Deerfield Beach

June 25: It was reported that an air conditioning unit was stolen from a residence at 1280 SW 6 Way. The residence is being remodeled.

June 25: A woman reported her motorcycle stolen from 400 SE 10 St.

June 25: A woman reported her purse containing a wallet stolen from 1101 SW 15 St.

June 25: A woman reported her house at 1547 SW 22 Way was broken into. Her purse and her vehicle were stolen.

June 25: A vehicle parked at 31 Ventor B was broken into and headphones and a wallet were stolen.

Lighthouse Point

June 29: Police responded to a call of a fence on fire at 4920 NE 22Ave. When they arrived, they discovered a live power line hitting a tree, a blown transformer, and there was a power outage in the area. FPL also responded.

June 29: Police responded to an alarm call at 3527 NE 32Ave. When they arrived, they discovered an open garage. The house was secure.

June 30: Police responded to an audible alarm call at 2430 NE 33St. When they arrived, they discovered an open garage and several doors to the house unlocked. Police checked the residence and found it to be secure. Police gave the homeowner a crime prevention warning.

(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.)

Music under the Stars

Friday, July 12, 7 p.m.

The Great Lawn

Corner of Atlantic & Pompano Beach Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Come enjoy an evening of great music and entertainment as Vista Motor Company presents Music under the Stars every second Friday of the month. Featured band for this event is Pure Heart (a Heart tribute band).

Boca Burger Battle

Saturday, July 13, 6 p.m.

Sanborn Square Park

72 N. Federal Hwy.

Boca Raton, FL 33432

After seven amazing battle years, the BBQ Grills are firing up again for the 8th Annual Boca Burger Battle. The hand-picked team of top chefs are incredibly adventurous at creating the “best burger recipe. A portion of proceeds benefit PROPEL (People Reaching Out to Provide Education & Leadership). General Admission Tickets are (Pre-Sale) $50, (at event) $100. VIP Tickets are (Pre-Sale) $75, (at event) $125. All ticket holders receive unlimited burgers, bites, beer, wine, spirits, live entertainment and tons of fun! A bonus to VIP ticket holders, they enjoy early bird entry at 6 p.m. instead of 7 p.m. for general admission guests. This is a 21+ year old event from 6 to 10 p.m., No pets! Event is rain or shine! So, no refunds battle fans. You can purchase tickets online at www.bocaburgerbattle.com or call 561-338-7594.

Blended Conversations

Saturday, July 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pompano Beach Cultural Center

50 W. Atlantic Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Blended Conversations combines Art & Conversation, examines the world around us and how we exist in it. Come listen to a variety of local artists share their own real life stories in an intimate, relaxed and informal setting. Refreshments provided. Tickets cost $10 at the door or visit www.ccpompano.org.

Pompano Chamber

New Member Orientation

Tuesday, July 16, 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

First Citizens Bank

6555 N. Federal Hwy.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33308 

Find out what the chamber is all about and network! Complimentary event. To R.S.V.P., visit www.pompanobeachchamber.com, and complete the ‘Register Now’ under ‘Events.’

Save the Date:

Hillsboro Lighthouse Tours

Sunday, July 21, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sands Harbor Resort Boat Dock

125 N. Riverside Dr.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Enjoy a great view from the lighthouse! Parking is on the east side of the street in the city (pay) parking lot. Registration/check-in starts 30 minutes prior to the first sail time and remains open until the last boat returns. Members will register/check you in, provide you with a wrist band and assist you with boarding for the boat ride to/from the lighthouse. A current HLPS membership or a $35 per person transportation fee is required. There are seven shuttle boats; the sail times are hourly 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Young Professional Mixer

Thursday, July 25, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Oceans 234

234 N. Ocean Dr.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Professionals under 40 can mix and mingle with other young entrepreneurs and executive chamber members who are all looking for more exposure. Network in a relaxed environment and build new relationships with your peers! Members: $25, Non-members: $30. Includes one drink and light appetizers. Register at www.deerfieldchamber.com.

