RE: Pompano Dog Park

I enjoy taking my little dog to the Pompano Dog Park [Canine Corner Dog Park, 1101 N. Federal Hwy]. There are seven benches in the park. Five of them are fine. But the two new ones have horizontal slats instead of being grated like the other five, so it is very dangerous for little dogs like mine because when they jump up, their paws go right through. It is okay to have those types of benches in the big dog park, which they do, because big dogs will be okay when they jump up. But, for the little dogs, it is very dangerous. I have contacted the park about this, but have heard nothing. I have stopped going to the park because it is not worth my dog getting hurt. You can’t watch your dog every minute and the whole point is to let your dog run free. I know a lot of other dog owners who have also stopped going because of this. I am hoping this letter will get their attention and they can fix the bench situation so I, and others, can return to the park. The park should represent a safe haven.

Stan Freeman

Deerfield Beach, FL

Dive-In Movie — The Good Dinosaur

Friday, Aug. 19, 7:30 p.m.

Aquatics Center

501 SE 6 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Free movie. For information call,954-420-2262 or visit www.Deerfield-Beach.com.

Summer Time Fun

Friday, Aug. 19, 5 to 9 p.m.

Sprinkles & Scoops Ice Cream Shop

1624 SE 3 Ct.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

It is almost time to go back to school so take the whole family for some ice cream at this new-to-The-Cove ice cream shop. Besides delighting in some tasty flavors, you will be helping out a good cause. Twenty percent of proceeds benefit NE Focal Point CASA, Inc. For more information, call 954-480-4460.

Movies on the Lawn – The Lorax 3-D

Friday, Aug. 19, 8 p.m.

Intersection of Atlantic Blvd.

and Pompano Beach Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Bring lawn chairs, blankets and picnics. Free, family friendly event. For more information, call 954-786-4111 or visit www.pompanobeachfl.gov.

Guided Tour

Saturday, Aug. 20, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Historic Butler House

380 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Get a guided tour of the Historic Butler House. Visit the new Alice B. Gift Shop. For more information, visit www.deerfieldbeachhistoricalsociety.com.

David Presler performs

Temple Beth Israel

Sunday, Aug. 21, 2 p.m.

201 S. Military Tr.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Cantor and entertainer, David Presler, performs. Tickets are free and can be reserved by email at etaarts@aol.com or call 954-421-7060. Donations are welcome.

Kristin’s Catching Up Fundraiser

Sunday, Aug. 21, 5 to 9 p.m.

American Rock Bar and Grill

1600 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

This Cultural Collision Bash will be filled with music, performance art, entertainment, food, fun and raffles. This will be an evening of good vibes you won’t want to miss. The event will support Kristin Cappiello as she faces unprecedented challenges in her life. Please call 754-235-3783 for details.

Tuesday Night Beach Dance

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 7 to 9 p.m.

Main Beach Parking Lot

149 SE 21Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Total Recall will be playing. Wear your dancing shoes and bring a beach chair for a fun evening under the stars. Free. Sponsored by the City of D.B. For information, call 954-480-4429.

$1 Short Stack Day

Tuesday, Aug. 23, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m

IHOP

516 S. Federal Hwy.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to No Kid Hungry to help end child hunger. You can also donate to the No Kid Hungry campaign by visiting www.IHOP.com from Aug. 1 through Sept. 25.

National Lighthouse Preservation Day

Saturday, Aug. 20, hourly from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sands Harbor Dock

125 N. Riverside Dr.

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

If you have never gone before or if it has been awhile, now is the time to visit the historic Hillsboro Lighthouse. Be aware it gets windy up there, but it provides amazing views of the whole area, so bring your camera. Just walking around the grounds and seeing the Barefoot Mailman statue and other memorials make it a worthy visit and a beautiful day. Transportation is by boat. Arrive at dock 10 to 20 minutes before departure to register. Parking is on east side of street in city (pay) parking lot. Must wear flat, closed shoes. Children must be 4 ft. tall to climb the tower. No pets. $25; free to HLPS members. For more information, visit www.hillsborolighthouse.org/tours.

A government official was arrested for accepting a bribe from a contractor. A friend who went to visit him in the lock-up asked, “How are you going to get out of this mess?”

The official replied calmly, “I got into trouble for accepting a bribe; I will get out of it by giving it.”

