By Gary Curreri

The South Florida Senior Softball Association recently presented an $800 check to Mission United to commemorate Patriot’s Day. Mission United is a division of the United Way of Broward County. Michael Ellis, of Mission United, accepted the check and said the money would be used to provide dental care for Veterans.

Ellis, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, said there are 32 dentists in Broward County that provide pro bono dental work for veterans in need, but there are lab tests and other incidentals that have to be paid for out of pocket. This donation will help defray those costs.

The South Florida Senior Softball Association is based at the Four Fields Complex in Pompano Beach. Throughout the year, it provides recreational softball to players 50 years of age or older. The club meets on Mondays and Fridays year-round and adds Wednesdays during the winter season when the snowbird members arrive.

The club membership usually encompasses approximately 100 members.

“While recreational softball is the attraction that brings the players together, the club is not one dimensional,” said SFSSA board member Jeff Schrier, who is the corresponding secretary. “We involve ourselves in many activities to benefit the Pompano area, its residents and those in need. We host tournaments where the proceeds are given to worthy causes.”

On Saturday, Dec. 5, the club will split up into four teams and play games for the needy youngsters in the area. The entry fee for each player will be one unwrapped toy that will be forwarded to children who otherwise might not receive a gift for the holidays.

Schrier said 48 players have signed up for the event already.

“There should be a lot of smiles on Christmas morning,” he said. “We invite all to come down to watch and bring a toy as well. All donations will be accepted and forwarded.”

Pierre switches commitment

Deerfield Beach safety James Pierre is not planning on going to the University of Miami after all.

The 6-foot-2, 165 senior, who also holds offers from 11 schools, including Cincinnati, Kentucky and Wisconsin, had originally committed to the University of Miami last May. He also had an offer from the University of North Carolina, which he said, via Twitter, he will now attend.

Pierre helped the Bucks pull out a 44-21 District 11-8A win over host Douglas last week. He and sophomore linebacker Rosendo Louis each had a team-high six tackles for Deerfield Beach, while senior defensive backs Simeon Brown and Kimar Martin had two interceptions.

Bucks senior quarterback Teddrick Moffett accounted for 277 total yards and five scores. He passed for 232 yards and three TDs, and rushed for 45 yards and two scores. Senior wide receiver Cavin Ridley added 137 total yards, as he had 85 yards receiving and another 52 yards on the ground.

Deerfield Beach (6-1, 3-0) will host undefeated Piper (7-0, 3-0) for the District title on Oct. 30. The lone Bucks loss was a non-district, 33-15, loss to Jacksonville Bolles on Sept. 25.

A mock Doc and Marty pose with a pooch (“Dante”) Founders Day, on Feb. 14, 2015.

By Rachel Galvin

In Back to the Future Part II, the second of the trilogy, Marty McFly travels from 1985 into the future with Doc Brown to save his unborn children. The year shown is Oct. 21, 2015, a date in real life that just came to pass yesterday. This momentous occasion has become news-worthy as people are abuzz about what the movie got right and wrong in its predictions.

There are no flying cars as shown in the film, but there are some hover boards being experimented with currently. There is no self-adjusting or self-drying clothing, but the Cubs are in the World Series (but are not going to  win, although they were predicted to in between promos of Jaws 19, a feat that, in reality, has not happened in over 100 years). In the film, it said they would be battling a Miami team; Miami did not have a team when the film was released in 1989, but it does now. [The Cubs are currently battling the Mets.] Marty’s children watched multiple channels on their TV screens and communicated through live videos. They answered the phone and were entertained through their glasses. Today, we have Google Glass and Virtual Reality glasses, including Oculus Rift, Avegent Glyph and Sony PlayStation VR, among others. Although not everything in the film was prophetic, it seems that Robert Zemeckis’s creation didn’t do too badly in predicting what would happen in 2015.

Back to the Future fans will get a chance to meet the real Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) at the upcoming Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival when he is present at the screening of his new film “The Boat Builder” on Nov. 6 at 8 p.m. at Cinema Paradiso in Ft. Lauderdale (subject to change). He also will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award. His co-star, Lea Thompson, who played Marty’s mom, Mrs. McFly in that film, was at FLiFF 2013 and received a Career Achievement Award. For more information, visit www.fliff.com.

