Runway to the Cure–Feb.1

Posted on 29 January 2025 by JLusk

Friedreich’s Ataxia is a rare inherited condition that damages the nervous system that causes muscle weakness, balance issues and sensory deficits that worsen over time. It has no cure. And it effects people all over the world, including right here in Deerfield Beach.

Many may know Carly Magnuson, who has been written about many times in The Observer through the years for her efforts to raise money toward Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA) —a national public non-profit tax exempt 501c(3) organization (EIN #52-2122720) that funds and facilitates research progress in Friedreich’s Ataxia.

Now, there is an event happening on Saturday, Feb. 1 that helps that cause. Called Runway to the Cure, that event will be held at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport hosted by Banyan Air. The party will take place in their airplane hanger from 6 to 10 pm and will include a buffet dinner, drinks, music and a silent auction.

For more information, click here Runway to the Cure 2025 – Campaign.

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State of the City 2024

Posted on 03 December 2024 by JLusk

By Rachel Galvin

“The state of the city is sound,” said Deerfield Mayor Ganz during his State of the City address on November 20. This was the mayor’s last time speaking in his current role, as there will be a new mayor chosen during the election March 11. Also on the ballot will be Commissioners from District 3 and 4. 

This year’s State of the City was at the recently transformed Johnny L. Tigner Community Center. There were light bites and drinks available for guests, as well as a backdrop for photos. 

The evening began with a pledge of allegiance by Denise Jordan, executive VP of the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce, and the singing of the national anthem by Joy Mobley. It continued with a back and forth about who was really the emcee for the evening (It was Rebecca Medina). The Commissioners got a chance to talk, including District 1 Commissioner Michael Hudak and District 2 Commissioner Ben Preston. District 3 Commissioner Parness was unable to attend.

Then, Vice Mayor/ District 4 Commissioner Todd Drosky had a chance to speak, and in his usual lighthearted style, he ended up bringing the comic relief. This time, it was not in the form of disco dancing (like last year), but rather by presenting videos of ideas for the new city motto, complete with animations for illustration. Each idea was centered around a deer, including “Whoomp Deer it is,” “There’s No Real Deer Here,” “Just Buck It!” and others. There was a lot of applause… and laughter, but no real winner so far…

After Drosky’s bit of fun, Ganz began his talk about the state of the city. He thanked everyone responsible for putting the event together, and everyone who helped him throughout his career in politics so far. He also talked a bit about some who have disagreed with him and disparaged him, to put it lightly.

A funny video was shown with people on the dais and in the community talking about him and giving their thanks, or giving him a hard time.

In addition, Ganz pointed out that this night was also the kickoff of the centennial celebration for the city, which will be taking place throughout the next year.

He talked about how the city got its start, saying, “The late 1800s and the early 1900s, people were drawn to Deerfield because of its rich fertile soil, suitable for growing pineapples, tomatoes and green beans. And here we are 100 years later. The city of Deerfield Beach remains fertile ground for growth.”

The city has made many changes through the year and has many more in the works. He mentioned the installation of school speed cameras across seven school zones in the community, as well as other roadway improvements, with a goal of achieving zero pedestrian fatalities. He also said there is an effort to make the solid waste collection more efficient and to continue to invest in sand management, reef maintenance and more to keep the beach beautiful. The city is also investing $4.7 million in renovation and upgrade of the International Fishing Pier.

He also mentioned the city stepping up their waste reduction program/ compositing program. The city has composted 100,000 lbs. of food waste, which is 50 tons diverted from the landfill. He brought up that the nearby Monarch Hill Landfill wants to expand and that the city, along with Coconut Creek, is standing against it. He encouraged people to vote against it as well.

He said that the city installed cutting edge systems to remove micro plastics from the city’s tap water. They also are implementing critical storm water storage and flood resilience projects throughout the city.

The city also is looking to increase engagement through surveys and more, as well as promote transparency and financial accountability, something he said has really been the defining achievement of his time in office. He added, “I couldn’t be prouder to let you know that the city’s bench credit rating this year skipped two entire rating levels and has landed us at a double A rate level.”

In the past year, the city was awarded over 11.5 million in state and federal grants, he added. “The staff has submitted $30 million in grant proposals and we’ve issued $13.3 million in revenue bonds to fund capital improvement projects.”

One of the biggest projects in the works in the city is the Children’s Marine Science Center in Sullivan Park. The city received a $3.3 million grant from the Florida and Lynn Navigation District to help with making it a reality. The center will be available for schools to do field trips and learn about marine life. The center already has a partnership with the Guy Harvey Foundation and now has a new partner, the award-winning Museum of Discovery and Science.

