WELLINGTON - The Mall at Wellington Green, 10300 Forest Hill Blvd., has an early morning "Black Friday" promotion planned.

The first 500 customers that enter through the Mall's main entrance near the food court will receive a free Breakfast-to-go bag filled with treats and a flier listing the day's specials at select stores.

In addition every hour from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. shoppers will have the opportunity to win gift cards and a Nintendo Wii gaming system. There will also be a drawing for a holiday family vacation for four to an Orlando resort.

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WELLINGTON - Tickets are selling fast for Palm Beach County's first steeplechase in 23 years, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center at the corner of South Shore Boulevard and Pierson Road. Admission is $20 and up.

Between 7,500 and 10,000 people are expected to attend.

"[The day] will be like a huge wine or music festival...like a big tailgate party," said Elizabeth Hedley, event coordinator. Besides just steeplechasing the event, she said it will have something for everyone. There will be a beer garden with flat screen TVs to watch the day's football, in between the races there will be Jack Russell Terrier dog races, a demonstration by the Blackwater Parachute team, a hat contest, music and antique car displays. There will also be shopping village with a variety of vendors.
The last time Palm Beach County had a steeplechase was in 1985 at the Palm Beach Polo Club.
"The race course has been reconfigured," said Bill Gallo, director of racing for the National Steeplechase Association. "It's certainly an improved racing facility. It's vastly improved from the mid-80s."
Throughout the day there will be five steeplechase races worth $200,000 in total.

Jason Parsley can be reached at jeparsley@tribune.com.

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WELLINGTON - The Wellington Art Society presents its fourth annual Fall Fling from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Wellington Community Center, 12165 W. Forest Hill Blvd. Admission is free.
This year more than 30 artists will showcase their work that includes paintings, sculptures, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and fine crafts. There will also be a youth exhibit made up of students from kindergarten to high school.
The event will also feature live music and refreshments.

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ROYAL PALM BEACH - The Royal Palm Beach Writer's Group is unveiling its newest book 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at the Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center, 151 Civic Center Way.
The book, "Spectrum," is a compilation of essays, poems and short stories that members have written, said Gloria Ferrara, vice president of the group. The cost of the book is $5 and the money will be donated to village's Athletic Scholarship fund.
There will be food, drinks and door prizes at the unveiling.
The Writer's Group meets every first and third Thursday of the month from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Cultural Center.

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WELLINGTON - Ultima Fitness/Xtreme Tae Kwon Do, 12799 W. Forest Hill Blvd., is having its sixth annual kick-a-thon that starts at 11:30 a.m. Saturday to raise money for the My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Charitable Trust.

The annual event raises between $4,000 to $7,000 each year said Master Gus Pope.

"This is what I try to teach [the kids]...doing good for someone else," he said.

The Charitable Trust was founded by County Commissioner Jess Santamaria and raises money to distribute to families in the western communities that are in need and those affected by catastrophic events. One-hundred percent of the funds are donated to the needy. All of the board members and other workers are volunteers. In 2006 the Trust disbursed almost $85,000 to families in the area.

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GREENACRES - The western communities will get a taste of some Hispanic culture this weekend with the Palms West Chamber of Commerce's annual Salsa Fest from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Greenacres Community Park, 2095 Jog Road. Admission is $10, children younger than 10 are admitted free and parking is free.

This year's event is featuring some big names in the Hispanic community: Colombian based Sonora Carruseles, famous for their Afro-Caribbean rhymes, Tito Rojas a.k.a. "El Gallo" a salsa singer and bandleader, and Grammy nominated artist Eddie Santiago, a salsa singer from Puerto Rico.

"Just having those three acts solidifies the success of last year," said Jaene Miranda, CEO of Palms West. "It was kind of a coup to have them together all on one stage."
There will also be some big names children might recognize as well like Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob Squarepants. Besides those acts there will also be Chihuahua races, bounce houses, salsa cook-offs, domino competitions, battle of the band competition, business expo, and arts and crafts.

Last year Salsa Fest attracted about 5,000 people. This year they're expecting upwards of 10,000 Miranda said.

"If you like the Hispanic culture you will have a great time," she said. "There's going to be something happening in all corners of the park."

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the city of Greenacres' Department of Leisure Services to help expand its youth programs.

