| July, 2015

Junior lifeguards compete at state tourney

Posted on 30 July 2015 by LeslieM

sports073015By Gary Curreri

More than 400 junior lifeguards competed in the 5th annual Junior Lifeguard State Championships recently on Ft. Lauderdale Beach.

Pompano Beach led the way with 60 competitors, while Deerfield Beach brought 27 junior lifeguards.

There were three primary age divisions in the state event including A Division (ages-14-17); B Division (ages 12-13); and C Division (ages 9-11) and an introductory Grommets Program (for 7-8 year-olds who are not yet qualified to join the Junior Lifeguard Team).

Pompano Beach’ Shannon Snell, 17, a senior at Cardinal Gibbons High School, is no stranger to the competition and turned in a stellar performance winning the Girls A Division of the beach flags event in addition to the surf swim and the run-swim-run.

Snell, who has been a junior lifeguard for nearly eight years, competed in last year’s World Championships in France last year where she placed 10th in beach flags; 6th in the 100-meter dash and 10th in the paddle.

It was really epic to represent our country,” said Snell, who competed for the Pompano Beach junior lifeguard competition. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Admittedly, there is a lot of pressure being at a world level and in a high performance competition she said, “you need to know what you are doing.”

I am going to remember everyone I competed with and the teamwork,” she added. “Just the part of racing with each other and working together… and making friends for life … We know each other and learn new tricks every year from each other.”

Deerfield Beach’s junior lifeguards was led by Daniel Padron, who won the B Division of the beach flags event, while Pompano Beach also got a strong performance from Summer Schulte, who won the B Division in the paddle, run-swim-run and surf swim. There were seven events – beach flags, paddle, run relay, run-swim-run, paddle relay, surf swim, and the ironguard.

Local winners in the beach flags were Shannon Snell (Pompano Beach, Girls A Division); Daniel Padron (Deerfield Beach, Boys B Division); Christian Quinones (Pompano Beach, Boys C Division).

Winners in the paddle were Andre Bacic (Deerfield Beach, Boys A Division); Nicholas Calice (Pompano Beach, Boys B Division); Summer Schulte (Pompano Beach, B Girls Division); Jake Schulte (Pompano Beach, Boys C Division); Tamara Backers (Deerfield Beach, Girls C Division); Reef Coote (Pompano Beach, Boys D Division) and Victoria Vanacore (Pompano Beach, Girls D Division).

Winners in the Run-Swim- Run competition were Race Wilhoit (Pompano Beach, Boys A Division); Shannon Snell (Pompano Beach, Girls A Division); Christian Henderson (Pompano Beach, Boys B Division); Summer Schulte (Pompano Beach, Girls B Division); Jake Schulte (Pompano Beach, Boys C Division).

Winners in the Surf Swim competition included Shannon Snell (Pompano Beach, Girls A Division); Christian Henderson (Pompano Beach, Boys B Division); Summer Schulte (Pompano Beach, Girls B Division) and Samantha Escobar (Pompano Beach, Girls D Division).

The state championships were a precursor to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) regional competition recently in Daytona Beach. The national USLA competition will also be held in Daytona Beach on August 5.

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FLICKS: Ant-Man

Posted on 30 July 2015 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

Thus far, two studios have dominated the box office, Disney and Universal. 2015 will be remembered for Universal’s blockbusters Jurassic World, Furious 7 and 50 Shades of Grey, while Disney featured family favorites like Avengers: Age of Ultron, Inside Out and Cinderella. Currently Disney’s Ant-Man is keeping box office momentum surging during this record-breaking summer.

Being part of the Marvel Comics Universe, Ant-Man is both a stand-alone movie and another chapter of The Avengers, Iron Man, Thor, Captain America universe. For entertainment purposes, this film stands alone with multiple “Easter eggs” found in the fabric of the film.

Meet Hank Pym (Michael Douglas), a gifted scientist who works in association with Agent Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) and S.H.I.E.L.D., circa 1989. Professor Pym discovers a scientific breakthrough, but he does not want to share it with S.H.I.E.L.D., an organization that he is losing faith in. Pym goes into exile and contemplates his family’s future.