Karen Leikert and Mary Riedel of Women in Distress.

Special Commission Mtg. called

Blue Water issue postponed to Nov. 9

By Diane Emeott

Within the first couple minutes of the start of the Oct. 20 Deerfield Beach City Commission meeting, the two agenda items on Blue Water hotel that several members of the public had come out for were deferred until a future commission meeting – at the request of the applicant.

• Agenda item No. 1 – Second and final reading (plus public hearing) of an ordinance to vacate and abandon a portion of The Cove Shopping Center

• Agenda item No. 2 – Quasi-judicial public hearing of a site plan to construct a 134-room hotel with a four-level parking garage

On Monday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. a Special Commission meeting on Blue Water VIII, LLC will now be held in commission chambers following the already scheduled Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) meeting that same night and place at 6:30 p.m.

“I think the hotel and its requirements are going to require a very long session when we don’t have other commission business. Let’s schedule this for a Special Meeting. It needs its own meeting,” said Mayor Jean Robb.

Blue Water is seeking nine variances from the Deerfield Beach Land Development Code to allow the height of the hotel to be 101.3 ft. – instead of the allowed 55 ft.

The property is a 1.91-acre parcel described as Lots 1 through 9 at 1755 SE 3 Court.

A 12,575 sq. ft. restaurant with outdoor seating, dock, pavilion and pedestrian boardwalk has already been approved for Blue Water.

Fire Station land-use change

An ordinance to change the land-use designation for the 2.19-acre parcel at the southwest corner of Hillsboro Boulevard and Federal Highway where Fire Station No. 4 [still labeled as No. 1 on building] sits passed unanimously 4-0 on first reading. (Commissioner Rosenzweig was not in attendance.) The land-use designation is currently “Community Facilities.” Change to a “Commercial” designation is being sought to potentially sell the property for an appraised $2.9 million.

BSO District Fire Chief Richard “Rusty” Sievers said the building is very old. It is the fourth oldest fire station in Broward County. The idea is to relocate and build a new fire station on the property behind the BSO law enforcement substation on NE 2 Street/Eller Street.

“This will improve response time. The majority of calls we get are actually west on Hillsboro Boulevard,” he said, adding that traffic often gets congested at Hillsboro and Federal, making it difficult for public safety vehicles to get out.

Sievers added that there would be a requirement to build the new fire station first, before relocating the firehouse and demolishing the old building on the property.

According to Planning & Development Services Director Amanda Martinez, the land-use plan amendment next goes before both Broward County Planning Council and Broward County Commission for two readings before coming back to Deerfield city commission for second reading and adoption. “The soonest would be April [2016],” she said.

Women in Distress proclamation

President and CEO Mary Riedel and Karen Leikert of Women in Distress

(WID) received a proclamation from Mayor Robb recognizing the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Last year, with the help of funds provided by the City of Deerfield Beach, WID provided 436 residents with $145,273 in services, including emergency shelter, advocacy, counseling and transitional assistance.

WID, which expanded and doubled its capacity at its Deerfield facility in 2011, thanked the commission for their support.

Mayor Robb read a second proclamation, Tuesday night, also declaring October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

7th Annual Halloween Fair & Horse Show

Saturday, Oct. 24, 2015

Location:  Sand & Spurs Equestrian Park, 1600 NE 5 Ave., Pompano Beach FL 33060

(North side of Goodyear Blimp base/South of Copans Rd/East of Dixie Hwy/North of Atlantic Blvd)

Time:  10 a.m to 2:30 p.m.

12:30 p.m. – Horse & Rider Costume Contest on Horseback

1:30 p.m. – Public Costume Parade (all ages, no registration)

Public Welcome to enjoy $3 Pony Rides, $1-$2 Games, $1 Bounce House, $3 Face Painting, $2 Pumpkin Patch, Pet Communicator/Whisperer; bring your pet (all pets must be on a leash) or a picture, Hay Rides, Food Sales by U Can Ride Therapeutic Sessions.