Symphony of the Americas

Summerfest Concert

Friday, Aug. 9, 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Deerfield Main Beach Parking Lot

149 SE 21 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Mark your calendars for this free family outdoor performance. The concert, organized by the Deerfield Beach Historical Society is supported by the City of Deerfield Beach, the Deerfield Beach Rotary, Kiwanis Club and Woman’s Club. The concert is free; bring along a chair or blanket. A variety of food and drink are available for purchase with all proceeds to benefit the sponsoring groups. For additional information, please call 561-299-8684 or visit www.deerfield-history.org.

Paint with Pat!

Local artist Pat Anderson has two classes coming up in which you can learn how to paint the beautiful landscapes you see around you. First class is Tuesday, July 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hillsboro Inlet Park Pavilion 2700 N. Ocean Blvd. in Pompano Beach. The second is Sunday, July 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hillsboro Lighthouse. Pat Anderson’s Plein Air Art in the Parks are for age 10 to seniors. Open to all levels. Bring photos of you and huggable friend. Pat will show you how to paint your scene then position two people by the ocean. Art supplies for watercolors are free. You are welcome to bring your favorite art supplies for acrylics or oils. Professional instruction and Leaf Bar tables & easels provided. Bring lunch. Two awesome days of painting for $60. Extra fee for access to lighthouse and grounds. Get more details and sign up by calling Emma Lou Olson Civic Center at 954-786-4111 or visit www.PatAndersonArtist.com/classes.

Beat the Heat

Saturday, July 13, 2 p.m.

All Pet Supermarket stores

Is your pet getting enough water? To celebrate National Pet Hydration Awareness Month and help raise awareness about the importance of hydration for pets this summer, there will be a special event, which will feature workshops to educate attendees on various tips, tricks and products to help prevent pet dehydration as the days get hotter. Vendors and animal welfare groups will be on-site to share information about pet hydration for all pets, big and small. Attendees will also enjoy raffles, giveaways and 20 percent off on all dog and cat feeding supplies. The event will provide tips for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, small animals, fish and ferrets, and is free and open to the public.

Woman’s Club Trips

Navel Museum in Ft. Pierce

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 8:30 a.m.

Deerfield Woman’s Club is delighted to offer a very special trip to Ft. Pierce and Stuart. The National Navy Seal Museum is home to one of the most unusual collections of artifacts & exhibits of any museum. Cost is $90. Includes round trip Motor Coach transportation, a tip to your driver, a visit to the museum, a sit-down lunch overlooking the beach and a visit to historic downtown Stuart. Limited seats. Call now. Men are welcome too. Call Sally 954-427-2175 for more information.

Read with Grandma Connie

Come to the Percy White Library at 837 E Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 and meet Grandma Connie, a foster grandparent who helps children become successful readers. She will hold office hours on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m.to 3 p.m. On Tuesday and Thursday, she will be available between noon and 5 p.m. Her schedule gets pretty full, so it is best to schedule a block of time to meet with her. Call 954-357-7680.

The phrase “go to hell” is an all too common phrase and often accompanied by the one-finger salute or a few choice words. It is obvious that people don’t really consider the seriousness of hell when they make such a statement.

At the risk of sounding as though I interpret the Bible literally (which I do without apology), I believe that hell is a real place. Jesus taught more about hell than He did about heaven; so either hell is real or Jesus is a liar! The Bible describes hell as a place of physical, mental and spiritual torment; where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. It is a place of outer darkness with unending suffering, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Society’s trivial approach toward hell has caused cynicism about it. Hell has been downplayed, glorified and portrayed as a party. Rock-n-Roll classics about hell include “Straight to Hell,” “Burn in Hell,” “Go to Hell,” “Highway to Hell,” “Hells Bells,” “Vacation Hell” and many more. The Charlie Daniels Band told us the “Devil Went Down to Georgia” and Terri Gibbs told us the Devil has blue eyes and wears blue jeans.

Popular television shows and cartoons including Family Guy, Futurama, The Simpsons, South Park, Tom & Jerry and others have used hell as a plot. Popular comics Dilbert, The Far Side, Hellboy and Spawn used hell as their theme. Even Mickey Mouse, Daffy Duck and Pluto have been depicted as being in hell. Is it any wonder that people have become desensitized to the severity of hell?

We would expect the secular world to be confused about hell but, sadly, even today’s churches seem to have varying opinions. There was no confusion in the minds of history’s great evangelists. Jonathan Edwards, Oliver Green, D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Billy Sunday, George Whitefield, Billy Graham and numerous other great evangelists preached a literal hell. They didn’t avoid truth for the sake of popularity as this generation does.

