Local airman completes basic training

Dear Editor:

Air Force Reserve Airman Jose A. Santiago has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, TX.

He is a 2011 graduate of Olympic Heights Community School in Boca Raton. Santiago is the son of Ana Melendez-Pinto of Liberty Court, Boca Raton and grandson of Nora Vega of NE 48 Street, Pompano Beach.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Joint Hometown News Service

Ft. Meade, MD

“Thank You” Deerfield residents

Dear Editor:

The 33rd Annual Festival of the Arts was held on the beach on Jan. 26 and 27.

The city of Deerfield Beach Cultural Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank all residents of Deerfield Beach and the surrounding areas whose attendance and participation at the Festival helped to make it an absolutely outstanding success.

It is important for you to realize that all monies raised by the Cultural Committee, an all-volunteer committee, are filtered back into the community to produce cultural events or scholarships. Your support of our events is greatly appreciated. Your support of our events, in full circle, benefits the whole community.

We would also like to thank the BSO COPs, the BSO PAL kids, the BSO Explorer Honor Guard, the DFB Kiwanis Key Club students, DFB Kiwanis members, Ms. Precious Baker, the sand sculpture artist, Jon May of Living Sands, all of our sponsors and restaurants who contributed so generously. And a special “thank you” to all the volunteers.

Each of these components is vitally necessary to produce a successful hometown event.

Our next event is the Second Annual Story Telling Festival to be held on March 9 at the Arboretum at Constitution Park in Deerfield Beach. Festival of the Arts event posters, T-shirts and carry bags remain available. Call City of Deerfield Beach Parks and Recreation at 954-480-4429 for event information or sale items. Thank you for your support. Wait until you see what we have planned for next year!

Cultural Committee

Deerfield Beach, FL

P.S. Speaking of people without whom the Festival of the Arts couldn’t happen, the Cultural Committee offers a heartfelt thanks to Citizens on Patrol (COPs). Deerfield Beach citizens comprise this organization which volunteers their time and efforts to assist BSO with crime prevention by patrolling our neighborhoods and providing traffic control at special events. We don’t do an event without calling upon them.

They were with us at the 2013 FOA from 9 a.m. on Saturday through 5 p.m. on Sunday. They are volunteers who are giving their time to help Deerfield Beach. So, when you see them at various events, say “thank you.”

No more ballot boxes

Dear Editor:

The Robb Campaign committee has decided to eliminate the use of lockboxes for the March 12 municipal election.

This action is being taken in order to comply with the wishes of the Supervisor of Elections.

Our sources tell us that the opposition had plans to challenge any of the ballots that were placed in the ballot boxes.

In order to prevent any of our voters from being disenfranchised, as they were with the 10 percent utility tax, we are asking our supporters who have requested absentee ballots to place the proper postage on the envelope and send the signed and sealed ballot to the Supervisor of Elections’ office so that their votes can be counted.

Jean Robb

Deerfield Beach, FL

RE: Beach parking stickers

Dear Editor:

I am a longtime resident of Deerfield Beach who has always purchased a beach parking decal each year.

On Wednesday, Jan. 2, I parked in the Main Beach Parking Lot at the beach and did my walk as I usually do.

Upon my return, I was surprised to see that I was issued a parking ticket for an expired parking decal. It expired on Dec. 31, 2012.

That was my mistake, but that’s not my complaint. My complaint is that the city allows people with a handicapped decal to park free for 4 hours in our parking lots along the beach.

These handicapped decals are issued on the basis of one’s health, not their income.

This policy must be changed, as we are losing a lot of revenue due to this free parking. Both Boca Raton and Pompano Beach charge people with handicapped decals to park in their cities.

John Daniels

Deerfield Beach

RE: Questions for our Mayor that need Answers

Dear Editor:

We would like to know why the person or entity who placed a paid advertisement in the Jan. 24 Observer newspaper did not divulge who they were before putting forth negative questions about our esteemed Mayor Peggy Noland and her role in various real estate transactions throughout the city (of which she has no control – i.e. zoning codes).

