The LBTS Town Commission has rejected a proposal to im- mediately terminate its firefighting contract with the Broward Sheriff’s Office and turn all fire suppression responsibilities over to a volunteer fire department. The Commission did vote, however, to allow other professional fire departments in Broward County to compete against the BSO for a future contract to serve the town. The votes came just a day be- fore the BSO announced that it has reached a major agree- ment with Pompano Beach to provide additional firefighting assistance to LBTS. Under the agreement, Pompano Beach will automatically dispatch fire- fighters and equipment from its station near Atlantic Blvd. on A1A any time there is a fire call in LBTS, at no expense to the town. This will assure that LBTS is fully covered by professional firefighters in the event BSO has equipment out of service or is tied up on an- other call. Firefighting has been a contentious issue in LBTS since last November, when the BSO fired the LBTS volunteer fire de- partment after a series of incidents which BSO said put the town’s safety at risk. Commissioners Jim Silverstone and Jerry McIntee, who also serve as the chief and deputy chief of the VFD, have been fighting to bring the VFD back into service and to restore their paid positions with the depart- ment. They have sued the town and they have also voted several times to reinstate the VFD. Their latest effort failed by a vote of 3-2 at the Sept. 27 commission meeting. McIntee made a motion to terminate the contract with BSO and reinstate the VFD immediately as the town-wide fire department. His motion also would have shifted $90,000 from the town’s budget into the VFD immediately for transition costs and salaries. Silverstone earned more than $25,000 last year as the chief and McIntee was paid more than $6,000 as deputy chief of the VFD. (See reality check on page 6). “I think you’ve gone off the deep end,” said Vice Mayor John Yanni, adding that McIn- tee’s motion would leave the town without any emergency medical service since EMS is a part of the contract with the BSO. “People in the condos, I feel for you,” he said. Yanni voted against McIntee’s mo- tion, as did Mayor Oliver Parker and Commissioner Chuck Clark. Afterwards, Parker said he felt it was a conflict of interest and a violation of ethics rules for McIntee and Sil- verstone to vote on an issue in which they had a personal financial stake. The LBTS Town Commission has given final approval to a budget plan for next year which lowers the millage rate and reduces the amount of money which property owners have to pay for both fire and stormwater assessments. The bud- get was approved on Sept. 27 following a public hearing at which only a handful of local residents spoke and the com- missioners themselves found few areas of disagreement. The new budget for fiscal year 07/08 totals $28 million. That is a 10% increase over the previous year’s budget, and reflects the fact that the Broward Property Appraiser’s Office continues to increase the value of property assess- ments in town despite the downturn in the real estate mar- ket. More than 80% of the taxes which LBTS residents pay go to Broward County, not the town. While the budget itself is up, the amount of money which individual property owners will be paying to the town next year is down. That is because the town commissioners vot- ed to lower the millage rate from 4.35 to 4.1--a move which will save property owners about $90 per year. In addition, the commission voted to cut the annual fire assessment in half to $130, and also voted to eliminate the $84 a year assessment which property owners now pay into the storm- water maintenance fund. The commission decided to make up for the loss of these revenues by reducing the size of the town’s general reserve fund. After reviewing the proposed budget in detail, the commis- sioners made only two significant changes to the plan. First, they eliminated $90,000 which had been earmarked for the position of public safety officer, transferring the funds in- stead into a fire contingency fund. In addition, the commis- sioners pulled $3.5 million which had been set aside to pay for municipal sewer hook-ups in the Palm Club, pending a further review of this project. Mayor Oliver Parker, who had previously supported the Palm Club sewer project, said he changed his mind after learning that the Palm Club is a private community with private roads and unitary ownership of all homes. Parker said he believes the town has already met its obligation to provide sewers to the Palm Club because the line now extends down A1A past the front gate of the property. “The deal was we’d provide sewers to the road in front of each property owner in north beach,” Parker said. “As far as I’m concerned, we’ve already kept our promise to the Palm Club.” Parker said he would reconsider his position only if the Palm Club agrees to deed its roads over to the town. The commissioners decided to put the Palm Club issue on the agenda for a future meeting. Efforts to reach a spokes- person for the Palm Club for comment on the commission’s action were unsuccessful. Parker also tried unsuccessfully to cut the budget even further. He proposed to lower the millage rate to 3.85, and he sought to reduce the annual cost of living adjustment for the town’s 155 employees from five to three percent, but neither proposal passed. The final budget funds a number of capital improvement projects in town for next year, including: the beach pavil- ion on Commercial Blvd., improvements to local bus stops/ shelters, new town entryway markers, a flagpole on Com- mercial Blvd., construction of sewers in Bel Air and road and neighborhood improvements along Sea Grape Drive, enclosure of the Jarvis Hall portico, sidewalk repairs and maintenance, and a beautification program along A1A from Pine Avenue to Terra Mar Drive. The budget also includes $200,000 for litigation funds, including $100,000 to defend against lawsuits which may be forthcoming as a result of the height limit referendum which passed last year. VOLUME I, ISSUE 18 FIND IT IN THIS ISSUE • EDITORIALS - pg. 2 • HOT TOPICS - pg. 5 • ABOUT-TOWN NEWS - pg. 5 • REALITY CHECK - pg. 6 • ELECTION ‘08 - pg. 6 • FLOTSAM & JETSAM - pg. 7 • LBTS LIFESTYLES - pg. 8 • PERSONAL PROFILE - pg. 8 • PEOPLE PICTURES - pg. 10 • EVENT CALENDAR - pg. 11 by Mark Brown The LBTS Town Commission took care of a number of small, housekeeping items at its meeting on October 10, but no significant business came up for a vote. The meeting got off to a slow start when Commissioners Jerry McIntee and Jim Silverstone spent half an hour berating fire chief Rusty Siev- ers for dispatching what they felt were too many firefighters and too much equipment to put out a smoldering hotel fire on Poinciana Drive last month. Sievers said the response was typical of the level of service which the BSO provides to LBTS under its fire protection contract, and that the extra crews were sent home as soon as it was determined that they were not needed. The closest the commission came to voting on an actual or- dinance was when they brought up a proposal by Commis- sioner Chuck Clark to limit rentals in single-family homes to two a year, not exceeding six months per rental. Clark said he proposed the ordinance after hearing complaints from residents in Silver Shores and Bel Air about rowdy groups of people who were renting homes for a few days or weeks and disrupting the neighborhoods. “My whole interest is to preserve the peace and tranquility in the residential neigh- borhoods and knock off the party environment,” Clark said. Commissioner McIntee objected to Clark’s proposal, say- ing it was unfair and would divide the town. “This is just a waste of time,” McIntee said. “It’s unenforceable.” Under questioning from McIntee, the town’s Director of Develop- ment Services, Frank Rabinowitz, said he believed the ordi- nance was indeed enforceable. “The idea of the ordinance is to keep single family neighborhoods safer and keep prop- erty values up,” Rabinowitz said. “We live in a tourist town,” added Mayor Oliver Parker. “The tourist areas are the ap- propriate place to allow tourist rentals.” Clark’s motion was ultimately tabled in order to add language clarifying the types of residential structures it would apply to. In other news, the Commission tabled a motion by Vice Mayor John Yanni to waive parking meter fees on nights when Jarvis Hall is in use. Yanni said he introduced his proposal