| April, 2015

Moroney named top swimmer in state; headed to UVA

Posted on 30 April 2015 by LeslieM

sports043015By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach’s Megan Moroney is looking forward to the next chapter of her career.

The 17-year-old senior at St. Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, who was recently named the Florida High School Dairy Association’s Female Swimmer of the Year, captured 13 state high school championships during the past four seasons.

This is such a great honor,” said Moroney, who won seven individual titles including four consecutive in the 100-yd. butterfly and three championships in the 200-yd. freestyle. She was also on three relays. “It’s definitely a great note to end my high school swimming on.”

Moroney, the top-ranked recruit in Florida and 16th overall nationally, is headed to the University of Virginia after signing her national letter of intent in the fall.

I loved everything about it,” Moroney said. “The campus, the coaches, the team, the academics …. it was exactly everything I could want in a school.”

She also considered Stanford and Duke. She said knowing where she was going helped take some of the pressure off her for her senior year.

It was a tough decision,” said Moroney, whose winning time in the 200-yd. freestyle (1:45.89) was the fastest time in the state in all four classifications. “Every school I was looking at was a really great school. I knew Virginia gave me the best combination of everything. I felt that would be where I would be.

One thing I liked about Virginia was they had a lot of help with the academics,” Moroney said. “They have tutors on hand whenever you need one. People are always checking on you to make sure your grades are good. They won’t let you do poorly.”

Moroney has also already qualified for the 2016 Olympic trials in the 100, 200 and 400 freestyles. She was one of the youngest swimmers in the 100-meter backstroke at the 2012 Olympic trials in Omaha, NE.

It was kind of hard to expect a best time at such a huge event with so much pressure,” said Moroney, who started attending St. Andrew’s in the sixth grade. She swam on the club team in the fourth grade after beginning her swim career for the Boca Barracudas Y team in the recreational league. “That was probably the scariest moment of my life and, looking out at an arena pool, it was cool, but it was totally scary. I was a lot younger, so I really wasn’t surprised that I didn’t do as well.”

St. Andrew’s School swim coach Sid Cassidy called Moroney Palm Beach County’s most dominant swimmer ever.

In addition to everything she accomplished in the pool, she has remained true to herself,” said Cassidy, who began coaching Moroney as a sixth grader. “She leads a well-balanced family life and is a top student at St. Andrew’s School.”

She was rightly recruited by every one of this nation’s top collegiate swimming programs and has selected the University of Virginia as her next stop on her journey,” Cassidy added. “No doubt the coaching staff in Charlottesville has to be smiling over the acquisition of this Golden Girl from Palm Beach County. We may never see another one quite like her.”

Stone named All-State

Zion Lutheran School senior Keith Stone was recently named to the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches and Source Hoops Class 2A All-State team.

The 6-ft., 8-in., 240-lb. forward, who recently signed his national letter of intent with the University of Florida, averaged 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists for the Lions. Stone committed to play for the Gators two days after his official visit last October.

It is close to home,” Stone said of his college choice. “My whole family loves them. Coach Billy (Donovan) is a Hall of Fame coach. He runs NBA style plays and that works for me.”

The four-year starter helped the Lions (20-8) advance to the Class 2A regional semifinals where it fell to Grandview Prep, 88-80.

Stone said he improved in his ball handling and stretching the defense in the last couple of years at the school and the four-star prospect was rated as the No. 97 player in the nation and 11th in the state of Florida, according to 247 Sports.

No. 1, he’s very selfless, so nothing’s ever been about himself,” Zion Lutheran coach John Guion said. “He’s a great passer and a great shooter. He has a solid post game, and he’s got a great perimeter game as well. His game will translate well to the next level.”

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FLICKS: Summer blockbuster season begins; don’t overlook independent films

Posted on 30 April 2015 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

With three superhero sequels and three years of multiple mixed media hype, Avengers: The Age of Ultron is destined to be coronated as the 2015 Summer Blockbuster Champion. The Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science is already reporting sold out shows this weekend. Those with access to Wikipedia can learn all the plot and character spoilers before even seeing the latest Marvel Comics epic.

For those unable to get a ticket for this film, there are plenty of opportunities to see thought provoking cinema. 24 Days is a serious French language movie that is timely. A young man is kidnapped and held for ransom because the criminals think he is from a rich family because they are Jewish. This film looks at the stereotypical perceptions that prolong the rescue and recovery of a victim. The film won the Jerusalem Film Festival Lia Award for discussing anti-Semitism in France and warning about when dangerous threats go unchecked.

