Chair Yoga classes

The Center for Active Aging

227 NW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Seeking to transform your health and decrease stress? Join one of Chair Yoga classes.

They have Sit N’ Fit Chair Yoga on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. They also have Chair Yoga for Young at Heart Seniors on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. For information please contact the Health Support Office at 954-480-4446.

“These Eyes: A Retrospective Exhibition”

Through May 26

Ali Cultural Arts Center

353 MLK Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

Multi-media artist Niki Lopez uses art as a catharsis to deal with past traumas in this recent exhibition. Niki, who is known for her “What’s Your Elephant?” series, grew up in a cult and suffered sexual abuse as a child. She hopes bringing issues such as her own traumas to the forefront will help others face their own challenges. This is one aspect of her exhibition. Free. For more information on Ali Arts, call 954-786-7876 or visit www.aliarts.org.

Erin Leigh, Solo Exhibition

Through May 26

Bailey Contemporary Arts (BaCA)

41 NE 1 St.

Pompano Beach, FL 33060

“A picture is worth a thousand words” describes well Erin Leigh’s use of oil pastels and acrylic paints to communicate the therapeutic process of gaining freedom from Human Trafficking. A self-taught artist, Erin began using oil pastels as a hands-on means of dealing with trauma. For more information, call 954-284-0141.

Lotos Music Festival

Sunday, May, 27, 4 p.m.

Mizner Park Amphitheater

Boca Raton, FL 33432

The 4th Annual LOTOS Music Festival, bringing Music Icons together for its biggest line up yet. Go and see Cypress Hill with Mixmaster Mike, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Everlast, Inner Circle, Slick Rick, The Pharcyde, 2 Live Crew, Rhymin’ -N- Stealin’ and The Original Beastie Boys Tribute Band. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.lotosmusicfest.com.

Relay For Life Committee Rally

Tuesday, May 29, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

50 Technology Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 3344

Want the opportunity to make a huge impact on your community? Take on a larger role with Relay for Life of NE Broward. Benefits the communities of Deerfield, Pompano, Hillsboro and Lighthouse point. For more information, call 954-420-0084.

Save the Date: Jazz in the Park

Saturday, June 2, 4 to 8 p.m.

Annie Adderly Gillis Park

601 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.

Pompano Beach, FL 33069

The event will feature live Jazz music from the Broward Sheriff’s Office Jazz Band as well as the Alice Day Band. In between musical acts will be plenty of laughs provided by spoken word performer Rebecca Vaughns. Local food vendors will also be on-hand providing food for purchase. This is a free event and open to the public. For more information, visit www.pompanobeachfl.gov or call 954-786-4111.

Dixie Divers Summer Scuba plus Camp

Dixie Divers

455 S. Federal Hwy.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

There are two options available for students 10 years to 17 years old: for the brand new divers, there is the “Open Water” program (which will be the first level certification) and for those who have already completed their Jr. Open Water/Open Water, there is the “Advanced Open Water” program (the 2nd level diving certification). Both are $599.

Open Water Program.

• Session 1: June 4 – 8.

• Session 2: June 18 – 22.

• Session 3: July 2- 6.

• Session 4: July 16 – 20. • Session 5: July 30 – Aug. 3.

Advanced Open Water Program.

• Session 1: June 11 – 15.

• Session 2: June 25 – 29.

• Session 3: July 9 – 13.

• Session 4: July 23 – 27. • Session 5: Aug. 6 – 10.

The camp hours are Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They will be supplying everything required for the camp with the exceptions of lunch and personal equipment (mask, snorkel, fins, weight belt and weights). For more information, call 954-420-0009.

Memorial day celebrations

Lighthouse Point

• Heroes Memorial Shrine

Saturday, May 26, 9 a.m.

Frank McDonough Park

3500 NE 27 Ave.

Lighthouse Point, FL 33064

Official dedication of memorial shrine first recognized during Keepers Day. Join them for a ceremony to honor not only our fallen heroes but all the men and women who continue to protect and serve.

Pompano Beach

• Memorial Day Parade

Monday, May 28, 11 a.m.

Begins at corner of SE 23 Avenue & Atlantic Boulevard and ends in service at Pompano Beach Cemetery (400 SE 23 Ave.) Activities include prayer service, rifle salute and youth groups. For information, call 954-873-6462.