Whoever placed this ad, don’t you think, after all the negative advertising in the recent national election, it’s time to stand up, identify yourself (or selves), meet the courage of your convictions and tell us what your vision of Deerfield Beach’s future is — rather than continuing to dwell on negativity? Our local community and our leaders deserve better than this.

Residing in Deerfield Beach for over 25 years, we have seen more positive improvements, enhancements and, in general, a better quality of life for all of us living here since Mayor Noland has been in office. We will do everything we can to help effect her positive re-election this coming March.

If you have something to say, say something positive and don’t hide behind a paid political ad that you’re not willing to attach your name to.

Henry and Joan Gould

Deerfield Beach

Things must be good!

Dear Editor:

Things must be good in Deerfield Beach since we apparently just gave our commissioners and mayor a nice raise of about 10 percent.

[The mayor now makes $33,524 and commissioners now make $27,979.] All for a part-time job!

Things may not be so great for rank-and-file workers at Deerfield Beach, but with pay adjustments and reclassification of management, which resulted in nice salary increases, apparently the overall health of the city budget must be in great shape.

Maybe we should have raised the commission and mayor salaries even more if they have somehow taken Deerfield Beach to a level of economic prosperity not seen elsewhere in the country.

It’s starting to look like being a commissioner or mayor is now a full-time, full paying job when you add the benefits and pensions.

Great Job Mrs. Mayor and our honorable commissioners! Tell us how you did it, then tell the rank-and-file how it was done on their backs.

Ron Coddington

Deerfield Beach

Presidential nominees to Supreme Court

Dear Editor:

There was only one President who had not the opportunity to nominate a single justice to the Supreme Court. This was Andrew Johnson.

FDR , in his 5th year in office, had no appointments so he made a blunder by trying to pack the court. In the long run, FDR won, ended up appointing 8 justices to the court over the rest of his tenure and gained the objective — a liberalminded court for 7 decades or more.

President Obama appointed 2 women, after there had only been one woman in 200 years. He appointed the first Hispanic woman, after the fact that 50 percent of law school graduates are now women. One of the most important things a President can do is appoint a Supreme Court Judge who will be there for a lifetime, not just 4 years.

Many voters took that into consideration in the last election.

Marty Weisberg

Coral Springs

Arming teachers in schools?

Dear Editor:

Hooray for the John Birch Society and the National Rifle Association (NRA) for demanding that our school teachers be armed to protect our children by using their U.S. Constitutional gun rights and armed guards.

If the teachers had been routinely armed in the past decades, it’s obvious that the killings and the casualties would have been reduced by at least 90 percent.

However, our leaders and the police wouldn’t allow our teachers to be armed and by doing so they have directly violated our Constitution that they have sworn to uphold and facilitated the horrible death and destruction. They should be investigated and prosecuted for such acts against our children.

We should support the John Birch Society and the NRA in their efforts to arm our teachers and protect our children, and if the teachers bring their own guns, it will cost nothing.

Ed Nemecheck

Landers, CA

RE: Satellite dishes in CVE

Dear Editor:

I am astonished to read in the Reporter (Century village East publication) that the President of COOCVE went to the city in order to arrange inspections for satellite dishes on our buildings.

The statements given that these cause problems during the hurricane season and represent a hazard to residents could not be more incorrect. It is the air conditioners that flew away, causing damages to cars and not to people. Besides, I cannot picture anybody walking around during a hurricane. Satellite dishes for TV give both a better reception and a better choice of stations, and that explains why Direct TV is so successful in Florida, and believe me, those permanent residents do not remove their dishes in the summer and they do not ask or need a city permit to install their dishes. Why such harassment on snowbirds?

The dishes are installed by professionals licensed by the state of Florida and are very secure.

There is a dish on the COOCVE building for other reasons, but a dish is a dish, they do not remove it in the summer and did not ask for a permit to install it. The city has no regulations on dishes at this time, neither has the state for that matter.

