Southbound Federal Hwy Lane Closure for Routine Maintenance

Due to the routine maintenance of the trees along Federal Highway, the southbound lane of Federal Highway from the Palm Beach County Line to NE 4 Street, will be closed Wednesday, May 28 from 6 a.m. to noon. The southbound lane is scheduled to re-open at noon weather permitting.

For more information please call 954-571-2670.

BREAKING NEWS:

Capellini trial

 Notes from the Courtroom

Friday, May 23 —

2:28p.m. –After hearing arguments from Assistant State Attorney Catherine Maus and Defense Attorney David Bogenschutz, Broward Circuit Judge Marc Gold ruled that the copy of the agenda, which was not previously provided to defendant Al Capellini upon his request, will be admitted into evidence and the trial will proceed this afternoon.

Bogenschutz argued further that the introduction of this document now, after the defendant testified, is highly prejudicial and, on that basis, he just moved for a mistrial.

Motion for mistrial has been denied.

2:48 p.m. –Now arguing about instruction to be given to jury after introduction of document.

Judge will instruct the jury that the document was provided to the defendant at 5:21p.m. on May 21 after he testified. He deleted the proposed language that it was provided 6 years after being charged and 11 years after the meeting in question.

2:50 p.m. —Jury brought in.Instruction was given.

Peggy Noland took the stand to resume testimony.

Maus showed her the agenda and bottom of pg 1. #2 under quasi-judicial hearing. That was Capellini’s project. Whether it was later added to the consent agenda she could not say.

Bogenschutz resumed his questions. He showed her a waived quasi judicial hearing for Deerfield Park development.

5/3/03 shows it went to Consent Agenda and applicant waived quasi judicial hearing.

Noland testified that the agenda shown to her by Maus did not depict the way the agenda looked in 2003, since at that time, it was printed on both sides.

Bogenschutz showed her the format of his agenda exhibit and she said that, in the 12 years she was there, it was always back and front.

Noland spoke glowingly about Al as mayor. He had the city headed in a positive direction and he had a good reputation.

Maus then came back and explained she had shown Noland the wrong document.

She agreed that the back/front format on this document was the same as the one shown to her by Bogenschutz.

Noland said that often when they started meetings there were changes to the agenda.

Bogenschutz came back and asked about Maus’ document and asked her if Maus had made a mistake and Noland said “yes” and left the witness stand.

3:10 p.m. –10 minute recess.

3:33 p.m. — Jury came back in.

Defense set up video monitor to show video of part of June ’03 meeting to jury where the vote took place.

Capellini recalled to stand.

Capellini questioned about agenda and his recollections about it. Said they were printed on back to back pages all the time.

He said he has no recollection of seeing this doc until Wed at 5:21pm. Video played.

Video showed items 1-6 quasi-judicial hearing. He is holding agenda in his hand in video. He says it looks similar to agenda in evidence.

As video roles, Capellini is seen looking at 3rd page of agenda, past the agenda item for his project. He had agenda open 1-2 seconds.

Comments are then being made about agenda item #6. No one showed up for the Foot and Ankle Center. A woman came up to talk about a different item and she was told to sit down.

Approved 1-3 per Jerry Ferguson, P&Z Director. Capellini  said he did not focus on what 1-3 were about since they were on Consent Agenda. When on Consent Agenda, titles are not read.

Motion to close and approve (by former City Commissioner Gwyndolen Clarke Reed, whose district includes Natura).

Unanimous. Going on to item #4.

Capellini identified himself in 12-year-old photo. Photo shown to jury.

3:52 p.m. — Maus resumed questions and asked for video again.

Video questions by Maus:

One woman tried to speak out of turn. Capellini denied looking at item #2, his plat. He denied knowing that he was voting on his plat. He said if he had been aware of it, he would not have voted.

She rested.

