LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA – Families on the beach near Fort Lauderdale thought they were seeing a man being rescued from rip currents but it turned out that he was being arrested in the ocean for armed robbery Leer en español Felix Orco was sitting on the sand with his wife and grabbed his cellphone when he saw what he thought was a rescue on the water “I want to congratulate the Broward Sheriff for the incredible rescue at Commercial Blvd beach Their bravery and quick action are a testament to the commitment that makes Florida a safe and thriving place.” swam up to a man who was diving in the ocean off Fort Lauderdale Beach on Saturday The victim says Agne was “completely naked and stated to the victim that he needed gear.” The victim says he tried to swim away from Agne but thought he saw Agne struggling in the water and swam back to help That’s when the victim says Agne grabbed his dive flag and forcefully took his pole spear The victim said he was able to get his flag back but then Agne “raised the pole spear over his head in a manner consistent with getting ready to throw said spear.” The arrest affidavit went on to say that “this act coupled with the apparent ability to throw the spear at the victim being such a short distance away from each other created a well-found fear in the victim that violence was imminent.” Deputies responded to the commotion and say Agne was still holding the spear when they pulled him from the water Agne claimed that he took the spear because he needed it to fish Agne was arrested and charged with robbery with a firearm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon He remains behind bars at the Broward County jail Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Steve Owen is the Assistant News Director at WPLG TV Listings Email Newsletters RSS Feeds Closed Captioning / Audio Description Contact Us Careers at WPLG Terms of Use Privacy Policy Public File FCC Applications EEO Report Do Not Sell My Info 1.0 Host Exhibit Copyright © 2025 Local10.com is published by WPLG INC. This close-knit South Florida community is the old-fashioned beach town of our dreams Palm Beach ArtsPaper News and reviews of the arts in and around Palm Beach County April 30, 2025 By Palm Beach Arts Paper Chamber Music at Lauderdale-by-the Sea is a valuable but underpublicized series presented by the FilAm Music Foundation directed by Filipino-American pianist Victor Santiago Asunción who funds it mostly with his own money but includes among his donors a few prominent performing artists as well as Filipino President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr Asunción brings first-rate musicians to the town’s Community Church on Bougainvilla Drive was to have featured a Filipino violinist with a small Baroque ensemble but due to visa issues and funding difficulties the original performers were unable to come a solo recital of his own: a marathon 90-minute non-stop compendium of what might be called the greatest hits of Frédéric Chopin It was an extraordinary accomplishment and a musical experience that deserved a much larger audience than the 50-100 fortunate followers who gathered that Saturday evening in the small local church even if his name may not be a household word He has technique to burn (hardly a noticeable missed note Not only in his deft finger work but also with a wide and varied coloristic palette this artist took full advantage of the church’s bright-toned Baldwin grand piano or turn a phrase with a plethora of nuance Rendering from memory the standard piano repertory pieces he has no doubt been playing all his life Asunción began with a group of the simpler (only by comparison) waltzes then traversed a sampling of Chopin’s preludes a ballade he described as “epic,” and finally overtly virtuosic Heroic Polonaise (in A-flat With his brief but cogent comments in between the groups the evening was also a mini-seminar on this composer’s output which in Beethoven had the element of a joke the pianist personalized each piece and made it his own with small ingratiating idiosyncrasies: a rubato here an unexpected acceleration to compensate; a breath pause that might make a rest as important as the notes before or after; or a quasi-vocal rendition of ornaments that evoked the bel canto singers who inspired Chopin in the first place Highly accentuated rhythms dominated the opening set of three waltzes with exquisite taperings of the sound in the C-sharp minor waltz (Op “No Other Love.” The Fantasy-Impromptu (Op 66) that inspired another pop song — “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” — was notable for pearly even scale-work and sweet legato in the familiar tune even trills in the dreamy C-sharp minor Nocturne (Op its middle section akin to a soprano-baritone duet And there was a seemingly endless store of power in the two Scherzos (in B minor perhaps the most recognizable among all Chopin works the iconic and fiery polonaise that was used in the 1945 biopic and transformed into still another immortal pop song “Till the End of Time.” A rousing conclusion to send us all out gently into that good night Filed Under: Music Tagged With: Victor Santiago Asuncion Copyright © 2025 · Palm Beach ArtsPaper This relationship represents a shared commitment to enhancing the guest experience and increasing the value of the hotel for ownership Crestline’s expertise in hospitality and management aligns with the vision for the Courtyard Fort Lauderdale East ensuring a future of excellence for all stakeholders involved The 106-guest room hotel is in the final phase of a major renovation that includes all guest rooms and suites Located in the charming town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea the hotel is minutes from the beach and near popular snorkeling spots in Pompano Beach “We are confident that Crestline’s industry-leading practices and dedication to service will elevate every aspect of the Courtyard Fort Lauderdale Hotel,” said Ray Powers “This relationship marks a significant step in improving the hotel’s operations and creating lasting memories for guests.” “As representatives of the Edmondson family we are excited about this opportunity to collaborate with Crestline and the Affirmed Corporation We are committed to ensuring that this property provides an exceptional experience for both our guests and our valued associates.” President & CEO of Affirmed Corporation “This collaboration with Crestline is a major milestone in our ongoing effort to deliver unparalleled service and satisfaction We believe this relationship will have a lasting The team is excited about the future and looks forward to the positive changes that this partnership will bring More About the Courtyard Fort Lauderdale East/Lauderdale-by-the-Sea The hotel is located at 5001 North Federal Highway Guests will find spacious accommodations featuring fully furnished balconies movable workstations with