ROYAL PALM BEACH - Residents cheered and applauded last week after the Royal Palm Beach Village Council voted 4-1 to not build a connection that would have linked Madrid Street to a reliever road providing quicker access to U.S. Highway 441.

However, not everyone was happy with that decision. Councilwoman Martha Webster was the only the one to vote against the decision.

"This neighborhood is short sighted in understanding the inter-municipal partnerships that breed harmony and cooperation in coming to practical solutions. We are going to need to work with our neighbors in creating a mid county north south exit way for emergencies," she said.

Webster said there were 71 against and 60 people for the connection who either spoke or filled out comment cards at the meeting last week.

"The four [council] members voting against the connection were obviously convinced that the overwhelming comments were going to be against the opening and had positioned themselves for that argument only," she said.

The road would have added more traffic through the neighborhood of La Mancha and many of its residents showed up to oppose the connection even though it would have given them easy access to U.S. Highway 441.

The reliever road was opened in April to help relieve traffic in Royal Palm Beach and provide residents of the Acreage a by-pass to Royal Palm Beach. Eventually there are plans to extend the road an additional mile to 60th Street North with in the next five years. Currently there are only two connections on the road, one at Persimmon and a half-mile further south at Orange Grove Boulevard. Madrid would have added a third connection.

Michelle Damone, president of the Indian Trail Improvement District, was also disappointed with the vote.

"I was disappointed," she said. She went on to say that she didn't believe Acreage residents would have utilized that connection. Why would they when they had two connections of their own, she said. She also pointed out that about 2,000 trips made on both of the Acreage connections each day are Royal Palm Beach residents. She said all of the Western Communities pushed for the reliever road to be built and therefore it would have been nice for Royal Palm Beach to take their fair share of the traffic.

Damone said that she understands that it was a difficult decision. It was a difficult for her to approve the connections at Persimmon and Orange Grove Boulevard. She said the people living on those streets have forever been impacted. But she felt the connections were for the greater good of the community.

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WELLINGTON - The village of Wellington will be honoring all veterans at the Veterans Day Ceremony Wednesday, Nov. 11. The village will be presenting its Veterans Day Parade starting at 8:45 a.m. at the Wellington Community Center, 12165 Forest Hill Blvd. It will end at the Veterans Memorial, corner of West Forest Hill and Southshore boulevards. The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m.

In order to honor a veteran by having their name and service branch listed in the village's Veterans Day program, added to a recorded roll call, and listed on Channel 18, call 561-791-4733 or e-mail nicolee@ci.wellington.fl.us. Names should be submitted by Oct. 30.

Active and retired veterans attending the ceremony will have an opportunity to register the morning of the event at the village of Wellington tent and will be recognized during the ceremony.

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WELLINGTON - If you stop by Wellington's offices today you'll find most of them closed for business. That's because the village has officially converted to a four-day work week and most offices will now be closed on Fridays.

The Safe Neighborhoods Office, however, will continue to stay open and take any phone calls the Village receives. And some employees like senior managers will work from home.

Originally the new four day work week was suppose to start Oct. 2 but after the Village Council raised some concerns the implementation was delayed until council approved it at the end of September, said Assistant Village Manager John Bonde.

Bonde said the Village came up with the idea when they were looking for ways to save money. He estimates the idea will save the village about $300,000 a year.

Bonde said the council voted for the four-day work week on a six-month trial basis. At the end of six months staff will give a report on whether or not the village is saving money and if there has been a "diminishing the level of service."

Two concerns of the Village Council had been whether or not phone calls would be answered by a live person and if any of the employees objected. Bonde said transferring all the phone calls to the Safe Neighborhoods office took care of the first concern. The Safe Neighborhoods Office will be open seven days a week. While only a few employees had a conflict with the longer hours. But those employees have been accommodated, Bonde said.

The new village hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Bonde said the village looked at other municipalities that have already done this as examples. Boynton Beach switched to a four-day work week June 12.

"It seems to be working well. People are adjusting to it," said Wayne Segal, spokesperson for Boynton Beach. "We're all enjoying our extra day off. There haven't been any problems so far. We've only heard positive things."

Segal said one of the benefits is that residents can now conduct business with the city before or after they go to work.

"It's really convenient for a number of people," he said. He said they're estimating that it will save the City about $150,000 a year.

"This is certainly nothing new. It's what happening in the workforce right now," Bonde said. "People will be using their cars less, we'll be using less electricity and there will be other indirect benefits. There will probably be some issues that arise but we'll deal with them."

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ROYAL PALM BEACH - After three hours of listening to residents either support or oppose a proposed road connection between Madrid Street and State Road 7 the village council voted 4 to 1 to not build the connection.

