Deerfield Beach’s Brandon Bejarano finishes 83rd in the 29th annual Spanish River Invitational Cross Country meet at South County Regional Park in West Boca Raton last Saturday. Bejarano ran a personal best 18:06.86 over the 3.1 mile course. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach High boys cross country coach Jerry Guthrie believes this could be the best team he has had in years.

“They are better than they have ever been to start the year, that’s for sure,” said Guthrie after his team finished 30th in the star-studded 29th annual Spanish River Invitational Cross Country meet at South County Regional Park in West Boca Raton last Saturday. “Our top guy (Brandon Bejarano) finished 83rd in this race, but he had a PR.”

Bejarano, a sophomore, whose previous best time was 18:20, ran 18:06.86 over the 3.1 mile course and has given Guthrie reason for optimism. The last time the Bucks boys’ cross country team reached states was in 2003.

“I think we have a good chance to go to state,” said Guthrie, who has coached the Bucks team since 2000. “I have already had coaches come up to me this year and tell me they think we have a good chance this year, given the way we started. I am looking for two to be in the 16s and three to be in the 17s and we will go to state. I am excited.”

In addition to Bejarano, the other boys’ finishers included Cleezy Andre, a junior (93rd overall, 18:14.58), sophomore Aaron Johnson (188th overall, 19:58.27),  junior Brian Johnson (201st overall, 20:28.99), junior Jourdin Andre (219th overall, 20:53.98), sophomore Perry Tony (226th overall, 21:00.85) and junior Ryan Lacava (241st overall, 21:33.69).

The Bucks finished with 758 points and it is something that was not lost on Guthrie and the team. They had higher expectations.

“It takes them down a peg and shows them they have a lot of work to do,” Guthrie said. “Even though we did well in our first race and we are going to do well in the county, they see, in order to go to state, they have to work harder. They are already talking about it. It is very good for them.

“I expected them all to do a PR and they all did except for one, and he doesn’t know what happened,” Guthrie added. “He’ll be back. He came in second in the first race we had and then he was second to last today, but you have bad days. He had sore legs and said he had nothing left.”

With no seniors in his top seven, Guthrie has high hopes for the squad.

“All of my kids are sophomores and juniors,” Guthrie said. “It bodes well for the next couple of years, and I think we will be there at the end of the season.”

Ely downs Taravella

Blanche Ely quarterback Darren Allen rallied his team from a 17-0 halftime deficit to defeat Taravella, 20-17, in a high school football game on Friday night. Allen completed 15 of 25 passes for 152 yards, threw two touchdowns and rushing for another. A 15-yard touchdown catch by Ely’s Jordan Fields with just under two minutes remaining was the deciding score.

Barry S. Anderson will be at Spooky Empire. Will you?

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Last Monday night at Bru’s Room, the Deerfield Beach Reunion Committee adjourned for 10 years, making plans for the 40-year class reunion in 2021.

Many of us felt we had arrived at a domestic crossroads; one individual is buying her first house, some were dealing with their children graduating high school and  some are dealing with being the guardian to aging parents.

Opening tomorrow in limited release, My Afternoons with Margueritte is a beautiful and poetic French film about many characters at their crossroads. Gérard Depardieu portrays Germain, the town handyman who feels short-changed by life. His true solace is spent on the park bench with Margueritte (Gisele Casadesus), a 92-year-old bibliophile. Beyond talking about life, liberty and romance, the couple take pleasure in naming pigeons.

Told with flashbacks, Ger-main recounts having a verbally abusive mother. Margueritte becomes Ger-main’s mentor. Conflict ensues and Germain must set things right. Since the drama is not forced and the acting is subtle, this film becomes a pleasant cinematic choice.

For those seeking, instead, experiences of horror and terror, Spooky Empire’s Ultimate Weekend of Horrors will commence the second weekend in October. (www.spookyempire.com). The guest list now includes Malcolm McDowell, horror author Clive Barker and Barry S. Anderson, renaissance artist. Like Bill Hinzman, Anderson holds perfect attendance with Spooky Empire.

A “monster kid” from upstate New York, Anderson came to South Florida during Spring Break, got a regular job in Miami Vice and stayed here. He later joined Tom Savini’s special effects and makeup team on the set of George Romero’s Day of the Dead (1985).

