Ranse Jones’ parents, Bob Jones and Sherry Marthinuss, on hand for this year’s event. Photos by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Ranse Jones’ motto was simple – “Live simple, play hard.” Jones, the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals) beach volleyball player who died last year, at age 34, was in the thoughts of those involved in the second annual tournament bearing his name on Nov. 11-13 in Deerfield Beach.

Deerfield Beach’s Flavia Peraira, teamed with Boca Raton’s Amanda Angermeier, took third in the women’s open division. Players drew their teammates randomly at a kickoff party the night before the competition. The duo both teach at Boca Raton High School and had teamed up before in winning a AA women’s tournament the year before.

“We were so excited because we played together before,” said Peraira, 28, Biology teacher at Boca Raton High School and former Georgia Southern University volleyball standout. “I think this is important because it combines the sport and brings everyone together for this (great) cause. It is a sad thing and, because we are turning it into something positive, it is amazing. It is very personal for a lot of people here in Deerfield Beach who know him.”

Peraira said she loves playing beach volleyball because of the weather, the competition and being healthy through the exercise.

“If I don’t play, I think something is missing,” added Peraira, who also coaches the sport. “I like the teaching part of it. Being outside and looking at the ocean. There is nothing better.”

Jones, who was from Deerfield Beach and was a firefighter, suffered a brain aneurysm during the semifinal of the Panama City AVP Young Guns tournament in April 2010. In the six months that followed, Jones was on and off life support, placed in a medically-induced coma, suffered swelling of his brain and battled an array of complicated infections.

Jones had played in 21 AVP tournaments since 2000. Once ranked as high as No. 66, Jones also spent time on the Extreme Volleyball Professionals tour, as well as competing in the Men’s Open Division of the 2009 U.S. Open of Beach Volleyball.

Deerfield Beach’s Flavia Peraira, right, and Boca Raton’s Amanda Angermeier finishes third in the women’s open division of the second annual Ranse Classic.

Marcelo Ramos, who, along with Andre Melo and John Esposito, put on the local event this year, said there were about 150 players who took part in the beach volleyball tournament and an additional 30 who played in the men’s footvolley competition.

Ramos, 41, of Deerfield Beach, said the event was for a good cause. A benefit event in Jones’ honor was staged near the city’s pier last November and Jones passed away the day after the tournament ended on Nov. 8.

Ramos said the final figures from registration monies aren’t in yet; however, he expects the number raised to approach $15,000.

“This is very important,” said Ramos, who noted some of the proceeds are targeted for Kids in Distress. “It is good because the volleyball and the footvolley come together because they are part of the beach family. It is a very good group of athletes was stick up for each other.

“It’s going to grow into a big annual event,” said Melo, a longtime friend of Jones. “It is a good time. Everyone is coming out to support Ranse. Not only is it a competitive tournament with money, but it is also a reminder of what a great guy and competitor he was. It’s (about getting) together to celebrate his life.”

There was $6,500 in prize money, including $1,000 for first prize in the men’s division, co-ed 4s and footvolley, and $700 for first in the girls division. There were other prizes for the other divisions.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

It is one of the great ironies of the holiday season that the motion picture industry issues their Oscar consideration flicks with dark themes about the end of the world or mental illness. Happy Feet Two and Melancholia are no exception this holiday season.

Told in two parts, Melancholia opens with the story of “Justine” (Kirsten Dunst), a bride who is late for her elaborate wedding reception in a stately mansion. John (Keifer Sutherland) complains about the cost of the wedding, while Gaby (Charlotte Rampling) complains about everything. Justine is supported by her sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg – the daughter of the recently reviewed Gainsbourg – A Heroic Life).

Claire’s story dominates the second part of the story. As the wedding ends in a shambles, the planet Melancholia is on a collision course with planet Earth.  Given his knowledge of science, John poo poos the notion about the end of the world, Claire is neurotic, but Justine seems pacified by these events.

Given the serious drama, Melancholia moves at a snail’s pace, broken up by the humor generated by John Hurt and Rampling. Technically, Melancholia is an impressive art film with visual nods to French Impressionism. Dunst manifests her melancholia with a brave and naked performance.