Five daughters petition

It is a puzzling story—the tale of the five daughters of Tzelafchad, recorded in the portion of Pinchas.

Tzelafchad was a Jewish man, of the generation born in Egyptian slavery, liberated by the Exodus, and granted the Land of Canaan as Israel’s heritage. Although that generation did not merit to take possession of the land themselves, when their children crossed the Jordan River to conquer it, they did so as their fathers’ heirs. Each family received its share in the land in accordance with its apportionment among the 600,000 members of the generation of the Exodus.

Tzelafchad had five daughters but no sons. The laws of inheritance as they were initially given in the Torah, which recognized only male heirs, in which sons inherit from their fathers and they are responsible to fully support the widow and daughters as long as they do not marry. In this case, there were no sons to inherit Tzelafchad’s portion in the Land. The daughters refused to reconcile themselves to this situation, and approached Moses with the petition.

They stood before Moses and before Eleazar the Kohen and before the chieftains and the entire congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, saying, “Our father died in the desert, but he was not in the assembly that banded together against G-d in Korah’s assembly, but he died for his own sin, and he had no sons.”

“Why should our father’s name be eliminated from his family because he had no son? Give us a portion along with our father’s brothers.”

So Moses brought their case before G-d.

God spoke to Moses, saying: “The daughters of Tzelafchad have a just claim. Give them a hereditary portion of land alongside their father’s brothers. Let their father’s hereditary property thus pass over to them.”

The correct decision for this question requires no more than simple logic. What else should be done with the piece of land belonging to Tzelafchad? Should it be transferred to someone who is not related to him? It would not make sense to have his brothers receive it, because, as mentioned according to Torah law, orphaned daughters need to be supported by the brothers until they marry, during which time they live in their father’s estate now inherited by the brothers. In our case, when there were no brothers, and all of the women were single, where would they live? Who would support them? If they do not inherit any part of the land or their father’s possessions, they will remain homeless and destitute. That is senseless. Logic dictates that the daughters should inherit their father’s piece of land — and logic is the way we deduce the intricacies of Torah law. Why then did Moses feel it necessary to bring this seemingly obvious ruling directly to G-d and not even begin to seek an answer?

Moses’ Integrity

If we are to look at how they presented their case, they prefaced, “Our father died in the desert. He was not among the members of Korach’s party who protested against G-d, but he died because of his own sin without leaving any sons.”

This detail is the key to it all. Korach staged a ferocious rebellion against Moses. He saw Moses as his arch-enemy and attempted to rally up the entire nation against Moses. Korach claimed that Moses was a power-hungry demagogue who craved nothing but absolute control and authority. The moment Moses heard the daughters say that their father was not part of Korach’s mutiny he felt that his psyche has just become bias toward them and their father. This was a verbal bribe, subtle as it may be, and he might not be fully objective in his decision.

The Lesson

This is the level of self-awareness G-d asks of us. Don’t be perfect, but be accountable. Don’t be flawless, but be honest with yourself. Realize how subjective and bias you may be on any given issue, perhaps beyond realizing it. Thus, always retain your humility, allow yourself to be challenged, listen to another perspective, and be open to the truth that you may really be wrong.

If Moses at the peak of his life felt that no matter his standing, a small compliment from five sisters can alter his objectivity and distort his sense of truth. Certainly you and I must ask ourselves, “Maybe there is another perspective?” “Maybe my wife has a point?” “Maybe my mother-in-law is in the right?” Okay, let’s not push it… but “maybe my husband has a point?” “Maybe I need an outside opinion?”

Rabbi Tzvi Dechter is the Director of Chabad of the North Broward Beaches. New location coming soon. For all upcoming events, please visit www.JewishLHP.com.

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

After screening Suicide Squad in the afternoon, I happened to catch an old favorite, The War Wagon with John Wayne and Kirk Douglas, who lead a team of renegades in this heist/Western hybrid. The War Wagon was a typical movie released (The Magnificent Seven, The Great Escape, The Dirty Dozen) at the time. It featured a disparate group of individuals who seek to solve a violent problem. There are many similarities between these 1960 classics and Suicide Squad.

Once king of motion picture box office comic book movies, DC Comics has taken second fiddle to Marvel Comics for the past decade. With the Spring release of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, DC is trying to follow Marvel’s lead by creating a series of movies based on their ensemble universe. Instead of focusing on the heroes of DC Comics, Suicide Squad focuses on the Rogue Gallery often found in the Arkham Asylum.

