Fire Assessment Hearing

Thursday, Sep. 13, 9:30 a.m.

City Commission Chambers

City Hall Complex

150 NE 2 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Kiwanis Club 8th Annual Charity Golf Tournament

Friday, Sept. 14, noon

Boca Dunes Golf & Country Club

1400 SW 65 Ave.

Boca Raton, FL 33428

Registration starts at noon, T-Off will be at 1 p.m. followed by an awards dinner, auction, $5000 50/50 raffle and much more. Your play in the tournament will help Kiwanis continue to give back to the community in the form of scholarships, BSO/PAL programs, books and reading rooms, and more. For tournament info. and registration forms or, if you need additional information, call Henry at 954-242-6083.

Pompano Commission Meeting

– Budget Hearings

Friday, Sep. 14, 5:15 p.m.

City Commission Chambers

100 W. Atlantic Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

The Pompano Beach City Commission will be holding two Special Commission Meetings for the purpose of Budget Hearings. The Budget Hearings will formally adopt the proposed Millage Rates and Budgets for fiscal year 2018/2019. The next meeting will be Friday, Sept. 21 at 5:15 p.m.

Jr. Anglers Day

Saturday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

International Fishing Pier

200 NE 21 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Join the city for the 3rd Annual Deerfield Beach Jr. Anglers Day. A family fun-filled fishing event with fishing clinics, goodie bait buckets, arts & crafts, face painting, fishing and much more! Event is free. For more information, call 954-480-4429.

33rd Annual International Coastal Cleanup

Saturday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to noon.

Chickee Hut across from Fire Station

71 SE 21 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33990

Volunteers will gather in Deerfield Beach from 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. for check-in. The first 100 participants will receive parking passes that will last for the duration of the event. Materials including gloves, bags and water will be provided. To register for this year’s event, email coastalcleanup@broward.org. Please include your name, contact information, organization, site at which you wish to participate and number of attendees. Nearly 200 volunteers came out to the Deerfield Beach site last year. Let’s gather as a community and make this the biggest coastal cleanup yet! For more information, call 954-519-1218.

Hispanic Heritage Month Concert

Saturday, Sept. 15, 2 p.m.

Deerfield Beach Percy White Library

837 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

A free concert starring Mariachis Voces de America. They are known for performing at the Fontainebleau, the Jackie Gleason Theater, Broward Center for the Performing Arts and Viva Broward!

Haitian Heritage Celebration 2018

Saturday, Sept. 15, 4 to 10 p.m.

Pompano Beach Cultural Center

50 W. Atlantic Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Haiti was the first Caribbean country to gain its independence from colonialism. It was once the richest country in the Western Hemisphere. Although the wealth of the country is gone, the richness remains in its people; and that is what we want to celebrate! ALL are welcome at this unique venue of education, arts, music, dance and food, and there will be an awards ceremony. It is a family event with a special section for children ages 5 and up. Free & open to the public. Limited seating. To R.S.V.P., visit www.ccpompano.org/events.

Save the Date:

Kiwanis Fundraiser Breakfast

Saturday, Sept. 22, 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex

445 SW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

The menu consists of fresh fried fish, grits, sausage, biscuits, OJ and coffee. $7 for adults and $5 for children 10 years and under. Take-out is available. All proceeds will benefit their literacy and scholarship programs. For more information, call 954-895-2363.

‘GET FIT’

Center for Active Aging

227 NW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Have fun and meet new people. Senior friendly fitness classes for adults aged 60 years and up.

• Strength & Stretch every Monday with Cindy Sawadogo, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m.

• Posture & Core every Monday with Cindy Sawadogo, 2:15 – 3 p.m.

• Yoga Lite with Laura Newman every Monday,
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

• Enhance Fitness® Program with Julie Dinnard every Monday, Wednesday & Friday, 10-11 a.m.

• Zumba Gold with Ayheza Newell, every Tuesday
& Thursday 12–1 p.m.

• Senior Aqua Movement every Tuesday and Thursday
at the DFB Aquatic Center, 1 – 2:30 p.m.

For more information, please call the Center for Active Aging at 954-480-4447.

Zumba Gold Fitness Classes for seniors

Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 to 9:45 a.m.