I believe some people have a hard time accepting that a loving God would ever send anyone to hell. The fact is that He doesn’t … He lets us choose. Because of Adam’s sin, all mankind is separated from God; but “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish (in hell), but have everlasting life” – John 3:16. Matt 7:13-14 LB reads, “Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. 14 But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him” – John 14:6. So, the choice is yours – heaven or hell – but avoiding the topic won’t make it any less real.

Dr. Gary A. Colboch is Lead Pastor at Grace Church located at 501 NE 48 St. in Pompano Beach. For more information, call 954-421-0190 or pastor@gbcfl.org.

By Gary Curreri

Paul Pridemore has returned to his roots at Highlands Christian Academy.

Pridemore, a 1979 graduate and top athlete in the program, recently took over as Athletic Director at Highlands Christian where he enjoyed a stellar athletic career.

“I am very excited to be back home,” said Pridemore, 59, of Pompano Beach, who will also coach the boys’ basketball team at the school. “My mom and three sisters and a brother all live here in Pompano so I’m looking forward to spending time with them. It’s great to have the opportunity to come back to your alma mater, and serve and see all the changes that have been made,” he added. “I remember carrying blocks and helping lay the floor of the gymnasium when I was there.”

Pridemore began attending Highlands in 1972 as a 6th grader and, in the 7th grade, came to know Jesus Christ personally in a school chapel service.

In high school, he quickly became known at Highlands and around South Florida as a top athlete in both basketball and football.

Playing Knights basketball, Pridemore was named to the All-County and All-State teams his sophomore through senior years, Player of the Year twice by the Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald; and MVP of the 1979 State Basketball Tournament. During his Knights football career, Pridemore led the county in passing yards and was named All-State in his junior and senior years, nominated for Athlete of the Year by the Miami Herald in 1979, and offered a full football scholarship to the University of Florida.

After graduating college, he moved back to Pompano Beach and coached Highlands basketball for two seasons. In the following years, he coached basketball in Northern Florida and Tennessee and served as an assistant athletic director.

Throughout the years, Pridemore’s teams have won 438 games, 13 district titles, 10 regional championships, and have been to six state tournaments. 

“Reg Cook was my coach in my junior and senior year so I have a lot of great memories there at Highlands,” Pridemore said. “I am just now settling into the position as athletic director and boys basketball coach so I’m evaluating short term three-year and five-year plans.”

Pridemore said he is excited to help grow the athletic program as well as the school, citing it is a great place for kids to not only get a great education but to participate in sports as well.

“After coaching Paul Pridemore in basketball in the late ’70s, I am enthusiastic about working with him, not only in basketball but in all Highlands athletics,” said Reg Cook, former Highlands Athletic Director who now assists with the Knights. “We are looking forward to a great summer and school year for 2019-2020.”

“His experience in coaching basketball and leadership as a Christian mentor will carry on the legacy of great basketball at HCA on the court as well as off the court,” Cook added. “I am so excited to be working with Paul. We have been close friends ever since I coached him years ago at Highlands Christian.”

Pridemore’s vision for Highlands athletics is to provide student-athletes an environment that promotes and supports Christian, academic, athletic and personal achievement.

“We have the great privilege and responsibility to influence students for Christ,” Pridemore said. “And invest in the lives of these student-athletes as no one else can.”

Paul is married to Terri, a CPA. They have three grown children and one grandchild.

“Our coaches and teachers here at Highlands seek to build into the lives of each and every student athlete that attends Highlands,” Pridemore said.

Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association results

The Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association held a Two Best Ball of Foursome, except on the corners (1,9,10,18) Three Best Ball tournament on June 26 at the Palms course.

The team of Al DiBenedetto, John Grether, Bill Hadersbeck and Dennis Sejda shot a net score of 131 to take top honors, while the team of Jim DeCicco, George Disch, Jorge Duarte and Jim Foster was second after carding a 134. Tom Breur, Chuck Brown, Lee Hammer and Lance Naiman shot a 137 to finish in third place in the 34-player field.

The closest to the pin winner on hole No. 6 was Al Holcomb.

