By Gary Curreri

Lighthouse Point’s Kevin Mendez is looking for a repeat performance at state.

After sitting out the beginning of this season with an injury, it appears that the eighth-grader at Pine Crest School in Ft. Lauderdale is prepared to defend his Class 1A state diving championship.

Mendez, 14, recently showed he is going to be a state contender after winning the boys 1-meter diving title at the 54th annual Woodson Invitational at the Pine Crest School pool with a total score of 497.95 after sitting the first six weeks of the season with a broken thumb.

“This helps a lot confidence-wise because I had the broken thumb and just came back (from the injury,” said Mendez, who had three top 8 finishes, including second in the 1-meter diving event at the national championships this summer, despite a fractured finger. I have only been diving four days, so to do this well was unexpected. It will boost my confidence a lot. I was pretty happy.”

His efforts helped Pine Crest take second in the team race with 229 points at the meet. Perennial Class 1A state champion Jacksonville Bolles, winners of 26 consecutive state titles, won both the boys’ and girls’ titles.

Mendez is hopeful of retaining his gold medal at the state meet at the Sailfish Splash Waterpark, Aquatic Athletics Center in Stuart on Nov. 4.

“There is zero pressure on me to win a state title because it is unexpected being young,” Mendez said. “Nobody expects you to win, so you just go in there and do your thing. I am used to it.

“I have won a couple of national championships so I am used to the pressure,” Mendez continued. “I would say my favorite board (event) is the 1-meter.”

He got his start in diving when he was taking swimming lessons, spotted the diving board and asked if he could give it a whirl. It was 10 years ago, and Mendez said he has loved diving ever since.

“You just adapt to it,” Mendez said. “It is kind of scary at first. Like anything, the more you do it, the more you get used to it.”

Since he won the high school title last year, he knows what to expect.

 “I think I have a chance of winning states again,” Mendez said. “I am going to try my best and do my best. I think I have a good shot.”

Bucks cruise past Taravella

Deerfield Beach High School’s football team grounded out an easy 50-6 victory over visiting Taravella last week. 

The Bucks totaled 507 yards rushing, with three players running for more than 125 yards each – Jakari Norwood (141 yards and two TDs), Jerome Neal (140 yards, TD) and Jaylan Knighton (125 yards). The Bucks (3-1) travel to St. Thomas Aquinas this Friday for a huge non-district game.

Tigers tamed in defeat

Auburn commit Shaun Shivers rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns, all in the first half, to lead Chaminade-Madonna to a 44-0 win over Blanche Ely in a non-district game, Monday at Blanche Ely.

Shivers scored on two of his five carries for the game with scoring runs of 79 and 55 yards. Quarterback Daelen Menard also accounted for a pair of scores, finishing 4 of 6 for 123 yards. The Lions (3-2) scored on their first three possessions, with their first two scoring drives taking just one play each.

Blanche Ely slipped to 2-3 with the loss.

By Rachel Galvin

The weather was perfect on Monday, Sept. 25 for the 8^th Annual Two Georges at The Cove Golf Tournament, held at Deer Creek Country Club, located at 2801 Deer Creek Country Club Blvd.
in Deerfield Beach. At 1:15 p.m., golf carts were lined up, ready to begin. Many foursomes had been there before; there were 70 people overall. Trophies were awarded to the top three, as well as Closest to the Pin and Longest Drive. There also were two Hole-In-One prizes, said Two Georges at The Cove owner Steve Scaggs, who said one prize was a Rolex, the other was a car (unfortunately, no one got a Hole in One this time). Players would find spirit sponsors along the trail at five different holes as well, providing beer, or other libations. They also had raffles and 50/50s. Following the tournament, at night, they had an awards dinner back at Two Georges, at 1754 SE 3 Ct., in Deerfield Beach.

