By Gary Curreri

Pompano’s Lara Annunziata skates in Sunshine State Games. Photo by Gary Curreri

Three local ice skaters fared well in the recent Sunshine State Games figure skating competition at the Saveology.com Ice Plex in Coral Springs.

Lighthouse Point’s Netanya Kaufman and Pompano Beach’s Jhazmin Calderon and Lara Annunziata were among the record number of 400 skaters from around the state who took part in the recent competition.

“Skating is fun,” said Annunziata, 8, who has been skating for three years. The North Andrews Elementary 2nd grader won the Preliminary Spins and placed fourth in the Preliminary Compulsory Moves Group. She also took third in the Pre-Preliminary Girls Free Skate.

“It is hard to be in a competition,” Annunziata added. “It is exciting to be on the ice and I like when the crowd cheers for me. It is important to win a medal and it shows that I worked hard. I want to be in the Olympics.”

Kaufman, 12, a North Broward Prep 6th grader, has been skating for the past four years. She also plays tennis, but likes skating more.

“You learn to be good in front of judges and an audience,” Kaufman said. “You learn what you have to work on. If you didn’t do good on an element, you have to go back and work on it.”

Kaufman admits that practicing can be hard. It helps her prepare for the competition, however.

“I fall a lot in practice and you keep practicing it and hope you land it in the competition,” said Kaufman, who finished second in the Pre-Bronze Solo Dance. “It’s a good feeling when you think you are going to mess up in a routine and then you do well.”

Kaufman said she tries to focus on the next element of her routine and blocks everything else out.

“You can’t think if
the people are clapping,” Kaufman said. “I am hoping to be more confident in front of the judges and the audience. It doesn’t matter if I win. It is more important to know that you did well and you tried your best. It is really cool if I win a medal. I want to go to the Olympics.”

Calderon, 14, a Coral Springs Charter School 8th grader, earned two silvers (Free Style Open Juvenile and Compulsory Open Juvenile), and a bronze (Intermediate Jumps). She also placed fourth in the (Intermediate Spins).

She practices 14 hours a week on the ice and eight hours off the ice.

“My goals are to compete in the regionals this year for intermediate and then qualify for the junior nationals,” Calderon said. “I also have to finish all my moves and compete in a senior level in the future. I want to go as far as the Olympics.”

Calderon also competed in the recent South Florida Challenger Figure Skating competition where she won four medals, including two gold, a silver and a bronze medal and at the Florida Open where she won a gold and silver medal.

By Dave Montalbano

Two movies playing at our local cinemas are the commercially-hyped Super 8 and the critically-acclaimed Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris. Both movies fulfill their dedicated audiences’ expectations.

Super 8, in part, is about some middle school students who produce a zombie film in small town Ohio, circa 1979, the year most Class of ’81 graduates earned their driver’s licenses. Production Assistant and model-maker Joe Lamb (Joel Courtney) is the troubled son of Deputy Jackson Lamb (Kyle Chandler), who is a recent widower. Deputy Lamb blames white trash Louis Dainard (Ron Eldard), whose daughter, Alice (Elle Fanning), is the leading lady of the boy’s Super 8 zombie opus.

To writer/director J.J. Abram’s credit, he has captured the joy of creative teamwork as the young people produce their movie inspired by George Romero. Discussion about plot, characters and audience empathy will make English teachers and film columnists hopeful towards the future of filmmaking. During the post-credit sequence, patient ticket buyers are rewarded with the punchline of the student’s masterpiece.

But, Super 8 splits between the teenagers’ movie making, Area 51 and a shadowy monster. The action sequences overall are well-directed with an important message about understanding and cooperation. Sadly, verisimilitude is lost when teenagers dodge train wrecks, tanks and explosions with nary a scratch.

Super 8 seems like an homage to producer Steven Spielberg’s earlier motion pictures like E.T: The Extra Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. In turn, Spielberg was inspired by films like Earth Vs. The
Saucers and The Day the Earth Stood Still. There is no denying that Super 8 will have a positive influence on today’s young people.

Woody Allen wears his intellectual and artistic influences on his sleeve in Midnight in Paris, a witty romantic comedy about a rich couple who visit France before their wedding. On a midnight stroll in the streets of Paris, Gil (Owen Wilson) encounters Ernest Hemingway. Heming-way invites Gil to a party that includes Gertrude Stein (Kathy Bates) and Salvador Dali (Adrien Brody) – three idols who died a few generations ago.

With gorgeous cinematography capturing the hues and colors of Monet, Midnight in Paris shares much in common with Super 8. Both films pay homage to nostalgia, while imploring their respective audiences to enjoy the manna of the day.

Thursday, June 16, is 6th annual National Dump the Pump Day. Begun when gas prices were $3 per gallon, this day encourages people to ride public transportation and save money. Today, with even higher gas prices, the day seems a perfect opportunity to seek out alternatives.