After the chaos caused by the Batman/Superman battle, Secret Security Administrator Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) recruits a gang of criminals to combat potential interstellar terrorists. These bad guys have individual skills and talents with one common denominator; they do not play well with others.

Deadshot (Will Smith) is a single father who is a paid assassin who can hit any target that he aims at. Boomerang (Jai Courtney) is an expert at throwing things and Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje ) has a leathery skin condition and dines on raw flesh. Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) is a circus pixie with a baseball bat. She was once a prominent psychiatrist who treated a patient that seduced her. Her patient was the notorious Joker (Jared Leto).

Anyway, something supernatural happens in a city. Waller presses a button and unleashes her Suicide Squad upon an ancient evil. There is a lot of shooting with automatic rifles, explosions and many special effects.

Much like Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad is an interesting movie until the action sequences begin. Even with 3-D glasses, one loses interest in the blurry visuals. Besides the character introductions in the beginning of the film, the best part of the film is a scene in the bar. This quiet scene is one in which these extreme characters share their twisted dreams of personal redemption.

This film will not be remembered as a classic like The War Wagon or The Dirty Dozen, yet Suicide Squad features some fine ensemble performances. Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn steals the spotlight. With charming unpredictability, Quinn should get her own movie someday, minus the computer-enhanced special effects.

Deerfield Beach

July 27: Someone broke into a home at 371 NE 45 St. while the victim was sleeping and stole various items from the home.

July 28: A woman reported her home at 351 W. Hillsboro Blvd. was broken into and debit cards and an iPhone were stolen.

July 28: A woman reported her car parked at 3910 NW 3 Ave, was broken into. The driver’s side door lock was damaged and five pairs of sneakers were stolen. Video surveillance showed two men around the car.

July 28: A woman reported her car parked at 410 NW 39 St. was broken into and a leather briefcase, jewelry and a makeup bag were stolen.

Aug. 6: A victim’s stepson, who had been kicked out of the home six months ago, entered the residence with a key that he never returned. Once inside the residence, at 255 NW 41 Way, he took six boxes of rolled cable, valued at approximately $1500.

Lighthouse Point

July 5: A subject came into a store at 5200 N. Federal Hwy. for the third time in two hours to buy a pack of cigarettes. The store employee asked the subject for his name; however, it did not match the name on the credit card. The subject fled the store. The victim was contacted and said he lost his credit card two days earlier at an unknown location.

July 5: The victim said a subject stole $5,300 from him while he was purchasing a gun at 3100 NE 48 Court. The subjects were stopped by police nearby and identified. The money was recovered and cannabis was also found in the vehicle.

July 9: A victim was working at a store at 2450 N. Federal Hwy. when she returned from a break and discovered her driver’s side window was smashed and her purse was stolen from under the driver’s seat. It contained $40 in cash, a driver’s license and credit cards. The loss was $207.

RE: NO Deer Trace

Dear Editor:

The Deer Trace Project has been denied/rejected by the Planning and Zoning Board. Why are we entertaining this again? Please read the minutes from the May 1, 2014 Planning and Zoning Board Meeting. [Over 300] apartments on Dixie Hwy between 14th and 15th Street? This is so incompatible. Wrong location. Do we not trust the judgment of the Planning and Zoning Board? (Search Application 13-R-169 on City’s website). [Editor’s Note: The P&Z Board makes suggestions to the commission. They did recommend denying it. But, the city government, on 1st reading, voted to move ahead. They have to do a second reading, which is also to be a Public hearing, on Aug. 23.]

I live in the neighborhood and do not want a rental community of this size near me … too many apartments, too many people and too little space; drama and trouble. Of course, all the usual trappings of traffic, crime and environment, etc., also apply. I think this density ratio will exceed any other in the city. Would you want this in your neighborhood?

Do you really think professionals will want to live in this location with 300+ other tenants around them – and pay $1100 – $1500 per month? What happens when they can’t rent them all? Lower rent and allow “another element” to move in? We may be left with a rainbow monstrosity greeting the new trains – All Aboard Florida and Tri-Rail Coastal Link.

And about those flex units, what will be left for other projects?