First place winner Johnny Mugs Produce won a Bolo Sport Fishing Charter trip, including three adult passes and three kids passes. Bolo is located at Two Georges at The Cove Marina. Kelly Egan was Closest to the Pin (Women’s)  and Vito Passalacqua  (Men’s). Second place was Breakthru Beverage and third was Derek Eldred.

Proceeds benefit Boys & Girls Club. Their goal was to achieve $10,000; so far they have raised over $325,000 through the years.

Ready to hit the links.

Golfers from Sylvester Comprehensive Care Center.

Hayley Rettenmyer is ready to pour Ketel Vodka drinks. Ketel Vodka was just one spirit sponsor out on the course.

Maria Kudlinski with Diane & Steve Scaggs, of Two Georges at The Cove.

Scaggs added, “This is another great year. Even with the hurricane, we had a great turnout, people excited and happy to do anything they can to help the Boys & Girls Club. A lot of employees stepped up and volunteered.”

Karriem Edwards, director of development at Boys & Girls Club, Jim & Jan Moran Unit, was pleased with the event.

“I am grateful for another year of support from Steve, The Cove… the whole team,” he said.

He added that the Boys & Girls Club, in addition to the normal focus on academics, they also are helping the kids get additional job skills.

He explained, “We’re emphasizing workforce development for our teens. We’ve always emphasized academics. [We are not only teaching] job skills, but also developing partnerships which will lead to employment.”

To find out more about the Boys & Girls Club, visit www.bgcbc.com.

For more information on Two Georges at The Cove, visit www.twogeorgesrestaurant.com.

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach coach Melvin Jones knew it would be a tough road in his first stint as a varsity football head coach, especially with the schedule he’s faced.

Pompano Beach (0-3), which entered the game having been outscored 92-6 this season, kept pace in the early going of its most recent game against Hollywood Hills.

“The season obviously hasn’t gone according to plan, but I know what I was getting into,” said Jones, whose team opened with a 53-0 loss to Monarch and a 39-6 defeat at the hands of John Carroll Catholic. “I was just trying to change the culture and get kids to understand football and the fundamentals and to be able to line up and that is what we have been trying to accomplish.”

His team was also part of history on Friday night when Hollywood Hills junior quarterback Holly Neher became the first female quarterback to start a varsity football game in Broward County, and possibly the nation.

Neher started the team’s 51-27 win over Pompano Beach High School at Cooper City High School and was perfect on her first five passes in the first quarter for 126 yards. She led the Spartans to two first half scores, including a 67-yard pitch and catch to senior receiver Alexander Shelton.

The Tornadoes trimmed the early deficit to 13-7 on a 61-yard run from senior Brian Campbell.

Hills freshman Emile Bien-Aime made it 20-7 on a 65-yard scoring toss to Shelton before Pompano Beach’s senior Andrew Putney connected with senior Andre Francis to pull within 20-13. It was the closest Pompano Beach would get the rest of the night.

“We are just trying to get better each day,” Jones said. “I expect to get better each day. I expect them to learn more as they watch the film and being with us. They will get an understating about what football is all about.”

There was optimism following the Golden Tornadoes’ kickoff classic game against St. John Paul II Academy – a 36-34 setback – and Jones said the two schools are similar in size and mirror each other.

They are in an independent league and we were in that league, but now we are playing with the big boys.

“I knew what we are in for,” Jones said. “We are looking forward to the challenges ahead.”

Jones said he has received strong play this season from Putney, Campbell and Jalal Jean-Charles.

“A lot of our guys go both ways,” Jones said, “so they are doing good things on both sides of the ball.”

Tigers notch first victory

Blanche Ely picked up its first victory of the season thanks to a little trickery on the first play from scrimmage in its game against host Boyd Anderson.

On the first play, the Tigers (1-2) lined up two quarterbacks, both Yanez Rogers and James Wallace, in the backfield. Rogers handled the snap from center and pitched the ball to Wallace, who rolled to his left and launched a 73-yard scoring toss to a wide-open Dennis Pete for a 6-0 lead.

