Anita Magnotta, the children’s activities director at the Pompano Beach Library, 1213 E. Atlantic Blvd. is seeking students to submit artwork for a contest.

The theme of the contest is “change” which was inspired by the President Elect Barack Obama’s campaign message of change. Magnotta is asking students to submit artwork that depicts changes needed in America.

Participants can enter an essay, sculpture, a 3D model, or any form of artwork to help display Obama’s message of change. Magnotta is also willing to help the students learn how to create a video or a comic book storyline.

“Rather then read a book, let’s make one,” she said.

Submissions can be made by an individual or a team and Magnotta recently extended the deadline to May.

“It gives them time to learn what the president is doing,” Magnotta said.

The contest will feature plenty of winners, as there will be a variety of categories and winners. A grand prizewinner for each category will also be chosen. Currently, Magnotta is seeking sponsors to help pay for the prizes.

For more information, call 954-786-2181.

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Parents in Pompano Beach looking for a place for their children to participate in after school activities should look no further than the Thomas D. Stephanis Boys & Girls Club in Pompano Beach.

The club, 212 NE 16th St. has been providing children with a positive place to hangout for more than 30 years in Pompano Beach and offers a variety of programs ranging form volunteering, chorus, art, sports, and construction classes.

Currently, the club is in the middle of its membership campaign. The child must be 7 to 18 years of age to join the club, which also encourages parent participation. The club operates from 2 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, call 954-941-2697.

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Having recently witnessed the Pompano Beach Fire Department perform during an emergency training exercise, I can honestly say I have a new respect for all firefighters.

Ted Martin, the emergency commander for the Pompano Beach Fire Department allowed me to not only witness the firefighters train, but also to be apart of the experience.

Throughout November and December the fire department has been conducting independent training exercises at the abandoned Tails Restaurant, 2635 N. Riverside Drive to help the firefighters develop procedures to be able to escape an enclosed building.

“This [training] is about us not getting in trouble,” said Dave Smith, a Pompano Beach training officer. “We concentrate on firefighter safety and by doing that, we can help save other people. We can’t save other people unless we protect ourselves.”

During the training, the trainees and I had to follow a series of hoses to reach the third floor of the building to assist another crew, all while crawling on our knees, dragging a heavy hose and with the entire structure engulfed in smoke.

We were only in the structure for maybe 15 minutes, but it felt a lot longer than that. Once we were finished and I took off my equipment, I was dripping with sweat and was out of breath. And upon talking to firefighter paramedic Mark Baker, I found out I was lucky.

“Imagine doing that and then turning the temperature to 350 degrees,” he said.

I don’t want to imagine that and I’m glad we have brave people such as Baker to do a job I could never do. So, if you ever see a firefighter or any first responder, thank them, because I can tell you, their jobs are a lot harder than you think or least what I thought.

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For Pompano Beach resident Lucille Levy and her husband David, decorating for Christmas doesn’t start after Thanksgiving, like for most residents. Decorating the inside and outside of their home begins in October and even that leaves them with little time to be ready for the holiday.
With more than 50 Christmas trees decorated in her house, a six-foot Santa and just about every Christmas character known to man also on display, Lucille said she often spends about 15 hours a day getting ready for her favorite holiday and time of the year.
"It’s a forest," Lucille said. "I’m still working on it."
The Levys moved into their Pompano neighborhood in the 2700 block of Southeast Sixth Street eight years ago and upon their first Christmas, they found their ? neighbors’ homes to be an elaborate Christmas display and they wanted to join in on the fun.
"It’s competitive, but it’s a friendly competition," Lucille said. "We feed off each other."
Along with their neighbors, Dave and Amanda McCaffrey, and Mark and Patti Macek, the Levys helped turn almost the entire block into one Christmas lights extravaganza.
"You can see it from Google Earth," David Levy said.
Once the outside decorations are up, the Levys said getting hundreds of vehicles that drive by is a nightly occurrence.
"Sometimes, I can’t even take the dog out for a walk," David said.
Christmas was always a special holiday for Lucille and every year her work gets harder and the decorations become more elaborate, but she said she wouldn’t have it any other way.
"It’s uplifting," she said.
Wanting to include the entire neighborhood in the celebration, the neighborhood group offers an annual block party that easily nets about 500 people, Lucille said. The celebration also includes a performance by the Broward County Mummers String Band, a 30-piece band.
The Levys often spend most of their free time around the holidays decorating their home, and they said the joy and happiness it brings to other people is why they spend so much time and money – the electric bill quadruples.
"I feel I can’t disappoint them," Lucille said. "We get joy from other people’s joy."