While the subtext of Happy Feet Two deals with global warming, at least this animated sequel lacks the condescension of an Al Gore/Michael Moore documentary. In fact, it celebrates public problem-solving based on individual actions.

It has been at least five years since the events of the first Happy Feet.  Mumbles (Elijah Wood) and Gloria (Pink – replacing the late Brittany Murphy) are the parents to Erik (Ava Acres), a young penguin with learning disabilities.  Given his painful youthful experiences, Mumbles attempts to impart his wisdom upon his son, but the boy is too young to understand. Calamity happens and Mumbles must save his community yet again.

Don’t fear kiddies. Happy Feet Two never ventures into melancholia. The musical score is upbeat and families were dancing in their seats at the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery IMAX theater. Like the first Happy Feet, ticket buyers will leave the show with a hitch in their giddyup. At least this columnist is thankful that he did not have to review The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 this weekend! Happy Thanksgiving, dear reader.

L’Chu N’Ranena from the Book of Psalms begins with “Let us sing unto G-d.” But, it does not say to sing the Blues. No, it says that we should “sing unto G-d in joy.”

What an interesting thing to be commanded to feel joy. What if you are not feeling so happy? What if you have been having a bad day, a bad week or a bad year?

Well, I guess we need to read further because the next part of the Psalm tells us how to lift our spirits. It tells us to approach G-d with praise and Thanksgiving. You heard me right, we are to approach not with a list of requests each of which remind us of what we feel we lack, but rather with a list of the things that we have.

So here we are with the Great American Festival of Thanksgiving and I would ask each of you to think of what you are thankful for. I know many people will sit with family and friends to a scrumptious turkey dinner and they will go around the table and each will get an opportunity to say that they are thankful for this or that, but what of those who can’t seem to think of anything to be thankful for?

Well, if nothing else, on Thanksgiving Day, at least, be thankful that you are not a TURKEY!

Those of you who read my column regularly know that I love to dance. I even help teach beginning students in the Adult Education Program. In recent classes, we had a wonderful couple, newly married, and, watching them, I saw in their every action, their every glance at one another, that they were filled with joy; they were so thankful that they had found each other. They know that there are many people who go through life without ever finding that special match that lights them up like the brightest of Shabbat Candles.

We recently read about the first matchmaker in the Bible. His name was Eliezer, the trusted servant of Abraham who was sent on a mission to find a wife for Abraham’s son, Isaac. He could have gone looking for the wealthiest woman in the land, but he chose to look for someone who was kind, caring and gentle. Okay, it didn’t hurt that she also happened to be gorgeous. But remember, the woman he chose was kind and caring before she ever met her husband.

If you are not married yet, if you are looking for a partner in life, I would urge you to start being kinder and more caring right here, right now; it just might lead you to your bashert.

My new friends from dance class know this well. They both spend their days collecting food for those who are hungry. They have blessed so many others and G-d has indeed blessed them and they are ever-so-thankful.

May you each learn to be thankful, not just for what you have, but for what you can give.

If you would like to share in the joy of my newlywed friends, and, as we will all have a feast on Thanksgiving, consider giving some food or a donation to “Boca Helping Hands” at the Remillard Family Resource Center in Boca Raton. www.bocahelpinghands.org. Or you may choose to give to any of the other fine organizations that help feed the hungry, and may I be the first to say, “THANKS!”

Shalom My Friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a Hospice Chaplain and Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He also provides Professional Pastoral Care Services to a number of health centers in Broward County.

Dan Marino, left, will be joined by chef Anthony Bruno (Anthony’s Runway 84) and John Offerdahl on Friday. Submitted photo.

By Gary Curreri

John Offerdahl spent eight seasons roaming the middle of the Miami Dolphins’ defense on the gridiron and now he has turned his attention to raising money for charity.

Offerdahl will be among 20 former Miami Dolphins, including Dan Marino and Broward’s best chefs, who will take part in the second annual Gridiron Grill-Off Food, Wine & Tailgate Festival at Pompano Beach Amphitheater on Nov. 18 from 4 p.m. to 11 p m.

“It is all about bringing people together for a good cause,” said Offerdahl, who played for the Miami Dolphins from 1986-1993 and was a 5-time Pro Bowl selection. “This event is where Celebrity, Competition & Charity collide!”

