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UCF football sells out 2024 season ticket allotment in record time
UCF football season tickets have been snapped up by fans, with the athletics department selling out its 2024 allotment in record time.
It’s a monumental achievement for the Knights, marking the earliest sellout of their ticket allotment in school history. This is the fourth consecutive season and fifth overall since 2019 in which the school has achieved a sellout, a testament to the passionate fan base.
UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir celebrated the accomplishment on social media Tuesday.
“Fastest @UCF_Football season-ticket sellout & fifth one since 2019!! Can’t wait for more Power 4 football in Orlando this fall! GO KNIGHTS!!” Mohajir wrote in a post on X.
Fastest @UCF_Football season-ticket sellout & fifth one since 2019!!
Can't wait for more Power 4 football in Orlando this fall! GO KNIGHTS!! pic.twitter.com/Th9EcxxKvm
— Terry Mohajir (@TerryMohajirAD) May 7, 2024
According to the latest NCAA attendance figures, UCF’s six home games in 2023 — its first season in the Big 12 — averaged 44,015 fans, 99% of the capacity of the 44,206-seat FBC Mortgage Stadium. The Knights have averaged 42,758 fans during the past six seasons, minus the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic season, when attendance was limited to 25% capacity.
UCF’s home schedule begins with the season-opener against New Hampshire (Aug. 29), followed by Sam Houston (Sept. 7), Colorado (Sept. 28), Cincinnati (Oct. 12), BYU (Oct. 26), Arizona (Nov. 2) and Utah (Nov. 29).
“It’s a good schedule,” coach Gus Malzahn said in February. We have eight games in state, and that’s important. There are going to be some really good home games that our fans are going to enjoy so we’re looking forward to that.”
Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com
Ex-Broward superintendent may get $138,000 and non-disparagement agreement
Former Superintendent Peter Licata would continue to work for Broward Schools as an employee until July 1 and another nine weeks as a consultant under a tentative $138,000 separation package he negotiated Tuesday.
The proposed agreement also includes a provision that neither Licata nor district leadership can disparage the other for a year. A non-disparagement clause in previous Superintendent Vickie Cartwright’s contract has proved challenging for the district, as she has filed complaints with the district alleging it has been violated multiple times.
The School Board is scheduled to vote on the agreement at a meeting at 4 p.m. May 14 at Plantation High.
Licata, who just started in July, announced April 16 he was stepping down on Dec. 31 due to health reasons. The School Board voted to terminate his contract immediately, replace him with Howard Hepburn, who had been deputy superintendent for teaching and learning, and negotiate separation details with Licata.
School Board Chairwoman Lori Alhadeff and General Counsel Marylin Batista held the negotiations virtually Tuesday with Licata and his lawyer, Glen Torcivia.
A major sticking point was whether Licata’s separation should be considered a retirement or a termination without cause, the latter of which provides more lucrative benefits, including a required 60 days’ notice and 20 weeks of severance pay.
Batista said Licata appeared ready to step down April 16, so his exit should be treated as a retirement. Torcivia argued the opposite.
“His retirement date was Dec. 31. The board took action,” Torcivia said during negotiations. “I listened to that meeting. I never heard him say, ‘I want to resign. I want to leave now.’ It was the board that said, ‘I want to hire someone else.'”
At the April 16 meeting, which is available online, Licata encouraged the School Board to immediately replace him with Hepburn to ensure “the smoothest transition” for the district.
“This allows us to potentially lock in an incredible talent, as well as make sure we do have some stability as we move forward,” Licata told the board that day, adding that he wouldn’t predict whether he would even be well enough to work until Dec. 31.
School Board members have publicly voiced concern about giving 20 weeks of severance to Licata, who made $350,000 a year, since he’d worked for the district less than a year and his exit was voluntary.
So in lieu of severance, Torcivia first offered that Licata be given 60 days’ notice at full pay and benefits, and then allow him to do 14 weeks of consulting at $6,731 per week, the same pay as being superintendent but without any benefits.
Batista initially offered 30 days’ notice but then agreed to keep him as an employee until July 1, saying the benefits department told her that’s when he’d be fully vested within the Florida Retirement System for 30 years of service. Licata started as a teacher in Palm Beach County in 1994.
Licata said during negotiations that retirement milestone was wrong but refused to provide the correct date, saying it was immaterial to the discussions.
However, Licata ultimately agreed to the July 1 end date as an employee, nine weeks of consulting, $3,000 for lawyer fees and a one-year non-disparagement clause. The total package is $137,615, not including benefits.
The non-disparagement clause, lasting a year, would apply if Licata were to make any disparaging comments about the superintendent or School Board, or if the School Board were to make any such comments about Licata.
“I can’t imagine anything negative. Everything I’ve heard is positive, but you never know,” Torcivia said during negotiations.
The proposed language comes three weeks after former Superintendent Cartwright alleged violations in a non-disparagement clause in her February 2023 separation agreement, putting the district in potential legal jeopardy.
The non-disparagement agreement involving Cartwright has no expiration date, district spokesman John Sullivan told the Sun Sentinel in an email from Feb. 16, 2023.
I heard back from @Johnjsully on who non-disparagement clause for frmr Supt. Cartwright’s separation agreement applies to. Looks like School Board members & top administrators but not other employees. As is common w/ @browardschools inquiries, many questions aren’t answered. https://t.co/qEeGGnzRjV pic.twitter.com/KbJ9KEbgv0
— Scott Travis (@smtravis) February 16, 2023
Cartwright sent a cease-and-desist email April 16 to Batista and Alhadeff, alleging Board member Torey Alston violated the agreement, including in an April 13 post on the social media site X where he commented on a Sun Sentinel opinion column that was critical of him and another board member.
“Nice political ‘hit job.’ Blame everyone else for high millage rates, dropping general fund reserves, Supt w/ no exp (VC) that destroyed the district, daily board interference with staff and hiding a $80M liability, board with no fiscal restraint,” Alston posted on the social media site X. “Who did this? (The People Know).”
Nice political “hit job”. Blame everyone else for high millage rates, dropping general fund reserves, Supt w/ no exp (VC) that destroyed the district, daily board interference with staff and hiding a $80M liability, board with no fiscal restraint. Who did this? (The People Know)
— Torey Alston (@ToreyAlston) April 13, 2024
“I am requesting that Mr. Alston cease making defamatory comments about me. Though he only uses my initials, a reasonable person would be able to determine that he is talking about me,” Cartwright wrote to Batista and Alhadeff, adding that violations by board members are “clearly now a pattern of ongoing behavior.”
Batista sent an email marked “confidential” to board members April 19 saying “no employee of the District, including any board members, should make any false, defamatory, or disparaging comments about or in reference to Dr. Cartwright.”
“It is imperative that all employees abide by the terms of the Agreement in order to protect the District from civil liability and/or allegations of breach of the Agreement,” Batista wrote in the email, which the Sun Sentinel obtained through a public records request.
Alston, reached Tuesday, denied violating the agreement.
“As I have said publicly, I respect the mutually separated leader as a person,” he said. “The board went in a different direction.”
He said Cartwright had contacted him in a call that “truly caught me off guard” in the weeks after the Feb. 7, 2023, separation agreement was approved. He sent a letter to Batista on Feb. 21, 2023, documenting his concerns. He wrote to Batista that Cartwright had called him “very cryptically on my personal cell,” in which he said she mentioned “please tell them to leave me alone,” to which Alston replied he didn’t know what she was referring to.
Alston told the Sun Sentinel, “I wish her well and we need to move on.”
I know what chaos & disruption looks like (& I know who it’s not) Picking the right Supt matters. Removing rotten
Semi-automatic gun ban nixed in Colorado’s Democratic-controlled statehouse after historic progress
By JESSE BEDAYN (Associated Press/Report for America)
DENVER (AP) — A bill to ban the sale and transfer of semi-automatic firearms was nixed in Colorado’s Democratic-controlled Legislature on Tuesday as lawmakers pressed forward with a slew of other gun control bills on the 25th anniversary year of the Columbine High School massacre.
The western state has a deep history with firearms that is pockmarked by some of the most high-profile mass shootings nationwide. Both factors loom large over gun control debates in the Legislature, complicating attempts at such bans that nine other Democratic-controlled states have in place, including California and New York.
