By Rachel Galvin

Those driving past the marquee displayed on Hillsboro Boulevard and Powerline may have noticed a change. The long-time Sunrise Theater moniker has been replaced by Paragon Deerfield 8.

Paragon, founded by the former executive management team of Muvico, plans to expand upon amenities already in place. Sure to become a destination for area movie-goers, this theater offers a first-class experience. Besides adding VIP seats to every theater, they will upgrade the sound system to Sony 4K high definition, bring in sofas and TVs into the lobby and add outdoor seating. Patrons can snack on upscale items like a flatbread or cheese plate (or standard cinema fare) and eat inside the theater with beer or wine from the bar. Soon leather VIP seats will be available to be reserved in advance to avoid waiting in line. Community-oriented Paragon plans to offer loyalty programs as well.

There will be daily specials: Tuesday, Senior day ($5 all day); Wednesday, kids day ($5 all day); Thursday, Ladies Night (½ price beverages). Monday through Thursday – $5 matinees (first show), free popcorn for seniors with beverage purchase.

Paragon 8, 3984 W. Hills-boro Blvd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, will be open during renovations. 954-571-2445. www.paragontheaters.com.

By Rachel Galvin

May 17 marked the annual luncheon at Deerfield Beach Rotary Club when deserving students from Zion Lutheran, Highlands Christian Academy and Deerfield Beach High School received scholarships from the organization. One by one the students came up in front of the group and received a check for $1,000.

These future leaders want to contribute to the community in a variety of ways. Their career of choice runs the gamut from attorney to journalist, physiologist and kinesiologist to cardiologist, sports manager to psychologist and even teacher.

But students were not the only ones honored.

DART, a longtime sponsor, was honored, represented by Retired VP of Sales and Marketing Al Nigro and Charitable Committee members Marlyn Spencer and Mabel Urena.

Pictured: (Zion) Allison Newcombe, David Gagne, Patrick Byndloss and Jasmine LaBrousse; (DBHS) Hellen Ospina, Jesse Morgan, Joseph Angello, Victor Araujo and Alexis Chetkin; (HCA) Danielle Stromquist, Alexi Rivera and Stephen Kies. (Front Left) Commissioner Joe Miller and Rotary President Bill Stradling (Back Right).

The Pompano Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is pleased to announce the Grand Opening celebration of the Pompano Beach CRA Business Resource Center located at 50 NE 1st Street, on Tuesday, May 31st from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m.

In 2010, through the dynamic economic development vision of the Pompano Beach CRA, the Pompano Beach CRA Business Resource Center was born. This 2,234 square foot facility located in Old Pompano has been newly renovated to house the Microenterprise Business Loan Fund Program, along with the Business Incubator and the Job Placement Center, the latest programs supported by the CRA. International Enterprise Development, Inc. (IED) has been contracted to create, develop, administer and operate these additional programs as well.

The Microenterprise Business Loan Fund Program offers training workshops, one-to-one technical assistance, business support, loan application, loan approval process, loan disbursements and collections and on-going business monitoring. This program has been successfully operating since 2006 and over $500,000 in micro loans have been approved and disbursed in the community. The Business Incubator
provides an opportunity for the next step of growth for micro and small businesses, offering seven private offices with business services, such as marketing, bookkeeping, business coaching and office space for client meetings as well as use of office equipment at a very reasonable rate.

Micro/small businesses can also have the opportunity to take advantage of this new facility, in a virtual way. Training will be offered to incubator businesses and on-site staff will be there to assist. The Job Placement Center will focus on providing links to the people of Pompano Beach to job opportunities through the creation of partnerships, training, education and individual support.

The Grand Opening event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony, hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. Plaques will be given to Florida Shores Bank for its generous support of the Center and to Mr. Stephen Cohen of Regent Bank in appreciation for his years of leadership as the Chairman of the NW Pompano Beach CRA Microenterprise Business Loan Fund Loan Committee. A plaque will also be hung in the center to recognize the Pompano Beach CRA Board, the NW Advisory Committee, Florida Shores Bank, Regent Bank, Comerica Bank, SunTrust Bank, Bank Atlantic, PNC Bank and Metro Broward Economic Development Corp. for all of their dedication and support to economic development in Pompano Beach.

