| January, 2015

Annunziata finishes 5th at U.S. Nationals

Posted on 29 January 2015 by LeslieM

sports012915By Gary Curreri

Lara Annunziata is all smiles following her strong performance at the 2015 Prudential U.S. Figure Skating Championships recently in Greensboro, NC.

Annunziata, 11, of Pompano Beach, took fifth place in the Intermediate Ladies Division. She was in fourth place following her short program and took sixth in her long program to finish fifth place overall. She was hoping for a Top 5 finish entering the competition and that’s exactly what she got.

I enjoyed the experience and the other skaters I competed against were very good,” she said. “I was happy to place in the Top 5 in the nation. I skated my best, but competition was tough,” said Annunziata, who also gets good grades in school.

Annunziata plans to move up a level to the Novice Division next year and said the experience at nationals would be beneficial to her in her future.

This experience will only help me get better,” she said. “I was the youngest in this competition and I competed with girls that had been there longer than me and who were older. It was my first experience at Nationals, and it was an incredible experience!”

It capped another solid effort by the Florida Panthers Figure Skating Club member, who also placed third in the regional and fourth in the sectionals to earn her trip to nationals.

I really don’t think of anything when I am out on the ice,” said Annunziata, a Shepherd of the Coast sixth grader. “I kind of go with the fl ow. I clear my mind. It is really important to go to sectionals in my first time at this level.”

She joined teammates Sophia Chouinard, who won the national title in Juvenile Girls, and T.J. Nyman, who won the national crown in the Intermediate Men’s Division.

Bucks win district soccer title

Deerfield Beach’s Romilaire Ambroise scored the goahead goal just three minutes into the second half and the Bucks held on for a 3-2 victory over Monarch for the District 12-5A championship at West Boca High School last week.

The Bucks (19-2-4) will host Palm Beach Central in the Class 5A regional quarterfinal on Thursday at 7 p.m.

The Bucks, which lost the district title game as well as the regional quarterfinal last season, won their third district championship under head coach Frantz Edouard.

We are a more organized and disciplined team defensively this season,” said Edouard, who lost the district title game as well as the regional quarterfinal last season. It was Edouard’s third district title at the school. “We were able to put a lot of pressure on them.”

Theodore Stanley scored twice within the first 10 minutes of the game to take Deerfield Beach to a 2-0 advantage. Monarch battled back to tie the game before Ambroise gave the Bucks the lead for good — just one minute after Monarch’s Rodrigo DaSilva equalized.

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FLICKS: Timbuktu and Selma

Posted on 29 January 2015 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

The best thing about the awards’ season is that interesting motion pictures are being released at local theaters. Timbuktu has been nominated for best foreign language motion picture, the first entry from Mauritania, a country from the continent of Africa. Timbuktu is a beautiful motion picture, but with a depressing theme about Sharia law. Not since The Stoning of Soraya M. has a motion picture so addressed the terrors of Islamic fundamentalism.

This film opens and closes with symbolism, a group of thugs race across the desert with automatic rifles — shooting at a racing deer, most likely a doe. Moments later, the thugs use sacred relics as target practice. The tone of the film shifts to a bucolic setting of farmers and cattle ranchers.

With low-key acting, we watch a husband and wife quietly discuss the affairs of the day. While under the tent, these individuals entertain themselves with stories and the playing of musical instruments. They talk about their dreams, expectations and a better future.

Yet, in town, we witness a primitive Orwellian world. The hooded thought police troll the streets in search of neighbors violating Sharia Law. Rumors, gossip and hearsay are treated as fact in the kangaroo court of the land. This surreal environment creates a distressing situation that eventually leads to multiple tragedies between honorable people and profane sycophants.

The word “Timbuktu” evokes exotic romance. Director Abderrahmane Sissako provides these expectations with glorious cinematography; but, he also creates a human story about a culture that is so foreign to the American way of life.

With much media hype, but modest box office gains, Selma has been nominated for best song and best motion picture. Much like last year’s Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Selma presents producer Oprah Winfrey’s perspective of civil rights history. Both films are entertaining with humane themes. Yet, when one walks out of Selma, one feels as if they sat in a historical lecture from a biased professor. The rhetoric veers toward propaganda with incomplete historical detail.

Most notably, the casting of British actors Tom Wilkinson and Tim Roth as President Johnson and Governor Wallace, respectively. The two British compatriots come across as stereotypical two-faced cackling villains, which detracts from David Oyelowo’s sincere performance as Martin Luther King Jr.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 29 January 2015 by LeslieM

DEERFIELD BEACH

Jan. 11 An iPhone 6 was stolen from a building at 123 NE 20 Ave.