in response to complaints he received from many residents who were ticketed when they attended the com- mission’s budget hearing last month. The Commission also approved preliminary discussion of a proposal to withdraw the town’s financial support from a municipal sewer project which is currently planned and bud- geted for the Palm Club. It’s your future. Join us online. ByTheSeaFuture.com Don’t miss your chance to sign up for the homestead exemption and other tax abatement programs which are available to most property owners in Florida. The Broward County Property Appraiser’s office will have staff available at Jarvis Hall on Oct. 18 from 11 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. to help local residents sign up for the home- stead, senior citizen and other property tax exemptions. If you can’t make this date, they will be back in Jarvis Hall on November 15 and January 17, 2008. Residents who wish to apply for a homestead exemption must present a current Florida driver’s license or Florida identification card, as well as a current voter registration card or declaration of domicile. Non-U.S. citizens must provide proof of permanent residency. The senior tax exemption is available to residents 65 and older who have a total annual household income of less than $24,214. For further information about the tax breaks, visit the Property Appraiser’s website at www,bcpa.net or con- tact Bob Wolfe at 954-445-5732. by Mark Brown COMMISSION MEETING REPORT - 10-09-07 LBTS KEEPS PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS TOWN PASSES BUDGET, TAX CUTS Story Continued on Page 5 Plus Reality Check on Page 6 TAX EXEMPTIONS John Yanni Announces! Vice Mayor John Yanni is set to run once again for his seat on the LBTS Town Commission. Read the full story on Page 6 of this issue. REALITY CHECK: PAID VOLUNTEERS How Much Were They Making? Find Out on Page 6 PROFESSIONAL BSO FIREFIGHTERS PRACTICE DRILLS SIGN UP FOR If you live in LBTS or have money invest- ed here, now is not the time to put your head in the sand and ignore what’s going on politically. While it’s easy to go about your life and think “Just one person won’t make a difference,” this is not the time to take the easy way out. Neutrality just won’t cut it. A few years ago a Mayor was elected by just one vote. What you think, the facts you consider, and your informed choice are critical to the health of this town. We’re going to do our best to deliver those facts to you, and sometimes that will include information about public fig- ures and candidates that you need to know. There are a lot of lies being told, backpedaling going on, and history being revised. Some folks think you’ll believe a lie if you hear it often enough, so it’s important for you to understand the mo- tives behind the falsehoods. A person - or candidate - is known by the company he keeps. Find out about the candidate and about who he’s sup- ported by - that will tell you how he will perform and conduct himself. We’ll also name names, list peoples’ contributions to the town or lack thereof, and explain their motives. Then you can make your own decisions. But while we will give you background information on candidates and their supporters, we’ll talk about their be- havior and actions. Petty name calling won’t be part of our stories. What can you do to learn the facts and support the candidates of your choice? 1. Read our newspaper and send in your questions for the candidates. We plan to interview every candidate thoroughly before any endorsements are made, just as does the Pompano Pelican, Sun Sentinel, and every other reputable newspaper. 2. Host a “Meet & Greet” in your condo or on your street. Ask the hard ques- tions, find out what experience the candi- date has, ask how long they’ve lived here and what things they have accomplished successfully for the town. 3. Attend the Property Owner’s As- sociation “Meet the Candidates” night on Wednesday evening, January 23rd. They’ve been hosting this event for many years in a fair and unbiased manner. 4. Don’t be afraid to contact the candi- dates directly, invite them to your home, grill them about your concerns, and judge whether they’re a public servant or a pol- itician. 5. Support your chosen candidate with whatever contributions of time and mon- ey you can. Make phone calls, send a note to friends, put a sign in your yard. No help is too little. 6. GET OUT & VOTE! Give a neighbor a ride to the polls. Help a housebound neighbor get an absentee ballot. Whether your candidate wins or not, you’ll know that you made a difference and that you didn’t sit idly by and let someone else make choices that affect your life. Switzerland is a lovely country with its delicious chocolates and world-famous Swiss cheese. But in reality, neutrality and the “I don’t want to get involved” attitude are not so lovely. You and LBTS deserve more. There has been a lot of discussion lately about the annual fire assessment in Lau- derdale-By-The-Sea and the amount of money which the town pays the Broward Sheriff’s Office for fire protection and emergency medical service (EMS). Un- fortunately, most of the discussion has focused on the cost of fire protection and EMS, rather than the value of the services we receive. That’s the wrong way to look at this issue. As a condo resident, I feel very secure knowing that the Broward Sheriff’s Office has professional firefighters and the most modern firefighting equipment stationed around the clock in the heart of town, ready to respond to a fire alarm within seconds. I like the fact that every fire- fighter is cross-trained as a paramedic, so they can help respond to medical emer- gencies and not just fire calls. I appreciate the fact that the BSO fire- fighters train every week on their aerial ladder truck, so they are skilled at res- cuing people from the highest floors of burning buildings. I feel better knowing that they practice water rescue drills ev- ery shift, and that there are world-class swimmers assigned to LBTS who can save people from drowning in the ocean or a swimming pool. I like the fact that the BSO has helicopters at its disposal for emergency evacuations, and fire boats to respond to incidents in the ocean or along the Intracoastal Waterway. I’m comfort- able knowing that the BSO does regular fire inspections at local businesses and condos, and that they have a trained hazardous materials team available in the event of a fire or spill involving dangerous substances. These are just some of the services we re- ceive from the BSO, and they don’t even begin to take into account the most im- portant service of all: EMS. With no hos- pital on the east side of the intracoastal waterway, it is absolutely essential that we have full-time, professionally trained paramedics stationed in LBTS around the clock to respond immediately to medical emergencies in town. EMS is a critical component of the town’s contract with the BSO. Now let’s talk money. For the last few years, property owners in LBTS have been paying $260 a year, or about $22 a month, for their fire assessment. That’s less than a dollar a day. The Town Com- mission recently voted to reduce the fire assessment to $130 a year, or about $11 a month. That’s less than 50 cents a day. In my mind, that’s a bargain given the variety and value of services we receive from the BSO. Nevertheless, there are some people in town who think we are paying the BSO too much. Commissioners Jim Silverstone and Jerry McIntee, who double dip as the paid chief and paid deputy chief of the vol- unteer fire department and who want to charge a higher fire assessment on homes and condos valued over $250,000, claim that the VFD could provide fire protection cheaper than the BSO. Of course they haven’t presented a comprehensive bud- get yet which proves that, or which takes into account the added expense of finding a new EMS provider, but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that the VFD could provide a minimal amount of fire protection for half a million dollars a year less than the BSO. That would save every property owner in town about $7 a month, but what would we lose in exchange for the savings? The VFD can’t even come close to matching the quality and quantity of services we receive from the BSO. The volunteers don’t have the same level of equipment or training as the BSO, they don’t qualify as paramedics and they don’t have the confidence of many residents that they could adequately protect us, especially in the condos. Speaking