The Colorado House passed the ban in a historic first and what proponents see as a “tremendous achievement” after roughly the same proposal was swiftly nixed last year. But some Senate Democrats are wary of the efficacy and breadth of the ban, which prohibits the sale, transfer and manufacture of semi-automatic firearms.
Colorado’s blue shift is evident in part by a number of successful gun control measures passed last year, including raising the buying age for a gun from 18 to 21. Some half-dozen proposals are nearing passage this year, including a bill to put a measure on the November 2024 ballot to tax sales of guns and ammunition. Another would give the Colorado Bureau of Investigation more power to investigate gun sales that are already illegal.
The state’s purple roots have frustrated attempts at a broader ban.
A decade ago, two lawmakers were ousted in the state’s first recall elections over their support for bills that set limits on ammunition magazines and expanded background checks.
“That history, I think, lingers,” said Democratic state Sen. Julie Gonzales, one of the semi-automatic ban bill’s sponsors. She added that the proposal’s success in the House “signals that there is a new space for us to have different conversations.”
But for now, at a sparsely attended committee hearing Tuesday, Gonzales asked that the legislation be put to rest in the face of opposition from Senate Democrats.
On that committee sits Democratic state Sen. Tom Sullivan, who would have been a “no” vote, along with Republican lawmakers who have decried the bill as an encroachment on Second Amendment rights.
Sullivan’s son, Alex, was one of 12 killed in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting at a midnight screening of “The Dark Knight Rises.” The tragedy catapulted Sullivan into activism around gun control and then public office, where he has spearheaded many bills on the issue.
Sullivan said the weapons that the bill seeks to curtail are involved in only a small fraction of gun deaths and injuries. Those firearms include a long list of semi-automatic rifles, along with some pistols and shotguns, with certain characteristics, such as a threaded barrel or detachable stock.
Their prohibition wouldn’t make much of a dent in gun violence, Sullivan argued, and the proposal takes up immense political oxygen in the state capitol — energizing the opposition and detracting from more effective and less controversial gun control measures.
“The narrative is all wrong,” Sullivan said. “That’s what they want you to believe, that it’s assault weapons and schools. It’s not. … It’s suicides and it’s domestic violence.”
Democratic state Rep. Tim Hernández, one of the bill’s sponsors, said he’d had many discussions with Sullivan in the preceding months.
“We both agree that an assault weapons ban is not a silver bullet to the epidemic of gun violence,” Hernández said. “For us to get to a place where we are interrogating all the ways that gun violence shows up, we have to run policies for all the ways it manifests itself.”
The proposal is expected to be revived next year.
Meanwhile, other bills nearing the governor’s desk include a proposal to require more rigorous safety training for someone seeking a concealed carry permit. And one would require firearm dealers to obtain a state permit, not just a federal one, to give regulators greater power to enforce state gun laws.
Daily Horoscope for May 07, 2024
General Daily Insight for May 07, 2024
Growth within reasonable limits is possible at this time. The Sun and the Moon both align harmoniously with realistic Saturn before coming together for the New Moon in practical Taurus at 11:22 pm EDT. Although any New Moon provides a strong foundation from which to push forward, the connection with Saturn will give this one extra staying power. We might have to abandon certain cherished fantasies, but in the end, what we’ll get done in the material world should be worth the effort!
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
Your financial decisions might be more complex than they appear today. Perhaps it looks like you’re spending lavishly and indulging yourself, and you’re apprehensive that others will think less of you for this. You probably know something they don’t about the situation! You’re allowed to spend some extra cash for valid reasons, such as anticipating you won’t be able to get an item in the future. You’re the one who must live with the outcome, so just stay confident in your judgment.
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
You’re primed to look and feel your best at the moment. With the invigorating New Moon in your 1st House of Body, putting in a little effort to take care of yourself can genuinely bring you immensely rewarding results. There’s nothing wrong with accepting advice from friends or doing online research if you’re trying to learn a specific technique. In the end, you’ll have to muster the confidence to make the final call — and that might pump you up more than anything else!
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
Pursuing your ambitions might require discretion at present. While the potent New Moon galvanizes your 12th House of Secrets, keeping your ear to the ground could alert you to a professional opportunity that isn’t quite public yet. You may not be able to ask anyone else for guidance without blowing your cover, so you’ll probably have to trust your intuition to determine how to proceed. Do what you must to get calm and relaxed enough to see the situation clearly.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
Observing a favorite tradition together could strengthen your commitment to your current community. As the sentimental New Moon in your social sector complements structured Saturn in your intellectual 9th house, knowing what to expect can help you feel comfortable as you spend time with others. When the basic questions about the day’s activities are answered by an established plan, you’ll have the opportunity to lean into the emotional side of the experience. Don’t be afraid to let your companions know you value them!
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
You may currently be excited about a major goal of yours. With the refreshing New Moon in your public 10th house, you might as well say so! Plus, bringing your passion out into the open could nudge a potential collaborator to stop stringing you along and be honest regarding their limitations. Their news probably isn’t what you wanted to hear, but it doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Knowing what isn’t presently possible will free you to find out what is.
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
Getting out of the house could be a pressing priority for you now. With the high-energy New Moon in your adventure sector, however, you might be so full of exciting ideas that you find it impossible to commit to just one — or any number that’s manageable. Bringing a companion along and taking their preferences into consideration is a good way to narrow down the options. Once you embark on your journey, you’ll probably get to know each other better away from your usual turf!
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
Your hard work could begin to pay off at any moment. Over time, the effort you put in on a daily basis can add up to transformative results that make your life more comfortable. Beyond that, as the generative New Moon empowers your 8th House of Collaboration, others may take notice of your accomplishments and reach out to you with exciting opportunities. When it’s clear that you’re willing to pull your own weight, you’re a desirable addition to any winning team!
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
A well-meaning companion may encourage you to come out of your shell today. While the connection-craving Moon in your relationship sector engages with reticent Saturn in your pleasure zone, you’re not likely to be moved by an effort that seems overly fake, superficial, or pushy. Opening up could ultimately be worth it, but your discernment needs to have a place at the table. Don’t try to move faster than you find comfortable — the right person should be willing to wait.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
The flaws in your home environment could be especially obvious to you now. It might be tempting to blame others for putting you in a bad situation. On the plus side, as the vital New Moon energizes your productive 6th house, you’ll probably be able to come up with strategies to fix whatever isn’t working. The self-esteem you’ll gain from this effort may actually be more rewarding than digging deeper into the roots of the problem. Stay focused on the present.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
You can say a lot with a little today. While the passionate Moon in your expressive 5th house balances reserved Saturn in your communication zone, you’re equipped to get to the heart of any matter quickly. Adding your personal observations can make your comments more relatable and compelling. That being said, it’s possible to show your human side without allowing your audience to become distracted with details that aren’t crucial to your main point. Concise is the way to go!
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
Balancing your budget may presently require zooming out a bit. As the perceptive Moon in your 4th House of Nurturing harmonizes with limit-conscious Saturn in your money zone, you might realize that a frustrating tendency to overspend is coming from a lack of emotional security. Even if you don’t yet possess everything you want, you likely have more than you recognize. Taking time to notice and appreciate what you already have can tame your desire to acquire more. Get to know your true needs.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
Your reserved exterior might be a little misleading today. The people around you potentially tend to leave you alone because they get the idea you don’t want to talk. While you are capable of enjoying solitary activities at the moment, it’s possible that you’d also be willing to set those pursuits aside to take part in a conversation that really grabbed your interest. Feel free to start the dialogue you crave yourself — that way, you’ll be more likely to receive it!
Three-goal second period gives Bruins Game 1 win over Panthers
SUNRISE — Last time the Boston Bruins and Florida Panthers faced off in the postseason, Florida was the scrappy underdog — the eighth seed who came back from a 3-1 deficit to send Boston — which notched a record-setting 135 points in the regular season — home earlier than anticipated.
This season, the Panthers are the No. 3 team in the Eastern Conference, one spot ahead of Boston. That made no difference on the ice Monday as the Bruins started this series the way they began last year’s — with a series-opening victory. Boston took a series lead with a 5-1 win at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise.
“We’ve just got to work harder, ” Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov said. “Not just offensively. We’ve got to work hard in all parts.”
Neither team found the back of the net in the first period despite several Florida mistakes. Goalie Sergei Bobrovsky turned the puck over twice near his net, and defenseman Aaron Ekblad gave the puck away for a mini-breakway — a Bobrovsky save bailed out the defender.