Shall We Dance Studio

2nd floor, Room 2 to 6

600 S. Federal Hwy.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

This class is a fun, low-impact workout designed for seniors. Improve your flexibility, focus and overall movement. For more information, call Angel at 954-224-0886.

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him, and he questioned the Lord about it: “Lord, You said that once I decided to follow You, You’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why, when I needed You most, You would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”

—Author Unknown

Dream the impossible dream. All dreams that come from God seem impossible at first. However, do not forget that all things are possible with God.

Deuteronomy 31:8: Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

— NLT

When you feel discouraged, take heart: God’s promise to never leave you or abandon you is always there to get you through your troubles. Why is it that we tend to turn to Him as the last resort when He is always faithfully by our side? Are you afraid of your future? Are you afraid to go after your dreams (Maybe even to dream your dreams)? Are you afraid to believe that you can achieve your dreams? Do you ever feel lonely? Do you ever feel like what you are going through you are going through alone? Do you ever feel like you were stuck in a pit with no way out? Reread the above verse, Deuteronomy 31:8. What does this verse do to your fears or feelings of loneliness?

Psalm 23 can be such an encouragement in times of trouble! Take a fresh look at this famous Psalm (read it today, do not wait) and be comforted that God has walked with you, not only during the good times, but through your bad times as well. Do you ever feel like you are in a pit and your dreams have no chance of ever coming true? Don’t quit in the pit. Always remember that the dream never dies, just the dreamer.

Remember that God is always with you leading you, guiding you and protecting you. You are never alone. Don’t quit when you’re in the pit. You only lose if you quit. Don’t be afraid to dream the impossible dream and live each day to accomplish it. Continually encourage yourself with the Word of God.

Tony Guadagnino is the pastor at Christian Love Fellowship Church, located at 801 SE 10 St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441. For more information, call 954-428-8980 or visit www.clfministries.org.

Reprinted from 3-31-2011

An interview with author Chris Clews

By Rachel Galvin

“Your career will be a journey. Enjoy the ride,” said Deerfield Beach author Chris Clews in his book What 80s Pop Culture Teaches Us About Today’s Workplace. With witty anecdotes, Clews takes his readers on a nostalgic trip back to the simpler time of the 1980s. He tells lessons that can be learned from 10 great movies from the time period, including gems like The Goonies, Back to the Future and E.T. Chevy Chase’s Christmas Vacation becomes a great example of why it is important to “know your audience,” when his ranting in front of Cousin Eddie leads a bad situation to go to worse. Stand By Me shows that teams work best when each person’s individuality is embraced. Ferris Bueller reminds people of the importance of stopping to smell the roses so Clews says it is important to take a day off from work and enjoy life. These are just a few examples in this book, which is a quick read. For fans of the ‘80s, this book is a treasure.

Asked why he decided to write the book, Clews said, “I was actually in a job that wasn’t fulfilling and I was pondering my future when the classic ‘80s movie, The Breakfast Club came on TV. Judd Nelson’s character says, ‘Screws fall out all the time. The world is an imperfect place.’ Something just clicked in my head at that moment and I thought, ‘Yeah, it actually is and so is the business world.’ And that was my springboard. I wrote an article that evening to post on LinkedIn titled ‘What The Breakfast Club Teaches Us About Today’s Workplace’ and, to my surprise, I received reactions from all over the world. So I wrote another on ‘What Ferris Bueller Taught Us About Today’s Workplace,’ which was also received well. At that point, I decided it might make sense to write a book.”

He recruited his friend Jim Zielinski to do the illustrations for the book and self-published it on Amazon.

When asked what he finds so inspiring about this “Me Decade,” he said, “The ‘80s seems to really transcend generations. I’ve met people who clearly didn’t grow up in the ‘80s but can quote the movies, know the songs and feel more of a connection to that decade then the one that provided them with their formative years. Shows like Stranger Things, The Goldbergs and The Americans have brought the ‘80s back to prominence and, of course, Adam Sandler movies are always good for a plethora of ‘80s references. Recent movies like Ready Player One, the Guardians of the Galaxy series and Deadpool all bow at the altar of 80s pop culture with references weaved in throughout.”

