RE: Rapa Nui

Dear Editor:

Everyone who had anything to do with the awesome Rapa Nui Reef project in Deerfield Beach came away with a feeling of wonder [last weekend], a lot of new friends, and the appreciation that something special can be done when one person has a dream and many make it come true.

Those involved often quoted benefactor Margaret Blume- “Something Big is Going Down in Deerfield Beach.”

Something big indeed did go down in Deerfield Beach and we all were changed for the better because of Margaret’s vision and the contributions of her supportive husband Robert, Dennis MacDonald the extraordinary artist, and Dixie Diver’s Pavan.

We shouldn’t be sad, in spite of the ill-fated sinking. We should celebrate their courage and dedication and we should cheer their daring and their dream.

Thank you, Margaret, for something big going down in my life, and for the opportunity, through the Woman’s Club of Deerfield Beach, to be a small part of your wonderful achievement.

Bett Willett,

Deerfield Beach

Dear Editor:

Remember, it has been an amazing, two-year journey for all involved in this project.

Although the scuttle did not go as hoped, the vision and desires of the benefactor, Margaret Blume, the inspiration and beauty of the artwork by Dennis MacDonald, and the hard work of Pavan of Dixie Divers, can never be erased from the memories of all of us who were so closely a part of this inner core team.

Those who came to celebrate its creation and witness its final journey into the depths of the ocean have experienced the highs and lows of a magnificent historical event.

The faces of the people who came to see it were in awe of the faces of the Moai figures staring back at them.

They learned about Easter Island and the Rapa Nui people who built the Moai and much more.

Some may look at the glass half empty and dwell on the scuttle gone awry, but I say the “Moai cup runneth over with blessings.”

Art in the City of Deerfield Beach shall be enhanced by the generosity of all who came from near and far and contributed to support this effort.

To you, our club members, who dedicated so much time and effort (blood, sweat, and tears), this city cannot thank enough, because you helped to make this happen, and the contributions to Art in Our City will continue and our city projects will be enhanced.

I cannot thank you enough for all your help and support from the project’s inception two years ago to the scuttle [Sunday].

The volunteers who worked tirelessly these past months and especially this weekend, and those who came to share

in other ways are the heart and core of our club. I personally thank you from the bottom of my heart.

With the dedication of members like you, our club will prosper and continue to have a very positive impact on our city and other cities near and far.

Marti McGeary

Deerfield Beach

RE: Moai-mentum

Dear Editor:

I am sure the community will come together to make this a positive. We don’t always have control over what happens, but we have control over how we respond.

I’ll help any way I can.

T.J. Eagen

Deerfield Beach

RE: Off ramp 95 & Hillsboro

I commute to Deerfield Beach daily and it normally takes 40-45 minutes. This morning was different.

I exited 95 onto the Hillsboro Boulevard off ramp at exactly 8 a.m. this morning and I saw a solid line of cars ahead of me. I initially assumed, quite incorrectly, that westbound traffic was once again blocking those exiting 95 from making a left and going eastbound on Hillsboro Boulevard. When I got close enough, I could see that was not the case.

I watched as the light changed to green and I counted the number of cars that got through and went left onto Hillsboro before it changed to red. The first time, I counted four and, the second time, I counted five. I could see that this was going to take quite a time to get to the red light at Hillsboro and I was right.

I finally got to the light at Hillsboro at 8:26 a.m. and I finally went left onto Hillsboro at 8:28 a.m., a total of 28 minutes from the time I got onto the exit ramp.

I am accustomed to my normal commute time but to add 28 minutes to go a mere 200 yards is ridiculous.

The timing of this traffic light is obviously defective. Can you please direct me to the entity that oversees these matters?

Thank you,

William E. Bucknam

Note: Kudos to Capt. Robert Schnakenberg for resolving this problem by Wednesday morning with the assistance of Broward County Traffic Engineering.

RE: Moment of Silence vs. Prayer of Invocation

Dear Editor:

City Hall was the place-to-be last Tuesday night [May 19] when the mayor tried in vain to impose her will on the city of Deerfield Beach.

She stated she was tired of minority points of view being accepted against the majority.

The subject was the separation of Church and State.

Since the Supreme Court stated in an opinion that an invocation at public events is doable, the mayor took that as a direct order to do so by the Supreme Court. That is not the case at all.

The District 1 commissioner stated that the mayor and the commission represent all the people regardless of their religion, their beliefs or views on prayer. The commission put forth a motion to have each person pray or not to his own God if he chooses silently in a time given to that event.

That way, no one person is offended by hearing someone else’s view as to who his God is and what his name is. They can pray or not as they choose.

