Deerfield Beach

Oct. 2: The owners of Com-Esco LLC at 245 SE 21 Ave. reported that $103,140 in corporate funds for Fiscal Year 2017 was stolen by a man who had been doing accounting for the company. Another accountant discovered the loss of funds.

Oct. 2: A man reported that someone tried to break into his home at 5300 NE 10 Ave.

Oct. 2: A woman reported that someone broke into her car parked at 4020 W. Hillsboro Blvd. and stole a purse valued at $300.

Oct. 3: A man was arrested and charged with battery. He body slammed a woman against a wall and also destroyed furniture in the living room. The incident was reported at 957 SW 15 St.

Oct. 5: A man reported that another man walked up behind him and held a knife to his throat. The man was later arrested and charged with aggravated assault. The incident was reported at 641 S. Ocean Dr.

Lighthouse Point

Sept. 25: A resident reported a dog loose at 4521 NE 22 Ave. Police arrived but were unable to locate the dog.

Sept. 25: A resident found a black wallet at 2831 NE 26 St. He turned the wallet and its contents over to police.

Sept. 28: The victim said he last saw his tag at 2101 NE 41 St. The victim said he placed the tag on the roof of his car while he placed a new dealer tag on the vehicle. He forgot that he had placed the tag on his roof and drove away. He discovered it was missing when he arrived in Weston.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

Periodic column on companies that grew up with our community

By Karen Lustgarten

When she was 13, Adolphine “Dodie” Keith remembers heading out on survey and mapping jobs with her father, William “Bill” Keith, along with his crew and watching how the work was done for construction projects.

Mr. Keith began making a mark on South Florida in 1956 when he joined the Broward County Engineering Department as a surveyor. Then, in 1972, he started the engineering firm Keith & Schnars. It would become synonymous with Broward’s growth.

His firm helped plan Ft. Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and bought the land and developed the route for the Sawgrass Expressway. It was responsible for planning Parkland and the redevelopment of Deerfield Beach, Pompano Beach and Boca Raton. They surveyed 390 miles from Florida to Georgia and bought 4,000 parcels of land for a Florida Power & Light transmission line.

In 1998, Mr. Keith established Keith & Associates, his own Pompano Beach-based civil engineering, planning, surveying firm. Daughter Dodie grew up to become a professional surveyor and mapper working in that capacity for her father.

By the time Mr. Keith died in 2006, he had spent his life working towards the development and improvement of the south Florida community and giving back to it, helping improve the county’s infrastructure and way of life. Dodie Keith-Lazowick succeeded her father as company president and managing principal.

Under her leadership, KEITH, as the firm has been rebranded, has grown to include civil engineering, surveying and mapping, subsurface utility engineering (SUE), urban & comprehensive planning, landscaping, permitting, construction management and construction engineering inspection.

“I work in the development field, so believe growth is good,” she said. “Dad always taught me respect for the community. I try to make projects better for both the residents and the city.”

The Ft. Lauderdale airport, a key KEITH client since her father’s early days, is a case in preservation. A huge African Baobab tree was set to be cut down when a new airport runway was being planned. Dodie proposed a slight redesign shift in the runway plans that preserved the historic tree.

Dodie helped draft the Pompano Beach 2020 business plan and Mayor Fisher’s stimulus task force. Her firm helped raise funds and advocated to pass the Pompano Beach bond referendum for capital improvement projects that will revitalize the city.

KEITH is at work on several major construction projects you are witnessing around Pompano Beach to revitalize the city. Successful advocates for permitting and approvals, staff has coordinated the site plan approval process through the city and provided civil engineering design, project management, permitting coordination, planning, surveying, construction management, infrastructure convergence and roadway improvements, assessments and recommendations.

Among the projects you notice are the following: the pedestrian-friendly Pompano Beach Blvd. streetscape, Old Pompano Area streetscape improvements, as part of the Downtown Connectivity Plan, MLK Jr. Blvd. streetscape improvements, MLK Blvd., the Pier Parking Garage, John Knox Village and in-kind site design services to preserve the Sample-McDougald historic House/Museum.

Coming up: The new Mullet Alley — turning an existing parking lot in the Old Pompano area into a lively plaza — awaiting the site plan design and development approval.