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ROYAL PALM BEACH - In celebration of its grand opening Tuesday, Nov. 18, Panera Bread, 11131 Southern Blvd., will be giving away $1,000 worth of Panera Bread gift cards from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday.

Call 561-204-3012 for more information.

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WELLINGTON - The Palm Beach County Bar Association is having a seminar on filing a small claims suit in court and how to present the information to a judge from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Wellington Branch Library, 1951 Royal Fern Drive.
Call the Palm Beach County Bar Association at 561-687-2800 to RSVP or for more information.

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District 6 County Commissioner Jess Santamaria will be having his monthly community forum from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19 in the center court of the original Wellington Mall, southeast corner of Forest Hill Boulevard and Wellington Trace.

Some of the guest speakers will include reelected Senator Dave Aronberg, and newly elected County Commissioner Shelley Vana, State Attorney Michael McAuliffe and Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher.

Refreshments will also be served.


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The first ever Acreage Fall Festival takes place from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday Nov. 15 at Acreage Community Park, 6701 140th Ave. in Loxahatchee.

Some events take years to plan, but the fall festival was conceived and put together in six months.

"We went from 0 to 100,000 miles in six months," said Robert Trepp, co-owner of the festival and founder of the Acreage Music and Chili Fest.

He was hoping for at least 5,000 people to attend, but now expects upward of 7,000.

"I've been blown away by the response," he said.

Some of the entertainers performing will be psychic Gary Midnight, the 2008 South Florida Fair Battle of the Bands winner Punkuation, Acreage Xtreme Cheerleaders, and country singers Billy Currington, Whitney Duncan, Trailer Choir, Carolina Rain, Dean Brody, Laura Bryna and country dance team The Chili Chicks.

There will also be a rib cook-off, classic car show, custom motorcycle show, karaoke, an art show, arts and crafts, spin art, face painting, bounce house, bungee run, joust, obstacle course, rock wall and robo surf.

Admission is $10. Children under 10 and active duty military personnel are free.

A portion of the proceeds will go to The New Beginnings Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization.

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WELLINGTON - Ingrid Webster of Wellington will display her "Neverending Necklace" 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 15 and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Art of Life Gallery, 10120 Forest Hill Blvd., Suite 170, Pointe at Wellington Green.

Webster hopes one day it will be the longest in the world. But for now she knows of one necklace that's longer than hers. That necklace is more than 3,000 feet. Hers is 1,025 feet.

"[The necklace] is growing every day," she said. She started the necklace 10 years ago, and it now contains more than 60,000 beads.

"I no longer think that being in the 'Guiness World Book of Records' is such a big thing," she said. Now she's more focused on helping others by selling each bead for $1 and donating the funds to six charities: the Vetsville Cease Fire House, the Good Earth Farm, Autism Speaks, IFSA Burn Camp/Camp I Am Me, India: Strides Society, Pure Thoughts Horse and Foal Rescue.

Nowadays, the necklace is so long Webster can't keep it stringed together. Instead, it's divided up and mounted inside 50 or so panels. When the necklace is displayed in its entirety, she connects each of the panels.

Webster said she's raised about $5,000 since she started selling the beads. For $1, Webster will add a bead to the necklace, dedicate it and display the list in an online journal.

Webster may have a long time to wait before she can stop growing the necklace.

"As soon as all weapons and hostilities have been laid to rest, that's when I'll stop," she said.

Howard Sohn, owner of Cartrige World in Wellington, bought 60 beads to add to the necklace to dedicate to his parents, who passed away several years ago.

"[Webster] is terrific. She's trying to do some good work, and I was trying to assist her," he said. "That's what we try to do here. We are a part of the community. We try to participate in as many things as we can."

Call 561-793-5509 for more information. Visit www.addbeads.com for more information about the necklace.

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ROYAL PALM BEACH - The Witch's Hat, a metaphysical bookstore in Royal Palm Beach, has moved from 1107 Royal Palm Beach Blvd. to 11150 Okeechobee Blvd. near the Brass Ring restaurant.

Owner Lori Chadwick said she's worried about customers not knowing what happened to her store. She said she wasn't allowed to keep a sign posted announcing the new location.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, Chadwick will hold a grand opening celebration with free refreshments, raffle drawings and 10 percent off of all merchandise.

Call 561-656-1775 for more information.