I do want to see Dixie Highway developed and that can be done with fewer apartments and more businesses as the DBR [Dixie Business Residential ] currently allows. Many in the neighborhood appreciate the new Dollar General and not having to cross a major intersection to get there. It would be nice to have a bank, pharmacy or restaurant near as well.

— Cheyenne Stubbs

Deerfield Beach

RE: YES Deer Trace

Dear Editor:

A proposed 60 to 100 million dollar development project called Deer Trace Residences on Dixie Hwy, by H&S Development Group, Inc. was unanimously approved by our city government and now some of the commissioners are trying to stop this development project. This project will not only beautify and bring security to the area, it will trigger growth, and will bring needed housing. It will also create jobs that will be first offered to qualified residents of Deerfield Beach, and bring in much needed tax revenue into our city.

This type of beautiful, clean, modern housing development revitalizes neighborhoods, decreases crime and improves communities. Our city is in desperate need of projects like this. Our neighborhoods are deteriorating because of lack of city revenue. This project alone would give the city approx. $450,000 per year in tax revenue, and close to $400,000 in one time impact fees. This, in turn, would lower our taxes.

Reputable investors who are willing to invest multi-millions of dollars to improve our neighborhood should be welcomed and not harassed by some of our commissioners. Again, our city has one of the highest tax rates of any of the major cities in Broward County, with one of the lowest property values, highest millage rates and deteriorating infrastructure.

Neighboring cities have clean streets, well-maintained infrastructure, low crime rates, better schools and lower taxes than Deerfield Beach. We have to better our city. Do not allow our city to become like many other once great U.S cities that are now deteriorated.

This is the greatest opportunity for the City of Deerfield Beach and District 2. Do not let this opportunity pass by. Contact the elected officials to support the Dixie Hwy. Deer Trace Residences Development and to Vote “Yes” on Aug. 23 for Deer Trace.

— H&S Development Group

[Editor’s Note: For those with questions or concerns about this project, attend the Talk to the Mayor event, which will be held Aug. 16. See Pg. 15 for details. Look for more on this topic soon in The Observer].

RE: Trash on beach

Dear Editor:

Why do people dispose of trash/garbage/litter on the beach? Who is doing this? Is it the young who are ignorant to laws against littering, or is it young adults who are just interested in partying without cleaning up afterward? Or is it tourists? Or is it just careless individuals?

I remember back in the day of elementary school where we learned about littering and how bad it is for the environment. Teachers drilled this into our heads. Don’t people care anymore?

Examples of items found recently on our beloved beach: numerous beer glass bottles, plastic bottles, cans, bottle caps, straws, lids, plastic silverware, cups, balloons, food wrappers, toys, clothing, pizza boxes, Dunkin’ Donuts box (complete with donuts for the taking), cigarette and cigar butts, condoms, diapers. These items are not only harmful to fish, birds and turtles, but also dangerous to humans (i.e., broken glass, rusty bottle caps).

This social problem, unlike many others, is very easy to solve. Just stop doing it!

But in the meantime, you can help. Whenever you go to the beach, take along a plastic grocery bag and pick up whatever you see in your immediate area. If everyone does this on a daily basis, it would surely help. And if you do not have a bag, get a little bit of exercise and use the numerous trash containers already there.

And to those who say, “The litter is everywhere.” Well, that’s just it; we want Deerfield Beach to be exceptional and pristine. Deerfield Beach is truly a special place. Keep Deerfield Beach as our paradise!

We appreciate your assistance.

— Phyllis Mavrikis and Ellyce Plotkin

Deerfield Beach, FL

NE Focal Point Preschool Open House

Thursday, Aug. 11, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

NE Focal Point

227 NW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten offered for ages 2-5 years, beginning Aug. 22. Open year round, Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuition includes breakfast, lunch and snacks. Art, music, computer classes and swimming lessons also included. Teachers are certified. For information, call 954-480-4473 or email: jhafer@fdeerfield-beach.com.

Music under the Stars

Friday, Aug. 12, 7 p.m.

Pompano Beach Great Lawn

Corner Atlantic Blvd. & Pompano Beach Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Featured band D Funk and the Flo (R&B and Funk band).Music under the Stars will be held the second Friday of every month For more information, visit www.pompanobeachfl.gov or call 954-786-4111.