for myself, saving a few dollars a month is not a reasonable tradeoff for the peace of mind I get from knowing that the highly trained, profes- sional, well-equipped firefighter/para- medics from BSO are on the job in LBTS. Let’s look at fire and EMS protection for what they really are--investments in pub- lic safety. It’s absurd to look at these ser- vices only from the standpoint of cost, es- pecially when the small amount of money involved could mean the difference be- tween saving people’s lives and property or putting them at great risk. VALUE, NOT PRICE, THAT COUNTS The opinions expressed in this newspaper and on our web site are those of the individual authors only, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of other authors, other organizations, or ByTheSeaFuture itself. When sending correspondence, it is necessary to include your full name. Anonymous messages of any kind will be respectfully read, but will not be considered for inclusion in our publications. ByTheSeaFuture, Inc. 4737 N Ocean Drive, Suite #139 Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida 33308 ByTheSeaFuture.com newspaper@bytheseafuture.com 1-888-771-LBTS (5287) by Mark Brown VOLUME 1, ISSUE 18 | Page 2 EDITORIALS EDITORIAL BOARD Michael Arker James Fletcher DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Ron Piersante PUBLISHER William Pinhas PRODUCTION JMF Multimedia, Inc. by Cindy Geesey YOU CAN’T BE SWITZERLAND During the commission meeting on September 25th, I voted to give the Broward Sheriff’s Office notice that we were go- ing to seek responses to “requests for proposals” (RFP). In other words, I voted to allow other professional fire departments in Broward County to compete for the contract which the BSO now has to provide fire protection and emergency medical service (EMS) in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. For my part this was not an action to dismiss BSO, but sim- ply to gather information on what the mar- ket is with regard to fire support and EMS costs. I have no doubt but that the BSO is charg- ing us a fair and realistic price for the ser- vices it provides. Nevertheless, I think that it is high time for the taxpayers to know what the real costs are in a competitive bid situation. Quite frankly, I think we are do- ing well with our current situation although I am content to let the cards fall where they may. Sometime ago the VFD stated that they could provide the fire support to the Town for $500,000 and save $1.6 million. I dis- puted those figures then and still do. It’s just not possible to achieve that kind of savings when you take into account costs such as the purchase of new firetrucks and equipment which would be required in or- der for the VFD to function as a fire de- partment. I should add that we are talking about fire support only and EMS did not en- ter into their picture. EMS is our greatest demand and must be taken into account. In any case, public safety is our greatest and most sacred responsibility and must not fall subservient to anyone’s personal or financial agenda. That’s why I presented a plan to the Broward Sheriff which would lay the groundwork to bring back the VFD in conjunction with the BSO, the way it used to be. I thought was reasonable and sen- sible and I was pleased that he was willing to consider whatever the commission might approve. It has been said that I presented the plan to the Commission as the Sheriff’s plan or one that he had approved. That simply is not true and pure “smoke blowing” on the part of two Commissioners and their allies in the Citizens Initiative Committee, whose only agenda is to remove all professional fire and EMS protection from town and in- stall a stand-alone VFD. My proposal has been tabled until the meeting of November 13th and will be addressed at that time. Commissioners McIntee and Silverstone have said that they would resign as officers of the VFD, but for my part that is not satis- factory as it would be nothing but a smoke screen for “behind the scenes leadership,” and that leadership is why we got to this point in the first place. Just go back and read the report by the BSO which led to the dismissal of the VFD last year, and you will understand why the VFD cannot function properly as long as Silverstone and McIntee are associated with it. In the final analysis, the real decision of fire support, EMS, and public safety may come down to the election results on January 29th. There is no doubt in my mind that if Commissioners McIntee and Silverstone and the CIC succeed and gain control of the commission, a stand-alone VFD will be the fire suppression apparatus for the Town. EMS as we know it will be gone and I don’t see anything close to the quality which we currently enjoy out there. Finally, let me state that I still support the combination of volunteer and professional firefighters with the conditions which were outlined in the last edition of this publica- tion. Simply stated, the politics must be taken out of the mix and the Town Manager along with the Town Commission must be in control of all public safety. Loose can- nons are no longer to be permitted. EXECUTIVE EDITORS Mark Brown Cindy Geesey ByTheSeaFuture has been approved by the NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION PUBLIC SAFETY: OUR GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY by Commissioner Chuck Clark “In short, we cannot grow, we cannot achieve authen- tic discovery, and our eyes cannot be cleansed to the truly beautiful possibilities of life, if we simply live a neutral existence.” Armstrong Williams Ask questions of your commissioners and candidates. Go to ByTheSeaFuture.com. ByTheSeaFuture encourages you to visit our advertisers. Thanks! Join PetSet for their annual Hal- loween Masquer- ade at the River House, located at 301 SW 3rd Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, on Wednesday, Oc- tober 31. Join hundreds of other ghosts, ghouls and gob- lins in your best Halloween attire and enter the costume con- test if you dare. Guests will receive com- plimentary “spirits” and devilish, but de- lectable, hors d’oeuvres. To make your reservation or for additional information on PetSet’s Masquerade visit www.petset.org or call 954-266-6827. Prices for the best party in town are $30 for PetSetters, Top Dogs and Pick of the Litter mem- bers; $40 for guests; and $50 to join Pet- Set and attend. PetSet, the new genera- tion of young adults in South Florida, is comprised of young pro- fessionals between the ages of 21-45 who are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of abandoned animals at the Humane Society of Broward County. The young of age and the young of heart are invited to Jarvis Hall on Wednesday, October 31, to enjoy a Halloween Party and Haunted House. The scary fun is sponsored by Mayor Oliver Parker and the Town Commission and starts at 6:00 p.m. with su- pervised trick or treat- ing in front of Town Hall. There will be costume contests in three age categories -- 0-4, 5-8, 9 and older. Toys R’ Us gift certificates will be awarded for the top three win- ners in each age category.If you have any questions, about this event, call the LBTS Town Hall at 954-776-0576. ABOUT-TOWN NEWS VOL 1, ISSUE 18 | Page 5 After the McIntee-Silverstone proposal failed, the Commission voted 3-2 to give the BSO one year’s notice of termination of its contract to provide firefighting and emergency medical services (EMS) to the town. Clark, who voted for the motion along with McIntee and Silverstone, said it was strictly an attempt to solicit cost esti- mates from other professional fire depart- ments, and should not be interpreted as a vote against the BSO. “My vote was not to fire the BSO,” Clark said. “The purpose of my vote was to pro- vide a mechanism by which we can get competitive bids. I just want to see what the numbers are. Quite frankly, when I consider EMS, which is the most critical item in the package, I think we’re getting a pretty good bang for our buck from the BSO.” Clark added that he is totally com- mitted to professional firefighters in LBTS. “I’d like to see us have both professionals and volunteers, but if it comes down to a choice between an all-professional depart- ment or an all-volunteer department, I’ll vote for the professionals every time.” Elliot Cohen, a spokesman for the BSO, said he was disappointed that the com- mission voted to give the BSO one year’s notice of termination of its contract. “Our stance all along has been that public safety