The vote for a minute of silence was 4 to 1.

We will wait and see whether the mayor will obey the change in procedural rules of the city or not. She was the only vote against the amendment.

We have a Supreme Court to protect the rights of minorities. Although they said it was alright to open events with an invocation, they did not say that you must.

If doing so insults some people because of a difference of faiths and beliefs, than it is best to find a solution that is not insulting. The rest of the city commission did so, and so I applaud their decision to allow each to do their own thing.

Bernie Parness

Deerfield Beach

Beware of Barbecued Bugs

Dear Editor:

Whatever happened to the good old days when the worst things we had to fear on Memorial Day were traffic jams and indigestion?

This summer, it’s all about food poisoning by the nasty E. coli, Salmonella and Listeria bugs lurking in hamburgers, hot dogs and chicken nuggets at millions of backyard barbecues.

The U.S. Meat and Poultry Hotline’s advice is to grill meat and chicken products longer and hotter. They fail to caution that high-temperature grilling forms lots of cancer-causing compounds. Do we really need to choose between food poisoning and cancer?

Luckily, enterprising food manufacturers and processors have met this challenge head-on by developing a great variety of healthful, delicious, convenient plant-based veggie burgers, veggie dogs and soy nuggets.

These wholesome foods don’t harbor nasty bugs or cancer-causing compounds. They don’t even carry cholesterol, saturated fats, drugs or pesticides. And, they are right there, in the frozen food section of our supermarket.

Let’s stay safe on the roads and safe at the family barbecue this summer!

Patrick Bendrix

West Palm Beach

Canal Bank Repairs at Independence Bay Lake

Dear Editor:

I wanted to make District 4 residents aware that Broward County Water Control District #2 will be performing canal bank maintenance at the Independence Bay Lake.

The County has hired Shenandoah Construction to maintain the lake bank at the southeast corner of the lake near Powerline Road.

The project started late last week. The work schedule has a tentative completion set for the end of this week.

We anticipate very little impact on residents in Independence Bay and the Waterways developments.

If you are boating on the lake or walking on the Independence Bay Linear Trail during the construction period, you should not approach the work area.

There will be three small Sabal Palms displaced during the project to avoid damage. They will be reinstalled after the construction.

If there are any questions and concerns with this project, feel free to contact the Project Manager, Joe Heilman with Broward Water Management at 954-831-0764.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Vice Mayor Bill Ganz

Deerfield Beach

Mother’s Day

Dear Editor:

We all look forward to Mother’s Day, when we celebrate the cherished bond between mother and child.

Ironically, dairy cows — worldwide symbols of motherhood — never get to see their babies.

The newborn calves are torn from their mothers at birth and turned into veal cutlets, so we can drink the milk that nature designed for them. The distraught mothers bellow for days, hoping for their return.

Most cows spend their lives chained on a concrete floor, with no access to the outdoors.

Each year, they are impregnated artificially to keep the milk flowing.

When their production drops, around 4 years of age, they are turned into hamburgers.

Let’s honor motherhood and our natural compassion by replacing cow’s milk and other dairy products, all laden with fat and cholesterol, with delicious, healthful, cruelty-free nut or soy-based milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream. These are available in every supermarket. Mother cows, and our own bodies will be most grateful.

Dimitri Olask

Deerfield Beach

Assessment or Parking Meters for Cove Shopping Center?

Dear Editor:

[Installing] Cove parking meters is just a bad idea, period.

The District 4 commissioner says the taxpayers should not be paying for maintenance of the parking lot.

Who does he think parks there? I go to The Cove all the time. My dentist is there and I go to the Tip [Tipperary Pub] and American Rock [Bar & Grill] at least twice a week.

I own a small business in Deerfield. I don’t charge for parking — that would be a death sentence for any business.

The city manager says we need a study to figure out how much the owners would pay. Why does the city always need a consultant? Just do the math yourself. I’m sure we employ somebody who can figure out how much it costs a year to take care of the parking lot, then split [it] up with the building owners — who are more than willing to pay.

Sorry for such a long letter, but this subject really gets me going. It’s just plain common sense.

Steven J. Fabrizio

Deerfield Beach

Observer column speaks to reader

Dear Editor:

I thoroughly enjoy your column [Everything’s Coming Up Rosen] in the Observer.

Over the years, I have always been excited when Everything’s Coming Up Rosen shows up in the [news]paper.

Your viewpoint on the matters of life consistently provides me with a moment’s reflection.

Your column on love was particularly inspiring [“It’s Love Time Again,” Feb. 5, 2015, Observer]. As I have reached my young age of 36, I have seen how past advice or wisdom tends to come true.

