By Rachel Galvin

Photos by “Cinema” Dave Montalbano

In one of the biggest public relations events in four years, Disney World Orlando invited press as far north as Toronto and as far west as California to walk beyond Cinderella’s castle walls into the new Fantasyland.

There, they found an Enchanted Forest and Storybook Circus.

The opening ceremony included animation legends Jodi Benson, Paige O’Hara, Jo Anne Worley, Ron Clements and John Musker, as well as actress Ginnifer Goodwin, known for playing Snow White on ABC’s Once Upon a Time, and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, who treated guests to some classic Disney songs.

The media who attended enjoyed VIP treatment and not only enjoyed the rides and attractions, but also saw fireworks and a fire breathing dragon!

The Observer’s own “Cinema” Dave Montalbano had a first-hand experience with this new and improved Disney magic.

Wondering what is within the new Fantasyland? In the Enchanted Forest, guests can listen to “tales as old as time” from Belle, have a sip of Le Fou’s Brew in Gaston’s Tavern and have dinner in Beast’s castle at Be Our Guest Restaurant. They can also visit with Ariel at Ariel’s Grotto or jump in a clamshell at Prince Eric’s Castle and take a dark ride beneath the sea in the Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid. These are just a few highlights.

The Storybook Circus is inspired by Dumbo. But features rides with other characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy. Fly with Dumbo, spiral in a stunt plane at The Barnstormer or get soaked at Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station. You can even go to Fantasyland Station to take a 20-minute scenic tour of the Magic Kingdom on an antique train, the Walt Disney World Railroad! These are just a few of the attractions. Look for Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Prince Charming and other familiar faces.

Splitsville Luxury Lanes also had a ribbon cutting in Downtown Disney (across from the House of Blues) and even Goofy attended. This twolevel venue, the largest of its kind, features 30 lanes and 50,000 sq. ft. of entertainment for families. It opens to the public Dec. 19.

And over at Epcot, the reimagined Test Track (presented by Chevrolet) celebrated its grand opening. Here, guests can drive their own custom concept vehicle through all the exhilarating twists and turns at as fast as 65 mph.

Walt Disney also announced some of its future plans, including Princess Fairytale Hall, scheduled to open in 2013, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. At only about three hours away, Disney World is a fun holiday option for the whole family to get out of town, but not go too far.

Make sure to check out the Osbourne Family Dancing Spectacle of Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, featuring an extensive choreographed holiday light display. The event ends Jan. 6.

And if you are feeling a bit wild, head to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, where they have improved their safari ride.

disneyworld.disney.go. com/parks

Boat parade took place Sunday night, Dec. 9.

Best in Show – Over 30 ft – SEXY

Most Unique Over 30 ft. – Noah’s Ark Under 30 ft. – Cruising Attitude Best in Sound Over 30 ft. – Bimini Twist Under 30 ft. – Captiva Best Entertainment Over 30 ft. – Rusty Hook Under 30 ft – Got Rum Best Club – Kokomo – HISC Best Commercial – Killer Green Best First Timers Tied between: Angela Nuran & Down the Hatch Most Effective Lighting Over 30 ft. – Knot On Call Under 30 ft. – Coconut Telegraph Best Private Boat Over 30 ft. – War Eagle Under 30 ft. – SeaTeaz Best Deerfield Beach Entry – Southern Breeze Best Lighthouse Point Entry – Reel Priority Pompano Beach Chamber Award Over 30 ft – Shake a Leg Miami Under 30 ft – Tuned Blue Spirit of the Parade Award – NO Name – Kiwanis Club of Pompano Beach TOP THREE POINT WINNERS – out of a possible 200

SEXY 183 pts.

Bimini Twist 178 pts.

Noah’s Ark 163 pts.

These are the winners of the Pompano Beach Yuletide Parade that took place last Friday night, Dec. 7.

Best Overall: Blanche Ely High School Band

Best Marching Unit: Diamonds and Pearls Dance Group

Best Band: Walker Elementary

Best Float: Oxygen Fitness

Best Youth Group Float: Piranhas

A Broward doctor is scheduled to be in court Friday accused of writing excessive pain pill prescriptions and failing to conduct proper medical examinations at what prosecutors called a “pill mill” in Deerfield Beach, court records show.

Federal prosecutors filed a lone conspiracy charge against Charles Neuringer, 73, of Coral Springs earlier this week.

Neuringer worked at the Coast to Coast Healthcare Management Clinic on the 300 block of Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach between January 2010 and Dec. 16, 2010, when federal agents raided the business and shut it down, according to court records.

Prosecutors said Neuringer wrote prescriptions for more than 1,000 pain and other pills for undercover agents. If convicted, he faces a maximum of five years in prison, fines of up to $250,000 and possible forfeiture of property including nearly $477,000 he was paid for working at the clinic, according to the criminal charge filed Wednesday.

Andrew Morris

By Rachel Galvin
On August 4, Deerfield residents and other country music lovers from all over flocked to the beach to do a little dancing in front of the stage while Country crooners sung their hearts out at the 1st annual Deerfield Beach Country Music Festival. Others browsed the vendor booths or bought some food while listening to the Country tunes. Performances were by Emily Brooke, Shane Duncan, Andrew Morris, David Ray Band and Tom Jackson Band. Event was presented by the City of Deerfield Beach Parks and Recreation Dept. Video coming soon on ObserverTV.