Matthew Tkachuk, moved to the first line with Carter Verhaeghe and Barkov, opened the scoring more than halfway through the second period. Boston turned the puck over in its own zone, Barkov got his stick on the puck and dished it to a wide-open Tkachuk. The second-year Panther’s wrist shot got past Boston standout goalie Jeremy Swayman to put Florida ahead.
But after both teams went more than 30 minutes without a goal, Tkachuk’s score opened the lid on both nets. After an Ekblad turnover, Bruins center Morgan Geekie put the puck past Bobrovsky less than two minutes after the Panthers’ goal, tying the game back up at one.
Shortly after killing a Panthers power play, the Bruins took a 2-1 lead on a close-range shot by defenseman Mason Lohrei. Fellow defenseman Brandon Carlo, who arrived in South Florida late after his wife had their second child, gave Boston insurance with a late second-period score.
“(Carlo’s goal) was a big goal for them at a big time,” Tkachuk said.
Winger Justin Brazeau sealed the game for the Bruins with a breakaway goal 7:13 into the third period, and winger Jake DeBrusk scored an empty-net goal late in the third period.
While the Bruins netted five on Monday, the Panthers struggled to beat the 25-year-old Swayman, who had 38 saves on 39 shot attempts.
“Well you’re not getting a bad goalie,” Maurice said. “… It’s not, if you do it right, you get seven. It doesn’t work like that. He made some really nice saves. We missed some things around the net. I think we had some opportunity to generate more with a different mindset, perhaps. But you’re going to find an elite goalie in every net in all the playoff series.”
The Panthers face the Bruins in Game 2 at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday in Sunrise.
“It’s a different team than we played in the first round,” Tkachuk said. “Style, kind of everything. But for the most part, we had a pretty solid start. We were able to get the first goal, which is always big. Then, I don’t know, even know if it was take the foot off the gas, but we just made some mistakes.”
Deputy superintendent latest in string of Broward school departures
Judith Marte is retiring early as deputy superintendent of operations for Broward Schools, the latest in a string of high-profile departures from the school district.
Marte, who has worked for the district during two stints since 2017, sent a letter to Superintendent Howard Hepburn on Monday saying she planned to retire June 30.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our students, families and community,” Marte wrote Hepburn in a letter dated Monday. “It has been an honor to serve alongside such talented colleagues, and a privilege to lead an amazing group of hardworking professionals in Finance and Operations.”
Marte, 65, has been enrolled in a state deferred retirement program since 2020 and had planned to retire June 30, 2025, according to district records. It’s unclear why she decided to retire a year early. She couldn’t be reached Monday by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, despite attempts by phone.
Her departure follows a number of other top-level leaders who have left the district in recent months.
The highest profile one was Superintendent Peter Licata, who told the School Board on April 16, barely nine months on the job, that he planned to retire Dec. 31 for health reasons. The School Board voted to immediately replace him with Hepburn, who had served as deputy superintendent for teaching and learning since August.
Licata’s separation negotiations with Board Chairwoman Lori Alhadeff are scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.
A few days after Licata’s announcement, Deborah Czubkowski, who was hired in October as chief facilities officer, submitted her resignation. She has accepted a job as vice president for facilities at Broward College, where she worked for 15 years, most recently as associate vice president for facilities. She called the college “an incredible place to work,” in an interview Monday with the Sun Sentinel.
When the Broward College vice president job opened, Czubkowski wasn’t going to apply for it, because she’d made a commitment to the school district, she said.
“But then when Dr. Licata resigned, I said, ‘sometimes you have to listen to the signs,'” she said. “I took it as a sign.”
Zoie Saunders, who served only three months as chief strategy and innovation officer, resigned in late March after Vermont Gov. Phil Scott nominated her to be the state’s education secretary. The Senate voted last week not to confirm her for the permanent job, but Scott has still placed her in the job on an interim basis.
Two Broward schools directors also have recently resigned: Jill Young, who headed enrollment and demographics, and Mary Coker, who oversaw procurement and warehousing services. Coker took a job as general services director for Pompano Beach. Young couldn’t be reached for comment.
Marte, who was a longtime administrator for the Miami-Dade School District, was hired by former Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie as chief financial officer in 2017. Shortly after Runcie announced his resignation in the spring of 2021, Marte left to accept a job as chief financial officer for Florida Virtual School.
When Vickie Cartwright was hired as permanent superintendent in early 2022, she recruited Marte for one of two newly created deputy superintendent positions.
But Marte’s future appeared uncertain later that year when a statewide grand jury report was released. She was one of four administrators still working with the district who was named unfavorably in the report.
Cartwright forced out the other three, amid pressure from the state. But she saved Marte, who was accused of making statements related to the $800 million bond program for school construction that the grand jury found problematic.
The grand jury said Marte misled the School Board related to an $800 million bond for school construction, by saying it would not create an additional tax burden for the public if the district took out more bonds beyond what was voter-approved. The grand jury said she failed to mention that the action meant there would be less money for maintenance work.
Cartwright argued Marte’s statement was accurate and told state officials she reached out to a financial adviser and a school financing lawyer, who both agreed with Marte’s comments about no additional tax burden.
It’s unclear whether Marte’s position will remain on the superintendent’s organization chart, which Hepburn plans to present to the School Board on May 14.
“We wish Mrs. Marte well in the next phase of her life,” Hepburn wrote to School Board members Monday. “She has truly been an asset to staff, families and students of Broward County Public Schools.”
Bob Graham’s family plans South Florida events commemorating late governor and senator
South Florida events celebrating the life of Bob Graham, the legendary late U.S. senator and governor, are planned for Saturday.
He will be remembered at a public celebration-of-life service at Miami Lakes United Church of Christ, 6701 Miami Lakeway South in Miami Lakes. The service starts at 1 p.m.
A public reception follows, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Miami Lakes Hotel, 6842 Main St., in Miami Lakes.
Seating and parking is limited at the celebration of life, and the family advised people to arrive early and to consider parking at the nearby Miami Lakes K-8 Center, 14250 NW 67th Ave.
People attending the reception were advised to park on Main Street or in lots directly behind Main Street.
The Graham family developed Miami Lakes.
The celebration of life will be livestreamed by WPLG-Ch. 10 at local10.com/live. The Graham family owned WPLG for decades and the station’s call letters stand for the late Philip L. Graham, who was Bob Graham’s brother.
Bob Graham, 87, died on April 16. He was buried in Tallahassee on April 26, after lying in state at the historic Old State Capitol.
Graham, who served 12 years in the Florida Legislature, eight as governor and 18 years in the U.S. Senate, was seen by his fellow Democrats — and many Republicans — as a political giant.
Anthony Man can be reached at aman@sunsentinel.com and can be found @browardpolitics on Bluesky, Threads, Facebook and Post.news.
Pat Riley blunt on Heat’s Tyler Herro, ‘He’s been fragile,’ says Terry Rozier in neck brace
MIAMI — While the focus of Pat Riley’s season-ending media session Monday at Kaseya Center largely centered on Jimmy Butler and the time missed this past season by the team’s leading man, the Heat president also offered thoughts about several others from the roster bounced by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
In perhaps his most pointed comment beyond those about Butler, Riley mentioned the time missed by guard Tyler Herro in recent seasons, including this past season.
“He’s been fragile, a little bit,” Riley said, with Herro missing 40 games this season, after missing almost all of last season’s playoffs. “He broke his hand last year in the playoffs. He had some injuries earlier in his career. And there isn’t anybody that works harder at his game. He works. He puts the time in, in the weight room. So how does he keep his calorie intake?
“So he might have to go to another level nutritionally. He’s gotten stronger. But as the season progresses, you lose some of that. So he’s got to make some adjustments, definitely.”
Riley said there already have been discussions about Herro getting stronger.
“His major injuries are real,” Riley said. “And so, we’re just hoping we can get through a season where he’s playing in that 72- to 82-game basis. Maybe one year he will surprise and play every game.”
Riley also addressed the thought of the Heat being their best when Herro plays as sixth man, a notion former Heat captain Udonis Haslem raised during an ESPN appearance last week.
“That’s a narrative that’s out there, that everybody who has that narrative knows more than I do. They must know more than I do, to say that about Tyler,” Riley said. “Tyler’s a star.”
Rozier updateRiley offered additional clarity on Rozier, who missed the postseason with what the Heat had been listing as neck spasms.
