–By Rachel Galvin–

On Aug. 2, a large group of Deerfield residents gathered at Quiet Waters Park for the National Night Out on Crime despite the off and on again rain. This event encourages people to turn their porch lights on and come out together to take a stand against crime.

BSO showed off their SWAT equipment, such a large riot shield that can be lifted up and a machine that can lift items out of the way, including a car, which they demonstrated in front of a large audience.

Sheriff Al Lamberti arrived on scene via a helicopter at the most appropriate moment, shaking hands with families who had gathered there. He had visited several Broward County cities also having Night Out on Crime festivities.

Attendees roamed community booths under the pavilion, learned about community programs and services from the city, turned in unused medicines (Operation Medicine Cabinet) and took sensitive documents to be shredded in the shredding truck. People must have felt generous because The Community Blood Centers bloodmobile surpassed their goal for donors that night.

People also ate pulled pork sandwiches, hamburgers, chips, pizza and more, while drinking soda or water to cool down from the heat.

A snow cone machine also was a big hit among the kids. Kiddies could also climb a rock wall or jump in the bounce house.

The band Smuggling Yo Yo’s played their hearts out on stage where commissioners, the sheriff and State Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke Reed also spoke to the crowd, including new Dist. 2 commissioner Ben Preston. Afterward, raffle prizes were given out.

BSO showed off a SWAT vehicle capable of lifting a car

New commissioner Ben Preston speaks, with other commissioners and Deerfield's mayor

The Smuggling Yo Yo's played

A large crowd enjoyed free food and activities under the pavilion

Residents and visitors to Broward County are encouraged to head for the outlets, malls and flea markets and pay no sales tax – a savings of 6 percent – during Florida’s tax-free weekend, August 12-14. The special shopping weekend applies to clothing, bags and footwear under $75 per item and school supplies under $15 per item. For more information visit the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.sunny.org/taxfree.

By David Volz…

The Pompano Beach City Commission completed its budget hearings on Thursday, July 21.  The proposed millage rate is 5.2027 and the proposed budget is $212,818,466.

Apollo 11 made history 42 years ago yesterday, having ferried two U.S. astronauts from Earth to the moon . On July 20, 1969, U.S. astronauts Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin and Neil Armstrong were the first men to walk on the surface of the moon. And Armstrong uttered the historic words, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

It marked a significant achievement in the space race that had developed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union. The pair had been locked in a decade-long push to put a man on the moon.

Aldrin and Armstrong’s moon walk was witnessed by more than a billion people worldwide, watching on television or listening to the radio, according to the Washington Post. Apollo 11 began its journey to the moon July 16, 1969. According to Time magazine, the Eagle Lunar Module landed on the moon on the afternoon of July 20, four days later. That night, a little before 11 p.m. Eastern time, Armstrong first set foot on lunar soil. The astronauts’ walk lasted a little more than two hours. During that time, they received a call from President Richard M. Nixon directly from the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C.

The space shuttle Atlantis’s landed in Florida today and ends the last of 135 missions over 30 years that delivered the Hubble telescope into orbit and helped build the International Space Station.

The four astronauts, led by Commander Chris Ferguson touched down at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 5:56 a.m. after a 13-day mission.

    By Declan Murphy

Returning from Iraq, Master Sgt. Robert San Filippo presents flag to new American Legion Post 162 Commander Eddie Cruz on July 16

On Saturday, July 16, former Marine Eddie Cruz was installed as the new Post Commander for the American Legion Post 162 in Deerfield Beach. Cruz served with the Marine Corps from 1969-1973, including “one year in the Republic of South Vietnam.” Cruz also said that he served in “the Air Force Reserve during the first Gulf War.”  Upon being installed as new Commander for Post 162, Cruz was presented with a flag by Master Sgt. Robert San Filippo, who just recently returned from serving in Iraq with a U.S. Air Force airlift squadron. The flag he presented Cruz flew on combat missions during Operations New Dawn and Enduring Freedom in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain and other countries. Filippo said, “I served proudly and am glad to come back home to my adopted father, (fellow Legionnaire) Jack Murphy.”

