Deerfield Beach Magazine, November/December 2022

What do you love about this industr y?

I love my esteemed clientele I enjoy the ability to interact with some of the brightest and most influential people in the world, including ever yone from CEO’s, physicians and athletes to developers and local entrepreneurs Another aspect of the industr y the one that initially attracted me is the real estate itself I love architecture, and the histor y behind some of these exceptional estates is quite intriguing

What sets you apar t from other agents?

Since the inception of my career in 2010, my specialized niche has always been the million dollar plus market I provide my clients with the ultimate personal concierge ser vice, always striving to exceed their expectations and ensuring them the utmost confidentiality. My focus is on Quality Quality ser vice, Quality marketing, Quality proper ties. One of the main components of my proven ser vice is my unrivaled multi media marketing strategy, including targeted direct mail. It is that proprietar y marketing which has enabled me to achieve over $500 Million in total career sales

Anything unique you can tell us about a recent sale?

I recently sold a point lot at 2530 NE 32nd Cour t that was listed for $10 95M It is the highest priced residential sale in Lighthouse Point for new construction I am extremely proud to have represented the seller in that transaction, enabling my client to maximize return on investment

What attracts buyers to Lighthouse Point?

It is such a beautiful community centered around families, yachting and a leisurely lifestyle I am originally from the Midwest, so I par ticularly value that true sense of community it provides In Lighthouse Point you find multi generational involvement with kids that were raised here coming back to raise families of their own. With our own police and fire depar tments, parks and yacht club, and 18 miles of navigateable water ways with easy ocean access through the Hillsboro Inlet, it is an ideal lifestyle enclave, especially for the avid boater.

Where do most of your buyers come from?

My buyers are predominantly local. There are a number of affluent individuals moving up and down the coast because they are downsizing, upsizing, or simply moving fur ther east to be on the water. Additionally, I deal with buyers from the Nor theast and Midwest who are moving here for Florida’s lifestyle and tax advantages where my affiliate network is already embedded.

What trends do you foresee in the luxur y real estate market?

Since I work with an extensive roster of investors, builders, architects and interior designers, I am extremely attuned to the latest trends in the high end market I find most buyers today are looking for a turnkey situation Transitional design checks a lot of their boxes, as do coastal elevations with contemporar y finishes

With current supply chain issues, there are significant delays and frustrations when it comes to building or renovating So most buyers, especially those from out of town, are still willing to pay more for turnkey estates or newly completed construction Another trend I see is the preference for one stor y residences or a two stor y with elevator for ease of living

Your current thoughts on the real estate market?

There are obviously macroeconomic and global headwinds changing market activity…and that has some buyers second guessing themselves. With inventor y of homes slowly increasing, interest rates rising and demand slowing, the market is becoming more balanced and retur ning to a nor mal seasonal pace this summer as compared to the last 2+ years. Overall, this is a transitional market heading into a new normal

When is the best time to sell a home?

South Florida has become a year round selling season Obviously, we are ver y busy during high season, which extends from Januar y through April However, summer is a smar t time to market a luxur y proper ty because children are out of school and it is ideal for corporate relocations Although summer activity is relatively slower, we still do extremely well during this timeframe Then there is always an end of year rush to close and be in for the winter months and for homestead tax purposes

Some of our Fall Sales!

Address: 4930 NE 27th Terrace, Lighthouse Point 7320 SE Medalist Place, Hobe Sound 2748 NE 23rd Avenue, Lighthouse Point 2421 NE 33rd Street, Lighthouse Point 4411 NE 31st Avenue, Lighthouse Point 6807 NW 101 Terrace, Parkland 2741 NE 39th Court, Lighthouse Point 900 NE 3rd Street, Pompano Beach 5010 NE 23rd Avenue, Lighthouse Point 2121 NE 34th Court, Lighthouse Point 3010 NE 45th Street, Lighthouse Point 2640 NE 21st Street, Pompano Beach 710 NE 3rd Street, Pompano Beach 35745 CR 439, Eustis 5749 NE 17th Terrace, Ft. Lauderdale 100 Chestnut Circ, Royal Palm Beach 129 E. Bay Cedar Circle, Jupiter 14525 Crawford Brook Lane, Delray Beach 635 NW 170th Terr, Pembroke Pines 5136 NE 14th Ave, Pompano Beach 1502 NE 36th Street, Oakland Park

Repr: Seller Buyer Seller Seller Both Buyer Seller Seller Both Seller Both Seller Buyer Seller Seller Buyer Buyer Buyer Seller Buyer Both

Listed For: $3,950,000 $3,750,000 $2,665,000 $2,140,000 $1,950,000 $1,399,000 $942,000 $945,000 $842,000 $799,000 $795,000 $749,900 $699,900 $725,000 $599,000 $499,000 $455,000 $439,500 $439,900 $359,999

Bryant Roepnack

Expert Orthopedic Care Close to Home Isn’t Just for Athletes

If you’re suffering from an orthopedic problem — whether it’s a bad back, a sore knee or shoulder, a sports injury or arthritis — even a short drive can make the pain worse. Thanks to two convenient Baptist Health Orthopedic Care locations in Palm Beach County, you have easy access to the experts who have the experience, technology and facilities to treat your problem quickly.

“Seeing a professional sooner rather than later can often prevent more complex problems down the road,” says orthopedic surgeon Anthony Miniaci, M.D., deputy chief medical executive of Baptist Health Orthopedic Care. “Most orthopedic issues don’t require surgery, but whether yours does or doesn’t, it’s our goal to get you back to a pain-free lifestyle.”

The team at Baptist Health Orthopedic Care includes orthopedic surgeons specialized in joint replacement, foot and ankle, trauma and sports medicine, primary care sports medicine physicians and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists. With a wide range of expertise, the team can handle everything from the most common injuries to the most complex.

With increasing life expectancy, an accident or injury resulting in an orthopedic problem is almost inevitable at some point. Among the most

common orthopedic concerns are sprains and strains, muscle and tendon tears, fractures and other traumatic injuries, and arthritis. In addition, back pain causes more visits to physicians than any other orthopedic problem. Some conditions are caused by repetitive motion and wear and tear on the body, while others could be the result of a congenital, or birth problem.

With the most advanced imaging and other diagnostic tests, doctors at Baptist Health Orthopedic Care can quickly pinpoint the issue and address it. Nonsurgical and minimally invasive options are explored first, but when surgery is indicated, each patient receives an individualized treatment plan. Services also include regenerative medicine, such as stem cell treatment, painrelieving injections and physical therapy.

“We have a dedicated team that is known for caring for some of the country’s most famous professional and collegiate athletes,” Dr. Miniaci says. “But you don’t need to be a pro to receive the same care. We are here to help diagnose your problem and promote quick healing.”

Anthony Miniaci, M.D. Deputy Chief Medical Executive

For more information or to request an appointment, visit BaptistHealth.net/Ortho or call 833-556-6764

WOW!

LOOK AT ALL OF THE GREAT STORES IN THE SHOPPES AT BEACON LIGHT.

PERSONAL SERVICES

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INSURANCE, FINANCE & REAL ESTATE

Allstate Bee Insurance Edward Jones ReMax State Farm Summit Builders

SALONS & SPAS

Beacon Light Barber & Salon Blue Room Salon Extravagant Pampering Glow a Blowdry Bar Posh Aesthetics Academy Shear Excitement Top Nails Tropical Wax & Tan Vanity Waxing Wellness Center

RETAIL

Body & Soul Boutique Dazzles Sally Beauty The UPS Store

RESTAURANTS & LOUNGES

Fetta Republic Fish Shack Golden China Lighthouse Thai & Sushi Offerdahl’s Sicilian Oven Snowtime The Buccaneer

Your destination to great shopping, restaurants, specialty services, and entertainment.

Located on the East-side of Federal Highway between 24th and 25th Street, two blocks North of Copans Road.

Visit our website to learn more CFBROWARD.ORG/BE- BOLD

“Partnering with the Community Foundation of Broward empowers me to make a BOLD impact for the community I love. As a longtime philanthropist and LGBTQ activist, my new endowed charitable funds at the Community Foundation are broadening the scope and amplifying the impact of my giving. Grants in my name develop future leaders, break down barriers to success and shape a community where everyone is treated with equity. I love that my endowed support is the gift that keeps on giving, long after I’m gone. With the Community Foundation as a partner, my BOLD impact never ends.”

YOU CAN BE BOLD, LIKE PHILANTHROPIST MONA PITTENGER

contents

Lamar Fisher

The new Mayor of Broward County sat down with Lighthouse Point magazine and answered a plethora of questions about the challenges and opportunities facing the residents, businesses and municipalities in our county.

The Fentanyl Crisis Is Here

The Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) Pompano Beach District has implemented a new program to prevent overdose deaths in our area. Although still in its early phases, the initiative’s compassionate approach seems effective.

Concert and Food Trucks at Frank McDonough Park Jeff Graves for Lighthouse Point magazine

departments

24 Creatively Speaking

Veggie burger life lessons.

26 Around Town

There are plenty of options for fun, including the first Annual Autumn Fest, Boots on the Beach Country Music Festival and classes at the Charlotte Burrie Center. Plus, the Pompano Green Market opens for the season — so get your fruits, veggies and more.

28 City Beat

Stay up to date on Lighthouse Point news and beyond.

48 Happy Snaps

Photographer Jeff Graves captures smiles at the concert at Frank McDonough Park, plus plenty of pee-wee soccer pics.

58 Personal Development

Craig Haley has three strategies for being insanely productive.

62 Legal Matters

Learn the difference between a life estate deed and a revocable trust.

64 Fish Tales

Sure, people around here love to fish — but, it is also a great way to meet new people and form lifelong friendships.

Financial Fitness

Three questions to answer before you purchase life insurance

Relationships

It is the season of gratitude — be thankful for your partner.

& Trivia

Welcome to Florida.

Creatively Cooking & Drinking

Kick off your Thanksgiving dinner with these pumpkin-spice margaritas.

Dining Out

When

can’t decide where or what to

dining guide for ideas.

hotel in Portugal.

content submissions

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circulation

Lighthouse Point and Deerfield Beach! magazines are published monthly by Point! Publishing and delivered free of charge to all residents of Lighthouse Point and selected homes in Deerfield Beach. Copies of Lighthouse Point magazine are available at Whole Foods Market, UPS and Offerdahl’s Café.

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letters to the editor

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Lighthouse Point and Deerfield Beach! magazines are owned and published 12 times per year by Point! Publishing, LLC. Copyright 2022 by Point! Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the prior written consent of Point Publishing, LLC. Requests for permission should be directed to: editor@pointpubs.com.

Creatively Speaking

What I Learned from Veggie Burgers

BY SUSAN ROSSER

Veggie burgers annoy me.

I won’t go so far as to say I have entirely given up real beef hamburgers, but I eat far fewer than I used to. As someone with high cholesterol, I know that hamburgers might not be my best choice health-wise. And the environmental ramifications of eating red meat are less than desirable.

imagine a more desirable name. Calling veggie patties “burgers,” automatically compares the two — setting the veggie variety up for failure.

Beyond Beef and Impossible are two veggie-burger brands that have come pretty close to the burger texture. But not really. Neither product is juicy or, for that matter, even tastes great. They are more of a textural vehicle for burger lovers to load their favorite toppings onto an unsuspecting bun. And my research assistant tells me that while they can be a good stand-in for beef, they are hardly what he would label health food. No matter how you dress up an imitation burger, you’re better off eating actual vegetables.

Honestly, I think I would rather cherish the memory of biting into a juicy patty. I don’t want patties of oats, tofu, beans, sweet potatoes and soaked chia seeds all trying to impersonate beef. You might want to know why I find all of this so annoying.

Because the effort to make veggie burgers worthy of the place the all-beef burger holds in the pantheon of foods represents a bigger real-life problem.

Sometimes things just don’t work out. And it’s not for lack of trying.

The world is full of limits, and recognizing those limits doesn’t always equate to failure.

So, reluctantly, I have turned to the veggie burger.

Everyone from the humble home cook to massive food corporations seems to be chasing the elusive veggie patty that tastes like a real burger.

And yet might the world be better if everyone stopped trying to make veggie burgers that are as satisfyingly delicious as real beef hamburgers?

Is it time to abandon that dream?

I’m not saying I don’t like veggie burgers, but they are a far cry from a real, hot, juicy, meaty burger. Ketchup, mustard, onions and pickles can only do so much.

For starters, let’s drop the word “burger” entirely. Let’s call them something completely different. Round-mushy-thing-on-a-bun comes to mind, but perhaps a marketing guru somewhere can

Sometimes we need permission to move on — to recalibrate and reset expectations.

And yet, people are still trying to make a marvelous meatless patty — which is also admirable and fantastic. Hope, dreams and perseverance make getting out of bed in the morning worthwhile.

So while I will be content with the veggie burgers I have, I will simultaneously continue to strive for respectable veggie patties. Because honestly, what are we without our dreams?

Around TOWN

Boots On The Beach Country Music Festival with Headliner Maggie Baugh

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 12 | 4 – 9pm

WHERE: Main Beach Parking Lot, 149 SE 21st Ave., Deerfield Beach COST: Reserved seating/$20 or free for concert

WHAT: The City of Deerfield Beach Parks and Recreation Department is excited to present the 2022 Boots on the Beach Country Music Festival on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. Tickets for reserved seating will be available through Eventbrite at a later date (must be 21 or older to purchase). Entertainment schedule: Tim Charron will perform from 4 – 5pm. Andrew Morris is scheduled for 5:30 –7pm. And Maggie Baugh will come on at 7:30pm. Times are subject to change.