Love is complex and wonderful and requires nurturing to stay alive.

I can read from your lines the complexity of a sustained love and imagine folks in my life who strive to ride the different phases of love.

I have told numerous friends who are in a situation of weakness that falling in love with the idea of falling in love will not satisfy your situation.

I have really enjoyed your column and thought it important to let you know that your work is appreciated.

Albert Blake Salas

Deerfield Beach

Note: Look for Emily Rosen’s column soon

Relay For Life appreciates Community Support

Dear Editor:

On behalf of the Relay For Life of Deerfield Beach/ Lighthouse Point & Hillsboro Beach, we thank these wonderful communities and Deerfield Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) for the overwhelming support for our Relay — which took place April 18 and 19.

We could not have made this happen without our outstanding committee.

We had 40 teams, 360 participants, and we raised close to $100,000 to-date — and there is still money coming in.

Special thanks to the City of Deerfield Beach for providing the many resources that contributed to the success that it was.

We also appreciate the numerous sponsors and other businesses, including the Deerfield Observer, that supported us.

This was truly communities coming together to Finish the Fight and MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Karen Hardy, Event Chair,

Deerfield Beach

Nona Breitenstein, Event

Co-Chair, Lighthouse Point

Drunk, obnoxious boaters and jet skiers

Dear Editor:

Here we are, again, dealing with dozens of drunk, obnoxious boaters and jet skiers who have spent the day at Boca Bash.

A large number of them feel entitled to tie their overloaded crafts to our private dock, disembark and get even more inebriated than they already were.

Our entire day is spent overseeing our property to limit the yearly damage.

They park their vehicles (often large trucks) and boat trailers completely up into our lawn, damaging sod, landscaping and sprinkler systems … and not returning until late evening.

They trash our dock waterway with bottles, cans and extremely foul language. When asked to leave our dock, we are threatened with physical harm. We are unable to leave or re-enter our street, as vehicles and trailers block our way. If we attempt to squeeze through, we are screamed at and threatened.

Although we are on a dead-end street, they race to the end, peel through the culde- sac and race back with no concern for the safety of our residents and families. Our police force is being paid, with our tax dollars, to referee fights of Boca residents who have no respect for Deerfield Beach nor for our officers.

The park, ramp and dock are torn up. Fence rails are destroyed.

We need more officer presence the entire day at the park, ramp and residential neighborhood.

Drivers are intoxicated, boats are overloaded without proper flotation devices, and no lighting for after dark.

Boca should be supplying personnel at their expense, not Deerfield’s.

Lynne Newberry

Deerfield Beach

RE: Development on former Burial Ground

Dear Editor:

I have been following, with interest, the articles regarding the plot of land on 2 Avenue that may be the Burial Grounds of our black citizens many years ago.

I know it may be an “eyesore” to the condo residents adjacent to the property.

I understand this. However, to me, this “eyesore” is a hallowed ground. Since no one knows for sure, why must this be turned into a monetary project? This is part of the history of Deerfield and we should treat it with respect. Someone had suggested that it be turned into a little park. I believe that the occupants of that piece of hallowed ground would appreciate that. After all, this was old Deerfield Beach — they were here first — let’s keep them in their domain and not cover them with tall buildings. They deserve that.

Virginia French

Deerfield Beach

RE: Hillsboro Blvd. Lane Elimination

Dear Editor:

As a concerned citizen, I think the plans to eliminate one traffic lane in each direction on Hillsboro Boulevard east of Dixie to U.S. 1 or Federal Highway is questionable.

Common sense tells us that this is an idiotic plan that will fail and cause a traffic problem of unbearable consequences.

I do not know who the harebrained group is who came up with this plan. But do some studies and you will agree with me that this is impractical.

Traffic in the morning and afternoon is now over-capacity and we need more lanes to keep the traffic moving. Once the hi-speed rail is operating, there will be additional pressure on the traffic going east/west and west/east.

I beg you to look closer to elimination of two lanes of traffic in a highly-congested area.

Talk with the people who daily travel that section of Hillsboro Boulevard and listen to their concerns about the current traffic jams and long lines. Ask questions about how many light changes they have before crossing Dixie Highway – either east or west.

Also remember that most of the citizens are uninformed or do not care until the damage is done and then they start complaining. The main objective of Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) should be to move traffic at a safe pace – NOT impede the flow of traffic.

Ronald B. LaVergne

Deerfield Beach

Story of an Inn

Dear Editor:

The Save our Beach people were getting their petitions signed just after we purchased the Shore Road Inn, Oct. 21, 2003 which was NOT the top of the market.