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

As I write this week’s edition of Flicks, Mom & I have been traveling through Florida, Georgia and Alabama for a family reunion. Once north of Orlando, I was pleased to discover that a sense of “Southern Hospitality” has not been lost among the people there.

There were plenty of stories to be told. It seemed that each waiter/waitress at the restaurants had a story to tell about their community or family. At our family reunion, we kept the memory alive of our dearly departed. My brother’s research through Ancestry.com revealed family connections to the Revolutionary War and Abraham Lincoln. As the United States of America celebrates 243 years of freedom, we are reminded that this nation truly represents Unity through Diversity.

What was noteworthy was the lack of movie theaters during my recent odyssey. I’ve always read the marquees to see what was playing on the local big screen. There was no sign of Avengers: Endgame or Toy Story 4 or Godzilla: King of the Monsters.

It seems appropriate that the documentaryToni Morrison:The Pieces I Amopens this 4th of July weekend. Born in Ohio in 1931, Toni Morrison is the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She is the author of The Bluest Eye, The Song of Solomon and Beloved, the latter of which caught the interest of Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah produced and starred in a movie version of Beloved which co-starred Danny Glover and Thandie Newton. A ghost story of sorts, Beloved focuses on a former slave who is haunted by a poltergeist who may be her dearly deceased daughter. Despite heavy marketing hype, Beloved bombed at the box office 21 years ago.  

As a documentary, Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am, overlooks this financial failure, but Oprah does share some anecdotes about meeting and working with the author. As a writer, there is much to learn from this documentary. For instance, while staring out at a pier by a lake, Morrison had a vision of a young woman crawling out of the dock. Morrison questioned the vision and wanted to know what happened next. This image was the birth of Beloved.

Party hearty this 4th of July weekend!

By Jo Jo Harder

Earth Day happened back on April 22. But every day should be a day to celebrate nature and the beauty of the world. Here are six fun ways to taking care of your four-legged family member while being sustainable and celebrating the Earth.

1. Off to the Park

Summertime is calling. Get outdoors and explore nature with your dog. Many celebrations take place in parks, where you can be close to nature. But before you head out, check to make sure the event is dog friendly. As with any fun outing, bring plenty of water, healthy treats (in reusable containers) and biodegradable pick-up bags.

2. Prepare a Healthy Meal

Dogs are a lot like people when it comes to nutrition. Prepare healthy meals for your dog by avoiding dog food with low-grade animal by-products and preservatives. For a better understanding of canine nutrition and other dog food questions, check out PetMD.com.

3. Groom Green

Create an at home spa for your dog. Grooming provides an opportunity to spend quality time pampering and bonding. Choose earth friendly pet shampoos, conditioners and other grooming products that do not contain phosphates, sulfates, and other chemicals that can be harmful to pets and to the planet.

4. Reuse

Give new life to gently used pet toys, beds, old blankets and towels by donating them to a local shelter or rescue group. There’s a saying: one dog’s trash is another dog’s treasure!

5. Plant

Plant dog-friendly flowers and other plants. Not only is it good for the environment, but gardening can also be relaxing. A dog-friendly garden can also be a wonderfully stimulating space for your pup. If you don’t have a backyard, consider container gardening on your deck.

6. Adopt

If you’re thinking of adding a new pup to the family, giving a home to a dog in need is earth-friendly and heart-friendly, too.

Jo Jo Harder, is an author, stylist, producer and pet lifestyle expert, as well as CEO and creator of America’s Top Dog Model contest. Jo Jo has been at the helm of America’s Top Dog Model ® brand since 2005, and her unique approach to discovering, developing and managing top dog models has gained international attention. America’s Top Dog Model’s new reality series “How to Get to the Top” will launch on YouTube in August. www.americastopdogmodel.com.

Deerfield Beach

June 19: A man reported that someone stole his bicycle from the Target at 3599 W. Hillsboro Blvd. The man said he had locked it.

June 19: It was reported that a man entered a Metro PCS Store at 3616 W. Hillsboro Blvd. and stole two Apple cell phones. The total loss was $1,850.

June 21: A man was seen in a surveillance video stealing a scooter from a driveway at 396 NW 45 Terr.

