FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. –

Imagine having photographs of some of the most sought out celebrities from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s and not having anywhere to showcase them. That’s the dilemma that photographer Bob Deutsch has found himself in. Deutsch was a member of the paparazzi before the term was even invented. Now the world can view some never before seen prints during “Stars Thru My Lens,”

Deutsch’s exhibit at the Dennis Dean Galleries, 2440-B Wilton Drive, Wilton Manors. The exhibit will run from Nov. 19 through Dec 31. There will be a meet the artist reception on Friday, Nov. 19, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the gallery.

Deutsch began shooting photos of movie stars in the ’60s. As a resident of New York City, he was able to get up close and personal with many stars by hanging around Broadway theatres. “When I was a teenager growing up in NYC I developed two loves: movie stars and photography,” Deutsch said. “One of my first encounters was with Marilyn Monroe, when she came to Madison Square Garden to sing happy birthday to President Kennedy (May 19, 1962).”

Deutsch later began freelancing for Time, Newsweek and People magazines. He also was invited to many star-studded parties and spent many evenings at Studio 54. His exhibit includes photos from this time period with shots of Barbra Streisand, Carol Burnett, Bette Midler, Tony Danza, Kevin Bacon, Liz Taylor and many more.

“I spent many hours with Elizabeth Taylor – once while she was Mrs. John Warner,” Deutsch said. “We spent a day together in Delaware at a race track, and another time I was allowed to photograph the first performance of her Broadway debut in ‘The Little Foxes.’ I was also allowed to photograph what turned out to be Elvis’ last concert in early 1977 – he died soon after this tour, and photos taken during his concert have been sold and published all over the world.

 By BOB KECSKEMETY

On Nov. 2, voters in Wilton Manors chose Julie Carson in a special election to replace Vice Mayor Justin Flippen on the Wilton Manors City Commission. Carson beat out Celeste Shank Ellich with 52 percent of the vote. Flippen resigned his commission seat in order to run in the Democratic primary for Florida State Representative-District 92. With her victory, Carson becomes the first openly lesbian to win election to the City Commission.

“I am so excited and very happy to be on the City Commission and so glad I have the opportunity to serve the residents of Wilton Manors,” said Carson, who chose to run a special election to serve out the remaining two years of former Vice Mayor Justin Flippen’s term. “I believe that my biggest contribution could be made in two years. And should I decide, and should the voters decide they want me back, then I’ll consider another run, but this is going to be two years.” Carson sat on the commission briefly when, in November 2008, then City Commissioner Gary Resnick ran for and won the mayoral race, leaving his commission seat empty. The commission then unanimously a p p o i n t e d Carson to fill the seat until a special election was held in February 2009. She lost that election to Scott Newton.

 Carson received a full honor scholarship and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1983 from Middle Tennessee State University with a major in Foreign Language and a minor in Political Science and Women’s Studies. She became interested in public service when she was elected to serve as governor of Tennessee Volunteer Girls State, an annual leadership and citizenship-training program which selects 500 young women of academic excellence and provides them with an opportunity to form and run a mock government.

Carson worked portions of her summer breaks serving as a legislative aide for Girls Nation Program in Washington, D.C. and on the U.S. Congressional staff for Tennessee Congressman William Hill Boner.

Carson is also an accomplished triathlete, participating in as many as 15 events a year. She moved to South Florida from Nashville, Tenn. in 2001. In Nashville she was active in her synagogue and in politics. Six years ago she moved to Wilton Manors from Fort Lauderdale and has been active at her synagogue, Congregation Etz Chaim.

She says one of her first tasks will be to create harmony between the residents and the City Commission.

“I want to make sure all the gaps are bridges between all the communities in the city and that everyone has access to the commission in order to voice their opinions and ideas.”

She also wants to take a close look at the city’s budget, implementing some zero-based budgeting in various departments in order to determine what services are necessary and how to provide them at the lowest possible cost.

In order to better communicate with the residents of Wilton Manors, she is planning to have open office hours and is hoping to have meetings throughout the city so that she can meet with residents from different parts of town who do not otherwise have access to the City Commission. Carson also plans to focus on the city’s elementary school and its seniors community. She regularly consults State Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed, who serves on the state’s Elder Committee.

She also believes that business development in the city is important and would like to see the business permitting process be made easier. The city has already budgeted to hire a new director of Community Services.

More than 500 participants will span 165 miles over two days as the SMART Ride 7 prepares to hit the road Nov. 18-20. The Southern Most AIDS/HIV Ride has raised more than $2.2 million for charity since it began in 2003, and 100 percent of the proceeds from the event go directly to HIV/AIDS charities.

Riders, who range in age from 18 to 73, come from all across the country to take part in the ride, which begins in Miami and ends in Key West. An estimated 19 percent of the riders are positive; 50 percent know someone living with HIV/AIDS; and 36 percent have lost someone to HIV/AIDS.

 Community activist and media personality, David L. Wylie, died on Oct. 10, 2010 of cancer. Having had a rough childhood, being abandoned by his birth parents, put up for adoption, and then abandoned again by his adoptive parents after coming out, Wylie had a special fondness for children working with Toys-for-Tots, The Trevor Project and other child advocacy groups. Wylie was an occasional photographic contributor to the former Buzz Magazine and was an early contributor to Latino Boys Magazine (LBM). Wylie then joined columnist Geo Bustamente, also from LBM, and took their talents to create GaySoFla.com, an online magazine. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4 p.m. at MCC Sunshine Cathedral, located at 1480 SW Ninth Ave., in Fort Lauderdale.