I refused to sign the petition because it was too restrictive. Little did I know that it was even more than I understood at that time. With this law in place the property was worthless. Taxes were going sky high, the hotel business was going down and the hotel was not at its highest and best use. We struggled to survive as a hotel until we just couldn’t make it.

It was then that we used the rooms for a Sober Living facility. After a year or so, we expanded into a treatment center, which is located on Sample Road. After we were foreclosed, the new owners refurbished the building and rents back to Our Place.

I know that the city doesn’t appreciate the beach having this distinction but what else could we do? If you read ahead you may begin to understand the error of the law that is tying the hands and purses of property owners on the beach and ultimately the city.

The Save Our Beach reform was to guard against the beach being overbuilt. They [told] the public this would be a good idea – No building!

The Shore Road Inn…as it stands now … has a larger footprint than what could be built in its place. The footprint of the plans we had was smaller but two stories higher. It’s true our plans were approved but we were unable to obtain financing because the building didn’t have enough units to support the costs.

The problem with this law is that it restricts the density of the building. The 16,000 sq. ft. we were allowed included the stairwells and storage space. So much required “green space” we had to hire an engineer to figure the sunlight that would come into the garage to add planters.

Our lot was perfect for a lovely building, being that it goes block to block. And no one would build up across the street. I got so much trouble about wanting just 15 in. on the “rounded” out sections at the front of the building, which was above the ground.15 in. of air space. Torture to get this.

Another setback was there wasn’t enough room for the parking. The mayor came to the hotel and looked over the plans. The city was wrong, our architects were correct. Big delay. Another setback was the color; we wanted a white building. Then it was the type of balcony railings … on and on.

For some reason the city has an aversion to the designs and colors of Boca Raton. So, these delays dragged out over a year approximately. Lots of expense. Time lost, more money … the market was falling, as was the hope of getting financing when the building really couldn’t support it. Another floor of condos would have made all the difference.

According to the law, the half acre of land is allowed the density of 16,000 sq. ft. of living space (remember, that includes large stairwells and storage space). That means the space under the roof and 55 ft. high. If you build that high, the shape of our building would become more square instead of rectangular, which is the shape of our lot.

We decided to not use the 55ft. height, but to spread the building out. Most of the 12 units were over 11,000 sq. ft. but had huge patios, 800+ sq. ft. When selling a condo, the sale price counts the living space under the roof, and not including the balcony. Here is the problem. There is room to make the condos larger by using some of the balcony square footage. That would bring a higher sales price. Does this law restrict density? What does that mean? Does this determine how many people will be able to live on that land and in that space? Does a larger condo mean more occupants? Would 12 condos with 500 sq. ft. more living space mean the city would become overgrown?

Donna M Zappin

Antigua, Guatemala

New regulations heat up hot water situation

Dear Editor:

The U.S. Dept. of Energy, as part of the National Appliance Conservation Act, is mandating higher efficiency water heaters as of April 16, 2015.

What this means to Century Village (and other communities) is that since any water heater replacement after that date will require a compliant water heater and since the units fit under the counter by the sink, this poses a significant problem – a 2 in. taller water heater will not fit!

No one wants to redesign their counters to be able to change out a water heater. An alternate tankless heater, while a solution, is not a good solution since the electrical demands of the unit are much greater and would require probable transformer changes for the buildings to allow all of the residents to switch to the inline tankless heaters.

I was sufficiently concerned about this situation and called the manufacturer of my present unit.

Luckily, they decided to manufacture a compliant hot water heater that was wider but not taller. The new unit model will still fit under the present counters. As long as one manufacturer makes a unit that still fits, we are good.

So, when the time comes for your present water heater to go bye-bye, make sure the contractor does not try to sell you a new kitchen — just a new water heater.

Michael Routburg

Deerfield Beach

Celebrating Spring

Dear Editor:

I do look forward to spring weather, green grass and flowers in bloom.

The advent of spring is also a great opportunity to turn over a new leaf on our dietary habits.

In fact, hundreds of communities welcome spring with an observance of the Great American Meatout — celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Visitors are asked to go vegan, at least for a day, and to explore a healthy diet of vegetables, fresh fruits, legumes, and grains.

“Meatless Monday” has been making huge advances in public schools, universities, institutional cafeterias and restaurants.

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee is recommending reduced meat consumption. Stock market analysts are warning clients about potential “death of meat.”

Almost 50 percent of the respondents in a special GlobalMeatNews poll said they had actively reduced their meat consumption. Accordingly, per capita U.S. meat consumption has dropped by more than 10 percent since 2005.

Each of us can celebrate our own advent of spring by checking out vegan foods in our local supermarket and vegan recipes on the internet.

Peter Sullivan

Ocala