4:08 p.m. — Bogenschutz resumed … Testimony about traffic problem there that Capellini reported to county and city and said traffic people in city do not do anything about it. The city cannot control county and county even removed signs city put up trying to slow people down.

Bogenschutz rested and Maus asked if item 2 could have been pulled by anyone. Capellini  said Robert’s Rules prevent him from making a motion and Maus rested.

Capellini off the stand.

4:13 p.m. — Bogenschutz rested defense case.

4:18 p.m. —Maus calling deputy clerk from Deerfield Beach. Bogenschutz objected and jury brought back. Samantha Gillyard called by Maus. She will be final witness in trial. Employed since 2006, she was asked if records kept in the course of the city’s business and Maus moved exhibit into evidence.

Bogenschutz asked whether this is the way it’s kept today. She agreed that the agenda are copied on both sides. She said she gave the state a pdf version of the agenda, which is one sided.

Document admitted and Maus rested.

4:19 p.m. — Jury excused for 30 minutes for final motions.

4:35 p.m. —Court resumed.  Bogenschutz made second motion for a directed verdict. Judge trying to ascertain what Capellini’s “corrupt intent” was. Bogenschutz pointed out that 19 years before the hearing the city had ceded all traffic matters to the county and Capellini’s reference of that was not an attempt to evade involvement in that project. He argued that the state had failed to prove their case and that there was neither direct or circumstantial evidence presented by the state to prove their case.

Extended legal arguments were made on both sides. Bogenschutz argued there was no direct evidence of guilt and the circumstantial evidence was open to different interpretations.

Judge asked Maus what evidence they have of corrupt intent?  Bogenschutz asked rhetorically “what’s illegal?”

5:14 p.m. — Bogenschutz rested his argument.

5:15 p.m. — Maus commenced her argument against the motion for a directed verdict, cited cases to support her argument. She claims there is an issue for the case to go to the jury.

Maus argues that Capellini’s cutting off of Mrs. Heimowitz’s complaints about traffic are evidence of his corrupt intent. Capellini said he cut her off because traffic issues are for the County not the City.

Judge still struggling with where is the corrupt intent.

5:35 p.m. — Bogenschutz resumed briefly, argued the court is duty bound to order directed verdict.

Judge granted motion for directed verdict. Judge ruled there is absolutely no evidence of corrupt intent. As for keeping lady quiet perfectly consistent with what he said about traffic matters belonging to county, no evidence of deal between him and other parties to contract. They acknowledged they got no benefits and in fact were hurt by it.

It was an ethical violation, not a crime, saying, ‘that’s my ruling and that’s the end of it.’

-Al Capellini is a former Deerfield Beach mayor.

By Gary Curreri

Zion Lutheran first-year coach Ray Ayala said his baseball team exceeded expectations this season.

The Lions (16-10-1) recently completed their season with a hardfought, 10-4 loss in 11- innings against visiting Miami Brito last week.

Miami Brito Miami scored six runs in the top of the 11th inning to snap a 4-4 tie as the Panthers won the Region 4-2A final and denied the Lions their first trip to the state semifinals in school history for the second consecutive season.

Zion Lutheran lost 11-0 to the eventual state champion, Westwood Christian, in the Class 2A regional finals last season. Jose Rodriguez pitched six innings in relief of Lions’ starter Blayne Baker to keep Zion Lutheran in the game. The team rallied from a 4-1 deficit to force extra innings with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Ivan Ortiz’s RBI single tied the game at 4-4.

“We were very fortunate to get it tied,” said first year Lions coach Ray Ayala, who came over from Somerset Academy this season. “We had some opportunities, but we didn’t get it done.”

There were only two players back from last year’s team (Baker and Manny Rojas). Baker finished the season 6-4 on the mound, while Rojas batted .509 for the season and led the team with 35 RBI.

“We played in two early season tournaments and went 0-6-1 in them,” Ayala said. “Honestly, if you go back to February, you will see we had a whole bunch of individuals. I put them in over their heads. It took us three months to become a family and we had won nine in a row since then. We had to find a way to have them come together.”