By Jim “Chiefy” Mathie

Imagine being able to dive off of a white, sandy beach and catch your own spiny lobster for dinner. Taking the plunge into the crystal blue Atlantic Ocean and diving down onto a pristine reef with abundant marine life sounds like some tropical paradise in some far-away destination — but it is right here and it’s almost right now.

Most Florida divers are gearing up for spiny lobster mini-season, being held this year on July 25 and 26. This annual event takes place the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday of July. Its purpose is to allow the recreational lobster hunter the opportunity to catch some “bugs” (the spiny lobster nickname) before the commercial start of the season which begins on August 6.

Some mini-season special events will take place this year at Lauderdale-By-The-Sea from July 24 until July 28 — including a Great Florida Bug Hunt contest, cooking demonstrations, and an underwater photography competition. My role in this event will be conducting a lobster hunting seminar on Tuesday, July 24 from 3 to 5 p.m., including a hands-on demonstration of how to catch the tasty tails.

You can find out more information by visiting www.bugfestbythesea.com

We are very fortunate to have the warm gulfstream waters so close to our shores. These tropical waters allow the reefs to prosper in close proximity to our beaches. Just a few hundred feet off the beach you will see formations of reef that serve as great hiding spots for the spiny lobster. The water depth at these locations is only 15 ft. Out a little further, there is another reef line, running north and south, in about 40 ft. of water. The third reef is in about 65 ft. of water, with the top of the reef dramatically rising to about 50 ft. All three of these reefs are at a distance of less than one mile off shore.

So the next time you see dive flags from the beach, realize those divers are probably on a reef. If it’s lobster season, they are probably trying to catch the bugs to bring home some dinner. Now that’s an appetizing ‘nautical view.’

By Rachel Galvin

Former Broward Teachers Union (BTU) president Pat Santeramo turned himself in to Broward County Jail Tuesday morning after being charged with one count of Racketeering and 19 other theft-related and campaignfraud charges.

The charges come after an investigation conducted by the Broward Sheriff’s Office and the Broward State Attorney’s Office. What prompted this closer look into Santeramo was discrepancies that arose after a financial audit was conducted by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) last summer.

President of AFT Randi Weingarten said, “The audit was done in response to a letter to me from a member of the BTU board. In the course of that audit, AFT staff became aware of certain irregularities indicating that BTU had made improper reimbursements to individuals for political contributions to candidates and/or party committees.” Following that discovery, the legal authorities were contacted. Under scrutiny, Santeramo resigned back in December and BTU staff asked for AFT to establish an administratorship over the union. BTU administrator John Tarka and his team worked with AFT to continue their look into the financials. Weingarten continued, “The allegations against him [Santeramo] go far beyond reimbursement of political contributions, and suggest a serious level of financial abuse.”

The Warrant to Arrest for Santeramo was signed Monday by Broward Circuit Court Judge Ilona Holmes. Besides the Racketeering charge, Santeramo was charged with six counts of Grand Theft; five counts of Campaign Contribution Violations; four counts of Money Laundering; three counts of Organized Scheme to Defraud and one count of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering.

“Santeramo, while using his unilateral control of the union’s business to include contracting, vendor approval, payment authorization and distribution of union assets, manipulated the union’s business, accounting and financial operations for his own benefit,” according to the Affidavit to Arrest.

According to information from the Broward State Attorney’s Office, between 2001 and January 2012, investigators found that Santeramo was able to divert approximately $165,500 in union funds to himself through an invoicekickback scheme with a construction company. In one of those 43 instances of racketeering, he had the company bill BTU $89,295 for repairing the BTU building elevators and the company gave $20,000 of the union’s payment back to Santeramo in cash.

Santeramo is also accused of making a series of illegal campaign contributions by having 25 individuals, including BTU members, make donations to a variety of candidates for which he then reimbursed them with BTU funds.

In addition, Santeramo improperly collected more than $121,848 by claiming false sick time and vacation time. Santeramo’s attorney is Benedict P. Kuehne, who, along with Santeramo, denies the charges and indicates larger political influences may be at play.

Kuehne said,” Unfortunately, in today’s troubling political times, the righteous cause of organized labor is under assault. His [Santeramo] battle against inaccurate law enforcement charges is just another effort to dismantle public and private unions throughout America.”

Santeramo added, “I call upon the legions of teachers, parents and students whose lives have improved during my time of BTU leadership to withhold judgment, as I now dedicate my attention to yet another battle. With your support and the ever-present sustenance of my family, I am confident I will prevail.”

Judge Holmes set bond for Santeramo at $480,000. According to Ron Ishoy of the Broward State Attorney’s Office, as of press time, “Santeramo remains in jail while they are trying to ascertain where the bond money comes from. If unable to prove it is from a legitimate source, it would go to a Nebbia (or bail source) hearing.”

He added that once Santeramo is formally charged, he would be set for a trial. The racketeering charge alone, listed along with one of the grand theft charges as a first-degree felony, could land Santeramo in prison for up to 30 years if he is convicted.

Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to an apartment fire at 9:40 a.m. Wednesday morning, May 30 at 2275 NE 9 St.  A neighbor reported smoke coming from the apartment. No one was home at the time of the fire. Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue evacuated the small apartment complex, extinguished the blaze and discovered the family pet parakeet “Limey” dead in the living room.

The apartment is a total loss. The Red Cross is assisting the mother and her two kids, ages 13 and 6, with temporary housing.

Pompano Beach Fire-Rescue is investigating the cause of the fire.

The Deerfield Beach CRA Meeting of Tuesday, May 8, 2012 has been cancelled.

It is being tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday, May 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m., City Hall.