He added, “As far as the movies, it was really the last decade where you really had to tell a story and develop characters. You couldn’t lean on CGI (computer-generated imagery) special effects to make up for a thin plot line, lack of strong characters or poor dialogue. The story and the characters were the movie. The special effects were not. And, save for a few, I think movies are missing that today. Of course, there will never be another John Hughes so I guess we ‘80s kids were very lucky indeed.”

He added that the pop culture of the decade went beyond just movies, but included TV, music, video games, toys and fashion.

“It was a magical time for creativity, invention and, most importantly, the rise of the individual. And, ultimately, we learned a very valuable lesson from The Breakfast Club when Andrew, the jock played by Emilio Estevez, said, ‘We’re all pretty bizarre. Some of us are just better at hiding it, that’s all.’”

Besides being an author, Clews is the Head of Marketing for a software division within a large global brand. He also speaks about topics from his book at events and conferences. In addition, he is working on a second book in the series with 10 more 80s movies and their workplace lessons. For those wanting more information or to book him as a speaker, he can be contacted at cclews1@gmail.com, visit chrisclews.com, or find him on Facebook, LinkedIn under his name, or on Twitter @80spopculture. Find his book on Amazon.com.

By Gary Curreri

The Pompano Beach Junior Lifeguard program once again proved its supremacy on the sand.

The program finished second in the state and then had several standout performers at the 2018 United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) National Championships at Virginia Beach.

The team prepared for the national event by competing in the USLA Regional competition in Flagler Beach and nearly two dozen junior lifeguards made the trip to Virginia, which featured about 400 competitors from around the country.

Pompano claimed nine national championships and also earned a plethora of silver and bronze medals. Among the locals claiming national titles were Isabella Taylor, who successfully defended her Ironguard and Paddleboard national championships and added the Surf Swim Race championship to her resume.

Raphael Santos captured national titles in the Run-Swim-Run and the Surf Swim distance race.

Summer Schulte won a gold medal in the Run-Swim-Run event, while Grace Parnas won gold in the Board Race, and teammate Reese Andres won national championships in the C Division for the Ironguard and the Board race.

At the state competition, Santos, 15, led a 1-2-3 sweep for Pompano in the ocean swim event. He’s competed for the Pompano Beach Junior Lifeguard program for the past four years.

“I just started liking it a lot more,” said Santos, a sophomore at Pompano Beach High School. “It has helped me with ocean swimming in general. I swim in the pool, and in the ocean, it is like two different things. When I go to the junior lifeguard training, it is like a whole different environment and it is like better off.”

Santos said he likes to compete but added learning about the ocean is also a nice add on for the summer program.

“It is pretty interesting,” said Santos, who finished sixth at state last year in both of his events — 200 IM and 500-free during the high school season. “You can be swimming in a pool, but in the ocean, you can be swimming out and the next thing you know you are drifting past the buoy. You have to know how to swim towards the current a little bit to keep straight swimming. There are no lane lines out here or flags.”

Pompano Beach’s Alex Marquez, 16, was runner-up to Santos in the swim event. He is also a teammate of Santos’ at Pompano Beach High School where he is a junior. He’s been with the Pompano Beach Junior lifeguard program since he was nine. Marquez placed third in Ironguard at Nationals.

“I am a swimmer originally, so I like anything with swimming in it,” Marquez said. “This has helped me a lot, especially with discipline. It felt really good to sweep the event. It is nice to know when you are ahead. The top 10 people here are all on the same team, even though we might be on different teams at the swimming pool. It was kind of fun to swim against them. It is bragging rights for sure.”

Trio wins scramble golf event

Joel Englander, Bill O’Brien and Willie Smith took top honors with a 68 after a match of cards to win the three-man scramble for the Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association at the Pines Course at Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Club.

Finishing second was Chuck Brown, Jim Foster, and Dave Dowling, also with a 68. They shot 36 on the back nine while the winning group carded a 34 for the back nine in the August 28th tournament. George Disch, Lee Hammer and Bart Valerio finished in third with a team total of 69.

Dennis Sejda struck his tee shot within 7-ft., 7 in. on the 15th hole to win Closest to the Pin honors.