an ergonomic chair Additional amenities and services include the Bistro for breakfast and dinner The hotel is near several upscale and casual restaurants The Courtyard Fort Lauderdale East/Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is nine miles from Ft Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport and 35 miles from Miami International Airport For more information and reservations visit www.marriott.com or call 954.771.8100 The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome to be materially different words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” and “intend” indicate a forward-looking statement; however not all forward-looking statements include these words Gayle MacIntyre Global Ink Communications gbmacintyre1@gmail.com 404.643.8222 – The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating after the body of a man was pulled from the water in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Thursday night BSO deputies and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to the scene after receiving a call shortly after 8 p.m about an unresponsive person in the water in the 1900 block of South Ocean Boulevard Authorities said the body was pulled out of the water and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene BSO’s Homicide and Crime Scene units are investigating and the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death Authorities confirmed that foul play is not suspected at this time The victim’s identity has not yet been released Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com – An ordinance passed that will prohibit people from removing sand or digging on dunes at Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Beach This measure is in response to the passing of 7-year-old Sloan Mattingly who died in February while digging for seashells the city also decided not to put lifeguards on its beaches because it says the cost would be prohibitive swallowing both Sloan and her 9-year-old brother police confirmed Sloan died at the hospital L-B-T-S officials and the Mattingly family have launched a national campaign to prevent similar tragedies “This amendment prohibits the removal of sand and digging or excavating sand or soil from any dune or beach within town limits It also prohibits digging a hole deeper than 18 inches,” an L-B-T-S official wrote to Local 10 News in a statement Thursday City officials shared a recent incident where people were still digging trenches on the beach A police officer responded but lacked jurisdiction due to the absence of the rule the city has approved the “Sandcastles for Sloan” campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of digging on the beach promoting sandcastle building as a safer alternative Click here for more information on the campaign Alex Finnie joined the Local 10 News team in May 2018 She was raised in Miami and attended the Cushman School and New World School of the Arts for high school – The Broward Sheriff’s Office is investigating after they say a diver was found dead in the ocean in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Friday to report a possible drowning in the area of 100 Palm Avenue Codd said deputies and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to the scene and found a diver dead in the ocean BSO’s Dive Team also responded to the area and recovered the man’s body Codd said the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death The diver’s identity has not yet been released Sign up to receive breaking news alerts from Local10.com Ryan Mackey FORT LAUDERDALE black substance that washed ashore prompted officials to close a stretch of Fort Lauderdale Beach on Saturday morning as crews worked to determine its source Leer en español Cellphone videos posted on social media Saturday morning showed the oily substance scattered along the shoreline beachgoers reported finding balled-up pieces of what appeared to be tar The city of Fort Lauderdale responded by closing the beach from Port Everglades to Riomar Street raising red flags to indicate no swimming allowed “Now that you guys told me that there’s oil in the water because I don’t know what the oil is,” said beachgoer Elise Burnett lifeguards struggled to keep swimmers out of the water “They were being really hot and heavy with it at the beginning and then everyone started going in,” said Madison Bronson Some visitors said they were unaware of the situation or willing to take the risk Now you’re making me feel like I can feel it That’s a little nerve-racking,” said Sam Wiedorfer Coast Guard has been notified and is leading the response as the situation involves a potential oil spill Officials in Deerfield Beach have also been contacted after reports of a similar substance washing up there protect the beaches,” said beachgoer Milana Novick lifeguards downgraded the warning flags to yellow and purple signaling that swimming was allowed but with increased caution Local 10 News Anchor/ Environmental Advocate Louis Aguirre also spoke about Saturday’s incident You can listen to his interview in the video at the top of the page More Stories Like This In Our Email Newsletter Ryan Mackey is a Digital Journalist at WPLG Contribute Now James Silverstone, now 63, was first arrested by the Broward Sheriff’s Office last July. His case was later moved to federal court District Judge Rodney Smith ordered that Silverstone surrender to U.S He will serve time at “the first available facility in Florida” that has a residential drug abuse treatment program An arrest warrant filed in Broward County court on July 12 alleged that the ex-official had been sharing child sexual abuse material on a peer-to-peer sharing site A BSO detective wrote that authorities found 93,921 images and videos on Silverstone’s computer “only a small portion” of which they were able to review they identified more than 1,500 files of child sexual abuse material and provided graphic descriptions of child rape and abuse depicted in 10 of the files Authorities alleged that during that interview Silverstone admitted to using BitTorrent to download “movies of all sorts.” “Silverstone stated he searches for everything the internet has to offer as he is curious about everything/anything and downloads anything/everything for learning purposes,” the warrant states who served as the seaside town’s fire chief from 2005 to 2007 and a commissioner from 2006 to 2010 as a person considered to be a “trusted” and “respected” member of the community The detective was “especially concern(ed)” about Silverstone’s role as Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s longtime town Santa Claus which he said Silverstone brought up during a police interview given that the volunteer position involved interactions with children Silverstone will spend 20 years on supervised release once he leaves federal prison His supervised release conditions ban him from using a computer for non-employment purposes or having contact with minors or produce visual depictions of minors or adults engaged in sexually explicit conduct.” He will also be required to register as a sex offender and submit to sex offender treatment Local 10 News contacted Silverstone’s attorney seeking comment Wednesday evening Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist Your browser is not supported for this experience.We recommend using Chrome Just north of Fort Lauderdale on Florida’s Southeast Coast lies Lauderdale-By-The-Sea a small seaside town with retro style and 2.5 miles of unspoiled shoreline Lauderdale-By-The-Sea’s nearshore reefs are 100 yards from land.  