“When I first took a look at it, I thought there was something to build there,” Ayala said. “There was nothing there. The cupboard was bare so to speak. I figured two to three years we could build something. As you can see, we moved at a little bit faster pace.”

Ortiz, who was a catcher at Olympic Heights last season, joined the team this season along with shortstop Jose Rodriguez and outfielder Joseph Renovales, who came over from Coral Glades High School.

“They all know each other from playing summer ball together,” Ayala said. “We inherited five other kids from other schools.”

Ayala said the slow start showed the team there was work to do.

“It made us realize that one through nine we weren’t better than anybody,” Ayala said. “If we played as a team, we could beat anybody. That’s where all of our losses came from and that was the turning point going through those tournaments learning that we could not win individually; we could only win collectively; once we stopped worrying about stats and worrying about who plays, our practices became more geared toward team drills and we were successful as a team and turned the corner.”

Ayala believes the program has a bright future. Ayala said parents who are interested in bringing their sons to the program are already contacting him.

“I am already getting calls of interest,” Ayala said. “Parents are getting calls from other parents and telling them they want to switch schools, so that is definitely getting us on the map. We are getting a reputation that we play hard and I am fair to the kids.

By Rachel Galvin

After receiving the Rising Star Award at the 2014 Induction of The Broward County Women’s Hall of Fame at Deer Creek Country Club, Somy Ali realized how far she had come.

She said, “It made me realize how resilient one can be and how one can beat the odds.”

For Somy, life wasn’t always easy. Growing up in Pakistan, she experienced domestic violence first hand. Her mother told her “it was the fate of Muslim women.” But Somy knew better. Luckily, she was able to move away to America at age 9 with her mother and younger brother thanks to her uncle who lived in South Florida.

At 15, her life took a detour. She ended up back overseas in India to meet her crush, a Bollywood actor. She not only met him, but ended up making 10 movies with him and getting engaged. But the relationship was not to be and she moved back to Miami, put money into real estate, pursued a higher education and started her own clothing line.

But it was when an abused Bangladeshi woman showed up on her door that she would realize her true calling and the idea of her company, No More Tears (NMT), was born. Begun in 2006, her organization helps immigrant women and their families who have suffered domestic abuse, women who may not know the language or customs of America. She has helped hundreds of women with everything from getting medical assistance to getting an attorney, from learning to drive to learning about their rights. In many of the countries that these women come from, children are treated like property and women are afraid that if they leave, their children will end up back with their abusive father. Somy’s organization helps them to obtain proper status.

“My motivation to continue is to make sure I can stop or help those that were physically and sexually abused. I was told as a child and in my teenage years that I would not amount to anything. My motivation comes from all those that said this to me. I do not want any woman to go through what my mother went through and I do not want any child to be a victim of what my brother and I were in Pakistan,” says Somy. “I know I can’t eradicate abuse my lifetime, but at least I can take a stand against it. I can rescue those that are in the midst of it and guarantee that it won’t happen to them again.”

Somy Ali, who is currently working on her autobiography, will be speaking at the Woman’s Club of Deerfield Beach on May 21 at 7 p.m. To find out more about No More Tears and Somy’s clothing line (proceeds go to NMT), visit No More Tears.

(On left): Somy Ali with mother and children she helped at No More Tears holiday party.

 (On left): Somy at birthday party for 2 children with survivors.

(On left): Survivor graduates from nursing school.

After 5 ½ years, the trial of former Deerfield Beach Mayor Al Capellini began Tuesday, May 13 in front of Broward Circuit Judge Marc Gold, a day after it was originally intended to begin.

Capellini is being represented by defense attorney David Bogenschutz. Assistant Broward State Attorney Catherine Maus  is arguing for the prosecution.