Each athlete has been paired with a chef and has created their own signature Gridiron Grill-Off recipe. Attendees will eat and vote on their favorites, and a pair will be voted the Gridiron Grill-Off Champion! There will also be a bean-bag tailgate tournament that teams up Celebrity Pros with Community Joes (fans).

Last year, Louis Oliver and Jason Smith from Steak 954 won. Proceeds are supporting 4Kids of South Florida, the Miami Dolphins Foundation and Here’s Help Culinary Program. Tickets for the event can be purchased at www.
GridironGrilloff.com.

Ely routs Dillard in Soul Bowl

Darren Allen threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns and added three touchdown runs as Blanche Ely rolled to a 41-13 victory over Dillard at Lockhart Stadium on Nov. 12.

Avery Johnson caught five passes for 130 yards and three scores as the Tigers prepared for this week’s Class 7A playoff game against host Dwyer High School on Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Highlands finishes 6-4

Tyson Graham scored three times, while Arelious Burns added the fourth as Highlands Christian Academy closed out the season with its fourth consecutive victory to finish the year 6-4.The team outscored the opposition during that span, 174-20.

The victory was bittersweet for Knights head coach Jordan Adair, who said he is stepping down as football coach. He said he is exploring some new coaching opportunities for next season.

“The final game was emotional, and it was great to send the seniors out with a win, as well as finish out my time here with a victory,” said Adair, who has been coaching at the school for eight years at different levels. “I had been coaching many of the seniors since they were in 6th grade (Logan Cole, Matt Elder, Gabe Hantsbarger were all on the elementary basketball team I coached my second year here. I’m really looking forward to seeing where some of them land in college and watching them continue their football career.”

Adair, who had a 23-17 record as the head coach for the varsity team for four years, said he was very pleased with the way the team kept playing hard after it started the year 0-3.

“It took some time for the new players to acclimate to our system and style of play,” Adair said. “I feel like we kept improving each week, and that is why we were able to finish strong, winning 6 out of our last 7 games.”

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

The Artist claimed the “Best in the Fest” award at the 26th Annual Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival. A black-and-white silent movie with a grand musical score, this film was a labor of love for the participants involved, including Uggie the Jack Russell terrier.

In a recent telephone interview, Malcolm McDowell commented on his involvement – ”I met with the director about another part, which I could not do due to my commitment to Franklin & Bash. However, we managed to shoot my part in one day.”

McDowell’s one-day cameo became the focus of attention at the recent Cannes Film Festival.

“Cannes was celebrating the 40-year anniversary of A Clockwork Orange, but 25 percent of press conference questions were about The Artist. I am happy about how well-received The Artist has become,” he added.

Like The Artist’s celebration of a bygone era, FLIFF 26 has become cinema history. With the exception of two uppity celebrity handlers for the opening weekend festivities and the illness of Senator George McGovern, this fest fulfilled its unique promise of understanding the challenges for future filmmakers while acknowledging the debt of our founding filmmakers.

Despite volunteer staff shortages locally, the outreach programs in Pompano, Sunrise and the Bahamas proved to be a financial boost to local business. Muvico Pompano sold extra tickets during a traditional slow period at the box office.

Given Dennis Farina’s surprise appearance for the screening of the award-winning The Last Rites of Joe May at Muvico Pompano, expect more volunteer opportunities in North Broward County for FLIFF 27.

An Evening with Piper Laurie was one of the most talked about events of the fest. Foregoing the planned screening of The Grass Harp, Piper reflected upon her six decades in the movies and her experiences with stars like Ronald Reagan and Paul Newman, and playing Carrie’s harpy mother. Cinema Historian Foster Hirsch conducted Piper’s insightful interview.

The ocean conservation documentary Islands of Life, which earned a Spirit of Independence award, featured Sidney Poitier and his daughter Pamela. Pamela Poitier attended the screening 3:10 to Yuma starring Glenn Ford. Ford’s son, Peter, was in attendance to discuss his new book Glenn Ford: A Life. Ford and Poitier’s meeting acknowledged a piece of cinematic history. Both of their fathers starred in an important film – The Blackboard Jungle, released 61 years ago.