Jan. 13 A man reported that his former employer pushed him into an ice cream cooler at a store at 290 Lock Rd.

Jan. 13 A man was issued a notice to appear in court after stealing two cell phones from Target at 1200 S. Federal Hwy.

Jan.13 A man reported his motorcycle stolen from 939 Siesta Key Circle.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Jan. 10 The victim said she was sitting in a vehicle at 2640 NE 48 St. when a subject known to her threw a brick paver through her driver’s side window. She believes it may have been in retaliation from an incident at work, where he was accused of stealing copper from a construction site they were working at. Damage was $260.

Jan. 10 A store employee noticed two female subjects taking items from the shelves and then leaving the store at 3700 N. Federal Hwy. without paying for them. They were trespassed from the store.

Jan. 11 A victim noticed a subject rummaging through her car at 3700 N. Federal Hwy. and called out to him. The subject fled into an awaiting vehicle. The victim noticed that her door lock had been punched. Damage was estimated at $200. Nothing appeared to be taken.

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HAPPENINGS

Posted on 29 January 2015 by LeslieM

5th Annual Two Georges at The Cove Billfish Tournament

Thursday Jan. 29 to Saturday, Jan. 31

2 Georges at The Cove Marina 1645 SE 3 Court, Ste. 211 Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Proceeds benefit The Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County. For information, call 954-427-0353.

Movies Under the Stars: The Boxtrolls

Friday, Jan. 30, 7 p.m.

The Great Lawn at the Beach Atlantic Boulevard & Pompano Beach Boulevard Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Movies also held Feb. 27 & March 27. Bring your lawn chairs, blankets and picnics. Free, family-friendly event. For more information, call 954-786-4111 or visit www.pompanobeachfl.Gov.

4th Annual Unity in the Community

Saturday, Jan. 31, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Community Park and Amphitheater 2001 NE 10 St. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Live entertainment, mobile arcade, bounce houses, face painting, BSO demo, raffle prizes, live auction with Mayor Lamar Fisher. For more info., call 954-586-1123 or visit www.ulcpompano.org.

FREE vision seminar

Saturday, Jan. 31, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Registration, 8 a.m.)

Student Union – Grand Palm Room 777 Glades Rd. Boca Raton, FL 33431

Vision Seminar for patients diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), retinitis pigmentosa and related retinal degenerative diseases. Space is limited. Registration: Call 800-993-8993 or visit www.FightBlindness.org/BocaSeminar.

Giant community yard sale

Saturday, Jan. 31, starts at 9 a.m. (rain or shine)

Hillsboro Cove Condominiums 1365 E Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Furniture, household goods, sporting goods, baked goods, etc.

Pompano Beach AAUW meets

Monday, Feb. 2, 12:30 p.m.

Pompano Beach Women’s Club 314 NE 2 St. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

After a brief membership meeting by American Association of University Women (AAUW) Pompano Beach, there will be a presentation and discussion on “Shakespeare and his View of Women.” Guest Speaker: Donna Bruno, book reviewer and AAUW Member. New members welcome. Free. For information, call 954-570-5423 or e-mail pompanoscholar@yahoo.com.

Sit ‘N’ Fit Chair Yoga classes

Tuesday, Feb. 3 & 5, 9 to 10 a.m.

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

For seniors unable to participate in standing Yoga or other exercise programs due to weakness, fatigue or fear of falling. Classes are every Tuesday and Thursday. $2 per class or $10 per month. Registration required and space is limited. Call 954-480-4463.

Coffee with a Cop

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 9 to 10 a.m.

Town Hall 1210 Hillsboro Mile Hillsboro Beach, FL 33062

Ask questions about safety concerns in your community.

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CLERGY CORNER: Why your words MATTER

Posted on 29 January 2015 by LeslieM

The words you speak on a daily basis are powerful. They carry more weight than you may realize. Not only do they shape your thinking and, therefore, determine your actions, they also direct your relationships, your accomplishments, and, ultimately, define your reality. Still, it’s easy to underestimate the significance of words because they are so commonplace. You are immersed in them on a daily basis like a fish in water.

Stepping back and choosing to see the power and impact of your linguistic habits takes intentionality. But, when you are able to do just that, you’ll begin to realize that every word you say has the ability to change your life for better or for worse. The first step in using what comes out of your mouth to create the life you’ve imagined is to recognize three essential truths about the nature of words:

1. Words are a gift from God. The ability to use words at all is a gift from God. He was the first one to harness the creative force of words – and he has entrusted you with the same ability to use words to create the world around you. Given the substantial nature of this gift, you can’t just throw your words around any old way you please; they contain too much power and carry with them too much responsibility.