Capellini, who began as mayor of Deerfield Beach in 1993, was suspended by then-governor Charlie Crist on Dec. 15, 2008 due to accusations which he is now contesting. Cappelini was charged with unlawful compensation, a third-degree felony, stemming from his alleged involvement in the development at Natura.

Capellini is slated to go on the stand in his own stand the afternoon of Monday, May 19. The verdict is predicted to be ready late Tuesday or first thing Wednesday. When the verdict comes in, we will report it here.

By Gary Curreri

Three was the lucky number for the Pompano Beach Bengals girls track team at the Broward County Middle School Track and Field meet recently at South Plantation High School.

Three members of the girls track team won their respective events and helped the Bengals take third in the meet with 48 points. Lauderdale Lakes was first with 73 points, while William Dandy was second with 66 points. The Pompano Middle School boys also took third in the meet with 27 points. Lauderdale Lakes (70.50) and William Dandy (49) were first and second, respectively, as well.

Carshaylah Harrison (high jump) and sisters Dominique Spann (1,600-meter run) and Daishon Spann (800-meter run) each won their events to pace the team.

Harrison, 14, of Pompano Beach, successfully defended her title in the high jump with a personal best jump of 5-ft.

“I’ve been doing track since the first grade,” Harrison said. “I like that you have to be dedicated. It’s a fun sport and you make a lot of friends. Fivefeet was my goal coming into the meet and clearing it gives me confidence. Even though I didn’t win the 400, I am still happy with what I got.

Dominique Spann, 11, a sixth grader at the school, won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:41.85. Her older sister, Daishon, a seventh grader, repeated in winning the 800- meter run with a personal best time of 2:20.80.

“It is important to carry on the family tradition,” said Dominique, who is the third youngest of six siblings. She laughed when she said they take her phone away from her when she doesn’t run well. “I have a lot of pressure on me. I just have to try my hardest and get a better time.”

Daishon Spann said it was important to repeat the 800- meter champion.

“I had to show people that it wasn’t just luck,” said Daishon Spann, who trimmed five seconds off her personalbest time this year of 2:25.33 with a 2:20.80. “I have a good rivalry with my siblings. It’s good. We go back and forth with, ‘I can beat you.’ We support each other a lot. It was good to know that I sort of had an impact on (Dominique) winning and, when she won, it gave me motivation to win because I knew she would give it back to me at home.”

Pompano Beach Middle’s girls also had Takiyah Johnson (400-meter dash, 4th and 200- meter dash, 8th), Harrison (400-meter dash, 5th) and Dominique Spann (discus, 4th) make the finals.

Pompano’s girls’ relays teams took second in the 4×400-meter relay and seventh in the 4×100-meter relay. Pompano’s boys were led by Marquis Williams (100- meter dash, 4th), Giovanni Campbell (200-meter dash, 4th), Allen Escuage (800- meter run, 2nd), Rayan Miller (1,600-meter run, 6th) reach the finals.

Pompano’s boys’ relays teams took second in the 4×200-meter relay; fifth in the 4×100-meter relay and eighth in the 4×400-meter relay.

TEJADA NAMED ALL-STATE

Blanche Ely point guard Lance Tejada II was recently named first-team all-state in Class 7A by the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches (FABC) and Source Hoops.

Tejada, who was a starter on Ely’s 2012-13 state championship team, averaged 23.3 points per game as a senior, which was nearly double his scoring average from his junior season. Tejada, who signed with East Carolina, also averaged five assists and three rebounds in leading the Tigers to the regional semifinals.

Seven Dwarf Mine Train ride opens May 28.

Walt Disney World steps into the future

By Rachel Galvin

Since 1955, Walt Disney World has continually evolved, adding more attractions and events to improve their customer experience. Last weekend, they had a media day to announce their newest technology, the My Magic + system, and some of their new attractions. The Observer was there.

