VOLUME 47 • NO.

47
NOVEMBER 19, 2009

DELIVERED TO:

Observer
HOMES
& BUSINESSES IN
• DEERFIELD BEACH
• LIGHTHOUSE POINT
• HILLSBORO BEACH
• POMPANO BEACH
• BOCA RATON
www.observernewspaperonline.com Deerfield Publishing, Inc. © 2009

OF INTEREST City and blue collar union:

IMPASSE
By Diane Emeott
As of press time Wednes-
day afternoon, the city had
signed a letter of impasse to
go to Non-Uniform Employ-
ees Local 1010 IUPAT DC
New Broward Mayor 78.
page 7 “It’s on my radar screen for
later today,” Assistant City
Manager Macon Sammons
said the morning of Nov. 18.
Asked if he would be calling
or extending a letter to the
Deerfield resident Bob
Patterson.
The slow, tedious, Round 5
of talks on Tuesday, Nov. 17
produced only one new ar-
ticle of Tentative Agreement
(T.A.). Article No. 24, Dis-
ability Leave, was signed off
on by the union.
This means a total of 4 ar-
ticles T.A.’d , according to
Business Representative for
the union Steve Hall.

A bountiful harvest union, he said “both.” Asked

When it comes to purchasing fresh vegetables
at this time of season, there are a cornucopia of
options. For example, The Green Market in
Pompano’s historical district, opened its seventh
season on Oct. 31 and will continue every Satur-
Opening in December
day morning until Apr. 24. The market is spon-
page 9 sored by Pompano Beach Historical Society.
J&J Farms in Deerfield, which re-opened Oct. 31
for the season, is in its 27th year.
Besides fresh off the farm foodstuffs, some
places have specialty items like artisan breads.
When looking to go green, buying is the
perfect option.
DBES Art Fair
page 12
Pompano Beach Green Market
Flagler Avenue and NE 1 Street
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
J&J Farms
2777 W. Hillsboro Blvd.,
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Sat.,
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun.
Boca Raton Green Market
Royal Palm Place
(S. Federal Highway and
S. Mizner Boulevard)
8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
if it would be a declaration of
impasse, he said “Yes.”
This marks the first time in
Deerfield Beach history the
city has been at impasse with
BOTH its firefighters and
blue collar workers at the
same time. Union Steward Joe
Metts said “I don’t believe
it’s happened … at least in the
time I’ve been here. Normally,
they resolve with one union
or the other.” Metts worked
for the city for 34 years. He
has been a Deerfield Beach
resident for 54 years.
40-year Deerfield resident
Willie Butler said,” I don’t
remember a time.” “Never
both [unions],” said 20-year
Before a city-called break
to caucus, Assistant City Man-
ager Macon Sammons said:
“I see so little progress, we’re
wondering if it’s even worth
the time to meet anymore.”
Under the threat of impasse
proceedings at the close of
negotiations, the city and Lo-
cal 1010 finally set Friday,
Dec. 11 at 10 a.m. as the next
negotiating session.
The city and the union both
began the session saying they
were looking for answers
from the other party. “The
union hasn’t received any new
proposals from the city …”
See Union, pg 16

Youth Violence:
By the numbers
By Corinne Tillman According to the Center for

County Fair opens Friday In recent weeks, Broward

St. Elizabeth B-ball
page 13
“A good man obtains
favor from the Lord,
but the Lord condemns
a crafty man.”
Proverbs 12:2
ALSO INSIDE
Opinion ............................. 6
Business ........................... 8
Schools ........................... 12
Sports ............................. 13
Dining & Entertainment .. 15
Happenings ..................... 18
Religion ........................... 20
Classified ........................ 22
By David Volz
The 2009 Broward County
Fair begins tomorrow, Nov.
20 and runs through Sunday,
Nov. 29.
The fair will be held at Pom-
pano Citi Centre, at the corner
of Federal Highway and Co-
pans Road. It will include per-
formances from students and
local groups on the Community
Stage at the mall’s center court-
yard, student horticultural ex-
hibits at Lowe’s Garden Center
and two storefronts full of stu-
dent art, science and essay con-
test entries. Contests, such as
the Baby Beautiful contest, the
Miss Broward County Fair pag-
eant, High School Drum Line
competition, Step Team com-
petition and a Talent Show are
another feature. Critter Crown-
ing is for people to enter their
pets. Look for livestock com-
petitions the second weekend
of the fair.
County has had what appears
to be an outbreak of youth
violence. From the sad case
of Michael Brewer, the boy
set on fire by other teens, to
the Coral Springs boy who
stabbed his own brother to
death, residents have been
shown that the times, they
are a-changing.
Statistics from the Florida
Department of Law Enforce-
This year, there will be no rides or vendors. ment (FDLE) show an in-
crease from 2007 to 2008 in
“We do not have a site loca- fair layout. There were park- violent crimes by juveniles.
tion this year that can accom- ing conflicts whenever a high Until the 2009 statistics are
modate a midway,” said Elaine school football game was
Fitzgerald, spokesperson for the held at Lockhart Stadium.”
released, it will be hard to
say whether this is a growing
fair. “We are working on trying Fitzgerald said that Pom- trend or an anomaly. In
to find a permanent site for next pano Citi Centre was com- Broward in 2007, there was
year and years to come.” munity-spirited enough to one criminal homicide com-
Asked the reason for the donate its space at no charge. mitted by a juvenile. In that
move from near Ft. Lauder- Next year, fair organizers will same year, there were 23 forc-
dale’s Lockhart Stadium, seek a location suitable to ible rapes and 481 aggravated
Fitzgerald said the previous include a midway and rides. assaults committed by the
site was not conducive to Admission is FREE. For a same demographic.
holding a fair. “The site itself full schedule of events, go to Nationally, 2007 brought
was too narrow and long, www.browardcountyfair other disturbing statistics.
which did not make a good .com.
Disease Control (CDC), 18
percent of youths in grades
9-12 reported carrying a
weapon in the 30 days before
the survey. According to the
Federal Bureau of Investi-
gation’s (FBI) 2007 Crime
in the U.S., 2007 also saw
1,011 juveniles arrested for
murder, 2,633 for forcible
rape and 43,459 for aggra-
vated assault.
The Uniform Crime report
from FDLE for January-De-
cember 2008 was disheart-
ening, with Broward County
reporting increases in the
three previously mentioned
categories. There were five
criminal homicides attributed
to juveniles, 32 forcible rapes
and 496 aggravated assaults.
Miami-Dade saw an increase
in criminal homicides and
forcible rape. Palm Beach
County saw an increase in
criminal homicides, but a
See Youth Violence, pg 7