Enjoy Lauderdale-by-the-Sea’s uncrowded shores and snorkel a coral reef right from the beach The town is sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway,  Events include twice-monthly nighttime dancing on the square Water sports and activities both above and below the surface dominate the outdoor scene in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Accessible amenities include the beach at El Prado Park and live music at restaurants in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Accommodations in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea include boutique hotels and seaside resorts More places to stay By Jodi Mailander Farrell With 23 miles of pedestrian-friendly beachfronts an emerging urban farming movement and public transportation via water.. Copyright © document.write(new Date().getFullYear())2021 VISIT FLORIDA. All rights reserved. VISIT FLORIDA® is a service mark of the Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation, d/b/a VISIT FLORIDA, registered in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. | Contact Us Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon The best of Time Out straight to your inbox We help you navigate a myriad of possibilities Sign up for our newsletter for the best of the city By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush) Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. Fort Lauderdale and that’s quite all right when it comes to Fort Lauderdale's restaurant scene If there’s one thing I learned from 15 years living in Fort Lauderdale it’s that Lauderdalians relish not being in Miami everybody’s got a canal in their backyard and you can probably walk into your favorite restaurant tonight without a reservation That last point can be a bit trickier when we’re talking about the best restaurants in Fort Lauderdale the best restaurants (mostly) don’t have DJs or bathroom attendants or bottle service in roped-off areas for the cool kids What the restaurants in Fort Lauderdale do have are chefs doing creative things with menus that would kill it in Miami There are also some downright amazing Thai you’ll see on this list below of Fort Lauderdale’s best restaurants This guide was updated by South Florida-based writer Eric Barton. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.  this is a steakhouse but with a Florida theme; meats and produce are sourced within the state when possible and also serve as headliners during a once-a-week tasting menu there are also a couple of pasta dishes on the menu like cacio e pepe with an optional black truffle addition and a Key lime pie with a darling Italian meringue crown Photograph: Eric Barton for Time OutA friend of mine who had recently returned from spending three months in Italy had a pretty wild declaration: he hadn’t had a pizza in the Old World better than the one at Heritage It’s not entirely surprising to those who’ve had the pies here which came about when chef Rino Cerbone perfected the dough recipe he learned in his family’s pizzeria to create his own version who has a side hustle fronting a rock band isn’t just a one-hit-wonder with those pies because his pasta and Italian-inspired dishes also sing especially a baked razor clams dish that’s reason enough to come A post shared by MEG - FOOD, EXPERIENCES, TRAVEL (@bklyn.bites) Before arriving at the Conrad Fort Lauderdale Beach, chef Anthony Vitolo served a whole lot of celebrities at his Emilio’s Ballato in New York. No word yet on whether Taylor Swift will also visit the Lauderdale location, but I can say the dishes at Vitolo in Fort Lauderdale are worthy of her appearance the menu runs the gamut of American red sauce Italian: bolognese these dishes are prepared and presented in more elegant ways—you might even say it’s like Taylor’s version A post shared by Larb Thai-Isan (@larbthaiisan) Some locals might be angry that we’ve written about Larb Thai-Isan one of those strip mall spots putting out amazing food that you just want to keep to yourself To get you started: chicken or pork larb (of course); fried rib meat chunks marinated in fish sauce; papaya salad with salted crab; ground pork with chili and garlic; and especially the duck salad with a spicy sweet fish sauce and crunchy fried duck skin A post shared by Osteria Acqua & Farina (@osteriaacquaefarinafll) Photograph: Eric Barton for Time OutRunway founder Anthony Bruno teamed up with restaurateur Marc Falsetto to give this Lauderdale classic a remake in 2023 into an Italian supper club with nightly live music There are still the dishes regulars expect—cauliflower rigatoni the absolutely huge “Sunday feast” plate the little grandma cup of garlic butter served with the crusty hunk of bread to start New items include carpaccio of thin-sliced wagyu filet an Idaho potato stuffed with black truffle and cacio e pepe sauce is a breaded bone-in veal chop slathered in alla vodka sauce dotted with peas and prosciutto and covered in islands of melted mozzarella Photograph: Ricardo MejiaThe ocean views are reason enough to come to Burlock Coast a talented chef producing a menu focusing on fresh seafood and seasonal vegetables The casual market-style setup here might seem like a surprise being in the Ritz-Carlton but that’s good news for anyone looking for a reasonably priced and well-sourced meal with sea views A post shared by STEAK954 (@steak954) Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr’s steakhouse takes up a choice waterfront spot at the bottom of The W hotel But grab an indoor seat to enjoy what might be an even better view of a massive fish tank of glowing jellyfish The traditional steakhouse classics are on the menu with high-end choices covering dry-aged and wagyu cuts somebody at the table ought to order the $85 cheesesteak: American wagyu and truffle cheese whiz on a brioche roll served with a glass of Laurent Perrier Brut A post shared by Pizzeria Magaddino (@pizzeriamagaddino) Tom Magaddino gave up a corporate job in 2017 to open his first pizza shop in the county's convention center. That became a mobile pizza van before Magaddino finally landed a home inside Gulfstream Brewing where he’s putting out some of the best pies in town like margherita and pepperoni with red sauce like the carbonara-inspired Pork Belly & Egg