“I enjoy Pompano Beach. It has a different feel than other cities and we want our own distinct city identity in South Florida,” says Dodie. “Pompano Beach is a community-based and family-oriented place. Our parks and roadway projects, for example, help give our city its own identity as a community.”

As a business community leader, Bill Keith was committed to causes he cared about such as the Broward Urban River Trails and homelessness. He was founding chair of Broward Partnership for the Homeless helping people stabilize their lives. Dodie is the 2018 board chair and a fundraiser.

Dodie’s son Alex and daughter Elizabeth serve as third generation professionals at KEITH. Alex Lazowick, a civil engineer, is executive vice president, and Elizabeth, with a marketing degree, is corporate manager, overseeing more than 100 employees in five state offices. They are committed to the company values established by their grandfather and mother. With young children of his own, Alex sits on the board of the Parks Foundation of Broward County, raising funds for Broward County parks.

The business transition plan has the 3rd generation taking over KEITH with Alex stepping into his mother’s role as president, “so, hopefully, I can sit on Pompano Beach watching the sunrise,” said Dodie.

Karen Lustgarten is president of Multi-Media Works, a multiple award-winning media company specializing in video, PR, print and social media with offices in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. She founded a newspaper in Washington, DC, was a syndicated columnist and a bestselling author. www.multi-mediaworks.com

Deerfield Beach

Sept. 25: A man got into an argument and hit his girlfriend repeatedly causing injuries to her lip. The incident was reported at 631 Anderson Cir.

Sept. 25: Someone broke into work trucks parked at 1040 E. Newport Center Dr. and stole battery-operated tools. The loss was estimated at $2,250.

Sept. 25: A woman reported that someone tried to break into her home at 4250 NE 3 Ave.

Sept. 25: A woman reported her car parked at LA Fitness at 1000 E. Hillsboro Blvd. was broken into and her purse stolen.

Sept. 26: It was reported that a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck was stolen from the parking lot of Love Fellowship Church at 77 NW 5 St.

Lighthouse Point

Sept. 25: A resident reported a dog loose at 4521 NE 22 Ave. Police arrived but were unable to locate the dog.

Sept. 25: A resident found a black wallet at 2831 NE 26 St. He turned the wallet and its contents over to police.

Sept. 28: The victim said he last saw his tag at 2101 NE 41 St. The victim said he placed the tag on the roof of his car while he placed a new dealer tag on the vehicle. He forgot that he had placed the tag on his roof and drove away. He discovered it was missing when he arrived in Weston.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

Deerfield Beach

Sept. 17: A man reported that someone stole a JBL speaker from his motorized scooter parked at 286 SW 1 Terr.

Sept. 19: It was reported that an iPhone and gold jewelry valued at $1,200 was stolen from a UPS warehouse at 1332 NW 3 St.

Sept. 20: It was reported that a Nissan Pathfinder was stolen from a Dollar General Store parking lot at 1377 S. Dixie Hwy.

Sept. 20: A man reported that $2,100 in cash was missing from his nightstand at 51 W. Sample Rd.

Sept. 24: A woman reported that a Ford 150 vehicle was stolen from her home at 125 NE 5 Ave.

Lighthouse Point

Sept. 22: A resident told police she lost her wallet at a store at 3722 N. Federal Hwy. The wallet contained $50 in currency, credit cards and a driver’s license. No fraudulent activity on her credit cards was reported.

Sept. 22: A resident called police about a loose white dog in the area of 2813 NE 27 St. and she was unable to catch it. When police responded, they found the owner swimming in his pool in the backyard and he said he didn’t know the dog had gotten loose.

Sept. 24: The victim returned home and saw a package on top of his mailbox at 4051 NE 27 Terr. The victim unloaded his groceries and when he went back outside the package was gone. The loss was $20.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

By Gary Curreri

Juniors Jaylan Knighton and Derohn King helped make quick work of host Coral Springs as nationally ranked Deerfield Beach rolled past the Colts, 55-6 at James Caldwell Stadium.

“They came out and excited very well and made the most of the short time they played,” said Deerfield Beach coach Jevon Glenn, whose team is ranked 37th nationally by MaxPreps. “They both only played the first half as we were up 49-6.”

The Bucks, which face Taravella this week, have outscored the opposition 174-46 this season and host No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas on Oct. 5. The teams have split their past four meetings with the Raiders winning 14-0 last year. Glenn was pleased with his team’s effort against the Colts.