Presented by Pedro Almodovar, Wild Tales is a Spanish comedy anthology about revenge. Writer/director Damián Szifrón takes six commonplace situations (wedding planning, car traffic), inflicts some conflict and creates a comedy of apocalyptic proportions. It will be exclusively screening at Cinema Paradiso in Ft. Lauderdale this weekend (www.fliff.com for details).

In two weeks, on May 8, the documentary Iris opens. The film focuses on Palm Beach resident Iris Apfel and her contributions to the world of fashion merchandising. She is a pure socialite who travels twice a year to Europe and has artwork on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Also opening the same weekend is Felix and Meira, a multicultural movie that premiered at the recent Toronto Film Festival. Felix and Meira are two individuals who live in the same neighborhood, but never met due to their religious upbringing.

On May 15, Tangerines opens. Nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Oscar for best foreign motion pictures, Tangerines is in both Estonian and Russian languages. This film features two opposing soldiers who are wounded, but end up being nursed in the same home.

As high school graduation rolls around in June, reserve a ticket for The D Train. Starring Jack Black, Kathryn Hahn and James Marsden. This comedy is about a high school reunion committee that is tasked with finding the most popular guy from high school. I wonder if he is a Marvel superhero.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 30 April 2015 by LeslieM

Remember, if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately.

DEERFIELD BEACH

April 11 A man reported that a man snatched a chain off his neck at 4677 NE 5 Ave.

April 13 A car parked at 1090 SW 4 Terr. was entered and $40 was stolen.

April 14 A woman reported her car stolen from the Home Depot parking lot at 60 SW 12 Ave.

DEERFIELD – District 4

April 24 Theft took place in Powerline Industrial Park at1371 SW 30 Ave. A city employee reported that unknown suspect(s) stole a Neptune 1” water meter owned by the city, from the front of the vacant industrial building. The loss was $112.

April 24 Retail Theft/ Shoplifting occurred at the Super Target at 3599 W. Hillsboro Blvd. Suspect was arrested after attempting to steal a vacuum valued at $599.99 from Target, where she removed its security device.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

April 1 Police responded to a disturbance at a fast food restaurant at 4830 N. Federal Hwy. where a subject was yelling and cursing at people in the drive-thru for no apparent reason. The subject was taken into custody.

April 3 Someone stole an anchor from the victim’s 1998 Pro Line 271/2 ft. boat parked behind a building at the 3180 block of N. Federal Highway. The loss was $315.

April 4 Someone stole a license plate from a vehicle while it was parked at 2200 NE 38 St.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Posted on 30 April 2015 by LeslieM

Relay For Life appreciates Community Support

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the Relay For Life of Deerfield Beach/ Lighthouse Point & Hillsboro Beach, we thank these wonderful communities and Deerfield Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) for the overwhelming support for our Relay — which took place April 18 and 19.

We could not have made this happen without our outstanding committee.

We had 40 teams, 360 participants, and we raised close to $100,000 to-date — and there is still money coming in.

Special thanks to the City of Deerfield Beach for providing the many resources that contributed to the success that it was.

We also appreciate the numerous sponsors and other businesses, including the Deerfield Observer, that supported us.

This was truly communities coming together to Finish the Fight and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Karen Hardy, Event Chair,

Deerfield Beach

Nona Breitenstein, Event

Co-Chair, Lighthouse Point

Drunk, obnoxious boaters and jet skiers

Dear Editor:

Here we are, again, dealing with dozens of drunk, obnoxious boaters and jet skiers who have spent the day at Boca Bash.

A large number of them feel entitled to tie their overloaded crafts to our private dock, disembark and get even more inebriated than they already were.

Our entire day is spent overseeing our property to limit the yearly damage.

They park their vehicles (often large trucks) and boat trailers completely up into our lawn, damaging sod, landscaping and sprinkler systems … and not returning until late evening.

They trash our dock waterway with bottles, cans and extremely foul language. When asked to leave our dock, we are threatened with physical harm. We are unable to leave or re-enter our street, as vehicles and trailers block our way. If we attempt to squeeze through, we are screamed at and threatened.

Although we are on a dead-end street, they race to the end, peel through the culde- sac and race back with no concern for the safety of our residents and families. Our police force is being paid, with our tax dollars, to referee fights of Boca residents who have no respect for Deerfield Beach nor for our officers.