Happening around town Ocean Way Holiday

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3 5 – 9pm

WHERE: Main Beach Parking Lot, 149 SE 21st Ave., Deerfield Beach COST: Free, but must pay to park WHAT: Is it ever too soon to start filling your calendar with holiday events?

Save the date for Deerfield’s annual Ocean Way Holiday. Revelers will enjoy the lighting ceremony, live entertainment, a holiday character show, photos with Santa, a giant interactive snow globe, stilt walkers, and more!

Cole Swindell

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 19 7:30 – 10:30 pm

WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach COST: $39 – $70

WHAT: Multi-Platinum selling superstar Cole Swindell recently released his new album Stereotype and has already charted two back-to-back multi-week No. 1 hits, including “Single Saturday Night.”

His new single, “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” has already garnered rave reviews and impacting radio now.

Around Town contains information originating from other organizations. While every attempt is made to ensure all information is accurate, schedules do change. We recommend confirming events prior to setting out on your adventure.

Around Town

Namaste Indian Art and Food Festival

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3

WHERE: Pompano Beach Amphitheater, 1806 NE Sixth St., Pompano Beach COST: Free

WHAT: Get a glimpse into the rich 5,000-year-old Indian culture and heritage through curated Indian music and dance performances showcasing the breadth and diversity of India. Watch up close demonstrations of art, dance, fashion, culture, food, musical instruments and music. Enjoy a dining experience from different states in India, the likes of which you have never seen and end it all by shopping at The Grand Bazaar. This is a family-friendly event.

Fruition

TROPICAL BOTANICAL ART EXHIBITION

WHEN: Through Jan. 3, 2023

WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach

COST: Free

WHAT: This exhibition of original botanical art focuses on the intriguing variety of fruits, nuts, and seeds produced by South Florida’s abundant native plant species. The Fruition exhibition, developed in collaboration with Biscayne National Park, reflects the Tropical Botanic Artists’ support of the Park’s mission to educate the public about the beauty and diversity of Florida’s native plants.

Learn Something New at The Charlotte Burrie Civic Center

WHERE: Charlotte Burrie Center, 2669 N Federal Highway, Pompano Beach

Line Dancing

WHEN: Fridays | 2:30– 3:30pm COST: $8/class

WHAT: Ages 18 and Up

Yarn and Ewe

WHEN: Thursdays | 2 – 5pm

COST: Free

WHAT: Learn how to knit, crochet, weave, needlepoint, embroider and cross stitch.

Yoga

WHEN: Wednesdays | 6:30pm and Saturdays | 1pm

COST: $15/class. Registration fee required of $10/residents or $20/non-residents

Around Town contains information originating from other organizations. While every attempt is made to ensure all information is accurate, schedules do change. We recommend confirming events prior to setting out on your adventure.

Drive Thru Poinsettia Give-Away

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 11 | 1 – 3pm

WHERE: Ali Cultural Arts Center, 353 Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd., Pompano Beach COST: Free

WHAT: Start your holiday season by picking up your free poinsettia at the Ali Cultural Arts Center. This event is free and open to everyone but is a firstcome, first-serve while supplies last. And to top of the day, Santa will be present to wave at you when you drive in.

Around Town

Amplify Wellness Market

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 6 | 9am – 2pm

WHERE: Charlotte Burrie Center, 2669 N Federal Highway, Pompano Beach

COST: Free

WHAT: The first Sunday of every month from 9am - 2pm is the Amplify Wellness Market at the Charlotte Burrie Center in Pompano Beach! The market is a city-sponsored monthly wellness market featuring vendors focused on health, wellness and alternative therapies. Attendees can enjoy demos of fitness, meditation and other modalities for free. There is also a free yoga class at 9am with local instructor Carolina Figares. Just bring a mat.

Pompano Beach Green Market

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 12 | 9am – 1pm

WHERE: Pompano Beach Cultural Center, 50 W. Atlantic Blvd.

COST: Free to attend

WHAT: The market takes place from November – April on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Some items available for purchase include fresh fruits and vegetables, baked goods, local honey, crafts, plants and more. Each Green Market will have a theme, creating a unique and exciting experience every time you visit! Yoga on the Great Lawn, led by Samantha Marcum, will take place from 10 – 11am.

7 Health Benefits of Dental Implants

In general, it’s best to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. That way, can prevent adjacent teeth from drifting toward the empty sockets and loosening. Likewise, dental implants also keep your jaw healthy, so you don’t lose bone density. Here are the main benefits of dental implants:

1. PREVENT FURTHER TOOTH LOSS - It’s essential to understand that your teeth are held in place by their roots and surrounding teeth. This means that when you lose a tooth, nearby teeth may start to tilt toward the open space and become loose. The best way to prevent more teeth from falling out is to get a tooth replacement for the one you lost. Many patients appreciate tooth implants because they look and feel like natural teeth.

2. PREVENT CAVITIES - When you lose a tooth, surrounding teeth have lost part of what was holding them in place. As a result, you may notice teeth start to tilt toward the open space or even become loose over time. When teeth shift, you are more at risk for tooth decay. Crooked teeth provide plenty of hiding places for plaque and bacteria that cause cavities.

3. IMPROVE NUTRITION - Having difficulty eating your favorite foods? After tooth extraction, it can be tricky trying to maintain a balanced diet. If you have only been eating soft foods to avoid biting down in pain, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with your

dentist to discuss dental implant surgery. Avoiding certain foods may also deprive your body of the nutrients it needs to be healthy. For example, it’s difficult for your body to support healthy jawbone tissue if you aren’t getting the necessary vitamins and nutrients.

4. PREVENT JAW DETERIORATION Your jawbone needs stimulation from tooth roots to be healthy. However, when you lose a tooth, the pressure that was exerted on your jawbone also goes away. When left unattended, your body will reabsorb your jawbone to use those nutrients elsewhere in a process known as remineralization. We recommend asking your dentist about the tooth implant procedure to prevent jawbone deterioration. A dental implant will fill the space left in your smile after losing a tooth, stimulating your jawbone the way a tooth’s root would. This keeps the jawbone intact and ultimately protects your face shape over time.

5. IMPROVE YOUR SPEECH - Missing teeth and dentures change how you speak — tooth gaps can cause a lisp while dentures can slip and slide. Whether topped with a crown or used for implant-supported dentures, implants will keep your dental restorations in place and allow you to talk as you would with your natural teeth.

6. RETAIN MORE OF YOUR TEETHDental bridges require the filing down of adjacent teeth to place crowns on them, which reduces the structure of otherwise

healthy teeth. With dental implants, there’s no need to damage the adjacent teeth at all. This means that your natural teeth can retain their healthy tooth enamel while still filling in a gap resulting from a missing tooth.

7. FEEL CONFIDENT WITH YOUR SMILE Many of our patients feel more confident after dental implants. You may try to hide your smile or even avoid talking to new people when you have missing teeth. After the dental implant procedure, you can enjoy false teeth that look and feel natural. You may be surprised by how much you start enjoying life again when you feel confident with your smile and can eat all of your favorite foods again. Dental implants benefit not only your oral health but your emotional well-being.

Dr. Eric Rieger is one of the cosmetic dentists at Park Plaza Dental. For more than 30 years, Dr. Rieger has been one of Florida’s leading dentists treating some of the most challenging cases. Using a multi-specialist approach, Park Plaza Dental is composed of four advanced trained dentists who focus on general, cosmetic, orthodontic, and implant dentistry. Dr. Rieger utilizes the most advanced technology and techniques. Dr. Rieger’s goal is to ensure his patients get the best possible dental care in the most comfortable and pleasant atmosphere.

Around Town contains information originating from other organizations. While every attempt is made to ensure all information is accurate, schedules do change. We recommend confirming events prior to setting out on your adventure.

Exchange is an all-volunteer, national service organization which is made up of nearly 1,000 clubs and 33,000 members nationwide. The principal areas of focus are Youth, Americanism and Community Service, and Child Abuse Prevention. The Ex change Club of Pompano Beach has been serving our local community since 1958. The club has 55 mem bers who raise money to support lo cal charities. Last year we provided almost $50,000 in contributions to our local communities. 100% of funds raised goes to the charities we sup port.

Dedicated to shining light on the global issue of Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking, and provid ing support to the agencies rescu ing and seeking justice for those minors exploited by this crime. Sera’s Kids is a program aimed at creating national intervention and prevention education programs to stop traffickers before they can strike.

Sera’s Kids is committed to providing “at risk” communities the education needed to stop exploitation/sex ploitation of minors, and providing support to agencies dedicated to res cuing and seeking justice for those affected by Human Trafficking.

In the spring of 2018, National Radio personality Doc Reno was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. During his treatment he met people who were struggling financially. He learned that there are programs that help with medical bills, but don’t pay house payment, car payments, buy groceries as well as many other ex penses. Working with Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital, he launched the My Family Matters Foundation in the fall of 2018. The foundation partici pates in many events to raise money to help families with children fight ing cancer in need of financial assis tance for expenses not covered by insurance.

BEVERAGE FAMILY FUN/

ZONE

BEVERAGE

BEVERAGE

LED SCREEN

CORNHOLE

STAGE FOOD COURT VIP

VENDOR VILLAGE VIP

“ Pompano Beach Autumn Festival Site Map, on the grounds near the amphitheater “

Event proceeds to support these local organizations:

City BEAT

City Commission Approves Increase to Mayor’s Annual Salary

The City Commission, at its Oct. 11 meeting, approved in a 3:2 vote an ordinance that increases the mayor’s annual salary from $18,000 to $30,000. There hadn’t been an increase in salary for the mayor’s position since 2001, when it was raised from $10,000 to $18,000.

The ordinance was brought forward after a discussion of the topic was initiated by Commission Vice President Sandy Johnson in June. The discussion took place over several meetings.

On Aug. 23, the City Commission approved the ordinance on first reading, also in a 3:2 vote. During that meeting, Johnson said the mayor’s position requires much more work now than in the past, and whoever is in the position should be compensated fairly. Commissioners Patty Petrone and Everett Marshall agreed.

Commission President Jason Joffe, who was not in favor of the salary increase, said that “keeping the compensation for the electeds admittedly artificially low keeps the job pure” and about public service and commitment to the city.

“I know that might sound corny, but it’s something I believe in,” said Joffe.

Petrone said that while elected officials do it for the love of the city, not for the money, there should be some type of increase in the mayor’s salary. She noted that if

there had been an annual 3% cost of living increase over the past 21 years, the mayor’s salary would be approximately $33,000.

In Lighthouse Point, the mayor position has historically been a parttime job, with a city administrator also in place. However, it was noted that current Lighthouse Point Mayor Kyle Van Buskirk has been putting in more than fifty hours a week in city work. Van Buskirk is also a battalion chief with the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.

The City of Lighthouse Point has a “strong mayor” form of government, where the mayor has more duties in the running of the city than a “weak mayor” system.

The only other municipality in Broward County that has a strong mayor is Plantation, which is larger than Lighthouse Point. The annual salary of Plantation’s mayor is $123,000. Commissioner Michael Long, who voted against a salary increase, said that if the job is difficult to do part-time, the bigger question is whether the city should change its form of government from the existing strong mayor to a city manager.

“We’ve got to have that conversation,” said Long.

There was consensus to have a discussion of the matter at a future city commission meeting. If the form of government were to change, it would take time to prepare the

BY MARIE PULEO

appropriate amendments to the city charter and then put it on a ballot for Lighthouse Point residents to vote on.

Long said it’s “not something that should be taken lightly,” and would probably be a two-year process.

It was agreed that the review of the strong mayor form of government should be part of a larger charter review discussion because the passing of Mayor Glenn Troast in March had shown deficits in the way the charter is written.

It did not provide a process for filling the mayor’s empty seat or the commission seat left vacant when Van Buskirk transitioned to mayor.

The City Commission will confirm its approval of the mayor’s salary increase in a second vote that is scheduled for October.

The increase in the mayor’s salary that was approved by the City Commission had an effective date of October 1, 2022.

ABOVE Lighthouse Point Mayor Kyle Van Buskirk with his wife Christine at the annual Keeper Days Parade

Lighthouse Point Tennis Center Has Plans to Convert to HydroCourts

The City has plans to convert the Lighthouse Point Tennis Center’s existing clay courts to courts known as “HydroCourts.” The new clay courts would have an underground watering system that would reduce water usage and maintenance costs, improve playing conditions and increase the amount of available playing time on the courts.

Currently, the tennis center’s nine courts have five sprinkler heads each that irrigate the courts for 1015 minutes twice a day with potable water from the county. The courts need to be taken out of service for the watering, brushing and lining. The annual average cost to water the courts with the sprinkler system is $17,000.

HydroCourts use a self-regulating irrigation system that waters the courts from under the playing surface, supplying only the amount of water necessary to keep the clay surface damp. The HydroCourt system would result in a 60% savings in water usage for the City, according to Parks and Recreation Director Becky Word.

Each year the sprinkler irrigated courts require 4-5 tons of clay to maintain an ideal one-inch surface depth, which costs $,9000. The consistent moisture level provided by HydroCourts would reduce the amount of surface material lost to wind, run-off and play, resulting in a 50% savings. The consistent moisture coverage would also provide more consistent playing conditions, would reduce clay runoff into neighboring streets, and would almost eliminate the need to “roll” the courts (remove excess water with a foam roller).

The combined savings in water

and material would be an average of $14,000 annually, with maintenance savings to be determined, said Word during a presentation to the City Commission.

Word noted that the HydroCourt technology has been around since the 1990s, and all new tennis courts are built as HydroCourts.

The cost to convert the nine existing tennis courts from a sprinkler irrigated system to the HydroCourt system would be approximately $585,000. In addition, the tennis center’s existing metal fencing, which is at least 40 years old, would be replaced with black vinyl fencing at a cost of $130,000.

