By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Located on the Florida Atlantic University campus on 777 Glades Rd. in Boca Raton, Living Room Theater celebrates their one-year university next month. Given these rough economic times, The Living Room has managed to negotiate a unique partnership between the bureaucracy of education and the demands of private industry. It has triumphed by supplying culturally-diverse motion pictures to our community.

Based on the Best-selling memoir Retter in der nacht, by Marga Spiegel,  Saviors in the Night is a film that will find an audience within our community.  Directed by Ludi Boeken, Saviors in the Night is a 100-minute film about German farmers who hid Jews targeted for extinction by Adolph Hitler from 1943 thru 1945.

It opens in the trenches of World War I, in which young Jewish soldier Menne Spiegel earns the German Cross of Iron for his heroics in the trenches of battle. The film flash forwards and Menne is hunted by the German government that honored him 25 years prio.

Now with a wife Marga (Veronica Ferres) and child, Menne (Armin Rohde) has knowledge of family members being sent to concentration camps. For safety’s sake, the mother and child split from the father. After making a simple request for sanctuary, Menne leaves his wife and child with Herr Aschoff (Martin Horn), a German patriot whose son is fighting for the Nazis.

Up to this point, Saviors in the Night is a gritty war film with echoes of Schindler’s List, The Pianist and The Diary of Anne Frank. Yet it provides a different perspective of German individuals who are not Nazis.  Despite their political leanings, the Aschoff family has the humanity treat Menne’s family with dignity and respect. While the Nazi threat never dissipates, Saviors in the Night celebrates the domestic joys that enrich our lives.

One particular scene stands out for its cultural symbolism. As Frau Aschoff bathes in a bathtub, she invites Marga to join her. While modern audiences might interpret it as lesbianism, the scene represents the subtle baptism of two women washing away the ghosts of the cultural past.

This film is a triumph of individual actions over entrenched ideology. Given political current events and news, boy, do we need more stories about Aschoff, Pentrop, Sudfield, Silkenbohmer and Sickmann families to remind us how to be Saviors in our community.

–By Rachel Galvin–

On Sunday, Oct. 9 The Pink Heals Tour made a stop in Deerfield Beach. Not only was there a parade of pink firetrucks, but also activities on the beach, including a Mammovan where women could have a mammogram for only $99, vendor booths, kids activities and more. Commissioners Preston, Miller and Ganz spoke as well as emcee radio DJ Paul Castronovo (and his wife Gina, who beat breast cancer) and Sheriff Al Lamberti, among others. This is the 2nd year for Pink Heals, created by retired firefighter Dave Graybill, which helps show love for women and awareness for breast cancer. Broward Sheriff’s Office also held a PAL boxing event at the fire station, on Hillsboro and Federal, benefiting 16-year-old Cody Meiers, a young athlete who was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. Look for video coming soon on ObserverTV and see the Oct. 13 issue for more details.

The Knights lift the sword after their victory over Coral Springs Christian. Submitted photo

By Gary Curreri

Arelious Burns carried 18 times for 103 yards and three touchdowns to lift Highlands Christian to a 48-7 victory over visiting Coral Springs Christian School in the annual Battle for the Sword. This annual match-up dates back to 2002 when the Crusaders defeated the Knights, 43-27, in their inaugural game.

During the past nine years, the Crusaders had won six consecutive games, before the Knights reversed their fortune and won the sword the past four years in a row. The Knights suffered a difficult stretch from 2004-2006, losing all three games by one point: 29-28 (2004); 21-20 (2005) and 7-6 (2006).The Knights’ first win came in 2007 – ironically, with a one-point win 45-44.

“Winning four straight games against our rivals has been great,” said Highlands Christian Academy coach Jordan Adair. “I’m especially happy for our seniors, who were able to go through their entire high school careers without losing ‘The Sword.’

“We expect this win to propel us to a very successful second half of the season. We’ve struggled at the start, but we’ve played some tough competition with a lot of newcomers this year, and we knew it would take time for us to gel and build team chemistry. The difficult start has helped us to build character, and it will pay dividends down the line.”