Broward House, the county’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS service organization, will host the third annual World AIDS Day candlelight vigil and rally on Wednesday, Dec. 1 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This year’s theme is “Our Memories Burn Bright.” The event will begin at Richardson Park in Wilton Manors and end in the parking lot of The Shoppes of Wilton Manors. The community is invited to take part in this evening of reflection, solidarity and engagement as we celebrate the lives of those we’ve lost to HIV/AIDS.

The freaks and monsters will be out full force this weekend — and I’m not just talking about the ghouls for Halloween, either. The politicos running for public office, and their minions, will be making the last-minute push to get their message out to garner votes for candidates and favored amendments.

First of all, what the hell is Amendment 4 and why should I vote against it? A check of the website Florida2010.org is a confusing mish-mash that still doesn’t clearly tell me what Amendment 4 is all about. However, I sure as hell see the signs in many front yards proclaiming “NO TO 4!” I know a lot of us in Central Florida would like to say “NO TO to I-4” but I’m still confused about Amendment 4.

As for the candidates on the ballots, I hear so much negativity coming from all sides about the local and statewide candidates that I don’t want to vote for any of them. The Tea Party is the new movement at the forefront touting candidates who are against the Obama administration. Do these goofballs, in their George Washington powdered wigs, even realize how silly they look strutting around and clamoring for a change? A change for what? I mean, c’mon already, let’s just keep tea bagging in the bedroom where it belongs!

As for some of the candidates, I have to go with my gut. Sure, I’ll vote Alex Sink for governor. She reminds me of a lesbian with her short haircut and uber-butch first name. Furthermore, I like lesbians. Alex Sink does not identify as a lesbian at all, and she’s definitely not, but when I see her on TV, she reminds me of one and that’s why she has my vote.

Her opponent in the gubernatorial race is Rick Scott and I don’t like him at all. He looks like those lizards that my cat Izzy chases around on my back patio. However, I do like his mom who has been in his campaign commercials. She seems like a nice old lady who probably knows how to cook up a great Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe I will just vote for her.

In the U.S. Senate race, we have hottie Marco Rubio running on the Republican ticket, after usurping Charlie Crist in the primary earlier this year. Of course, good ol’ Charlie, with his metrosexual spray tan, isn’t one to sit idly by on the sidelines when there’s a race to run. Instead of gracefully bowing out, he is all of a sudden an alleged independent. If Charlie were so damned independent, he wouldn’t have been a Republican for so many years. How is it that when his own party shunned him, that he finally got a spine? He’s a bigger flip-flopper than a fry cook at McDonald’s. At least, the flip-flopper at Mickey D’s produces a tasty product. Charlie has just spent too much time under the heat lamp to be considered fresh anymore.

Kendrick Meek is the Democratic nominee and he’s to be the man I’m leading toward. He seems like a guy I’d like to share a “Bay Breeze” with at happy hour.

I’m just tired of Republicans, Democrats and Tea Partiers. I’m just gonna say to hell with it all and start my own party and call it the Pajama Party.

On a final note, check out all the great costumes in the many Halloween costume contests this weekend at most of the clubs here in the Orlando area. The grandest contest of all takes place at The Parliament House this weekend. On Saturday night, October 30th, the grand prize winner of that contest takes away $1,000 CASH! On Sunday, the 31st, the winner take away $3,000 cold, hard, throbbing CASH! For more info, log onto www.parliamenthouse.com.

Well, with this update on the monsters on the ballot or in the nightclubs, I hope you get out to vote no matter what. Twisted Tom will be here next week and I’ll see you again on November 11th. Bye for now.

According to the PBSO, Thompson took the deceased dog, “Moonshine” to the Cole Animal Clinic on October 17. Thompson told them that the dog died earlier that morning, possibly of a seizure. Staff at the clinic noticed that the dog’s body was bloody with indications of blunt trauma. An autopsy on the dog indicated that it suffered blunt force trauma prior to death and the cause of death was suspected to be asphyxiation. The dog’s left ear was also missing. The clinic reported the suspected abuse to the county’s Animal Care and Control who in turn contacted PBSO to investigate for suspected animal abuse.

Detectives interviewed several witnesses that told them that they had witnessed Thompson ‘hit’ the dog on several occasions. Thompson’s roommate, who along with Thompson bought Moonshine this past February, told detectives that Thompson had told him that he had bitten off a portion of the dog’s ear for disciplinary purposes. When Thompson was interviewed, he told detectives that the described events were in all part of the disciplinary process and that the “wolf pup needs to be disciplined or they will be uncontrollable in the future.” The PBSO determined that Thompson “inflicted excessive, repeated, and unnecessary pain and suffering to the dog Moonshine which may possibly have resulted in its death.”

Thompson faces one felony count of animal cruelty and was booked into the Palm Beach County Jail on October 20. Thompson is currently being held without bail. Thompson was also known as Jason Creed, a porn star that appeared in several gay porn websites include Bait Bus and Circle Jerk Boys.

“We talked many times,” said another porn star who knew Thompson on a professional basis and wishes to remain anonymous. “He’s really a sweet guy who just needed the work. But I’m sure that Michael Vick seemed like a nice guy to some people, too.” – BK

SoBAP has also been awarded an HIV testing grant which will help them expand their services more in the community. Although they have always had a testing site, this is the first time we have had testing fully-funded. SoBAP’s board and staff know how crucial it is to offer this service to our community so testing has always been a staple in services that they offer. With this expansion, SoBAP will be offering testing and counseling not only in their South Beach Testing Center at 306 Lincoln Rd. (inside the CVS Pharmacy) but will now also be offering testing on Tuesday and Thursday at the P.E.T. Center, 615 Collins Avenue.

These new grants along with others in place have made SoBAP bigger than it has ever been. Although South Beach and Miami will always be their home, SoBAP looks to expand their services to other communities in need. – BK

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