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The Broward Outreach Center in Pompano Beach is currently asking residents for donations that can be used as Christmas gifts for teenagers.

Marilyn Brummitt, Director of Community Development for the center said the majority of the donated gifts they receive are for young children and she doesn't want the teenagers to be forgotten.

The center is mainly asking for make-up kits, skateboards, gift cards, DVD and CD players.

Residents can drop off any unwrapped gifts until Dec. 23, at the center, 1700 Blount Road in Pompano Beach.
For more information, call 954-979-6365.

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Melissa Mayersdorf, a Sunday school teacher at Temple Sholom in Pompano Beach is coordinating for the second year the Hanukkah Tzedaka (Charity) Art Contest, a program meant to brighten up Hanukkah celebrations for the children at JAFCO, a Jewish Adoption & Foster Care Option in Sunrise.
Students at the Temple’s Sunday school create works of art such as the Star of David using paper money and coins. The artwork is then donated to JAFCO for Hanukkah.
"We’re encouraging them to open up their pocket books for charity, in a fun way," Mayersdorf said.
Last year, the students raised about $200, and at the beginning of the school year, it didn’t take long for the students to take a special interest in the project.
"The first thing they asked me about was the charity contest," Mayersdorf said.
Mayersdorf started the program after hearing JAFCO was in need of toiletry donations and with Hanukkah around the corner, she said she wanted children to celebrate the holiday as well.
"They understand the concept of charity and are thrilled to present the artwork [to JAFCO]," Mayersdorf said.
This year, Mayersdorf expects about 15 to 20 entries and said they are already on the way to exceeding last year’s total. The children will present their creative artwork to JAFCO with a special ceremony at 10 a.m. Dec. 21 at Temple Sholom, 132 SE 11th Ave.
"The donations of artwork give the students more pride than just presenting a check," she said.
JAFCO will use the funds to purchase Hanukkah gifts and clothing for children at the nonprofit facility, said Lauri Dworkin-Bellan, a volunteer for JAFCO.
"I think it’s very important these kids get involved in charity programs," Dworkin-Bellan said. "It’s part of the philosophy of Judaism."
With the success of the project, Mayersdorf plans to make the artwork donations a yearly event.
"We’re definitely going to make it bigger and better each year," she said.
For more information about the artwork, call 954-942-6410. For more information about JAFCO, visit www.JAFCO.org.

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Throughout December the Pompano Citi Centre, 1955 N. Federal Hwy. is offering residents a range of live holiday entertainment.
Santa will also be on-hand from noon to 4 p.m. throughout the month.

The list of holiday entertainment at the Citi Centre, is as follows:

6:30 p.m. Dec. 5, St. Coleman’s Church Choir
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 6, Women and Wishes Holiday Bazaar
6 p.m. Dec. 6, Venezuela Serenata y Folklore
3 p.m. Dec. 7, Florida State Champion Sunshine Chordsmen
12 p.m. Dec. 10, Deerfield Park Elementary Chorus and Drum Line
11:30 a.m. Dec. 11, North Andrews Gardens Elementary
6 p.m. Dec. 13, Igreja Assembleia de Deus Manancial and the Assembly of God Manancial
5:30 p.m. Dec. 22, Chabad Menorah Lighting Ceremony

For more information, call 954-943-4683.

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The Lighthouse Point Fire Department has begun its annual Holiday Toy Drive to benefit local children.

Through Dec. 19, the fire department will collect new and unwrapped toys for children all ages at the fire station, 3740 NE 22nd Ave.

Checks are also accepted and can be made payable to the LHP Benevolent Association. Any cash donation will be used to purchase toys.

For more information, call 954-941-2624.

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