In August, the City submitted an application for a $200,000 matching grant from the Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) for the proposed HydroCourts. In addition, the City

TENNIS CENTER GRAND REOPENING ON OCT. 15

FM Tennis, the management firm that has been at the helm of the Lighthouse Point Tennis Center since June, will hold a grand reopening of the tennis center on Oct. 15 from 10am to 1pm.

The event is free and open to all residents and non-residents. It will include doubles play and clinics (no advance reservation required and no fee), special discounts, raffle prizes and complimentary food and beverage from Papa’s Raw Bar.

may look at using federal funding to help cover the costs.

Since June, the Lighthouse Point Tennis Center has been under the management of FM Tennis, a Boynton Beach-based firm that provides professional tennis services to tennis clubs and facilities in South Florida. Word told the Commission there will be a projected 40% savings as a result of the City’s contracted partnership with FM Tennis, which may help level off the cost of the HydroCourts.

The City should know by next June or July if it will be awarded the grant from FRDAP. If the grant is awarded, the idea would be to install the HydroCourts two at a time during the summer months when less people are playing. Y

Lighthouse Point Seeks Federal And State Funding To Repair Its Bridges

The City recently submitted two applications for funding from the Federal Highway Administration’s new Bridge Investment Program for the replacement of the Cap Knight Bayou Bridge (Sample Road Bridge) and the Heron Waterway Bridge (NE 31st Court).

Based on its assessment of the bridge conditions, engineering firm Kimley-Horn, the City’s bridge consultant, estimates the cost to replace the Cap Knight Bayou Bridge would be $5.19 million and the cost to replace the Heron Waterway Bridge would be $4.39 million.

The Bridge Investment Program would fund a maximum of 90% of the construction project costs –$4,671,000 for Cap Knight Bayou Bridge and $3,951,000 for the Heron Waterway Bridge. The City would be required to provide 10% matching funds in the amount of $958,000.

The Cap Knight Bayou Bridge has been designated a priority for Broward County Transportation Surtax funding, in the amount of $1,051,247. These funds could serve as the required non-federal local match for the Cap Knight Bayou Bridge only.

Under the recent Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Federal Highway Administration (a division of the U.S. Department of Transportation) released the first round of funding for the Bridge Investment Program.

The Bridge Investment Program focuses on the repair, rehabilitation or replacement of existing bridges across the country, and will provide $12.5 billion in federal funding over five years. The City’s applications for funding are for fiscal year 20232024.

The City Commission also recently approved an application for the Florida Local Support Grant Program in the amount of $500,000 for the design and permitting of both the Cap Knight Bayou Bridge and the Heron Waterway Bridge.

At the City Commission meeting on Sept. 12, Mayor Kyle Van Buskirk announced that the City was awarded $250,000 of the $500,000 requested from the Local Support Grant Program. The money will be

used to help pay for the design of the two bridges so the projects will be ready when other funding becomes available. Van Buskirk thanked State Representative Chip LaMarca for his assistance in securing the funding.

“There’s money out there,” said Van Buskirk. “It’s a start in the right direction.”

At the local level, the County is currently helping the City with a grant for the replacement of the Alamanda Bridge. Y

City Beat

MARIE PULEO

The City Is Getting a New 26-Foot Christmas Tree with Donation from Campbell & Rosemurgy

The City Commission recently accepted a donation of $45,670 from Campbell & Rosemurgy Real Estate for the purchase of a new Christmas tree that will be displayed at Frank McDonough Park during the holiday season. In 2003, Campbell & Rosemurgy donated $29,263 for the Christmas tree and holiday decorations that are currently used, but they are in need of replacement.

The new Christmas tree will be 26 feet tall, the same height as the previous tree. The new tree will be purchased from Christmas Designer Florida, a holiday outdoor décor company. It will be similar in style to

the old tree, with ribbons, bows and light-up snow tubes. However, it will have LED lights that will be brighter than the incandescent lights on the old tree.

Campbell and Rosemurgy will have a 15-year sponsorship of the holiday decorations displayed at Frank McDonough Park, and will be the premiere sponsor of the annual Lighthouse A’Glow event.

Since 2003, the City has paid Christmas Designers Florida for the installation, removal, maintenance and storage of the Christmas tree, as well as the holiday decorations for five city bridges.

To continue with the same arrangement, the City Commission, in addition to approving the purchase of the new tree, also approved the City’s annual contribution of $13,162 for Christmas Designers Florida’s services.

During the City Commission meeting, a check for $45,670 was presented by Lighthouse Point resident John Tight (CEO of Campbell & Rosemurgy) and his wife Kathy, along with Julie Mahfood and Dineen Franchina, Campbell & Rosemurgy’s two top realtors in Lighthouse Point. Y

ABOVE The “old” Christmas Tree at Frank McDonough Park

City Beat

BY MARIE PULEO

Lighthouse Point Youth Camden Hussey Is Making a Difference with His Charity Work

Ten-year-old Lighthouse Point resident Camden (Cam) Hussey, was recently recognized by Mayor Kyle Van Buskirk at a city commission meeting for creating his own charity, called Cam’s Cleats.

The charity combines Cam’s love and enthusiasm for playing sports with his desire to help those less fortunate. Cam’s Cleats collects gently used sports shoes, also known as sports cleats, and distributes

the Lighthouse Point flag football and youth baseball programs, and in the Pompano Eagles youth tackle football program.

Fighter Outdoors organizes fishing outings and other outdoor experiences for injured service members.

them to local children who play on sports teams, but don’t have the means to buy them.

“I really just like giving back to people who are in need,” said Cam. “It makes me feel pretty good.” Cam plays sports year-round – in

He came up with the idea of starting Cam’s Cleats through his role as a youth ambassador for Last Mango Boatworks, a lifestyle brand created by singersongwriter Jimmy Buffett that raises money for charity. The brand’s boating apparel and gear are sold only online, and all profits are donated to Singing for Change and Freedom Fighter Outdoors. Singing for Change, established by Buffett in 1995, supports grassroots organizations addressing social and environmental issues. Freedom

Lighthouse Point resident Vinnie LaSorsa – Buffett’s longtime boat captain – runs Last Mango Boatworks and its youth ambassador program, along with his wife Sarah. The couple also founded Freedom Fighter Outdoors.

Participants in the youth ambassador program, which was launched in 2021, are chosen from among applications received nationwide. The goal of the program is to encourage youth to become leaders, be role models to their peers, make a positive impact and understand the importance of giving back.

Each youth ambassador participates in the program for 12 months, and is expected to support a local charity of their choice as a way to give back to the community, and to promote the Last Mango Boatworks message of “See the Good Side,” which comes from a Jimmy Buffett quote. Instead of working with an existing charity, Cam decided to start his own.

Cam’s Cleats focuses on getting cleats to players that are in the Pompano Eagles youth tackle football program, which has teams for ages five through 13. Cam saw that a lot of kids were outgrowing their cleats too quickly mid-season, or some of them were sharing cleats with their siblings. Now, the coaches let Cam know when a player needs a pair of cleats, and what size, and then he brings them to the field during practice.

Cam has held cleat collections at his Lighthouse Point flag football

LEFT Camden Hussey with Mayor Kyle Van Buskirk

City Beat

BY MARIE PULEO

Lighthouse Point Youth Camden Hussey

practices and games. He walked around with a wagon and a sign, and people dropped the cleats in. Sometimes he’ll ride his bike to pick up cleats from someone in the neighborhood.

Cam’s parents, Alexis and Jeff Hussey, help out by advertising the cleat collections on their social media and through word of mouth.

“We’re very lucky that he gets a lot of donations through the kids from the Lighthouse Point sports,” said Alexis.

Cam cleans each pair of cleats he receives, then writes the size number on a tag and ties it to the laces. He recently started getting a collection of baseball equipment and baseball cleats, which will be distributed where needed. He also accepts donations of soccer cleats.

Using his social media skills has been a key way for Cam to highlight his charity and get donations. He creates his own video reels of what he’s looking to collect, then posts them to his Instagram page. When he receives donations, he posts pictures of the items with a note of thanks, and tags the donator.

Last Mango Boatworks reposts Cam’s Instagram posts, as well as those of the other youth ambassadors, to the company’s Instagram page.

In addition, Last Mango Boatworks holds monthly Zoom meetings with all the youth ambassadors to help them

brainstorm about what kinds of things they could do for the charities they’re working with, or how they could help out with additional charities. Guest speakers talk to them during the meeting to motivate them and give them ideas.

“It has been an absolute pleasure having Cam on the Last Mango Boatworks Youth Ambassador Program,” said Vinnie LaSorsa. “All that Cam has accomplished so far is admirable. He sees the good side of life, and is bound to do great things.”

“We’re so fortunate to be a small part of his charity work,” added Sarah LaSorsa. “We can’t wait to watch him continue to make a difference in other people’s lives.”

Besides collecting sports cleats, Cam finds other ways to give to the community. Before the start of the school year, he did a back-to-school backpack drive. He was able to get

CONTINUED

15 backpacks, which he filled with school supplies and gave to children of various ages in his tackle football program.

For Thanksgiving, he is planning to distribute meals to local families in need through Cam’s Cleats. He will request monetary donations/ Publix gift cards on his Instagram page to purchase the Thanksgiving meal kits.

Cam also has plans to do something for Christmas through Cam’s Cleats, possibly a toy drive.

Cam said that, in the future, he always wants to be involved in something where he’s giving back.

“He’s definitely always thinking of other people,” said his mother.

To learn more about Cam’s Cleats go to Instagram@cam_ huss4_7. For information about Last Mango Boatworks, visit lastmangoboatworks.com.

BELOW Camden Hussey with his cleat collection which he collects and distributes to local children who cannot afford cleats.

Happy SNAPS

Concert in the Park Frank McDonough Park

Memorable moments around town

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRAVES

Happy Snaps

Concert in the Park Frank McDonough Park

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRAVES

Brian and Isla

Olivia, Juliette, Rylee, Ellie, Amanda, Stephanie, Lindsey and Olivia

Happy Snaps

Concert in the Park Frank McDonough Park

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRAVES

Meagan and Sydney with Keeley and Rylee

Jayne and DinahNic

Snaps

Youth Soccer Frank McDonough Park

PHOTOS BY JEFF GRAVES

Snaps

Youth Soccer Frank McDonough Park PHOTOS BY JEFF GRAVES

Personal Development

BY CRAIG HALEY

Learn to be Insanely Productive

TODAY MORE THAN EVER, MANY PEOPLE FEEL THEY HAVE SO MUCH TO DO AND NEVER ENOUGH TIME TO GET IT ALL DONE. YES, WE KNOW THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HITTING HUGE goals, making massive strides in progress, and seem to be doing it with ease.

We all know other people who seem to be sliding along laterally, making little to no headway toward their objectives, and getting increasingly frustrated.

What is the difference? We all have the same 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week. What is the difference between the person who consistently moves the needle and the person stuck in the mud? The answer lies in their productivity strategies. The high performers have specific productivity habits and strategies that help them make insane progress and yet do it sanely.

I am sure you are asking yourself what those secrets are. Well, you are in luck. I am going to share them with you.

Productivity Strategy #1: Increase the Outputs that Matter

High performers realize we are all inundated with information, marketing messages, and distractions. On top of that, they have realized that they will never hit their targets if they can’t focus on what matters.

High performers are diligent about figuring out what numbers they need to pay attention to, what skills they need to develop, and what their top priorities are.

We call them your vital functions, metrics, improvements, and priorities. Your vital functions are the three more important things you do that move the needle closer to your goals. Your vital metrics are the three most important numbers you need to pay attention to in your business, academics, etc.

Your vital improvements are the top three skills you need to improve and eventually master so you can be highly effective in your endeavor. Lastly, your vital priorities are the top three to accomplish each day, week, and month, so you stay on track.

Notice that we never go above three with any of these categories. Why? As Tony Robbins says, “Complexity is the enemy of execution.” If you don’t have clarity on your goals, reasons why,

and top actions, you will never make progress.

What happens when we are not sure what to do? Most people do nothing. They get overwhelmed with all the confusion, so they head to the couch, watch Netflix, and sip a beer instead of doing the hard work to figure it out. Of course, I am not talking about you — just other people!

Why can a lion tamer point an upside-down stool at a lion, and the lion does not attack? The answer is that the lion interprets the four legs of the stool as four separate threats that could attack at any time. So, the lion does nothing because he cannot focus on one threat at a time. People are the same way.

What are your outputs that matter? Do you have clarity? If not, grab a notepad and get to work!

Productivity Strategy #2:

Chart Your Five Moves

Charting is a valuable strategy to simplify your action plan and get you to take the necessary actions to achieve your big goals.

Ask yourself, “If there were only five major moves to make that goal happen, what would they be?”

Charlotte Burrie Center

Charlotte Burrie Center

Charlotte

Old Guys Rule

Amplify Wellness Market

1st Sunday of

“A

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Boomers”

December 7, 7:00pm

classes, kids ages 6-17

are FREE

Tues December 7, 7:00pm

Eventbrite.com

Tues & urs 6:30p (kids), 7:30p (adults)

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Dance classes Fridays 2:30pm

Senior Health Fair

Senior Health Fair Tues December 14, 10:00am-2:00pm

Tues December 14, 10:00am-2:00pm

Wednesdays 6:00pm

Kung Wednesdays 7:30pm

Wednesdays 1:00pm

Mondays, 7:00pm,

Group

Group

Back to School

CURRICULUM

Personal Development

Neil Armstrong, the first man to make it to the moon, said getting to the moon is a matter of two simple steps. Number one is figuring out how to get there, and number two is figuring out how to get back. Simple, right?

Not really, but making the process straightforward in your head makes it easier to begin working on that project.

The key is to break up the project into deliverables, deadlines, and activities. Then put them on your calendar and get to work!