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“I see him in a neck brace, so obviously he’s doing everything that he’s supposed to do,” Riley said. “I met with him the other day, and he said he felt good. But this is a process by which it takes time.
“When you’re dealing with the spine, you don’t mess around. We’re not going to mess around with Terry. And he wanted to play, desperately.”
Riley said there is no expectation of long-term impact.
“It’s going to heal,” Riley said. “The doctors convinced us, in time this thing will heal.”
As for trading for Rozier, Riley said the benefit remains apparent.
“He had some games where it was all right there,” Riley said of Rozier’s streak scoring, an element largely otherwise lacking on the roster. “But I do think after the trade, it took a while for him to settle in.
“Our offense, we felt we needed more firepower. He felt he could give it to us, and he did. Terry is everything I expected.”
Youth impressesWhile much of Riley’s focus Monday was on his veteran core, he did express optimism about the gains this season of 2022 first-round pick Nikola Jovic and 2023 first-round pick Jaime Jaquez Jr.
“They’re two great pieces for us,” Riley said.
“It all happened like that (snaps fingers) for Niko. I think last year he went through back issues. The learning curve was off the charts. So we saw something this year when we put him in the game, I think you could see this guy is going to have some talent. So it’s all about repetitions and IQ and learning and learning and learning more, a new way of conditioning for a 20-year-old guy, I think cardio more than anything else. He’s a great athlete. He’s got great instincts. He’s unself. He’s a rebounder. A coast-to-coast guy.
“And Jaime, if he had not gotten hurt, with the groin earlier in the season, he would have played 82 games. He ended up playing 75 games. And believe me, he was hurting when he missed those games. But he’s a proud young warrior and will play every night for you.”
Fort Lauderdale is opening 1960s-era time capsule hidden in walls of City Hall
For now, the contents are a mystery.
But on Tuesday, city leaders plan to open a time capsule that’s been sealed within the walls of Fort Lauderdale City Hall since 1969.
The 12:30 p.m. event, open to the public, is doubling as a ceremonial demolition of City Hall, a gray bunker of a building located at 100 N. Andrews Ave.
A section of the building will be removed for Tuesday’s demolition ceremony, symbolizing the end of an era and the start of a new chapter in the city’s rich history.
City Hall closed for good after the building’s basement flooded during a record-breaking rainstorm on April 12, 2023. The 1960s-era building lost power, forcing City Hall employees to work from home or in rented space.
Fort Lauderdale now has three options: Build a new City Hall in the same spot; sell the land and look for another spot to build its government campus; or buy a building that’s already standing.
Demolition of the old City Hall will cost around $700,000 and happen in stages, city officials say. Hauling away all the debris will cost another $2.5 million.
But about that time capsule, some are wondering what’s inside — including Mayor Dean Trantalis.
“I’m sure they’ll have a newspaper from that day,” he said. “Maybe there’s something about us putting a man on the moon. And something regarding the Vietnam War. We’re looking forward to opening it. I never knew we had a time capsule. They discovered it as they were preparing the building for demolition. It will be exciting.”
Commissioner John Herbst had his own thoughts about what might be inside the time capsule.
“There’s probably the Sun Sentinel in there,” he said.
“Maybe Jimmy Hoffa,” he added, tongue in cheek. “And something associated with the moon landing.”
Commissioner Warren Sturman also took a guess at what might be inside the time capsule.
“I’m thinking maybe blue suede shoes from the rock ’n’ roll era,” Sturman said.
Vice Mayor Steve Glassman had fun guessing.
“That was 55 years ago,” he said. “A photo of a young Dean Trantalis getting ready to move to Fort Lauderdale, when his hair was naturally dark. It’s not going to be as exciting as Al Capone’s vault. I think we should ask Geraldo Rivera to come over and cover this.”
Rivera hosted “The Mystery of Al Capone’s Vaults,” a live television special that aired in 1986. The show focused on the live opening of a walled-off underground room in a Chicago hotel once owned by Capone. The vault, hyped by Rivera as potentially containing great riches or dead bodies, turned out to be empty save for debris.
Trantalis says he’d like to see a new time capsule buried within the walls of the new City Hall.
Any ideas on what it might include?
“An 8-by-10 glossy of me,” the mayor said with a laugh.
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan
Broward’s island park gets upgraded: The plan to lure more nature seekers
Broward County’s only island park is set to reopen to the public this summer, offering more amenities for a great day outdoors.
Undergoing renovations is the Deerfield Island Park, a 53-acre reserve that is just north of East Hillsboro Boulevard in Deerfield Beach, on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway.
(Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)Deerfield Island Park is closed for repairs, and expected to open later this summer. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel)The destination, which opened as a park in 1980, is only accessible by boat. So the Parks and Recreation Department on Tuesday will ask county commissioners for permission to apply for a $125,000 grant to buy a new pontoon boat for the island.
This vessel, which will have shade coverings and be wheelchair accessible, would be the latest in a string of improvements. Among the changes:
— A new boardwalk was completed a few years ago.
— A trail system, made longer with much of the dirt path replaced with a rubberized surface, was finished earlier this year. The trail is now ¾ of a mile, or triple in size.
— A refurbished dock is being worked on now.
A 16-seater boat has shuttled patrons back and forth between Deerfield Island Park and Sullivan Park, a Deerfield Beach park where the public leaves their cars. If the Florida Inland Navigational District’s Waterways Assistance Program grant is approved, the county will spend an equal amount of money to purchase the second ferry, this one longer at 35 seats.
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The current ferry “is not the size we need,” said Dan West, director of the county’s Parks and Recreation Division. That’s because the county’s vision is to ultimately take a “busload of children from the school district and have experiences on the island.”
The long-term vision is for an “island lab” that would serve as an outdoor classroom, to learn about marine sciences and environmental education with help from the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, West said.
The program goal will be “to educate the public about the fragile South Florida ecosystems, impacts of severe weather, sea level rise, and climate change,” according to county records.
The island is a state-designated Critical Wildlife Area for gopher tortoises, a refuge for coastal birds and its mangrove swamp is a nursery for many juvenile fish species.
Eventually the county will seek yet another new ferry to accommodate as many people as possible, especially when demand increases on the weekends, West said.
The park has been closed for about a year and should be ready to reopen this summer, West said.
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash
Dave Hyde: Pat Riley tells Jimmy Butler to shut up and shape up — now what?
MIAMI — This was Pat Riley at his finest. There was a question about Jimmy Butler in the Miami Heat president’s annual postseason talk Monday — another question about Jimmy Butler, that is.
This entire Heat offseason will be one question about Butler’s future followed by one about his attitude followed by another of contract extension and yet another of his trade value. This question was about Butler’s words.
Butler did an interview after the Heat were trounced without him in the series by Boston and said: “If I was playing, Boston would be at home. New York for damn sure would be” home. Riley was asked simply if the Heat would have won with Butler on the court.
That hypothetical wasn’t the issue as the Riley saw it. Being a pro was the issue.
“For him to say that, I thought, ‘Is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy being serious?’ ” Riley said. “If you’re not on the court playing against Boston, or playing against the New York Knicks, you should keep your mouth shut.”
Yes, shots were fired Monday by Riley in his annual postseason State of the Heat talk. You bet they were. This is how you know there’s leadership and standards inside a business. This is what separates the Heat from most sports organizations, too: Riley has the championship rings to back up his thoughts.
He was asked, for instance, about the pressure most teams feel in signing a player like Butler to an extension when he’s eligible, as Butler is in July. The extension would turn the remaining two-year, $110 million on Butler’s deal into a three-year, $160 million contract.
“There’s no pressure,’’ Riley said. “The last extension, we gave it to him.”
He said that it’s a “big decision” for any franchise, “unless you have someone who is going to be there, available, every single night.”
Do you see the issue here? Heat Culture is about playing the regular season hard. Jimmy hasn’t played more than 64 games in the regular season his five Heat years. He played 60 this past season. He needed a break three games into the season. He watched tennis for eight hours one day and called in sick the next.
The Heat’s top core of Butler, Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro played just 19 games together. The Heat finished eighth in the East — four games behind the second-place Knicks. See why this matters? See why the play-in game and opening series against Boston was avoidable?
The central question: Will Butler change? It’s not just that he’s 35 next season. It’s that from his view he’s led the Heat to the NBA Finals twice and conference finals three times in his five years. All might look good to him.