“We did what we were supposed to do,” Glenn said. “I was pleased with our execution and was happy to get the backups and young guys a chance to play the entire second half.”

King was 11 for 17 passing for 153 yards and five TDs in one half of action. He has 12 TDs in his last four games. Knighton had 10 carries for 239 yards and two scores.

Szklany repeats as Sunshine State Conference Runner of the Week

Embry-Riddle cross country’s Ryan Szklany earned his second straight Sunshine State Conference Runners of the Week award.

Szklany set a personal-best for the Eagles at the Mountain Dew Invitational, hosted by the University of Florida.

Szklany, a freshman from Lighthouse Point, etched his name into the ERAU men’s cross-country record books with a time of 24:51.6, becoming the seventh-fastest runner in program history. Szklany’s time of 24:51.6 put him ninth overall and made him the top non-DI finisher. Szklany helped lead the Eagles to the non-D1 team title, making the Blue and Gold 2-for-2 in 2018.

Szklany finished third overall in his first-ever collegiate race, leading the Eagles to the team title when he clocked a 26:26.41.

Teammate Sarah Edens also earned her second straight Sunshine State Conference Runner of the Week award when she ran the third-fastest time in program history, a 17:30.69, bettering her previous career-best time by nearly a minute (18:22.61 at Sand Shark Invitational – Oct. 22, 2016).

HCA Family Fitness Day planned

Highlands Christian Academy is planning its annual Family Fun Fitness day for Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

They will have vendors and assorted challenges. They will have a 20-minute fitness class starting at 10:15 a.m. followed by a 20-minute walk/run at 11:10 a.m. The event will close with challenge winners being announced at 11:30 a.m.

Deerfield Beach

Sept. 11: A woman reported that she left her pink beach bag at 400 N. Ocean Dr. while she and her boyfriend went paddleboarding. When they returned, they found the bag had been stolen. It contained two iPhones valued at $1,000 each and a credit card.

Sept. 11: A woman reported that someone stole her vehicle tag at 498 NW 3 Way.

Sept. 11: The owner of Ted Conner Landscaping said lawn equipment was stolen from his trailer at 2371 SW 15 St.

Sept. 15: Someone entered a vehicle parked at 401 S. Powerline Rd. and stole a bookbag, shoes, shorts and a scooter key.

Sept. 15: Someone broke into a vehicle parked at 71 SE 21 Ave. and stole a purse with a passport and debit card.

Lighthouse Point

Sept. 8: The store manager observed a male subject leave the store pushing a shopping cart with clothing. The subject was located behind a nearby bank getting into a vehicle and the property was recovered.

Sept. 5: A local resident found a Labrador Retriever at 3280 NE 31 Ave. and held it until the owner was located.

Sept. 3: The store manager observed a male subject pushing a shopping cart with items and left the store at 2450 N. Federal Hwy. without paying. The subject left in a vehicle. However, police conducted a traffic stop and the property, valued at $247.23 was recovered.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

By Gary Curreri, Correspondent

Former Deerfield Beach High and University of Michigan quarterback Denard “Shoelace” Robinson was all smiles as his No. 16 jersey was retired at halftime at the annual McDougle Bowl.

By then, current Deerfield Beach quarterback Derohn King had tossed touchdown passes on the first three series of the game as the Bucks seized a 32-0 halftime lead and coasted to a 46-0 win over neighborhood rival Blanche Ely on Saturday night.

“I am blessed to get my jersey retired,” said the 27-year-old Robinson, a 2009 Deerfield Beach grad who played collegiately at the University of Michigan and played from 2013-16 with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He became just the second Bucks player to have his jersey retired joining Stockar McDougle in the exclusive club. McDougle had his jersey retired in 2005.

“This is my community and I always come back and give back and they always show me love,” he added. “They ain’t going to wait until I am dead.they showed me love now and I appreciate it.”

King, a junior who transferred from Piper, threw scoring passes of 57 yards to Donte Banton, 23 yards to Deajaun McDougle and 68 yards to Bryce Gowdy. Vgor Fiuza connected on a 35-yard field goal and Jaylan Knighton added a 1-yard run for a 32-0 lead with 1:51 left in the half for the state’s top-ranked Class 8A team by Associated Press and the nation’s 24th ranked team by MaxPreps. King has tossed seven TD passes in the past two weeks.