Productivity Strategy #3: Get Insanely Good at Key Skills

The late, great author, Jim Rohn, says, “to have more, you must become more.”

Understanding that success is not something you pursue; it is something you attract by becoming an attractive person. How do you become an attractive person that attracts success?

Jim also says the key to life change is not motivation but education. If you have an idiot and you motivate him, you now have a motivated idiot who is more dangerous to himself and others! Not good!

It starts with education! Determine the five major skills you need to develop over the next three years to grow into the person you want to become. Then set out to develop those skills with obsessive focus through the 10 steps of progressive mastery.

Hall of Fame basketball coach, Pat Riley, says that you are getting better or you are getting worse. There is no staying at the same level.

The answer is to be obsessive about learning the most vital skills that will allow you to hit your goal and grow your business. How do you do that? Easy! Focus on a few strategies. Read for 30 minutes every day. Pick up a book on the vital skill you want to learn and read, highlight sections, and take notes. Knowledge is not power. Applied knowledge is power.

Use your NET Time (No Extra Time). Listen to audio programs and podcasts when doing something physically but not mentally, such as walking the dog, working out at the gym, driving anywhere, etc. Turn your car into a mobile classroom — The Automobile University.

Watch inspirational/educational videos and documentaries. Trust me, this is better than watching the news. Garbage in – garbage out! Good information in, act on that knowledge, and watch the success come your way! Your goals are within reach. You need clarity on what to do and why, then take massive action! Y

Master Shihan Craig Haley is the Seventh Degree Black Belt instructor at Elite Force Martial Arts, eliteforcemartialarts.com.

Fish Tales

Home of the Hat Tournament

HOW A SPECIAL EVENT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

BY JOHN PIOTROWSKI

ARE YOU NEW TO THE AREA AND WANT TO LEARN THE TRICKS OF LOCAL FISHING? WHAT BETTER WAY THAN A HAT TOURNAMENT! FOR OVER 30 YEARS THE LIGHTHOUSE POINT Saltwater Sportsmans Association (LHPSSA) has hosted a series of Hat Tournaments. The format fosters camaraderie and the sharing of techniques. Many anglers have a crew of friends they fish with all the time, in many cases, the same guys have fished together for decades. While this is undoubtedly friendly — it doesn’t always allow for learning new tricks or meeting new friends. The Hat Tournament format creates a venue to share different techniques while making new friends.

As we move into fall fishing season, the LHPSSA tournament committee is getting ready for its winter tournaments. Some of these will be Hat Tournaments — mainly sailfish or wahoo tournaments. Once the club designates a tournament a hat tournament, Captains offer their boat for the tournament. The names of all interested anglers are dropped into a hat and randomly assigned to a team boat. Over the years, many of the LHPSSA members will tell you they met their best friends fishing Hat Tournaments. Over the last ten years, I have had the pleasure of fishing on no less than 25 different boats. Had it not been for this format, I might never have fished with or gotten to know some of the guys who are now my closest friends.

When I moved to Southeast Florida in the early 2000s, I thought I would always catch blue marlin. Little did I know that blue marlin are not the easiest sportfish to catch for the weekend warrior. After years of failing, one day, I was assigned to a boat with Charlie Berkley during one of the LHPSSA’s Hat Tournaments. Charlie was a local realtor and an avid fisherman. I had never seen someone take so much time or care to rig baits for a fishing tournament.

After hearing of my frustrations, Charlie asked me if I wanted to catch a marlin? I said, yes, but it’s a fool’s errand. Charlie smiled and asked me to meet him at his boat in Pompano.

The following Tuesday, we left out of the Hillsboro Inlet around 6:30am. Charlie had a first-class display of baits on ice and a determined look. After we were more than 30 miles offshore, he suddenly stopped and said, this is the place.

I watched as he deployed lines while the boat was on autopilot. As he was setting up the right short bait, he looked back at me and

said – you’re new to this, and when that big blue comes up, I don’t want you getting excited and snatching the bait out of his mouth. So will set up the rookie rig or loop rig for you so there is a delay before you can put pressure on the fish. I didn’t know what he was talking about.

It felt like it was only a few minutes, and an explosion occurred behind the boat. Charlie yelled — there he is — right short. How did he know the fish would come up on that bait? I was so excited

I picked up the rod and started lifting the tip. I realized that the loop Charlie had in the line had pulled from the clip and created enough time for the bait to drop back, and the marlin was able to swallow the mackerel. We were on! About 30 minutes later, I landed my first blue marlin out of Hillsboro Inlet.

Charlie will forever be a fishing deity to me, and I will always refer to him as “the marlin doctor.” Had I not joined the LHPSSA and raised my hand to participate in one of the fishing club’s renowned Hat Tournaments, I may have never met my Babe Ruth of the sea. Charlie Berkley is still an active LHPSSA member and available for anyone who wants a chance at bat with a blue marlin. Y

Financial Fitness

Three Questions to Answer Before You Purchase Life Insurance

BY GREG EDWARDS

LIFE INSURANCE CAN BE AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, EVEN ESSENTIAL, PART OF YOUR WEALTH PLAN. ONE OF ITS MOST ATTRACTIVE ASPECTS FOR MANY INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES

is the death benefit of the policy — the money that the insurance company pays out in the event of the insured’s death. But navigating the life insurance landscape can be tricky—and people often make costly mistakes. Three of the biggest we see regularly:

• Buying too much — or too little — insurance due to a lack of understanding of their true financial needs

• Paying for life insurance using a less-than-ideal method or executing that payment method poorly

• Misunderstanding life insurance’s purpose and the reasons for having it

Question #2: How much life insurance do I need?

Let’s say you determine that life insurance is something you need. It’s then time to turn to the matter of amount.

The answer to this question is based on your answer to the first question. When you know the purpose of having a death benefit, it is possible to decide just how much life insurance you need to get.

Examples: Say you are looking to create a larger estate to ensure your family would be financially secure if you died. A lot of factors can be considered to come up with an appropriate death benefit. How sophisticated you get depends on you (and any advisors you enlist for help). Or say you have a business you plan to pass on to your daughter. Although your son has different talents and interests, you still want to leave him an inheritance—and you want things to be “fair” for both. Life insurance can be used to equalize their inheritances.

Question #3: How should I pay for my life insurance?

Once you know how much insurance you need, you can consider various ways to pay the premiums. Basically, there are four approaches to paying premiums:

• Pay the premiums out of pocket

• Have a third party pay the premiums

• Borrow the money to pay premiums

• Leverage your retirement plan to pay premiums

Which one works best depends on a wide variety of factors. But the first step is to understand that you do have options to consider—don’t let anyone tell you there is only one method.

In order to make smart life insurance decisions, there are four questions you need to ask yourself and answer.

Question #1: Why might I need life insurance?

Life insurance can be a very versatile tool, capable of replenishing an estate to cover various taxes as well as creating wealth. Ultimately, there are many reasons to purchase life insurance, including family, financial obligations, charitable impact

Question #4: Who is the owner and beneficiary?

Owner and beneficiary is driven by the objective of the insurance. This could be owned personally, by a business or by a trust.

Please call Greg and his team at 561-361-8140 ext 229 to find out how he and his team can help determine your life insurance needs.

The information above has been obtained from sources considered reliable, but no representation is made as to its completeness, accuracy or timeliness. All information and opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. Information provided in this report is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, investment, legal or tax advice; and does not constitute an offer, or a solicitation of any offer, to buy or sell any security, investment or other product. Representatives offer products and services using the following business names: Lawless, Edwards & Warren (LEW)-insurance and financial services | Ameritas Investment Company, LLC (AIC), Member FINRA/SIPCsecurities and investments | Ameritas Advisory Services (AAS) - investment advisory services. AIC and AAS are not affiliated with LEW.

Legal Matters

What’s Better: Life Estate Deed or Revocable Trust

BY MARTIN ZEVIN, ATTORNEY

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO AVOID PROBATE ON YOUR HOME WHEN YOU DIE. IF YOU ARE SINGLE, THERE WILL BE PROBATE WHEN YOU DIE UNLESS YOU CHOOSE ONE OF THE following options. If you are married and own your home together, your surviving spouse will not have probate; however, there will be probate when the second of you passes away unless one of these options is done.

Let us assume that you own your home jointly with your spouse and that you have two children. Both of you desire to have your two children inherit your home equally when you both pass away.

The first option would be to add the names of your two children to the deed as joint tenants with right of survivorship. This is not a good idea. It would affect your ability to claim your full homestead

The regular life estate deed requires that your children join in any sale or other changes on the deed; therefore, you have lost control and cannot take your child’s name off the deed if you choose to do so. The enhanced life estate deed gives you the sole right to sell the property during your lifetime or make any other changes to the deed without your child’s permission. The enhanced life estate deed has specific legal language to be effective; therefore, do not attempt to do this on your own.

Even with the enhanced life estate deed, there are risks, particularly if your child has a bankruptcy, outstanding judgment or undergoes divorce. The worst risk, however, is if, God forbid, your child dies before you or with you in a common accident. Your child’s estate would then become the property owner once you died, resulting in a need for probate. Thus, the primary purpose of the life estate deed is not accomplished.

exemption. In addition, you lose control of your property and can only sell it if your children both agree and sign all closing documents. If you wanted to take one of the children off the deed, you would be unable to do so. If one of your children files for bankruptcy, has an adverse judgment or files for divorce, your property could be subject to liens or other legal action. Therefore, I recommend against a deed with your children as joint tenants with right of survivorship.

The second option is a life estate deed. Two types of life estate deeds are regular and enhanced (also referred to as Lady Bird).

The best way to avoid probate on your home is to do a revocable living trust. When you sign the revocable living trust agreement, you also sign a deed transferring the property to you as trustees of your trust. You are able to keep your homestead exemption, maintain complete control of the property during your lifetime and make amendments to your trust without changing the deed. There are no risks involved, since your children’s names do not appear on the deed. The only disadvantage of the revocable living trust is that it will cost more money in attorney’s fees. When you discuss the options with your attorney, you should discuss the difference in fees between the revocable living trust and the enhanced life estate deed. You can then determine whether it is worth saving the money and taking the risks involved in the enhanced life estate deed. Y

Martin Zevin is available to discuss wills, trusts, estates, probate and is available for free consultation regarding personal injury claims or car insurance coverage. For more information call 954-569-4878 or visit martinzevinpa.com.

Relationships

Be Grateful All Year Long

BY MICHELLE HAYS

DID YOU KNOW THAT COUPLES WHO ACTIVELY EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THEIR SPOUSES ARE SIGNIFICANTLY HAPPIER IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS? IT’S TRUE. WHEN WAS THE LAST time you told your spouse that you were grateful for them? While studying positive psychology at FAU, I learned that a strong sense of gratefulness was one of the essential components of a fulfilling marriage and an extraordinary life.

Positive psychology is fantastic!

Anyway, let’s get back to gratitude. Remember to be grateful. It’s a simple concept that most of us tend to disregard, yet there are thousands of reasons to be thankful daily.

If you are more mindful of everything you can be thankful for, you will feel less stressed and frustrated — and happier for sure. We all get down at one time or another. I get it. I recently broke two bones, my fibula and my fifth metatarsal. When it first happened, I was doing very well mentally. I was incredibly thankful I didn’t need surgery.

Then as the weeks passed, I began to wallow in my frustration of being unable to walk. I felt down. One day while I was scrolling on Instagram, I saw a man with no hands and no legs flipping a tire in an obstacle race! At that moment, I felt ashamed. I snapped out of my funk and instead focused on my many blessings. My bones will eventually heal, and I will walk again. It was amazing what a little reality check did for me. I was able to refocus and appreciate my good fortune.

Do you want to increase your happiness almost immediately? You can start by being grateful for your spouse. Yes, they are not perfect, and yes, they can be downright frustrating at times, but if that is what you are focusing on, then that is all you will see. And to make matters worse, that is what your brain will seek out. It’s called confirmation bias!

Your brain will search for confirmation of all those negative thoughts and beliefs you have about your spouse filling your head. So, why not retrain your brain to seek the good things about them instead? You can do it! Begin by taking a few minutes and start writing down (yes, with an actual pen and paper) a list of qualities about your partner that you appreciate. I am willing to bet you will be pleasantly surprised. Next time you feel something other than love for your spouse, take out that list.

Reread it.

Remember that there are so many reasons to be thankful for your spouse. Don’t you appreciate how hard they work? Don’t you love it when they make you laugh? What about that delicious meal they served you? What about that hug you received when your day was not the best? Notice I didn’t say when you had a “bad” day. The words you choose do matter! (Another great tip about positive psychology is the importance of using high-energy words.) Thank your spouse! Also, thanking them will encourage them to do more of the behaviors you appreciate. Imagine that.

Most of us look forward to Thanksgiving and spending the day with our families and friends, focusing on our abundance and

blessings. However, being thankful at Thanksgiving is not enough to make significant changes in your marriage or life. You may consider starting a habit of giving thanks for the little day-to-day things. Things like coffee, farmer’s markets, indoor plumbing, sunshine, fuzzy socks, Publix, scented dog poop bags, Band-Aids, the air conditioning repair man, puppies, kittens, forever stamps, and not being a turkey! I hope a little smile ran across your face. You get the idea. You can be grateful for almost anything. Find every opportunity to be thankful and loving.

Remember, love is a decision. Choose Love. Oh, and remember, always be grateful.

Thanksgiving!

Creative Cocktails

Pumpkin Spice — it’s not just for Pie anymore

SPICY SEASONAL MARGARITAS

BY MRS. KOSSENFLOFFER

First, there were the pies. Then came the lattes. Nowadays, we can barely make our way out of August before we are bombarded with pumpkin-spiced confections and concoctions. It’s possible the craze has gone a bit overboard. But there is a time and a place for cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice and cardamom. These warm spices pair beautifully with a smoky Mexican reposado — making for one pretty spectacular autumnal margarita. And let’s face it — in Florida — a pumpkin spice margarita might be as close to fall as we get.