2. Words can build up or tear down. As a kid, you probably chanted the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Even though it sounds good in theory, the phrase is just plain wrong. Words can hurt. I bet you don’t have any problem remembering the last harsh words that were spoken to you, or the last encouraging words you received. Other people’s words have incredible impact on your heart, as do your words on theirs. Keep this in mind as you speak to your spouse, your children, your friends and your coworkers.

3. The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your words. Words aren’t neutral. Every word that goes out has a consequence attached to it. How you speak to the people in your life will determine the quality of those relationships. How well you communicate with God through prayer will determine the quality of your connection with him. Your internal dialogue with yourself will determine the quality of your actions and interactions each day. When you consider all of these things together, it naturally follows that the quality of your very life is created by the words you speak. Using your words intentionally is crucial to living the life you’ve imagined.

As you become more conscious of the way you use language, you can begin to take advantage of its power to shape the life you want. In the process, you will be able to stop inadvertently sabotaging others and yourself with words that do nothing to help you.

To explore the power and significance of your words in more depth, be sure to check out my new book, Tongue Pierced: How the Words You Speak Transform the Life You Live (David C. Cook, 2015). Pick up your copy at Amazon. com, a book retailer near you or by visiting The Journey Church in Boca Raton. We would love to see you at our 9:30 or 11 a.m. service this Sunday! The Journey Church meets at Boca Raton High School.

Nelson Searcy is the author of 13 books and serves as the lead pastor of The Journey Church in Boca Raton. www.bocajourney.com.

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“Song of Solomon” at Wick Theatre

Posted on 22 January 2015 by JLusk

By Rachel Galvin
Song of Solomon - 01(3)

Tony-nominated Robert Cuccioli portrays Solomon. Photo by Amy Pasquantonio.

Who knew a Biblical love story could be so compelling, so heartfelt, so moving, so filled with romance, betrayal and compassion? Wick Theatre knew. Only on their second season, they are already gutsy enough to expand their repertoire and take a chance on something brand new. In a one-night-only presentation, “The Song of Solomon” delighted a sold-out house on Jan. 19. The show was originally at a festival in New York and then turned into a concert there, before coming here.

Written by Andrew Beall and Neil Van Leeuwen, this concert was a staged reading of what will soon be a full play headed eventually to Broadway. It covers the love story between Solomon and Almah, his building of the temple and the betrayal by those around him. The principal cast came from New York, including Tony-nominated actor Robert Cuccioli, who played subtlety with his emotion as Solomon; Ann McCormack who played an emotional Almah; Casey Manning, who caught everyone’s attention with his powerful Broadway belt; and the masterful Richard Abanes, whose heart-wrenching realization drew compassion from the crowd.

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In The Round Nashville Style IX LIVE

Posted on 22 January 2015 by LeslieM

americanrockad012215

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Stone leads Lions

Posted on 22 January 2015 by LeslieM

sports012215By Gary Curreri

What a difference a few years makes.

After being cut from the middle school team as an eighth-grader at Zion Lutheran, senior Keith Stone is making up for lost time.

The 6’8”, 230 lb. senior who averaged 28 points and six rebounds last season has the Lions primed for another postseason run. Zion Lutheran entered the week at 15-5 with narrow defeats to Cardinal Gibbons, Dillard, First Academy (Orlando), and Spring Valley and Dreher (both Columbia, SC).

When I got cut from middle school, I really didn’t feel like doing it then, and coach Francis (Bornelous) came and got me,” Stone, 17, of Deerfield Beach, said. “I worked real hard, spent the summer with him. He helped me out. He trained me every day for free, so I owe him the world. Look at me today. I am just doing my thing, getting better at basketball and learning the game.”

Stone, who played goalkeeper in a recreational soccer league and baseball before giving basketball a try when he enrolled at Zion Lutheran, has come full circle. He recently signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at the University of Florida next fall. His future college coach, Billy Donovan, was in attendance watching Stone play at the Kreul Classic holiday tournament in Coral Springs.

My old coach who cut me was proud of me and didn’t know I would turn out this way,” said Stone. “It helped me because it is the way my work ethic is set up. I like to work and I ain’t scared to work.”

It was hard in the beginning for Stone, who chose University of Florida over South Carolina, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia Tech and Alabama. Stone is rated a four-star prospect and the nation’s 100th best (No. 9 in Florida) prospect for 2015 by ESPN and a three-star (No. 127 overall) by Rivals.