On Friday, they dedicated a brand new ride in their newest area, New Fantasyland, which was launched last fall. The new ride, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride, is touted as a kids ride, but those who have ridden it know it is not exactly like “Small World.” It is definitely a roller coaster, albeit a moderate one, but the twists and turns can really be felt through their special technology that allows the carts to tip and rock so every bit of g-force can be experienced as the ride rounds every fast twist and turn. The ride opens to the public May 28.

Perhaps more impressive is the My Magic + system. Pass holders and those staying at Disney Resorts receive a My Magic Band, which is worn around the wrist and uses RF technology. It acts like a key to gain entry to everything from the hotel room to the parks themselves. Instead of the long cues and turnstiles at the entrance, guests zoom through just tapping their band and using their fingerprint to gain access. My Magic Bands come in several colors and can be accessorized with fun accessories. Bands can also be purchased for $12.95.

Magic + provides easy and quick access to the park.

My Magic Bands are perfect for those who have Fast Pass +, which is definitely the best way to go. Guests can sign up for three fast passes from home and then add more, one by one, as many as they want, once they are in the park. Fast passes allow guests to bypass long lines.

Guests can keep track of their fast passes, see where characters are located, wait times for rides, maps and more with My Disney Experience, available on their computer or on their smart phone as an app.

To make the experience more interactive, Disney has increased character interaction with Storytime with Belle and now a special meet and greet with Mickey himself, who not only poses for a picture, but greets guests in his dressing room engaging in conversation, making a truly intimate and interactive experience.

Guests can get access to all their pictures taken by staff at the park using Memory Maker, which allows them to see their photos, and purchase and even modify them, like adding Mickey’s signature or the Walt Disney logo. Pictures are tracked through the My Magic Band to be later accessed via the app.

There have been updates to some of the attractions, like the Dumbo ride, where instead of waiting in lines, kids can play in a circus-themed indoor playground area while parents sit and wait for their pager they are given to go off, signaling it is time to ride.

At Be Our Guest restaurant, guests can order ahead of time and, when they reach the restaurant, can sit immediately and their food is served. (Try the pastries and desserts here!)

In addition, they are redoing Downtown Disney, expanding it and renaming it Disney Springs, adding an Avatar based land to Animal Kingdom and adding a theatrical performance called  Harambe Nights. They are expanding their Star Wars weekends (May 16-June 15) at Hollywood Studios and adding Symphony in the Stars fireworks spectacular. (There is a rumor that Mark Hamill will be there June 6-8). For the third year, they will be open for 24 hours on Memorial Day. These are just a few new developments. For more, see the video on www.observernewspaperonline.com/observertv or visit www.mydisneyexperience.com.

By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach’s Jackson McKenna’s life was nearly over before it started. At 5- months old, he was diagnosed with biliary (tract) ectasia and needed a life-saving liver transplant.

“He got his liver on Feb. 17, 2001 and he’s been healthy ever since, and, every two years, he competes in the Transplant Games of America,” said McKenna’s father, Brian. “It is Olympic style events for any person who has received an organ transplant. This summer, it is being held in Texas.”

McKenna, 13, who has competed in the Transplant Games of America since 2002, said it is fun meeting other athletes from around the country. He has also been quite successful. Two years ago, he competed in Michigan and won six gold medals – in biking, relay race, basketball, softball throw, long jump and the 100-meter dash.

“It’s pretty amazing to be where I am,” said McKenna, a Deerfield Beach Middle School seventh grader. He has played in the Deerfield Beach Little League since he was 6 and is currently a member of the Indians’ 50/70 team. “I’m not allowed to play contact sports now. I would like to someday compete against (able-bodied) athletes.”

The Transplant Games of America include track and field, swimming, table tennis, cycling, long jump and the softball throw.

McKenna takes medications daily and goes for blood work every three months. He competes against athletes in his own (13-15 year-old) age group this year.

Brian McKenna said they did blood matches and he was a match for his son.