A 24-yard punt return by Courtney Fowler set the Knights up in great field position its first TD, while Jay Mentecky tossed a 31-yard TD pass to Tyson Graham as time expired in first half to stake Highlands Christian to a 34-7 lead. Graham also added a 50-yard punt return, while Wilfred Hunter and Matt Elder each had interceptions.

Adair said the team has a huge contest coming up in two weeks against Jupiter Christian School.

“That game will decide our playoff fate,” said Adair, whose team is 1-2 in the District 7-2A race and 1-3 overall. “If we can build on last week’s win versus CSCA, we’ll have some momentum heading into that game.”

Bucks win first

Brandon Powell ran for 209 yards and two touchdowns as Deerfield Beach spoiled host Douglas’ homecoming, 21-0. Douglas only managed to gain two first-downs in the game and turned the ball over seven times with three fumbles and four interceptions in the District 11-8A win. The Bucks (1-4) earned their first win for new head coach Allen Jackson as they held the Eagles to just 46 yards of total offense for the contest. The defense forced three fumbles and four interceptions.

Tigers rally again

Blanche Ely rallied from a 14-9 halftime deficit as they scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to defeat the Monarch, 37-14, in Deerfield Beach. It marked the second time in as many weeks where the Tigers (4-1, 2-0) came from behind to win.

Ely quarterback Alex Edwards threw for 87 yards and rushed for a touchdown, while Tyquan Fields passed for 80 yards and two scores. Devante Peete hauled in a 46-yard score and Darren Allen caught a touchdown pass and ran for another. The Tigers’ Robert Scott also rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown in the District 14-7A win.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

In its second week of release, Dolphin Tale has not enjoyed the critical acclaim of 50/50 and Moneyball. However, this film will be remembered as an influential motion picture for young people with disabilities.

At a recent Saturday matinee screening, young people in wheelchairs cried, cheered and applauded this motion picture shot in Clearwater, Florida.

As the opening credits roll, we witness Winter (the marine mammal portrays herself) gallivanting in her element, under the sea in the Gulf Coast. When Winter becomes entangled in a crab trap and is beached, Sawyer (Nathan Gamble) contacts Dr. Clay’s (Harry Connick Jr.) Animal Hospital. The patient survives, but with the loss of her flipper.

Nonetheless, the animal rescue is a turning point for Sawyer, who is a shy student failing summer school. After much consternation from his mother (Ashley Judd), Sawyer finds his niche in the  marine world. When his wounded warrior cousin returns from the battlefield, Sawyer makes friends with Dr. Cameron McCarthy (Morgan Freeman), a man who specializes in making prosthetic limbs.  Together, Sawyer, Dr. Clay and Dr. Cameron pool their individual talents and create a special flipper for Winter.

Much like his previous motion pictures Air Bud and Stone of Destiny, Director Charlie Martin Smith creates personal movies about big subjects. While this movie bows to the concession of 3-D entertainment, Dolphin Tale provides a life-affirming story about growth, maturity and community. With Martin-Smith’s sure hand, Dolphin Tale is a rollercoaster ride from the height of comedy to the depth of tragedy.

While Connick Jr., Judd and Freeman provide strong ensemble support, this film’s success falls on the shoulders of Gamble as Sawyer.

For the first 15 minutes of the movie, Sawyer is a mumbling mess. When he finds acceptance from his single mother and Dr. Clay’s marine community, Gamble makes the transition believable.

Urban elitist critics have noted the mounting clichés in this motion picture – shy kid, injured animal, foreclosures, grumpy teachers; yet, there was no denying the tears of joy from the ticket-buying audience. The fact that Dolphin Tale was top at the box office last weekend, reveals that movie consumers are hungry for such a life-affirming motion picture.

Dolphin Tale is a gentle movie that approaches harsh subjects. As one little girl (perhaps 5 years old) whispered to her momma, “This is a good movie.”