Boyd Anderson (1-2) answered on its opening possession as sophomore quarterback Hansy Colas connected with Johnny King on a 15-yard touchdown pass to tie it at 6 on the final play of the first quarter.

Blanche Ely converted a special teams miscue early in the fourth quarter to go up 12-6. Boyd Anderson, facing fourth down, attempted to get off a punt, however, the snap sailed over the punter’s head and the Tigers got the ball on the Cobras’ 14.

Three plays later, Rogers hit Pete for a 10-yard TD pass for a 12-6 lead. After Blanche Ely conceded a safety, the Cobras had one last chance, however, the Tigers picked off Cobras in the final minute to escape with the 12-8 win.

The Tigers opened the season with losses to Stranahan and Plantation.

By Rachel Galvin

Is it getting hot in here? It isn’t the SoFla sun. It’s the Hell’s Kitchen chefs, who were here in Boca Raton on the first weekend of September. On Sept. 1, five chefs who were on the FOX TV show Hell’s Kitchen came to The Loft in Boca Raton to be part of the first ever cocktail party of its kind hosted by Potions in Motion catering and promoted by LivingFLA.com.

The owner of the catering company Potions in Motion, Jason Savino, said the day after this event, the chefs would go on to create a five course, four hour dinner for over 500 guests at his restaurant, Prime 7 in Seven Bridges in Delray. The sold-out event would allow guests to vote on the courses and who made the best dish. Each chef, he said, would take on one course. [The winner, announced later, was Chef Sterling Wright].

But, before they could get cooking for that event, the chefs had to show their stuff at this cocktail soiree, handing out samples and spending quality time with the intimate crowd.

Season 14’s Chef Christine Hazel served up chicken and waffle sliders with chipotle aïoli and Maple slaw. She flew in from Philadelphia to attend. Since she was on the show, she has transformed from culinary student to private chef. She is influenced by the places she goes and enjoys contributing in any way she can.

“I love giving back to the community,” she said, talking about how she just fed 120,000 people through United Way and will be helping the American Heart Association next.

Regarding the show, she laughed, saying, “We were an animated bunch. There were a lot of personalities and I have made a lot of friends.”

She added, “People look to you as an example [when you are on a show]. I realized ‘I want to do this career for the rest of my life [so I think before I act].’ Every day I want to get a little bit better.”

Barret Beyer, a Long Island, NY chef from Season 11, also enjoys helping others. He helped feed first responders during Hurricane Sandy.

Although he wasn’t sure what he was going to make this night until a few hours prior, he whipped together the perfect tasty bite involving brined salmon, cucumber and a lemon caper dill cream cheese.

About Hell’s Kitchen, he said, “The show gave me a platform to do what I do — make people happy and make sure they eat good food, and have a good time.”

When it comes to giving back, Nashville’s Sterling Wright (from Season 13) takes the cake. He beamed as he showed an online story on his phone about him donating his bone marrow to save someone’s life last year. He also enjoys being a role model for kids.

He said, “I wasn’t always this happy. I was a young man running around in a gang. I got shot. After being in the hospital and in jail, I said I am ready for you God … If I can do it, you can do it.”

Chef Bret Hauser, a Delray Beach chef from Season 14, described what it was like working with Chef Gordon Ramsey, saying, “Being able to stand next to him and watch him cook was an incredible opportunity of a lifetime … watching a true professional in his element. I was in awe.”

He added, “This event is a great time. I am looking forward to doing more. I think it is a great turnout.”

South Florida Chef Robyn Almodovar has been busy with her Palate Party food truck since her stint on the show back in Season 10. She also is co-owner of her own brick and mortar called Rumor’s Bar & Grill, located at 2426 Wilton Dr., she said as she handed out her crunchy melt-in-your-mouth mini ahi tuna tacos made with fresh smashed avocado, chile paste and sesame seeds with cilantro.