June 21: It was reported that someone entered the recreation building at Constitution Park at 2841 W. Hillsboro Blvd. and stole a computer and projector from the play area. The loss was estimated at $1,300.

June 22: Someone stole water purifiers from the Target at 1200 S. Federal Hwy. The loss was estimated at $134.

Lighthouse Point

June 13: Someone stole three boat propellers off a 39 ft. powerboat at 3741 NE 28St. It was later discovered that there was a contract with a party and the incident was deemed a civil matter. The propellers were $500 each.

June 13: Police responded to a silent alarm call at a bank at 3550 N. Federal Hwy. It was discovered that an overnight crew was working on the ATM and the alarm was cleared.

June 13: Police responded to an alarm call at 4610 N. Federal Hwy. A proper code was received prior to the police arrival and the call was cleared.

(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.)

Annual 5th of July Beach Cleanup

Friday, July 5, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Chickee Hut across from the Fire Station

71 S. Ocean Way

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Come join city staff for beach cleanup and continue the community’s efforts to help keep Deerfield Beach both clean and green. Snacks and water will be provided to all volunteers. Parking passes for the duration of the event will also be available to the first 50 volunteers.

Beautifully Broken exhibit opens

Friday, July 5, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Bailey Contemporary Arts

41 NE 1 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33064

One in five Americans are affected by mental health conditions. Yet, this common illness often remains hidden behind a wall of secrecy and isolation. “Beautifully Broken” is an exhibit curated by ArtHeart, a non-profit that raises funds and awareness for orphans around the world. The exhibit explores mental health through contemporary visual art. It breaks down societal stigma and offers an opportunity to encounter and understand mental health through the eyes of nine artists. Exhibit runs through Aug. 30. July 5 is opening reception.

Intro to Wild Ales/Brewery Tour

Saturday, July 6, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

Odd Breed Wild Ales

50 NE 1 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Go on a journey through the wild beer process they use at Odd Breed to come up with their creations. At the end, get two 5.5 oz. pours included in the $10 cost of admission. Get ticket details at www.oddbreed.com under ‘shop.’

Comics Guru Calvin Reid speaks

Sunday, July 7, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Boca Raton Museum of Art

501 Plaza Real

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Reid will discuss how his life has been shaped by art, comics and the book industry. He is internationally renowned as a central figure in the rise and success of graphic novels as a publishing genre. Non-Members – $5, free for members. Space is limited. Reserve your tickets at www.bocamuseum.org/events/calvin-reid–editor-publishers-weekly-comics-world. For more info, call 561-392-2500.

Old Town Untapped

Sunday, July 7, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Bailey Contemporary Arts

41 NE 1 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Old Town Untapped is a monthly craft beer and arts festival hosted by the Pompano Beach CRA and features free samples of local beers crafted by breweries in Pompano Beach’s emerging craft beer scene. In addition, the streets of Old Town are lined with food trucks, artists, crafters and interactive art. Inside Bailey Contemporary Arts, guests can grab some locally roasted coffee at Blooming Bean Coffee Roasters and walk through the galleries rotating art exhibits each month. 

Working Families Orientation

Monday, July 8, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

E. Pat Larkin Center

520 NW 3 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

The Center for Working Families (CWF) provides a space to overcome hurdles that may be holding you back and help you move towards creating a step-by-step plan for attaining your long-term goals. Through the coaching process, clients will focus on financial education, asset building, job training, career advancement, public benefits screenings and identifying personal goals for a successful financial future! To register, visit www.eventbrite.com/e/orientation-offered-in-city-of-pompano-center-for-working-families-orientation-tickets-58027131713.

Ballroom Dancing

Tuesday, July 9, 1:30 to 3 p.m.

Center for Active Aging

227 NW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Every Tuesday.Ballroom Dance with Soutien Peng & Karen Donaldson. No partner needed. For more information, call the Center for Active Aging at 954-480-4447.

Knit & Crochet Group

Tuesday, July 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Center for Active Aging

227 NW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Beginners welcome. No experience necessary. Benefits include a feeling of accomplishment and reduced stress. Currently, this dedicated group is making Afghans for Vietnam Veterans. Steve Siplak of CarePlus provides the yarn. The Center offers Transportation Services. Need a ride? Give them a call. For more information, contact Ann Sico, Recreation Coordinator at 954-480-4447.