Snowbirds from everywhere like to be aware of their local news, sports and events happening in their hometowns. People from New York, Quebec, Ontario or anywhere and people of all languages, have engaged in installing dishes to bring home away from home.

What would Century Village be without snowbirds? I believe we are a majority in CVE!

We pay more taxes than the average permanent resident due to the Homestead regulation. We have no problem with that. We consider that it is part of the cost of coming to Florida.

But when people start having unreasonable demands like an exception on dishes or depriving us of the right to have parking permits at the beach, that might be considered abusive.

While we are only temporarily living in this beautiful city, most snowbirds have more money to spend than average residents and we gladly do it here, encouraging restaurants, grocery stores, as well as clothing stores and the overall businesses. We even buy our insurance here and we certainly try to be example citizens.

Why such aggressive attitudes towards us?

Jean-Luc Belanger

Oakridge A

Deerfield Beach

Editor’s note: At the Nov. 27 Special city commission meeting, Deerfield Beach commission decided to do the evaluation themselves regarding potential operators for the pier restaurant. [A panel presented them with a final ranking on Nov. 27.]

On Nov. 29, the commission did their own final ranking based on their individual rankings.

1. Class Act Restaurant Group LLC

2. Burgerfi (Two Together LLC)

3. Brewzzi International Inc.

According to Purchasing Manager David Santucci, the commission voted unanimously to accept the ranking and authorized staff to negotiate a lease. The lease is currently being worked on by the city attorney. The matter will come before the commission again to approve the lease.

City Attorney Andy Maurodis said, “the ranking has been approved, nothing has been awarded. It states in the RFP [Request for Proposals] that the final lease must be approved by the city commission.”

Pier Restaurant

Dear Editor:

I was taken aback by typical Deerfield Politics being played.[Nov. 29 Special city commission meeting to re-rank pier operators.] No different than in the past! They may argue with this, but it’s a very self-serving group as many of us see it.

As a resident, I am disgusted with the commission, except Joe Miller on this particular vote, though it should not count. Joe actually stood his ground last night and went with whom the staff recommended. As the staff did not play politics. They were looking out for what was best for the city, but obviously the mayor and commission thought otherwise. It’s like a broken record, I have seen and heard this before.

However, all this said, no one, including our city attorney, who I believe knew this, went ahead and let the commission proceed with giving a lease to Class Act.

I am disgusted, as many others are.

John Grassi

Deerfield Beach

Hello Mr. Grassi:

I appreciate your interest in the selection process for the Pier Restaurant operator.

The process employed last night [Nov. 29] was strictly according to the law and City Charter.

I assume your concern is with the provision of the Charter requiring a 4/5 vote prior to the award of a lease for the Pier Restaurant (Section 7.09).

I am sure you are aware that last evening no lease was awarded.

What did occur was a ranking process.The ranking was then approved by all four commissioners present. The resolution provided for negotiations with the No. 1 ranked firm with the commission having the final say in approving a lease for the Pier Restaurant if staff felt that an acceptable lease had been negotiated.

The resolution also indicates that if the city does not negotiate an acceptable lease with the No. 1 ranked firm, the commission could authorize negotiations with the No. 2 ranked firm for eventual consideration by the commission.

When an actual lease is presented to the commission for award, it must be approved by a 4/5 vote – we are not at that stage yet.

The resolution, adopted [Nov. 29] by a vote of four commissioners, should make all this clear.

1. No lease was awarded and thus Section 7.09 of the Charter is not applicable.

2. The commission merely approved a ranking and authorized negotiations; as it happens it did so by a 4/5 vote (though this was not necessary).

3. When a final lease is awarded, it will require a vote of 4/5 of the commission.

Andrew Maurodis

City Attorney, Deerfield Beach

Election date issues

Dear Editor:

On the day of the most important Presidential Election of our time, Deerfield Beach commission scheduled an official city meeting. It is not as though they have not cancelled meetings throughout October, November and December. Why this meeting on this historical day?