Some proceeds benefit U Can Ride Therapeutic Sessions (www.ucanride.org)

Event Information:  954-786-4133

(Please note correction: Event listed in paper as Tuesday, Oct. 20 is actually being held Saturday, Oct. 24!)

Kyleigh and Matthew Kelly pose for their yearly shoot.

By Rachel Galvin

St. Ambrose Catholic Church, at 380 S. Federal Hwy. in Deerfield Beach, has their pumpkins out, under the tent, just waiting to be purchased for the holiday. Whether you want to care a Jack-O-Lantern or simply bake a pumpkin pie, they have plenty of orange and white orbs to choose from.

This year, they had to go to a different place since the last farmer retired. This year’s crop came from Sexton Farms in North Carolina. Something else new this year is Heirloom Pumpkins. They still have the mini pumpkins along with the huge ones too. Pumpkins run 80 cents per pound. The white ones are $7.

St. Ambrose Pre-K and VPK students sittin’ in the pumpkin patch

The fun thing about their options is they not only have pumpkins, but also great items to decorate for any party, such as corn stalks (for $10) and haystacks ($8 or $20, depending on size). Prices on all items could vary.

“I am thankful for all the volunteers and all the time they give to the school,” said Principal Lisa Dodge.

Get your pumpkins soon because they go fast! It is great for the kids to come out and stroll through the variety available and it makes a perfect holiday photo opp. The tent is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For more information, call 954-427-2225.

Aniela McGuinness shows strength as Rosie the Riveter for promo photos for one woman show.

By Rachel Galvin

Watching Aniela McGuiness’ “Doctor’s Office Dance Party” videos is enough to make anyone chuckle. It is hard to believe that she is in the office because she is getting Chemo for Cancer. When she started treatments, she invited her friends to come with her to engage in the fun. Can “fun” and “Cancer” be in the same sentence? They can if you are Aniela. This fearless female has redefined what it means to be a warrior, using laughter and love to conquer Cancer.

Aniela already knew what Cancer could do long before she was diagnosed. Her mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at 46 and went through a lumpectomy and radiation. But, it wasn’t over. Ten years later, Cancer came back … this time Ovarian Cancer, and she died at 63.

Her mother had the BRCA1 gene mutation. Aniela thinks it actually originated with her French Canadian grandmother’s side, but her grandmother never got Breast or Ovarian Cancer. Aniela speculates that maybe it is because she had a hysterectomy in her 30s.

It is only natural that Aniela would get tested for the gene. She did, through a mouth swab. She found out at 25 she had the gene mutation. With that knowledge, she got checked every six months with a Mammogram and then a breast MRI with the plan of getting her breasts and ovaries removed by 35 (much like Angelina Jolie).

Being a model and actress, and always wanting to educate people, she decided to document her journey as she planned to have her operations performed. While filming one of her episodes of “My Breast Choice,” she discovered “live” on camera that she actually had Breast Cancer (Stage 1). That was a year ago on September 30. She was (and still is) 31 years old. The raw video is heartbreaking to watch.

After finding out the news, she ran to the neighbors and they called her husband, Jordan. The story of her diagnosis, the procedures that followed and her rollercoaster of emotions was written down and transformed (with the help of co-director/ director Tony Rivera) into a one woman show called “I Don’t Have Cancer,” which she has performed in several locations, including Boca Raton, and filmed for a possible documentary later.

“[The show] helped push me forward and gave me an extraordinary amount of energy while letting me purge all of the fears, guilt, anger and plain emotional baggage that can come with a serious illness,” said Aniela.

She took a series of photos to accompany the ongoing videos documenting her process, including shaving off her hair before Cancer could take it, and showing off her topless body on the beach before her breasts were removed. Her friends gave her crazy creative hats, which she loved to wear to her chemo sessions, perfect for selfies. She shared every step of the process through her videos, including waking up after surgery, discovering fashions that are more comfortable after surgery and how to make her own drain bag holder. She talks straight about the process, the ups and downs and what worked and didn’t work for her.
“I let people in, opened my heart fully and allowed myself to be completely vulnerable and held in the love of those around me,” she said.