July 19–This pup is on borrowed time, he is at Coral Springs Humane Unit, they are giving him a short period of time before he goes to animal control. Dogs Rule is full, but we will do anything we can to help. He is not even two years, well behaved and very sweet.  Call Dogs Rule Rescue at 954-263-5934.

ObserverTV is broadcasting LIVE from City Hall tonight 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tune-in for LIVE updates on election results and a LIVE interview with the winner at 7:30 p.m.

Jim “Chiefy” Mathie is a locally-known lobster slayer for more than 25 years and author of “Catching the Bug, The Comprehensive Guide to Catching the Florida Spiny Lobster.” Chiefy has been written about in the Sun-Sentinel newspaper and featured on the Paul and Young Ron Morning Radio Show for his expertise in lobster hunting.  Jim was given his Chiefy nickname by his dive buddies while spear fishing off South Florida in 2004 after he encountered and survived a shark frenzy witnessed by his friends. Later that evening, for entertainment, they watched “Jaws.” During the movie, boat captain Robert Shaw, who later gets eaten by the Great White, nicknames Police Chief Roy Scheider Chiefy. It is Chiefy who ends up killing the shark. At the time, Jim was a fire chief, so a new Chiefy legend began. Retiring after 30 years of service, his newly-acquired 29-foot SeaVee was documented with the Chiefy name.  All Chiefy crew members were given hats and additional attire. CHIEFY, LLC was formed and a complete line of CHIEFY apparel, equipment and publications are now available to the dive and marine industry. The web site chiefy.net was established to showcase numerous Chiefy adventures, keepingthe legend alive!

The upcoming lobster mini-season is Wednesday and Thursday of next week (July 27^th & 28^th) and my book explains how to catch spiny lobster. Catching the BUG is available at most local dive stores and retails for $19.95. It is my first attempt at writing and publishing with over 100 color pictures, 84 pages, 18 Chapters and 3 main sections (Find, Catch & Eat the Lobster). It’s also available at www.amazon.com and thru my web site www.chiefy.net.

Potter fans interviewed by host Rachel Galvin of Observer TV at Paragon Theater. Photo by Paul Kepinski

Midnight Muggle Madness

On Thursday, July 14, fans lined up at Paragon Theater in Deerfield to see the last installment from the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” Some dressed up like characters from the film to be part of the Harry Potter experience. The series of films began in 2001, based on the books by J.K. Rowling. Since then, every book launch and movie release has caused a buzz. Now that it is over, most fans are saddened, but looked forward to seeing the final film and getting closure. See video under Observer TV.

Congressman Allen West (FL-22) announces today he will be holding two tele-town hall meetings in July via telephone conference call. Congressman West intends to have two town hall meetings a month-one in Broward County and another in Palm Beach County. However, this month, a decision by House Leadership to stay in session during the District Work Week to focus on debt ceiling negotiations, means the in- person town halls will not be possible.

The tele-town hall format has become increasingly common among Members of Congress and will allow Congressman West to reach out to thousands of constituents at once. During the tele-town hall, constituents will dial in, and be given the choice to ask a question directly to Congressman West; or”simply listen in to the town hall meeting.

“While I would prefer to be in my district as I have done for the last six months and conduct my town halls in person, the constituents of District 22 sent me to the House of Representatives to address the important issues facing our nation, which requires me to be in Washington, D.C.,” West said. “I am glad there have been advances in technology, allowing me to reach my constituents from a distance. As always, during these calls, all subjects will be open for discussion, from Medicare to the debt ceiling.”

July Tele-Town halls are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, July 14th, 7 p.m. est

Wednesday, July 27, 7 p.m. est

(877) 229-8493  –  Passcode: 17808#