Pumpkin MargaritaSpice

Makes 1 cocktail

2 ounces reposado tequila

1 ounce Cointreau

1 ounce fresh lemon juice 1 to 2 ounces pumpkin spice syrup

PUMPKIN SPICE SYRUP

1/2 cup light brown sugar 1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

Pinch of ground cloves 4 tablespoons pumpkin puree (optional)

Cinnamon sticks for garnish Lemon wedges for garnish Note: this will make much more than you need for one cocktail. But it’s probably pretty good drizzled over a bowl of vanilla ice cream.

SPICED RIM 2 tablespoons kosher salt 1 tablespoon brown sugar ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon

PREPARATION

To make the syrup, combine the brown sugar, water and spices in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook until all of the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and let cool. After it has cooled, stir in the pumpkin puree. Refrigerate until ready to use.

To make the rim mixture, combine the salt, sugar and cinnamon on a plate. Using a wedge of lemon, wet the rim of the glass and then dip it in the mixture. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and combine the reposado, Cointreau, lemon juice, and syrup. Shake well until chilled — strain in the prepared glass. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, or a lemon wheel — or both.

Tidbits & Trivia

Welcome to Florida

BY JAMES TERLIZZI

I was bemused by a restaurant’s sign during Hurricane Ian: “Newcomers this is your initiation to Florida.”

As a public service, here are some things you should know about the state in addition to hurricanes.

ALLIGATORS: While most of them live in the swamp, they do frequent some neighborhoods and occasionally vacation in Miami. Don’t pet them.

ANTS: The Earth harbors 20,000,000,000,000,000 of them. They weigh more than all the birds and mammals combined. All but

A PRIMER FOR NEW FLORIDA RESIDENTS

two of them live in Florida. Be prepared. Buy a 20-pound tube of ant-killing gel, a week’s supply. Warning: Never leave sweets or an open can of soda in your car. You won’t believe how many ants show up.

BURMESE PYTHONS: Most of these live in the Everglades. For now, you are okay if you don’t venture into the swamp. However, these snakes will soon have eaten all the alligators and panthers and will come for you. Get a shotgun.

DRAIN FLIES: As the name implies, they live in your sink drain, among other places. They may be identified by their funky-looking rounded wings and the fact that they fly as if they were drunk. To

get rid of them, clean the drain, then pour in boiling water. Follow up by putting baking soda in the drain and adding vinegar.

Iguanas: Also known as the Green (obscenity). Some people think they are cute. You will learn to hate them when they eat your plants, dig holes in your seawall and rip up your roof. Your hate level will go way up when you step in a pile of their excrement, which is more slippery than silicone grease, and fall on your backside.

KILLER TREES: The Manchineel Tree is the most lethal tree in the world, according to the Guinness Book. Known colloquially as the “beach apple,” everything about it is poisonous, from the leaves to the bark and even the sap. It produces a fruit similar to green apples. Eating them causes a severe reaction — death. Don’t stand under one in the rain. Your skin will blister severely. I think they use this to make Napalm.

PUSS CATERPILLARS: The most venomous insect in the United States. They are fluffy and harmless looking, but between the hairs are venomous spines. The pain they cause is akin to being stung by a stingray.

TERMITES: Generally not a problem in colder climates; these wood-eaters are everywhere in Florida. If you see what looks like a circus tent covering a house, it means the property is being fumigated for drywood termites.

TRADES-PEOPLE/CONTRACTORS: None of them are in a hurry in Florida. For example, if you call, say an electrician, don’t expect a call back for at least a week. When he or she shows up to do the job, don’t be surprised if the following happens: While in your home in the middle of the project, he gets a phone call and immediately packs up and heads for the door. When you ask where he’s going he replies: “My buddy just called. The yellow-fin tuna are running. Be back in a couple of days.”

Despite all of this, I love it here, and you will too.

Welcome to Florida. Y

Fisher Ascending

Former Pompano Beach mayor and current Broward County Commissioner and Vice Mayor Lamar Fisher will assume the role of Mayor of Broward County on November 29, 2022, the first Pompano Beach resident ever to do so.

The position was created in 2013, and the term is one year. The other members of the commission elect the mayor.

BY RICHARD ROSSER

isher met me at the Lucky Fish restaurant, the new, open-air restaurant practically on the sand of the beach and immediately next to the now iconic sign announcing the “Pompano Beach Fisher Family Pier” which honors four generations of the Fisher family and their contributions to the city. There is a bit of irony that the pier, primarily used for fishing, is now named for a family called Fisher, but they started in the area over 100 years ago in pursuit of farming, which was much more prominent then.

“Blew me away. It was a total surprise about the naming of the pier,” according to Fisher, visibly humbled by the honor. His greatgrandfather was one of the signers of the articles of incorporation in 1908 and his father served as mayor starting in 1943 but Lamar is the star of the family that has served the greater city for decades.

But Fisher’s surprise belys the huge redevelopment that has transformed Pompano’s beachfront and other significant areas of the city over the last ten years. This magazine has published a steady

The Details

stream of news about projects over the years as the CRA (Community Redevelopment Authority), the city and the county worked to create and execute a grand, new vision for Pompano Beach — and Lamar Fisher was leading the city for most of the time this work has been happening.

Clearly, Fisher’s family influenced him to be a community leader, but he credits his service club work as the foundation for his leadership development. “I really got my start with Kiwanis” Fisher said as he described his involvement with the elementary school students, his local club and his work at the state level with many clubs. He served as the Florida district president from 1998-99. “I learned from those experiences.”

The Broward County mayor represents the county at ceremonial functions and presides over the commission meetings but essentially has one vote like the other commissioners. As a distant observer over the years, the position is primarily ceremonial,

ABOVE Lamar Fisher with Joy and Lou Moshakos. “These people get a lot of credit. They believed in the vision,” Lamar said of Lou and Joy Moshakos, who were at Lucky Fish on Pompano Beach the day of the interview with Fisher. The Moshakos also own Oceanic Restaurant on Pompano Beach. Lou and Joy started their restaurant careers over 40 years ago in neighboring Deerfield Beach.

OPPOSITE Lamar Fisher photographed at Lucky Fish on Pompano Beach

Lamar Fisher, Vice Mayor currently Broward County Commission, District 4 District 4, which includes all or portions of Fort Lauderdale, Hillsboro Beach, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Lazy Lake, Lighthouse Point, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach, Sea Ranch Lakes and Wilton Manors.

Elected 2018, unopposed for reelection in 2022 Pompano Beach Mayor, 2007-2018 Pompano Beach City Commissioner, 2002-2007

Broward County is the 17th-most populous county in the United States, with 1.94 million residents as of the 2020 census.

Fisher serves on several Boards appointed by the mayor, including the metropolitan planning organization, fire rescue council, school oversight committee, and the transportation management association. He holds the special appointment as the Broward County Commission Beach Renourishment Liaison and is a member of the Port Everglades Advocacy Team.

and the county has a full team of administrative professionals to execute the commission’s policies. Still, the position is coveted and not given without deliberations among the commission’s nine members.

I asked Fisher to identify the biggest problems facing Broward County residents.

“Our ability to attract and retain workers relies on being able to house them economically,” explained Lamar. “The cost of housing for workers is too high, and it affects everything else.”

I asked Fisher what the county is doing about this problem.

“We have programs to help both landlords and workers,” he started. When a developer wants approval to build a certain number of luxury or market-price units, the county can require a portion of the units to be for workforce members of the community or the county will accept a fee that can be used to fund workforce units at other projects in the county.

“Last year, we funded 1,200 units” in that program,” he said with a smile.

“And how many units did the commission need to fund?” I asked.

“40,000,” he replied.

From observing Pompano Beach’s growth under Fisher’s leadership, most people can see his continued results with workforce housing as an essential component of growth. With every luxury apartment tower on the beach, a small army of workers is needed to attend to those new residents. With every new hotel in the county, another apartment complex is needed to house the workers required to serve all the new tourists.

We discussed pension funding for county employees and the 31 municipalities in the county. Lamar assured me that funding is adequate.

Tourism is huge for Broward County, and Lamar

Project Home Again

Drone Show to Celebrate the Pompano Beach Fisher Family Pier November 12, 2022

clearly understands this. The day-to-day work of tourism is handled by the Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is funded and governed by Broward County, but tourism leadership is the responsibility of everyone in the region. We discussed the intensity of competition at state, national and international levels as travelers have more options than ever for travel experiences.

Fisher also has a day job and family life. He is president and CEO of Fisher Auction Company, headquartered in Pompano Beach. For over 30 years, Lamar has been active in all aspects of the auctioning industry.

Fisher is a devoted husband, father, and grandfather. He and his wife, Suzan, have two children, Patricia Fisher McGrath and Lamar “Paul” Fisher Jr., who also work at the Fisher Auction Company as in-house counsel and executive vice president of business development, making the business a four-generation family-run firm. Y

With the housing crises continuing to burden residents in South Florida, Broward County is making a more significant effort to invite landlords with vacant units to participate in Project Home Again. Project Home Again is an easy, convenient way for landlords to fill vacant units in Broward County with paying tenants while helping veterans, families and others rebuild their lives. And the rent is guaranteed! All tenants are pre-screened, payments are on-time, and security is paid upfront. As evictions continue to rise, this is a great way for landlords to help give more residents a place to call home. For more information, visit Broward.org/ProjectHomeAgain.

THE FENTANYL CRISIS IS HERE

The nation has seen a surge in overdoses and deaths involving fentanyl, and Broward County is no exception. To combat the crisis, the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) Pompano Beach District has developed an innovative intervention program that takes a proactive and compassionate approach to helping addicts at risk of overdosing. While still in its initial stages, the program is proving to be effective at saving lives.

BY MARIE PULEO

As Aaron was going up to people asking for money so he could go get high, two BSO deputies in their cars pulled up to him. He tried to take off, but when they followed him, he just threw his hands up in the air.

“I expected them to throw me in the back of the car and search my bag,” said Aaron, but instead they had him sit on the ground and ran his name through the system, to see if he had any warrants out for his arrest. When they saw he didn’t, they asked him if he wanted to get some help.

Aaron, a former sales professional, has been living in South Florida for about 20 years. Previously, he had spent time in jail, left other recovery programs and ended up living on the street, but this time he said he “went downhill faster than I ever had before.”

“At that point, I was just tired,” said Aaron. He didn’t want to go back to jail. He wanted to get back to his wife and two children.

Thanks to a new initiative – called the Recovery Residence Walkaway Intervention Program – the deputies, while still on scene, put Aaron in touch with a “peer specialist” from South Florida Wellness Network. A peer specialist is a person with “lived experience” who has been trained to support those who struggle with substance use or mental health challenges. A peer specialist has been successful in recovery and has firsthand knowledge of the healing process.

The peer specialist quickly met Aaron at a nearby gas station. From there, the peer specialist helped him get into detox, and then into a residential program, where he’s been ever since, slowly getting his life back together.

EFFECTIVE COMPASSION

Fentanyl has been described as the next, deadlier wave of the opioid crisis that started about two decades ago. According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl, a highly addictive synthetic opioid, is about 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is lethal at even the tiniest amounts.

Drug traffickers are increasingly mixing fentanyl with other illicit drugs—in powder and pill form—to drive addiction and create repeat customers. Many overdose victims have no idea they are ingesting deadly fentanyl until it’s too late.

BSO Captain Efrain Torres, who serves in the Pompano Beach District, said that last year he became alarmed at the number of overdoses occurring in Pompano as a result of the fentanyl epidemic, and he decided to take action.

After doing some research, Torres discovered that most of the victims were coming from sober homes, also known as recovery residences. He reached out to the mental health community and inquired about what programs or services were available to try to fight “this epidemic of all these people dying on the street.”

Torres then met with BSO Substance Abuse Educator Abbey Danneman. Together, they created the Recovery Residence Walkaway Intervention Program, which was launched in January 2022.

The program, referred to as the “Walkaway Initiative,” includes an intense training class that has been taught to all Pompano Beach BSO deputies (around 200 of them) on how to interact with someone who has walked away from a

One day this February, an individual who wants to go by the name of Aaron was panhandling near I-95 and MLK Boulevard in Pompano Beach. Aaron, a drug addict, had been living on the street for the past two weeks. He had been at a recovery residence, but it “didn’t work out.” According to the 40-year-old Aaron, fentanyl was his “main culprit.” He would mix it with other drugs. He was on it when the police caught up with him.

recovery residence and is out on the street with an increased propensity to overdose and die.

The deputies are taught how to talk to the individual in a compassionate, empathetic way –not as a law enforcement officer, but as a human being who cares about whether they live or die. Once the person feels comfortable speaking to the deputy, the deputy can offer to provide them with help.

“We really want the deputies to understand how important it is for them to reach down to these people and pull them up,” said Torres.

A crucial component of the program is its partnership with South Florida Wellness Network,

involving someone who has walked away from a recovery residence, South Florida Wellness Network steps in to help.

The individual may have chosen to leave the recovery residence on their own, or they may have been discharged because they were unable to pay the rent, they weren’t attending meetings or following the house rules (such as the curfew), they were being disruptive or used substances while there.

an organization that provides support to adults and youth who are struggling with substance use or mental health challenges, and also provides support for the families of those individuals.

The Pompano Beach BSO deputies were trained in small groups by Danneman, as well as John Glover, the specialty program supervisor for South Florida Wellness Network. Glover said that law enforcement may arrest an individual, but never see the outcome. Part of what he does is share with the deputies how people they encounter do recover and get better. At the end of each class, Torres spoke to the deputies to encourage them and make them understand how important the program is, and that it’s all about saving lives.