Save the Date:

Music under the Stars

Friday, July 12, 7 p.m.

The Great Lawn

Corner of Atlantic and Pompano Beach Blvd.

Come enjoy an evening of great music and entertainment as Vista Motor Company presents Music under the Stars every second Friday of the month. Featured band for this event is Pure Heart (a Heart tribute band).

Blended Conversations

Saturday, July 13, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pompano Beach Cultural Center

50 W. Atlantic Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Blended Conversations combines art & conversation, examines the world around us and how we exist in it. Come listen to a variety of local artists share their own real life stories in an intimate, relaxed and informal setting. Refreshments provided. Tickets cost $10 at the door or visit www.ccpompano.org.

Hillsboro Lighthouse Tours

Sunday July 21, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Sands Harbor Resort Boat Dock

125 N. Riverside Dr.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Enjoy a great view from the lighthouse! Parking is on the east side of the street in the city (pay) parking lot. Registration/check-in starts 30 minutes prior to the first sail time and remains open until the last boat returns. The boat leaves the Sands dock to the lighthouse at each sail time. The boat leaves the lighthouse dock to the Sands approximately 30 minutes later (for an approximate 1 hour round trip). Members will register/check you in, provide you with a wrist band, and assist you with boarding for the boat ride to/from the lighthouse. A current HLPS membership or a $35 per person transportation fee is required. There are seven shuttle boats; the sail times are hourly from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Beat the Heat

Saturday, July 13, 2 p.m.

All Pet Supermarket stores

Is your pet getting enough water? To celebrate National Pet Hydration Awareness Month and help raise awareness about the importance of hydration for pets this summer, Pet Supermarket is holding a special event. The special event will feature workshops to educate attendees on various tips, tricks and products to help prevent pet dehydration as the days get hotter. Vendors and animal welfare groups will be on-site to share information about pet hydration for all pets, big and small. Attendees will also enjoy raffles, giveaways and 20 percent off on all dog and cat feeding supplies. The event will provide hydration tips for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, small animals, fish and ferrets, and is free and open to the public.

Woman’s Club Trips

Navel Museum in Ft. Pierce

Tuesday, Aug. 13 8:30 a.m.

Deerfield Women’s Club is delighted to offer a very special trip to Ft. Pierce and Stuart. The National Navy Seal Museum is home to one of the most unusual collections of artifacts & exhibits of any museum. Cost is $90. Includes round trip Motor Coach transportation, a tip to your driver, a visit to the museum, a sit-down lunch overlooking the beach and a visit to historic downtown Stuart. Limited seats. Call now. Men are welcome too. Call Sally 954-427-2175 for more information.

Paint with Pat!

Local artist Pat Anderson has two classes coming up in which you can learn how to paint the beautiful landscapes you see around you. 1st class is Tuesday, July 16, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hillsboro Inlet Park Pavilion, 2700 N. Ocean Blvd. in Pompano Beach. The 2nd is Sunday, July 21, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hillsboro Lighthouse. Pat Anderson’s Plein Air Art in the Parks is for age 10 to seniors. Open to all levels. Bring photos of you and huggable friend. Pat will show you how to paint your scene then position two people by the ocean. See display ad in the Observer today on pg. 3. Art supplies for watercolors are free. You are welcome to bring your favorite art supplies for acrylics or oils. Professional instruction and Leaf Bar tables & easels provided. Bring lunch. Two awesome days of painting for $60. Extra fee for access to lighthouse and grounds. Get more details and sign up by calling Emma Lou Olson Civic Center at 954-786-4111 or visit www.PatAndersonArtist.com/classes.

By Rabbi Tzvi Dechter

Saturday we mark 25 years since the ‘Rebbe’ — Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson — passed away.

One of the signs of a great leader is where others might have seen a spiritually dry person, a Rebbe saw the potential or the creation of the most beautiful and inspiring garden. He encouraged us to love him/her to pieces, embrace him with every fiber of our being, open our heart to him, cherish him and shower him with warmth and affection. He wanted us to appreciate him, respect him and let him feel that we really care for him, to see in him or her that which he or she may not be able to see in themselves at the moment. He wanted us to view him as a great human being and, you know what, he will become just that. 