Robyn will be rejoining Hell’s Kitchen for Season 17 “All Stars.”

When asked what she will do differently this time around, she said, “Keep my mouth shut, head down and focus.”

She has an upcoming viewing party of her on Season 17 on Sept. 29 at Rumors Bar & Grill starting at 7 p.m.

Also at the event was Avi Zenatti and Ilana Brodt who brought their Karawan Tahini and Hummus. Ilana has been in the states for 30 years, but her husband Avi just moved here three years ago from Israel. He is a chef and wanted to cook with good tahini so had it shipped in.

“The tahini here just didn’t taste right,” said Ilana, who now lives with her husband in Jupiter. “You look at it and see it separates. Ours doesn’t.”

They liked the product, which came from Israel’s West Bank, so much they started importing it into America and got global exclusivity to distribute it a little over a year ago.

“Costco said ‘People like ready-made. Why not hummus?’ So we came up with four different types of hummus [a month ago]. Others have seven to 12 percent tahini. Ours has 25-30 percent. No cholesterol, no preservatives,” said Ilana of the tahini, which they call a “superfood.”

Potions in Motion/ Prime 7 Executive Chef “Sexz Chef,” as he is called, handed out samples and drinks as well, talking about the importance of presentation in addition to quality. See Potions in Motion upcoming events on their Facebook page.

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach’s Caroline Israels said her memories from college were “really good.”

“My teammates were absolutely awesome!” Israels said. “I had a lot of memories with them. I loved my experience with them and what we were able to accomplish together.”

Israels, 22, closed out her final year at San Diego State University by being named the Golden Coast Conference Player of the Year for the second time. She shared the award when she was a sophomore in 2015.

She was surprised at being named the Player of the Year.

“There were a lot of good players that came in from Pacific,” said Israels, who also landed on the all-league first team for the third straight season, led SDSU in goals (60), assists (37), steals (82), multi-goal games (19), hat tricks (8), multi-assist games (11) and multi-steal games (20). “They did an amazing job as well as my own teammates as well as some from other schools. It was a great honor to get that award again.”

“I haven’t really focused on the individual award,” she continued. “It obviously meant something to me, but not as much as a championship would have. Being able to go 26-0 in the conference over the course of four years in the regular season was absolutely amazing. Not a lot of people have been able to do that in their careers and I really appreciate that and getting another 7-0 regular season more than the individual accolades.”

Israels said she went out west to “make a name for herself.” She majored in business administration with an emphasis in human resources and is now in San Antonio working at Aerotek staffing agency where she is a recruiter.

It wasn’t all easy, however, as she nearly didn’t go back to school after her freshman season. After graduating from Westminster Academy in 2013 where she was an All-County Player of the Year for both daily newspapers, she battled some homesickness but gutted it out.

Her mother, Denise, a former swimmer at Oklahoma University and the girls’ water polo coach at Fort Lauderdale’s Westminster Academy, had a stroke that nearly killed her and Caroline was out in San Diego.

“She had her stroke and of course she has always been there for everything,” Israels said. “She, of course, wanted to come to every tournament, every weekend, everything she could possibly be at and traveling is now obviously harder so having to tell her no and that it wasn’t doable for certain weekends was very hard. So we were trying to motivate her through everything she was going through was and still is very difficult.

“I mean she is doing an absolutely amazing job and we couldn’t be more proud of where she is and how far she has come,” Israels continued. “She is still around the pool every single day and she refuses to give that up no matter how many times we have told her. She should probably stop, but the kids keep her going and coming out to meets kept her going. We hope she continues to succeed. She is doing absolutely great and we are really happy about it.”

Looking back over her career, she said “breathtaking” would sum up her time there.

“It was kind of a surreal experience,” she said. “I am happy I stayed and made the friendships I made and write our names in history at San Diego State.”