For more information, call 954-786-7867.

From David Volz

Pompano Beach city commission passed a resolution to authorize the proper city officials to execute a summer youth employment agreement between the City of Pompano Beach and WorkForce One Employment Solutions at the May 10 commission meeting.

This program will allow the city to participate in a grant funded by WorkForce One and Broward County Children’s Services Council to provide summer employment for low and moderate income youth, ages 13 to 18, from June 1, 2011 to August 30, 2011.

There is no financial contribution required by the City of Pompano Beach. The city is committed to provide work site, supervision, verify hours worked and abide by applicable federal and state laws, according to Human Resources Director Michael Smith.

Photo reported at the Incident Information System Website: http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2212/. This site is a gathering point for information for all fire-related and other incidents by multiple statewide agencies.

Most of Broward County, including the Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point areas, awoke to a smoke-filled environment Tuesday morning, Continue Reading

The program will be presided over by Commissioner Joe Miller, along with local spiritual leaders. The ceremony will take place at the northwest corner of the Deerfield Beach City Hall campus on May 5 from noon to 1 p.m. at 150 NE 2nd Avenue, Deerfield Beach.

The National Day of Prayer was established by the United States Congress in 1952, with the intention that it would be a day when members of all faiths could pray together in their own way. The public is invited to attend the observance. Refreshments will be served.

–By Rachel Galvin–The district 22 winners for the Congressional Art contest were announced April 30 at Sugar Sand Park by Congressman Allen West. Students submitted their works of various media in hopes of winning a 4-year scholarship to Savannah College to study art, 2 round trip airline tickets to Washington D.C. and a chance to have their work displayed in the corridor that runs from Congress to the Capitol. The ultimate winner will be announced in D.C. and the winning artwork will be displayed in the capitol for one year.

The winner, Steven Taylor of Lake Worth Christian, created a work commemorating his great, great, great, great grandfather’s invention of a 7-man motorcycle. Unfortunately, he passed away before the creation could go into production. But his idea was drawn out in charcoal at the hand of his ancestor. Taylor isn’t sure yet if he will attend Savannah College, but is very excited about winning.

Second place winner was Eleanor Schlechter from Benjamin School, but she was absent this day. Third place was a tie — Jalin Rinderman from Cardinal Gibbons and Christian Sendler from Benjamin School.

Pictured: Steven Taylor with Congressman West, Jalin Rinderman and Christian Sendler.

To see the video, go to ObserverTV.

On April 30, about 1300 people gathered across from Two Georges at The Cove to enjoy samplings from 40 chefs and wines around the world at the 1st Annual Wine & Food Festival. The event benefited many local nonprofits, including HANDY, United Cerebral Palsy, South Florida Symphony Orchestra, Deerfield Chamber of Commerce and others. It was put together through Deerfield Island Partnership, who brought in Robert Stanfield for his event planning expertise. He became a co-chair with Ocean’s 234 owner Danielle Williams.

Besides good eats and drinks, there was also a farmer’s market with herbs, flowers and plants, cigars, other vendors and live entertainment, including the Urban Gypsy Band. Also Stanfield and Williams led a parade of the Deerfield Marching Band, who marched in style, playing all the way, winding through the crowd of those who had gathered there. Mayor Peggy Noland spoke and asked the at-capacity crowd to call City Hall if they enjoyed the event to make sure the event happens again next year.

See video of event under ObserverTV.

Beginning this Saturday, April 30 at 6 AM, NE 2nd Avenue in, front of City Hall, will be closed to vehicular traffic between NE 1st and NE 2nd Streets, due to work on the clock tower. The road will be closed for one week, reopening on Saturday, May 7 at 6 PM. Questions can be directed to the city’s Facilities Maintenance division at 954-480-4315.