By Rachel Galvin

Lines of food options and a bevy of spirit selections awaited those who attended JA World Uncorked! Jan. 23. The event takes over the JA World Huizenga Center on the Broward College campus yearly to benefit Junior Achievement of South Florida, which teaches students of all levels about business, economics and about issues they will face in the workforce in an interactive way. This year’s event featured models , live entertainment by the EDGE band, raffles and prizes. People could even commemorate the occasion at Stache’s photo booth.

The event was chaired by Circle of Wise Women members Lynne McGrath and Taylor McGrath with honorary chairs Bob & Susan Drinon and Renée Korbel Quinn. Breakthru Beverage Florida returned as presenting sponsor.

Seagull strolls Hillsboro Beach shoreline.

By Diane Emeott

The Town of Hillsboro Beach wants the City of Deerfield Beach to either remove all the “revetment groins” placed there some 50 years ago in the 1960s – or  — renourish their beach.

In fact, at the next Hillsboro commission meeting on Jan. 5, 2016, Hillsboro Beach is going to take a vote on authorizing a Chapter 164 action (from Florida Statutes), which Hillsboro Beach Town Manager Robert Kellogg, on Tuesday, called “an attempt to mediate a settlement to resolve issues with Deerfield Beach regarding the groin situation.”

Kellogg declined to comment on what the expected outcome of the meeting would be, other than to say, “I’m not sure what the [Town] commission will decide to do.” 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers defines “Groins” as the oldest and most common shore-connected beach stabilization structure. “Revetments” are described as a cover or facing of erosion-resistant material placed directly on an existing slope, embankment or dike to protect the area from waves and strong currents.

Other structural methods of coastal shore protection include: sea walls, bulkheads, dikes and levees, break waters, sills/perched beaches, jetties and piers.

PAST PARTNERSHIPS

Deerfield Beach has already partnered with Hillsboro Beach on several beach renourishment projects in 2015, 2011, 1998 and 1972, according to Deerfield Beach Director of Sustainable Management Chad Grecsek. (For general public access, the only way to get onto Hillsboro’s private beach is through Deerfield’s public beach.)

Deerfield Beach expended money for renourishment of its own beach in a project that was completed in March.  Deerfield contributed $700,000 toward completion of the project. The State of Florida contributed $700,000. And Hillsboro Beach paid another $700,000 for sand and hauling — plus $250,000 in engineering costs, to equal $950,000 of the total $2.1 million beach renourishment.

The City of Boca Raton did not participate in this project.

Hillsboro Beach also did a beach renourishment in Spring 2014, according to Kellogg.

Regarding reports of Hillsboro Beach stopping placement of sand at a certain point in 2015, Grecsek said, “I do believe the Town [of Hillsboro Beach] ceased placing sand on their beaches because they had accreted sand and additional sand would have them exceeding authorized permitted thresholds.”

According to a story that ran in the March 26, 2015 Observer newspaper, reporting on aMarch 20 Hillsboro Beach Special meeting on beach renourishment, Hillsboro Beach Vice Mayor Deb Tarrant said at the time, “We were handed a golden opportunity. Mother Nature did us a huge favor. She sent a large accretion of sand to the north end of town.”

With that large accretion, Tarrant noted, [Hillsboro] commission could save taxpayers money by being able to send less sand to that area of town.

On Dec. 11, when asked about the current sand situation along Hillsboro beach, Grecsek responded, “We are very much aware that the beach has sustained a significant amount of erosion due to sustained strong northeasterly winds over the last several weeks — which is typical for this time of year.”

DEERFIELD HIRES LAW FIRM

In light of Hillsboro Beach preparing to do a Chapter 164 (predicate to a lawsuit), Deerfield Beach City Attorney Andy Maurodis recommended to Deerfield Beach city commission on Dec. 7 that the city  retain the legal services of the firm Conrad Scherer.

Maurodis added that a number of months ago, Deerfield had received notice from Hillsboro Beach “giving us 60 days notice before enforcement of a permanent condition.”