Photograph: Courtesy DuneDune located inside the Auberge Beach Residences and Spa offers spectacular ocean views and coastal cuisine The restaurant has three distinct dining spaces followed by the grilled branzino with lemon broth and lobster spaghettini fra diavolo A post shared by Cafe Seville Fort Lauderdale (@cafesevilleftl) At Cafe Seville you’ll feel as if you’ve been whisked away to a small village in Spain The restaurant specializes in Spanish dishes like tapas and seafood Start your meal off with a shared platter of Spanish serrano ham Another favorite is the gambas Pablo Picasso a flavor-packed dish of steamed shrimp over yellow rice with salsa verde A post shared by Coconuts (@coconuts_benice) Coconuts is located on the intercoastal waterways of the city with indoor and outdoor seating where the views are only matched by the scrumptious food And the location even offers boat docks for those who choose to get to there via water Start your meal off with a cocktail like the Save the Whales and tonic water for a refreshing pre-dinner drink Loyal fans of Coconuts know the best time to arrive is after 5 when the menu expands to add items like crab empanadas and grilled oysters Photograph: Courtesy Maass Fort LauderdaleChef Ryan Ratino runs a pair of Michelin-starred restaurants in D.C., and his outpost Maass in the Four Seasons on Fort Lauderdale Beach feels like a place aiming for the same caliber There’s a $98 tasting menu called “Let us cook for you” that covers the highlights; you’ll find them at the beginning under “Snacks,” including a foie gras macaron and truffle popcorn While consistency can be an issue here in service and food temperatures few places in Fort Lauderdale are shooting as high as the fine-dining aspirations at Maass A post shared by Restaurante Salvadoreño y Mexicano El Guanaco (@taqueriaelguanaco) Way back in the beginning, El Guanaco was the spot you could take your foodie friend to and show you how to find the hidden gems These days it’s full of gringos and immigrants looking for the homey foods of Mexico and El Salvador Order extra tortillas and you’ll hear the ladies patting out new ones in the back Every single thing I’ve tried here is stellar but don’t miss the seafood stew that’s often on special on the weekends A post shared by LaSpada's Hoagies (@laspadashoagies) If you grew up in Broward, or like me, have lived there for a good part of your life, a trip back to town has to include LaSpada’s What’s special at this place begins with an acrobatic toss where one sandwich maker sends cold cuts and cheeses in a giant arc to somebody down the line where they use the meats and cheese to form a blanket that tucks in the rest of the ingredients into a tidy sub but my standard order is a Mama’s—turkey and Genoa salami with lots of sweet and hot peppers tucked into bed under that glorious meat pocket Photograph: Ricardo Mejia/RMStudioCorpLona situated across from Fort Lauderdale Beach is a stunning Mexican restaurant serving authentic street food with an upscale twist For a full taste of this high-and-low contrast go for the taco flights—15 tacos for $68 or 20 for $86 Or celebrate everyone’s favorite weekly holiday on Tuesdays when tacos and margaritas are just five bucks A post shared by Doc B's Restaurant + Bar (@docbsrestaurant) Doc B’s is known for its sandwiches get the sticky-sweet candied bacon (watch out: it’s got a bit of a kick from cayenne pepper) The approachable bar-style menu includes dishes like buffalo chicken sandwiches with roasted garlic dressing where you can order items like Cinnamon Toast Crunch cheesecake and homemade Oreo ice cream that's topped with a homemade chocolate shell Photograph: Eric Barton for Time OutSince 1955, Rustic Inn has served as the spot where locals have celebrated birthdays and anniversaries by banging wooden mallets into just-steamed crabs I wouldn’t promise that you’ll love the prepared dishes and you’ll wish somebody else is paying when it comes to the crabs: $70 for a hefty bowl of blue But the seriously rustic space is a time capsule and there’s just something that’s celebratory about hammering until you end up with a sweet pile of garlicky crab legs A post shared by Blue Moon Fish Co. (@bluemoonfishcompany) Blue Moon is dishing out fresh Florida seafood with a Cajun-Louisiana flair the restaurant is often mentioned as the best seafood place in Fort Lauderdale made fresh every day with fish and shrimp caught just hours before serving Be sure to leave room for a slice of key lime pie that’s been topped with toasted coconut meringue A post shared by SISTRUNK MARKETPLACE & BREWERY (@sistrunkmarketplace) This combination food hall and arts market is known for its cooking classes you can find everything from slurpable ramen and fresh tuna poke to sweet and savory crepes and towering ice cream sundaes You will need to make a reservation to get in you’ll choose if you want to sit inside or outside on the patio A post shared by Sea Watch On the Ocean (@seawatchontheocean) Since 1974, Sea Watch has served fresh seafood straight from the ocean—which happens to be just 50 yards away The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner The floor-to-ceiling windows bring in a ton of light and offer sweeping views of the sea While dinner is more romantic with the sun setting in the background You can’t go wrong with the crab tostada which starts with a corn tortilla chip base and piles on avocado Photograph: Eric Barton for Time OutTom Jenkins started out as a trailer in 1990 and quickly became popular with locals The brick-and-mortar restaurant arrived six years later and they've been serving Fort Lauderdale barbecue fanatics ever since The restaurant specializes in fall-off-the-bone ribs You’ll also want to hit the Southern-style sides like macaroni and cheese and collards A post shared by New York Grilled Cheese Co. (@nygrilledcheese) We know it and you know it: there is nothing better than grilled cheese. Half-hungry-half-not? Grilled cheese is the perfect lunch. Hungover AF? You’re in need of a grilled cheese. Whatever the occasion, you’re going to love this grilled cheese joint where you can order everything from grilled mac and cheese to a Wall Street grinder melt with smoked bacon A post shared by Milk Money Bar & Kitchen (@milkmoneybar) The local hangout for weeknight drinks and weekend brunch is Milk Money The restaurant has an impressive list of daily happy hour specials including $5 microbrews on Monday and a bartender’s choice of shot for $3 on Friday You’ll find some of the typical bar food like chicken wings and burgers on the menu but you’ll also find elevated dishes like short ribs with coconut-infused rice and a pork belly banh mi with all of the usual toppings A post shared by Padrino's Cuban Restaurants (@padrinoscuban) Padrino’s is still cooking up the same family recipes it’s been dishing out for years plantains and Cubano sandwiches with some serious cocktails