comes first,” Cohen said. “The town hired us to do a job and we’re doing that job up to a certain level of professional stan- dards. We will continue to do the job to those standards as long as the town wants to have us. If the town makes a decision not to contract with us, that’s up to them. I just hope they have a real good plan in place that will protect the residents.” Cohen pointed out that the automatic aid agreement with Pompano Beach is fur- ther evidence of the BSO’s commitment to LBTS. He said the BSO is paying $24,400 to Pompano Beach to guarantee that LBTS will be covered by professional fire protec- tion at all times. He added that BSO does not make any profit from its contract with LBTS, and that every dollar the town pays comes back in services received. “If the issue is cost, you get what you pay for,” Cohen said. “If you want a full-time, professionally trained, advanced life sup- port fire-rescue department, then that will cost a certain amount of dollars. If you want a less trained, part-time safety net, then obviously that will cost less. That’s a decision the town has to make.” PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS Long-time LBTS resident and volunteer Eva Perry Karley passed away on Septem- ber 28. Eva was married for 65 years to her husband Bill, a former commissioner and community activitist who is widely re- garded as one of the most influential fig- ures in the history of LBTS. The cause of death was a stroke. Bill and Eva Karley were honored for their many years of service last year when the town commission voted to name the beach portal at Datura Avenue after them. In ad- dition, Bill was named the LBTS hometown hero in 2006 by the LBTS Property Own- ers Association, an organization which he founded many years ago. “I’ve known Mrs. Karley for over 40 years and she was such a special lady,” said Cindy Geesey, current president of the POA. “She loved the town, supported her husband in all he did and left behind a wonderful family.” Mrs. Karley is survived by her husband Bill, sons Bill, Bob and Rick and three grandchil- dren. The family requests that donations be made in honor of Eva to the Florida Li- ons Eye Bank, P.O. Box 016880, Miami, FL 33101-6880. EVA PERRY KARLEY MOURNED Continued from front page... A new name, a new owner, and a new menu – you’ll find it all at The Greeze Spoon at 215 Commercial Boulevard (formerly Lou- ie’s Diner). Lori Rutkowski promises good breakfasts and lunches made to order with special recipes. Locals and visitors are in- vited to enjoy great food and friendly ser- vice, with breakfast available all day. Call Lori at 954-776-3777. Natur House is a franchise headquartered in Spain that sells special supplements to aid in weight loss. Anyone wishing to im- prove their health and lose some weight is invited to talk with Janine Pequeno at 259 Commercial Boulevard, Suite B or to call 954-202-2000. Cummings Design Group is a full ser- vice business that provides its clients with design services for advertising, graphics, logos, printing and websites. John Cum- mings says, “About 90% of our business is from referrals. Customer satisfaction is our main goal, and the number of refer- rals proves we’re successful.” Cummings Design Group serves businesses and the general public and does a lot of work for charities. John says, “Come to us just for a business card, brochure or something small. Give us the opportunity to really impress you and prove to you that we de- serve the rest of your business.” Call John at 954-202-7342 or visit him at 218 East Commercial Boulevard, Suite 101C. John Sabia of Coldwell Banker has over 18 years of experience in residential real estate. He says that people choose to do business with him because of his knowl- edge and the fact that he’s always accessi- ble to his clients. He wants his fellow LBTS business people to know that,”I’m glad to be a part of such a prestigious group of business people.” Call John at 954-847- 5002 or visit his website johnsabia.com. NEWEST CHAMBER MEMBERS After 13 months of extensive and expen- sive renovation, Benihana is once again open for business at 276 Commercial Bou- levard at the corner of West Tradewinds Boulevard. The restaurant first opened here in 1970 and has long been a destina- tion location, drawing locals and visitors to LBTS from across the area. The Benihana renovation included a com- plete gutting and redesign of the interior, and extensive refurbishing of the exterior. Many roof tiles were damaged and lost dur- ing the hurricanes, so the signature blue tile roof was replaced with metal designed to look just like the blue tile. The Japanese style gardens to the north and west were also completely replanted. At the addi- tional request of then Planning and Zoning Chairperson Cindy Geesey, approximately $75,000 was spent on renovating the ad- jacent parking lot to present as attractive an image as does the restaurant. On September 19, Benihana host- ed the “Business After Business” card exchange for members of the LBTS Chamber of Commerce. Over 60 guests enjoyed drinks and sushi while admiring the res- taurant and networking with oth- er area executives. A special attendee was local radio icon Rick Shaw. According to Executive Director Judy Swaggerty, “It’s a pleasure to welcome Benihana back to the LBTS business community.” Benihana was the originator of tableside Japanese cooking in the United States and offers 24 hibachi tables with eight seats each for a total dining capacity of 184. In addition, there is a separate room with a large sushi bar, a drink bar, and more ta- bles and booths. According to manager Willis Leung, his restaurant offers “a unique way of serv- ing where we bring the kitchen out to the dining room.” He invites former customers and new customers to come by the new Benihana and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling 954-776-0111. BENIHANA IS BACK! JARVIS HALL-OWEEN & PET-SET All LBTS residents and guests are invited to the annu- al OKTOBERFEST celebration sponsored by the LBTS Property Owners Association. On Saturday, October 20th, join your neighbors starting at 6:00 p.m. for food, fun, raffles and live entertainment. Pork roasts and brats will be supplied by BJ’s Whole- sale Club, and partiers are asked to bring a covered dish with a German flair to share. For more informa- tion, to RSVP, or to check what dish you might want to bring, call president Cindy Geesey at 954-776-5974. CELEBRATE OKTOBERFEST Benihana Manager Willis Leung shows off the newly reopened restaurant and sushi bar. Eat Fish and Live Longer!Support your Chamber! John Yanni has spent the last 25 years working on behalf of the community of Lauderdale-By-the-Sea, both as an elected commissioner and as a member of many volunteer organizations. For many people, 25 years of community service might be enough, and they might want to slow down and take it easy for a change, but not Yanni. The veteran commis- sioner has just announced plans to run for a fourth term in office, and he is raring to get out of the gate and hit the campaign trail. Yanni is proud of his many accomplishments dur- ing his 12 years in office. In particular, he singles out his role in helping bring about the annexation of the north beach area into LBTS in 2001. He said the annexation, which doubled the town’s popula- tion, finally gave the town the ability to increase its tax base without relying on big, new development, and provided the funds needed to improve the infra- structure and spruce up the town. “I’m proud of the parks and the portals, and I’m just as proud about the things you don’t always see, like extending and repairing the sewer lines. These have been great improvements to the town,” he said. Having helped bring about the annexation of north beach, Yanni has been fiercely loyal to the condo residents since they joined LBTS. He has vigorously opposed efforts to downgrade the town’s fire pro- tection and emergency medical service, saying the condos need the resources and skills of the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He also opposed the effort to change the height limits in the north end of town, warning that it could lead to multi-million dollar lawsuits and force every resident of town to pay thousands of dol- lars in special assessments. Yanni’s roots in LBTS go back 25 years, when he and his wife Kaye first moved to town after the steel mill he had been working in back in Ohio closed down. John moved to Fort Lauderdale a few weeks ahead