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

With Labor Day being the unofficial conclusion of summer, Hollywood will attempt to release movies for Academy Award consideration and Halloween inspired movies. In fact, one of the most anticipated movies of this season will be Jamie Lee Curtis’ return to the Halloween, a direct sequel to the original Halloween movie released 40 years ago.

The Nun will have a one-week engagement at the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science (MODS) IMAX theatre this weekend [and will also be shown in regular theaters]. The Nun is part of an original horror movie franchise created by James Wan that includes titles like The Conjuring and The Conjuring 2 movies and the two Annabelle movies. Like the Marvel Comic universe, each one of these thrillers is a standalone story of a contemporary world around us. After making a memorable, but brief appearance in The Conjuring 2, The Nun features an original story about a nun battling suicidal tendencies.

After The Nun, The Predator, The House with a Clock in its Walls and Venom will take over IMAX’s five-story screen. The now controversial (for not showing American astronauts planting the flag on the moon) First Man opens on Oct. 11 for a two-week stay. Based on the eight years in the life of Neil Armstrong leading up to the moon landing in 1969, First Man has received standing ovations at the Venice Film Festival.

Locally, The Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF) will dominate November. The opening film and party will begin Friday, Nov. 2 at the remodeled Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. Beyond the regular screenings at the Savor Cinema in Ft. Lauderdale and Cinema Paradiso Hollywood, there will be special screenings and party related themes at a variety of other venues. The Westin Ft. Lauderdale Beach Resort will feature a screening of Where the Boys Are. The wrap party on Nov. 18 will feature a fairway screening of Caddyshack at the Ft. Lauderdale Country Club.

Saturday, Nov. 17 will be an interesting day at Bailey Hall. In honor of the 20th anniversary of Pleasantville, starring Tobey Maguire, Reese Witherspoon and Don Knotts in his final film, the afternoon screening of the film will feature a tribute to writer/director Gary Ross, who also directed Seabiscuit, The Hunger Games and Ocean’s 8.

Twelve years ago, FLIFF premiered Sharkwater, a documentary that was sympathetic to the ocean’s mightiest predator, the shark. Sharkwater Extinction is a follow-up documentary that will examine the roll of the predator and its role in the balance of nature. Has there been progress? The answers can be seen at a party/screening on Nov. 17 at Bailey Hall.

As the film industry wraps up 2018, it will not feature a Star Wars or a Marvel Comics universe movie. There will be a prequel to the Harry Potter series with a sequel to Fantastic Beasts, written by JK Rowling. Co-written by Sylvester Stallone, Rocky Balboa returns to the big screen in Creed II, which stars Michael Jordan in a unique sequel that reaches back to a Rocky sequel from 1985. As lyricist Peter Allen once sang, “Everything old is new again.”

Deerfield Beach

Aug. 21: A man reported his license plate stolen from his vehicle parked at 1107 SW 15 St.

Aug. 23: Following a traffic stop a man was arrested and charged with narcotics offenses. He was arrested for possession of cocaine and marijuana at 286 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Aug. 23: A man reported that someone entered his vehicle parked at 609 Siesta Key Cir. and stole a computer, backpack, jewelry, head phones and other items.

Aug. 24: A regional asset protection manager with Tire Kingdom reported that two men, both former employees, stole $2,119 in transactions. The incident was reported at 2525 W. Sample Rd.

Aug. 25: A man reported being attacked by a man who followed him home at 94 SE 3 Ave.

Lighthouse Point

Aug. 14: The victim was involved in a minor traffic accident before the incident at 2900 N. Federal Hwy. The subject stood in front of the car door while the victim assessed the damage. The victim said the subject struck him in the face and chest three times. Then, as the victim sat down in his car, the subject kicked him in his face and chest. When the victim closed the vehicle door, the subject kicked the door causing $1,000 in damage.

Aug. 14: The subject was trespassed from a store at 2450 N. Federal Hwy. for a previous larceny.