Knighton added a 43-yard scoring run on the first series of the third quarter to up the lead to 38-0 and force a running clock. Miles Dickens recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown with 2:50 remaining for the final margin. Knighton also had a strong game with 16 carries for 148-yards.

Deerfield Beach (4-0) leads the series against Blanche Ely 22-16, winning the last seven times after Ely (1-3) was able to win three consecutive games from 2009-11. The Bucks, who won last year’s contest 55-8, have outscored the Tigers 240-41 during that span.

“In certain points in games like this, we need to play against ourselves,” Deerfield coach Jevon Glenn said. “This was a game of importance because it’s a neighborhood rivalry.”

Deerfield Beach wasted little time in taking a 7-0 lead as King found senior wide receiver Banton on a 57-yard scoring toss on the game’s third play with 10:50 left in the first quarter. It was the only score the Bucks needed.

Retired NFL players and brothers Stockar and Jerome McDougle have hosted the McDougle Bowl for seven years. Stockar McDougle (1996 Deerfield Beach grad) and Jerome McDougle (1997 Blanche Ely grad) are also heavily involved in the community.

They typically handed out $1,000 scholarships to the MVPs from each team for the game; however, this year, they decided to donate the money to Blanche Ely sophomore Wilbens Morissaint, who is making progress in rehab after suffering a severe neck and back injury in a high school football game in August.

The Bucks finished 8-3 last season and was an upset loser to Western in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs.

Deerfield Beach

Sept. 3: It was reported that a computer drive valued at $150 and a portable GPS valued at $130 were stolen from Target at 3599 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Sept. 4: It was reported that a man broke into a vehicle parked at 501 SE 6 Ave. He stole a bag with a wallet. Later the man used a credit card contained in the wallet to purchase Nike shoes valued at $203 and used the credit card to make purchases at Circle K.

Sept. 4: A man reported that his vehicle, a Lincoln MKX, was stolen from a driveway at 1808 Flamingo Pl. The man had left the car there while taking a trip.

Sept. 4: A woman reported that her home at 959 SE 2 Ave. was entered and jewelry valued at $9,620 and an iPhone 6 were stolen.

Sept. 7: It was reported that a woman stole $400 worth of merchandise from Target at 3599 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Lighthouse Point

Aug. 30: Police responded to a hit on a stolen tag and located the vehicle at 3580 N. Federal Hwy. with two subjects inside. When police approached the vehicle they noticed a strong odor of cannabis coming from the inside. A search of the vehicle turned up a pipe used for methamphetamine and a bag containing marijuana. They were taken into custody.

Aug. 30: A public works employee notified police that he observed numerous $1 bills on the roadway at 3700 N. Federal Hwy. The employee said the bills were near a Mustang vehicle and the owner said that he had just discovered a large amount of money was missing from his vehicle and was able to claim the money.

Aug. 29: The victim said she parked her vehicle at 3120 N. Federal Hwy. and went inside the business. When she returned, she discovered her papers on the front passenger seat were thrown about. Nothing appeared to be missing.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

By Karen Lustgarten

Hundreds of companies headquartered in our readership area generously give back to their communities, making them better places to live and work. Here’s a peek at three in different cities representing different industries with a commitment to different causes.

JM Family Enterprises, Deerfield Beach

For more than 30 years, children and families in Deerfield Beach have been the recipients of many corporate giving programs financed by JM Family Enterprises, the privately-owned diversified automotive company founded by Jim Moran. Seeing a need in the neighborhood, JM Family built and funds a Boys & Girls Club with staffed after school programs, along with a forthcoming teen center to provide activities and education addressing teen needs.

Down the street is the Youth Automotive Training Center that JM built to help young people learn everything about the automotive industry — business, selling, fixing and maintaining cars. Here school drop-outs can receive their GED, life skills, job skills training and job placement upon graduation. Several have been hired at JM Lexus.

Along with other community partners, last year JM Family helped build a KaBOOM! playground in a day at the Hillsboro Community Center. The company hosts an annual Teachers Tote Supplies Giveaway there. Teachers from local schools pick up tote bags filled with school supplies they need. JM also ships reams of paper to their schools. In addition, they give away supplies at a BSO event for Back to School.