The park, ramp and dock are torn up. Fence rails are destroyed.

We need more officer presence the entire day at the park, ramp and residential neighborhood.

Drivers are intoxicated, boats are overloaded without proper flotation devices, and no lighting for after dark.

Boca should be supplying personnel at their expense, not Deerfield’s.

Lynne Newberry

Deerfield Beach

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HAPPENINGS

Posted on 30 April 2015 by LeslieM

3rd Annual Destination Graduation

Thursday, April 30, 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Royal Fiesta 1680 SE 3 Ct. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Held by The Deerfield Beach Housing Authority (DBHA). Keynote Speaker will be former educator and broadcaster, Gregory Burton. DBHA will be honoring its graduating seniors who have earned a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 and above. Event rewards hard-working students who live in Section 8 public housing and low-income housing by helping them with graduation costs, including cap and gown rental, and yearbooks. For those students with 4.0 GPA and higher, they will pay for their class rings.

First Baptist of Pompano Anniversary

Saturday, May 2 & Sunday, May 3

First Baptist Church of Pompano Beach 138 NE 1 St. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Celebrate this momentous occasion. The church is 100 years old. Call for details: 954-745-6100.

Open house

Sunday, May 3, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We Love Dogs 5821 NE 14 Ave. Pompano Beach, 33334

Free fun for you and your dog at this air conditioned positive training facility. Games, demos, giveaways, CGC Testing. 954-328-0864.

Save the date: Rotary Scholarship Golf Tournament

Friday, May 8, 8 a.m. shotgun start

Deer Creek Golf Club 2801 Deer Creek Country Club Blvd Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

6:30 a.m. — Registration begins; 12:30 p.m. — Lunch & awards presentation. Hosted by The Deerfield Beach Rotary Club. Proceeds to Benefit Rotary Club Charities and Student Scholarships. For more information, call 954-610-3123. www.deerfieldrotarygolf.com.

Sun Fest is here

That musical extravaganza known as Sun Fest has begun and will run through May 3 in West Palm Beach. With musical acts from Stone Temple Pilots and Sammy Hagar to Fall Out Boy and Paramore, and much more, they have something for everyone. Plus, there is food and other vendors to explore, and a juried arts & crafts show. Get all the details at www.sunfest.com. Tickets are cheaper if you buy ahead!

Seeking auction items

Deerfield Beach Elementary PTA is seeking auction items for their upcoming 3rd annual silent auction, which will be held May 15 at the school. Proceeds benefit the school. If you have something you want to donate, call 954-778-5700.

Judaism decoded

New course on The Origins and Evolution of Jewish Tradition begins at the Chabad of East Boca (120 NE 1 Ave., Boca Raton, FL 33432) on May 5. This six-week class, which is held at 7:30 p.m. is an examination of Talmudic methodology, including questions about nature and legitimacy of rabbinic law and how Jewish tradition reacts to new circumstances and modern-day dilemmas. The course is conducted by Rabbi Ruvi New of Chabad of East Boca. People of all levels of knowledge able to attend.. Attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple or other house of worship. 561-394- 9770 or www.chabadbocabeaches.com.

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CLERGY CORNER: Are You Talking to Yourself?

Posted on 30 April 2015 by LeslieM

By Nelson Searcy

Go to any metropolitan city in the world – and even some not so metropolitan – and you will inevitably see someone walking down the street talking to himself.

Your tendency is probably to pity him for being disturbed. The irony is that you carry on conversations with yourself all the time, too – just not usually aloud.

Whether you’re aware of it or not, you talk to yourself all day every day through the thoughts you allow to fill your mind. So what are you saying to yourself? Are your thoughts working for you or against you?

Everything you choose to do or not do, say or not say, starts with the seed of thought. Your entire life is an outgrowth of what goes on in your mind. So getting a handle on the words no one hears but you is key to creating the life you are meant to live. Here are three practical steps to help you adopt better thinking:

1. Listen to your internal dialogue. Tune in to the script that’s constantly running in your own head. Too often, your thoughts and mine are on autopilot. We don’t give them much consideration. Or worse, we forget that we are their masters and we let them have their way with us. Remember:

You can’t always control the thoughts that pop into your head, but you can control what you do with them.

Thoughts only have as much power as you give them.

It’s not a sin to have a false or tempting thought pass through your mind. Let it go. The sin comes when you choose to indulge that thought, either by dwelling on or acting on it.