Enter Scott Lang (Paul Rudd), a divorced father who spent time in jail for stealing money from a thieving corporation to give it back to those who lost it. Lang has a hard time landing a rent-paying job and has a harder time providing child support for his adorable daughter. Despite his prison record, Professor Pym spots a nobler quality in Lang and recruits him.

From the movie poster alone, one can deduce that Pym’s scientific breakthrough is to create a suit that shrinks a normal-sized man to the size of the ant, while obtaining extra strength and faster speed. Like Mickey from the Rocky series, Pym trains Lang to be the best Ant-Man he can be.

Not since Captain America: The First Avenger has Marvel provided us with an origin story. It is a timely move that reboots the franchise for people entering Phase 2 of the Marvel Universe and reduces the complication of knowing the relationships between many costumed characters.

In fact, the scale is so reduced that the big showdown occurs in a children’s bedroom, with sly nods to a child’s evening spent reading comic books and playing with non-electronic games.

Ant-Man delivers good old-fashioned popcorn-eating Saturday Matinee fun and may be the last hurrah for the blockbuster summer of 2015.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 30 July 2015 by LeslieM

DEERFIELD BEACH

July 13 A women working at a Sprint store at 29 S. Federal Hwy. reported that a man stole a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 phone from a display case. He escaped in a car. While in the process of escaping, he backed into another car and then left the parking lot.

July 13 A business at 3650 SW 10 St. was broken into and a meter room was entered. The suspect stole copper wire from the meter room and then entered the second floor and stole two stationary bikes.

July 15 Someone entered a patio area of a home at 917 SE 16 St. and attempted to steal patio furniture.

DEERFIELD – District 4

July 11 Auto theft occurred in Riverglen at 577 NW 48 Ave., Deerfield Beach. Victim’s vehicle, 2006 white, 2-door Acura RSX was stolen from driveway of home.

July 15 Burglary conveyance took place in Waterford Homes at 2730 SW 15 St., Deerfield Beach. Unknown subjects took tools from the vehicle.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

June 30 A male subject was observed taking a package of underwear from a shelf and leaving the store at 3722 N. Federal Hwy. without paying for it. The merchandise was valued at $19.99. Subject was apprehended outside the store.

June 30 A kayak and paddles were stolen from a dock at the rear of an apartment complex at 2500 NE 36 St. Loss were $100.

July 2 A subject purchased a vehicle from a resident at 3050 NE 48 St. and left a small deposit. The victim said the subject never paid the remainder of what was owed and now the subject has disappeared. When police went to the subject’s residence, they found he had been evicted a month earlier and had a history of fraud.

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HAPPENINGS

Posted on 30 July 2015 by LeslieM

Meeting RE: Burial Ground

Saturday, Aug. 1, 7 p.m.

Leo J. Robb Gymnasium 435 SE 2 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Community get-together to discuss options for preservation of site. Hosted by former Deerfield Beach Commissioner Ben Preston.

4th Annual Country Music Festival

Saturday, Aug. 1

Main Beach Parking Lot Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Listen to country music, browse through booths, including arts and crafts vendors, while enjoying the ocean breezes. Food and beverages from local restaurants will be available. Come and spend a day at the beach with the family while listening to a variety of country music entertainers. Along with the great music there will be a Classic Car Show Exhibition presented by JM Family, an assortment of local foods and cold beverages as well as arts and craft vendors. See pg 1 for schedule.

Brown Bag Clothing Drive

Saturday, Aug. 1, 9 a.m. to noon

St. Mathews Church 405 SW 3 St. Delray Beach, FL 33444

Donation of $5 gets bag full of clothes (Infants to teen sizes). Proceeds benefit All People’s Day Diversity Festival.

Dog social

Beginning Sunday, Aug. 2 5821 NE 14 Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33334

Get out of the heat and have fun with your dog and other dog owners. Clean, inside, air conditioned training facility. Room to run and play. Cushioned floor, tunnels, jumps and challenges. Small dogs 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., large dogs noon – 1 p.m. Must call to register. Limited to six dogs per session. 954-328-0864.