Boca Raton

• Memorial Day Ceremony

Monday, May 28, 9 to 10 a.m.

Boca Raton Cemetery

449 SW 4 Ave.

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Featuring veteran groups, city officials, music by the Ft. Lauderdale Highlanders, drills by Boca Raton Community High School NJROTC, and the Boca Raton Police and Fire Honor Guard. For more information, call 561-367-7073.

• Memorial Day Concert

Monday, May 28, 6 to 9 p.m.

Mizner Park Amphitheater

590 Plaza Real

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Enjoy a concert in the park by The Helmsmen Band and The Shane Duncan Band, plus food trucks and a beer garden featuring local breweries. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Blankets and chairs are welcome at this free event; chairs will also be available to rent for $5 (free for veterans). No coolers or outside alcoholic beverages permitted. The event is rain or shine. For more information, please call 561-393-7807.

• Memorial Day Show

Monday, May 28, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Boca Resto Lounge

3360 N. Federal Hwy.

Boca Raton, FL 33431

Join them to honor and celebrate the American soldiers who have lost their lives. Performers will include Susan Ashley, Jamie Ellen and Gary Lawrence. One bottle of beer or one glass of wine free for veterans. Reservations are strongly suggested; call 561-430-5639.

By Rachel Galvin

Only lightning could stop little feet from rushing down the field on Saturday following a series of “fastest man” races. This was just one of the many activities kids participated in, which included agility drills, tube tug o’ war and more, for the Shoelace Foundation’s 3rd Annual Football & Fun Day at Deerfield Beach High School (DBHS). The kids only stopped activities when the storm began brewing overhead.

Run by former DBHS student and current wide receiver/ running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Denard “Shoelace” Robinson, this event brings kids together to not only have fun, but to learn the sport of football, as well receive inspirational messages from someone who understands where they have been and can motivate them to go as far as he has gone, and beyond.

“No matter where you come from you can always come home. It’s a blessing where I’m at now so I want to show them,” said Robinson.

“We did different drills than last year. We have to switch it up,” said Tevin Allen, who runs local camps of his own, which Robinson has attended, so he wanted to help him out with his as well. “The kids are training, but they are having fun at the same time. It is more exciting than regular camps.”

“We have had way more kids this year than last year, about 100 more. This year, we have had 340,” said Kurt Haralson, who also helped out at the event. “We had eight stations for the kids, 15 to 20 minutes each. Last night, we had basketball in the gym.”

(The 2nd annual Ball for a Cause charity basketball game brought in NBA players and other well known athletes to participate).

DBHS Head Coach Jevon Glenn was impressed with the people Robinson was able to get involved. He said he comes out yearly to be a part of Robinson’s event.

“You can see how highly regarded he is,” said Glenn. “I am honored and proud …to see Denard go from being a student to seeing the things he does for the community… Not many guys give back as much as he gives.”

Many DBHS players helped out at the event, including Rosendo Louis, a linebacker, who says he is No. 6 in the country right now.

“I helped kids with the drills. I love being here and working with the kids. I grew up in the same neighborhood as them. I think it is great giving back to the community,” he said.

Jakari Norwood, who is a DBHS running back, added, “It is a good experience. It’s my second year here. I like to be around Shoelace. Maybe, someday, I will come back and do the same thing.”

Whidlyne St. Simon brought out her two boys, age 7 and 11, to the event.

“I have come the past three years. It is awesome and amazing. I think it gives kids something to look forward to. For the older ones, it is inspirational … someone who comes from here coming back…”

After a day of sports in the hot sun on Saturday, kids came inside to eat lunch provided by the Shoelace Foundation. They also had breakfast provided by Kellogg’s. In addition, kids got to take home a T-shirt.

For more on the Shoelace Foundation, visit www.theshoelacefoundation.org.

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

Prometheus opened five years ago to good box office, but mixed reviews. One of the complaints about the film was that it was teased as an Alien film, but Ridley Scott chose to make a more cerebral science fiction motion picture. Released last weekend, Alien: Covenant is a direct sequel and is at least one or two prequels away from the original 1979 Alien motion picture that starred Sigourney Weaver.