2. Take every thought captive. When God is working in your life, he will fill you with peace, love and joy. Those gifts will be thwarted if you refuse to let them take root and influence your thoughts. It’s up to you to resist habitual thought patterns and instead match your brain to what God is doing in your spirit. Be intentional about trapping and disposing of thoughts that don’t line up with his truth.

3. Replace old thinking with new. As you eliminate thoughts that don’t benefit you, replace them with new ones that do. Fill the newly vacant space in your mind with a more positive internal dialogue. There’s more than one way to think about every situation and event in your life. When you choose to see the positive, you are agreeing with God’s perspective – you are agreeing with his view of you, your circumstances and the people he has put around you. That alone will propel you toward a fuller, happier life.

On Mother’s Day, Sunday May 10 we’ll be celebrating the special day by providing free family portraits for everyone who attends. The Journey Church meets 9:30a.m. or 11a.m. at Boca Raton Community High School. There will be special programming for Kidz birth thru 5th grade too. For more, see www.bocajourney.com. I would love to see you there!

Nelson Searcy is the author of 13 books and serves as the founding pastor of The Journey Church in Boca Raton.

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Ely flag football team Hopes for playoff run

Posted on 23 April 2015 by LeslieM

sports042315By Gary Curreri

Blanche Ely High School senior quarterback Faitia Irving has seen a noticeable improvement in this year’s flag football team.

We are more experienced this year,” said Irving, who has guided the team to an 8-2 record this year. “The starting seven have played together for a while. In the past, everybody wanted to be a leader and that didn’t work. I had to step up as a leader.”

This is a lot of fun,” Irving said. “I like having the ball in my hand and making decisions. It’s a lot of responsibility, but I like that role. I have a lot of options on the team. I like to run or throw and, either way, we are going to score.”

Irving said she doesn’t feel any pressure playing football.

It comes easy to me,” said Irving, who started playing flag football as a sixth grader at Crystal Lake Middle School. “It is more fun to play flag football now because the team has gelled together. It is like a sisterhood.”

Irving said the team’s experience is carrying it this year. The team will open play in the District 27 tournament on April 27 at Deerfield Beach High School.

We have six seniors in the starting seven and the underclassmen look up to us and we have to lead by example,” Irving said. “I think we can go to states and win it. We hope to be as good as the (state champion) boys’ basketball team. It gives us motivation to go do it.”

In addition to Irving, the other seniors on the team being counted on are Latearia Perkins, Christa Vedrine, Stephanie Altidort, Brianna Lebrun, Ta’Marla Thorpe and Marie Lafosse. The team has already bettered last year’s record of 7-5 when it finished runner-up to Coconut Creek in the district.

We seem better than last year’s team,” said Tigers’ fourth year coach Clenner Goodman. “The team is more focused and they are taking things a little more seriously. I don’t have to work as hard. I don’t have to fuss as much. They are pulling themselves together.

My returners are taking more of a leadership role now,” Goodwin added. “They are more cohesive and playing more as a unit now. That is what was lacking last year. When I tell them to be someplace at a certain time, all of them are there. They are ready to play ball and they are enjoying winning.”

Bucks hire new gridiron coach

Jevon Glenn will be the new football coach at Deerfield Beach High School next season.

Glenn, a 1996 graduate of Blanche Ely, where he played football and basketball, replaces Allen Jackson, who resigned in December after four seasons.

The new Bucks coach will have his work cut out for him as the team is coming off of a 4-6 season in which the Bucks missed the playoffs. It was only the sixth time in school history, dating back to 1974, the Bucks finished with a losing record. It is Glenn’s first varsity head coaching job; he spent eight seasons coaching Deerfield’s junior varsity squad.

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FLICKS: The Clouds of Sils Maria

Posted on 23 April 2015 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

The Clouds of Sils Maria is a two-hour piece of visual poetry. But people who keep reviewing the Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer …for the 47th time … might not appreciate the slow pace, beautiful scenery and levels of emotional subtext. The film invokes memories of the 1970s, when Ingmar Bergman, Louis Malle and Francois Truffant films enjoyed the limelight on the marquee of art house cinemas.

The film opens on a crowded train. Valentine (Kristen Stewart) is the handler for veteran actress Maria Enders (Julliette Binoche), who is enroute to a film festival to accept a lifetime achievement award for her auteur director, Wilhelm Melchoir. Melchoir had directed a play that made Maria a young star … 20 years ago.