Old Pompano Civic Assoc. meeting

Monday Aug. 3, 7 p.m.

Emma Lou Olson Civic Center 1801 NE 6 St. Pompano Beach, FL 33060

BSO reports on neighborhood, Commissioner Hardin reports, neighborhood happenings and public input.

Midnight Magic

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 6:30 p.m.

Percy White Library 837 E. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

See some magic at this fun event, with magician Gary Midnight.

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CLERGY CORNER: Family Matters

Posted on 30 July 2015 by LeslieM

One evening recently, my wife and I stopped into a small boutique shop in our neighborhood after dinner.

While browsing, I spotted a decorative plaque that read: Remember, as far as anyone knows, we are a nice, normal family.

The shopkeeper noticed my chuckle and said the plaque had been a huge seller.

My interest was piqued. I went home and did some research on the licensing of this quote. Turns out, it’s being printed on everything from coasters to clocks, and sales have skyrocketed in the last few years.

Why do so many people relate to the sentiment? Because, deep down, we all feel like our families aren’t what they should be.

There are skeletons in our closets. There are old scars and new wounds left by broken marriages, wayward children and countless disappointments.

Most of us even worry at one point or another that our families may border on being (gasp) dysfunctional. So we do our best to portray a nice, normal image to the on-looking world.

Here’s some comforting news: Every family is dysfunctional. The question is to what degree?

Family can be a source of support and grounding, but it can also be a hotbed for conflict and unresolved tensions. Thankfully, there are steps you and I can take to help keep our families strong and filled with love:

Focus on God – Establish your family on a solid foundation by focusing on God.

Start by taking time to pray together every day. If you aren’t in the habit of praying as a family, it may be awkward at first. Don’t let that stop you. The cliché is true: The family that prays together stays together.

Forgive Quickly – Every family is made up of flawed human beings. You’re not perfect and neither are those closest to you, so you aren’t going to get through life without being hurt. Decide to forgive your family members of their wrongs quickly. Showing grace and allowing for each other’s mistakes is the oil that keeps the machinery of family running.

Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Prioritize Quality Time

Investing time in family members is essential to deepening relationships and keeping things on course. Build more family time into your routine:

Have Dinner Together. Several times per week, have dinner as a family.

The dinner table is where community is built.

Celebrate Successes and Special Occasions: Birthdays, graduations, weddings and holidays are powerful times to reconnect with family and focus on God’s blessings.

You and I have a responsibility to create healthy families, but we have to simultaneously turn them over to God. We can build foundations, but we can’t control outcomes.

As we put God first and then let go and trust him to work out his purposes, He will.

In the process, he’ll build strong, beautiful families who display his unconditional love to the world.

I would love for you to join me at The Journey – Boca Raton this Sunday at 9:30 or 11 a.m., as we continue our teaching series about a guy who knew a few things about family dysfunction and other hardships, Joseph: From Pit to Pinnacle.

As our guest, you’ll receive a free copy of Unshakable: How to Stand Strong Through Life’s Storms – an essential guide to weathering the inevitable difficulties we all face. Visit www. bocajourney.com for more details. I hope to see you there!

Nelson Searcy is the founding pastor of The Journey Church in Boca Raton.

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Pickup plummets off Hillsboro Bridge, bridge being repaired

Posted on 25 July 2015 by JLusk

pio

Photo by Mike Jachles (BSFR/ PIO)

At approximately 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, after a crash with another vehicle in the westbound lanes of Hillsboro Boulevard, a grey pickup careened about 30 feet off the bridge and onto the access road below as it crossed the Intracoastal Waterway, according to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue Public Information Officer (BSFR PIO) Mike Jachles.

Lucky for the driver, the pickup landed on the road and not in the water.

“It was just a few feet from the Intracoastal. The vehicle could have ended submerged,” Jachles said. “Fortunately, there was no one beneath where the car landed. We couldn’t have imagined a better outcome for this.”

When responders arrived, the driver was out of his vehicle. The other man involved in the crash appeared to be alright as well. While the second man in the crash refused medical attention, the man in the pickup was transported to Broward Health North to make sure he was okay.