Aniela had a skin-sparing double mastectomy and 12 sessions of chemotherapy (four sessions of Adriamycin/Cytoxan and nine session of Taxol). She didn’t have to do radiation because she chose to give up her nipples.

Afterward, she decided to get a complete hysterectomy as well, just in case.

“My doctors and I chose a very extreme course of action. Most people would do much less, but with my age and family history I didn’t want to risk it,” she said.

Aniela suggests those who have Cancer use their “Cancer Card” as much as possible.

“I found that during this experience normal social rules didn’t apply to me, so I enjoyed the freedom to be fully myself,” she said.

Aniela, who currently lives in Hollywood, FL, has become a bit of an advocate for the cause (she recently talked to college kids about Cancer and uploaded her story in video-form to the Young Survival Coalition), but she is also returning to life as an actress and model, as well as working with the Sick Puppies Comedy Troupe.

You can watch Aniela’s journey at www.youtube.com/MyBreastChoice.

Aniela added “fun” to her Chemo sessions by wearing crazy hats and engaging in “Doctor’s office dance parties.”

“What is left when you strip away the flimsy things you once put so much value in?” — Aniela McGuiness.

“Cheers to 90 Years!” scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m. at the LHP Yacht & Racquet Club HAS BEEN CANCELED due to conflicting circumstances beyond their control. Any ticket refunds will be made a.s.a.p. Call the Deerfield Beach Historical Society — 954-429-0378.

(Originally, the event was at the DoubleTree but had a last minute change to LHP Yacht & Racquet Club because the hotel had not completed their renovations.)

Christopher Brand, Whitney Winfield and Ken Jennings. Photo by Amy Pasquantonio.

By Rachel Galvin

Offering plenty of fast-paced frivolity, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” opened Oct.1 at The Wick Theatre. The musical, which runs until Nov. 1, stars Broadway actor Ken Jennings, who keeps the action going with his antics, sometimes breaking the fourth wall with some Improv.

Jennings plays a cunning and creative slave, Pseudolus, who attempts to please his young master, Hero, in exchange for his freedom. Hero has fallen for the dim-witted courtesan next door, Philia, and hopes his loyal slave will secure her for him. But Philia has been sold to another. Meanwhile, Hero’s father has returned from a trip alone without his nagging mother and has an eye for Philia, too. There are many conflicts, many disguises and plenty of deceit in this madcap comedy. No set changes were needed as all the action took place between three well-crafted houses. The wardrobe helped add to the production value.

While Jennings was the focus, Michael Ursua, as Hysterium, had some great moments, as well as the rest of the ensemble cast. One of the highlights of the show is the great choreography of the “dancing” courtesans. Scantily clad, these ‘long, tall drinks of water’ show off their flexibility much to the delight of Pseudolus. Chris Brand, as Hero, and Whitney Winfield, as Philia, are perfectly adorable and make a perfect couple. The three Proteans, Wesley Slade, Brian DiRito, and Ronen Bay, were great comic relief in their various renditions, although it was Erronius’ (Troy Stanley) appearances that brought some of the biggest laughs. Michael Scott, as Senex, held his own subtlety, while actors like Jim Ballard (Miles Gloriosus), Dennis Setteducati (Lycus) and Erika Amato (Domina) gave more robust performances.

This was the kickoff to the Wick’s Season 3. They are already selling tickets also for the next show, which is “Hello Dolly,” opening Nov. 5, starring Broadway’s Lee Roy Reams, as Dolly Levi, and Lewis J. Stadlen as Horace Vandergelder.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.thewick.org. Check out their five-star restaurant too!

Students from the Deerfield Beach Parks Department youth Jiu Jitsu program won 16 medals at the 2015 NAGA Grappling Championship held at Florida Atlantic University on Sept. 26. Nine students from Deerfield Beach attended, including Ian Honda, Dashaun Amos, Dante Amos, Auriel Neal, Hope Moberg, Faith Moberg, Luke Souza, Tanner Ross and Luis Cruz Monoz.

Sensei Marcos Souza heads the city’s Jiu Jitsu program, with classes every Tuesday and Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Johnny Tigner Community Center, in the Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex, 445 SW 2 St. Cost is $50 per month. www.deerfield-beach.com