of Kaye and took a job in security. During his leisure time he would wander up the street to LBTS and re- lax at one of the portals along the beach. He kept looking at an old hotel called the Sea Queen and decided that his dream job would be to manage the hotel. He filled out some applications for manage- ment positions around town and was called in for an interview at a different hotel in LBTS. Yanni and the owner had trouble scheduling the in- terview and the owner ended up hiring someone else as manager, but a week later Yanni got a call from another hotel. It turned out that the owner of the first hotel had recommended him to none other than the owner of the Sea Queen, and Yanni quickly land- ed his dream job. He and Kaye went on to manage four hotels in LBTS: the Sea Queen, Pierpoint, Tropic Seas and Captains Quarters. Once he started working in LBTS, Yanni quickly got involved in the volunteer community as well. He be- came a member of the LBTS Chamber of Commerce and served three years as president, and he served four years as president of the Kiwanis Club, where he started the popular bingo games about nine years ago to raise money for charity. He was one of the charter members of the COP program, and he raised the money for the pelican statute in the town square when he was president of the chamber in 1996. Yanni can often be found cooking over a hot grill at popular town events such as the fourth of July cel- ebration. If he is elected to a fourth term, Yanni said he wants to continue his work on behalf of several capital im- provement projects which are planned in town. In particular, he said, he wants to follow through on his proposal to build a performing arts center in LBTS. He also wants to tighten the rules over new develop- ment in town, and settle the controversy over fire protection once and for all. “Another one of my goals is to try to get civility back on the dais,” Yanni said. “We’ve got to get rid of this fighting and arguing and get things done in a more positive way. That’s the problem with having inexperienced people on the dais. There’s a lot more to being a commissioner in this town than worrying about the volunteer fire department.” ELECTION ‘08 VOL 1, ISSUE 18 | Page 6 JOHN YANNI TO SEEK REELECTION Anyone wishing to run for mayor or commissioner in LBTS will have to file their qualifying paperwork with the Town Clerk between Nov. 2-16. The election itself will take place on Jan. 29, 2008. ByTheSeaFuture will be setting aside space to cover the candidates and issues at stake in the election. As your hometown newspaper, we want to make as much information available as possible to help you make up your minds when election day arrives. As part of our coverage of the 2008 municipal elections in LBTS, we will be submitting written questions to the candi- dates and printing their responses. With that in mind, we’d like to hear from you. We have already received several excellent questions and there is still time for more. What issues do you think are most important in this cam- paign? What questions would you like us to submit to the candidates? This is your chance to find out where they stand on the issues that are most important to you, so please email us your questions at info@bytheseafuture.com. You can also visit our web site at ByTheSeaFuture.com to send your questions to the candidates using a simple and conve- nient electronic submission form. ELECTION COVERAGE Pose your questions to the candidates by submitting them on ByTheSeaFuture.com. Participate! Volunteers are normally defined as people who give their time and effort for no compensation. Unfortunately, that’s not the case when it comes to the volunteer fire department in Lauderdale- By-The-Sea. In fact, LBTS had the highest paid volunteer fire department in Broward County at the time its contract was terminated last Novem- ber. Volunteers, many of whom lived miles away from LBTS, were paid $25 for each fire call they responded to, plus they were paid to attend drills and some even received salaries and pension con- tributions. Even though the VFD is no longer an active fire- fighting unit in LBTS, it still uses compensation as a lure to attract new members. If you visit the VFD’s website at www.lbtsfire.com, you will find a letter signed by Deputy Chief Jerry McIntee. The letter advises potential recruits that “all equipment and training will be provided to the new member and they will immediately receive a stipend of $25 per call responded to, and $20 per drill attended by the candidate.” The letter does not identify where those funds will come from, since the VFD has no contract, so presumably McIntee expects the taxpayers in LBTS to pay the volunteers. McIntee’s letter also lists the fire station on Bou- gainvillea Drive as the VFD’s address, and ad- vises potential recruits that they will be required to “stand by at the station house for 24 hours a month” and help out with housekeeping duties there. His letter fails to mention the fact that the VFD has not worked out of the fire station for nearly a year and currently operates out of a storefront on Commercial Blvd. For the record, we are providing the following spreadsheet excerpt which shows salaries and other fi- nancial benefits received by the top five paid “volunteers” during a six- month period in 2006. This data is based on official payroll records examined by ByTheSeaFuture. Vice Mayor John Yanni and his wife Kaye ByTheSeaFuture.com YOUR ELECTION CONNECTION Let Your Voice Be Heard... Send Us Your Questions! “LBTS had the highest paid volunteer fire department in Broward County at the time its contract was terminated last November. Even though the VFD is no longer an active firefighting unit in LBTS, it still uses compensation as a lure to attract new members.” REALITY CHECK: PAID VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT EXACTLY HOW MUCH DID COMMISSIONERS SILVERSTONE & MCINTEE VOTE TO PAY THEMSELVES AS THE TOWN’S VFD EMPLOYEES? Volunteer Salary Fire Calls Drills Pension 6-month total JIM POLLACK $ 9,810 $ 2,550 $ 540 $ 661 $ 13,561 JIM SILVERSTONE $ 8,945 $ 2,200 $ 640 $ 589 $ 12,374 DOUG SMYTH $ 2,400 $ 2,625 $ 620 $ 283 $ 5,928 KEVIN PADDEN $ 350 $ 2,375 $ 820 $ 180 $ 3,725 JERRY McINTEE $ 525 $ 1,975 $ 640 $ 150 $ 3,290 In our last issue you learned about the basics of timeshare ownership. Now you’ll see if it fits in with your lifestyle and vaca- tion needs. Do you plan vacations on the spur of the moment with a variable itinerary and schedule, with stays of less than a week in one place? Are you happy driving into a city and choosing from available accommo- dations right then? Do you always spend your vacation with family at their homes? If any of these answers is “yes,” then time- shares are probably not for you. Do you always stay in accommodations of a certain quality and size? Do you plan ahead and research your destination and accommodations? Do you stay at least a week in one location? Do you like to ex- perience different types of vacations in dif- ferent areas of the world? Do you plan to continually return to the same resort and same location? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, a timeshare might be in your future. Most of the LBTS timeshares are real prop- erty and you buy a fully deeded week; therefore, you can use the week how you wish, including giving it away, renting it, or trading it for another location or another week. Real property also requires mainte- nance, and those fees can range from $300 up to $1500. There can also be assess- ments in case of unexpected damages. But timeshare ownership has the potential to offer the owner a great range of vaca- tion experiences in a variety of geographic locations. The flexibility is one of the ma- jor benefits of timeshare ownership. And you can stay for substantially less than the prevailing rental rates for the same type of accommodations. If you’re used to stay- ing in a regular hotel room, a timeshare one bedroom suite with kitchen facilities is much more comfortable. Buying a timeshare is not a thing to do as a financial investment. Sales prices are subject to the laws of supply and demand. Prices paid to a developer at a new resort are whatever he sets, plus you might get a bonus week or some travel points. Resales are where the best values are, and you can find those at the resorts themselves, through realtors, at on line time share sales sites, through resort homeowners associa- tions, and even on EBAY. For instance a relatively