The scene was in clear view of the diners at Two George’s at The Cove, who got quite the show. Luckily, the drivers involved in this incident walked away from the situation, which could have been much worse.

Bridge inspector Fred Schonis said he has never seen a car go off this bridge before.

“I have seen two [cars go off bridges] in 27 years. This one and the old 17th Street years ago,” he said.

He said the bridge is currently under repair and expects the job to be complete by the end of the week.

He said they have to replace the handrail, fix the bent guardrail and replace the no parking sign beneath the bridge.

 

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Bucks hoping for big things & Simply Soccer

Posted on 23 July 2015 by LeslieM

Bucks hoping for big things

By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach High School football coach Jevon Glenn has put together quite the summer program with hopes of returning the school back to prominence.

Glenn has taken the Bucks on a whirlwind tour of college programs, 7-on-7 tournaments and football camps with hopes of winning a state title. Glenn took many of his athletes on two college tours from June 5-15 and hit many big name schools. Former Bucks running back Denard Robinson, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, has been a regular during the offseason.

I am very excited,” said Glenn, a 1996 graduate of Blanche Ely, where he played football and basketball, and replaced former Bucks coach Allen Jackson in the spring. Jackson resigned in December after four seasons. “We have done a lot of great things in the offseason and we are looking forward to getting started.”

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’s tradition rich,” said Glenn, who will tackle his first varsity head coaching job after having spent eight seasons coaching Deerfield Beach’s junior varsity squad and holding several positions with the varsity. “There is a good buzz about the program and we made it a priority to keep our kids as Deerfield kids.”

Glenn said during the past couple of years, players left the school to play for other programs – both public and private schools.

Rather than complain about it, we raised the quality of our program and a lot of those kids came back,” Glenn said. “Many of those kids played in the Deerfield Packer/Rattler youth football program.”

Among those players returning to their roots are two wide receiver transfers from Monarch High School – Cavin Ridley and Jerry Jeudy, in addition to Blanche Ely transfer Teddrick Moffett, a quarterback.

I think the trips we took created good team chemistry and opened up a lot of eyes with the colleges that these kids can play,” Glenn said. “We believe that we will be better disciplined this year and we can compete for a state championship.”

The Bucks will open the season on Aug. 28 when it hosts Cypress Bay High School.

sports072315Four weeks remain at Simply Soccer

There have been record numbers at Simply Soccer camps this summer.

Simply Soccer Camp, which has boys and girls, ages 5-14 of all skill levels, has attracted children from throughout Broward County for its 27th annual summer camp series at Mullins Park in Coral Springs.

The camp, which was featured during a live broadcast by CBS4 the day following the United States’ 5-2 victory over Japan in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, has four weeks remaining beginning Monday. They are: July 27-31; Aug. 3-7; Aug. 10-14 and Aug. 17-21.

There are three sessions ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a Tiny Tot program from 9 a.m. to noon. Players will be taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting.

It is the longest running soccer camp offered by the city. Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For information on the Coral Springs camp, call 954-345-2200.

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Scoop of the Century

Posted on 22 July 2015 by LeslieM

society072315By Rachel Galvin

When Renee Quinn perused Facebook a few months ago, she discovered something intriguing, a contest to create an ice cream flavor for Broward 100, which commemorates the county’s centennial.

So she started writing down flavor combinations that would embody the spirit of Broward.

Jaxson’s Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant, in Dania Beach, was in charge of concocting the submitted flavors into something feasible and six judges in total picked a winner. In the end, it was Quinn’s choice that won.

The final flavor, Caramel Mocha Coconut Crackle, was made with caramel, reminiscent of dulce de leche, to represent the Hispanic community; coconut, for a tropical flair, and chocolate crackle (like crunchy Magic Shell), as well as the richness of chocolate and mocha. Finally, it was topped with rainbow sprinkles to include the LGBT community.

It was a collaboration of my idea with Jaxsons’ owner Linda Udell Zakheim and General Manager Jerry Smith’s expertise. They wisely added caramel to the mix to balance the coffee and chocolate (mocha) and toasted coconut for the right amount of texture,” said Quinn, who is a resident of Deerfield Beach.

