Dinner meeting. For info, call 561-482-1013.

Art gallery opening

Thursday, July 11, 5 to 10 p.m.

144 S. Federal Hwy. Boca Raton, FL 33432

Art by Isolda Mora-Noli. 561-574-3515.

Do you realize how blessed we are to live in this great country where we can hear the thunderous sounds of fireworks and firecrackers and not worry that those loud bangs and booms are the sounds of bombs set off by terrorists?

As I watched the display, I thought about what it must have been for the likes of my Bubbe and Zaide (for my grandmother and grandfather) to have crossed the ocean, being fortunate enough to be able to get out of their native country and land on these hallowed shores, making America their home and having faith that their progeny would experience a freedom in America that they could never know from whence they came.

Yes, I am gung ho about America and I am gung ho about freedom, but please notice that the word is ‘freedom’ … not “free-dumb.” With freedom comes great responsibility. So, as we celebrate the 4th, I hope you will take some time to contemplate your responsibilities to G-d, to the world, to America, to your fellow human beings and to the environment.

In the Torah, we are told that we are to be “A light unto the nations.” As I looked at the dazzling display of fireworks in the sky, I remembered those holy words and I thought about how we kindle lights each Shabbat.

The next time you light those lights, take time to look at the flames on the candles. Have you ever noticed which way the flames go? They go up into the air, up toward the sky.

Let this be a reminder that if we wish to be a light unto the nations, then we have to remove some of the darkness that others are experiencing. And, if you are wondering how we remove darkness, look at the flames of those candles again. Let the fact that the flames reach up toward the sky remind us that we should always strive to lift others up, to lighten them up.

To lighten up has many meanings in our modern world. Someone who wishes to lose weight might lighten up on the number of calories they consume or lighten up on their carb intake. Someone who is taking things too seriously might need to lighten up.

I saw a patient the other day. He was obviously having trouble seeing the light in the midst of the darkness he was experiencing, and the physician treating him asked me if I could stop in and try to lift his spirits. As I walked into the room, his facial expression said it all, and his body language made his mood even more obvious.

Thinking out of the box, I told him about my recent visit for my annual physical, where after finishing examining me, the doctor said, “Rabbi, you are as strong as an ox.” That sounded great to me, but, then, he continued, “The only thing is that the ox is very old, eats too much and is in failing health.”

And, at that moment, the patient I was trying to comfort put a grin on his face and said, “Rabbi, I guess the ‘Yokes’ on you!”

The joke may have been lame, but as I left the room, that patient was still smiling. Life is truly a miracle. On the one hand, words can put someone into bad humor; on the other hand, sometimes even bad humor can lift a person’s spirits.

G-d Bless America!

P.S. – Don’t worry; I actually got a great report from my doctor.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the spiritual leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach. High Holy Days tickets are now on sale in the Temple office off of Hillsboro and Military. Regular Shabbat services are open to everyone on Saturday mornings from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

BSFR was dispatched to a fire inside the cooking are of the McDonald’s on Hillsborough at 10:21AM Wednesday Morning, July 3rd, 2012. Firefighters arrived to find one of the oil cookers involved. Firefighters quickly knocked down the blaze and pulled the fire outside. No injuries were reported. McDonald’s was evacuated during the knock down. Full Story in Observer July 11th Issue.