Ironically, Alien: Covenant opens before the events of Prometheus. We see the android David (Michael Fassbender) discussing the meaning of life with his creator, Peter Weyland, (Guy Pearce). The film fast forwards a decade past the events of Prometheus, in which the space ship “Covenant” is journeying to a distant planet for human colonization. Midway through the odyssey, the spaceship is diverted by a distress signal from an unknown planet.

Among the Covenant crewmates is Daniels (Katherine Waterston), a widow with leadership potential and Walter (Fassbender again), a new model android who is new and improved from the old David model. Upon landing on the uncharted tropical planet, two crew members inhale bad spores and begin breeding aliens.

Whereas Prometheus is science-fiction based, Alien: Covenant follows the narrative of doomed horror. When things go from bad to worse, one can count on familiar clichés to kick in. In a 1930s murder mystery, you could count on an electrical storm wiping out a bridge or preventing telephones from working. With modern CGI special effects, the storm prevents spaceships from landing on the planet for a rescue mission.

One special effect worth noting is a simple dialogue scene between David and Walter. Given that the two characters are being played by one actor, Michael Fassbender, this entertaining scene features an interesting discussion about creativity and following programmed orders. Making this scene appear simple, Fassbender deserves award consideration for his hard work. 

Despite usurping Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 from the weekend box office champion perch, don’t expect Alien Covenant to have much legs beyond the July 4th holiday weekend. For the most part, it is an interesting movie. It just feels like déjà vu.

With Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales and Baywatch opening this weekend, it will be an entertaining weekend at the box office. However, take the time to watch the PBS Memorial Day Concert Sunday evening. The local television news will refer to this weekend as “urban beach weekend,” but most of our neighbors still remember this weekend as Memorial Day weekend. Make sure you thank a veteran this weekend.

Family Fun Day: Rockstar Day

Saturday, May 28, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Pompano Citi Centre

1955 N. Federal Hwy.

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Plenty of family fun with performances, dress like a rock star station, video games, arts and crafts, $1 carousel rides and much more. Free. Call 954-943-4693 or visit www.pompanociticentre.com for more information.

Tuesday Night Beach Dance

Tuesday, May 31, 7 to 9 p.m.

Main Beach Parking Lot

149 SE 21 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Total Recall will be performing for your entertainment and dancing pleasure. Wear your dancing shoes and bring your beach chair for a fun evening under the stars. Free. Call 954-480-4429 for information.

Splash Adventure

Thursday June 2, 9:30 a.m. to 5:20 p.m.

Quiet Waters Park

401 S. Powerline Rd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

All ages. $5.25 plus tax/person per session. The park’s regular gate entrance fee of $1.50/person (children 5 and under free) will be in effect. Coolers are now permitted in the aquatics area. Food and drinks available for purchase. No glass containers or alcoholic beverages permitted. For more information, contact the park office at 954-357-5100.

Food Truck Invasion

Thursday, June 2, 5 to 10 p.m.

Quiet Waters Park

401 S. Powerline Rd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33442

Bring the whole family to the park and dine under the open sky. Food trucks with a wide variety of selections. For information, visit www.foodtruckinvasion.com or call 954-357-5100.

Worth the Drive!: Ft. Lauderdale Home Design and Remodeling Show

Friday, May 27, 4 to 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 28 & Sunday May 29, noon to 9:30 p.m.

Monday, May 30, Noon to 7:30 p.m.

Broward County Convention Center

1950 Eisenhower Blvd.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

An amazing marketplace of home renovation and design products, featuring celebrity designers, landscape designers, artists and chefs. Home improvement products from the smallest to the largest. Admission: $10 adults, $1 children under 11. Visit www.homeshows.net.

Free weekly naturalist-led tours

• Thursdays every week, 10 a.m. Quiet Waters Park, 401 S. Powerline Rd., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. Meet at Harbin Butterfly & Bird Sanctuary, adjacent to Ski Rixen.

• Third Friday every month, 10 a.m., Military Trail Natural Area, 4600 NW 9 Ave., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442. For information, call Quiet Waters Park at 954-357-5100.

MEMORIAL DAY EVENTS

DEERFIELD

• Commemorative Ceremony

Sunday, May 29, noon to 2 p.m.