He said, “This was a dream come true for a ‘monster kid,’ who grew up during the 60s and 70s watching Chiller Theatre every Friday and Saturday night while eating Jiffy Pop Popcorn!”

Besides a 17-year stint with Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, Anderson has contributed to the motion picture industry in a variety of films, from Hairspray to his recent independent feature shot in Orlando, Astro Zombies M4 Invaders from Cyber Space, which features a cameo appearance from his wife of 22 years, Chickie, and 9-year-old son, Miles.

Recently, he showed Miles the original Boris Karloff Frankenstein movies.  At first fearful of the monster, Miles later told his father, “The monster wasn’t bad, he was just looking for a friend.”

A friend of mine called to ask a question about Tisha B’Av, which fell this year on the 9th of August. It is a very sad day in the history of the Jewish People. It is a day on which many calamities have occurred. It seems my friend went to two Synagogues on Tisha B’Av. In one, the people were fasting and observing many of the customs that made it appear that they were in the midst of mourning. But in the other Temple, there were people who were dancing and singing; two different groups … each observing a very special day of the year in very different ways.

One would hope that they would permit each other to observe in their own way in peace and harmony, but alas, that is not the reality in which we live.

And so it was that a member of one Temple ran into a member from the other, and, sure enough, they got into an argument. One argued that the day should be marked by weeping and sorrow, and the other argued that it should be a day to dance in joy.

Before long, the two men … two brothers of the same faith … began to exchange more than words with one another. I doubt that anyone could have convinced either one of them that there might be more than one way to observe the day. But, what they were doing was exactly why the Sages say the Temple was destroyed in the first place. It was destroyed by senseless hatred between brothers and sisters of faith.

As I recall from my youth, there is a tale of two great Sages who, upon looking at the destruction of the Temple, one began to weep and the other to dance. Each was confused as to how the other could react so differently to the very same thing.

One wept because he felt the immediate pain of the destruction. The other danced because he saw the destruction as a sign of fulfillment of Biblical Prophecy and as assurance that the day would soon come when the Temple would be rebuilt and there would be peace throughout the world.

When I am called on to go to a family who has just experienced the loss of a loved one, it is not unusual to find that each member of the family is experiencing the passing of their loved one differently.

One may be weeping at the pain of loss. Another might be feeling relief and, dare I say it, a form of joy in the fact that their loved one is no longer in pain, that they are at peace.

I don’t know that either way of dealing with the loss is superior to the other. I only know that both are ways that we deal with loss and, as friends … as neighbors … as brethren … our job is to be there to comfort the mourner however their psychological makeup brings them to deal with their loss.

May we come to honor each other’s way of dealing with the loss of a loved one. Just as we would want others to respect the way we choose to grieve, may we be wise enough to honor another’s way.

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. 

Sean Smothers wins the Junior Golf Association of Broward County season-ending championship and the prestigious Julius Boros title, after finishing with a low stroke average of 74.25 for the summer. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Sean Smothers thought he could have shot a couple of strokes better here and there, but was happy with the way he played. As well he should be.

The Pompano Beach 15-year-old not only won the Junior Golf Association (JGA) of Broward County season-ending championship, but also captured the prestigious Julius Boros title after finishing with a low stroke average of 74.25 for the summer. It was his third tournament title of the summer.

“I just wanted to start off and make sure I kept myself in the tournament,” said Smothers, a Cardinal Gibbons High School junior, who is also a member of the school’s golf team. “It just gives me experience and how to deal with pressure spots. I will learn from what I did here. If I got myself in trouble, I came back after it.”

Smothers, who carded a 75-73-75-223 to win the tournament, has played in the Junior Golf Association of Broward County for the past five years.

“I look forward to Mondays a lot,” said Smothers, of the Monday outings when the JGA of Broward is played. “It is just a time to play golf and spend time with your friends. You get to play tough courses and you get good competition.”

Smothers said the summer tour helped him stay sharp for the high school season and hopes the Chiefs will be competitive in the districts when they finished fourth and narrowly missed advancing farther in the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) state series. He said they added two new players to the squad and that should help.

“This is great because there is good competition and you have to play solid to win it,” Smothers said. “I just try and play the course and, however I do, I do. If I start to play the opponents, that’s when I tend to mess up.”