So, the instant option is a trade, though Riley echoed coach Erik Spoelstra in saying that wasn’t going to happen. Maybe it doesn’t considering the investment a team would have to make in Butler as time starts to take a toll. Or maybe they’re just saying what they have to say to not crush any trade value.
Butler, of course, isn’t the only NBA player to say the regular season is meaningless. Shaquille O’Neal did so back when he played with the Heat.
Riley, of course, famously challenged O’Neal to a fight at a practice. That’s part of why the Heat likes to say, “We’re not for everyone.” Riley also famously called out LeBron James in this same postseason after the 2014-15 season about how, “this stuff is hard,” and to “stay if he has the guts.”
LeBron didn’t like that. Jimmy won’t like this. It’s a clash of eras in some form, as Riley doesn’t understand things like the 65-game rule the NBA passed as a minimum to make player eligible for postseason awards. That gives them an excuse not to play 17 games, he feels.
Riley was asked if he’ll talk to Butler about playing more games
“That was discussed prior to last year,’’ he said. “We had a discussion with his agent about that. That was discussed thoroughly.”
Something didn’t translate.
This will end where it has to with the Heat trying to trade Butler. Don’t read that wrong. They aren’t going to tank-for-tomorrow like the Dolphins did. They won’t do like the Marlins and trade players at the start of a season to build their minor leagues.
“Our organization is not about rebuilding,’’ Riley said. “I’ll never use that word. We retool as needed to try to make it better.”
They’ll retool this offseason. Riley told of meeting LeBron for his postseason interview after their first season together that ended with a loss in the Finals. LeBron, remember, collapsed in the final games against Dallas. There’s no other way to put it.
LeBron interrupted Riley’s meeting with Chris Bosh that ran late. He and Riley stared at each other. Finally, Riley said, “I have to go to work on the roster to make it deeper.”
He needs to do that now. Spoelstra needs to make a bottom-third offense score more. But the main thing is Butler. Will he change? Can he play more? At 35, 36 and 37, will he still be a postseason force?
One thing for sure is Riley, as strong leaders do, gave him something to think about: Shut up and shape up.
Miami Heat president Pat Riley speaks during his annual end-of-season news conference at the Kaseya Center in Miami on Monday. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)South Florida will get much hotter this week as we wrap up the dry season
The National Weather Service said the last week of the dry season will remain true to its name, with dry conditions all this week, with the exception of a few small showers in rural inland areas earlier in the week.
The seven-month dry season unofficially runs from Oct. 15 to May 15 each year in South Florida, where the rest of the year is considered the wet season.
The remainder of this week will be dry, and grow quite hot toward the end of the week.
By Thursday and Friday, South Florida will see the hottest temperatures of the year thus far. The forecast calls for coastal highs of 88 degrees on Thursday and 92 on Friday.
Inland areas will be hotter. Wellington should reach 93 on Thursday and 96 on Friday.
Heat indices, or the “feels-like” temperatures, will likely reach 100 degrees or higher, said the NWS.
The warm weather will be accompanied on Friday by a stiff South wind clocking in at 23 mph.
Meteorologist Will Redman of the NWS said that dry air in the mid-level atmosphere will clear away most clouds throughout the week. “The sun angle is also getting pretty high now,” he said, “and with a decent amount of clearing each day, it’s going to be pretty hot, and get progressively hotter during the week.”
Winds Monday were out of the east, keeping things cooler on the coast, but they will shift to a southerly flow, making heat widespread, said Redman.
Want less government? Vote for abortion rights | Letters to the editor
The proposed constitutional amendment known as Amendment 4 would allow abortions up to about the 24th week of pregnancy, just as Florida law had allowed up until Gov. Ron DeSantis enacted a 15-week abortion ban in 2022.
On May 1, DeSantis’ six-week abortion ban became law; many women and girls at that point don’t even know they are pregnant.
History proves that people are going to continue to need abortion access. Desperation leads to back-alley, unsafe solutions.
I am a senior citizen, so I remember reading about those horror stories more than 50 years ago.
If you are young, you might not appreciate the pain and harm that both women and girls suffered before they had safe choices available for extremely difficult personal decisions.
Books such as “Looking for Jane” and “The Lost Child of Philomena Lee” remind us of the other side of the story. Some women were forced to deliver and forced to give up for adoption babies they wanted to keep, just because of other people’s religious views. Sadly, art imitates life, often painfully so.
On Election Day, Nov. 5, please vote “Yes on 4” to end the six-week ban and allow our fellow citizens to make decisions about their own bodies without government interference. If you support less government, then vote yes on Amendment 4.
Candy Banks, Jupiter
Back off, LegislatureThe Florida Legislature needs to remove itself from our medical care and our medical records.
Lawmakers should unshackle physicians, so they can write appropriate pain medication to people with chronic and acute pain without fear. Millions of Floridians are living life with chronic and acute pains that Advil and Tylenol cannot control.
I understand that during the “Pill Mill” crisis there needed to definitely be an adjustment, and those pill mills needed to be shut down. I was a person who wrote, fought for and picketed on the streets towards that purpose.
The pill mills were closed, but now it has gone completely in the opposite direction.
Doctors are afraid to prescribe adequate pain medications, and now lawmakers are getting involved in our women’s medical health and scaring doctors providing care. Enough is enough.
Florida state government needs to get out of our medical records and leave medical care to the medical professionals.
Diane Miller, Plantation
Abortion ban consequencesUnwanted children are frequently unloved children.
We know where this often leads — to anger, aggression, drugs and incarceration.
All four of which create stress on a society and its resources. Now that Florida has enacted a six-week abortion ban, what provisions have been established for the care of the unwanted children many women will now be forced to have?
Is the state of Florida going to care for these kids, feed them, school them and love them?
Stacie M. Kiner, Hypoluxo
A neat juxtapositionWhat a wonderful juxtaposition.
While reading a letter to the editor by David Ellenberg, criticizing President Joe Biden for not speaking out against the campus protests, what should come on the news, but Biden calling out the violence and antisemitism on those campuses.
The president plainly and clearly condemned both as having no place in our country. Hopefully, this will inform people like Ellenberg that Biden is not sympathetic to the antisemitism or violence being perpetrated on these campuses.
Peaceful protests are part of our democracy, but what some of these protesters have done is not.
Steven Hoover, Margate
Fort Lauderdale upgrade? 978-unit apartment complex could take place of old-time trailer park
FORT LAUDERDALE — A mammoth apartment complex with enough units for nearly 1,000 families would bring new life to a forlorn property that served as one of Fort Lauderdale’s largest mobile home parks for nearly six decades.
The Pan American Estates trailer park, once home to more than 200 families, would be transformed by a new 25-acre development that calls for 10 buildings ranging from five to eight stories. The land at 150 NW 68th St. sits south of McNab Road and west of Andrews Avenue, several blocks north of Cypress Creek Road not far from the Pompano Beach border.
The 978-unit project would be completed in 2031 and developed in three phases.
Each phase would have its own pool, clubhouse and amenities. Plans also call for pickleball courts and a park, with a 2.7-acre lake as the centerpiece.
The project, currently known as Cypress Development, is just what the city was asking for when it created Fort Lauderdale’s Uptown District, said Heather Moraitis, the neighborhood’s district commissioner until she stepped down in 2022.
“The Uptown Master Plan envisioned more residential units in District 1 and I’m glad to see more units are coming to help address our housing crisis,” Moraitis told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “That was the goal.”
The apartments would range in size from 650 square feet to 1,343 square feet, with four townhomes, 72 three-bedroom units, 393 two-bedroom units, 487 one-bedroom units and 22 studio apartments.
“I think we do need more units for families to live in,” Moraitis said. “We need more housing. And that means more density.”
It’s a trend that’s not likely to stop anytime soon as land becomes more scarce and people continue to flock to the Sunshine State, experts say.
“We see that happening all over Fort Lauderdale,” Moraitis said. “In Coral Ridge, we’re seeing single-family lots turn into townhomes. And we’re seeing mobile home parks turn into apartment complexes.”
Rubble, shown April 18 at the Pan American Estates Mobile Home Park in Fort Lauderdale, waits to be hauled away to the junkyard. (Susannah Bryan/South Florida Sun Sentinel) Traffic impact: 336 more tripsMore density means more traffic.