Historic Butler House

380 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

The Deerfield Beach Historical Society and local veterans groups will honor members of the military who lost their lives in service to our country. The ceremony will include the presentation of the colors, an invocation, singing of the national anthem, a 21-gun salute, a concert of patriotic music, and commemorations by local public officials and citizens. Free. Picnic-style food available for purchase. Bring a blanket or chair to sit on the lawn. Park within walking distance at the Post Office, Deerfield Beach Woman’s Club Building or City Hall. Call 954-428-0378 for information, or e-mail elilly707@aol.com.

• Pier Ceremony

Monday, May 30, 11 a.m.

Deerfield Beach International Fishing Pier

200 NE 21 Ave.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

The City of Deerfield Beach and the American Legion will hold a Memorial Day Ceremony on the fishing pier. This year, a plaque will be dedicated to Specialist Daniel Courtney Lawson, a graduate of Deerfield Beach High School, who lost his life during deployment in Afghanistan in 2009. Parking at Main Beach Parking Lot, 149 SE 21 Ave. Reserved seating available for veterans, call 954-480-4429.

Note: City Hall closed for Memorial Day.

POMPANO

• Commemorative Ceremony

Monday, May 30

— 9 a.m.

Westview Cemetery

NW 18 Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33069

— 11 a.m.

Pompano Beach Cemetery

400 SE 23 Ave., Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Both ceremonies in Pompano Beach are conducted by the American Legion Post 142.

BOCA RATON

• Commemorative Ceremony

Monday, May 30, 9 a.m.

Boca Raton Municipal Cemetery

451 SW 4 Ave.

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Laying of wreath and ceremony to honor those who gave their lives.

• Memorial Day Concert

Monday, May 30, 7 p.m.

Mizner Park Amphitheatre

590 Plaza Real

Boca Raton, FL 33432

New Gardens Band, Inc presents Indian River Pops Orchestra in “An American Tribute,” featuring the Robert Sharon Chorale. Full concert band will play patriotic music under the direction of Dwight Robert Roadman. Free. Call 561-393-7995 for information.

Photo by Bryan Hursh

National Signing Day is in the books. On Wednesday, Feb. 3 the top prospects from Deerfield Beach High School signed their letters of intent to play college football at their respective universities. Congratulations to the class of 2016!

Athletes

• Aaron Robinson (DB): University of Alabama

• Cavin Ridley (WR):University of Georgia

• James Pierre (SS):University of North Carolina

• Simeon Brown (FS): Bethune Cookman University

• Jefferson Souza (K): Alcorn State University

• Michael Arthur Jr. (DE): ASA New York

• Jefftey Joseph (WR):Virginia Union University

Years ago, I was blessed to work with my father of blessed memory.

We not only got to share the pulpit for several high holy days, we also did rounds together at several health centers. Back in those years, we worked alongside a wonderful Franciscan Friar, known lovingly to all those under his charge as Father Joe.

One day, the three of us were walking down a hospital hallway side-by-side and someone came up to us. They looked at my father and then at me and said, “I never remember, which of you is the father and which of you is the son.”

My dad immediately responded, “I’m the father and he’s the son,” at which point I looked over at Father Joe and said, “You know what that makes you, don’t you? That’s right, if my dad’s the father and I’m the son, then you must be the Holy Ghost!”

Father Joe wasn’t offended in any way, and, as he smiled at my sick humor, the patient in front of us got such a wonderful belly laugh, the first time he had laughed in ages.

Oddly enough, I now do rounds each week at the North Broward campus of Catholic Health Services. When I first started working there several years ago, everyone call me Rabbi. But I have been there for a long time, and, over the years, many of the staff and patients have slipped and, instead of calling me Rabbi, they call me Father.

The first time they do it and realize what they have done, they apologize. But I tell them, you have nothing to apologize for. I am honored that you accept my position here to the point that you actually refer to me in such a way.

I don’t have any children of my own, but I do have those who call me Father, and that is a blessing in my life.

Amazingly enough, here in America, we celebrate Father’s Day on the specific day we do because of Priests, Pastors and Ministers.

This year marks the 115th Anniversary of Father’s Day.

Sonora Smart Dodd came up with the concept of Father’s Day. Her mother died giving birth. Sonora’s father raised her and her five brothers all by himself. And, during the church service on Mother’s Day, Sonora knew there should be a special day set aside for fathers.