A post shared by VeganizeMeCaptain_ (@veganizemecaptain_) Dar Tajine’s menu is filled with traditional fare such as a roasted eggplant dish called zaalouk with its interior covered in colorful cloths hanging from the walls also serves a variety of tajin dishes like lamb shank with prunes and almonds and a half chicken with olives and preserved lemon Photograph: Courtesy Casa SenseiLatin and Asian flavors are combined at this popular waterfront restaurant. Casa Sensei is dishing out some of the freshest sushi in town along with Asian noodle dishes like pad Thai and Latin favorites like mojo pork chops For a decadent starter,try the lobster guacamole (house-made guac topped with seared lobster tail skewers) you’ll want to try the Korean grilled steak chimichurri which starts out as a marinated skirt steak topped with bright green chimichurri sauce and served with jasmine rice and fried sweet plantains Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! About us Contact us This article is republished from The Conversation an independent and nonprofit source of news analysis and commentary from academic experts Leatherman is Professor of Coastal Science at Florida International University Digging holes in sand might seem innocent, but if the hole is deep enough and collapses on a person, it is extremely difficult to escape. In fact, research suggests more people die from sand burial suffocation than from shark attacks except at tropical coasts where coral sand beaches Material coarser than sand is not soft to the touch – it doesn’t make sturdy sandcastles make water murky and are commonly called mud READ MORE: A girl dies after a sand hole on a Lauderdale-by-the-Sea beach collapses Sand’s weight depends on the materials it’s made of. Pure quartz sand beaches weigh around 90 pounds per cubic foot when dry But most beaches contain a mixture of minerals The minerals that darken the sand are much heavier – sand on most beaches would weigh up to 130 pounds per cubic foot when dry Sand is more stable when it’s wet because the surface tension between water and sand grains can hold the pile of sand in place vertically it’ll stay stable for as long as the sand stays moist When either the sand forming the hole dries out or someone stands near the edge of the hole and the heavy grains fill all open spaces in the hole This leaves no air available for a trapped person to breathe While skiers trapped in avalanches can cup their hands to form an air pocket because snow is light but that’s not the case when sand collapses Rescuing someone from a collapsed sand hole is very difficult because sand is both heavy and unstable. As rescuers scoop away sand to free the victim, the hole will continue to collapse under the rescuers’ weight and refill with sand. Rescuers have only about three to five minutes to save a person who is trapped in a sand hole before they suffocate READ MORE: Experts say more affordable access to swim lessons is key to reducing child drownings Professionals like firefighters will place boards across the hole when rescuing someone from a sand hole collapse they can reach down and use tools to remove the sand without putting any weight directly on the edge of the hole Experts recommend never digging a hole deeper than the knee height of the shortest person in your group – with 2 feet (0.6 meters) being the maximum depth To rescue someone in a collapsing sand hole, focus on exposing their mouth and removing sand from on top of their chest. If you expose their mouth, you can administer rescue breathing while other rescuers continue digging out their chest Too many people crowding a sand hole rescue can cause more harm than good Just two or three rescuers should work in the victim’s immediate area while others work on clearing sand away from the wider excavation area which makes it easier for those in the center to remove sand The people on the outer perimeter can clear sand away from the central area using anything available from buckets and shovels to beach chairs and boogie boards Collapsing sand holes led to 31 deaths, mostly kids and 87% male, from 1997 to 2007 in the U.S. During that period, 21 others were in a reported sand hole collapse but survived Victims of sand hole collapse have ranged in age from 3 to 21 years. The holes were generally 2 to 15 feet (0.6 to 4.6 meters) in diameter and 2 to 12 feet (0.6 to 3.7 meters) deep jumping and falling into the hole have all inadvertently triggered collapse These collapses can happen suddenly and in situations that don’t seem dangerous to most make sure to keep an eye out for sand holes and fill all holes as soon as possible Even a shallow hole can injure someone who stumbles into it Lauderdale-by-the-Sea deputies and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to 4500 El Mar Drive shortly before 1:30 p.m Wednesday after the regional communications center was called about a possible drowning Good Samaritans were attempting to save the man’s life when deputies and fire rescue arrived was taken to Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale and was pronounced dead there Homicide and crime scene units are investigating the circumstances of the drowning “We have just learned that the gentleman who was transported from our beach to the hospital today sadly passed away,” Mayor Edmund Malkoon said in a statement shared by the town on X “Our deepest condolences and sympathy are with his family and friends I want to thank our first responders and the good Samaritans who reacted swiftly to try to save his life.” 7-year-old Sloan Mattingly and her 9-year-old brother Maddox were buried in a 5- to 6-foot-deep hole that collapsed in on them Sloan was completely buried underneath her brother and was pronounced dead at a hospital after she was removed from the hole without a pulse Pompano Beach Fire Rescue patrols the beach, in addition to the Broward Sheriff’s Office and volunteers with the town’s Citizen Observer Patrol. The sheriff’s office and a spokesperson for Lauderdale-by-the-Sea did not respond to a question about whether the beach was being patrolled at the time Wednesday. Subscribe to our free Stephinitely newsletter You’re all signed up!Want more of our free, weekly newsletters in your inbox? Let’s get started. ©2024 South Florida Sun Sentinel. Visit sun-sentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency LLC. LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. – The death of a 7-year-old girl who was buried in sand on a South Florida beach was “a preventable tragedy” that wouldn’t have happened if lifeguards were around Sloan Mattingly died after a sand hole she and her 9-year-old brother were digging in collapsed on Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach Tuesday The Mattingly family was vacationing in South Florida from Fort Wayne While investigators still work to find out what led up to the fatal incident which certifies teams of lifeguards to work in