Smothers also liked playing on the top courses in Broward County during the JGA of Broward.

“It is great,” Smothers said. “It seems like you have a huge advantage, even when you won’t be able to get on courses to play.”

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

Where Crabby Jacks [recently burned down in a fire] was located, the marquee for the only Drive-In movie theatre in Deerfield Beach once stood.

Spawning from there, 36 years ago, traffic jams were caused on Federal Highway, thanks to the release of the film Jaws.

During rush-hour traffic last Friday morning, commuters on I-95 may have witnessed the return of Jaws,  a Megalodon, a giant shark thought to be extinct from South Florida waters for thousands of years,  riding on the back of a truck headed to its new home at the Ft. Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science. It will be part of the Prehistoric Florida exhibit in the new EcoDiscovery Center, slated to open on Veterans Day, 2011.

Veteran’s Day will also mark the last day of the 26th Annual Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival.  Beyond screening foreign and homegrown motion pictures, FLIFF has invited some well-known celebrities.

Best known for her work in Carlito’s Way and Kindergarten Cop, Penelope Ann Miller will attend Gala Night with screening of The Artist, an award-winning movie on the European circuit this summer.

On Nov. 8, Piper Laurie will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her work in dramatic classics like The Hustler and horror classics like Carrie.

To find out more about this year’s festivities and surprise guests keep checking www.fliff.com.

Also Drive opens this weekend.  Ryan Gosling portrays a stuntman who moonlights as a get-away-car driver.  For years, his character has worked in partnership with Shannon (Bryan Cranston), who has ties with organized crime figures portrayed by Albert Brooks and Ron Perlman.  When one caper goes astray, Gosling becomes the surrogate husband to Irene (Carey Mulligan).

While Drive contains some great stunts and action scenes, this flick is more like a Film Noir drama.  Gosling gives a deadpan performance similar to what Robert Ryan, Robert Mitchum and Steve McQueen would have provided in their day. The best, most surprising performance comes from Brooks; the goofy comedian sinks his teeth into a monstrous role of a capo de capo.  Drive is off-road fun as a Saturday matinee.

By Pastor Tony Guadagnino, Christian Love Fellowship Church

My wife and I have been married for over 14 years now and we have two children (Anthony and Marrina). Life is great and marriage is wonderful, but I can remember before I met my wife, how alone I felt. I want to share a poem I came across that helped me realize that I needed to love God first before I could ever love anyone else. If you are married, I hope you found the love of your life and live together happily ever after (just like I am). If you are not married, or if you know someone who is not married, you can pass this along to them – I pray that this poem touches your heart the same way it did mine.  God has someone just for you.

God’s Message to Singles:

Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone – to have a deep soul relationship with another – to be loved thoroughly, and exclusively.

But God, to a Christian, says, “No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by Me alone – with giving yourself totally and unreservedly to Me, with having an intensely personal and unique relationship with Me alone, discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, will you be capable of the perfect human relationship I have planned for you.

You will never be united with another until you’re united with Me – exclusive of anyone or anything else, exclusive of any other desires or longing.

I want you to stop planning, stop wishing and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing ­— one that you cannot imagine.

I want you to have the best. Please allow me to bring it to you.

You must keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things – keep experiencing the satisfaction that I AM, keep listening and learning the things that I tell you.

You just wait. That’s all. Don’t be anxious. Don’t worry.

Don’t look around at the things others have gotten, or that I’ve given them.

Don’t look at the things you think you want.

You just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you’ll miss what I want to show you.

And then, when you’re ready, I’ll surprise you with a love far more wonderful than any you would dream of.

You see, until you are ready, and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working even at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time), until you both are satisfied exclusively with Me and the life I have prepared for you, you won’t be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is the perfect love.

And dear one, I want you to have this most wonderful love, I want you to see, in the flesh, a picture of your relationship with Me, and to enjoy, materially and concretely, the everlasting union of beauty, perfection and love that I offer you with Myself.

Know that I love you utterly. I am God.

Believe it and be satisfied.

– Author Unknown

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

The tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001 seems as fresh today as it did on that lovely Tuesday morning. Since that day, we have witnessed folklore and urban legends about the attacks upon our American soil, mostly for political gain.