Her father happened to have been born on June 5, and she thought that would be the perfect day to celebrate Father’s Day. But when the Ministerial Association of Spokane, WA met to approve it, they felt there was too little time to prepare proper sermons for fathers so soon after Mother’s Day. And so it was that they opted to celebrate Father’s Day on the third Sunday of the month of June. That was back in the year 1910 and we have been celebrating it ever since.

Father’s Day was not meant to be a day for buying ties. And I believe that Calvin Coolidge said it best as he signed a resolution in 1924 pertaining to Father’s Day as a day “to establish more intimate relations between fathers and their children and to impress upon fathers the full measure of their obligations.”

I hope all the Fathers reading this column will take those words to heart. You can be a Saint to your children. In fact, in several traditionally Catholic Countries (Spain, Portugal, etc.), Father’s Day is observed on March 19, which just happens to be The Feast of St. Joseph.

Shalom my friends and a very meaningful Father’s Day,

Rabbi Craig H Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach (201 S. Military Tr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442). Regular Shabbat services are open to everyone on Saturday mornings from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Memorial Day, was observed at Temple Beth Israel on April 16, as it was in Synagogues all over the world. During Shabbat services this past Saturday, as I read a long list of members of our congregation who are no longer with us and of their family members as well, I couldn’t help but notice that many people on the list had the same last name.

It could have been just a coincidence, but it wasn’t. Several families had the same last name because they were all from the same family. Someone asked me how hard it must have been on these families to have so many of their kin die in such a short period of time. But the fact of the matter is that their family members who put them on the list to have the memorial prayer recited for them each year are not even sure when their loved one’s died. You see, each of them perished in the camps during the horrors of the Nazi movement.

And so it was that these families picked a date to remember their loved ones and to honor their memory. When someone we love passes away in our day here in America, we take for granted that, not only the date, but the time of day and the cause of death will all be recorded in the medical chart and will be made available to us. But imagine not knowing how or when a loved one died.

Oh, we know the cause; the cause was hatred; the cause was that there were those who wanted to exterminate the Jews; the cause was that there were those who saw the Jews as less than human; the cause was putting such horrific labels and blame on us that we were little more than dirt in other’s eyes and, sadly, to this very day, there are many people throughout the world who feel that way toward us and, if not toward us, then toward another group of “others,” of “outsiders” of those who are “different.”

Each year on Yom HaShoah, survivors are called upon to speak. The odd part is the stories all begin the same way. Each of the survivors can recall a …. you should pardon the expression … “normal, ordinary life.” Each woke up in the morning. Each went to sleep at night. Each ate meals. And each had goals for the future.

And then, the unthinkable happened. And, in what must have seemed like a blink of the eye, all the rumors, all the gossip, all the whispers became a horrific reality.

Jews were barred from schools, from professions. Jews were barred from getting money, their own money out of their bank accounts. Jews were barred from possessing guns. Jews were beaten. Jews were rounded up. Jews were sent away never to be seen or heard from again.

Each year, we have fewer and fewer survivors left to tell the story. Each year, we have more and more people in the world who deny that the Holocaust ever took place. Each year, our enemies who used to complain that we were always bringing up the Holocaust, now use the term “Holocaust” and “Genocide” against us.

And our survivors call out, “Don’t just remember the past; learn from it!” And so, as we recited Kaddish for those who perished in the Shoah, I couldn’t help but remember the words of Elie Wiesel who wrote:

“Let us say Kaddish not only for the dead, but also for the living who have forgotten the dead and let the prayer be more than a prayer, more than a lament; let it be outcry, protest and defiance. And above all let it be an act of remembrance. For that is what the victims wanted: to be remembered, at least to be remembered. For just as the killer was determined to erase Jewish memory, so were the dying heroes and fighting martyrs bent on maintaining it alive. They are now being defamed or forgotten – which is like killing them a second time. Let us say Kaddish together and not allow others to betray them posthumously.”

Shalom my friends,

Rabbi Craig H. Ezring

Rabbi Ezring is the Spiritual Leader of Temple Beth Israel of Deerfield Beach (201 S. Military Tr., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442). Regular Shabbat services are open to everyone on Saturday mornings from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

This Mothers day, Sunday, May 13th Treat Mom to our special menu and a FREE glass of Wine for Mom!