Of course, he said there already have been some great additions recently to Deerfield, including the Johnny L. Tigner Center where the event took place. He also mentioned the opening of the new 20,000 sf, $11.2 million Braithwaite Center for Active Aging. 

He also talked about playgrounds, the renovated Aquatic Center and the creation of a parks master plan, as well as a plan for the downtown area.

He added, “We’re working on a multi-pronged approach to bring a new level of interest and vibrancy in the central city area to attract quality businesses and create jobs for the city. And we cannot wait for all of you to see the $156 million mixed-use development that’s going to come out of the ground on Southwest 10th Street and I-95. That project will include workforce housing, medical office space and a new hotel, in addition to a rooftop park and improvements to Mayo Howard Park.”

He said that they updated $227 million of capital improvements planned for the next five years. $34 million is slated for implementation this next year alone. They are going to be replacing the 15th Street Bridge in The Cove neighborhood and rehabilitating all city roads that don’t meet a performance rate against 80 out of 100.

“We’re developing a new public safety master plan to operate the facilities for our public safety staff and ensure that the buildings and facilities they use allow them to operate in a manner that keeps us all safe and sound for the next 50 years,” he said.

He added that the fact that the city did not have a utility tax like almost every other city in the county, which led to a loss of revenue and ended up in layoffs and a credit ratings drop. That, in turn, led to an effort to improve the credit rating and diversify revenue streams. “We survived and we thrived, and look at us now,” he said.

Following his talk, Mayor Ganz was given a JM Family Changemaker Award, presented by the current and former president of the historical society.

Afterward, everyone had a chance to mingle some more and VIP guests received a swag bag on the way out. 

See more pics soon on ObserverNewspaperOnline Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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62nd Annual CHAOS Pompano Beach Lighthouse Point/Deerfield Beach Holiday Boat Parade

Posted on 25 November 2024 by JLusk

The Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce is hosting “A Salute to our First Responders” when the Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade, the longest-running boat parade in the nation, sets sail on Friday, December 13th at 7:00 p.m., rain or shine.

The magical parade on the water begins at Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach, proceeds north through the Hillsboro Bridge, and ends at the Deerfield Beach/Boca Raton border line at Sullivan Park.

The beautifully decorated boats glowing with colorful lights, holiday decorations, and music will dazzle thousands of spectators who line the Intracoastal Waterway. Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus will be the final boat waving to everyone watching the parade.

The Grand Marshals are the Pompano Beach Fire Rescue Firefighters and the all-new “Ely fire cadets,” young people training to become firefighters.

The MCs, judges, and viewing stand will be at Miraggio Italian Grill, at 3100 E. Atlantic Boulevard (SE side of the Atlantic Boulevard Bridge). There will be plenty of parking and seats for over 300 people. Spectator viewing bleachers will also be located at Alsdorf Park on 14th Street Causeway, 2974 NE 14 Street.

This year, the Boat Parade will be streamed live on the Chamber’s YouTube page.

The Parade will be live video streamed and can be viewed by logging on the Pompano Beach/ Margate/Lighthouse Point Chamber Facebook Page at: www.facebook.com/pompanobeachchamber.

The NE 14th Street Causeway and Atlantic Boulevard Intracoastal Waterway Bridges will be locked into the open position from 6:15 p.m. until the parade passes. Please seek alternate routes to and from the beach during this time.

For more information call 954-941-2940.

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Yuletide Parade

Posted on 25 November 2024 by JLusk

Get Ready for the Most Festive Night of the Year: The Yuletide Parade in Pompano Beach!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 5th at 6:30 p.m. (rain date: December 12th) because the Yuletide Parade is back, and it’s going to be bigger, brighter, and full of holiday cheer!

This annual Pompano Beach tradition is the perfect way to kick off the season. Local high school bands rock the streets, colorful floats light up the night, toe-tapping live performances, and, of course, a special appearance by Santa Claus himself.

The parade will start on Riverside Drive, cruising west down Atlantic Boulevard, and wrapping up at SE 24th Avenue — a route full of fun and festive surprises. 

Want to get even more involved? They are accepting float applications and sponsorships! For details, visit www.parks.pompanobeachfl.gov.

 

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Tracking the storm…

Posted on 02 August 2024 by JLusk

The City of Deerfield Beach issued this alert regarding the weather situation…

National Hurricane Center is tracking a storm brewing in the Atlantic, with a chance of becoming Tropical Storm Debby and impacting Florida this weekend. Areas from Louisiana to Florida’s west coast are on alert for strong winds, heavy rain, and potential flooding. This is a great time to practice your hurricane preparedness plan. Make sure your supplies are stocked up, and visit the city website (DFB.CITY/STORM) for more info.

Stay updated:
•    City website: DFB.CITY/STORM
•    Facebook & Instagram (city social media handles)

Need help after the storm?
•    Report flooding or outages: City Hotline – 954.480.4370
•    Report power issues: FPL – 1-800-468-8243

Stay safe, Deerfield Beach!

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Deerfield Beach Opens New Lines of Communication with Local Businesses

Posted on 13 July 2024 by JLusk

The City of Deerfield Beach recognizes the value existing businesses bring to the community by investing in facilities, creating jobs, and providing a support network that anchors the local economy. To maximize their positive impact on the local economy the City is reaching out to companies with a program aimed at helping them navigate the regulatory landscape and find the resources they need to thrive.

The Business Outreach Program aims to enhance communication between the City and the business community and is part of a broader business retention and attraction strategy. 

The program comprises two initiatives, Quarterly Roundtables & the Business Visitation Program.

The quarterly roundtables, which will be starting in March, are intended to provide and collect valuable information on Economic Development initiatives, the future of industries in Deerfield Beach and Broward County and to facilitate networking opportunities among local businesses.

The Business Visitation consists of confidential one-hour meetings with the owner or senior executives of companies in the advanced industries sector and enables the Economic Development staff to better understand what these companies do, identify issues and projects eligible for incentives, or work hand in hand with these companies to solve pending issues.

The Department of Economic Development cordially invites business owners and managers to actively participate in the Business Visitation Program.

For more information about the Business Visitation Program, visit www.dfb.city and check out the department’s web page, or contact Gigi Chazu, Economic Development Coordinator at 954-395-6051 or gchazu@deerfield-beach.com.

 

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BSO Warns About Phone Scam

Posted on 12 June 2024 by JLusk

Scammers are always looking for ways to separate victims from their money. In recent days, a recurring scam using the good name of the Broward Sheriff’s Office has resurfaced, and detectives are warning residents to be on the lookout. 

The scam works like this – an unwitting victim receives a call from someone claiming to be a BSO employee in the agency’s Civil Division. The scammer tells the victim they missed a court date and a warrant was issued for their arrest. In order to put the arrest warrant on hold or get rid of it altogether, the victim must pay up either with cash or through a payment app. BSO wants the public to know this is a scam, and neither BSO nor any law enforcement agency will ever call you and ask for money. 
 
Sadly, this scam is not new. In fact, BSO educated the public on this issue in August 2023. There is also a version of this scam where scammers claimed to be BSO employees at the Broward County courthouse. In these cases, the scammers often use the names of real BSO employees. But the public should not be fooled — if you get a call like this, immediately hang up the call and contact law enforcement. 
 
BSO will never demand money or personal information, bond money or any form of payment. If you receive this type of call, do not provide any personal information or money. Instead, hang up the call and report it to the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where you live. If you live in a BSO jurisdiction, call BSO’s non-emergency number 954-764-HELP (4357).

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Red Shield Regatta at JM Family’s “The Park”

Posted on 21 February 2024 by JLusk

Captain Lee, from the TV show “Below Deck,” is coming to Deerfield Beach for the Red Shield Regatta

By Rachel Galvin

Fans of the show “Below Deck,” boating enthusiasts, foodies and more will be in attendance at one of the hottest events to hit Deerfield Beach in a long time. The Red Shield Regatta will be at JM Family’s “The Park,” at 200 Jim Moran Boulevard in Deerfield Beach, on March 9 from 6 to 10 p.m. This special event, presented by the Salvation Army of Broward County, will include gourmet food, an open bar, live entertainment and a silent auction featuring sports memorabilia, luxury getaways, golf foursomes, dinners and more.

Captain Lee Rosbach from “Below Deck” and “Couch Talk with Captain Lee & Kate” will be there as a special guest host. The event will also feature  WPLG Local 10 Anchor Nicole Perez, WPLG Local 10 Reporter Roy Ramos, 101.5 LITE FM’s Host Julie Guy, and 102.7 FM The Beach Host Gaby OC as emcees.

The regatta will help to raise funds to benefit Plymouth Colony, an essential transitional housing complex in Hollywood that provides shelter and supportive services for families facing adversity. 