A hotshot new generation director wants to direct the same play and cast Maria as older rival. This forces Maria to escape to Sils Maria and contemplate. Taking Valentine with her, Maria escapes to the bucolic beauty of the white mountains. Despite having a constant companion who’s connected with current trends and fads in show business, Maria suffers from bouts of loneliness and a sense of impending mortality.

An Oscar winner for The English Patient, Juliette Binoche is Europe’s answer to Meryl Streep. With subtle nuance, Binoche makes her Maria Enders a full character, consistent with quirky contradictions. She is not afraid to let herself look ugly during emotionally revealing scenes. At age 50, Binoche holds her own in a brief skinny dipping scene with Kristen Stewart.

As she puts her Twilight years behind her, Stewart is garnering her best notices for her supporting work in this film, for which she won the Cesar Award in France, and also in Still Alice. Stewart’s Valentine first reveal presents a tough multitasking front for her boss. Yet, in the mountains of Sils Maria, Valentine’s emotional shield begins to crumble. The interplay between the 25-year-old Stewart and the 50-year-old Binoche resonates with a rare truth found in movies these days.

This film is full of subtle symbolism. Yet, director/ writer Olivier Assayas does not get bogged down with art house intentions, but creates some fine comedic moments between Binoche and Stewart. Some of the best laughout- loud moments involves Chloe Grace Morentz as the flaky female lead who will be portraying the young Juliette Binoche.

The Clouds of Sils Maria cannot compete with the box office juggernauts of 50 Shades of Gray or Furious 7. However, Juliette Binoche’s performance has haunted more than Dakota Johnson and Michelle Rodriquez.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 23 April 2015 by LeslieM

Remember, if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately.

DEERFIELD BEACH

April 6 A man stole a bottle of Gilbey’s from Walgreens at 1325 S. Military Trail.

April 6 A car parked at 2035 SW 15 St., a wallet with credit cards, and $180, were stolen.

April 6 A person entered Publix at 3740 W. Hillsboro Blvd. and stole $200 worth of meat.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

April 3 The victim left for work and when she returned, she noticed that a bench in front of her apartment at 2421 NE 36 Street was missing. Witnesses said they saw it by the trash and the victim has no idea why it was there. Loss was $100.

April 3 The victim, who lives at 2250 NE 26 St., said someone attempted to use the victim’s identity to file 2014 taxes. There was no loss.

April 4 Police observed a male and female subject walking through a shopping center at 5000 N. Federal Hwy. He approached them and said they were looking for cigarette butts. Police conducted a search and found them in possession of narcotics and paraphernalia

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Posted on 23 April 2015 by LeslieM

RE: Development on former Burial Ground

Dear Editor:

I have been following, with interest, the articles regarding the plot of land on 2 Avenue that may be the Burial Grounds of our black citizens many years ago.

I know it may be an “eyesore” to the condo residents adjacent to the property.

I understand this. However, to me, this “eyesore” is a hallowed ground. Since no one knows for sure, why must this be turned into a monetary project? This is part of the history of Deerfield and we should treat it with respect. Someone had suggested that it be turned into a little park. I believe that the occupants of that piece of hallowed ground would appreciate that. After all, this was old Deerfield Beach — they were here first — let’s keep them in their domain and not cover them with tall buildings. They deserve that.

Virginia French

Deerfield Beach

RE: Hillsboro Blvd. Lane Elimination

Dear Editor:

As a concerned citizen, I think the plans to eliminate one traffic lane in each direction on Hillsboro Boulevard east of Dixie to U.S. 1 or Federal Highway is questionable.

Common sense tells us that this is an idiotic plan that will fail and cause a traffic problem of unbearable consequences.

I do not know who the harebrained group is who came up with this plan. But do some studies and you will agree with me that this is impractical.

Traffic in the morning and afternoon is now over-capacity and we need more lanes to keep the traffic moving. Once the hi-speed rail is operating, there will be additional pressure on the traffic going east/west and west/east.

I beg you to look closer to elimination of two lanes of traffic in a highly-congested area.

Talk with the people who daily travel that section of Hillsboro Boulevard and listen to their concerns about the current traffic jams and long lines. Ask questions about how many light changes they have before crossing Dixie Highway – either east or west.

Also remember that most of the citizens are uninformed or do not care until the damage is done and then they start complaining. The main objective of Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) should be to move traffic at a safe pace – NOT impede the flow of traffic.

Ronald B. LaVergne

Deerfield Beach

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