Aug. 12: The subject was trespassed from a store at 3580 N. Federal Hwy. after he appeared to be intoxicated in a store restroom. The store manager called police and reported the subject was in the bathroom for about 20 minutes. When police knocked on the door the subject answered and exited a short time later. Police said the subject appeared to be intoxicated or under the influence of something.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

By Dana Eller

Just read that the city has passed first reading of an ordinance to ban straws. It seems that our city is run by commissioners who have no appreciation of the power vested in them by the residents, since they flippantly use it so easily and believe it is so great and all encompassing as to give them the power to legislate what dining utensils we use.

I’m not opposed to restaurants wanting to use paper straws if they want to, but the beliefs that lead elected officials to make everyday items illegal on a whim, or based on current popular issues of the day, illustrates both a “nanny-like” attitude toward their residents, and a gross abuse of power and authority. Really, straws??? What’s next? No plastic bags at stores? How about a soda tax? How about where and who you can buy a dog from (forgot they did that)? How about no liquor sales on Sunday before 12…? Oh, wait , they got rid of that law… I guess they thought people should have a choice of when they can buy alcohol … I guess now they changed their minds … Maybe they are just drunk with power. Hope they are using a paper straw…

[Have an opinion on the issue? Feel free to contact commissioners or the mayor. Call 954-480-4263 or e-mail web.commission@Deerfield-Beach.com].

Grand Opening of

“52 DFB Historical Moments” exhibit

Friday, Sept. 7, 5 to 8 p.m.

Historic Butler House

380 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

See large photos of Deerfield moments in history. Live entertainment, wine & cheese. Free entrance; optional donations and purchases.

Shining Stars

Friday, Sept. 7, noon to 2 p.m.

Ft. Lauderdale Marriott Resort & Spa

1200 N. Ocean Blvd,

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

During the event, honorees will be featured in an ongoing video, telling their own story, each will receive a trophy and a souvenir program. This year’s honorees are (founders award) The John Good Family, (Stewart Kester award) Tom & Lee Waldo, (business man of the year) Soma Kasam, (business woman of the year) Gloria Jacaruso and (shining lights of the community) Pat Anderson, Tim Hernandez, Anthony Caggiano, Mark Petratis, Ryan Paton, Fred and Sherry MacLean, Carol Ebert and Avis Proctor. Among the “special guests” this year will be several WWII veterans and, to honor them, the Marine Corps League Intracoastal Detachment #1058 will perform the Presentation of the Colors, lead into the Pledge of Allegiance with a special salute’ to these heroes and then join them for lunch! Tickets are $55 per person and includes lunch. For info., contact, Connie Davis at 954-941-2940 or cdavis@pompanobeachchamber.com. Tickets and table sponsorships may be purchased in advance, online at www.pompanobeachchamber.com.

Movies on the Lawn — Matilda

Friday, Sep. 7, 8 p.m.

Great Lawn

20-98 N. Pompano Beach Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

The City of Pompano Beach Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Department invites everyone to bring their lawn chairs, blankets and picnics, and come enjoy a featured presentation under the stars. Movies on the Lawn are held on the first Friday of every month at the Great Lawn located at the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Pompano Beach Boulevard. This is a free, family friendly event. Due to daylight savings time, the movie will begin at 8 p.m. Next month’s movie will be Oct. 5 – Space Jam. For more information, call 954-786-4111 or visit the city’s website at www.pompanobeachfl.gov.

7th Annual Brazilian Beat

Saturday, Sep. 8, 6 to 11 p.m.

Mizner Park Amphitheater

590 Plaza Real

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Celebrate Brazilian Independence Day with the city of Boca Raton. This free event brings together the art of music and dance in one mesmerizing evening. Get your groove on and be a part of this dazzling official celebration of Brazilian Independence. Live music, street dancing, including costumed dancers in a Rio-style parade by the SambaLa Samba School, a Capoeira circle, samba drummers a Zumba showcase, and savory Brazilian cuisine and cocktails, will make for a most memorable festival.

Sunday Matinee Music Series

Begins Sunday, Sep. 9, 3 to 4 p.m.

