Hillsboro Beach residents were quite surprised Sunday morning (June 29) when  the authorities showed up. They were not certain what was happening, only it looked like the SWAT team came in guns-in-hand. It turns out that the commotion came about when 17 immigrants, mostly from Haiti, came to Hillsboro Beach about 5 a.m. The 17 were taken into custody and the man who brought them on their long journey escaped. Luckily, the immigrants appeared to be in good health. Unfortunately for the immigrants, their journey will be round trip and the eight men, seven women and two young boys, aged 2 and 10, will be heading back to their homes.

Pompano Beach’s Lara Annunziata won the Dorothy Dodson Award for the highest score in the Intermediate Division at the recent Sunshine State Games Figure Skating competition at the Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex. Photo by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Don’t let Lara Annunziata’s size fool you.

The 11-year-old Pompano Beach girl recently came up big at the recent Sunshine State Games Figure Skating competition at the Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex.

Annunziata brought h o m e the most prestigious honor from the Sunshine S t a t e Games as she captured the Dorothy Dodson Award for the highest score in the Intermediate Division. She finished third in the short program and won the long program in the division. “I wasn’t surprised I won it because I work hard every day,” said Annunziata, who will be entering the sixth grade at Shepherd of the Coast Christian School. “I like trying new things. I like doing jumps.”

“It was a surprise,” Annunziata added. “The day before I was working on my double axel and I couldn’t do it. The day I was going to compete, I landed them. I was so shocked.”

Annunziata landed the element in practice, but fell in both the short and long program. It still didn’t take away from her efforts.

“I was happy that I landed it in practice because it was clean,” Annunziata said.

Her performance at the Sunshine State Games didn’t go unnoticed by Nancy Mariani, the director of skating development for the Panthers Figure Skating Club.

“The fact that she won the (Dorothy Dodson Award) is huge since it is her first year in the division,” Mariani said.

Annunziata was a bronze medalist in the juvenile division last year at regionals and a finalist at sectionals where she placed seventh. The top 4 qualify for Nationals. This is her first year in the intermediate division and she’s been skating for six years. She got her start at the same time her sister, Gabby, 14, began skating. Gabby is taking a break from the sport.

“I want to skate in the Olympics,” Annunziata said. “I will have to try new jumps.”

After coming so close to advancing to nationals last year, there is hope of making it this year.

“Hopefully, I will make it,” Annunziata said. “I will have to land all of my jumps.”

Annunziata also has post- Olympic plans.

“After the Olympics, I want to coach,” said Annunziata, who trains three hours a day, every day. “Sometimes, I go to school and get out an hour early. Sometimes, I will miss some work in school and, sometimes, I can’t go to parties. I take ballet class once a week and that helps me with my skating too. It is all worth it though.”

LOCAL GOLFERS FARE WELL IN JGA COMPETITION

Several local golfers recently turned in strong performances in the Junior Golf Association of Broward County tournament at the Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club and Springtree Golf Club.

Pompano Beach residents Isak Nilsson (40-41-81) and Wyatt Rubin (36-45-81) tied for third in the Boys Championship Division.

Pompano Beach’s Dylan Glatt carded a 47 to finish in a tie for fourth in the Boys A Division, while Deerfield Beach’s Katie Williamson carded a 39-39-78 to win the Girls Championship Flight.

Pompano Beach’s Lara Annunziata won the Dorothy Dodson Award for the highest score in the Intermediate Division at the recent Sunshine State Games Figure Skating competition at the Ellenton Ice & Sports Complex. Photos by Gary Curreri

By Gary Curreri

Herman Robinson and Danielle Domino each look forward to the Highlands Christian Academy basketball camp every year.

Robinson, 16, of Deerfield Beach, and Domino, 15, of Parkland, are both sophomores and starting point guards for their respective boys’ and girls’ teams at the school.