By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

iTunes – iPhones – iPods – iPads … Eye yi yi yi! Kindle – Kindle Touch – Kindle Keyboard – Kindle Fire – The Nook – The all-new Nook – the Droid – touch pads – swipe pads – 3G – 4G – apps – more apps – Xbox – Wii and blogs, blogs, blogs …  OMG! There’s a whole new language sprouting up all around me. HELP! I feel like I’m standing at a train station, and the express has just whizzed by me – and oops! That was my train and I missed it.

On a scale of 1 to 10 regarding cyberspace, I’ve slid to about a 5. Twenty-six years ago, I was cutting edge, the only person I knew who owned, and could use a computer, my trusty 1985 Mac, full price about $6,000.  I could not even carry on a dinner conversation about my computer because there was no one who could talk the language. I probably should have kept it. Someone on eBay could be looking for it.

Today, I am working with Windows XP on my flat screen desk computer – probably the eighth one I have owned, exclusive of my husband’s laptop.  I love my mouse. As I stare at it, I feel like I’m looking at the tail of a Dinosaur.  It’s two years old. People around me are swiping and pad-touching and sending me email messages from Blackberries and iPhones  and text messages about sunsets, about walks with their dogs and urging me to find them on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Every two weeks or so, I check on LinkedIn and find only people who want to sell me their wares or who complain about the sorry state of Journalism today. I haven’t checked my Twitter account for two years. And when I go to my Facebook page, I find a bunch of people I don’t even know, showing me pictures of their pet poodles in costume or their adorable grandkids, or their Harley Davidson’s. Some of them exhort me to check their YouTube creations, where I am urged to engage in a more spiritual life, to love my neighbors and, more important, to love myself (I do, I do!).

Where is this all going? I know we are only on the cusp now. I read The Futurist. I follow some of the work of Ray Kurzweil – Google him!

(Google is happiness!)  – a scientist, futurist, who sees humans living for many hundreds of years by 2029, encased in myriad robotic body parts. Robotic genitalia? Lord – take that image off my radar screen!

Ah, but I’ve wandered afar. I intended to make this a treatise on eBooks. It looks like the new Kindle can do everything except make pizzas, and I am about to succumb. If you can’t fight ‘em, join ‘em, but I’ll never catch that train.

A man ventured off on a quest to seek out the most fabled of all Seers. The journey was a difficult trek and took a good deal of time, but the man did not give up. And one day, he finally came across the “Great One,” the Seer of all Seers … the Sage of all Sages … the Wisest of the Wise.

“Great Seer, how does one become wise?”

The Seer answered, “From making good choices.”

“But Great Seer, how does one learn to make good choices?”

The Seer patiently answered, “Through experience.”

“But Great Seer, how does one gain experience?”

To which the Seer replied, “Through bad choices.”

A colleague of mine shared this story with me just before the beginning of the High Holy Day Season, and I loved the message found within this lovely parable. No matter how perfect you think you are … no matter how much wiser you think you are than someone else, I can assure you of one thing – over the course of this past year, you have made some bad choices. The question on Yom Kippur is – did you learn from those bad choices … or, will you just keep making the same mistakes over and over again in the New Year ahead?

I saw a woman at the Rehab Center the other day. I remembered her from her last stay in the facility. It wasn’t all that long ago and so, I asked her, “What are you doing back here so soon? What happened?”

She let me know that she had gotten up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and she had fallen and, from that fall, she wound up with a broken hip. I asked her about the walker that she had gone home with. She told me, “Rabbi, it was only a few steps from my bed to the bathroom and I figured I can make a few steps without any problem.”

And that is when I asked her the question that I find myself asking people so often in my Chaplaincy. I asked her, “What did you learn from this?” Sadly, she did not have an immediate answer, so, after what I considered to be an appropriate amount of time, I decided to help her. I said, “Well, hopefully you learned two things. First, you learned to follow the advice of your therapist to use your walker even if you only have a few steps to take.”

She nodded in agreement and then asked what the second thing was. My answer … “Well, you learned that falling doesn’t hurt at all … LANDING … now that’s a different story. LANDING can hurt a lot. It can even break a hip.”

And with that, I asked her one more time, “So, what did you learn from this ‘grasshopper?’”

And I loved her answer.