But the extra traffic generated by the new complex should not significantly impact nearby intersections and roadways, according to a traffic study conducted by Kimley-Horn & Associates.
The project is expected to generate an additional 336 vehicular trips during morning rush hour and an additional 295 trips during evening rush hour, Kimley-Horn’s traffic experts say.
“It is expected that a portion of residents and guests will choose to walk, bike or use public transit to and from the proposed redevelopment,” the study says.
Commissioner John Herbst, elected by District 1 voters after Moraitis left office, says he regards traffic studies with a healthy dose of skepticism.
“We’ve seen a number of requests for parking reductions come through, and oftentimes the traffic planners are optimistic about the number of people who are going to use alternative modes of transportation like bicycles to get around,” he said. “We’ve seen this in Flagler Village and the downtown area. Anytime these traffic engineers suggest that people are not getting in cars, I take that with a grain of salt.”
The developer is hoping to build 1,544 parking spaces instead of the required 1,882 spaces.
Commission vote not automaticStephanie Toothaker, attorney for the developer, could not be reached for comment.
In the developer’s application with the city, Toothaker described the project as prioritizing connectivity through a network of sidewalks and curated spaces, including pedestrian paths, linear park connections and both active and passive pocket park areas.
“Along the lake, walking paths further enhance the sense of community,” Toothaker wrote. “Primary roads are activated with residential building entrances connecting to the network of public sidewalks to promote walking, cycling and the use of public transit to reinforce Uptown’s transit-oriented development principles.”
The project will not automatically come to the commission for a vote.
The only way the commission will have a say on the project is if one member calls it up for a vote and at least two others agree to hold a hearing.
Herbst says he thinks the project will have a major impact on the region and should require input from the commission.
“In general I support development,” Herbst told the Sun Sentinel. “I think development is very important for the continued growth of the city and also to accommodate all the folks who are moving here. In the long run, more inventory lowers pricing. But I’m not supportive of taking away affordable housing and replacing it with market-rate housing. I will be calling this one up.”
Pan American Estates Mobile Home Park, shown March 25, sits on 25 acres in Fort Lauderdale. A developer plans to pave over the property and build a project that would double the density currently allowed. (Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel) ‘Been there forever’Chris Williams, a real estate agent and lifelong resident, likes the idea of trading a trailer park for a modern new apartment complex with enough units to house nearly five times as many people.
“That’s a rubberstamp,” Williams said. “We need housing. We’re adding nearly 1,000 residential units. Plus, the goal was to bring more homes to the uptown area.”
The way Williams sees it, there’s another good reason to say farewell to those 239 trailers: A new apartment complex is more likely to withstand a Category 5 hurricane than a mobile home park.
“Pan American Estates was not a modern trailer park,” Williams said. “Those trailers were not in mint condition. They were falling down.”
The Pan American mobile home park dates to 1966, according to property records.
“It’s been there forever. I mean forever,” Williams said. “I remember it when I was kid. It’s got to be at least 50 years old. Trailer parks don’t exactly age well.”
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan
ASK IRA: The refusal for a potential Heat tank is as much about draft-pick reality than any moral stance
Q: Would you agree that we are the eighth best team in the East, with seven teams in the West probably better than we are? We’re not even close to sniffing a title, and there are not one or two moves that are going to get us there. Would you agree that the mentality of us being close is holding us back? That means a three- to five-year rebuild is in order, or do you see another way? – Bob, Davie.
A: There has to be another way, because in the NBA, “rebuild” is code for something closer to tanking. And the last thing the Heat can afford, with potentially two unprotected first-round picks going out over the next four years, is to tank. Also, I believe if the Heat truly prioritized the regular season in the way their words currently are being offered, then they had (and potentially still have) a core able to challenge anyone in the East short of the Celtics. The Heat assuredly are not the most talented, biggest or most athletic team in the NBA. Based on those elements, they probably are, as you suggest, a bottom-third team. But they have shown, beyond the claptrap mottos, that when motivated, driven and prepared, they can compete way above their perceived pedigree. Keeping players healthy, and insisting on the proper 82-game motivation, could go a long way to a quicker turnaround than you suggest.
Related ArticlesQ: Players can look really good or really bad depending on the situation they are in. Imagine Tyler Herro with OKC, running with all sorts of young athletes and scorers. Or had the Celtics picked him and he was operating almost unguarded while defenses focused on Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kristaps Porzingis. – Mark.
A: OK, here’s the deal: Judging Tyler Herro based on the Boston series is foolish and unfair. Tyler spent the entire season as part of a mix that included first Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry, and then Butler and Terry Rozier. And then came the playoffs and none were present. Now, that doesn’t mean there aren’t means to take stock of Tyler season, just that utilizing the most recent memory is skewed. Tyler is an ensemble player who was asked to play without an ensemble. Now, if you want to assess the time lost to injury, the efficiency with the balance of the roster, all of that is fair. But to say Tyler fell short with a shorthanded team while going against the best team? Unreasonable. The Heat, as a team, came up short.
Q: It appears to me by the third or fourth year things seem to sour. There are exceptions, but cashing in for big bucks or moving on to another team seems to be the trend. Older stars tend to become more focused on themselves than their team. – Sheldon, Morriston.
A: So we’re talking in code, are we? I agree I was somewhat surprised with the tack Erik Spoelstra took in comparing Dwyane Wade’s Heat longevity to that of Jimmy Butler. Yes, cohesion means plenty. But the one thing the Heat have done best over the year is recognizing when it is time to move on to the next iteration. Grant, sometimes such an approach backfires, with Hassan Whiteside over Wade as an example.
Fort Lauderdale’s Pier Sixty-Six will be deemed a ‘historic’ landmark. Here’s why.
Pier Sixty-Six, the landmark that rises high and stands out with its crown of spires, could be deemed a historic structure in Fort Lauderdale, preserving it forever.
The Fort Lauderdale City Commission is scheduled to vote Tuesday to give the property’s original tower a “historic designation as a historic landmark,” keeping the 1950s-era exterior intact, according to city records.
It’s considered important for its historic associations with the Phillips Petroleum Company.
“It is one of the most, if not the most, recognizable and significant structures in Fort Lauderdale and represents an important historical time in our city’s history,” said Vice Mayor Steven Glassman.
The public meeting will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the NSU Art Museum, moved from City Hall.
If the historical status is granted, the Fort Lauderdale’s Historic Preservation Board will need to give permission for any future changes made to the exterior of the original tower — including any demolition requests. The portion of the property that is designated historic “would be eligible to utilize available incentives for historic preservation that it qualifies for, which may include certain tax incentives,” according to city officials.
It’s a move embraced by the developer, Tavistock, which suggested the historical marker in their 2018 paperwork.
“The historic designation was put forth by Tavistock from day one,” said Jessi Blakley, a Tavistock spokeswoman, according to a statement provided by the developer. “The main tower is iconic to Fort Lauderdale and will remain that way. We intend to preserve the integrity of the resort tower and reopen the Pier Top to the public.
“Recognizing Pier Sixty-Six and Pier Top as an icon in our city isn’t just the right thing to do; it’s a celebration of our community’s identity,” she wrote in an email statement. “As a local, I personally was surprised it hadn’t happened sooner and we moved forward with this endeavor because we felt that it was what our community deserved.”
Regardless if the historical designation goes through as the city expects, so much else has already changed: The name Pier 66 was changed to Pier Sixty-Six as “Tavistock updated the branding in anticipation of its new luxury reimagination,” according to the developer’s spokeswoman.
And after the construction already underway is complete, it will be the first time there will be residential homes on the property. Four residential buildings are in the works:
- Azul: 29 residences
- Indigo: 30 residences
- Resort Residences: 31 homes spread across two buildings
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A future phase of construction calls for more residential buildings.
Being fixed up is the old tower, which would retain its Pier Top lounge, popular for live music and dance. Historically, it has rotated 360 degrees every 66 minutes at its top level. Visitors were reminded if they get up and dance, or walk out to the balcony, their seats will not be in the same place when they return.
Pier Top is still expected to rotate when it opens in the fall of this year but the new rotation is still in the development phase. “It can and will spin; however, it is not defined how often at this stage,” according to a developer spokeswoman.
It is described by the developer as an “iconic revolving lounge” that “is destined to become Fort Lauderdale’s preeminent cocktail lounge once again, with spectacular views across the vast Atlantic Ocean, Port Everglades, Intracoastal Waterway, and the lights of downtown Fort Lauderdale. The atmosphere will be glamorous, with cinematic views over the horizon.”