“This is good,” said Robinson, who attended the camp in his fifth grade year and the past three years from his 7th, 8th and 9th grade years. “I get a lot of drills out of it and I get better. It depends on how hard you work.”

Robinson, who has attended Highlands Christian Academy since the fifth grade, followed up his week of learning with a week of giving back. It is also his second year working the camp.

“It’s interesting because I get to see what I am like to the coaches that are here,” Robinson said. “I also see what I was like when I was their age. I want to give them my full attention and teach them things that I already know like respect.”

“Basketball delivers hard work and patience and mostly everything, including teamwork,” Robinson added. “I have a passion for it … a strong passion for it. I want to go all the way to the professional ranks, whether it is NBA, D-League or overseas.”

Domino is the youngest of three siblings to play at the school. Her older brother, Derek (college football) and Drew (college basketball) also prepped at the school. She’s been at the school since the 2nd grade and been on the varsity since the 7th grade after she moved up late in the season from the JV and has been on the varsity ever since.

“It teaches me to work hard and how to work with people,” said Domino, who has attended the camp since the 2nd grade. “Especially when we are playing 5-on-5, it builds teamwork and good work ethics.”

This is her 3rd year working the camp.

“It is a lot of patience because I am with the little kids, the third graders, but I like working with them because I get to show them how it is done and build them up for the future,” Domino said. “I like to teach them to work hard. You just have to be quick with it (your message) because they have a short attention span. We teach a lot of the fundamentals. Whatever you do best, you try and teach them.

“I love working with little kids,” Domino added. “I want to coach when I get older, if I am not playing. I want to go to the WNBA, but college is my first priority right now. I want to play college basketball.”

Jim Good has been Athletic Director at the school for the past four years and the school’s varsity boys’ basketball coach for a decade.

The camp featured 53 boys and girls in its first week of camp, including students in grades 7 through 12. It has nearly 50 children in this week’s camp, including students in grades 2 through 6.

Good said it was rewarding to have students/athletes who grew up attending the camp now coaching the younger campers in the second week. Good has been involved in the camps for the past 17 years.

“Any time you have a player who goes through that camp and then comes around the next week and switches roles and now they are the coach, it’s rewarding as a coach, to see them give back,” Good said. “They are great role models for the younger kids.”

It marked the 29th year of basketball camps at Highlands Christian Academy. Former athletic director and boys varsity basketball coach Reg Cook started them in 1985. It is the most popular of all the summer athletic camps offered by the school.

The camps featured a morning devotion followed by warm-up runs and stretches, followed by an emphasis on ball handling and dribbling. The group was divided up into stations to work on lay-ups and shooting. A certain skill was emphasized each day. Several contests were done throughout the week, which included 1-on- 1, 2-on-2, free throws and hot shots. Full court, 5-on-5 full games were played in the afternoon after lunch.

“We update the drills and we also had an all-star game with the older group,” Good said. “We select the 10 best players in the high school groups, break out the uniforms, and they play the coaches. The coaches are undefeated in the four years we have played.”

Good said about 70 percent of the campers attend Highlands Christian Academy and the remaining players attend schools in the surrounding communities. The two most notable campers to attend the Highlands Christian Academy basketball camp include Brandon Knight (Milwaukee Bucks) and Andrew Smith (now a senior at Liberty University).

Knight attended the camp when he was in the 4th grade and went on to star at Pine Crest School, and played a year at Kentucky, before being a first round pick of the Detroit Pistons.

It is the only two weeks of basketball that the school offers. In future weeks, they will offer softball, soccer, track and field, volleyball and golf.

“We have three goals,” Good said. “One is for them to have fun, the second is to work hard and the third is to glorify God

Katz Deli in NYC

Katz Deli in Deerfield Beach

The famous Katz Deli in New York City filed a cease-and-desist letter on April 29 to stop Deerfield Beach Katz Deli in The Cove from using their name. The NYC deli, founded in 1888, accused the local deli of infringing on its federal trademark rights. The Cove Katz Deli opened less than a year ago. Both restaurants sell New York style and Kosher deli food. The NYC deli has been featured in movies like “When Harry Met Sally.”