new resort might be selling a one bedroom suite for $17,000 but you can find it on the internet for $6,000. As mentioned there are 5 quality time- share properties in LBTS, and buying local- ly might well be the smartest thing you can do if you’re interested in timeshare vaca- tions. Of course you can always treat your visiting relatives to a stay in your ocean front timeshare resort. The main reason to buy locally is so that you can buy a week for an extremely reasonable price, deposit it with a trading company, and choose ter- rific accommodations in another beautiful location. When trading timeshare weeks, it’s mostly about location, location, loca- tion and a little bit about the time of year. Beach front south Florida locations are in great demand and would afford you a good trade. All weeks in south Florida are classi- fied as the most desirable and so you would have a good choice to get the date you re- quest on the trade as well. For instance, you can buy a lovely one bedroom ocean front suite at the Windjammer Resort on El Mar Drive for just $1295 plus $300 closing costs. Your yearly maintenance and taxes would run approximately $637 per year. Obviously you could never rent a spacious one bedroom suite for anything near $100 a night, so you come out way ahead. And the possibilities for an advantageous trade to another location are very good. According to Windjammer’s Diane Boutin, “most of our owners enjoy returning to the same community. They feel like they have a stake in the property.” Mr. Menendes, an 86 year old gentleman from Rochester, New York, owns seven weeks at the Wind- jammer and is so much a part of the fam- ily that Diane picks him up at the airport. It’s this personal service that attracts and keeps visitors. Diane’s goal is “to make my guests feel pampered.” Cathy and John Ray from Dunwoody, Georgia, traded into the Windjammer Resort for the first time this year but have stayed at Costa Del Sol and the Driftwood two times each. “LBTS is our favorite area and we’ve been spoiled,” they said. They bought a time- share week years ago in St. Augustine and have never actually stayed there. They bought so they’d be encouraged to travel to nice places on a regular basis, and loca- tions they’ve visited include Mazatlan and Hawaii. When you consider a timeshare purchase, do your homework, research the prop- erty, the trading company you would use, and talk to current owners. Visit our lo- cal properties and talk to their managers. Evaluate whether a timeshare suits your needs and your lifestyle. Timeshare ownership could provide the flexibility for you and your family to en- joy a variety of vacations for many, many years. FLOTSAM & JETSAM VOL 1, ISSUE 18 | Page 7 IS TIMESHARE FOR YOU - Part 2 by Cindy Geesey LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear By The Sea Future. As a 25 year resident of this town, I would like to address this letter personally to Commissioner McIntee: Mr. McIntee, For too long, the residents of this town have watched you make a fool of yourself at our town meetings. For too long, you have made our little town look foolish with your child-like behavior, finger pointing, and “sewing group” gossip about others around this town. Since your arrival on the commission, all you have done is divide our town with your political ar- rogance and YOUR OWN political agenda against our BSO. Enough is enough. Mr. McIntee, nothing you are doing at the moment is at the benefit of our town and people. Residents of this town are growing very tired of you making decisions and suggestions that will benefit only YOU and no one else in this town. Like a child, if something does not bring you attention and controversy, you have no part in it and put up a cowardly fit. In all my years as a resident of this town, I have never seen a town leader act like you; for his own good, without a single thought or care about the health and lives of our citizens. Commissioner Clark’s proposal to bring back the VFD is GREAT! Our town will truly get the best of both worlds with both the VFD and BSO...but what you do think Mr. McIntee? NO of course, because then you will have to give up your $6,000 a year pay. The lives, the health, and the mental and physical well being of our people is worth MUCH more than your pay. We want our VDF back AND BSO Fire and Paramedics to stay. How dare you even consider working with private paramedic companies who do not know a thing about our town and whose response times are slim to none compared to BSO. DO NOT PUT THE LIVES OF OUR CITIZENS IN DANGER! Mr. McIntee, this town was FINE before you got here and it will be even better when you leave. Either start doing what is right for the lives of our people and stop acting like a child, or take your political agenda, your arrogance, and your revenge for BSO back with you to Buffalo. We don’t want your hate and ignorance in OUR town. Patty A. Smythe, LBTS resident To The Editor: In a recent opinion article in By The Sea Times, Mr. John Thompson allows his strange obsession with the North Beach Civic Association to make factual mistakes as well as unfounded accusations. The so-called “S/NBCA” does not and has never had an Execu- tive Committee; it is run by a Board of Directors, of which I am one. However, Jack Cooney, Chuck Clark, Dave Gillman and Sue Delegal have not been members for a number of years, possibly since the annexation. I can assure him that I am the only pro-developer, to my knowledge. That is because I am able to live in a house in Bel Air that would not have been built were it not for a developer. I would have thought that Mr. Thompson would likewise be pro-developer, as he enjoyed an apartment in Sea Ranch Lakes before leaving Lauder- dale-By-The-Sea. It is absurd to ascribe to the machinations of the North Beach Civic Association any of the woes afflicting the town. These are inevitably the products of the Town Commission and its professional management. Indeed, I am one who pays the fire assessment (on two properties), which he is not. What we do is attempt to ensure the implementation of the An- nexation Agreement, with mixed results. We have never been responsible for the “clever multiple scams” of which he accuses us. Incidentally, I could not bring up the web site mentioned in his P.S. Dr. Kenneth S. Most, LBTS resident Dear Editor: Mark Brown’s article on the new Wings store’s imminent construction and opening was spot on and the truth. This WILL be one of the WORST things the members of the LBTS commision will ever do and aprove in this great little town we call home. The fake facade of the building won’t blend in PLUS what about all the other bathing suit and sportswear stores that are already here? Were they ever asked what they think? It will kill their busi- nesses. Keep the giant chains OUT of LBTS and let them stay down in Galt Ocean mile. What would you say if McDonalds bought out Aruba’s? I think we should all band together and keep this kind of business out of the area... and keep LBTS like it should be. Cute and friendly. Respectfully, Graham Taylor, LBTS resident After moving away from LBTS, I feel compelled to share my thoughts about the proposal to change the configuration of El Mar Drive. I understand that my former good neighbor, Christie Furth, wants to change the new design of El Mar Drive back from one lane in each direction to two lanes, the way it is now. She says that she and other property owners on El Mar did not have the opportunity to have input into the design process. Well neighbors, that is very hard to believe because Mark Furth, her husband, was an active member of the Master Plan Steering Committee that discussed the design at great length for over 9 months. It is unbelievable that she was not aware of the new design. Everett Sorenson, who was the chairman at that time, and the 9 other members looked at the alterative ideas. Laura Ward (former assistant town manager), Walter Keller (town plan- ner) and Kevin Hart (town engineer at the time) all had input and counsel to the MPSC. The design was presented to the Commission with a 9 to 1 recommendation of the com- mittee in favor of making El Mar Drive one lane in each direction. Mark Furth was the one member who voted against the plan as I remember. All the meetings were televised and open to the public. The approved design was illustrated in print and distributed to the committee. Mark was given a copy. How could she not have known about the new design? Christie must also know that it’s