Observerwww.observernewspaperonline.com Since1962 DeerfieldPublishing,Inc.©2018

Volume 56 • No. 5February 1, 2018

Delivered to:Homes

& Businesses in• Deerfield Beach• Lighthouse Point • Hillsboro Beach• Pompano Beach• Boca Raton

Of Interest

DelrayFashionWeekpage 9

Also InsideOpinion ..........................5, 6Sports ................................6Nautical ..............................8Dining & Ent. .................9-11Happenings .....................11Religion ...........................12Classified .........................14Real Estate ................14, 15

Golfchamppage 6

SchoolofRockpage 3

FashionsforC.A.S.A.page 2

“Hold onto instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”

Proverbs 4:13

Fundraiser for FARA pg. 11DB City Meetings pg. 4

(1)JeffGlissoncreatesartfrompalmfronds.(2)TiffanyBeasi’spaintingwonthepostercontestthisyear.(3)FlorenciaClementdeGrandpreylikestopaintstrong,confidentwomen.(4)MykolaKhodorovskyisinspiredbytheoceanformanyofhisworks.

By Rachel GalvinIt was a windy Saturday

when many vendors were setting up for the Festival of the Arts on Deerfield’s beach. It was so windy that some decided not to stay. Festival organizers from the Cultural Committee said that they probably lost 20 vendors due to the forceful gusts that ripped down or collapsed some tents and the spotty rain. But they still had so many that stayed … and the crowds came despite the weather. Then, on Sun-day, it was clear, perfect for browsing through art while

Festival of the Artsenjoying food from the many vendors and listening to music from various entertainers. The festival had many different artists (125 were slated to attend), many who had never been here before.

One such artist was Jeffrey Glisson, who came here all the way from South Carolina, and had his palm frond artwork proudly displayed on the wall.

“I start with the palm frond boot. I rescue them… I see something in it, I draw it, cut it [with a buzzsaw], sand it and seal it. Some I attach glass eyes to, [using everything from an antique paper weight to a semi-

precious stone]; some of the glass work I do myself. I do the cutting, the painting and the one-of-a-kind glass-work,” said Glisson, who says it can take him 8 to 12 hours to do just one piece.

“This is upcycling. It is a big thing. The way people are decorating in the Caro-linas, there is a lot of it… using reclaimed wood. It is rustic and unique.”

He puts his work up on a site called Zapplication.org where festivals that are looking for artists can discover them.

See Festival, pg. 13

By Carol PorterOn Tuesday, Jan. 23, the

Lighthouse Point Commis-sion met to discuss many items on the agenda.

During the staff discussion about the budget, Commis-sioner Kyle Van Buskirk asked Finance Director Frank DiPaolo about the reports the city was making to FEMA for reimbursement. DiPaolo said that he and staff had been talk-ing to FEMA representatives about the damages in our city — what could be reimbursed and how long it would take. In addition, DiPaolo also noted that he and Public Works Director Chuck Schramm were looking at a number of sidewalks and other items in the city that needed to be repaired.

LHP Commission meetingCommissioners asked City

Clerk Jennifer Oh about the timeline for placement of items on the November 2018 ballot, such as charter amend-ments and other language. Oh said that the items would have to be considered in June, with two readings so that they could make it to the ballot on time. Commissioner Michael Long asked what the cost would be for the items on the ballot, and Oh said she would look into that.

Commissioners had a lot of discussion about items that they might want to place onto the ballot, in the form of a bond but that staff needed to get a list together of items that they might require to be placed on the ballot.

Other discussion was had

about a possible bond for the fire station and other city improvements. Joffe said that he was worried that there were eight meetings before the June date to come up with language for the charter amendments, and also he was concerned about the improvements in the city under a possible bond.

See LHP, pg. 9

Overview of BranhildaRichardsonKnowlesMemorial Parkdrawingshowsthreesections.

By Diane EmeottFifty Seven year-old Valen-

tina Davenport said she was the last child delivered by her grand-mother, Branhilda Richardson Knowles — the Deerfield Beach midwife who delivered more than 100 children. Davenport said she got to know her grand-mother, who was known around town as “Miss Hilda.”

“She delivered me and all of the 10 children in my family,” added first cousin Velemina Williams. “She delivered many in Deerfield Beach, practically the whole city.”

Asked why they didn’t go to a doctor, Williams said, “You couldn’t go to a doctor. There was no doctor to go to unless you went to Ft. Lauderdale.”

Unveiling of conceptual drawings for “Branhilda Rich-ardson Knowles Memorial Park” was the highlight of Commissioner Gloria Battle’s District 2 meeting on Thurs-day night, Jan. 25 at Hillsboro Technology Center.

“When I saw it, I was certainly filled emotionally,” Battle said of the design, adding that before the three-acre passive park opens, they will re-consecrate the grounds. Battle said they are also in the process of getting the park on the National Historical Registry.

Asked when the Memorial Park is expected to open, As-sistant City Manager Petty said, “We’re hoping for late fall 2018 for Phase 1.”

The Memorial Park is to be lo-cated on the Old Burial Ground property (at one time called the Old Colored Cemetery) on SE 2 Ave./Ed Dietrich between SE 4 St. and SE 5 Ct.

Drawings for the park were done in-house by a team of

Memorial Park plans unveiled at Dist. 2 meeting

city staff: Director of Parks & Recreation David Miller, Director of Planning & Devel-opment Services Eric Power, Assistant City Manager Kara Petty, Director of Community Development Vickki Placide-Pickard and City Landscape Architect Harold Hoyte.

“I think it’s beautiful. I com-mend city staff and everybody involved. I was delivered by her [Miss Knowles], as were so many!” said a 65-year-old resident.

The Memorial Park is to have three sections: 1) Memorial Parklet, an area for unmarked graves; 2) Knowles Parklet, honoring Branhilda; 3) Veterans Parklet, a military section. (See more below.)

Regarding funding for the park, to-date the city has re-ceived $900,000 from the state to purchase the property and $400,000 for Phase 1 develop-ment. Also, Broward County Commissioner Chip LaMarca’s office sponsored a $3,000 grant, which was approved by Broward County Commission on Nov. 7, 2017, to help finance passive park items at Branhilda Richardson-Knowles Memo-rial Park. [At the Jan. 16, 2018 Deerfield commission meeting, the commission passed a resolu-tion approving an agreement with Broward County for Parks Bond Program Grant Funds to purchase the passive park items].

The Safe Park funds received will be used to purchase furnish-ings for the park.

The city has submitted an appropriations request to the state in the amount of $400,000 for Phase 2 development, said Petty.

See Memorial, pg. 13

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