 The case is listed under Katz’s Delicatessen of Houston Street Inc v Pump-a-Nickel Corp d/b/a Katz’s Deli of Deerfield Beach et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 14-04245.

Vehicle used and ID flashed by BSO impersonator at unsuspecting drivers.

Broward Sheriff’s Office Public Corruption Unit detectives arrested a man performing traffic stops last Friday in Broward and Palm Beach counties while posing as a BSO employee. Although the suspect says he only did this that day, detectives are looking for additional victims of this BSO impersonator.

Tiago Monteiro

On June 6, Tiago Monteiro driving a dark Volvo pulled over a car with a teen driver and two teen passengers near 400 N. Federal Hwy. Monteiro felt the teenage girl had cut him off. He stopped his car in front of hers, walked up to her car and ordered her to roll down her window. Monteiro acted with authority and quickly flashed an ID in a lanyard. He told the victim that he worked for BSO and asked to see her license and registration. After reviewing her documents, Monteiro told her he would let her go with a warning.

Hours later the impersonator pulled over a second victim. This time it was an adult man (William “Bill” Bucknam) in Boca Raton. He told Bucknam that he was a BSO detention technician and flashed a work ID from a telemarketing job. Again Monteiro asked to see his license and registration and again he told him he could go with a warning. Bucknam was suspicious and used his mobile phone to take photos of Monteiro, the Volvo and the tag. His actions were crucial in giving the BSO the information they find and apprehend Monteiro.

Public Corruption Unit detectives arrested Tiago Monteiro at his home in Coral Springs. He admitted to performing the fake traffic stops and stated he was targeting drivers whom he felt should not be behind the wheel. Monteiro had no police lights in his car, no weapon and no BSO identification. He is facing charges of impersonating an officer and false imprisonment.

Monteiro has never been employed by BSO but has applied 14 times; most recently on March 30, 2012. Monteiro has a history of mental health issues.

Detectives are asking for anyone who’s been a victim of Monteiro or anyone with additional information to contact BSO Detective Joshua Webb at 954-321-1100 or Broward Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 954-493-TIPS (8477) or www.browardcrimestoppers.org.

Photo of impersonator and his car captured in the act.

On May 29, 2014, J. David Bogenschutz, Esq, attorney for former mayor Al Capellini, submitted his bill for services to Mayor Robb and the City of Deerfield Beach. The legal fees and costs (December 2008-May 23, 2014) equal $1,035,015.45.

Bogenschutz gave a detailed report of time spent, stating it equaled 67 plus months of  “significant discovery, depositions, complicated and multiple legal pleadings and motion practice.”  The hours totaled 1,200 for him, plus an additional 250 hours for associate attorney Ashley Dutko, plus the “eight trial days resulting in acquittal.”

In addition, he listed $153,265.45 in “hard costs” over the 5 1/2 years. He continued to mention a breakdown of fees, stating that the number was actually a conservative one.

PDF of letter and invoice

By Rachel Galvin

For director Gaetano Fasulo, as well as about 60 cast and crew, their movie, “Bonk,” a romantic Christian comedy, was a labor of love. Created for the Gideon Film Festival, to be held July 11-16 in Orlando, the film was filmed in locations all over the Deerfield Beach area, including the Eller Building (home of the Observer). The film, the first of many by the group, premiered May 30 at Centro Cristiano church in Deerfield Beach. Boca Live, who usually performs at Church of All Nations in Boca Raton, led the large crowd in worship through their powerful music. For more information, visit http://christianfilmers.com.

(On left): Boca Live performed.

(On right): Director Gaetano Fasulo with Director of Photography Gabriel Kipling Tyner.