At first, I didn’t want to play basketball anymore,” Stone said. “I didn’t want to do nothing. I stayed home, played my video games and just sulked. Then, I thought to myself that this man (Bornelous) wanted me to become better in basketball and I might as well take that chance because I didn’t get that chance in middle school. I went with him.”

Stone believes he has improved in his ball handling and stretching the defense in the last couple of years. He can step out and knock down 3s. He also believes his supporting cast is better.

Our team is much better this year,” Stone said. “We have been, as a whole, since our 9th grade year. We all know each other. We all love each other and, since we are together almost every day, the communication is great on the court.”

Zion Lutheran boys’ basketball coach John Guion said the Kreul Classic helped his team.

We had three great tests,” Guion said. “We played different kinds of teams and I just think it does a great job preparing us for what we are going to see in the playoffs and down the road.

The whole key right now for us is to continue to get better,” Guion added. “We continue to see different things so we are continually learning from those mistakes that we make and the success that we have. We had a considerable amount of success this weekend.”

Guion said the team has also shown that it has more than Stone.

Coming in, we know we have Brandon Bornelous ,who is a great shooter, and we know we have Keith, who is a dynamic weapon,” Guion said. “I wasn’t sure what the others around him were going to do. The best thing that I have seen is that we have a lot of people stepping up like Kevin Dailey, Rashad Witty and Edwin Louis. This is just a better collective team than we had last year. They are really good with each other.”

Stone is looking forward to the future.

Winning state this year would be the icing on the cake,” Stone said. “I’d love to finish out my senior season with a state ring and then I head off to Florida.”

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FLICKS: Song One & American Sniper

Posted on 22 January 2015 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

Much like his previous success with the Oscar winner Million Dollar Baby and the box office champion Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood’s American Sniper has managed to break a January box office record with an amazing $104 million gross.

It has garnered six Oscar nominations, including best picture and best actor (Bradley Cooper’s performance as Navy Seal shooter Chris Kyle).

The film opens in a most dramatic fashion. While stationed on a rooftop in Iraq, Kyle targets a woman and a boy. In his telescopic lens, Kyle spots a hand grenade. Should he take the shot or not?

The film flashes back to Kyle’s youth in Texas. A successful rodeo rider, Kyle watches CNN news and sees an American Embassy being bombed. He realizes his life’s calling – to protect and defend the people of the United States of America.

American Sniper focuses on Kyle’s four tours of duty. While on leave, Kyle and his wife, Taya (Sienna Miller) raises two kids and attempts to adjust to civilian life. Yet, Kyle is haunted by the soldiers he feels he is abandoning on the battlefield.

From the opening scene to the quiet closing credits, everything about this film feels appropriate. As “the Legend,” Bradley Cooper gives a genuine performance of stoic emotion. He is a true soldier who cannot acknowledge his vulnerability — even to the woman he loves. American Sniper deserves its Oscar and Box Office success.

For quieter fair, Song One opens tomorrow, starring Anne Hathaway and Mary Steenburgen. This is a quiet drama about a guitar singer who becomes brain damaged after being hit by a taxicab. His estranged sister Franny (Hathaway) tries to reconnect with her comatose brother through his interests.

Song One is a simple, sweet movie about musical therapy. Romance blooms, but that is not the focal part of this fascinating movie. This film is about the importance of reconnecting a loved one through art and entertainment.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 22 January 2015 by LeslieM

DEERFIELD BEACH

Jan. 1 A bicycle theft was reported at 1001 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Jan. 2 A man used a knife to cut headphones from a rack at Super Target, 3599 W. Hillsboro Blvd. The man then stole the headphones.

Jan. 5 An auto theft was reported at 1076 Harwood F in Century Village.

Jan. 5 A burglary to a vacant property was reported at 625 NW 2 Way.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Jan. 3 A subject attempted to open a fraudulent account at a bank at 3600 N. Federal Hwy. and cash an IRS check in the amount of $25,123.95 using a person’s identity. It is unknown if the check was fraudulent as well.

Jan. 3 The victim began preparing for a trip to Mexico and laid all of her jewelry out at her residence at 2231 NE 34 Court. She said she was placing it in a suitcase and had her cleaning company over and believes one of the employees may have taken the jewelry valued at $12,500. The owner of the company said he would talk to the employees.

Jan. 4 A subject was observed drawing graffiti on a sign outside a business at 3128 N. Federal Hwy. He was stopped by police and admitted to it. A check of the person revealed he was in possession of marijuana. He was taken into custody.

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