cities across the country said it would not have happened had there been lifeguards on the beach Lauderdale-by-the-Sea does not have lifeguards on its stretch of beach “Every USLA lifeguard who has a certification from one of our agencies is going to know about the dangers of sand collapse and they are going to warn people immediately upon seeing that,” Gill said Local 10 News has learned that even in cities that do have guarded beaches hotels and private homes that remain unguarded because of the high costs that come with providing lifeguards in less-populated areas Tuesday’s incident happened behind the High Noon Beach Resort at 4424 El Mar Drive “How anyone can choose not to protect the people they are inviting there I think that those people really need to think about their choices right now,” Gill said Local 10 News has asked town officials whether they intend to add lifeguards to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Beach A spokesperson said the issue will be discussed at a town commission meeting next Tuesday The town will also have a moment of silence for the Mattingly family Friday night Sloan’s loved ones have set up a GoFundMe page to help pay for final expenses Roy Ramos joined the Local 10 News team in 2018 Roy is a South Florida native who grew up in Florida City He attended Christopher Columbus High School Homestead Senior High School and graduated from St – The Broward Sheriff’s Office is searching for five people who they say were captured on surveillance video stealing about $15,000 worth of sunglasses from a store in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea the subjects inquired about high-end sunglasses displayed in a room at the rear of the business.” Authorities said one employee began to help the group removed a pair of sunglasses from a shelf and handed them to a woman who was wearing a red T-shirt with white lettering and a long grey skirt “The woman then took the item and placed it in her white handbag,” St another employee begins to assist one of the other males wearing a black polo shirt wearing a black dress with the word ‘Guess’ written in white Detectives said the thieves used several distraction methods to steal five sunglasses each of which were worth thousands of dollars Anyone with information about the thieves’ identities or whereabouts is asked to call BSO Lauderdale-By-The-Sea District Detective Ben Koos at 954-640-4234 or submit a tip through the SaferWatch App Anonymous tips can be made by calling Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477), or submitting a tip online at browardcrimestoppers.org or by dialing **TIPS (8477) from any cellphone in the United States — After Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated parts of the Tampa Bay area a group from Florida’s east coast wanted to help storm victims One person who really wanted to give back was Annie Berry “I own a hair salon in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and I know the type of clients I have and how much they want to give and participate I knew I had a vehicle to make something happen,” said Berry Berry’s business, Wild Berry Hair Salon, is right next door to Big Car Electric Bikes in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea has become Berry’s good friend over the years as they’ve joined forces to help each other’s businesses grow the opportunity to do something like this is big,” said Torres Berry and Torres began collecting donations for hurricane victims but needed a way to get the goods to Charlotte and the Tampa Bay area. That’s where Del Rojas, a volunteer pilot withRuff Rescue Transportcame into play “Ruff Rescue Transport is mainly a transport for rescue animals And we started in the Caribbean islands,” said Rojas Along with flying for Ruff Rescue to save animals Rojas has been rescuing those in harm's way for years he flew to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian destroyed the area Rojas helped save over 6,000 people and 600 animals getting them treated medically and giving them psychological help as well and then getting them food and homes,” explained Rojas Rojas agreed to help Berry and Torres with their mission but they still needed a local nonprofit to accept and distribute all their donations ABC Action News anchor Wendy Ryan introduced them to Devin Pappas, who runs The Raising Relief Foundationin Pinellas County “My goal for being in the nonprofit world is to help other non-profits but I always saw it bigger than just Pinellas or our area it just shows you that anything is possible And East Coast helping the West Coast again we showed you how Pappas collected all the donations from Florida’s east coast and delivered them to the Madeira Beach Donation Center Berry wanted to give hurricane victims even more personal gifts Boy Scout Troop 336 in Boca Raton created a Christmas card to cheer up hurricane victims but I think I just feel it would mean so much,” said Berry Berry is planning a larger holiday card-making event She is asking her East Coast neighbors to help make even more Christmas cards and donate gift cards for kids or adults “We're all collectively going to do a huge paint and sip where the adults and whatnot can have instruction to create Christmas cards holiday cards through the instruction of an artist,” explained Berry Part of the Madeira Beach Donation Center will be transformed into a holiday wonderland with Christmas cards put a smile on a family's face and help them feel good is what really warms my heart and makes things worthwhile And that's what I really enjoy,” said Rojas The Madeira Beach Donation Center is behind The Salt-Water Hippie on Madeira Beach Way It’s open Wednesday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m the Chamber of Commerce of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and other local East Coast businesses are also helping collect holiday donations for hurricane victims they will fly the donations to the Tampa Bay area Berry and her team on the East Coast are also preparing to drop off holiday gifts to hurricane victims in North Carolina The Madeira Beach Donation Center is also helping those who want a Thanksgiving meal by providing Thanksgiving kits filled with $25 Publix gift cards If you would like to participate or donate to the Paint-n-Sip fundraiser for hurricane relief, click here If you’d like to help in any way, you can click here to learn more information. and I feel like that's part of where the system failed" Henry Betsey Jr. is facing charges for marrying three Florida women in three different counties at the same time. Now saying the system that handles marriage licenses kept them in the dark Report a typo Beach) is professor of coastal science at Florida International University Digging in sand might seem innocent, but if the hole is deep enough and collapses on a person, it is extremely difficult to escape. In fact, research suggests more people die