By Gary Curreri

Residents have an opportunity to take advantage of World Cup soccer fever this summer as the Simply Soccer camp returns for its 26th year in Coral Springs.

Soccer camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels, who will be taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting. Simply Soccer, the longest running soccer camp offered by the city, will be held at Mullins Park behind the Coral Springs gymnasium. There won’t be a similar camp this year in Pompano Beach.

There are three sessions each day ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; extended hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Tiny Tot program for ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Full day campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch.

Dates are June 9-13, 16- 20, 23-27; July 7-11, 14-18, 21-25, 28-Aug. 1; Aug. 4-8, 11-15.

For information, call 954- 345-2200.

ELY WINS IN JENKIN’S DEBUT

Blanche Ely High School ended its spring football contest against visiting Miami Jackson on a high note as it chalked up an impressive 31-14 victory.

The Tigers’ star basketball player, Therrell Gosier, who has been turning heads off the basketball court and on the football fi eld this spring, didn’t disappoint. He caught two passes totaling 55 yards on the team’s fi rst drive to set up a 1-yard run by Teddrick Moffett for a 7-0 lead, and added a 3-yard TD catch for a 14-0 fi rst quarter lead.

“I’m just trying to help my team win a state title,” Gosier said after the game. He is being heavily sought after by Clemson, West Virginia and Nebraska, among others. “I’m looked at as the leader of the receiving corps. I think my ability to stretch the fi eld will mean a lot. It will give our slot guys more room to work with, open the fi eld.”

After Miami Jackson cut the lead in half on a 75-yard TD run by Desmond Phillips, Ely put the game away on a 28-yard scoring toss to Ladderick Smith and rolled to the win to give fi rst year head football coach Nakia Jenkins some momentum heading into the season.

Jenkins said the Tigers wouldn’t be doing too many 7-on-7 tournaments during the summer heading into the school year.

“I really don’t believe in them too much because, to me, it throws you off a little bit because your quarterback needs to get used to an offensive line,” said Jenkins, who said his team will be a part of the 7th Annual Miami Dolphins 7-on-7 High School Football Tournament presented by Under Armour and the National Guard from June 13-15.

“They have been great to us the last few years,” Jenkins said. “We may do one or two local ones, but my focus is to get my seniors in some camps so they can get looked at so the kids don’t fall through the cracks. The camps are really big to give them some notoriety.”

POMPANO SOFTBALL TO WRAP UP SEASON

Continental will play the International squad in the city of Pompano Beach’s Men’s Thursday night softball league championship on June 5 at 7 p.m.

A win by the International squad would give the team the title, while a loss to Continental would force an 8:15 p.m. winner-take-all contest.

Levinson Jewelers/Jacks Hamburger won the Men’s Softball A Division playoff bracket with a 19-7 victory over Lifetime Kia.

A new competitive league will be starting soon, and games will be played on Monday nights at the Four Fields Complex in Pompano Beach.

“Any bat will be allowed and a pitching screen will be placed in front of the pitcher for protection,” said Bobbi Palat, a recreation leader for the city. “Twelve home runs will be allowed.”

The fee is $400 for residents and $500 for non-residents. There will be a 12-game season with a double-elimination tournament at the conclusion of the regular season. The winning team will receive a free entry into next season.

Leagues are also starting for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. It will be the same entry fee of $400 (residents) and $500 (non-residents). There will be a free entry into the league for next season and there will be two separate brackets for playoffs.

For more information, contact Palat at 954-786-4119.

On Sunday, June 1, beach goers were exposed to the 3rd private property

sign on Deerfield Beach, in the last 7 years. This time it is on a stretch south of the pier by 4 blocks and right in front of the main beach parking lot.

It appears to be some private frontage that belongs to a condo on the south

side of the main parking lot.

The Observer has made repeated calls to the seller number on the sign, but has not reached anyone yet. We will run this down by this week’s Observer issue and keep you posted.