“If they did not find a donor where he could receive a transplant, I would have been able to donate a partial liver to him,” Brian said. “We were fortunate enough to find a partial donor.”

Team Florida typically has between 40 and 50 athletes from throughout the state. There is a South Florida chapter.

“It’s really cool to meet other people every two years,” said McKenna, who is part of Team Florida and has met others from around the state who also compete. He enjoys going to different places and meeting everybody. So far, he has competed in Michigan, Texas, Wisconsin, Orlando, Minnesota, Kentucky and Pittsburgh in the Transplant Games.

McKenna has also fared well on the baseball diamond as they finished second in the Major Division last year after winning the District 10 title two years ago in the Majors Division.

He’s won a couple of dozen medals and said his last trip to the National Games netted his biggest cache of medals.

“Winning a gold medal is better than winning a baseball title,” said McKenna, who was the youngest participant in his first Transplant Games in Orlando in 2002 at 18 months as he competed in the softball throw. “It is really cool and I am very proud of my accomplishments because I can help other people by raising awareness.”

The Transplant Games showcase the success of transplantation and call attention to the life saving importance of organ donation, and honors organ donors and their families.

“We are so thankful each and every day for the gift of life that our son was given,” said Jackson’s mother, Jina McKenna. “Our donor and donor family are always in our hearts.”

If anyone is interested in making donations to Team Florida and Jackson for the 2014 Games, they can make a tax-deductible donation to: Tiger Transplant Fund, 934 N. University Dr., #251, Coral Springs, FL, 33071. In the memo section of the check, please write “Games/Jackson McKenna.”

See Video On ObserverTV

By Gary Curreri

James Forbes was looking to get his wrestlers some valuable experience at the recent Irish Fair Wrestling Tournament at Chaminade Madonna High School in Hollywood.

Forbes, who along with Bob Burns has coached the Deerfield Beach BSO-PAL wrestling team for the past 11 years, brought four grapplers to the tournament and came away pleased.

“The biggest thing was to get them mat time and more experienced,” said Forbes, who won the tournament as a heavyweight in 1970 when he was a kid. “The more they wrestle, the more accomplished they are. We also wanted to keep the tradition going.”

Forbes wrestled then for tournament director Ron Schulz. There are currently 21 wrestlers in the PAL wrestling program, ranging from seventh grader to 12th graders.

“He had the only wrestling club in the county back then, and he was the head coach at BCC (Broward Community College),” Forbes said. “What I like about this tournament is that it levels the playing field.”

“It is really nice because they can gauge how they are doing against kids who are relatively the same experience,” Forbes added. “We have a kid who was academically ineligible for the high school season, so he only got in four matches last year. Now, he gets some more.”

Deerfield Beach’s Andrew Torres, 16, fell in the 220-lb. final to Seahorse Wrestling Club’s Carlos Osterling, a sophomore at Cypress Bay High School. It was a solid performance for Torres, who has been wrestling for two years.

“It is not like any other sport,” Torres said. “It’s just different. It requires a lot more of you and the payoff is a lot better than most sports. People think you are not on the mat that long because it is only six minutes, but it is the hardest six minutes you will ever have in your life … This is six minutes straight, nonstop. This is my first time wrestling this tournament so I was happy with how I did.”

Deerfield Beach’s Ryan Sills, 16, lost his semifinal match to Seahorse Wrestling Club’s Grant Bussenbarrick, a junior at Cypress Bay; however, he was happy with the experience.

“It was my first tournament since regionals and I fell short of state,” said Sills, a sophomore at Deerfield Beach High School. “My success has been quantified at a level that I don’t think could have been reached without Coach James Forbes and Coach Bob Burns. You get what you put in and I have gotten out a lot. I am definitely qualifying for state next year in high school. It is not even a goal … It’s a necessity.”

For more information on the program, contact BSO Deputy Butch Santy at 954- 778-0174.