Sushi & Stroll

Friday, Aug. 12, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

4000 Morikami Park Rd.

Delray Beach, FL 33446

Cool off as you stroll the gardens, sip craft sakis, taste Asian cuisine, shop in the museum store and listen to the roars of Fushu Daiko’s taiko drum performances. Adults: $15, children (6-17): $9, under 6 free. Seniors/Military: $13 (with valid ID), students: $11 (with valid ID). Food and drinks are not included in the admission price. Call 561-495-0233 or visit www.morikami.org.

Guided Tour

Saturday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Historic Butler House

380 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Guided tours of the Historic Butler House. New Alice B Gift Shop now open. Fee: donation.

Back to School Fair

Saturday, Aug. 13, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oveta McKeithen Recreation Complex

445 SW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Students will receive free backpacks full of supplies, free haircuts, free health screenings. Demonstrations by Broward Sheriff Office’s fire trucks and equipment. Free food & refreshments. For additional information, call 754-224-9182.

Talk to the Mayor

Tuesday, Aug. 16, 7 p.m.

City Commission Chambers

150 NE 2 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Mayor Jean Robb invites residents to her annual “Talk to the Mayor” event. In addition to sharing your comments and questions, there will be a presentation by the developer of the proposed Dixie Highway apartment complex, Deer Trace residences [see more, Pg. 6]. That will be followed by a short update on the Infrastructure Surtax Referendum that voters will see on the November ballot. As a part of that presentation, you will see the list of proposed city infrastructure projects that could be funded by the surtax should voters choose to support that referendum. For more information, contact the City Manager’s office at 954-480-4263.

Vendor Registration for 2nd Annual Women in Deerfield Beach Expo

Thursday, Sept. 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Royal Fiesta Caterers

The Cove Shopping Center

1680 SE 3 Court

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Showcase your woman-owned or woman-oriented business. Must provide a sample or service to attendees. Vendor space is limited and first come, first served. Register at www.deerfieldchamber.com or call Daisja Brinson at 954-427-1050. Presented by the Deerfield Beach Chamber of Commerce.

At the time of writing this article, the population of the United States is 324,192,360. Of those, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately 130,000 of them are employed as a commercial or airline pilot. That means only .0004 percent of the U.S. population fly cargo or people professionally. If you were to attend a sold-out Yankees game, of the 54,251 spectators, statistically there are only 22 pilots in the stands. That’s three less people than one team’s active roster! It’s a prestigious career with few completing the extensive training, unrelenting testing and demands that professional pilots experience. I know this because I was one — a captain by age 24, even.

Six years after my departure from the airline industry people still ask, “What kind of plane did you fly?” And when I reply that I operated the CRJ-200, a 50-seat regional jet, forget what I wrote above. I might as well have said that I pulled a Radio Flyer wagon behind my Big Wheel and, yet, some would still consider that the more prestigious.

Easily disregarded by the public is the fact that regional aircraft and crew are held to the same certification and reliability standards as the mainline carriers, which is proven by the regional airlines’ exceedingly unprecedented safety and reliability record. Also ignored, regional pilots — one could argue — possess surpassing “stick-and-rudder” skills as a direct result of the increased amount of operations in what is statistically considered the most dangerous part of the flight which is the take-off and landing (or terminal) environment. Finally, consider how the regional jet has positively impacted the market for the customer by expanding to service smaller cities and providing greater schedule flexibility. Yet, no one wants to fly on the “tiny” jets — the scourge of the industry. Vacation, yes; via a regional jet, no.

As a pastor, the size game continues. How many people go to your church? How many youth went on the summer trip? How many students attend the Wednesday night experience? Numbers, numbers, numbers! In aviation, you’re not a real pilot until you’ve flown a plane with 100 seats or more. And in ministry, you’re not a real pastor until your weekly attendance exceeds 2000 with the additional “pastor street credential” bonus for being multi-site.

Please hear me; I believe God has, and will, use varying church styles and sizes. But what’s being increasingly neglected by church-goers is the focus of what’s most important in the ministry — Christ. Somewhere we’ve come to measure the health and success of a church solely by two metrics: attendance and giving. Can these two be indicators of health or deficiency either way? Yes, they can. But should they be the sole qualifiers? I say absolutely not! As recorded in Matthew 7:20, Jesus says, “[Just] as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”

Timothy Keller, in Shaped By the Gospel, writes, “The most important [action taken] is that a ministry be faithful to the Word and sound in doctrine,” with Christ at the center. We must resist the temptation to be ensnared by shallow number-crunching and instead hold fast to the promise of what God desires to accomplish through a handful of people fully surrendered to His will.