Was it so they could pass a resolution indicating that the next Municipal Election would take place on Tuesday, March 12, 2013? At that time, the mayor’s seat held by Peggy Noland, the District 3 seat held by term-limited Marty Popelsky, and the District 4 seat held by Bill Ganz will be up for election.

Now they take the time to set the date for the election, but when it was suggested that the date be made to coincide with this Presidential Election on Nov. 6, it was not even put to a vote.

This lack of action cost the city $62,000 that would have been saved with the date change. Many of our neighboring cities took advantage of this saving opportunity, but NOT OUR GROUP.

When a great number of our residents are struggling to make ends meet, why bypass the opportunity to save $62,000? That savings would pay the salaries of two of the commissioners, add money to our youth programs, light up the dangerous intersection in District 2, or pay back some of the money taken from city employees.

Now that they have told you that [the Municipal Election] is on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, you can tell them how you feel. Let them hear your voices.

Steve Krevoy

Deerfield Beach

Pier history

Dear Editor:

The new, beautiful, family-friendly Deerfield Beach pier facility will soon have its grand opening. [Dec. 7, 6 p.m.] Let’s not forget that back in 2004, we nearly lost this public treasure to an individual who almost got a 54- year lease on the pier property and was going to build an 18,000 sq. ft. massive restaurant and banquet facility right at the pier entrance.

The members of the Deerfield Beach Original Save Our Beach (“OSOB”) committee found out about this and sprang into action to protect the pier. We fought a long hard battle to prevent this “taking” of our public property. We had the full support of the people of Deerfield Beach, who were adamantly against the idea of giving away our pier area. Due to our love of the beach and pier area, and our firm belief it needed to be preserved for future generations, we fought the battle and the residents won.

So, as the city and its residents celebrate the opening of the new pier facility, remember that if it had not been for the “OSOB” committee and our supporters, this beautiful, family- friendly pier facility would only be a dream. www.originalsaveourbeach.org.

Pam Militello

Deerfield Beach

We may not hear “God Bless America” quite so often now that Election Day is behind us, but we should hear it as we pray it every day!

These three words have become such a common tagline at the end of political speeches that I worry the meaning and import of “God Bless America” may sometimes be unintentionally diminished.

Most people of faith, hopefully including speechwriters and political orators who make frequent use of the phrase, believe God’s blessing upon our great nation is essential for survival, let alone peace and prosperity.

Most of us in the church believe we are shown God’s favor when we receive God’s gifts and resources in the first place. We obtain God’s blessing as the second gift when we do what God intended with what God provided! This sounds way too simple, I know!

We don’t expect God to bless wrongful use of God’s gifts and this, by the way, renders the election of wise leaders who will make right use of America’s abundant resources all the more important…

One reason I believe our nation has been so blessed is because our aims have so consistently been honorable. We are an imperfect nation but one, nonetheless, bound by principles of freedom and justice. We are liberators, not captors; freedom fighters, not tyrants.

And by God’s grace, the blessing of a nation avails itself to its people. This means if you have seen God’s favor and, if you have the gift of faith to discern and undertake God’s purpose for your life, then you have every reason to hope for God’s blessing.

But know this; both nation and people require God’s favor and God’s blessing to achieve God’s purpose. It is God who is the author of every good and virtuous thing. The Psalmist says, “Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD guards the city, the guard keeps watch in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives sleep to his beloved.” (Psalm 127:1-2)

The bread of anxious toil makes me think of my son, who is a veteran of the Iraq war. He and his comrades in the infantry consumed the bread of anxious toil in and around Baghdad. They went days without sleep. They guarded a foreign city and, thousands of miles from home, they prayed, “God Bless America.”

God Bless America is a prayer. We know God has already shown America great favor. Our prayer is that we, the people, and the leaders we elect make wise use of God’s gifts and resources for God’s purposes.

Sunday is Veteran’s Day and there are no people in the world more acutely aware of God’s favor, God’s blessings and God’s call on America than our veterans and their families.

Veterans and current members of our nation’s armed and diplomatic services have answered the call with love of God and country. We thank God for their service and sacrifice.