She said, “You’ve got to learn how to LAND before you take a FALL; better yet, don’t take a fall at all.” What a wise woman! She had learned from her mistake and, G-d willing, next time she will prove to be much wiser and use her walker … even if it is only a few steps that she wishes to take.

Shalom, my friends, and may we all be wise enough not to repeat the mistakes of the past year.

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. 

Photo by David Volz

–By Rachel Galvin —

On Oct. 2, Dunn’s Run15th Annual Race kicked off from Deerfield Beach and back with thousands of participants, running or walking toward the finish line. Proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The race has raised about $3 million for the organization through the years. Not only was this early morning (7:30 a.m.) race an opportunity for people to show their competitive spirit and beat their personal best, but also was a way to show support for the community. Many arrived to walk or run with their teams or individually. Some walked with their children or pushed them in strollers while enjoying the sunrise and the beautiful beach view. Congressman Allen West came all the way from Washington D.C. to partake in his tradition of running with the American flag through the streets of Deerfield. Even CRA director Keven Klopp came out to run for the first time this year.

Then there were the competitors, like Brian Dillard, who won the 5k in the men’s division, and Rachel Ginsberg, who won in the female division. The Deerfield Beach High Cross Country team had many runners compete this year and place. Awards were given for various age categories. For more results, visit www.splitsecondtiming.com.

In addition to all the running and walking, there was also much mingling and browsing through vendor booths. Panera bread came out to serve up some good eats and the band Atlas Shrugged performed.

Check ObserverTV to view race start

Click here for results from the 5k race

Click here for results from the 5 mile race

Ft. Lauderdale’s George Deeb, 70, runs the South Florida Senior Softball Club in Pompano Beach. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

For three days a week, members of the South Florida Senior Softball Club hit the diamond in Pompano Beach. There are no set teams and it is inexpensive. However, the competition can be fierce.

Ft. Lauderdale’s George Deeb, 70, runs the club, which is an offshoot of the club that started in Deerfield Beach in 1962. Deeb started the Pompano Beach-based club three years ago when Deerfield began renovating Pioneer Park.

“We started here three years ago when we were left with one field and over 100 men,” Deeb said. “The older men stayed up there, and the younger men came down here. We created an Over-50 club and that became South Florida Senior Softball two years ago,” he said.

It costs $35 a year. The members get shirts and hats, plus they will go out once every other month during the season when the snowbirds are down, and they will also host a Christmas Party. Games are played Monday, Wednesday and Friday beginning at 9 a.m.

“I make up all of the teams and assign the players to the teams based on who is there that day,” Deeb said. “It is the best thing we have ever done. It is also good for the guys who just turned 50, so they don’t have to play with guys who are in their 20s.”

Deeb said there are retirees, as well as firemen, police officers and EMS workers who can play multiple days based on their schedules. Players come from as far away as Aventura and as far north as Delray Beach.

Normally, the games are played at 4-Fields complex, but have been at Kester Park in Pompano Beach after spending some time at Blanche Ely High School. They should move back to 4-Fields in a few weeks.

“I retired when I was 65, and I am 70 now,” said Deeb, who had a hip replacement last year. “Many of the members in our club play on national championship travel teams. The guys are terrific, and we have made a lot of friendships over the years.” The players range in age from 49 to 76, and the average age is in the mid-60s. Deeb said the mission statement is to provide seniors, like themselves, who are retired, or on the verge of retirement, an opportunity to come and play ball at their leisure with no pressure.

Ely continues to roll

Darren Allen completed seven of nine passes for two touchdowns and returned a punt 55 yards for a score as host Blanche Ely throttled Coconut Creek, 56-8, to run its record to 3-1.

Robert Scott hauled in a 40-yard score from Allen and added a 3-yard run for another Tigers’ score. Also scoring for Blanche Ely were Edensky Loremues, Jordan Fields, Adrian Burton and Avery Johnson. Alex Edwards threw for two scores, while John Belfort added seven extra point kicks.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

At the poster unveiling at the Hilton Hotel last Thursday, Sept. 22, Festival Director Gregory Von Hausch announced the expansion of the 26th Annual Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival (Oct. 21-Nov. 11). While Cinema Paradiso will act as the main hub, venues are expanding as far west as Sunrise and as far north as Muvico Pompano on Federal Highway. Info: www.fliff.com

Among the films premiering at the Muvico Pompano is the documentary about cowboys, Florida Cracker, and a WWII documentary titled Lost Airmen of Buchenwald. About 50 is a comedy about middle age. Newlyweds is a project from FLIFF25 honoree Ed Burns. The Last Rights of Joe May features Dennis Farina in a performance generating Oscar buzz.