Here is a little Thanksgiving history for you. Don’t worry there will not be a test. In 1789, following a proclamation issued by President George Washington, America celebrated its first Day of Thanksgiving to God under its new constitution. That same year, the Protestant Episcopal Church, of which President Washington was a member, announced that the first Thursday in November would become its regular day for giving thanks “unless another day is appointed by the civil authorities.” Yet, despite these early national proclamations, official Thanksgiving observances usually occurred only at the state level. Much of the credit, for the adoption of an annual national Thanksgiving Day may be attributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale, the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book. For 30 years, she promoted the idea of a national Thanksgiving Day, contacting president after president until President Abraham Lincoln responded in 1863 by setting aside the last Thursday of November as a national Day of Thanksgiving. Over the next 75 years, presidents followed Lincoln’s precedent, annually declaring a national Thanksgiving Day. Then, in 1941, Congress permanently established the fourth Thursday of each November as a national holiday.

PSALM 100:4-5

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.

5 For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.  NLT

To be thankful means to be full of gratitude and appreciation. Ephesians 5:20 says, “Give thanks always for all things.” Why are we to always be grateful?  Because God is good and His love, mercy and His Word endures and lives forever. And it also lives in us.

PSALM 107:1-2

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.

2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies.  NLT

1 CORINTHIANS 15:57-58

57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.  NLT

Our life should show that we are thankful and grateful. You must be willing to be grateful because then the things you do will reflect how you really feel and show what is truly in your heart. Thankfulness is an attitude. It is a condition of the heart. What kind of condition is your heart in, not just this Thanksgiving, but year-round?

As we commemorate Thanksgiving this year, I hope you will retain the original gratefulness to God displayed by the Pilgrims and many other founding fathers, and remember that it is to those early and courageous Pilgrims that we owe not only the traditional Thanksgiving holiday, but also the concepts of self-government, the “hard-work” ethic, self-reliant communities and devout religious faith. Along with all the commotion, companionship and cooking, take time to give thanks and praise to God and to the special people in your life.

Pastor Tony Guadagnino

Christian Love Fellowship Church

Since our family, the Eller family, has lived in Deerfield Beach since 1923, I’ve often been asked to put in writing some of the history of the area, either experienced personally, or that I heard from my parents or grandparents. For some of you old timers who might be worried about certain old “scandals,” don’t worry. I won’t be writing about those (smile). To read previous historical essays, go to www.observernewspaperonline.com and click on “The History of Deerfield.”

David Eller, Publisher

While I’m Away at College, Observer  newspaper is born – In Deerfield –

Some of you may have noticed that there has been a pause in my Historical articles for a few months and may have wondered why? It is quite simple. I’ve only written about things I personally knew to be true. How our family came to South Florida in 1923, after having first immigrated to North Carolina from Switzerland and Germany some 150 years earlier.

How my grandfather, Hoyt Eller, a skilled carpenter and farmer in his early 30s brought his wife and five children here to live in a tent next to the Hillsboro River/Canal and Dixe Highway. How he worked directly for the famous architect Addison Mizner to do the finish carpentry work for the Boca Raton Hotel. How he saved his money and went to farming land he bought for $1 per acre at what is now Quiet Waters Park, and later on $15 per acre in what is now the City of Parkland.

I wrote about some of the farm families like the Butlers, Wiles and Jones, who were already in Deerfield at the time.

How my father, Marlin Eller, quit farming with his father at age 21 to start his own business manufacturing large water pumps to sell to local farmers and government agencies for irrigation or drainage.

I wrote about the fact that when I started first grade at Deerfield Elementary School in 1947, there were only six students, and I was the only boy. Now I’m informed that first graders in Deerfield are measured in the hundreds. Stories about other local families were included along the way, as I wrote many stories trying to share what it was like growing up here in north Broward County in the 1940s and ‘50s. The ‘60s began with me at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, and then onto the University of Florida in Gainesville, which I graduated from with an engineering degree in 1964.

However, when I wrote the story about college, I suddenly realized that I was getting away from my original objective of writing about the history of this area, the north Broward County/South Palm Beach area. Therefore, in order to stay true to my initial objective, I will attempt now to combine the two, by telling some of what was going on in my life at college and, at the same time, to tell what was simultaneously going on back home in Deerfield (using the Observer archives). Eventually, the two storylines will merge when I graduate from college and come home.