This Sunday, we will thank them. We will pray God Bless America. We will sing God Bless America and we will prayerfully give full meaning to phrase!

Join us this weekend Saturday @ Six or Sunday morning at 8:30 or 11:00. The Message is “God Bless America” based on Psalm 127.

Dennis Andrews Ed.D.

Reverend Andrews is Minister at Community Presbyterian Church of Deerfield Beach (Steeple on the Beach) located five blocks south of Hillsboro on AIA. See more @ www.communitych.org or on Facebook.

By Dave Montalbano

AdventuresOfCinemaDave.com

As we watched Hurricane Sandy, the 27th Ft. Lauderdale International Film Festival presented Giancarlo Esposito with his Career Achievement Award in Grand Bahama Island, after much improvisation. Due to Sandy’s wind and rain, outdoor festivities were moved indoors.

The celebrity focus moves locally this weekend. Oscarnominated for Baby Doll, actress Carroll Baker will attend a screening Sunday night at Cinema Paradiso of But Not For Me, costarring Clark Gable. After the screening, Carroll will be interviewed by Professor Hirsch and will talk about her work in such classics as Giant, How the West Was Won, Ironweed and Kindergarten Cop.

Carroll’s daughter Blanche Baker will likely be in attendance. An Emmy Award-winner for Best Supporting actress for the miniseries Holocaust, Blanche has an impressive resume within her own right. She wrote, directed and stars in the title role in Ruth Madoff Occupies Wall Street, a short subject that will be screened Saturday night at the Sunrise Civic Center.

Tonight at 9 p.m., Director Julia Dyer and actress Molly Parker will bring The Playground to Muvico Pompano. Costarring character actor John Hawkes, this film is a dark drama about suburban life among the beautiful people. If you miss the Pompano screening, The Playground will be playing at Cinema Paradiso and the Sunrise Civic Center on Friday and Saturday, respectfully. Some of the best of this year’s FLIFF films are documentaries featuring music. David Bromberg, Unsung Treasure is a delightful historical documentary. Falling under the spell of the Reverend Davis’s Blues influence, Bromberg thrives in this art form and jams with Dr. John in New Orleans. Bromberg’s dedication leads the young prodigy into musical magic with Phoebe Snow and George Harrison. When he dropped out of the spotlight, Bromberg’s creativity grew.

Blues also influences Joe Camilleri: Australia’s Maltese Falcon. Though Australian, the Joe Camilleri story is similar to that of the Blues Masters from New Orleans and Chicago. Music becomes redemption for a rowdy youth who could have chosen a life of crime.

On Election Day, Cinema Paradiso will screen Mr. Cao goes to Washington, a documentary about a successful Republican politician who won a congressional seat in New Orleans. Representative Cao is scheduled to attend and his story is fascinating.

By Emily Rosen

ERosen424@aol.com

www.emilyrosen424.com

Obfuscate = confuse, bewilder, stupefy, obscure. Don’t let that happen to you!

Five more days to Election Day.

Hopefully, you have already mailed your absentee ballot, having had much time to study it carefully, and to have sought out clarification on all the amendments. It has long been traditional for Florida Constitutional amendments to be written in such language as to force voters into cognitive gymnastics, in an attempt to figure out if YES really means what they intend it to mean, and to even know what they intend it to mean.

No matter how much people are urged to study ballots before they go into the booth, there will be many who will have looked at their ballots for the first time in that booth, and, in an attempt to answer all the questions, will, only then, begin to read the amendments. In case you haven’t seen one yet, it’s very long and wordy.

Absentee ballots give you the leisure to fill them out on your terms in the privacy and convenience of your own home. But if you’re like several of my friends, you experience a kind of prideful thrill at direct contact with the voting booth, so take advantage of early voting, which has already begun, and will continue until the end of the day on Saturday Nov. 3. It’s a great time to talk to your neighbors.

For all the voting information you may need, including places for early voting, (Broward) 954-357-7050 or www.browardsoe.org, or (Palm Beach ) 561-276-1226 or www. pbcelections.org.