too late to turn back the clock on El Mar Drive now. The objective of going to one lane was to give the look and feel of an elegant pedestrian beach boulevard, with eight-foot sidewalks, bicycle lanes and extensive, lush landscaping. Five projects along El Mar Drive have already been approved by the Town Commission based on these parameters. Every aspect has been taken into consideration, including the placement of fire hydrants, egress to the road, pedestrian comfort and public safety. For example, the video prepared by the Minto Corporation for their project “The Villas” clearly shows a magnificent tree-lined street that any resident or visitor will be proud to walk on. The Commission has already approved the new El Mar Drive configuration several times. To go back now would only result in a road that weaves back and forth from one lane to two as it passes from one project to the next, without uniform sidewalks, landscaping and other improvements. I also understand that my former good neighbor Christie is not happy with the Oriana project. Well I agree with her to some degree. She would discontinue the overlay districts. Maybe a better solution would be to revise the overlay requirements to fix the shortcom- ings. So much thought went into the ordinances in planning for the future of LBTS. It’s not necessary to start all over again when the problems can be easily remedied by amend- ments. Bob Terrien, The Villages This article was written with special input from Diane Boutin, General Manager of Windjammer Beach Resort. LBTS resident Rob Duritsa won a Best of Show award recently for his first entry in his first car show. His 1978 Austin Mini-Cooper weighs just 3700 pounds, gets 50 miles to the gallon, and is a racing green model. Rob and his wife Janell also are proud owners of a classic 1968 Camaro SS. Acccording to Rob, “The show was a lot of fun and I’m looking for the next one to enter.” OUR NEIGHBOR’S CAR WINS BIG Rob Duritsa stands beside his “Best-of-Show” 1978 Austin Mini-Cooper. LBTS LIFESTYLES VOL 1, ISSUE 18 | Page 8 by NEW THEATER HITS NEW HIGH The dilemma of an artist who must decide whether to paint reality as he sees it or to allow a patron to tell him to improve on nature is the core of Likeness, a world pre- miere at the New Theatre in Coral Gables through Oct. 28. It is another brilliant piece of writing from Miamian-turned- New Yorker David Caudle, who turned to the turbulent times of pre-Revolutionary War Boston to explore idealism versus re- ality. Fortunately, with the astute direc- tion of Ricky J. Martinez and an engaging ensemble cast, Caudle’s words come to life --- complementing a play which took him 18 months to write. The time was well spent! Likeness is set in the time of unrest prior to the American Revolution, but it is re- ally not a historical drama. It is, however, a tale about family, economic class con- sciousness, and, of course, the honesty of an artist in how he portrays things. It all takes place in a barn on an estate near Boston in 1865, where conflict is brewing between British Loyalists and those who view a new status as Americans. The un- popular Stamp Act tax has just been lev- ied when a young, idealistic portrait paint- er (Matthew Leddy) has been hired by a dictatorial Mr. Westerley (Bill Schwartz) to paint his l6-year old haughty daughter (Vanessa Thompson). Westerly wants his daughter to be painted so as to im- prove what nature has given her, make her more acceptable to a wealthy British potential son-in-law, and that sets off the conflict. Along the way, Caudle’s script lets us meet the daughter’s manipulative guardian/ nanny (Tara Vodihn), a relative who has close ties to Westerly (stylishly played by an exuberant Sally Bondi), and a servant learning to be an artist’s assistant (Flor- ida newcomer Scott McKinsey). All six of the cast members help the audience understand that -- like certain paintings – people are not always what they seem. Caudle – whose earlier works have been premiered at New Theatre, rises in stat- ure with this period piece, which could be played at any time in history and still make sense – and good theatre. This is one of his better plays – and (as direc- tor Martin told a crowd after the premiere – has all the makings of a good movie, too!) Set designer Jesse Dreikosen’s barn is a perfect locale for the drama. And costume designer Lynn Bowling and wig master Lazaro Arencibia obviously did some fine-tuned research in dressing this cast. Arenciba’s clippership-in-the hair will amuse any student of American his- tory. Lighting by Eric Nelson and sound by Rob Rick should get their just credit. Technically – as well as historically – this premiere is on target! _______ Ron Levitt, an entertainment/travel writ- er, is a former Assistant Secretary of State for cultural affairs. The former UPI correspondent is president of the South Florida International Press Club and Vice President of the South Florida Theatre League. Winter Squash Lasagna 2 T. each olive oil and brown sugar 6 c. butternut squash, mashed (6 lbs. raw) 1 t. each cinnamon ¼ c. unsalted butter ¼ c. all purpose flour 3 ½ c. whole milk A few grinds of fresh nutmeg ¾ c. basil leaves 12 no boil lasagna noodles 8 oz. whole milk ricotta cheese and/or mascarpone cheese (I mix half of each) 2 c. shredded mozzarella cheese ½ c. grated parmesan 1 c. mixed mozzarella and parmesan Cut the squash in half, scrape out the seeds and bake cut side down in 350 degree oven until skin starts to collapse and squash is tender when pierced with a fork. Cool slightly. Scrape meat out of skin and add the brown sugar, olive oil and cinnamon. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and add the flour and whisk for 2 minutes. Gradually add in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer until the sauce thickens, whisking often. Whisk in the nut- meg. Cool slightly. Transfer half the sauce to a blender and add the basil and blend until smooth. Return the basil to the remaining sauce in the pan and stir to blend. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Lightly butter a 9x13 glass or ceramic baking dish. Spread one third of the sauce over the bottom. Arrange the noodles over the sauce and spread a third of the squash over the noodles. Dot one third of the ricotta over the squash and sprinkle with one third of mozzarella cheese. Repeat layering two more times. Tightly cover the top with aluminum foil and bake for 30-40 minutes. Remove from oven and remove foil. Sprin- kle with remaining cup of parmesan and mozzarella and bake an additional 15 minutes uncovered until lasagna is golden brown. Let lasagna rest before serving. Enjoy! HOURS: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EVENINGS & WEEKENDS: TILL 2:00 am BY APPT by Ron Levitt, Theater Critic The following two notes were received from Elaine Viets, prize winning local author profiled in our September 14 issue. Thanks so much for a very accurate and well-written story. You handled a lot of information well. I'm sending a copy to my editor in New York. I'm really glad you included the September signing at Barnes and Noble. Best wishes, Elaine Viets and to Editor Cindy Geesey following her book signing on September 29... Dear Cindy, Thanks so much for stopping by B&N. After you left, two more people came by with your article. Thanks to you, I sold a total of four hardcovers. You definitely have readers. Best, Elaine Lenore Nolan-Ryan is a world-renowned chef and culinary lecturer whose cooking school and catering company are in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea. www.LenoreNolanRyan.com 954-491-2340 With shades of fall upon us, if only in the produce aisle, the vivid yellows, oranges and greens of autumn testify to the presence of beta carotene. Beta carotene is an anti- oxidant thought to help reduce the risk of cancer. It is magically first converted by the body into vitamin A. and along with other vitamins and minerals in fruits and vegetables it helps to nurture and promote optimum health. At our local farmers market, winter squash, sweet potatoes, chard, dried apricots, pumpkins and carrots have crowded out the late season of tomatoes, grapes and peaches. We now can satisfy our craving for something more substantial and also pro- vide ourselves with ample amounts of beta carotene. For the body to absorb beta carotene it needs a small amount of fat to go down the hatch! Now, this is good news! Without a small amount of fat… now that seems nego- tiable. Is that a smidgen, a dollop, a teaspoon or a tablespoon? Well, whatever your pleasure, without some fat in the meal very little beta carotene is absorbed and utilized. So, I say without hesitation and without guilt, enjoy this delish, somewhat sinful dish. Healthy Autumn Living Learn To Cook With Lenore! Throw a Big Party With Lenore! Live, Love & Laugh With Lenore! Lenore Nolan-Ryan is a world-renowned chef and culinary lecturer now residing in South Florida. Lenore can cater your next event, large or small, while her popular Cooking School offers a variety of cooking classes and lively cooking 228 Commercial Blvd. in LBTS 954-491-2340 LenoreNolanRyan.com “The Art of Entertaining is Knowing Who To Call.” Cooking School & Catering Company Thank you for visiting our advertisers. Please tell them you saw their ad in our newspaper. Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? You’ll actually enjoy a FREE DINNER on us when you close on the purchase of an amazing oceanfront timeshare unit- week at Windjammer Beach Resort right here in beautiful Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida! It’s the easiest and most affordable way to own your own piece of paradise. Call La Costa Realty for more information or come stay with us first on a Daily or Weekly Rental. There simply isn’t a better value for owning your own vacation property! This advertisement is being used for the purpose of soliciting sales of timeshare interests. Offering plan available from sponsor. WINDJAMMER BEACH RESORT 954-776-4232 (resort) 954-351-7500 (realtor) VOLUME 1, ISSUE 18 | Page 10 PEOPLE PICTURES Cindy Geesey (Chamber Director, POA President and Editor of ByTheSeaFuture) joins Chamber President Paul Novak in welcoming legendary DJ Rick Shaw to the Chamber’s recent Business-After-Business event at Benihana. Chamber Director Lenore Nolan-Ryan (right) enjoys the festivities with friend at the Benihana party thrown by the Chamber of Commerce to bring members together and show off the restaurant’s amazing new decor, inside and out. Edward White of Croton Arms (left) joins friends Ron and Irene Piersante, Gary Burnett and Commissioner Chuck Clark at the Chamber’s recent Benihana party. Mayoral Candidate Roseann Minnet (middle) is joined by Chamber Director Ken Brenner (left), Chamber Vice President Dave Gadsby (right) and Member Flo while Chamber Director Guy Contrada expresses glee in the background. Vince and Connie Ragusa, Milt Meyerowicz, Chamber Director Lucke Ricciuti, Chamber President Paul Novak and Executive Director Judy Swaggerty Sunny Eckhardt, Loyola Gray, and Nani Maloney enjoy the fun and food at the recent Sister Cities party. *Guarantees stated above are subject to terms and conditions – not intended to solicit buyers and sellers currently under agency agreements SAVE $10,000 on your Home or Condo Purchase GUARANTEED Or we will pay YOU up to $5,000 CASH DISTRESS SALES Free list of Distress Sales and Bank Foreclosures mailed or e-mailed to you at No Cost or Obligation. Please indicate which price range and area you want information on. Call 800-656-9451 ID# 1063 www.LBTShotdeals.com SELLERS: 1. 11 HOME INSPECTION PITFALLS – Learn about these common and costly traps BEFORE you list…………………….ID# 1003 2. COSTLY HOMESELLER MISTAKES – Learn how to avoid these common mistakes and save yourself thousands of dollars when you sell your home............................ID# 1000 View Current Listings and Recent Solds at: www.LBTS-Realty.com Courtesy of: Jeffrey Christlieb, Broker, Realtor LBTS Realty, LLC Ph: 954-654-9900 e-mail: Jeff@LBTS-Realty.com REAL ESTATE Information Corner Valuable FREE Reports for Buyers and Sellers mailed to you at no cost or obligation. Call a pre- recorded message anytime, 24 hours a day at: 1-800-656-9451 and enter the ID# of the information you would like to receive. BUYERS: 1. SAVE THOUSANDS – Find out how to save thousands of dollars when you buy a Home …………………………………….… ID# 1004 2. 10 BEST BUYS HOT LIST – Receive a FREE list of the most current Best Buys in your desired price range……….……ID#1061 FREE Quick OVER THE NET Home or Condo Evaluation Visit: www.LBTSvalues.com Looking for a Vacation or Seasonal Rental? Visit: www.LBTSvacationRentals.com Your Home or Condo SOLD in 120 Days or less GUARANTEED Or we pay you $3,000 Cash The recently-refurbished Pelican Hopper is proudly displaying its new regalia including the seal of the Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Florida. Got photos you think we should publish? Let us know by sending them to newspaper@bytheseafuture.com! Fridays: Jazz on the Square starts at 7 p.m. October 15, Monday Our Art By The Sea sponsors a lunch trip to Graces Cafe and Gallery in Dania Beach. Call Arnie Regan at 954-782-0945. October 15, Monday The Master Plan Steering Committee meets at 6:30 p.m. at Jarvis Hall. * October 16, Tuesday Sgt. Doug Brown holds a COP meeting at 6:30 p.m. Call 954-491-3920 for information. October 16, Tuesday The LBTS Chamber of Commerce holds their 5th annual Fish Fry from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Damon’s Beachside Grill. Call 954-776- 5974 for additional information. October 17, Wednesday The Lions Club meets at 7:30 a.m. at Damons. Call Mike San Miguel at 954-647-7752 October 17, Wednesday Planning & Zoning Board at Jarvis Hall at 6:30 p.m. * October 18, Thursday Broward County Property Appraiser’s Office representa- tive meets with property owners at Jarvis Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. October 18, Thursday Community CPR Training provided by BSO Fire Rescue starts at 6:00 p.m. at Jarvis Hall. Call Greg Blue at 954-831-8228. October 20, Saturday Congregational Breakfast at the Community Church begins at 9:00 a.m. October 20, Saturday The LBTS Green market is open from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., locat- ed on south side of Commercial Blvd. between Interior Digs and Concord Realty. October 20, Saturday Annual OKTOBERFEST celebration held by LBTS Property Owners Association starting at 6:00 p.m. at Jarvis Hall. All residents are wel- come! Call Cindy Geesey at 954-776-5974 to RSVP. Free food, entertainment, raffles. October 22, Monday The Kiwanis Club meets at 6 p.m. at Damon’s. Call Kaye Yanni at 954-491-9737 October 23, Tuesday A Commission Meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Jarvis Hall. * October 25, Thursday The Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Woman’s Club meets at 11:00 am. Phone 954-772-0707 for the location and more information. October 27, Saturday & October 28, Sunday The LBTS Chamber of Commerce sponsors the Art & Craft Show on ElMar Drive at Commercial Boulevard and the Beach from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Call 954-776-1000 for more information. October 31, Wednesday Halloween Trick or Treating and Haunted House for kids of all ages at Jarvis Hall starting at 6:00 p.m. * Televised Meeting on Comcast Channel 78 LOCAL EVENTS CALENDAR VOLUME 1, ISSUE 18 | Page 11 HAPPENINGS THE BEVERLY KENNEDY SHOW Please Telephone 800-696-6566 for Info or Comment Beverly@BeverlyKennedy.com Radio AM 1230 WBZT.COM and BeverlyKennedy.com Tuesdays - Fridays from 5-6pm (EST) We have started construction on the most unique property that the South Florida coastline has seen in years. What’s even more amazing is the deluxe 2 and 3 bedroom residences start in the low 500’s–virtually unheard of today. To top it off, a private beach club–a mere breath away from the waterline. So if you love living at the beach...what are you waiting for? Stop by our Sales Gallery and make it happen! Villas By The Sea. 954.760.4344 www.mintofla.com SALES GALLERY LOCATED OFFSITE: 626 North Federal Hwy., Fort Lauderdale. Artist Renderings, prices and availability subject to change. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE DEVELOPER. FOR CORRECT REPRESENTATIONS, MAKE REFERENCE TO THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED BY SECTION 718.503, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO BE FURNISHED BY A DEVELOPER TO A BUYER OR LESSEE. Not an offer where prohibited by state statutes. 06/07 Low-rise luxury at the beach from the low $500’s to over $1 million I t l t l Take I-95 to Broward Blvd. exit – head east. Turn left at Federal Hwy/U.S. 1. Turn right at NE 6th St., make your first left into the Victoria Park Shoppes. Our Sales Gallery is on your left. Villas By The Sea is one block north of Commercial Blvd., at A1A and El Mar Dr. VBS_BTSeaFuture_6_07 6/8/07 11:37 AM Page 1