Boca Raton Library

400 NW 2 Ave.

Boca Raton, FL 33432

The Friends of the Boca Raton Library will host Sunday Matinee Music Series for 2018-2019. This Sunday will feature Preservation Road Band with Dr. Robert Watson, followed by a concert on the 1st Sunday of each month from September 2018 to April 2019. A wide variety of performers featuring every genre of music are scheduled for the one-hour free concerts. Other scheduled concerts will take place on Oct. 7, Nov. 18, Dec. 2, Jan. 6, Feb. 3, March 3 and April 7. Reservations are required. Visit www.bocalibrary.org or call 561-807-7141.

District 4 Town Hall Meeting

Wednesday, Sep. 12, 7 p.m.

Constitution Park

2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Commissioner Todd Drosky invites all District 4 residents to a Town Hall Meeting. For further information please contact the City Manager’s Office at 954-480-4263 or visit www.Deerfield-Beach.com.

Save the Date:

Kiwanis Club 8th Annual Charity
Golf Tournament

Friday, Sept. 14, noon

Boca Dunes Golf & Country Club

1400 SW 65 Ave.

Boca Raton, FL 33428

Registration starts at noon, T-Off will be at 1 p.m. followed by an awards dinner, auction, $5000 50/50 raffle and much more. Your play in the tournament will help Kiwanis continue to give back to the community in the form of scholarships, BSO/PAL programs, books and reading rooms, and more. For tournament info. and registration forms or, if you need additional information, call Henry at 954-242-6083.

Special Commission Meeting

— Budget Hearings

Friday, Sep. 14, 5:15 p.m.

City Commission Chambers

100 W. Atlantic Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

The Pompano Beach City Commission will be holding two Special Commission Meetings for the purpose of Budget Hearings. The hearings will formally adopt the proposed Millage Rates and Budgets for fiscal year 2018/2019. The next meeting will be Friday, Sept. 21 at 5:15 p.m.

Jr. Anglers Day

Saturday, Sept. 15, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

International Fishing Pier

200 NE 21 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Join the city for the 3rd Annual Deerfield Beach Jr. Anglers Day. A family fun-filled fishing event with fishing clinics, goody bait buckets, arts & crafts, face painting, fishing and much more! Event is free. For more information, call 954-480-4429.

Zumba Gold Fitness Classes for Seniors

Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 9 to 9:45 a.m.

Shall We Dance Studio

2nd floor, Room 2 to 6

600 S. Federal Hwy.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

This class is a fun, low-impact workout designed for seniors. Improve your flexibility, focus and overall movement. For more information, call Angel at 954-224-0886.

WANTED: Arboretum Tour Guides

One of the best ways to volunteer at the Arboretum is to become a tour guide, which are the ambassadors to the Arboretum. To become a guide, you don’t need any special training or knowledge, only enthusiasm. We will teach you what you need and show you where to attain even more knowledge. You will gain a basic knowledge of horticulture, be able to identify dozens of different trees and plants, get a better understanding of the natural world around us and feel good about serving your community. If you want to become an Arboretum tour guide or volunteer in any other way, please email me at jerry@treezoo.com.

A student at Stanford University asked his professor permission to skip class because of Rosh Hashanah.

“I am sorry,” the professor said. “You must attend this class. Your holiday cannot cancel it.”

“But professor, it is Rosh Hashanah!”

“Sir, do you realize that the Academic calendar of Stanford has been already arranged 10 years ago? A decade ago, we planned out our entire academic year, to ensure maximum achievement and success. Do you really expect me to change that for you now?”

The student went to his fraternity room, came back a few minutes later with a Jewish calendar.

“Sir, look at this calendar. It has been established not 10 years ago, but 2000 years ago, by the great sage Rabbi Hillel, who established the exact date for every Jewish holiday over the next 3000 years!”

The professor remained silent.

Jews often say “Rosh Hashanah is late this year” or “The holidays are early this year.” In fact, the holidays never are early or late; they are always on time, according to the Jewish calendar!

That student in Stanford inspired me. Don’t let the world change your calendar; let your calendar change the world!

The Hebrew word for ‘secular’ – chol — also means ‘sand.’ This tells us how Judaism views secularism. Secularism is not bad. It is just like sand. Sand does not possess the power of stability. It shifts and moves; it is swept by the sea and blown by the passing wind. It lacks roots.