For instance, while I was away at college, in 1962 the Observer newspaper first began publishing under the direction of Margaret Moore (the mother of my good friend from high school, Adrian Moore) and the first Publisher, Bill Beck of Delray Beach.

Meanwhile, in the morning of my first day at college in DeLand, we freshmen engineering students found seats in the auditorium before the head of engineering, Dr. Lowry entered. Very distinguished-looking with a white beard and wavy white hair he told us to “Look at the student sitting in front of you. Now look at the one to your left. Now look to the right. Only one of you will ever become an engineer. The others will flunk out … or become a lawyer… or something else.” That was my first day and introduction to college. And he was right.

David Eller, Publisher

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

John Wayne portrayed Tom Doniphon, The Man who Shot Liberty Valance, although Ranse Stoddard (James Stewart) got the credit for eliminating the bad guy, portrayed by Lee Marvin. As your humble swashbuckling journalist and information scientist, I have always sought the Tom Doniphons lost in the shadows of history.

Often considered the stepping stone in the overhyped career of Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier is the Tom Doniphon of pugilistic history. The South Paw from Philadelphia was the heavyweight champion of the world from 1969-1973 and only lost to two men – twice – Muhammad Ali and George Foreman. After his heavyweight heyday, it was revealed that “Smokin’ Joe” was partially blind from cataracts when he was World Heavyweight Champion.

Overcoming handicaps is something Joe Frazier was trained to do at a very young age. Frazier’s father, Rubin, lost his left arm a year before Joe was born. Growing up in rural North Carolina, Frazier became his father’s “left hand man.” There is no irony that when Frazier knocked down Ali in Superfight I 40 years ago, he did it with a left hook. Given his perseverance growing up, it is appropriate that he has a cameo appearance in the original Rocky.

The search for Tom Doniphon is apparent in my book, The Adventures of Cinema Dave in the Florida Motion Picture World. In the final chapter, I wrote about the importance of letting go of the many artifacts in my apartment, which has been hard since they remind me of the people associated with them. While it would be “easy” to throw them out, I feel it would devalue the spirit of generosity in which I received them, so I have been donating them to nonprofits “From the Cave of Cinema Dave.”

While the “Cinema Dave Adventure Pack” raised $50 for the 26th Annual Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival, I wonder how much money will be raised at the Doreen Gauthier Lighthouse Point Library Semi Annual Fall Book Sale next Thursday, Nov. 19?

LHP Library has received eight boxes from my cave, with more on the way. Besides “special collection VHS” and movie related books, one will find text books, biographies and historical books that were used to supplement the curriculum for a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence circa 1996.

The FAU Owls couldn’t get it right when they were shut out 20-0 by the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers to open up their new on-campus stadium on Oct. 15.

But the Owls had a second chance for another first in their new home. The Arkansas State University (ASU) Red Wolves were the first opponent in FAU’s inaugural Homecoming Game. The results were encouraging. With 10:55 left in the first half, the Owls were -13 yards in total offense.

But that was before running back Alfred Morris got his hands on the football and ran for 39 yards, thus putting the Owls in the black in total offense.

Two plays later, the Owls capped off a four play, 71-yard drive as Morris would score a 13-yard touchdown as he tied Doug Parker with 25 total all-time, rushing and receiving. FAU trailed at this point 15-7.

With 2:49 left in the first half, the Owls put together a seven plays, 62-yard and 3:16 drive and cut ASU’s lead 18-14. Morris would cap this drive with a four-yard touchdown run as he broke Parker’s record with 26. Morris has 22 rushing and four receiving touchdowns.

In the second half, Morris picked up where he left off, as he had 33 yards on the Owls opening drive, which led to an FAU eight play drive that went 70-yards and lasted 4:36.

Quarterback Graham Wilbert connected with Derek Moise for an 18-yard touchdown. It was the first of Moise’s career. The Owls took a 21-18 lead, and this was the first FAU lead in the new stadium.

But that lead wouldn’t last long as ASU responded with a six plays, 40 yards and 2:18 drive that gave them a 25-21 lead. It was capped by a seven-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Aplin to Taylor Stockemer.