William Scherer was hired by Gov. Rick Scott’s campaign in July 2014 in his bid for re-election; was lead counsel, representing the banks defrauded by Scott Rothstein, and recovered much of the money lost by investors in the million-dollar scheme; and was a leader in the legal effort of George W. Bush to resolve the dispute [with Al Gore] over who won the election in Florida in 2000.

Costs associated with the firm are: $300 to $550 per hour for all the partners assisting and $850 per hour for Mr. Scherer’s fees.

Maurodis offered an alternative; “We [also] have excellent attorneys, who can do it for less.”

“What is more important to us than our beach? Our beach is our most important asset!” said Mayor Jean Robb.

Deerfield Beach City Manager Burgess Hanson explained that the Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) “is not even sure our groins are impacting this, or they would see a much larger area of erosion. [Hillsboro Beach] has changed their consultant twice. They want not only our city, but the City of Boca Raton [to be involved] as well!”

“We do want to protect this. We need to take them on full force,” Hanson continued.

Maurodis added that The City of Deerfield Beach has attempted to negotiate with the Town of Hillsboro Beach – and still wants to do so.

“This is a shot to the groin. They have a novice elected official over there,” said Vice Mayor Bill Ganz, saying he hoped this would be as painful as possible for them.

“They overlook the fact that since they have a private beach, they are not entitled to the same dollars that we are,” Ganz added.

Deerfield Beach city commission unanimously approved the hire of Conrad Scherer firm – Maurodis’ add-on agenda item — following a separate discussion that same evening on increasing compensation for the City Manager.

View from Deerfield Beach.

HILLSBORO’S SIDE OF THE STORY

The Hillsboro Beach portion of the nourishment was begun in March of this year and completed in April, according to Hillsboro Beach Vice Mayor Deb Tarrant on Dec. 15.

The permit included approximately an equal number of linear feet in both Hillsboro Beach and Deerfield Beach.

Tarrant said that for whatever reason, the engineering costs associated with both the Hillsboro Beach coastline as well as the Deerfield Beach coastline were added to the Hillsboro Beach tab.

These engineering fees include pre-construction costs as well as post-monitoring fees, as required by DEP.  

Every project has regulations and conditions that must be met as per the permits and guidelines issued by DEP.  

The reason “post-monitoring” studies are required is to be sure that as the “placed” sand migrates (which it always does), it does not damage the “hard bottom” (living reef) in the process.  

There are very stringent rules in place for protecting the hard bottom. Too much loose sand is a dangerous thing for a living reef.  If the reef gets buried by the sand that was added to the system unnaturally through a nourishment, the reef will die.  

The mitigation for correcting this kind of damage is extremely expensive and often ineffective.  

This is one reason a nourishment permit is done for a specific amount of sand within a specific template with limits set on both the north and south ends, she explained.

“In January of this year, the sea water was lapping at the seawalls of condominiums in the north end of Hillsboro Beach, and residents were desperate for a nourishment.  

“In late February, a major accretion event took place.  (When Mother Nature brings sand to a beach, it’s called accretion.  When man brings sand to a beach, it’s a nourishment.)  

The beach that was none-existent in January was partially restored by Mother Nature in February.  

“As a result, the engineering consultants for Hillsboro Beach advised the Town that the original amount of sand scheduled for the nourishment within the permitted area would be too much and would very likely cause damage to the hard bottom as a result of ‘over filling’ the area.  

“Therefore, the Town acted quickly to reduce the amount of sand being brought in,” Tarrant explained the rationale for Hillsboro stopping placement of the sand during renourishment.

Asked how much money the Town of Hillsboro Beach was able to save, Tarrant said

$178,613.

By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

When I was a kid, what I hated to hear most from growns up were sentences that began with, “When I was a kid.” Such beginnings were sure to garner wide yawns, and something akin to, “Yeah yeah, yeah!” and an under-the-breathe, “So what?”

Nonetheless, I’m about to write nostalgically about one of the things I miss most about the time “when I was a kid.” Back in “the day,” believe it or not, we never knew who either political party would nominate for president and vice president until the actual convention. We would sit by the radio, and in latter days, actually watch the proceedings on our black and white TV screens. And the build up time prior to the conventions was only a few months – certainly not years.

Several big-wig politicos would take turns approaching the microphone in a tremendous arena filled with musical bands and balloons, and straw hats and signs, and people mostly wearing some kind of symbolic red, white and blue accessory or garment.

Traditionally, a male homeboy from the state of the nominee, in a sonorous voice, would “nominate” a presidential candidate, followed, by an expanded résume of qualifications – talk about yawns. Then came the “seconders” of the nominee, and more yawns. Often, there were several nominees —yawns to the max.

But the part that I most loved to hear and watch was the state by state roll call that took forever: “A-L-A-B-A-M-A” to ‘W-A-S-H-I-N-G-T-O-N.” The delegates from each state having voted the previous night “in caucus” for its own nominee, would have one “proud” representative announce the winner of that state, accompanied by another yawnie speech. Until it became obvious that one nominee had the majority of the votes, we would sit there in suspense not really knowing who the winner would be. And by “W-A-S-H-I-N-G-T-O-N,” of course, it was all anti-climactic. Also, it was getting late. But the entire procedure was repeated for the nomination of vice president, who was not – in those days – necessarily the selection of the presidential nominee.

Much of the old hoopla has been preserved, except for the suspense part. Delegates still go nuts at conventions and whoop it up with a bit too much booze and attention to other people’s spouses.

Now we are witnessing the most obscene expenditures on presidential campaigns in our entire history, with so much more spending to come. Families are still struggling to keep themselves together, and, next year, we will witness yet another twin obscenity when the two political parties will party hearty, performing acts of shameful theatrical redundancy ostensibly to nominate two (four!) who have already been nominated.

When I was a kid, some folks had to sell apples on the streets. When I was a kid, we had a war to lift us out of our economic gloom. But “having a war” doesn’t work any more, nor does having two or more wars.

But the one sure thing is – while families are starving we’ll still have a bunch of people making whoopee, while giddy, with hope for the future.

By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

October is leaves falling in the final iteration of their colorful brilliance. It is the promise of holidays to come, the stress of anticipated shopping and planning and enduring the bumps of reunited family. It is orange and black wherever you go, and witches and pumpkins, and candy. It is the home stretch to a waning year and the incubation of round-ups of the recent past.

And October is many-abirthday. It is the time of births conceived in the cold, cuddly anti-climactic month of January. It is the time, for karmic unknowable reasons, that people important in my life have slipped out of womb-protection – on the same 10th day – albeit separated by many years, arriving on a planet of incontrovertible strangeness.

My late sister blew onto earth just two weeks prior to the Great Wall Street Crash of October 1929; her granddaughter Rachel arrived 63 years later on that same 10th day as Bill Clinton was galloping toward a takeover of the electoral college. My longtime friend Renee H., as well as my “significant other,” both defy all actuarial tables and prove, on this upcoming Oct.10, that age is just a number, and that life can still be beautiful even as they will complete nine decades.

Maybe you can find some significant connection among the six U.S. presidents who were born in October: Jimmy Carter (Oct. 1), Rutherford B. Hayes (Oct. 4), Chester Arthur (Oct. 5), Dwight Eisenhower (Oct. 14), Teddy Roosevelt (Oct. 27) and John Adams (Oct. 30).

And one more interesting tidbit – only two first ladies were born in October: Eleanor Roosevelt (Oct. 11) and Hillary Clinton (Oct. 26)

Not many major national historical events took place in October as compared to other months of the year. As noted, there was the Great Wall Street Crash on Oct. 29, 1929. Investors and those in the general business community have been conditioned all these 86 years hence to become skittish around this time of year. We’ve seen some foreshadowing of that. NO predictions.

On the 4th of October in 1957, the historic Soviet satellite Sputnik 1 was launched. Where is our aerospace program now?

Ironically, on Oct. 22, 1968, Congress passed the Gun Control Act of 1968, banning mail order sales of rifles and shotguns, and prohibiting most felons, drug users and people found mentally incompetent from buying guns.

It was on Oct. 17, 1979 that the most excoriated of the president’s cabinet posts was established, the U.S. Department of Education.

On Oct. 9, 1986, the FOX broadcasting channel was founded, this being somewhat historical to a number of viewers.

On Oct. 17, 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake rocked San Francisco, and was it only three years ago that Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc in the northeast on Oct. 29.

A final memory — Hurricane Wilma, rampaging through our own local towns on Oct. 24 just 10 years ago, destroying trees, screens and the very foundations of so many homes and lives. Memories linger.

That’s October for you. Before you know it, we’ll be eating turkey. And by next year this time, we’ll be awaiting the inevitable “October Surprise,” some scandalous outrageous revelation meant to turn the polls upside down about one – or both? – presidential candidates just days before the election. Whatta country!

By Gary Curreri

When Melvin Randall first began coaching high school basketball some 23 years ago, he never thought he would be where he is today.

The 52-year-old Randall, the head coach at Blanche Ely High School, is just 18 wins short of 500 career victories and recently became the first boys basketball coach from Broward to win six state championships.

In defeating Kissimmee Osceola 72-60 in the state final in early March, Randall also became the second coach in Broward County history to finish the season as an undefeated state champion, as the Tigers finished the 2014-15 campaign at 28-0.

His efforts earned his selection as the National High School Coaches Association Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.

“This is pretty awesome to be acknowledged by the coaches across the country for the job I have been doing at Blanche Ely over the years,” said Randall, who earlier this year also was named the All-USA Boys Basketball Coach of the Year by USA Today. “It is a great honor and I’m very humbled by this award.”

Randall is the third coach from Broward County to be honored as National Coach of the Year. George Smith of St. Thomas Aquinas won it for football in 2008 and Rich Bielski of Archbishop McCarthy for baseball in 2011.

“It lets me know that what I am doing here at Blanche Ely is very noticeable,” Randall said. “It is a passion for me and I enjoy what I am doing. I am just putting in what I got out of it as far as coaching on the other side. I was once an athlete and putting all of the passion and skills in becoming that athlete I am now doing that as a coach.”

Randall said he has taken bits and pieces from his previous mentors and coaching colleagues, such as the late Butch Ingram, John Keister, Greg Samuel and Wade Edmonds.

He said other influences are former Cardinal Gibbons High School volleyball coach and Athletic Director Louise Crocco, and the late Dillard football coach Otis Gray. Randall takes being a role model very seriously.

“It is a great honor to be a role model,” Randall said. “I know that some of my colleagues say they are not role models, but you are whether you want it or not. You have to be able to point these student athletes in the right direction and let them know it is not really about me, it is about them. It is a great feeling.”

Randall has coached 23 years in Broward and has compiled a 482-141 career record. A graduate of South Plantation High, he went on to play in the NCAA tournament at Mercer University. He is hopeful of winning another state title this season despite graduating seven players, including four starters.

“Winning a state title is my plan every year,” Randall said. “I am always going to play with the cards that I am dealt and every year it gets harder and harder because of the expectations. We are going to be young and a little inexperienced, so we will have to grow up quick.”

Randall added, “I am just in awe what these kids have accomplished every year and I am glad to have been a part of it.”

Pop Tennis Clinic

If you are looking for an alternative to tennis, paddleball and badminton, you can check out a free clinic on Sept. 19 at Pompano Community Park, 100 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach.

Pop Tennis is a combination of the three sports and is played on a court 1/4 the size of a tennis court with a paddle and a deflated tennis ball. The demonstration and clinic is free to the public and will be held from 8 to 10 a.m.

“The Pop tennis court is smaller than a tennis court, the racquet or paddle is shorter than a tennis racquet, and the ball is less lively,” said organizer Mitchell Ball. “Additionally, the net is lower, and the players serve underhand – not overhand, as in tennis. All of these things make Pop Tennis easy to play.”

For more information, call Ball at 754-201-9047.

Free Flicks: The Great Budapest Hotel

Friday, August 28, 8 p.m.

The Great Lawn (Atlantic Blvd and Pompano Beach Blvd) Pompano Beach, FL 33062

The movie starts at dusk. It is rated R. You must be 17 or older, or with an accompanying adult over 21. For more information, visit www.pompanobeacharts.org.

Beach party

Friday, August 28, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

NE Focal Point Senior Center Multipurpose Room 227 NW 2 St. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

The Senior Center is transformed into a beach oasis complete with games, such as horseshoes, bowling, miniature golf, tabletop games, a hula hoop contest and a water balloon contest. Italian Ices and fresh fruit will be on-hand courtesy of Humana of Broward County. They will be raffling off a Staycation at Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort for a one night Oceanfront Room. Raffle tickets are $10 each or 6 for $50. For more information, call Tamara at 954-480-4447 or email tsutton@deerfield-beach.com.

Pirates & princess party

Friday, August 28, 10 a.m. to noon

Pirates Cove Playground 2000 W. Yamato Rd. Boca Raton 33431

Looking for something a bit different to do with the kids? Get ready to walk the plank, dig for treasure, play in water play area and more. For ages 2 to 5. $5 donation suggested. For information, call 561-367-7035.

Art in the Park

Saturday, August 29, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Sullivan Park 1601 E. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Hosted by The City of Deerfield Beach, Community Redevelopment Agency and the Sullivan Park Public Art Committee. Event is open to all K-12 students living in Deerfield Beach who would like to participate in the Sullivan Park Public Art student competition. Students will receive information about the Sullivan Park Public Art project and be able to create art for the competition. All art supplies will be provided by Jerry’s Artarama and lunch will be sponsored by Mississippi Sweets Barbecue and Tijuana Flats. For questions about the event, contact Ashlee Temple, CRA Administrative Coordinator at 954-480-4262.

Hike at Deerfield Island Park

Saturday, August 29, 9 to 11 a.m.

1720 Deerfield Island Park Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Participants will learn about the island’s history dating back to the days of rum runners and Al Capone, and each hiker will receive a set of Deerfield Island Species Identification Cards to take home. Tour includes boat shuttle transportation to and from the island park. For ages 8 and up. $20/person, or $10/person for two people registering together. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call 954-357-5100.

Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming Grand Opening

Saturday, August 29, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

2016 NE 36 St. Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Locally-owned and operated by Clarissa Brillembourg, this Lighthouse Point locale will offer full service grooming and a wide selection of pet foods, treats, toys and supplies. First 20 customers in line at the store will receive FREE Woof Gang Bakery Brand Treats for 1 year! Free samples, giveaways and rescue animals in store as well! For more information, visit www.WoofGangBakery.com.

Authors and Autographs

Sunday, August 30, 2 to 5 p.m.

Historic Butler House 380 E. Hillsboro Blvd. Deerfield Beach FL 33441

30 local published authors who will be autographing and selling their books. In addition, there will be a Used Book Sale and a concert by The Earl Trio, and ice cream treats. Entrance to the event is free, with optional purchases for food, gifts and other mementos. Parking is available at the Post Office, with limited parking adjacent to the Butler House.

By Dave Montalbano

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

As Americans brace themselves for the presidential election, there is no doubt that border security will become one of the hottest topics. Beyond the political name calling, there are individuals on both sides of the fence who want a better future for their children.

Unfortunately, there are societal predators that prey upon the innocent and make life miserable for people on both sides.

The documentary Cartel Land opens with a cartel of predatory tics cooking crystal meth in the forest looking like a family found picnicking at Pioneer Park.

Spoken in Spanish with English subtitles, the patriarch acknowledges the evil of his product, but notes that people pay the cartel millions of dollars for his meth. The master criminal states, “Only God can stop us.”

The film then splits focus between north and south of the border. In Arizona, we see Tim “Nailer” Foley, a vigilante who tracks down illegal immigrants. A former drug addict, he had a moment of clarity, sobered up and felt that roaming the hills of Altar Valley was the best way to redeem himself from the past. We witness his hiking adventures.

We see Dr. Jose Mireles organize his own crime watch organization – Grupo de Autodefensa on Feb. 24, 2013. Autodefensa inspires the local population to eliminate their drug-pushing neighbors and eradicate major gangs such as the Knights Templar.

As inspiring as Dr. Mireles is, the glory gives way to government intrusion and political corruption. Cartel Land takes on a tragic tone and one sees a defeatist culture that gives into country bullies.

Director Matthew Heineman provides clarity. Though the emphasis features Dr. Mireles’s tragedy, the audience sees drug dealers cooking meth, not unlike Walter White’s cook from Breaking Bad. These details provide human complexity that goes beyond simple political rhetoric.

Cartel Land is on limited screens, but go see it. It may provide much insight before you cast your vote in 2016.

RE: Termination, Town Clerk of Hillsboro Beach

Dear Editor:

In 2008, under the mayorship of Carmen McGarry, four Town Clerks were terminated and one Town Clerk resigned during a 10-month time-frame.

During her tenure, Ms. McGarry arranged for the water bill and trash removal bills for the elite Hillsboro Club to be absorbed by the taxpayers.

Former Mayor Dan Dodge was the club manager at that time, and the practice of Hillsboro Beach taxpayers footing the bill for the club continued up to Former Mayor Dodge’s abrupt resignation as Mayor and swift, unexplained departure as Manager of the Hillsboro Club.

We have also been blessed with private, multi-million dollar homeowners at the south end of town who have not paid their water bills in years.

Prior to Richard Maggiore being assigned the position as Mayor, he was the Commissioner in charge of finances. Invoices from the Town Planner that were run up by various condo boards, billed to the town by the Town Planner, paid by the town out of taxpayer dollars, and the town never recouped the money from those condos.

In 2015, once again residents have voted Ms. McGarry back on the commission, in spite of her track record.

The first item on the agenda of her first term back on the dais in April, and that of Mayor Richard Maggiore’s (her personal friend for years) was to fi re the Town Clerk.

The three Commissioners who voted to remove the Town Clerk were privy to the details of the termination prior to the Special Meeting, and two other Commissioners had no idea of the details.

In spite of incessant requests by residents, the Mayor refused to give details at that Special Meeting [late Friday afternoon, June 19].

The problem was not with Jean-Marie Mark the Town Clerk.

She should be applauded for having the fortitude to remain in that position after all of the threats, racial slurs, and abuse she endured when pointing out the malfeasance.

The problem in the town of Hillsboro Beach is with the individuals that residents are electing.

March 2016 is the next Town Election. A lot of damage can be done in 9 months. We cannot let this continue for another day. The residents of this town need to stand up and demand an explanation of the chronic misappropriation of our tax dollars since 2008, and demand the immediate resignation of these individuals.

Lee Craine

Hillsboro Beach

Tanabata

Thursday, July 2 to Thursday, July 9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens 4000 Morikami Park Rd. Delray Beach, FL 33446

Free with paid museum admission. Tanabata traces its origins to the legend of Altair and Vega, stars and lovers separated by the Milky Way, allowed to meet just once a year: on the seventh day of the seventh month. During this time of year in Japan, families decorate bamboo branches with wishes for the future. Mirroring that tradition, visitors can write their own special wishes and place them on the Tanabata bamboo in the museum lobby. Info.: 561-495-0233 or visit www.morikami.org.

Open discussion

Regarding same sex marriage and other Christian concerns

Sunday, July 5, 10 a.m. 1416 SE 2 Terr. Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Come and join in. 954-234-5199.

Zonta Festi-Fall seeks vendors

Zonta is holding their 3rd annual Festi-Fall at Emma Lou Olson Civic Center in Pompano Beach Sept. 26. They are currently seeking vendors. Join the arts and crafts vendors, jewelry artists, bakers and more. For more information or to be a vendor, call 561-392- 2223 or 561-482-8708. For more info. on Zonta, visit www.zontadeerfieldbeach.org. Look for more details on the event closer to the date.

July 4th events

Deerfield Beach

SE 1 St. & Ocean Way Deerfield Beach 33441

• Concert — noon to 9 p.m.

• Fireworks – 9:05 p.m.

Food and drinks available for purchase, vendors to browse, arts & crafts, JM Family Kids’ Zone & more. See Pg. 1 and 7 for details, including free shuttle and road closures. For more info, call 954-480-4429 or visit www.deerfield-beach.com.

Pompano Beach

Pompano Beach Fishing Pier 222 N. Pompano Beach Blvd. Pompano Beach FL 33062

• 6 p.m . — Music begins by DJ Holiday and Radio Station Magic 102.7

• 9 p.m. — Fireworks Blankets and lawn chairs are welcome. Personal fireworks, glass containers, alcohol and pets are prohibited.

Parking available at Atlantic Boulevard and A1A and on street. See Pg. 7 for details. For more information, call 954-786-4111 or visit www.pompanocheachfl.gov.

Boca Raton

Florida Atlantic University 777 Glades Rd. Boca Raton, FL 33431

• 4 p.m. – Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Company,” at FAU’s University Theatre.

• 6 p.m. – Games & family activities at Carnival Midway

• 6:30 p.m. – “Red, White & Blue Spectacular” by ZMC Entertainment

• 7:30 p.m. – Florida Wind Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Kyle Prescott, will present a patriotic, hand-clapping musical tribute

• 9 p.m. – Fireworks Tickets $15 for play; otherwise free. For more information on “Company” or FAU’s other summer productions, call 1-800-564-9539 or visit www.fauevents.com.

For more information on the fireworks or other festivities, call 561-393-7806, selection #2 or 561- 393-7827.

American Legion Post 227

141 20 St. Boca Raton, FL 33431

• Noon – Hamburgers, Hot dogs, etc. Neil Diamond Tribute.

Donation: $6. Info.: 561-395-1090.

By Rachel Galvin

After their first step of launching the sale of their engraved brick pavers on June 11, which will wind along from the front of the restaurant to the beach, Oceans234 held another event to unveil the rest of the plans for a million dollar renovation that will take place in August.

The renovations, by A.W. Rosse & Associates, will take place over 8 weeks. On June 23, Media was invited to see renderings of the new look and try samples of some of their new flavors. They will have a new logo and the interior and exterior will be completely revamped, including the bar area.

They are not adding to their square footage, said owner Danielle Rosse, but being more efficient in their use of space. The indoor will extend onto the patio, a perfect locale for private occasions, seating 40 people.

The fresh new look is accompanied by new flavors. For starters, you will be able to try fried calamari, chicken lettuce wraps, seared pork belly, crab cake or more. “Land and Sea” will offer plenty of entrée options from grilled bronzino, tuna or Mahi Mahi to filet mignon, skirt steak, free range chicken or even Lobster mac and cheese.

Rather grab a sandwich? You can try a burger or get more exotic with a dolphin sandwich or blackened snapper reuben. They will have plenty of salad selections, like Thai Chicken, Poached Pear or Shrimp and Crab salad, and many sushi options too.

There will be a “Renovation Unveiling” for the general public at a happy hour Friday, June 26 at 5 to 7 p.m. at the restaurant. There are plenty of events summer-long as well.

Brick pavers, which can be engraved with name or logo, benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County, Deerfield Chamber of Commerce and Broward Health Foundation’s KIDS Campaign. They are still for sale online or at the restaurant. Their goal is to raise $50,000 and they have already raised $18,000.

For more details on all of the above and upcoming events, visit www.oceans234. com.