Under the new intervention program, when a BSO deputy in Pompano Beach responds to a call

The calls to BSO typically come from the recovery residence owner. Dispatchers question the callers about the individual, so when the deputies arrive on scene, they already know the person’s name, the reason why they left the recovery residence, and what their demeanor is. The BSO deputy then calls South Florida Wellness Network, which sends a peer specialist – either Glover or one of his six team members – to engage the person and offer them options for getting treatment, versus wandering the streets. The peer specialists are on call 24/7, and arrive on scene within 30 minutes.

In some instances, such as a warrant for arrest, the drug addict is sent to jail, and the peer specialist will respond there.

South Florida Wellness Network, which is a little over eight years old, was the first peerrun organization in Broward County. All of its approximately 45 staff members are individuals in recovery. The organization’s managing entity

We really want the deputies to understand how important it is for them to reach down to these people and pull them up.

— BSO Captain Efrain Torres

ABOVE In September, at an event organized by South Florida Wellness Network, BSO Captain Efrain Torres received a “First Responder of the Year” award from the Broward Recovery Month Committee for his efforts in spearheading the Walkaway Initiative in Pompano Beach.

Torres said that when he first encountered peer specialists, they were directly related to hospitals, but “we’ve expounded on that – we’ve got them out in the streets with us. We do our part, and then they come in and really hit the home run.”

The Walkaway Initiative is the first “coresponse” model in Florida to pair law enforcement with peer specialists that Torres and Glover are aware of.

The training of the deputies and the support of the peer specialists has brought tangible results.

As of mid-October, there were 191 interventions, and 117 individuals accepted treatment for either substance use or mental health challenges. Among those interventions, there were 31 individuals who were reversed from an overdose and transported to area hospitals, where a peer specialist engaged with them in the emergency room. They would otherwise likely have been fatalities, said Glover.

While other cities across the nation are seeing a surge in fatal overdoses as the epidemic continues to expand, Pompano Beach has stayed relatively stable. Toxicology reports from the Broward County Medical Examiner’s office show that in the first-half of 2022 there were 55 fatalities, versus 54 fatalities in 2021.

“Although we’ve had around the same amount from last year to this year, we’ve been able to keep the epidemic from exploding, which was the goal of the program,” said Torres.

Torres noted that he expects to see even better results as time goes on, because the program didn’t come to full fruition until several months after it was implemented, when training of all the deputies was completed and additional peer specialists came on board.

Because the program has exceeded expectations, it has been expanded to include not only people who have walked away from recovery residences, but anyone a deputy encounters in any circumstance who is experiencing an addiction problem and may be at risk of overdosing.

In Pompano Beach, there are currently 16 recovery residences certified by the Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FARR). However, BSO and social services are aware of many more that are not FARR certified. According to a report published in 2018, BSO documented 102 recovery residences in Pompano Beach, and at least another 102 locations thought to be recovery residences, but not confirmed.

The operators of all the FARR-certified recovery residences have been made aware of the Walkaway Initiative, said Glover, so they know that they have support when having to discharge someone, or when someone walks away.

A SOFTER APPROACH

Glover noted that there may be a lot of judgment or a stigma placed on an individual because they’re getting discharged from a recovery residence or a treatment program.

“Making them feel supported rather than judged goes a long way to help them feel motivated to want to take the next step, versus shaming them and coming at them with a negative attitude,” said Glover.

The peer specialist helps the individual get into a treatment program, or into a respite home where they can stay for a short period of time while waiting for a bed to become available in a treatment center or until they can return to a recovery residence.

is Broward Behavioral Health Coalition.

RIGHT John Glover, the specialty program supervisor for South Florida Wellness Network, and a Pompano BSO deputy during a Walkaway Initiative intervention.

“We know the window of willingness is quite small when individuals are making that decision to accept help,” said Glover. “We want to get them in a safe place so they don’t get themselves into more trouble or overdose out there, which is what we’re seeing a lot of.”

When responding to a BSO call, once the peer specialist has engaged the individual and there are no safety concerns, the deputies will leave and the peer specialist will sometimes remain on scene for two or three hours trying to find a place for the person to get into treatment.

If a person has overdosed and is taken to the hospital, the peer specialist will sit with them in the hospital and help make arrangements to get them into a treatment program. Glover said that, a lot of times, the hospitals will leave it up to the individual and will give them some resources on a piece of paper.

“For us, it’s not enough,” said Glover. “You need a little bit of that hand holding and motivation to want to take that next step.”

South Florida Wellness Network also offers ongoing support for as long as an individual wants it. A staff member can go with them to their initial assessment to get into treatment, can meet with them weekly while they’re engaged in treatment, and can work with the treatment providers to help them with a proper discharge plan.

“We’re that constant person that’s going to continue to be there and show up and support them, and remind them of why they need to be there,” said Glover.

There is no cost to BSO or the consumer for the services of South Florida Wellness Network, which is a nonprofit organization funded through county, state and federal grants. It also accepts tax deductible donations and does fundraisers several times throughout the year.

The majority of calls that the BSO deputies and peer specialists responded to involved white males; the substance that’s being used is predominantly fentanyl. The breakdown by gender is 132 males, 58 females and one transgender. The breakdown by race/ethnicity is 137 Caucasian, 22 Hispanic, 27 African American and five unreported. The age range is 19-73 years old. The majority of individuals were local; others were from out-of-state –primarily the northeastern U.S. – and had come to

the area for substance use treatment.

People who walk away from a recovery residence often go to the nearest “drug hole” –a place selling narcotics. One of the new best practices developed by the Walkaway Initiative is for BSO deputies to target places that could be selling drugs in close proximity to the recovery residences and shut them down.

BSO is getting ready to expand the Walkaway Initiative to Deerfield Beach, Oakland Park and other BSO districts where there are significant problems with overdoses, using Pompano Beach as a model.

Glover said there are plans to present the model next year at the Behavioral Health Conference organized by the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association. The goal is to showcase what the program in Pompano Beach has been able to do in hopes it can be duplicated elsewhere.

THE MARCHMAN ACT

Torres explained that, in the past, if a deputy administered the medication Narcan to someone to reverse an opioid overdose, and then fire

POMPANO’S NEW COMMUNITY COURT

In October, the City of Pompano Beach launched its new Community Court, which is designed to engage the homeless community, help offenders and assist individuals in need of services and resources.

This collaborative effort of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, the City of Pompano Beach, Broward County, the Clerk of Courts, the Office of the Public Defender, the State Attorney’s Office, Broward Sheriff’s Office, and several service and treatment providers, including Henderson Behavioral Health is an innovative approach to handling certain low-level misdemeanor crimes and violations of municipal ordinances.

Cassandra Rhett, who is the city’s housing and social services manager, serves as the Community Court coordinator.

With the Community Court, deputies will be able to get people in front of a judge to try to get them additional services that they haven’t been able to offer them either through the peer support or the encounters with them on the street.

Community Court will be held twice a month on Thursdays at the Annie L. Weaver Health Center located at 2011 NW Third Ave.

rescue arrived, the person might get up and try to leave, and end up overdosing again within an hour or two.

“Now, we don’t let that happen,” said Torres. When an individual who has been reversed from an overdose doesn’t accept medical attention, the deputies use the Marchman Act to make sure the individual gets the treatment they need, since the person is unable to make informed decisions for their own well-being. When the Marchman Act is used, the person has to be medically cleared and then evaluated by a professional to see what level of treatment they need, and then that person is court-ordered by a judge to a treatment facility.

According to Glover, out of the approximately 191 interventions that have taken place, deputies have had to use the Marchman Act less than 10 times to get people to go to the hospital.

“They’re pretty accepting of the help,” said Glover, “because it hits them that, just a short while ago, they were essentially dead.”

addressing the overdoses,” said Torres.

This allows the three-member Pompano BSO homeless outreach team to focus more of their efforts on helping chronically homeless people get off the streets, instead of being inundated with people who have walked away from recovery residences.

In addition, the Pompano BSO homeless outreach team has been working closely with the peer specialists to try to offer the same services to the chronic homeless people that the peer specialists offer to the transient population. There has been some success in helping the chronic homeless get into programs, or reuniting them with their families, whereas they refused services in the past.

Once someone on the street has had an initial encounter through the Walkaway Initiative, the homeless outreach deputies and peer specialists will go out and try to find these individuals again and offer them services.

“We just don’t give up on them,” said Torres. “We continue to try to offer them services after we know what their circumstances are.”

“The point of the program has been to stop overdoses, but because of the peer specialists, the doors have opened to all kinds of possibilities,” said Torres.

A JUMP START ON LIFE

On the day of his Walkaway Initiative intervention, Aaron wasn’t expecting the BSO deputies to act toward him as they did. They treated him with respect, and asked him if he wanted to get help. It was very different from the other encounters he had had with law enforcement, he said.

REDUCING POMPANO’S HOMELESS POPULATION

Besides preventing overdoses and deaths, the Walkaway Initiative will also help stop chronic homeless problems from occurring, said Torres, because these people will be given the help they need to get off the street before weeks, months or years go by.

“Based on our daily interactions within the community, we’ve seen a reduction in the number of people we have on the street since we’ve started

The deputies put him in touch with a peer specialist from South Florida Wellness Network who “gave me a jump start to my life again,” said Aaron. The peer specialist has been helping him through every step of his recovery process.

“The deputies treated me like a person, not like a nuisance, or somebody that just had to be dealt with,” said Aaron. “I thought they were going to look for a reason to arrest me. I was surprised when they didn’t and they were more concerned with whether or not I wanted to do something about my circumstances. I think that if people are open to it, it can save their lives.”

BELOW Pompano Beach BSO Captain Efrain Torres holding his “First Responder of the Year” award from the Broward Recovery Month Committee, standing next to BSO Substance Abuse Educator Abbey Danneman, John Glover of South Florida Wellness Network and BSO Community Programs Director David Scharf.

Email us with any additions, closings, or corrections at editor@ pointpubs. com. We try to be accurate, but it’s always a good idea to call first before heading out on your dining adventure.

KEY $ Inexpensive

Moderate

BROWARD BEACHES

WITH MRS. KOSSENFLOFFER

Dining OUT

LIGHTHOUSE POINT

Bonefish Mac’s Sports Grill. AMERICAN Bar food and a wide array of televised sports games with a game room for kids. 2002 E. Sample Road, 954-781-6227 $

Cap’s Place. SEAFOOD Lighthouse Point’s own hidden seafood joint dating back to prohibition. Take the short boat ride over to the restaurant. 2765 NE 28th Court, 954-941-0418 $$$

Fetta Republic. GREEK Traditional Greek offerings close to home. 2420 N. Federal Highway, 954-933-2394 $-$$

Fish Shack. SEAFOOD This restaurant used to be a “best-kept secret.” But now that they have moved into the Shoppes at Beacon Light, the word is out. The Fish Shack keeps it simple, serving fresh fish prepared in several ways. There is more to the menu, but it is called The Fish Shack. 2460 N. Federal Highway, 954-586-4105 $$

Le Bistro. CONTINENTAL Classically-trained chef Andy Trousdale serves up classics and inventive new dishes at this little neighbor hood gem. Fresh and local produce is always used, and vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free menu items are available. A note to the wise; the porcini mushroom soup is worth every calorie. The restau rant also offers cooking classes and wine tasting dinners. More than worthy of a special occasion. Reservations are recommended. 4626 N. Federal Highway, 954-946-9240 $$$

Legends Tavern and Grille. AMERICAN Enjoy gastropub fare, including sandwiches, burgers, wings, salads and a huge choice of appetizers. 3128 N. Federal Highway, 754-220-8932 $-$$

The Nauti Dawg Marina Café. AMERICAN Nestled at the Light house Point Marina, the Nauti Dawg is a local favorite. Start with the tuna wontons—crispy fried wonton wrappers topped with tuna tar tare, seaweed salad, red pepper mayo, wasabi and a hit of sriracha. You can’t go wrong with the fresh fish sandwich—ask what the catch of the day is. They are a dog-friendly restaurant. 2830 NE 29th Ave. (at the Lighthouse Point Marina), 954-941-0246 $$

Papa’s Raw Bar. SUSHI • SEAFOOD While the fresh food is the real star, the Keys-inspired decor accounts for part of their charm. The menu goes beyond typical raw bar offerings with inventive ta cos and sliders. Papa’s also offers an impressive array of sushi and sashimi. And to wash it all down, they have about a zillion craft beer options and a good wine list too. 4610 N. Federal Highway, 754-3075034 $$-$$$

Rocca Trattoria. ITALIAN Rocco is a small and intimate neigh borhood place serving classic Italian fare. 2014 E Sample Road, 954876-1733 $$

DEERFIELD BEACH

Baja Cafe. MEXICAN Locals flock to this long-established favorite for a Mexican dinner or just drinks. They are known for their margaritas and entrées, including their bandito honey bean burritos and many taco options. You’ll also enjoy their endless fresh chips served with two types of salsa. 1310 S. Federal Highway, 954-596-1304 $$

Barracuda Seafood Bar & Grill. SEAFOOD • BRAZILIAN This spot by the sea serves seafood with a touch of Brazilian flare, such as the bobo de camarao — shrimp sautéed in coconut milk, saffron, palm oil and yucca cream baked in a cast-iron skillet. 123 NE 29th Ave., 954-531-1290 $$

Casa Maya. MEXICAN Start with a margarita, and it only gets bet ter from there. This is not your typical Mexican joint — it’s better. Try gobernador tacos: a combination of shrimp with diced poblanos, onions, tomatoes and cilantro on a crispy corn tortilla topped with melted cheese. 301 SE 15th Terrace, 954-570-6101 $$