A source of information regarding the meaning of the amendments is the Florida League of Women Voters hotline, 1-855-358-6837, www.bereadytovote.org; (Spanish) www.VamosA Votar.org, which has already received over 1,500 calls, most from voters frustrated by all 11 of them.

Some of those calls have taken as long as an hour, as a League representative has patiently answered questions and provided the requested information. Many people have called the League, apologizing for what they perceive as their own “stupidity” because the true intent of the amendment is obfuscated within a barrage of legalese.

Folks! You are NOT stupid if the amendments make little sense to you. They were designed that way. And alas, it is your responsibility to check them out before voting – and to seek advice from people you respect.

In a recent memo, Florida League President Diedre Macnab urged, “If you don’t understand the amendments, don’t skip them, reject them. Defeating incomprehensible, misnamed, intentionally confusing proposals will send a message to the legislators.”

If you’ve got something to say to legislators – this is one significant way to do that. Also, don’t minimize the effect of letters and phone calls. Your legislators care deeply about what you think, and most often, act accordingly.

Dull as it often it, politics affects lives. Get your ballot counted!

I didn’t want to write this column.

You see, there are two subjects I try to avoid because every time I write about them or talk about them, a conflict ensues. The first subject might surprise you since I am a member of the clergy, but I try not to discuss religion. The funny thing is, try as I might, it seems to be a necessity in my position.

But as much as religious discussions seem to cause arguments, there is another subject that seems to cause even more animosity. I am, of course, talking about politics. I am always a bit taken aback at how many people ask me for my opinion as to who they should vote for in an election.

Even some of my congregants have asked me to give my view on the upcoming presidential election from the pulpit. So let me make this perfectly clear, I hope and pray that each of you will vote for the candidate that I’m rooting for. But, if you opt to vote for the other candidate, I promise, I will not call you an idiot. If you do not vote for the candidate I support, I promise that I will not say that you just don’t get it.

So you might be wondering which candidate I’m supporting. Well, I hate to disappoint you, but I’m not going to tell you. I will not tell you who I’m voting for, and, I will not tell you who you should vote for. What I will tell you is to vote for the candidate, not of my choice, but of your choice.

I was at a political shindig recently and, during the break, I was talking with a few people and someone else came over and, for some reason, assumed that we all saw things as they did. They said, all those people that are planning to vote for that other candidate are such idiots and that they just don’t get it.

I was apparently one of the idiots she was talking about, so I smiled and said, “Thank you very much.” She looked at me incredulously and said, “Are you really supporting that jerk for president?” When I responded that I might be, she said, “You just don’t get it.”

What an ego, to think that you know so much of what goes on in the world of politics and in the world in general that if anyone else does not share your view you can so easily write them off as idiots who just don’t get it.

I remember one of my great mentors who shared a story from the Sages with me. As I recall the story ended with this moral, “Don’t think that you’re right and that the other person is wrong, you might both just be wrong.”

As the prayer book that we use at Temple Beth Israel says, “May G-d bless the duly elected leaders of this great country.” Notice it doesn’t say, “G-d bless the Democrats or G-d bless the Republicans.” It says, “G-d bless the duly elected leaders.”

Regardless of which candidate is elected president, may we unite in asking G-d’s blessings on our duly elected president, and of these United States of America, and may we remember that that is what we are supposed to be … UNITED … One Nation under G-d … Amen.

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Early Voting In Broward County- General Election

October 27 – November 3  2012, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily 

• North Regional Library

1100 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek

•  Supervisor of Elections Office inside  E.Pat Larkins in Pompano Beach

520 Martin Luther King Dr., Pompano Beach

• Pompano Beach City Hall

100 West Atlantic Blvd.  Pompano Beach

———————————–

In the sample ballot published in the October 25^th edition of “The Observer,” we inadvertently omitted our recommendation in the race between Ellyn Bogdanoff and Maria Sachs. We regret this omission and we strongly urge our readers to vote for the reelection of  Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff.