State Representative Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed invites you to attend The Legislative Update Town Hall Meeting. Topics include: Florida Election Laws/Voter Registration, Medicaid Reform, Workforce One, Unemployment Compensation, Redistricting Process.Clarke-Reed represents residents in these cities: Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park, Tamarac, North Lauderdale and Wilton Manors.

Join her  Wednesday, July 20, 2011 from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm, at the E. Pat Larkins Community Center, 520 Martin Luther King Blvd. (Hammondville Road)
Pompano Beach, Florida 33060. For information please call her office, 954-786-4848 or the community center at 954-786-4585.

City of Deerfield Beach Community Appearance Board Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, July 13, has been canceled.  954-480-4206.

A child was injured this 4th of July in Hollywood after a cinder block used to stabilize the firework exploded and sent shrapnel into the child’s head. The Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire- Rescue responded and transported her with non-life-threatening injuries. While the incident is being investigated, there are more than 10,000 fireworks-related injuries reported each year, with over half of those occurring to children, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

“If you want to see fireworks, leave it to the professionals,” Broward Sheriff Al Lamberti said. “The last thing we want to see is a child burned by a sparkler or lose fingers from fireworks.”

According to BSO, there are no legal consumer fireworks in Florida. Only sparklers are legal for consumer use and can reach temperatures of 2,000 degrees – hot enough to melt gold and cause serious burns or permanent disfigurement.

A 7-year-old boy visiting Florida drowned in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Carrington Clarke, 7, had flown into Ft. Lauderdale from the Bahamas to visit family. He went with three adults and eight children to the beach Monday afternoon. Around 3:27 p.m., four of the children — ages 7, 11, 13 and 14 – attempted to swim to a sand bar about 50 yards from shore. An 11-year-old girl made it, but when she turned around, she noticed the other three struggling in the water about halfway between the shoreline and the sand bar. Adults jumped in to rescue the children, but 7-year-old Carrington slipped underwater and the adults lost sight of him. About 10-15 minutes later, the BSO helicopter located him about 100 yards south of where he was last seen. A Lauderdale-by-the-Sea volunteer firefighter on a wave runner and lifeguards pulled him from the water.

American Medical Response (AMR) workers performed CPR and transported Carrington to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:28 p.m. Coincidentally, around the time of the incident, the city had planned a rescue demonstration that was to include a simulated drowning, so residents could witness how an ocean rescue might happen. Because of the demonstration, lifeguards, volunteer firefighters and AMR workers were already on scene. The Broward County Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death.

By Rachel Galvin

Alfred Baureley

Local cyclist Alfred Baurley knows the importance of hard work. This 17-year-old high schooler from North Broward Prep moved from a novice Category 5 cyclist to a Category 3 status within eight weeks, allowing him to qualify for the USA Cycling Elite, U23 and Juniors Road National Championship, which was held June 22-26 in Augusta, GA.

Although this transformation seemed incredible, the seeds of the determination something like this would take were already set, evidenced by his cycling from Key West to Deerfield in one day last fall (Observer, Sept. 9, 2010). But still, the speed with which he so drastically improved was amazing due to the fact that it usually takes cyclists 2-3 years to make that sort of jump.

Baurely, a member of the Cool Beans Racing Team of Ft. Lauderdale, said, “My team has motivated me to become a better cyclist.”

“Alfred has exceeded all expectations in terms of progressing through the categories as a Junior cyclist,” said David Guttenplan, of Boca Raton, who has been coaching the teen since March. “This is unprecedented and speaks volumes about his potential as a cyclist. It is now a matter of keeping going forward to let his potential shine through.”

Baurley, also affiliated with the professional cycling promoter Z-Motion, has competed throughout Florida. He had a win in a 36-mile race in Homestead followed by other top finishes. Alfred currently ranks at the top of the chart within the Junior category in overall standing in the Bill Bone Pro Am Series.’ With his determination and skill, he has made a name for himself in our state in cycling. So nationals seemed a worthy challenge.

His hard work paid off and at the end of June, he went to Georgia to try his hardest in the national competition.  There, he competed successfully in the 30k individual time trial and earned a strong finish in the hard-fought 50k Downtown Augusta Criterium Race. Then, it was on to the real test, a 2 ½ hour 96k road race on hilly terrain. Held at Fort Gordon, a military reservation originally activated for infantry and armor training during World War II, the competition was steep.

The terrain and climate proved perhaps the most
worthy of opponents. Many dropped out, unable to handle the searing heat. Other cyclists crashed. In the end, out of 147 riders, only 85 crossed the finish line. For Baurley, it was the bicycle itself that gave him trouble. His front wheel hub broke loose in a 45 mph downhill chase. According to his mother, Carina Baurley, an on-site mechanic said the odds of that wheel staying attached were basically non-existent.