Chanson at the Royal Blues Hotel. SEAFOOD • SEASONAL Chanson offers fine dining with an ocean view. 45 NE 21st Ave., 954857-2929. $$$$

Deer Creek Grille. AMERICAN Enjoy the club atmosphere with gorgeous views of the lush gardens and waterfall. The restaurant of fers daily lunch and dinner specials, a Sunday breakfast buffet and covered patio dining so you can dine al fresco. 2801 Deer Creek Coun try Club Blvd., 954-421-5553 $$

JB’s on the Beach. SEAFOOD The restaurant boasts glorious beach views and a private glass room perfect for business or family affairs. 300 N. Ocean Way, 954-571-5220 $$$

Le Val de Loire Restaurant. FRENCH • STEAKHOUSE The menu at this cozy French bistro includes many classics. So next time you crave sole meunière, filet mignon au poivre or beef bourguignon, you don’t have to go further than the Cove. The steakhouse menu includes a New York strip and a rib eye, among other cuts. Le Val de Loire is a French restaurant, so they offer three sauces with the steaks — including a mushroom cream sauce. Classic steakhouse sides like creamed spinach are also available. 1576 SE Third Court, 954-427-5354 $$$

Little Havana. CUBAN Little Havana has fantastic lunch specials, and most of their dinner plates will feed two. Their masas de puer co frita and their Little Havana steak are two of the standout menu

items, aside from their zesty chimichurri. 721 N. Federal Highway, 954427-6000 $$

Luigi di Roma. ITALIAN The atmosphere is always lively at Luigi di Roma — mainly if you arrive during happy hour! Naturally, you will find all your favorite Italian dishes on the menu, with everything from eggplant Parmesan to shrimp scampi and everything in between. You can also order take-out online. 718 S. Federal Highway, 954-531-6151 $$-$$$

Ocean’s 234. SEAFOOD Amazing views of Deerfield Beach and the pier with gluten-free options are available. 234 N. Ocean Blvd., 954428-2539 $$$

Patio Bar & Grill. CONTINENTAL Enjoy cocktails just feet from the sandy beaches of Deerfield. This relaxed spot at the Wyndham serves casual fare. You can stick to the classics like wings or a shrimp cocktail. Or be more adventurous and enjoy an order of volcano spring rolls stuffed with crab and served with sriracha mayo and wakame slaw. They also serve burgers and plenty of fresh salads and savory entrees. There is often live music contributing to the energetic vibe. 2096 NE Second St., (at the Wyndham Deerfield Beach Resort) 954-596-8618 $$

Patrizio of NYC. ITALIAN At Patrizio, you will find all the classic Italian dishes we all love. The vibe is lively and the food is tasty. What more do you need? 1544 SE Third Court, 954-751-9797 $$

Taj. INDIAN This unassuming eatery in the Cove Shopping center has been quietly chugging along for years. The restaurant serves various Indian favorites, including tandoori breads, biryani, lamb specialties, and plenty of vegetarian options. The saag paneer, which is the Indian version of creamed spinach, goes well with anything on the menu. SE 15th Terrace, 954-427-0423 $$

Tijuana Taxi Co. MEXICAN Perhaps it’s the all-day happy hour (Mon.-Fri., 11am-7pm) with $6 El Jimador margaritas, but as soon as you enter, the day’s weight lifts off your shoulders. There is outdoor patio seating available and a large U-shaped bar inside. The portions are generous — certainly enough for a doggie bag. And for the little ones there is kids night on Sunday: kids eat for $1.99 from the $6.99 kids menu. 1015 S. Federal Highway, 954-708-2775 $$

Whales’ Rib. SEAFOOD Locals know it well, and tourists know it from “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” Whatever you do, don’t skip the whale fries. 2031 NE Second St., 954-421-8880 $$

POMPANO BEACH

And Fish Kitchen + Bar. SEAFOOD Located at the Marriott Pom pano Beach Resort & Spa, diners will enjoy a modern take on fresh seafood. The restaurant sports a contemporary and breezy ambiance. 1200 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-782-0100 $$

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza. ITALIAN • PIZZA • WINGS You can credit this place with bringing the whole “coal-fired pizza craze” to South Florida. Pizza and chicken wings — do you need any more? Try the cauliflower pizza — good and good for you. 1203 S. Federal High way, 954-942-5550 $$

The Beach Grille. AMERICAN Delicious eats near the beach with the capability to order online. 3414 E Atlantic Blvd., 954-946-6000 $

Beach House. AMERICAN • CRAFT COCKTAILS This is the perfect place to take out-of-town guests. Snag one of the stadium seating style booths overlooking the Atlantic. Enjoy the casual and relaxed ambiance with a rooftop deck on the second floor. 270 N Pompano Beach Blvd. 954-607-6530 $$

Calypso Restaurant and Raw Bar. CARIBBEAN Since they opened their doors in 1990, Calypso has been a local favorite. This gem of a restaurant is known for its fresh, wild caught fish, Baha

mian conch dishes, Jamaican jerk and American favorites all served with an island flair. Try the house special cutter (sandwich) — sautéed shrimp with garlic butter, mushrooms and cheddar all stuffed into a hollowed-out kaiser roll. For island comfort food, don’t miss one of their curries or rotis. Fresh oysters and clams are also available. Wash it all down with a draft beer, a glass of wine or choose from over 40 different bottled beers. 460 S. Cypress Road, 954-942-1633 $$

Casareccio Trattoria Italiana. ITALIAN Wow! What a find. This small but impressive Italian eatery is delightful. We can’t tell you what to try because the menu changes daily. However, we are willing to bet you will fall in love with this place which feels like it just plopped into Pompano straight from the hills of Tuscany. Reservations are highly recommended. Also, call ahead to see what they are serving. 1386 S. Federal Highway, 954-998-3642 $$$-$$$$

Checkers Old Munchen. GERMAN For a traditional German meal, try the wiener schnitzel — it’s divine — a lightly breaded veal cutlet sautéed in lemon butter and topped with homemade brown gravy. The spaetzle (German noodles) are a real homemade treat and not to be missed — throw a little of that brown gravy on them, and they could be a meal unto themselves. The red cabbage is both clas sically sweet and sour and there are other side options too including potato dumplings, potato salad and even hot potato salad. Imbibe to your heart’s content with their vast assortment of German beers. 2209 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-785-7565 $$

Chef Dee’s. SUSHI • SEAFOOD A small neighborhood place with plenty of charm. Impressive sushi rolls and a varied menu with some thing for everyone. 3919 N. Federal Highway., 954-582-4444 $$

Dangerous Minds Brewing Co., BREWERY • ARTISANAL PIZZA Dangerous Minds is more than just a brewery. This spot at Pompano Citi Centre offers artisanal pizzas made from scratch. Their specialty is a Scotch egg, a soft-boiled egg wrapped in homemade sausage and then fried until crispy on the outside. But back to the brewery — all the beers are brewed on-site, and owners Adam and Andre hale from Germany and England — two countries steeped in beer tradition. 1901 N Federal Highway, 954-657-8676 $-$$

Darrel & Oliver’s Cafe Maxx. INTERNATIONAL This restaurant is an anchor of the South Florida fine dining scene. 2601 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-782-0606 $$$$

Deep Oceanfront Dining & Bar. AMERICAN Beach front dining at the Beachcomber Resort — go for the view. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 1200 S. Ocean Blvd. 954-941-7830 $$$

Deccan Spice. INDIAN Enjoy the contemporary decor and take your pick from classic dishes like chicken tikka and biryani and curry dishes to some Indo-Chinese twists like crunchy stir-fried noodles. There are plenty of vegetarian options on this menu and many vari ations on naan — Indian flatbread. 1149 S. Federal Highway, 954-3661847 $$

Di Farina Pasta Factory & Restaurant. ITALIAN We all know that fresh-cut pasta is superior to the dried variety we have become accustomed to. But making pasta from scratch is a process. But what if you could just pick it up nearby or even have it delivered. Dreams do come true. Di Farina offers a variety of freshly made pasta to go. And if you can’t be bothered to make a sauce, they’ve got 19 from which to choose. The restaurant also has a full menu of Italian favor ites. 1915 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-953-6771 $$

The Foundry. AMERICAN • CONTINENTAL Seating options galore, from bar seating to lounge seating and old-fashioned casual dining seating — all with a contemporary Ameican menu. 2781 E. Atlantic Blvd., 754-205-6977 $$

Galuppi’s. AMERICAN What could be more entertaining than watching golfers swing and blimps ascend as you sip a drink at an outdoor bar? 1103 N. Federal Highway, 954-785-0226 $-$$

Gianni’s Italian Restaurant. ITALIAN Gianni’s is practically a Pompano Beach landmark. Enjoy traditional Italian fare at this fami ly-owned and operated establishment, serving everything from pasta to specialties like Chicken Gianni’s and fresh seafood. Don’t skip the romaine salad with the blue cheese. Pair your dish with a bottle of wine or cocktail from their full bar. They also offer daily lunch specials Monday – Friday. 1601 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-942-1733 $$

Houston’s. AMERICAN Enjoy this contemporary eatery for lunch or dinner. An outdoor bar and seating on the Intracoastal are available. 2821 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-783-9499 $$$

J Mark’s. AMERICAN A relaxing, modern restaurant and bar with food and service to match. 1490 NE 23rd St., 954-782-7000 $$$

Kin Asian Street Food. ASIAN • SUSHI Enjoy everything from inventive takes on ramen soups with pork belly and a jammy egg to rice bowls and dumplings. We swooned over the shiitake buns, mush rooms with pickled sour mustard, ground peanuts and cilantro, all on a steamed rice bun. The gyoza was also a star — the dough was light and tender with a flavorful pork and vegetable filling. The restaurant has a comprehensive sushi menu, but this is a place to order outside your comfort zone. After all, isn’t sushi the new pizza? 143 SW Sixth St., 954-532-4567 $$

La Perla Di Pompano. ITALIAN This small and intimate Italian eatery offers a wide selection of Italian dishes, including four differ ent risotto dishes alone. 420 N. Federal Highway, 754-222-9174 $$$$$$$

La Veranda. ITALIAN The atmosphere is elegant, yet comfortable and warm. Inside or out, one can enjoy a special evening in the Tus cany-inspired surroundings. There is an extensive selection of pas ta, entrées and traditional dishes, with new favorites to be discov ered that the wait staff will happily explain. Taste the love in their homemade desserts. If you’re looking to celebrate, La Veranda is an excellent choice. Reservations are suggested. 2121 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-943-7390 $$$

Legends Tavern and Grille. AMERICAN Enjoy gastropub fare, including sandwiches, burgers, wings, salads and a huge choice of appetizers. 10 SW Sixth St. $-$$

Lucky Fish Beach Bar + Grill. AMERICAN It’s places like Lucky’s that make you happy you live in South Florida. This tiki bar by the sea (just south of the pier) offers simple eats, some top-notch peo ple watching all with an ocean view. The menu includes classic snack foods like coconut shrimp and fish dip to tuna poke nachos. There are also salads, sandwiches and smash burgers. You can also order to go for a picnic on the beach. 222 N Pompano Beach Blvd. $

Nonna’s Bistro & Cafe. ARGENTINEAN • BAKERY • CAFE Some of Nonna’s offerings include pasta frola cake, American keto salad, and a charcuterie board for two. Carryout and delivery are available. 2608 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-532-9920 $$

Oceanic. AMERICAN • SEAFOOD Along with stunning ocean views, the restaurant offers a comprehensive menu emphasizing seafood. If you are looking for a standout salad, the watermelon arugula salad with grilled shrimp is a perfect choice. The shrimp and grits were prepared traditionally and packed with flavor. The baby back ribs were melting off the bone, and there was enough for a doggy bag. The restaurant boasts dazzling architecture inspired by the great ocean liners of years past. 250 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., 954-366-3768 $$-$$$

Pho Lavie. VIETNAMESE If you have never had Vietnamese food, you are missing out. This spot will delight you. Everything is so fresh. Go and have some pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), you’ll thank us. 3321 N. Federal Highway, 954-941-4155 $$

Ruby’s by the Sea. ITALIAN Tucked away in a small strip mall near the Hillsboro inlet is Ruby’s, serving classic Italian fare. 2608 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-785-7700 $$

E. Atlantic Blvd., Pompano Beach (954) 942-1733

Lunch: Mon – Fri 11:00am - 2:30pm

Dinner: Mon – Sun 4:00pm - 9:30pm

Rusty Hook Tavern. AMERICAN Located on the Pompano Intra coastal, sit inside or outside; just keep in mind that the word tavern means a local place to gather around the table. 125 N. Riverside Drive, 954-941-2499 $$

Saito Japanese Steakhouse. JAPANESE This Japanese steak house offers a wide variety of entrees, including teriyaki dishes, tem pura and sushi. Diners can choose to sit at the sushi bar, or they can enjoy hibachi-style dining. The restaurant has a comprehensive cock tail menu and 20 different kinds of martinis. 2101 N Federal Highway, Suite 208, 954-945-8888 $$

Sands Harbor Patio Restaurant. AMERICAN Located in the Sands Harbor Hotel and Marina on the Intracoastal, you can dine poolside or waterside; either way, you better know how to swim. 125 N. Riverside Drive, 954-942-9100 $$

Seaside Grill. SEAFOOD • AMERICAN Enjoy a view of the Atlantic while enjoying fresh seafood and an icy cold cocktail. Don’t worry if you’re not a fish lover — there are plenty of entrée choices from the land. Located at Lighthouse Cove Resort on the ocean. 1406 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-783-3193 $$