The developer is adding an 11-story, 325-room hotel behind the tower (10 stories for the resort and one for parking), and pool areas for families and adults within the 32-acre resort. Hotel bookings will soon become available, with an anticipated opening in the fall, according to the developer.
The construction includes future retail space and office space.
The Pier Sixty-Six Marina, which has 164 slips that can accommodate vessels up to 400 feet long, has stayed open throughout the expansion. A new Marina Promenade at the base of the condominium buildings will feature restaurants, shops, and offices along the waterway.
From here, if the owners and city see fit, the property could go on to get national historic designation, said Patricia Zeiler, executive director of History Fort Lauderdale, formerly the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society.
“I could see it happening,” she said. The architecture is mid-twentieth-century modern with “some characteristics of brutalism,” she said. “It’s absolutely worth preserving, (it has a) unique unusual design.”
The historyThe history of Pier Sixty-Six and its former owners is credited with helping attract tourists to Broward County.
The Phillips Petroleum Company tested a new logo and a new gas station architectural style and one of the first locations was in Fort Lauderdale at Pier 66. It began as a yacht marina with a fueling dock, boat service facility and car service station in 1956. The Pier 66 Restaurant and Lounge was completed in 1957. Next came the 102-room hotel by 1959, and then the 19-story hotel tower to add even more rooms a few years later.
Kenneth Adams was the second president of Phillips Petroleum Company, and his “strategic decision to construct a terminal at Port Everglades, develop Pier 66 Marina and Hotel and institute a gas station building program in Fort Lauderdale contributed to the growth and development of the area,” according to city records.
With more gas stations readily available, that let tourists travel there, and now they had a place to stay, too.
“The development of the Pier 66 Marina and Hotel created a tourist designation, local employment opportunities and stimulated the local economy,” according to city records.
While residents have their own memories at Pier Sixty-Six, there are noteworthy tidbits about the property:
- The elevator takes 33 seconds to ascend from the lobby to the Pier Top Lounge, and 66 seconds total if going up and down. A white crown of spires above the Pier Top has 66 points.
- The Pier 66 Hotel is one of the last of its kind in Broward County: What makes the hotel, designed by architect Richard F. Humble, “space age” is how it uses geometric shapes, steel and windows to portray a modern design.
- The tower was added to Pier 66 in 1965.
- The original and historic tower is 17 stories. When it was first built, it was the tallest building in Fort Lauderdale.
The city’s historical designation has been in the works for years.
In 2018, the developer agreed to seek historic designation of the Pier 66 Hotel Tower located on the site, and the application was completed in November 2022, according to city officials. The next month, the city’s Historic Preservation Board unanimously agreed that the commission approve the request for historical designation.
“Why it took so long I don’t know,” said City Commissioner Warren Sturman. Still, “I’m very anxious to get that approved. Pier Sixty-Six was a landmark from when I was in high school. This was a focal point of the city and it really does have historical significance.”
Lisa J. Huriash can be reached at lhuriash@sunsentinel.com. Follow on X, formerly Twitter, @LisaHuriash
Daily Horoscope for May 06, 2024
General Daily Insight for May 06, 2024
Conflict runs the risk of becoming destructive today. The impulsive Moon begins the day in hotheaded Aries, finding provocations everywhere. Luna then moves into stubborn Taurus and squares manipulative Pluto, making emotional power plays possible. When communication planet Mercury joins forces with edgy Chiron at 10:27 pm EDT, we’re equipped to find words that will cut to the core. This energy might lead us to valuable insights if turned inward! We should muster the courage to check in with ourselves before unloading on others.
AriesMarch 21 – April 19
Your desire to prove yourself to your peers — or even the whole world! — could be strong today. While the sensitive Moon in your self-worth zone clashes with overbearing Pluto in your social sector, others’ opinions, real or perceived, loom over your mind. Take a moment and check in with yourself — have your feelings of insecurity driven you into a destructive mental rut? Taking an action that you’ll be proud of, however, has the potential to decisively lift you out of it.
TaurusApril 20 – May 20
Pushing people around might make you feel powerful now. While the vulnerable Moon in your sign challenges domineering Pluto in your authority zone, you may be painfully aware of all the ways you have been victimized in the past. Part of you could believe that those experiences give you the right to dominate everyone else. Consider reflecting on how times have changed since you suffered a particular formative trauma — you shouldn’t punish others for a world that no longer exists.
GeminiMay 21 – June 20
Your efforts to pursue your spiritual interests may seem all-consuming at the moment. Achieving a transformative insight is likely to spur you on to look for more where that came from. Unfortunately, when critical Mercury meets insecure Chiron in your social 11th house, your peers could rain on your parade. You might read them as judgmental, but perhaps they’re just not as into your passion as you are. Do your best to respect their path in life, even if it appears shallower than yours.
CancerJune 21 – July 22
Finding good boundaries with your peers could be difficult at present, particularly if authority figures pushed you to keep anything personal or potentially controversial to yourself when you were younger. Although that approach was probably too rigid, the answer isn’t necessarily to get rid of limits altogether. You may just need to learn how to read the room. If people seem to be in the mood to discuss heavy topics, go for it! Sometimes they’re simply not prepared, and you must respect that.
LeoJuly 23 – August 22
A power struggle in a close relationship could weigh on you over the course of the day. While intellectual Mercury unites with touchy Chiron in your philosophical 9th house, consider any rigid beliefs you have about the way things “should” work. Your current pain may be coming mostly from the gap between reality and your expectations. How much do recent events hurt when you set aside the narrative around them? You might still have valid problems to address, but try to lighten your load first.
VirgoAugust 23 – September 22
Following your curiosity may now be quite rewarding. Unfortunately, it might be hard to fully enjoy a spontaneous pleasure trip if your mind is lingering on your undone work. With anxious Mercury winding up sore Chiron in your 8th House of Shared Responsibilities, just the idea of delegating tasks to someone else could fill you with dread. Did similar attempts go poorly before? You probably can’t completely remove risk from the equation, but remember that there’s also a chance you’ll benefit.
LibraSeptember 23 – October 22
A loved one’s attempts to drag information out of you could repel you right now. You may feel like you need to keep some things private in order to protect yourself. You aren’t required to open up just because your companion wants that, but you can try to define the specific outcome you’re afraid of. An all-or-nothing approach isn’t necessarily required. Honestly engaging with whatever portion of the request you find manageable should show the other person that you’re not simply rejecting them.
ScorpioOctober 23 – November 21
You might attempt to convince someone else to take care of you today. Although this may be seen as a troubled relationship dynamic in need of heavy emotional processing, your problem could be much simpler than that! As nimble Mercury meets awkward Chiron in your practical 6th house, you could just be worried that your practical skills aren’t up to par. Even if you don’t do a great job on your first try, see how far you can get working on your own.
SagittariusNovember 22 – December 21
Your resentment of your responsibilities may peek through in conversation at any moment. Applying emotional pressure that makes others feel painfully guilty for not pulling their weight might be tempting. It’s possible that you’re worried you won’t be taken seriously if you simply state your needs without manipulation and theatrics. True, you’re not guaranteed to get everything you want when you take the high road. Still, being able to move forward without collateral damage should be worth the effort in the end.
CapricornDecember 22 – January 19
Impulse purchases could threaten your control over your budget at the moment. While the passionate Moon in your 5th House of Play argues with intense Pluto in your money zone, being realistic about your desire for fun should make it feel less overwhelming. The hardest part may involve questioning beliefs from your upbringing. Being able to delay gratification often brings important benefits. Like most other basically good ideas, however, sometimes it needs to bend a little to work in the real world.
AquariusJanuary 20 – February 18
You may not want the people around you to know how vulnerable you are at this time. When the delicate Moon in your private 4th house provokes impenetrable Pluto in your sign, you might lash out if anyone tries to get too close. Directed within, your current critical attitude could have a chance to blossom into genuine discernment. That can be useful for accurately identifying your concerns. Try to spend enough time alone to give your feelings the thoughtful attention they deserve.
PiscesFebruary 19 – March 20
Having a clear conversation might presently be difficult. As the fluctuating Moon in your communication sector tangles with psychic Pluto in your 12th House of Self-Undoing, you’re at risk of hearing things that the other person didn’t actually say. That said, maybe whatever is coming up is a dialogue that you need to have with yourself. Probing your self-worth issues has a chance of bearing helpful fruit. Try to go about it in a way that doesn’t emphasize finding who’s to blame.