from sand burial suffocation than shark attacks Material coarser than sand is not soft to the touch – it doesn’t make sturdy castles When the sand forming the hole dries or someone stands near the edge Rescuing someone from a collapsed sand hole is very difficult because sand is heavy and unstable. As rescuers scoop away sand to free the victim, the hole will continue to collapse under the rescuers’ weight and refill with sand. Rescuers have only three to five minutes to save a person trapped before suffocation First responders like firefighters will place boards across the hole when rescuing someone from a sand collapse they can reach down and use tools without putting weight directly on the edge of the hole Experts recommend never digging a hole deeper than the knee height of the shortest person in your group – with 2 feet the maximum depth To rescue someone in a collapsing sand hole, focus on exposing their mouth and removing sand from on top of the chest. If you expose their mouth, you can administer rescue breathing while other rescuers continue digging out the chest Just two or three rescuers should work in the immediate area while others work on clearing sand away from the wider excavation area In the U.S., collapsing sand holes led to 31 deaths, mostly kids and 87% male, from 1997 to 2007. During that period, 21 others were in a reported collapse but survived Victims of sand hole collapse have ranged in age from 3 to 21. The holes were generally 2 to 15 feet in diameter and 2 to 12 feet deep make sure to keep an eye out for sand holes and fill them as soon as possible locals greet visitors with genuine smiles and hospitality or the picturesque streets lined with quaint shops the small towns of Florida capture the true spirit of Southern charm and community Ten miles west of busy St. Petersburg lies the small resort town of Madeira Beach is the perfect place to spend time on the sand Visitors who don’t like to sit still for long won’t have to worry as there’s plenty to do in Madeira Beach or in nearby John’s Pass Village and Boardwalk a fishing village named after pirate John Levique who discovered the pass after a hurricane created it in 1848 The town boasts over 100 merchants with unique shops popular pubs like Mad Beach Brewing Company and eateries like Bubba Gump and Friendly Fisherman Rent a jet ski from Madbeach Watersports at John’s Pass and head into the Gulf of Mexico Book an eco-friendly sunset dolphin cruise or take the kids on a Shark Boat tour on a one-of-a-kind 40-foot tour boat that looks like a shark but attracts dolphins to play in its wake Spend some time at the Alligator & Wildlife Discovery Center which has set up a new temporary home in John’s Pass in 2024 after a fire in 2023 On Florida’s Forgotten Coast, Apalachicola is a small town steeped in maritime history and historic buildings Walk through the town’s Historic District to discover more than 900 historic homes and buildings that date back to the 1830s These two antebellum mansions feature 19th-century furniture and provide a glimpse into life in Apalachicola during the 1800s visitors will learn about the eponymous young physician who became a pioneer in refrigeration after inventing a room to cool the sick rooms of his yellow fever patients in 1851 The town is also known as “Oystertown,” so visitors should be sure to enjoy a cold microbrew and a dozen fresh 2024 Apalachicola oysters at The Station Raw Bar spend an afternoon on the Apalachicola River by booking a fishing charter with an experienced boat captain who’ll bring all the gear While it’s hard not to miss the tiny town of Micanopy as it takes up only 1.03 total square miles of land it is the oldest inland town in Florida and calls itself the “Town That Time Forgot,” and it is an antique lover’s paradise it is considered to be one of the antique capitals of Florida so spend a morning antiquing before stopping for a Cuban sandwich at Old Florida Café—Micanopy’s oldest restaurant Be sure to visit the Mosswood Farm Store & Bakehouse in a combined general store the town is home to two state parks: Price’s Scrub State Park where visitors will find a 9.5 multi-purpose trail for hikers where herds of bison and wild horses strangely roam The park has eight paved trails where visitors can see 300 species of birds and climb a 50-foot tall observatory tower for panoramic views North of busy Fort Lauderdale the seaside town of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is steeped in Old Florida retro nostalgia Known for its colorful Anglin’s Town Square lined with Adirondack chairs visitors can indulge in retail therapy at shops like Coast Boutique Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is called “Florida’s Beach Diving Capital” and is renowned for its superior diving Divers and snorkelers can explore the wreck of the SS Copenhagen a British steamship that ran aground off the coast of Florida in 1898 located less than a nautical mile offshore Other attractions on the beachfront include Anglin's Fishing Pier Although the historic pier is being restored to its former glory visitors can still see it from any outdoor cafés near its entrance like the Aruba Beach Café or Backflip Beach Bar & Kitchen in the Plunge Beach Resort Get around Lauderdale-by-the-Sea on the Pelican Hopper—a free shuttle that makes round-trip daily visits to popular places around town during the summer of 2024 Boca Grande is a small town on Gasparilla Island, surrounded by the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Far from the hustle and bustle of other beach destinations in the Sunshine State and snorkeling opportunities on the beaches in the Gasparilla Island State Park Shellers can stoop for prized whelks and sand dollars Boca Grande Outfitters on the island can help visitors with gear and guides for the ultimate Fly Fishing trip Check out Hudson's Grocery for everything else for the perfect day in Boca Grande The island hosts not one but two historic lighthouses: The 1890 Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum, which watched for German U-boats during World War II and the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse Range Light surrounded by 7.4 acres of walking trails and a butterfly garden Visitors to both will find postcard-perfect views Don’t miss the award-winning key lime pie at Keylime Bistro St. Pete Beach is a laid-back beach town known for its Old Florida charm its beautiful beaches where visitors can spend hours on the water Kayak tours with Island Ferry Eco Tours are the way to go if visitors want to see stunning schools of fish Or stop by any PADL—a paddle board rental station—at Pass-A-Grille or Upham beaches and rent one through the app Foodies will love the culinary scene where visitors can listen to live music over cold drinks at Jimmy B’s Beach Bar slurp oysters at kid-friendly P.J.’s Oyster Bar Pete Pier for icy mojitos and Yucatan shrimp at Doc Ford’s In the historic