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority (SFRTA) is celebrating the day by offering FREE rides on Tri-Rail. In addition to rides, there will be several radio stations broadcasting live from train stations and members of SFRTA staff will be present to talk to passengers about the benefits of public transportation and Tri-Rail.

Riding public transit is the quickest way to beat high gas prices. The latest APTA Transit Savings Report shows that a two person household that downsizes to one car can save – on the average – more than $10,000 a year.

In addition to helping the pocketbook and creating jobs, public transit reduces our carbon footprint by 37 million metric tons annually:

According to the American Public Transportation Association, on www.apta.com, “This is equivalent to the emissions resulting from the electricity generated for the use of 4.9 million households or every household in Washington, DC; New York City; Atlanta; Denver; and Los Angeles combined.”

If only one person switches to public transit, they are reducing daily carbon emissions by 20 pounds, or 10 percent. That quickly adds up to 4,800 pounds over a year.

If you haven’t tried the Tri-Rail, today would be a perfect opportunity to ride the rails and explore what it has to offer!

2 ½ hours later, after at least 33 residents spoke — mostly against, Deerfield Beach city commission approved a utility tax on second and final reading with a 3-1 vote. The ordinance passed on June 7 is effective immediately. The actual tax is slated to begin Oct. 1, 2011.

During the public hearing, everyone from a Publix manager to a State Representative to a single mom of four children had something to say. Read Thursday’s paper for full details on residents’ concerns.

Broward Commissioner Chip LaMarca with Gov. Rick Scott during the pill mill bill signing in Broward County.

Commissioner Chip LaMarca welcomed Florida Governor Rick Scott to Broward County today as the Governor signed HB 7095, the so-called “pill mill bill” into law at Fort Lauderdale Police Headquarters.

“This bill increases penalties for doctors overprescribing pain medications and bans doctors from prescribing narcotics except under special circumstances such as surgery or hospice.  Also, all staff with access to these medications will have to undergo extensive criminal background checks. This bill will save lives,” said Governor Scott.   The bill also authorizes a prescription drug monitoring database though out Florida that will begin operating in August.

“I applaud Governor Scott in realizing the severity of this epidemic, and using the full force of his office to aide in the fight to stop these senseless deaths.  I think it shows his awareness of the issue that the first bill signing took place here in Broward County-Ground Zero in the fight against this epidemic,” said Commissioner LaMarca.

Recently, Broward Commissioners passed a Pain Management Clinic ordinance for the unincorporated areas.  That ordinance strictly regulates zoning, hours of operation, business practices and prohibits pain management clinics from operating within 1200 feet of another pain management clinic, place of worship, child care center or educational center.  The Broward County Pain Management Clinic ordinance is intended to serve as a model ordinance for cities to adopt.  Commissioner Kristin Jacobs pushed forward the ordinance and Commissioners LaMarca and Jacobs participated in protests outside of pill mill clinics within their Broward County districts.

In March, the Broward County Pain Management Clinic Task Force issued its final report with recommendations for the licensing and location of pain management clinics otherwise referred to as “pills mills.” The Commission instructed the County Attorney to draft a model ordinance based on those recommendations.
Broward County has been referred to as the “pill mill” capital of America. In 2009, a Broward County Grand Jury issued a report noting the proliferation of pain clinics throughout the County. The number of pain management clinics in Broward more than doubled from August 2008 to November 2009.

By Gary Curreri

(Left) Savannah Davis returns a shot in a recent Florida Beach Volleyball Tour 18-under girls division match in Ft. Lauderdale. Photo by Gary Curreri

Kristina Pellitteri and Savannah Davis have a lot in common. Both live in Deerfield Beach. Both are Pompano Beach High School students, and both love the beach.

So why not parlay that into a possible future in beach volleyball? They are well on their way, as they have been tearing it up on the beach volleyball junior circuit. The duo, who also play on their high school volleyball team, have won the past four tournaments they have played in together.

Pellitteri, who has been playing beach volleyball since her freshman year, took first place with her older sister Stephanie in an AAA Division earlier in the year and won the last four tournaments in the Florida Beach Volleyball Tour in the 18-under girls division with Davis.

“It really helps your defense a lot because you are used to playing with two people, and when you play indoors there are six,” said Pellitteri, 17, who also hopes to land a beach volleyball scholarship to Florida State University where her sister, Stephanie recently signed “It is not really a hard transition. It is probably a harder transition to go from beach to indoors than from indoors to beach.”

Pellitteri said it is exciting knowing that colleges are offering scholarships for beach volleyball.

“Before we were playing for fun and now we are playing to have people watch you,” Pellitteri said. “I don’t look around right now to see if there are college coaches around. I probably will be soon. It will probably make me nervous.”

“I think beach volleyball has improved my game all around more than indoors would because the conditioning is so much better,” Pellitteri added. “I just have more fun playing beach volleyball because that is what I want to do.”