Said Kim Bentley, assistant vice president of Corporate Philanthropy, “We are continuing Jim Moran’s philosophy about sharing time, talent and resources.”

Bluegreen Vacations Corporation, Boca Raton

A timeshare properties company headquartered in Boca Raton, Bluegreen is a division of parent company BBX Capital, which has supported Florida charities since 1994 with direct funding, in-kind donations and paid employee-volunteer hours.

Bluegreen extends its “share happiness” motto to local charities helping children and families, and education causes, says Lois Marino, director of Community Engagement for BBX Capital & Retail Brand. For example: How do students in grades K-12 learn about survival business skills and workforce readiness? Bluegreen is a major donor to the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce’s Golden Bell Education Foundation, a non-profit that administers educational programs promoting business skills and workforce readiness in the Boca Raton public schools.

Where can families dealing with a crisis or serious illness get a break? At a retreat. Bluegreen partners with the non-profit Deliver the Dream to provide three-day/two-night accommodations at its timeshare properties for families and volunteers participating in the non-profit’s retreat program.

Other community non-profits Bluegreen and BBX Capital have longtime commitments to include Junior Achievement, Boca Helping Hands, Cystic Fibrosis and JDRF. (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation).

“Share Happiness” is not just Bluegreen’s motto, says Marino, “It is in the DNA of our commitment to social responsibility and philanthropy, too.”

Danto Builders, Ft. Lauderdale

For Craig and Debbie Danto, their company giving program for people with special abilities is personal. Debbie’s grandfather founded an organization in Ohio to help his son with Down’s Syndrome partake in work, sports and social skills development.

“I remember how much joy my uncle got out of it,” said Debbie. “He was so innocent and sweet, such a loving, beautiful person who enjoyed all the activities.”

Her parents continued the program as it grew and now Debbie and her husband, who’s nephew also has Down’s Syndrome, are carrying on the family tradition and legacy locally. The couple are honorary board members of Special Olympics, and board members of the Florida Design and Construction Professionals. Danto proposed to the professional organization that members approve a fundraiser for Special Olympics.

Oct. 2 will mark the 5th Annual Florida Design & Construction Professionals/Danto Builders Special Olympics Big Bad BBQ. The all-you-can-eat fundraiser with 600 attending, including Special Olympians, is held at the Danto Builder’s parking lot from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Everything is donated or sponsored by local businesses: food, wine, beverages, grills, music, door prizes, auction items. Last year, the event raised $35,000 for 6,100 Special Olympics athletes and 23 year-round sports programs. The goal this year is $50,000, says Danto. A local family’s legacy grows on.

Karen Lustgarten is president of Multi-Media Works, a multiple award-winning media company specializing in video, PR, print and social media with offices in Broward and Palm Beach Counties. She founded a newspaper in Washington, DC, was a syndicated columnist and a best-selling author. www.multimediaworks.com

Deerfield Beach

Aug. 27: A man reported his vehicle stolen from 3390 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Aug. 27: A woman reported that a man she knows punched her in the face three times with a closed fist. The incident was reported at 210 SW 3 St.

Aug. 27: A man reported that someone stole his vehicle that he left overnight. The incident was reported at 3901 W. Hillsboro Blvd.

Aug. 27: A man said that while he was working at 3112 W. Hillsboro Blvd., someone stole items from his trailer.

Aug. 27: A man reported that someone entered his home at 1116 SE 14 Ct. and stole a computer and jewelry.

Lighthouse Point

Aug. 19: The driver’s rear side window of a 1991 Lincoln Limo that was parked at 4211 NE 22 Ave. was smashed. The damage was estimated at $350.

Aug. 19: The store manager at 3700 N. Federal Hwy. was approached by a customer who said there was a male subject acting suspiciously in the store. The subject pushed the shopping cart with groceries outside the store and left without paying. The loss was estimated at $125.

Aug. 19: The victim said someone stole six reels, two trolling rods and a reel rod from a 35-ft. fishing vessel that was docked at 4110 NE 30 Ave. The victim went to New York and asked a friend to detail the boat while he was gone. He returned four days later to find the property was missing. The victim suspected the friend. They met up at a pawn shop and the friend admitted to the crime (for drug money). The property was valued at $8,150.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

NOTE: The Observer has received more reports of break-ins or suspicious behavior in The Cove. Be vigiliant!