It took six weeks … each week eliminating, adding and tweaking until it came down to this flavor,” said Udell Zakheim, who took over when her father Monroe passed away. “Some ingredients made sense and some didn’t. Even though they were great ideas, they didn’t work together.”

Smith added, “It was a lot of fun. There were many that I want to try to make that didn’t fit the [Broward County] criteria – like French Toast and Maple Syrup and Glazed Donut.”

Gregg Weinberg was lucky to be one of the judges.

It was arduous,” he teased, adding, “It was more fun than judging American Idol. Eat your heart out!”

Quinn’s prize for winning was a “Kitchen Sink,” which is enough ice cream for four … or many more. She invited friends to come out on July 9 to taste her flavor and dive into the sink-full of goodness.

Jaxson’s, which originally opened in 1956 and has become a landmark for the whole family, is located at 128 S. Federal Hwy., Dania Beach. http://jaxsonsicecream.com.

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FLICKS: Cartel Land

Posted on 22 July 2015 by LeslieM

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

As Americans brace themselves for the presidential election, there is no doubt that border security will become one of the hottest topics. Beyond the political name calling, there are individuals on both sides of the fence who want a better future for their children.

Unfortunately, there are societal predators that prey upon the innocent and make life miserable for people on both sides.

The documentary Cartel Land opens with a cartel of predatory tics cooking crystal meth in the forest looking like a family found picnicking at Pioneer Park.

Spoken in Spanish with English subtitles, the patriarch acknowledges the evil of his product, but notes that people pay the cartel millions of dollars for his meth. The master criminal states, “Only God can stop us.”

The film then splits focus between north and south of the border. In Arizona, we see Tim “Nailer” Foley, a vigilante who tracks down illegal immigrants. A former drug addict, he had a moment of clarity, sobered up and felt that roaming the hills of Altar Valley was the best way to redeem himself from the past. We witness his hiking adventures.

We see Dr. Jose Mireles organize his own crime watch organization – Grupo de Autodefensa on Feb. 24, 2013. Autodefensa inspires the local population to eliminate their drug-pushing neighbors and eradicate major gangs such as the Knights Templar.

As inspiring as Dr. Mireles is, the glory gives way to government intrusion and political corruption. Cartel Land takes on a tragic tone and one sees a defeatist culture that gives into country bullies.

Director Matthew Heineman provides clarity. Though the emphasis features Dr. Mireles’s tragedy, the audience sees drug dealers cooking meth, not unlike Walter White’s cook from Breaking Bad. These details provide human complexity that goes beyond simple political rhetoric.

Cartel Land is on limited screens, but go see it. It may provide much insight before you cast your vote in 2016.

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CRIME WATCH

Posted on 22 July 2015 by LeslieM

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

DEERFIELD BEACH

July 6 A woman reported that someone entered her car parked at 1310 S. Federal Hwy. and stole a purse with $22 and credit cards.

July 6 A woman was issued a notice to appear in court after stealing $104 in merchandise from Bealls at 1079 S. Federal Hwy.

July 7 A man was arrested and charged with stealing $176.14 worth of merchandise from Home Depot at 60 SW 12 Ave.

DEERFIELD – District 4

July 10 Burglary conveyance took place in Trail Plaza, 2151 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Victim’s vehicle was entered into while he was at an overnight sleep study. A laptop was taken. There was no forced entry.

July 10 Property damage was reported in Deer Creek at 2527 Deer Creek Lakes Dr., Deerfield Beach. Unknown person(s) knocked down a street sign in Deer Creek overnight.

July 11 Burglary conveyance occurred at Deerfield Mall, 3748 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL. The rear passenger window was smashed on the vehicle.

July 11 Criminal mischief took place at Deerfield Mall, 3980 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL. Victim’s car was vandalized.

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

June 22 Someone stole a large amount of live fish bait from a well floating in a canal at 2318 NE 29 St. Loss was $2,500.

June 25 Two back flow valves were damaged in front of a car dealership at 5250 N. Federal Hwy. Damage was estimated at $1,000.

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