Shishka Lebanese Grill. MIDDLE EASTERN It’s not easy to make a good falafel, but the ones at Shishka are worth every calorie. There are plenty of other choices, too, from the classic hummus to ba ba-ghanouj to chicken and meat shawarma. 1901 N. Federal Highway, 954-943-2999 $$

Spanx the Hog BBQ. BARBECUE Spanx uses natural ingredients and offers dine in, take out, and custom catering. 147 S. Cypress Road. 954-590-8342 $

Table 2201. MEDITERRANEAN Everything at Table 2201 is made on the premises — even the desserts. Start with the pygros, a tower of eggplant, potatoes and ground beef topped with a cool yogurt sauce. 2201 E. Atlantic Blvd., 718-600-2236 $$

Take Sushi. JAPANESE • SUSHI Fresh, authentic Japanese fair de livered to your door? Yes, please. 2714 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-785-2442 $$

Umberto’s of Long Island. ITALIAN • PIZZA When a pizza is named Grandma’s Pizza — you must order it. And trust us, you won’t regret it. There is family tradition baked into every bite. But, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention that Umberto’s offers all the Italian standards. 2780 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-784-7110 $$

Valentino’s Italian Cuisine. ITALIAN • PIZZA An abundance of Italian fare served for lunch or dinner. If you can’t make it over to dine in, fret not; they offer free delivery. 427 S. Federal Highway, 954943-5387 $$

Zoyuz. SUSHI • JAPANESE BOWLS Zoyuz offers sushi and inventive ramen-inspired bowls. Plus, they have an innovative drink menu. 2515 E Atlantic Blvd. 954-951-6068 $$

Zuccarelli. ITALIAN • PIZZA This place is more than just a pizza joint. From eggplant Parmesan to shrimp fra diavolo, you will leave quite satisfied. The portions are generous and come with a house salad. Bring your breath mints because their garlic rolls are on point. 1340 N. Federal Highway, 954-941-1261 $

Fast & Casual

LIGHTHOUSE POINT Fast & Casual

Burger Fi. BURGERS Everything at Burger Fi is cooked to order. Don’t miss the fries and the larger-than-life onion rings. The break

fast all-day burger is topped with a fried egg. 3150 N. Federal Highway, 954-933-7120

Red Fox Diner. DINER Treat yourself to one of the daily specials at the Red Fox and you just might be able to skip dinner. But if you are in the mood for some comforting diner food, Red Fox never disappoints. Breakfast and lunch are served daily. 2041 NE 36th St., (Sample Road) 954-783-7714

Offerdahl’s. BAGELS • SANDWICHES • SALADS If you are in search of a decent bagel, this is the spot. But the menu goes far beyond ba gels with tasty, inventive and healthy salads, satisfying sandwiches, and entrees. 2400 N Federal Highway, 954-788-3464

Packy’s Sports Pub. SPORTS BAR If you are looking for a local spot to watch the game, Packy’s always pack them in. 4480 N. Federal Highway, 954-657-8423

Snow Time. BOBA TEA This spot for treats features bubble tea (boba) in about a zillion flavors. If you are looking for something new, different and delicious, get some bubble tea. Other sweet treats are paper-thin shaven ice cream and authentic Asian snacks. 2482 N. Fed eral Highway in the Shoppes at Beacon Light, 954-597-6269 $

DEERFIELD BEACH Fast & Casual

Biondo’s Pizza. PIZZA • SUBS Dine-in or take-out available. For something other than pizza, try the stromboli or the wings. 606 S. Federal Highway, 954-427-7754

Bob’s Pizza. PIZZA • ITALIAN Pizza served remarkably close to the beach — as if pizza could get any better. 2076 NE Second St., 954-4261030

Burger Craze. BURGERS Top-quality ingredients come together to create unique taste sensations. Enjoy juicy burgers, hot dogs, wings and more. 2096 NE Second St. (at the Wyndham Hotel), 954-596- 5949

Charm City. BURGERS Try the emperor — an American Kobe beef patty with aged Swiss, truffled aioli and sautéed mushrooms — a burger fit for a king. 1136 E. Hillsboro Blvd., 954-531-0300

El Jefe. MEXICAN For a genuinely inventive take on Mexican street food, this small yet bright and cheery taco joint is full of surprises. 27 N. Federal Highway, 954-246-5333

Gelateria. GELATO Gelateria offes more than 26 flavors of gelato. Take a stroll on the beach with a cone. Open daily. 2096 NE Second St. (at the Wyndham Hotel), 694-428-2850

Michael’s Pizzeria. PIZZA Closed Mondays 1645 SE Third Court, Deerfield Beach, 954-426-1515

Nick’s Pizza. PIZZA Nick’s family moved from the Bronx to Deer field Beach years ago and opened Nick’s Pizza. The restaurant offers an extensive Italian catering menu, delivery and New York Style pizza. 137 NE Second Ave., 954-421-6700.

The Pickle Barrel. DELICATESSEN Get in touch with your inner New Yorker at this old-style deli, complete with friendly guys behind the counter filling your sandwich with enough pastrami to feed a family. 33 E. Hillsboro Blvd., 954-427-0650

Olympia Flame. DINER With a traditionally huge diner menu, you can’t go wrong at the Olympia Flame. For a real treat, try the turkey pot pie. The friendly staff makes you feel like a regular — even if you aren’t — but you should be. 80 S. Federal Highway, 954-480-8402

The Sticky Bun. DELI • BAKERY Everyone will find something to munch on, whether their flourless chocolate cake or a short rib panini with fontina cheese and pickled red onions… yum. We’re still dream ing about the BLT. 1619 SE Third Court, 754-212-5569

Tropical Grill Island Cuisine. CARIBBEAN Don’t be fooled

by the counter service at this beachside eatery where the offerings range from escovitch snapper to shrimp curry. Grab a table outside for people watching. 241 N. Ocean Drive, 754-227-5055.

Umberto’s. PIZZA Family tradition baked into every bite. Try Grand ma’s pizza, square pizza with fresh tomato and basil and, of course, mozzarella. 233 N. 21st Ave., 954-421-7200

POMPANO BEACH Fast & Casual

Anne Marie’s Pizza and Wine Co. PIZZA • ITALIAN Whether you are looking to grab a quick slice or enjoy a much-needed date night, Anne Marie’s fits the bill. Enjoy a cheesy slice of New York-style pizza, bruschetta or classic chicken Francese. 2313 N. Federal Highway, Pompano Beach 954-590-2100.

Bakery Fusion. CAFE • BAKERY This spot at Pompano Citi Centre is a handy spot to grab a coffee and a fresh-baked good. The menu also includes many different sandwiches, soups, salads and smooth ies. You can also find fresh bread such as baguettes, ciabatta and other daily selections and a wide selection of coffee drinks, from cap puccino to an affogato 1901 N. Federal Highway (Pompano Citi Centre), 954-532-7383

Borogodo Brazilian Grill. BRAZILIAN Open for lunch Mon day-Friday 11am-4:30pm; Saturday 11am-5:30pm. 7 SE 22nd Ave., 954782-8040

Broad Street Deli. BREAKFAST • DELICATESSEN Jewish-style deli sandwiches, subs, wraps, homemade soups, bagels, and home made baked knishes. Open for breakfast and lunch Monday-Saturday, 8:30am-4pm. 2657 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-816-9649

Cafe Brie. SANDWICHES • SALADS A little gem of a place that serves fantastic sandwiches, salads, quiche and desserts. 2765 E. At lantic Blvd., 954-532-7800

Cannoli Kitchen. ITALIAN • PIZZA The Cannoli Kitchen has been a staple for fast-casual Italian fare in Boca Raton since 1996. Now, lucky for the folks in Pompano, they are open at a new Pompano Beach Fishing Village location. Try one of their many pasta dishes, calzones, subs, stromboli and other Italian classics like shrimp fra diabolo, chicken or veal marsala, and many more. 255 N. Pompano Beach Blvd., 954-737-3737

Carlucci’s Brick Oven Trattoria & Pizzeria. ITALIAN Italian favorites and brick oven pizza at the beach. Open lunch and dinner Monday-Thursday 11am-10pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm, Sunday 12-10pm. 3420 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-946-3150

Chez Cafe. Coffee • Bakery A warm and cozy place to grab breakfast, lunch or a latte. 1631 S. Cypress Road, 954-933-3453

Dandee Donut Factory. BAKERY • PASTRIES From the classic old-fashioned sour cream to Boston cream, these babies are just begging to be dunked. Bagels, breakfast and lunch are also available. 1900 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-785-1461

Five Girls. DINER Check out this cozy, neighborhood joint. Five Girls offers all the classics you crave, including burgers, hand-cut fries and the owner’s favorite Philadelphia cheesesteaks. 2659 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-783-8889

La Rachetta at Whole Foods Market. PIZZA • WINE BAR En joy weekly deals with plenty of beers on tap and wines by the glass. Try the sweet southern swine pizza for something different — a light and crispy pizza topped with pork belly, arugula, and cheese. 2411 N. Federal Highway, 954-786-3535

Jet’s Pizza. PIZZA Try one of the specialty pizzas such as Philly cheese steak with Alfredo sauce or the BLT. 437 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954782-5387

Dining Out

Jukebox Diner. DINER Bright, classic seating, jukeboxes, and that old-school diner feel. 2773 E. Atlantic Blvd., 954-960-5882

Lighthouse Cove Tiki Bar. AMERICAN Seaside eats and happy hours. 1406 N. Ocean Blvd., 954-784-2804

Little Italian. ITALIAN • PIZZA Little Italian Pizza is the best kind of Italian restaurant — the kind that feels like a hole-in-the-wall, but quickly grows vibrant as the large, steaming plates of homestyle Ital ian dishes come barreling out of the kitchen. While the small restau rant (with only about six cozy tables) doesn’t serve alcohol, they do allow BYOB. Families bring in bottles of red wine to cork, creating a joyous atmosphere. The restaurant has a huge menu with stromboli, calzone, soups, salads, subs, 26 kinds of specialty pizzas, baked pas ta dishes, chicken and veal entrées and traditional pasta dishes and desserts. 448 S. Cypress Road, 954-941-0550

Mini Pita. MEDITERRANEAN The comprehensive menu includes plenty of salads, pita melts, sandwiches, gyros, shawarma, kebabs, falafel, and entrees that include lamb chops and mousaka. 2555 E. Atlantic Blvd. 954-532-9595

Nelson’s Diner. DINER Nelson’s diner is a cute, hole-in-the-wall 50s diner with Elvis memorabilia on the walls, baseball flags on the ceiling, friendly servers and classic red vinyl booths. 438 S. Cypress Road, 954-785-3646

Pascal & Cathy French. BAKERY • CAFE For fresh French baked goods, you can’t beat Pascal & Cathy. In fact, you can watch through a window as the croissants, eclairs and baguettes are prepared and baked right on the premises. The small shop also offers breakfast, sandwiches, salads, coffee and more. The croque monsieur was pos itively sinful and worth every calorie. 998 N Federal Highway, Suite 4-5, 954-756-1496 $-$$

Rocket at Valentino’s. PIZZA This family-owned pizzeria is an ex cellent alternative to the big chains. Order an authentic Italian pizza and taste the love! 427 S. Federal Highway, 954-943-5387

The Chicken Box & More. SOUTHERN This small spot with just a couple of tables serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and does a robust take-out business. Have your fill of southern comfort food, including shrimp and grits with scrambled eggs, fried pork chops, classic potato salad, meatloaf and collard greens. The greens were stellar — they were juicy and perfectly seasoned with bits of pork supplying a pleas ing heft. 204 N. Flagler Avenue, 954-781-7400

The Gyro Joint. MIDDLE EASTERN Eat in or carry out. It’s all Greek to me. 165 S. Cypress Road, 954-946-9199 $

The Poké Company. POKÉ Build your own bowl by choosing a base of rice or greens, then add a protein such as ahi tuna or steamed shrimp, then go to town with the mix-ins and sauces. Then top your bowl with everything from pickled ginger to tempura flakes. There are an infinite amount of choices. If bowls aren’t your thing, you can build your own poké burrito. 1154 N. Federal Highway, 754-220-8933

The Rabbit Hole. VEGAN This small spot serves up elevated veg an comfort cuisine. If you are trying to eat less meat, but still crave chicken wings, The Rabbit Hole serves boneless and meatless chick en wings in a plethora of flavors. Other dishes include shrimp po’ boy sandwich, a southern barbecue platter, hot dogs, stir-fry and more. Remember, it’s all vegan. 2659 E Atlantic Blvd., 954-419-4899

Tortillería Mexicana. MEXICAN If you’re looking for a taco that goes beyond ground beef and toppings? Not only will they supply you with fresh, unique tacos, but the corn tortillas are made from scratch daily. Who does that? 1614 E. Sample Rd., 954-943-0057

WILLIAM LEONE M.D.

Superior Results for Hip and Knee Surgery

Our Caring, Patient-Centered Practice

My practice combines world-class orthopaedic care in a warm and welcoming environment where every patient is treated with respect, the way I would want my family to be cared for.

From the rst phone call, you will nd my team 100 percent engaged in addressing your needs.

I care for people in their 80s and 90s who refuse to relinquish their independence and opt for surgery to regain an active lifestyle. I also treat patients in their 20s and 30s who desire an improved quality of life and want to feel “normal” again.

Safely Going Home the Day of Surgery

My emphasis on preempting and preventing pain after surgery has been a game changer. Patients walk the day of surgery and the vast majority of my patients go straight home the afternoon of their hip or knee replacement surgery. This requires coordinated pre-operative planning and detailed communication between my staff and the patient.

“He is the doctor to go to!”

— Debby, who after two previously failed hip surgeries found Dr. Leone, August 2022

“Six weeks after my total knee replacement and it’s perfect!”

— Barbara O., September 2022