The fog of war created a world in which some heroes are considered villains, and villains have become martyrs.

The Debt is a taut espionage thriller with the depth to confront the issues of collateral damage in the face of conflict.

In 1997, a historical book is written about three Mossad secret agents – Rachel (Helen Mirren), Stefan (Tom Wilkin-son) and David (Ciarán Hinds), who killed a Nazi war criminal in hiding. As Rachel reads to an audience about her heroics, David walks in front of a truck and dies.

The Debt flashes back to the early 1960s, when the young Rachel (Jessica Chastain), young Stefan (Marton Csokas) and young David (Sam Worthington) investigate, plot and execute their plan to locate Dr. Bernhardt (Jesper Christensen), a gynecologist with a good bedside manner.  To reveal more would be a big disservice  to the plot. Suffice it to say that The Debt is not settled until the final moments of the movie.

The conflicted characters and their motivations propel the narrative. Yet, Director John Madden adds little touches with camera framing to make the violent sequences more tense and personal.  One particular scene in the gynecologist’s office presents a dangerous woman in her most vulnerable position.  If he could get away with it in his day, Sir Alfred Hitchcock would be proud of the character dynamics of that memorable scene.

Last year, Christoph Waltz earned his Best Supporting Oscar for his work as a Nazi in Inglourious Basterds. This year, Christensen may be considered for a similar role. Given the cold-blooded actions of Rachel, Stefan and David, one almost sympathizes with this Nazi villain.  It is when Dr. Bernhardt plays the “victim card” that one truly detests this bureaucratic terrorist.

Known for his big screen heroics with Avatar and Terminator Salvation, Worthing-ton portrays another violent character. This time, he is the odd man of the team.

Sadly, Worthington’s elder counterpart looks more like Tom Wilkinson’s younger counterpart.  Fortunately, for the pivotal role of Rachel, both Jessica Chastain and Helen Mirren are equally matched in looks, temperament and heart.

By Scott Morganroth

When I went to training camp to see the FAU Owls practice eight days ago, there was definitely a different feeling this time.

By now, everyone knows this will be the final season for Coach Howard Schnellenberger, who has built the Owls program from scratch. When I asked him about what it was like to enter his final season, he refused to address the subject. He rarely dodges a question, but I do know that he’s probably been asked it several times lately. More importantly, he’ll have an entire season to talk about it, thus, his focus remained on the Florida Gators on Sept. 3.

By now, though, Schnellenberger is probably trying to put the No. 22 Florida Gators behind him as his team suffered a 41-3 loss on Saturday in Gainesville. FAU’s only points came on a 27-yard field goal by Vinnie Zaccario.

Getting dominated in the following statistical areas were things the 77-year-old coach knows he has to improve on this week.

Against the Gators, Florida dominated in total offense by outgaining FAU, 468-137, and in first downs, 30-11. Anything close to these numbers Saturday against the Michigan State Spartans at noon on ESPN 2 will lead to yet another forgettable afternoon.

The last thing Schnellenberger needs is another embarrassment. Michigan State leads the all-time series 2-0.

Schnellenberger prepared for the Florida game the same way he has for so many.

“We prepare correctly for every game we play,” Schnellenberger said. “We prepare harder and more than put forth the effort. We think we have a full cup.”

He added that this training camp was no different than any other and never worried about retirement.

“I know this is the last time we’ll play Florida, Michigan State on down the line,” Schnellenberger said. “But it’s not as big a thing, you know. You coach for 52 years, and there were times that I thought it would be over already. You know it’s coming to an end, so it’s no big thing.”

I was recently asked by some friends and family about whether I was surprised by Schnellenberger’s retirement? I told them “NO.”

First of all, he was able to become the George Washington of FAU Football and since he won’t win a national championship in Boca Raton, what better way to go out on top than to coach the final year in a brand-new on-campus stadium.

Schnellenberger turned that dream into a reality. Icing on the cake would be taking the Owls to another bowl game and winning it. But even if he doesn’t reach the post-season, on Jan. 21, 2012, he’ll coach one more time against former FSU legendary coach Bobby Bowden at FAU Stadium.

Scott Morganroth can be reached at scottsports33.com. 