Aztecs coach Carin Crawford gushed about her former player and called her a “once-in-a-generation talent,” and felt privileged to have the opportunity to coach her. Crawford said Israels was a big reason why they won five championships in four seasons during her time at SDSU. Crawford said that Israels’ senior year was her best because she became more of an all-around player.

“Caroline is one of the most physically gifted athletes I’ve ever coached,” said Crawford, who just began her 19th year at the helm. “She is smooth and efficient, she was the fastest player on our team and makes it look effortless.

“Caroline had a great career at SDSU because she had an opportunity to make a difference here, and I think she really thrives on that,” Crawford added. “She wanted the ball in her hand to take the potential game-winning shot. She has that mentality of embracing the pressure of performing and she was able to do it for four years—game winners, buzzer beaters, half court shots etc. She was our go-to scorer for four years. That’s an incredible legacy.”

Due to weather we are giving away the Digital Observer this week only. Stay safe and enjoy!

If you’d like to purchase a Digital Subscription click here for more information!

 Please click here if you can’t see the Digital Observer below.

The City of Deerfield Beach would like to remind residents that Broward County is issuing a mandatory evacuation beginning Thursday, September 7, 2017 at 12:00 p.m., for Zones A and B. This includes all residences and businesses east of US-1/Federal Highway and mobile homes within Broward County.

All residents and businesses and their employees should make arrangements to adhere to the mandatory evacuation and vacate the affected areas beginning at 12:00 p.m. tomorrow. Those residents who evacuate must remember they will need I.D./proof of residency upon returning to their home. After the storm, law enforcement will not let residents back into their homes without that documentation.

Need a wedding dress? Alfred Angelo Bridal, one of the country’s largest wedding dress retailers, is slated to be auctioning off thousands of dresses on Saturday. The auction is supposed to only include sample dresses and wholesale inventory that has been stored here in Deerfield Beach.

The bridal dress company went bankrupt and now is looking to get rid of its merchandise. This auction has to be approved by the West Palm Beach based U.S. Bankruptcy  Court, but if the auction by Auction America does take place, it will happen Sept. 2 at 9 a.m. at Alfred Angelo’s warehouse at 602 S. Military Trail, Building 2, Unit 692, in Deerfield Beach, according to a court filing. There is also supposed to be an 8 a.m. viewing (by appointment).

Many brides were left without their dresses by this bankruptcy. The company said on their website that because of the “logistical and financial strain of fulfilling each and every open order” they could no longer continue delivering dresses so the order would have to remain unfilled. They said that if you are owed any money, visit www.flsb.uscourts.gov/?page_id=1932 and file a claim.

By Gary Curreri

While the score may have resembled something found on a baseball diamond, the Deerfield Beach High School football team will take it nonetheless.

The Bucks kicked off the season with a stunning, 6-2 victory over defending Class 6A state champion Miami Carol City at Traz Powell Stadium last Friday night.

Deerfield Beach senior kicker Liden Rivera connected on second quarter field goals of 33 and 25 yards for a 6-0 lead; however, the Bucks needed two crucial goal line stands in the closing minutes to preserve the win, including a key interception in the end zone by senior safety Jayson Dennis, following a blocked punt deep in their own territory.

Deerfield Beach also forced three incomplete passes after Bucks coach Jevon Glenn took an intentional safety and the Chiefs returned the free kick to the Deerfield 11-yard line. The Bucks limited Carol City to just 55 yards total offense in the game.

Deerfield Beach, the state’s top-ranked Class 8A team in the state, now travels to New Jersey to face St. Joseph Regional, which MaxPreps ranks 18th in the nation, on Sept. 2. The Bucks are currently ranked 105 in the same poll.

Junior lifeguards final haul: 43 medals at nationals

Team Pompano came away with eight National Championships among a total of 43 medals at the recent USLA National Championship in Daytona Beach. 