Dennis Farina, Penelope Ann Miller, Piper Laurie, Senator George McGovern, Dennis Haysbert and son of acting legend Glenn Ford, Peter Ford, will be at this year’s festival. Ford has recently compiled his father’s biography, Glenn Ford: A Life and will attend a retrospective at Cinema Paradiso on Nov. 10. Besides selling and autographing his book, Ford will answer questions about his family (his mom is Eleanor Powell) after the screening of original 3:10 to Yuma, starring Glenn Ford in the Russell Crowe role.    FLIFF remains a vacation from ordinary film and a
celebration of our unique Florida culture. On Tuesday, Oct. 25, FLIFF will present The Legend of Ivan Tors, a documentary about the producer of such iconic Florida animal shows as Gentle Ben and Flipper. Sponsored by Carrabba’s Grill, this evening will feature a baked dinner alfresco in the courtyard. A regular sponsor of FLIFF, Carrabba’s also sponsors a monthly opera series at Cinema Paradiso featuring the works of Verdi and Puccini.

Released last week, Alice Cooper’s Welcome 2 My Nightmare should be considered a modern day Rock Opera. A sequel to the similarly-titled album rock classic from 1975,W2MN features Alice’s modern nightmare involving inferno, hip hop music, elevator music and auto tuners. For the most part, the W2MN music is fun, energetic and humorous with songs titled Disco Bloodbath Boogie Fever and Ghouls Gone Wild. However, there are some tear jerking ballads (I Am Made of You, Something To Remember Me By) and two operatic moments worthy of the opera Don Giovanni. With the Miami Dolphins going zero and three this season, W2MN provides a comforting solace.

My wife and I spent about 10 years living in Argentina.  During that time we learned a great deal about the language and culture of Argentina.  Some things we did not like, and some we did.

One of the things we absolutely love about the Argentine culture is the Argentine Asado. Some would translate that as “barbecue” but it is so much more. An Asado is an event that brings people together. It’s so much more that just preparing a meal and sitting down to eat together. We used to have Asados almost every Sunday at our house.  Our neighbors, who now are more like family, would come over at about 10 in the morning.  First myself and my friend Juan would start the fire, and while we were starting the fire, Beth and Juan’s wife, Silvia, would prepare the salad and drinks.  While the coals were getting hot, we would prepare the meat, and nothing compares to Argentine beef.  To prepare properly an Argentine Asado, it takes about 3 hours.  During that time Juan, his son Nahuel, and my son Samuel, would talk, and, through these Asados, our relationship grew from one of neighborly friendship to family. I actually refer to the Gonzales family as our Argentine family. When the meat was almost done, we would prepare the table and sit down to a feast. The conversation would continue as we ate, and then long after we were done eating, as we sat around the table, satisfied by the wonderful meal we had all prepared and enjoyed. These little events happen all over Argentina on a daily basis.  Everyone looks for any excuse to have an Asado.  My soccer team would meet twice a month for an Asado. We would say it was important to get together to talk strategy, but in the four hours we spent together, we rarely talked strategy.

Last week, my son Isaiah prayed to receive Christ.  My wife described to him that Heaven is like a big Asado, where all your friends and family sit around the table, enjoying each other’s company.  In Matthew 7:21-23 it says this, ”Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father, who is in heaven, will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”

What I believe these verses mean is that not everyone is going to be at the big Asado.  God has given us an invitation. Matt. 11:28  says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” The invitation is to cast your burdens on Him, and one day, sit down at a big table filled with friends and enjoy the best Asado ever.  Have you accepted the invitation?

Deron Peterson is is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church of Deerfield Beach.