Davis, 16, a Pompano Beach High sophomore, said she has teamed with Pellitteri for three years. She also likes the fact that there are college options on the horizon.

“It definitely gets more and more competitive as the season progresses, especially now that colleges are offering beach volleyball scholarships,” Davis said. “I was really excited because I liked beach more than indoor. It is more relaxed and you get to touch every ball.”

Davis, who used to play travel soccer, likes volleyball because her mom used to play, and her friends encouraged her to give it a try.

“I would love to play in the Olympics  or  be on TV,” Davis said. “I would definitely go that far. It would be a great opportunity. It would take drive and really being dedicated to the sport.”

Kristina Pellitteri returns a shot in a recent Florida Beach Volleyball Tour 18-under girls division match in Fort Lauderdale. Photo by Gary Curreri

Hurricanes Karl, Igor and Julia (from left to right on Sept. 16) were part of the onslaught of Atlantic storms last hurricane season (2010). (Photo credit: NOAA)

The Atlantic basin is expected to see an above-normal hurricane season this year, according to the seasonal outlook issued by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center – a division of the National Weather Service.

Across the entire Atlantic Basin for the six-month season, which begins June 1, NOAA is predicting the following ranges this year:

• 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which:
• 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including:
• 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher)

Each of these ranges has a 70 percent likelihood, and indicate that activity will exceed the seasonal average of 11 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.

“The United States was fortunate last year. Winds steered most of the season’s tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “However we can’t count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook.”

Climate factors considered for this outlook are:

• The continuing high activity era. Since 1995, the tropical multi-decadal signal has brought ocean and atmospheric conditions conducive for development in sync, leading to more active Atlantic hurricane seasons.
• Warm Atlantic Ocean water. Sea surface temperatures where storms often develop and move across the Atlantic are up to two degrees Fahrenheit warmer-than-average.
• La Niña, which continues to weaken in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, is expected to dissipate later this month or in June, but its impacts such as reduced wind shear are expected to continue into the hurricane season.

“In addition to multiple climate factors, seasonal climate models also indicate an above-normal season is likely, and even suggest we could see activity comparable to some of the active seasons since 1995,” said Gerry Bell, Ph.D., lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center.

NOAA’s seasonal hurricane outlook does not predict where and when any of these storms may hit. Landfall is dictated by weather patterns in place at the time the storm approaches. For each storm, NOAA’s National Hurricane Center forecasts how these weather patterns affect the storm track, intensity and landfall potential.

“The tornadoes that devastated the South and the large amount of flooding we’ve seen this spring should serve as a reminder that disasters can happen anytime and anywhere. As we move into this hurricane season it’s important to remember that FEMA is just part of an emergency management team that includes the entire federal family, state, local and tribal governments, the private sector and most importantly the public,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate.

“Now is the time, if you haven’t already, to get your plan together for what you and your family would do if disaster strikes. Visit ready.gov to learn more. And if you’re a small business owner, visit www.ready.gov/business to ensure that your business is prepared for a disaster,” added Fugate.

Hurricane impacts are not limited to the coastline; strong winds and flooding rainfall often pose a threat across inland areas along with the risk for tornadoes.

May 22-28 was national Hurricane Preparedness Week. To help prepare residents of hurricane-prone areas, NOAA is unveiling a new set of video and audio public service announcements featuring NOAA hurricane experts and the FEMA administrator that are available in both English and Spanish. These are available at http://www.hurricanes.gov/prepare.

The National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts and warnings for the United States and its territories. It operates the most advanced weather and flood warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives and property and enhance the national economy. Visit us online at weather.gov and on Facebook.

NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Visit us on Facebook.

Despite the wind and a few threatening clouds, Deerfield Beach remained packed with beach goers during Monday’s holiday

The annual Memorial Day Parade took place today with participants from the area including members of Post 142 honor guard.

By Rachel Galvin

Those driving past the marquee displayed on Hillsboro Boulevard and Powerline may have noticed a change. The long-time Sunrise Theater moniker has been replaced by Paragon Deerfield 8.

Paragon, founded by the former executive management team of Muvico, plans to expand upon amenities already in place. Sure to become a destination for area movie-goers, this theater offers a first-class experience. Besides adding VIP seats to every theater, they will upgrade the sound system to Sony 4K high definition, bring in sofas and TVs into the lobby and add outdoor seating. Patrons can snack on upscale items like a flatbread or cheese plate (or standard cinema fare) and eat inside the theater with beer or wine from the bar. Soon leather VIP seats will be available to be reserved in advance to avoid waiting in line. Community-oriented Paragon plans to offer loyalty programs as well.

There will be daily specials: Tuesday, Senior day ($5 all day); Wednesday, kids day ($5 all day); Thursday, Ladies Night (½ price beverages). Monday through Thursday – $5 matinees (first show), free popcorn for seniors with beverage purchase.

Paragon 8, 3984 W. Hills-boro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, will be open during renovations. 954-571-2445. www.paragontheaters.com.