It is we, who call ourselves Christians, that have been commissioned to gather as the body, the Church, and to be known by our actions. We are people with a “passion for His presence, a deep craving to reach the lost, sincere integrity, Spirit-led faith, down-to-earth humility,” and a recognition of our own “brokenness” (It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It, Craig Groeschel).

When we act in such a way, we’ll see rebellious hearts turn toward God and He will “add to the Church” because we abandoned seat-counting and returned to devoting ourselves “to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper), and to prayer” Acts 2:38-47.

C.J. Wetzler is the NextGen pastor at First Baptist Church of Deerfield Beach. Before transitioning into full-time ministry, CJ was a commercial airline captain and high school leadership and science teacher. For questions or comments he can be reached at cj@deerfieldfirst.com.

According to the city’s website, National Night Out was canceled. It had been rescheduled for Aug. 9 at Quiet Waters Park, Pavilion 10 from the week before after inclement weather. Now, it has been canceled again due to expected storms… It will not be rescheduled.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office has announced that National Night Out 2016 is canceled due to expected storms. This event will not be rescheduled.

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach High School’s Jalal Jean-Charles exchanged his sneakers for football cleats.

“I used to play basketball and this is more physical,” said Charles, 15, who will be a junior at Pompano this fall. This is his first year playing football. “The biggest adjustment I had was getting into a big team. In basketball, there are only 15 players and in football there could be anywhere from 30 to 50 players playing with you and it is more of a brotherhood.”

The Tornadoes were among 50 teams from the tri-county area (Broward, Palm and Miami-Dade) that played in the 9th annual Dolphins Academy Youth and High School 7-on-7 tournament at Plantation Central Park.

“I like playing with pads,” he said. “I like to be physical. We had a lot of good competition, but we were hoping to win. Tournaments like this helps us get better as a team. We run routes and it lets the quarterback adjust to our play style and we adjust to the quarterback’s play style.”

The high school football tournament consisted of round robin play and then moved into a single elimination format. The high school teams competed in the championship round with Carol City defending its title with a 35-31 victory over Miami Northwestern. Pompano lost both of its games in the tournament (Miami Northwestern, 35-17, and Spanish River, 24-10, but it was good competition for coach Rick Nagy, who was missing several of his top players, including John Padgett Jr. who was on vacation.

Pompano Beach capped the 2015 season with a 28-12 victory over St. Andrew’s School in the Southeastern Football Conference and will move to the Gold Coast Football Conference this upcoming season.

“It’s a grind,” said Nagy, who is in his fourth year as coach. “We coach from February through November so there is not much down time. This is an important part of football because it gives those young kids an opportunity to show their skills. We are a small school and we don’t have those tremendous athletes. We are missing like three or four starters today. It’s the summer and they are out and away on vacation.”

Pompano plays in five 7-on-7s this summer. They finished fourth out of 20 teams in a BCAA event, and said the Dolphins event helps them with their skill positions and he liked what he saw.

“I think we will be okay this year,” Nagy said. “The top four teams make the playoffs and I think we will make the playoffs. I am not much into predicting. I am a coach who doesn’t even go week by week. I like to go play by play. I don’t try to think too far ahead. I think we will be okay in the new conference.”

Pompano Beach senior quarterback Logan Good said his team benefitted from the competition. The 17-year-old said it helped him work on his timing with his receivers.

“You learn that not every play matters,” Good said. “It’s pretty cool to have the Dolphins do something like this. We are running the same offense as last year so we came into this hoping to get better. I am kind of trying to find the open man and get it to him.”

Tornadoes’ 6-foot, 4-inch junior receiver Andre Francis also enjoyed the experience.

“This was pretty fun and it is good competition,” Francis said. “We learned a lot about each other in this. This is the most organized 7-on-7 I have been a part of.”

“Our mission is to be the stewards of the game of football in South Florida and we were excited to host athletes and coaches at our symposium and tournament,” Miami Dolphins Senior Director of Community Affairs Twan Russell said. “We were able to engage students not only on the field, but had the opportunity to develop their character beyond sports, which is equally important.”