Story: It was 1973 when the widow of Jacques Lipchitz, the renowned sculptor, had come for a private audience with the Lubavitcher Rebbe shortly after her husband’s sudden passing.

In the course of her meeting with the Rebbe, she mentioned that when her husband died, he was nearing completion of a massive sculpture of a phoenix in abstract, a work commissioned by Hadassah Women’s Organization for the Hadassah Hospital on Mt. Scopus, in Jerusalem.

As an artist and sculptor in her own right, she said that she would have liked to complete her husband’s work; but, she told the Rebbe, she had been advised by Jewish leaders that the phoenix is a non-Jewish symbol. How could that be placed, in Jerusalem — no less!

I was standing near the door to the Rebbe’s office that night said Rabbi Krinsky (my brother-in-law’s grandfather and secretary to the Rebbe), when he called for me and asked that I bring him the book of Job from his bookshelf, which I did. The Rebbe turned to Chapter 29, verse 18, “I shall multiply my days like the Chol.” And then the Rebbe proceeded to explain to Mrs. Lipchitz the Midrashic commentary on this verse which describes the Chol as a bird that lives for a thousand years, then dies, and is later resurrected from its ashes — clearly then, a Jewish symbol.

Mrs. Lipchitz was absolutely delighted and the project was completed soon thereafter. True to his nature, the Rebbe discerned the positive where conventional wisdom saw only negativism.

How fitting, retrospectively, this beautiful metaphor of life … returning from the ashes. In his own divinely inspired way, the Rebbe had brought new hope to this broken widow. And in the recurring theme of his life, he did the same for the spirit of the Jewish people, which he raised from the ashes of the Holocaust to new, invigorated life.

May his memory be a blessing, and may we truly see the good in every one, thus making the world a better place.

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.

By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

I was always a big fan of “reality.” My relationship with Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy didn’t last very long. Myths, magical realism, religious stories based on fantasy were fun but always overruled by my skepticism and, to some extent, distrust.

Having adults tell me lies made me feel like my intellect was being demeaned. How stupid did they think I was to believe that the prince actually climbed up Rapunzel’s hair to the tower to rescue her?  

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoyed Mother Goose and Cinderella like most kids, but I was never caught up in the magic of dismissing my belief system. I always took great comfort in what I knew was reality. I relied on truth as the one steady reliable “thing” in life, and, if the truth was bad for me, I could handle it because I knew it to be indisputable, and I knew I had to change circumstances and formulate a different truth for myself.

I believe that I can speak for many others who dare to think of the ramifications of the crumbling of the nature of “truth.” We are living during a period of major societal disruption, and the loss of reality seems to be pushing us over the edge.

Surely in political circles, there are very distinct “realities” — different “truths” held to be equally immutable by each side. Anyone who switches from [one cable newscast to others] is transported to a completely different reality. The question is can society live peaceably within a state of two palpably different realities. I am not talking about two opposing belief systems. This is different. I am talking about viewing the same set of circumstances and transmitting different interpretations to the brain. And this is where my faith in reality falters. Perhaps, it (reality) actually doesn’t exist.

And so with these musings in mind, and in recognition that we are again celebrating our most significant national holiday, I transition to the revered words of Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self evident: that all “men” are created equal [with women and African Americans relegated to lesser status],  that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights — that among them are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

I look at those words these 243 years later and suppress a groan of incredulity. Those truths were self evident? Those truths were acclaimed during all these years as being sacred to the values of our country, and yet how fictitious they were, and how for two centuries — centuries! —“all men” were certainly not deemed to have been created as the “equal” to white-skinned men, by any stretch of the political, social or economic imagination. And, in our blustering “patriotism,” we got away with worshiping those hollow deceitful words.

Perhaps non-white men and women, as well as people regarded as “other,” might soon produce a declaration of their own that can be interpreted by all as a mirror of truth and reality and can be revered as an updated document to which we will be proud to pledge our allegiance.

We honor Thomas Jefferson and our founders for their political genius and for guiding us in the direction of our not yet perfect union. We can still do better and, hopefully, will never stop trying. And maybe someday, the larger truth to which we all aspire, may be monolithic.

Happy Barbecue or whatever you do to celebrate our gratitude for an ever striving-to-be-great country.