district in the nearby beach community of Pass-A-Grille watch the sunset with the locals from the rooftop bar at the Hurricane Seafood Restaurant Probably one of Florida’s best-kept secrets, Anna Maria Island is home to gorgeous white-sand beaches and emerald waters The seven-mile-long barrier island is home to three small towns: Anna Maria in the north The shops along Pine Avenue should do the trick for visitors looking for the perfect souvenir or Emerson Quillin Artist for whimsical artwork tucked away on the far North end of Anna Maria Island and dinner since 1947 in a restaurant directly over the Gulf of Mexico Or head to the family-friendly Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the historic Bridge Street Pier for daily fresh oysters and tiki drinks Book an eco boat tour with Paradise Boat Tours who “guarantee you will see dolphins” on one of their six daily 90-minute tours Visitors who like to keep their feet firmly on terra firma can spend time on the Canaveral National Seashore—24 miles of undeveloped beach and the longest Atlantic Coastline in Florida where visitors watch turtles laying their nests before returning to the ocean then help protect the nests by putting a screen across the egg chamber and marking the nest for research purposes Forty minutes from the magical city of Orlando, Mount Dora is a lakefront destination with lots of charm It is anchored by its renowned annual Mount Dora Arts Festival which celebrates its 50th year from February 1st to 2nd and typically attracts over 200,000 visitors which covers over 4,000 acres and is a favorite bass fishing spot In the historic district, visit the Lakeside Inn, which opened in 1883 and is Florida's oldest continuously operating hotel. President Calvin Coolidge once stayed there for a month in 1930 Walk along the lake on the Palm Island Park boardwalk to see the 35-foot-high red-and-white lighthouse which looks historic but isn’t; it was built in 1988 Enjoy a one-hour scenic narrated Mount Dora Trolley Tour or book a fun tour in a golf trolley and see the Donnelly House—a house built in the Queen Anne style of architecture in 1893—and the Atlantic Coastline Train Depot then have lunch at Tony’s Chowder House in a circa 1925 building Not to be confused with Palm Beach County, one of Florida's largest and most popular regions, the small town of Palm Beach is a 10-square-mile barrier island There’s plenty to see and do with legendary resorts like The Breakers The Palm Beach Lake Trail is a must-see on any visit to Palm Beach The 5.5-mile-long trail runs alongside the western edge of Palm Beach If visitors can wait that long to spend time in this luxurious town the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival takes place from December 12 to 15 no trip is complete without a stroll along Worth Avenue Dine al fresco at Breeze Ocean Kitchen overlooking the Atlantic Ocean or stop for a freshly made Italian gelato at Piccolo Gelato Florida has some of the friendliest small towns perfect for a 2024 getaway These warm communities provide a welcoming atmosphere for those seeking a break from bustling tourist hotspots Unique attractions include kayaking with manatees like the Kennedy Space Center's Moon Fest Weekend and the Palm Beach Food & Wine Festival make this year an exceptional time to experience the true spirit of Southern charm and community in Florida's delightful small towns photos and original descriptions © 2025 worldatlas.com Amanda Batchelor Terrell Forney – While the impact from now Tropical Storm Nicole caused much more issues for areas further north some South Florida areas also saw some destruction from the storm that strengthened into a hurricane before being downgraded Thursday morning “Irma destroyed all the rest out there in the front and now this,” one beachgoer said “What’s crazy is that this isn’t a hurricane anymore people have been going to the pier to fish “I didn’t think it would fall right there,” said Matteo Burrell who has been fishing at the pier for 15 years “It’s just really sad to see it snap right there.” The pier was still undergoing repairs from Hurricane Irma We’re strong,” the pier’s owner told Local 10 News “This is an iconic footprint of the people of Florida.” The owner said there were waves as high as 25 feet overnight due to the storm The pier is normally open 24 hours a day for fishing “Anglin’s Fishing Pier is such an iconic landmark in our town I know our Town will do what we can to support the property owner in the coming days and months,” Lauderdale-By-The-Sea Mayor Chris Vincent said in a statement Waves also crashed onto the pier in Deerfield Beach City officials said they need to get a structural engineer to assess the damage in the next few days City engineers have deemed it structurally unsafe made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane just south of Vero Beach in the early morning hours on Thursday Click here to receive breaking news alerts from Local10.com Copyright 2022 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved Reporter Rosh Lowe has been covering news for nearly two decades in South Florida A leader in the travel and tourism industry Kara Franker has served in executive leadership roles for several destination organizations Kara has been featured as a travel expert for Southern Living she serves as Editor-in-Chief of several luxury lifestyle print magazines in the Miami Palm Beach and Aspen markets for Modern Luxury LAUDERDALE-BY-THE-SEA, Fla. – Three days have passed since the death of a little girl who became trapped in a sand hole on the beach in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Lauderdale-by-the-Sea Mayor Chris Vincent spoke to Local 10 News about what happened Vincent said unlike neighboring Fort Lauderdale Lauderdale-by-the Sea does not have an ordinance banning sand holes on the beach we don’t have an ordinance on record right now for that,” he told Local 10′s Christian De La Rosa “If it’s something that the community wants and the town wants City officials have been questioned over the past several days for not having lifeguards along its beaches “We’ve had many conversations about that in the past and we’re not the only beaches that currently don’t have lifeguards,” Vincent said Seven-year-old Sloan Mattingly was with her 9-year-old brother Maddox playing in a sand hole when it collapsed on both of them on Tuesday afternoon The boy was saved after being buried up to his chest Sloan Mattingly was under the sand for over 15 minutes before being pulled out and rushed to a hospital “Immense sadness for the family, somewhat of frustration because this is preventable,” said Tom Gill with the United States Lifesaving Association 99 out of 100 and probably higher than that percentage lifeguards would have done something to prevent this from happening.” Christian De La Rosa joined Local 10 News in April 2017 after spending time as a reporter and anchor in Atlanta