The Salvation Army of Broward County engages in year-round critical operations, such as multiple shelters and housing programs to aid those experiencing homelessness; weekly food pantry distributions; daily soup kitchen; annual Angel Tree toy distribution program bringing joy to local families during the holidays, and others. To support these efforts fundraising activities like the seasonal Red Kettle bell ringing campaign and this year’s new Red Shield Regatta offer the community the chance to invest for long-term impact. All funds raised directly assist the most disadvantaged in Broward County.

The Red Shield Regatta is presented by JM Family Enterprises with additional support provided by Ocean Bank and Nivalmi Consulting (Super Yacht sponsors); Bombardier, HMY Yachts, Icon International, and SJF Law Group (Motor Yacht sponsors); Gulfstream, Best Roofing, Sodexo USA, Marksman Security, Convergint and PWC (Cruiser Yacht sponsors); Enterprise Rent-A-Car, The Sarria Family, Nexa Mortgage, Sevenson Environmental Services, Moss Foundation, City of Fort Lauderdale, and WPO Development (Tender) and The Sabatano Family, The Cahill Family Charitable Fund, Pete & Jenny Sudler, Samantha Fitzgerald, and The Pino Family (Board Members).

“JM Family has enjoyed a long-term community partnership with The Salvation Army of Broward and has supported many of their programs, not only financially, but through board participation and our associate volunteer program,” said Pete Sudler, vice president, JM Family Enterprises, and an advisory board member for The Salvation Army of Broward County. “Supporting efforts to ensure Plymouth Colony has the appropriate funding to continue helping families toward self-sufficiency and permanent housing opportunities aligns perfectly with JM Family’s charitable giving initiatives.” 

Ready to join in the fun? Put on your cruise or resort wear and join the party. Tickets are $150 each and sponsorship opportunities are available at https://give.salvationarmyflorida.org/RedShieldRegatta.

For more information, contact Dave Hayton, The Salvation Army of Broward County’s development director, at (954) 654-3395 or at David.Hayton@uss.salvationarmy.org.

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Save the Date: Art Stroll is coming Feb. 17 & 18

Posted on 22 January 2024 by JLusk

Save the Date: The Art Stroll is coming to Deerfield Beach Feb. 17 & 18. Once called Festival of the Arts, which has been in place for 43 years, this event will bring in artists from all over to showcase their masterpieces. But this is just part of the fun. Look for live entertainment, food and drink. Mark your calendars. More details coming soon!

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Deerfield Beach Kiwanis Club Golf Tournament

Posted on 15 November 2023 by JLusk

Foursomes hit the links at the Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course on September 30 for the Kiwanis Club of Deerfield Beach’s 13th Annual Golf Tournament. About 144 people participated. They had a nice buffet lunch and there was also a silent auction and prizes given.
   The event was a huge success, according to Kiwanis Club president Deb Sullivan. “We had a tremendous turnout and the weather held off just long enough for us to get all packed up.”
   She added, “We are so lucky, grateful and beyond appreciative to all of our generous sponsors … Kudos to our loyal players and our new friends. We also owe a big thanks to our community partners that pitched in to donate items for our raffle prizes, purchased tee signs and gave in-kind gifts. Thanks to the volunteers that worked on all the behind the scene details and a big thanks to our 10 Key Club (high school) volunteers that helped with the grunt work.”
 
Winners:
1st Place: FHE Health — Dean Moreno, Rick Anderson, Dustin Marks, Pat Simon
2nd Place: DMA Contracting, Inc —  Jonathon Davis Max Freitag, Keegan Mohan, Zach Duncan
3rd Place: FHE Health — Rami Sleiman, Todd Branstetter, Robert Zimmerman, Tyler Zimmerman
 
Sponsors:
Tournament Sponsor: Security Roofing Systems Inc
Prize Sponsor: ABC Supply Co. Inc.
Platinum Sponsor” FHE Health.
Gold Sponsors: JM Family, Builder’s Bargain Happy Holidays Christmas Trees, NYCB and Wealth Planners.
Silver Sponsors: Mutual of America. HEW Fitness, Tropic Glass Enclosures, ABC Roofing and Palm Atlantic. Welcome Bar Sponsor, Almeida Roofing, Breakfast Sponsor, East Coast Metals.
Beverage Sponsors: DMA Contracting, Inc. and 2 Fish and a Loaf.”
 
To see more photos, visit the Observer Newspaper Online Facebook page.
 
 

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