This is what our children lack without religion in their life. They can be wonderful people, but they are deprived of roots. They are on their own, detached from any constitutive commitments to the past, the future, tradition, a set of relationships, a substantive identity, a sense of binding loyalties, a firm foundation of values, ideals, dreams and morals. That individual, the bearer of rights but not responsibilities, free to enter any lifestyle but at home in none, is the human equivalent of chol, “like chaff blown by the wind.”

What is kodesh — holiness? Our connection to the past and our face turned to what is above. Kodesh – holiness — is the antidote to the rootlessness of chol — Secularism. In this world view, Rosh Hashanah is never late. We do not fix and bend our calendar to every passing wind. A person needs roots, a person needs an unshakable core. That is religion.

Kedushah — holiness means connection, to the universe beyond the self, to generations past and future, to a community of meaning, and to a transcendental reality that links us, ethically and existentially, to the totality of being. It is a voice which speaks persuasively of the covenant of marriage, the sanctity of the family, the moral challenge of parenthood; it is the Jewish view of community, collective responsibility, and the values of tsedakah and faith. It is the importance of education as the conversation between the generations, and the school as the citadel of civilization. It is the deeply humane Jewish view of the sanctity of life and its implications for medical ethics. It is our responsibility as guardians of the natural environment for the sake of future generations.

Above all, it is the voice teaching us of the dignity of human life, our power to change the world one mitzvah at a time, and the meaningfulness of history as the arena of redemption.

Have a happy and healthy sweet new year!

Rabbi Tzvi Dechter is the director of Chabad of North Broward Beaches, located in the Venetian Isle Shopping Center at 2025 E. Sample Rd. in Lighthouse Point. For all upcoming events, please visit www.JewishLHP.com. See Pg. 7 for information on their Rosh Hashanah services, and more about the holiday on pg. 6.

By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

I don’t believe in co-incidences. I truly believe that the “all powerful” has created the ordered chaos we are feeling in our collective unconscious. Strange things happen in the universe but somehow the chaos does have order and meaning. We need not ponder very deeply to interpret it.

This past weekend, amidst warnings of violence and economic collapse, divisive talk, disparagement of many of the most stalwart pillars of democracy — our free press, our intelligence community — our need to prevent foreign intrusion into our Democracy — and a deep divide about the definition of “fake News” — amidst all that, we were pulled into the vortex of the real meaning of leadership, role-modeling and patriotism. The symbolism is not lost to those of us willing to acknowledge that some higher power has been working overtime to have produced this synchronicity of events — even to the matching death dates and alike diagnoses of John McCain and his across-the-aisle buddy Ted Kennedy.

Who cannot fail to recognize the juxtaposition of the timing and the impact, short term as it may turn out to be, of contrasts so stunningly illuminated? Who cannot be moved by the significance of character in leadership, and of the desperation with which we are now seeking a role model for the healing of our tribal severances? Are we asking too much to actually require a soupcon of virtue from our leadership — in addition to the nitty gritty of being or purporting to be — an “artful negotiator?”

And here’s the ultimate philosophical conundrum. We are a country worshipful of “winners.” We tend to throw our “losers” — as in second place-holders and even further-down-the-line losers — into the scrap heap of nonentities. And yet, in the lives of all of us, we have experienced “losing” at something. Losing often teaches us important lessons, often makes us better people. And, surely, losing is humbling. Humility counts for a lot in relationships, in accomplishing big things. It is a kind of secret quality, not often touted in expansive resumes but it has subtle life-enhancing power. It tends to even the playing field. And, contrary to some held opinions, it is not the antithesis of confidence or expertise — quite the opposite. It says I know how good I am and I can show it. I don’t need a bullhorn to make it understood.

So now, all the hoopla is over, and we’re back to reality. We’ve actually had it spelled out to us with the simplicity of a 1st grade reader. We’ve come face to face with contrasts. The non-coincidental acts empowered by the “all powerful” stand etched electronically for the world to see and repeat, and will, undoubtedly, be brought to the fore at each anniversary or as a reminder should any further act degrading our democracy come into play.

And even the Good Lord Herself will no doubt breathe a deep sigh as She intones the famous saying, “You can bring a horse to water. But you can’t make him drink.”

Or can you?