Not too long ago, I did a tongue in cheek column about health insurance. While the piece was supposed to focus on the outrageous prices and the difficulties of getting coverage, especially if you have a pre-existing condition, many people focused, instead, on my jokingly stated verbage about seeking a young bride to lower the cost of my insurance premiums.

Well, for many, my tongue in cheek style was more like a foot in the mouth piece. While I know that a large portion of readers out there understood what I was trying to do, there were many who simply did not get it. I was accused of being immoral, of being willing to break the law, of being a dirty old man and of hating America. To those naysayers, all I can say is: What happened to your sense of humor?

Once this story appeared in The Observer, it took off and went rather viral. First, it was picked up by one of my favorite columnist, Frank Cerabino of the Palm Beach Post. Next, it went to Kaiser Health and, from there, National Public Radio picked it up. Then, the local Fox and NBC affiliate TV Stations … and, I have been told that it even made an Israeli Paper.

There were a lot of nasty comments. Some were so bad that they were removed from various websites because they crossed the line of protocol … anti-Semitic comments, anti-Clergy comments.

Some accused me of being to the left and some accused me of being to the right. The truth of the matter is I have usually tried to stay clear of politics and politicians. But, I have often said that if you put the Congress and the Senate and their families onto an HMO plan for just six months, then we would see just how quickly major changes will be made in our healthcare.

Thank G-d there were those who focused on the issue at hand. There were those who shared touching stories … stories of single mothers who are not sure if the money they earn should go to pay the mortgage or their health insurance.

Many suggested to me that I look into the pre-existing condition plans, but you must be without insurance for six months before you can even apply and who knows how long it takes for the application to go through. If, G-d forbid, something happens during that time, you could be cleaned out and in debt for life.

My cardiologist, Dr. Lawrence Weinstein, read the story and called to tell me that, if the time comes that I have to drop my insurance, not to worry, he will continue to care for me and he will do so at no charge. That’s right, a heart doctor with a heart!

Of all the comments that I read, one from a woman named Trena, who I do not know, summed it up so well. She said, “He’s joking people. This is humor, not a serious quest for a wife. He’s making a statement about the health insurance insanity.”

Trena gets it, and I hope you are smart enough to get it, too.

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. 

Emily Chen won three events and helped the Deerfield Beach Dolphins win the South Florida Recreational Swim League large division title for the eighth consecutive season in the summer championships at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Emily Chen enjoys swimming as much as she does competing with her teammates.

The 10-year-old member of the Deerfield Beach Dolphins recently flexed her muscles during the South Florida Recreational Swim League summer championships at Coral Springs Aquatic Complex.

Chen won three events while teammate Greg Kohner also helped lead the team to win the large division title for the eighth consecutive season, including the last four summer titles. It amassed 1,818 points to easily best runner-up Boca Raton Mantas, who has 673 points.

“I like just having fun and being able to be with my friends,” Chen said. “I felt very good about my races. Improving your time is important, and that makes you feel good, even if you don’t win the race. The best thing about swimming is being with your friends and having a good time.”

Kohner also swam well as he also captured three events and set three meet records along the way.

“I like swimming because it is the best sport for you,” Kohner said. “You get the workout and you are weightless. It is not that much strain on the joints. It is the only sport that I play where I actually feel good after a workout.”

Dolphins swim team head coach Rafael DeSilva and his fellow coaches dressed in costumes each day. He said it is all part of keeping it fun for the swimmers. This year, they have 193 swimmers on the competitive team and 225 in their program.

“We do more than just swimming in the program,” DeSilva said. “We want them to become better swimmers. We worked them tremendously on their techniques the last five years. If you put the fun, technique and the work ethic together, the results will come.”

DeSilva said they don’t leave anybody out when it comes to swimming in meets.

“Everybody swims three events,” DeSilva said. “We motivate them to swim and have that personal improvement. We celebrate a whole lot more when the kid improves their time than if a kid breaks a record. That, of course, is also nice.”

The league also established the Julie Cusmano Outstanding Parent Award that went to Margate Motion parent Miguel Arteaga.

South Florida Recreational Swim League president Chris Hoch said the parent award was named in honor of Deerfield Beach Dolphins parent Julie Cusmano who has had children in the program and did a lot for the league. This was her final meet since her son aged out.

“We are going to miss her,” Hoch said. “She has done a lot for the league.”