Nick Gordon homers and gets 4 hits to lead Marlins past A’s 12-3
By MICHAEL WAGAMAN (Associated Press)
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Nick Gordon had four hits, including his first home run in three weeks, and the Miami Marlins beat the Athletics 12-3 to end Oakland’s six-game winning streak Sunday.
Josh Bell had a pair of RBI singles and Jonah Bride drove in two runs as the Marlins won for the third time in 12 games and avoided a series sweep.
Miami got 14 hits and had eight players with at least one RBI, a stark difference from a day earlier when the Marlins’ bats were mostly muffled in a 20-4 loss to the A’s.
“Super big,” Gordon said. “After last night, to bounce back like that and put it on them pretty good shows signs of a good team.”
Brent Rooker, who homered twice in one inning during the blowout victory Saturday, had two hits and scored twice for Oakland.
The game attracted a crowd of 12,212, the largest at the Coliseum since opening day.
Gordon was in a 1-for-21 funk before his two-run homer off starter Joe Boyle. That capped a four-run inning that began when Boyle walked the bases loaded on 14 pitches.
Boyle (2-5) sustained a lower back injury and was removed after the first.
“He couldn’t throw strikes and that may be attributed to the back,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “He’ll be in an MRI tube tomorrow and we’ll make a determination on how to move forward.”
Gordon also singled in the third, doubled and scored in the sixth, and singled and scored in the ninth.
“Up and down the order it was good,” Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said. “Obviously, Gordon had a really nice day. Good to see him get going. We need him to get going, especially against the right-handers. That’s why he’s here, to hit the righties.”
Burch Smith (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning in relief of starter Sixto Sánchez, who went four innings. Sánchez allowed three hits and two runs.
After Gordon’s home run got the Marlins going, Miami continued to tack on.
Bell singled home a run in the second inning to make it 5-0, then Bride and Christian Bethancourt hit back-to-back RBI doubles in the sixth.
The A’s scored twice in the fourth on Darell Hernaiz’s RBI single and a throwing error by Bell at first base.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Marlins: Bell fell to the ground after being hit in the right foot by a pitch from A’s reliever Michael Kelly in the seventh. An athletic trainer came out and checked on Bell, who was helped to his feet and stayed in the game.
Athletics: OF Esteury Ruiz was held out of the lineup with a wrist injury he sustained Saturday while making a diving catch. Kotsay said Ruiz will undergo an MRI on Monday.
UP NEXT
Marlins: RHP Roddery Muñoz (1-0, 2.45 ERA) faces the Dodgers on Monday. Muñoz has 14 strikeouts, tied for the second-most in franchise history by a pitcher in his first two starts in one season.
Athletics: LHP Alex Wood (1-2, 6.32 ERA) pitches against the Texas Rangers in the opener of a four-game series Monday. Wood is winless in six career starts at the Coliseum.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Lando Norris earns 1st career F1 victory by ending Verstappen’s dominance at Miami
By JENNA FRYER (AP Auto Racing Writer)
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Lando Norris should take a lesson from his last big party and perhaps tone down the celebration for his first career Formula 1 victory.
His reaction following the Sunday victory in the Miami Grand Prix showed the British driver probably doesn’t plan to miss a beat.
“Tonight’s going to be a great time,” Norris promised. “I’m just really proud. A lot of people, I guess, doubted me along the way. I’ve made a lot of mistakes over my last five years, my short career, but today we put it all together so this is all for the team. I started with McLaren because I believe in them and today proved exactly that.”
Norris won in his 110th career start after a mistake by Max Verstappen ended Verstappen’s dominance at the circuit in the parking lot surrounding Hard Rock Stadium. The 24-year-old driver sprinted down pit lane to leap into the arms of his McLaren crew, which crowd surfed Norris until he finally got to boss Zak Brown, who wrapped Norris in a bearhug.
Norris arrived in Miami with a bandage covering stitches on his nose from a cut received by broken glass while he was in Amsterdam following F1’s last outing. Norris was celebrating King’s Day with DJ Martin Garrix when he cut his nose.
“I’m going to go all night,” Norris promised of the post-race party. “I may have more than a bandage on my nose.”
Verstappen, who started from the pole and won Saturday’s sprint race, was out front when he hit a chicane and knocked a cone out of place on the circuit. It forced the three-time reigning F1 champion to pit and gave Norris the lead.
Norris then controlled the race to give McLaren its first win since a Daniel Ricciardo victory in 2021. Ricciardo was among the handful of drivers who found Norris for a congratulatory hug following the race.
Norris is the second British driver in F1 history to be feted on the podium by “God Save the King.” George Russell in 2022 is the only other British driver to win outside of Queen Elizabeth’s reign; Russell’s victory in Brazil came two months after Queen Elizabeth’s death.
The song seemed to affect Norris, who closed his eyes as he turned his head to the sky with a huge grin on his face. When it came time for the champagne celebration, he was doused by runner-up Verstappen and third-place finisher Charles Leclerc, who sprayed the champagne directly into Norris’ eyes.
It took him a few minutes of wiping his eyes clear before he slammed his own champagne bottle to the ground to force it into a heavy stream he used to soak his McLaren team below the podium. He also tossed the winning trophy into the air, but caught it.
With about 10 laps to go, Norris realized the race was his to lose when his lead over Verstappen hit 5 seconds.
“Five seconds?” Norris radioed his team. “Am I alive?”
Indeed he was as an ecstatic McLaren squad celebrated a rare victory on a weekend in which it debuted significant upgrades on its two cars. McLaren now has 13 wins in races in the United States — tying a record with Ferrari — but it was the first on American soil since Lewis Hamilton at Circuit of the Americas in 2012.
Norris’ final margin of victory was 7.6-seconds over Verstappen of Red Bull. Verstappen had been undefeated at Miami with wins in its first two races and the sprint race on Saturday.
Norris said he knew when he entered the track Sunday morning that he’d end the day atop the podium.
“Finally. I am so happy. I knew it. I knew it when I came in this morning,” Norris said. “And I nailed it.”
McLaren has now won an F1, Formula E and IndyCar race in the past two months. Norris is the first driver since Carlos Sainz Jr. to beat Verstappen this season — and Verstappen was eliminated from that race in Melbourne with a mechanical failure.
“You win. You lose. I think we’re all a bit used to that in racing,” Verstappen said. “Is a bad day P2? I will take it. I am happy for Lando, it’s been a long time coming and there’s more to come from him.”
As for his incident in the chicane, Verstappen tried to joke about it hitting the cone.
“I didn’t like it. So I took it out,” he said. “And tested the front wing. So crash-test done.”
McLaren before the start of the race hosted former President Donald Trump, who chatted with F1 officials from inside the McLaren garage. When he made his way toward the starting grid, fans began chanting “USA! USA!” and Trump pumped his fist in approval.
Ferrari drivers Leclerc and Sainz finished third and fourth and were followed by Sergio Perez of Red Bull.
Hamilton was sixth for Mercedes, Yuki Tsunoda of Red Bull’s junior team was seventh and Russell was eighth for Mercedes. Fernando Alonso of Aston Martin and Esteban Ocon of Alpine rounded out the top 10. Ocon did it with team investors Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs in attendance.
About halfway through the race, Logan Sargeant crashed and brought out the safety car that forced the Pompano Beach native out of his car. The 23-year-old and only American driver on the F1 grid is clinging to his seat with Williams as speculation is rampant he could be replaced before the end of his second season.
It marked Sargeant’s second consecutive last-place finish at his home race.
The Sargeant crash handed control of race strategy to McLaren, who held the lead with Norris at the time of the caution. Norris had taken over the lead when Verstappen was forced to pit from the lead after hitting a chicane that knocked a cone onto the racing surface.
As Red Bull was looking for any damage to Verstappen’s front wing, a race marshal entered the circuit and scooped up the cone as F1 avoided having to use the safety car for the incident. But just moments later, Kevin Magnussen made contact with Sargeant and it gave McLaren the chance to strategize a victory over Verstappen.
For Magnussen, it marked another bad day in a long weekend in which the Haas driver was accused of unsportsmanlike conduct for his strategy in Saturday’s sprint race.
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