The talented junior lifeguard program captured 11 gold medals, 13 silver, 6 bronze and 13 medals for 4th and 5th, respectively). The top five in each event won medals.

The national champions included Grace Parnas (Girls “B” Division, Beach Flags and Paddleboard); Isabella Taylor (Girls “A” Division, Paddleboard and IronGuard); Summer Schulte (Girls “A” Division, Run-Swim-Run and Distance Swim); Alex Marquez (Boys “A” Division, IronGuard) and Mattheus Santos, Kelly Schulte, Alejandro Quinones and Ronald Hache in the Boys U19 Rescue Race.

The silver medalists were: Isabella Taylor (Girls “A” Division, Distance Swim, Run-Swim-Run); Summer Schulte (Girls “A” Division, Ironguard, Paddleboard); Raphael Santos (Boys “A” Division, Distance Swim, Run-Swim-Run); “A” Division Swim Relay, composed of Isabella Taylor, Summer Schulte, Alex Marquez, Raphael Santos, Emilio Barrantes and the “A” Division Rescue Relay, composed of Raphael Santos and Alex Marquez.

The bronze medalists were Lilia Blanco (Girls “C” Division, Distance Swim and Ironguard); Reese Andres (Girls “C” Division, Paddleboard); Owen Williams (Boys “C” Division, Ironguard); Christian Quinones (Boys “B” Division, Beach Flags); Mattheus Santos (U19 Division, Run-Swim-Run).

 “Out of the six individual events, Team Pompano had the top two finishers in the country in four of those events in our “A” Girls, Isabella Taylor and Summer Schulte,” said Nemia L. Schulte, president of the Pompano Beach Junior Lifeguard Association. “These two young ladies primarily competed against each other while blowing away the rest of the pack.”

By Gary Curreri

Pompano Beach High School football coach Melvin Jones is hoping to cash in on his first coaching job.

The Tornados, coming off a 2-8 season last year, move back into District 15-5A play this season after being an independent for the past couple of years. Pompano Beach showed it could score in a 36-32 loss last week to host St. John Paul II, but Jones is excited about the season.

“I am very excited about the opportunity,” Jones said. “It took eight years for this to happen. I have applied at many schools in the county and have had countless interviews, but nobody was willing to pull the trigger until now.

“There is a lot of pent up frustration,” he added. “I am just ready to get things going to show what I can do.”

More than half the 30-player Pompano Beach roster is made up of seniors. The team is led offensively by Jalal Jean-Charles (RB/DB, Sr.), Brian Campbell (FB/LB, Sr.), Andre Clarke (WR/FS, Sr.), Jordan Jaramillo (WR/FS, Jr.), Andrew Putney (QB/DB, Sr.).

The team also has some strong defensive players led by Shemon Jenkins (CB/WR, Jr.), Daniel Eggan (SS/WR, Sr.), Kelly Moore (DE, Jr.) and a promising newcomer in two-way player Jacoby Clarke (TE/DE, Sr.).

“Our goal this season is to build upon our team philosophy which is ‘Stay in the moment, Live as a FAMILY, Dare to be Uncommon and Hold the Rope,” Jones said. “I think our team will surprise people this year. We are a unit that is determined to be great. We are a scrappy team that will fight to the end. We are looking forward to competing for a district title.”

Jones said the team would play the season with a strong motivation.

“As an athlete, you always have a chip on your shoulder,” Jones said. “We are striving to be great. In today’s society you have to prove yourself everyday you wake up. No matter what you did yesterday, you have to do it again today so the chip is always there.”

Senior offensive lineman Steven Nirenberg believes his team can be special. The 17-year-old Coconut Creek resident has been on the team all four years and believes an undefeated season is in the cards when the games start to count.

“I believe we can go 10-0 this year,” Nirenberg said. “It is a new system and we all believe what coach Jones is bringing to the table. The schedule is very winnable and I think we just have the fire in us to go 10-0.”