“I almost fainted when Alfred lifted the handle bar and fork right off the wheel, after the race,” she said, adding, “We gratefully accept that miracle over the national title!”

Baurley, undeterred, is already planning for the next race.

On Monday July 4th, Deerfield Beach celebrated Independence Day with a fantastic display set up by Zambelli Fireworks.  ObserverTV was granted exclusive access to the firing area that Zambelli Fireworks set up at the end of  the International Fishing Pier. Also, ObserverTV interviewed people and asked them what “independence” means to them.  See what people had to say by clicking on ObserverTV to view.

Once again a man was killed and another rescued during a fishing trip Thursday afternoon when an 18-foot Bayliner capsized about a mile off the Hillsboro Inlet.

Fishermen in another vessel rescued one of the men, and Broward Sheriff Fire-Rescue brought the other ashore, where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

This is the second case of a boat capsizing that involved a fatality off the Hillsboro Inlet in the last few weeks.

On June 20, a 15-foot Cobia open fishing boat began taking on water around 10 p.m. and quickly sank. Kenneth Williams Sr., 36, of Deerfield Beach, drowned.

The two men aboard the Bayliner were caught in a thunderstorm that kicked up quickly offshore Thursday, bringing high winds and rain, said Rick Macher of Fort Lauderdale, one of five fishermen aboard the Dig It who plucked the man from the sunken boat.

As the men aboard the Dig It pulled in their lines to return to Hillsboro Inlet, they noticed the Bayliner flipped over with one man clinging to the bow, said another fisherman on the boat.

The Dig It circled the sunken boat, and the fishermen threw the man a life preserver. As they pulled him aboard, the man indicated that he had a friend on the Bayliner.

“We said, ‘Where’s your friend?’ and he said, ‘I don’t know, he went down,’ ” Escamilla said. “We found the friend and pulled him in and did CPR.”

Coast Guard crew members boarded the Dig It and also tried to resuscitate the second man, but when he was taken ashore, he was pronounced dead.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating the fatality, but it appears to be an accidental drowning, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Jim Leljedal. He said the Sheriff’s Office would not release the identities of the two men aboard the Bayliner Thursday night.

The rescued man said the Bayliner’s anchor was to small.

By Andrea Freygang

Playfully Panache owner Stacey Pesaturo with her daughter, McKayla, 17 months. Her 4-month-old was sleeping behind her.

Finding quality affordable kids items just got a little bit easier with the recent opening of Playfully Panache, a children’s consignment boutique.

Located inside Trail Plaza on W. Hillsboro Boulevard, the brightly lit shop is owned by a former teacher who began her own shop to stay at home with her kids.

“I was a teacher and went on leave with my pregnancy, but being out of work was hard with kids, so I decided to open a shop,” said Stacey Pesaturo, owner. “I just really wanted to be with my kids.”

When deciding what type of business to own, she said that she discovered that baby clothes and items were really expensive and decided to open a consignment shop to give people an affordable but quality option.

“Our biggest challenge was being so pregnant and finishing up the store,” she said. “And obviously juggling all that and two kids.”

Inside the store, Pesaturo has everything from Carter’s to True Religion and Rock-A-Bye bassinets to Bellini.

“We offer all brands and everything from $3 to $50,” said Pesaturo. “We have preemie up to size 8 currently available, but will accept anything up to size 12.”

One thing the new owner and mom is excited about is collecting uniforms to donate to needy children.

“There are so many kids in need …  At schools, the families don’t have the money for uniforms, and I want to gather and donate,” she said. “There’s so many people out of work, so if you bring them here, we will donate them and give back to the community.”

She also tries to give back to what she calls “local heroes.” Firemen, policemen, teachers, nurses and the military get an additional 10 percent off in the store with the proper identification.

Six days a week, you’ll find Stacey in the store minding both her kids and the sales.

“It’s a challenge, but I love it,” she says.

Playfully Panache is located at 1867 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Deerfield Beach. Open Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.  to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. (Closed on Monday). 954-426-6060.

This pup was tossed out of a car.  He is at Coral Springs Humane Unit.  His time is up and his next stop is Animal Control. If you or anyone one you know can help please let us know. Contact us at 954-263-5934 or www.dogsrulerescue.org.

Tuesday, June 28, 6:30 p.m.
City Commission Chambers
100 West Atlantic Blvd.

The Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board will hold a special meeting to consider the acquisition of property located at 370 N. Flagler Avenue (SE corner of N. Flagler Ave. and NE 4 St. Call 954-786-5535.