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ROYAL PALM BEACH - Royal Palm Beach High School celebrated Veterans Day with a musical and dance salute with former student and current National Guardsman Jarred Sotolongo speaking. Sotolongo, a veteran himself, will soon be deployed to Iraq for the second time.

"It's not just about soldiers now. Veterans Day is about all the soldiers [through American history]. Without them we wouldn't be here today," he told the audience.

The 23-year-old Wellington resident presented a memorial wreath and said he was honored to be at the school.

Program director Michele Blecher was teary-eyed and choked up at the end of the ceremony. Her son is serving in Iraq.

"My heart is heavy with pride and sadness," she said. "[My son] is serving his country with honor."

Blecher said that when her son was 3 years old, he told her he wanted to grow up to be an engineer and serve in the Army.

"And that's what he is," she said. "He's living his dream."

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At about 1:15 p.m. a four-door sedan crashed into a light pole at Wellington Commerce Park off of Pierson Road next to Village Park. The car knocked the light pole over. There were no injuries.

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WELLINGTON - The Wellington Garden Club is hosting its first flower show, "Post Time," from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 8 and noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 9 at St. David in-the-Pines Episcopal Church, 465 Forest Hill Blvd. The show will have an equestrian theme. Admission is free.

"This is the first flower show that has ever been put on in Wellington. It will be a combination of displays of floral design, samples of horticulture and other landscapes, things grown in containers as well as clippings of their favorite trees, shrubs and flowers," co-chairwoman Barbara Hadsell said. "The main thing is to educate the public....learn about horticulture and flower design...everything will be identified."

In conjunction with the flower show there will also be a plant sale.

The flower show will have three areas of judging, horticulture, which includes container grown plants and cut specimens, design and special exhibits. Youth awards will also be given out.

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WELLINGTON - The Wellington Women's Club is having a Shop 'Til You Drop Holiday Bazaar to raise money for a battered woman's shelter. It will take place 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Binks Forest Golf Club, 400 Binks Forest Drive.
There will be 27 vendors selling their wares.
First Vice President Stacy Kaufman said this is the group's largest bazaar in the club's history.

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Elodia Fanjul of Wellington; Mercedes Garcia of Royal Palm Beach; and Delia Garcia Menocal of Wellington urge voters to vote for John McCain outside the First Baptist Church in Wellington.

By NADIA SOROCKA
Short lines and early voting have made it easy for voters in the western communities today. Although there were short lines prior to poles opening and just shortly after 10 a.m. crowds had dwindled.

The Wellington Municipal Complex, Wellington Community Center, First Baptist Church, St. Peter's Presbyterian Church, Christ Fellowship and the South Florida Fairgrounds; Royal Palm Beach Village Hall and Royal Palm Beach Cultural Center were just some of the voting sites that had no lines and plenty of parking.

With voting so easy most people were turning their attention to tonight's plans. Delia Garcia Menocal of Wellington plans to hold prayer vigil at home with friends.
"We are praying for the election and for God to be part of our country," says Menocal. She and her friends have been praying at St. Rita's Catholic Church the past three weeks.

Others plan to watch the results on television with friends and family. Elodia Fanjul of Wellington is going to her friend's house for politics and paella. Kevin Halstead of the Acreage will watch the election results with his family.
"I am going to watch what happens with my four girls," he said.

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Chris Marsh of Lake Worth; Brett Johnson and Jeff Sullivan, both of Royal Palm Beach, enjoy their free chicken tender meal at Shane's Rib Shack they received for voting in today's election.

By NADIA SOROCKA
Throughout the western communities voters were rewarded for voting with free food and beverages. Shane's Rib Shack gave away free chicken tender meals, which include three chicken tenders, fries and a drink, to the first 300 customers with voter stickers at both the Royal Palm Beach, 11051 Southern Blvd., and Boynton Beach, 950 N. Congress Ave., locations.

Shane's Rib Shack owner Jerry Oxenberg said the giveaway brought in a new crowd to the restaurant.
"We have been busy today; free is popular now," said Oxenberg.
"It was a good meal," said Bob Slater who was working in the area and had heard of the giveaway and decided to come in.

Starbuck's Coffee offered a tall brewed coffee to customers who came in and said they had voted. The influx of voters getting free coffees made the environment of the Starbucks in Wellington political as people discussed who they had voted for both inside and outside the coffee shop.

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