The Red Wolves scored 21 unanswered points to build a 38-21 lead by the 7:39 mark in the fourth quarter. Aplin had five touchdowns, four rushing and one passing. He threw for 244 yards.

Morris finished with 163 yards rushing, while Graham ended his night with 147 yards and two interceptions. FAU had four turnovers and committed nine penalties for 69 yards in the 39-21 loss. ASU out gained FAU in total yards 429-281 and first downs 28-15.

The Owls dropped to 0-8 and 6-5 in Homecoming Games. The Red Wolves lead the all-time series 4-3.

When the game was over, Morris downplayed his personal accomplishments as he said, “This is bittersweet, but we wanted to win. As usual, we made a lot of mistakes. The film shows it. I don’t play for the accolades, but because I love the game. I don’t look at stats, just wins and losses.

“I take pride in blocking and take it serious because I don’t want them touching my other running back or quarterback. The positive part of this game is we showed we can move the ball.

“But I don’t want to be part of a win-less team. We have four chances to win a game. We’re not desperate for a win, but hungry for one. If I had the answers to this losing, I’d try to fix it.”

Coach Schnellenberger added, “Taking the lead in the third quarter was an accomplishment. This game was more disheartening because of the improvements you saw. I was a proud football coach and remain one. It’s tough trying to develop a football team that hasn’t won. What’s history is history. It’s a different type of development and we’ll continue to develop these players for the new coach.”

FAU’s next chance for a win is on Saturday night at 6 p.m. when it travels to Miami to face FIU in the Shula Bowl.

Scott Morganroth can be reached at www.scottsports33.com.

It wasn’t all that long ago that the Major League Baseball Season came to an end. Baseball isn’t just the Great American Pastime. Baseball has always had a special place in the heart and soul of The Jewish People.

I suspect it started way back before anyone ever heard of Abner Doubleday. In fact, it started way back in Biblical Times. Why else do you think that G-d chose to start the Torah with the words, “In the Big Inning?”

Come to think of it, why else would G-d tell one of the Patriarchs to make a sacrifice …

And, even though the ancients may have lived in a Patriarchal society, even the women got into the game because every Purim we read about Queen Esther throwing a ball. And if throwing a ball was good enough for the Queen, then maybe Polo shouldn’t be the sport of Kings. Maybe they should try playing some baseball.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that we read Parsha Lech Lecha. In this Chapter of the Bible, G-d has picked the roster. He has chosen the starting line-up and, he has decided that Abram should, “Go  fourth.”

In baseball, the one who bats fourth is lovingly referred to as the “Clean-Up Hitter.” This is the player who is statistically most likely to do something that enables all the other runners on base to make it home … and, as Dorothy said in The Wizard of Oz, “There’s no place like home.”

Most of you reading this column have your home down here in sunny South Florida. But I suspect that many of you are not aware that we, just like Abram, and just like the clean-up hitter, were recently called “fourth.”

Unfortunately, the fourth we were called was not about heading to Canaan, nor was it about bringing others home. Then again, maybe it was about bringing others home if you are talking about the heavens as your final home; because it seems that we of our beloved Sunshine State were just listed as the fourth worst drivers in the Country … and I am not talking about a drive out on the golf range. A clearinghouse for car insurance information put us fourth in a research study that took into play things like traffic fatalities, citations and arrests; and we did not score so well.

In baseball, even if the clean-up hitter hits a homerun, he can’t bring anyone else home unless someone before him gets on base, which brings us to the first batter, the lead-off man.

And again, sadly, we, the drivers of Sunny Florida do indeed lead-off. We come in first in the rankings in the number of traffic citations issued and, talk about semi-pros, we are pretty close to No. 1 in, surprise of surprises,  careless drivers. So I guess I better stop keying this into my computer, put my coffee down and stop talking on my cell phone until I get off the road …

So ladies and gentleman of South Florida, were you paying attention?

We came in fourth, but we can do better. Let’s clean up our roads. Help others make it home … and may the Great Umpire in the Sky be by our side in our driving, in our going fourth, and may He bring all of us home safely.

Shalom My Friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is a Hospice Chaplain and Member of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He also provides Professional Pastoral Care Services to a number of health centers in Broward County.