The meeting was balanced between those who supported the connection and those who opposed it. Those who supported it were focused on convenience and access to emergency operations while those who opposed it were worried about the increase in traffic and children's safety.

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FRIDAY:

Royal Palm Beach Fall Fest
Royal Palm Beach is holding their fifth annual Fallfest from 5 to 8 p.m. at Veterans Park, 1036 Royal Palm Beach Blvd.

"It's a great community event especially in these economic times free is a good thing," said JoAnn Rowe, assistant director of parks and recreation.

The festival will feature Halloween games, trick-or-treating, build-your-own scarecrow, craft vendors and live music from On Target who will play a variety of songs from country to the Monster Mash. The village will also provide a hayride shuttle for overflow parking from the Cultural Center and Village Hall. Wild Orchids Cafe will be there providing food for purchase.

Doggy Halloween Costume Contest and Pet Photography
Palm Beach Puppies will be having doggy costume contest from 6 to 9 p.m. at Palm Beach Puppies of Wellington, 10240 Forest Hill Blvd. Davidoff Studios will be taking professional photographs and Dean Anthony’s will be giving away free pizza and drinks. The event will raise money for Canine and Companions for Independence, a nonprofit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly-trained assistance dogs and ongoing support.

SATURDAY:

Mall at Wellington Green Halloween Party
The Mall at Wellington Green is hosting a Costume Party for its MallStars Kids Club members and their friends on from 9 to 11 a.m. in the food court. Kids will be able to meet and greet their favorite characters and there will be face painting and balloon artists. Food merchants will feature special discounts for the event.

Howl at the Moon
The seventh annual Howl at the Moon will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at the Wellington Dog Park, 2975 Greenbriar Blvd. There will be a wide range of dog activities. There will also be a dog costume contest, pictures with your pet, face painting and silly pet tricks by Elite Greyhound Adoptions, and trick-or-treat doggie bags will be provided. Pet Haven Rescue will also be there adopting out dogs.

Wellington's Fall Festival
The festival will take place from 5 to 10 p.m. at the Village Park Gymnasium, 11700 Pierson Road.

The event will feature a costume contest, haunted house, hay rides, door to door trick-or-treating, face painting, inflatable rides and there will be food available for purchase.

New this year is a paintless paintball game. There will also be a business expo with a variety of local vendors.

In light of the economy they have reduced the prices this year to make it more affordable. Advance tickets are as low as $7, which can be purchased at the Village Park or Wellington Community Center. The price is $10 at the door.

Last year it almost didn't happen because of budget cuts, but the Palms West Chamber of Commerce stepped in to help raise the money to keep the event alive. The chamber stepped up again this year as well and helped bring in more than $12,000.

"It's all about the kids and providing a fun fall activity," said Jaene Miranda, CEO of Palms West. "It's about keeping a tradition alive."

SUNDAY

Trunk of Treat
The second annual Trunk or Treat will be 6:30 p.m. at St. Michael Lutheran
Church, 1925 Birkdale Drive, Wellington. In the parking cars will have their trunks open and filled with goodies. Call 561-793-4999.

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LAKE WORTH - Despite a recession the G-STAR School's annual X-Scream haunted house was able to more than double its attendance over last year's opening weekend.

"It's a gigantic success," said Greg Hauptner , founder and CEO of the G-STAR School of the Arts for Motion Pictures and Broadcasting. Last year the haunted house was named one of the country’s top 13 haunts by the Travel Channel. He said it takes 45 minutes to make it through all six areas of the haunted house.

This year they've added a free entertainment area outside of the haunted house that includes a bounce house, games and live entertainment such as bands and dance troops. There's also a kids tour through the haunted house with the lights on an hour before the adult show starts each night.

"This is our fourth year and we've become a real destination," he said. "Everything is new this year. The whole thing is built by…15 year-old-kids."

Each year, he said, the kids at the school come up with new haunts and then build them. In doing so the kids learn set construction, makeup, and wardrobe. He said it takes more than 200 kids to put everything together and 130 of them will actually participate in the show.

The six themes this year are: Abducted, Scream Park, Puppeteer, Gauntlet High, Killer Tomato and Xpedition Chupacabra.

In addition to the haunt and entertainment area there will also be a special one night only live presentation of the Rocky Horror Picture Show 10 p.m. Oct. 31.

He said G-STAR is the largest film, TV production and acting high school in the nation and the only high school in the world with a real motion picture studio on its campus.

The haunted house will be open Fridays and Saturdays in October from 8 p.m. to midnight with the kids show from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The cost is $5 for the kids show and $13 for the regular show. Visit www.xscreamhalloween.com for more information. Their address is 2030 S. Congress Ave., in West Palm Beach.

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ROYAL PALM BEACH - The Royal Palm Beach Village Council has called a special public meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the RPB Cultural Center, 151 Civic Center Way, to discuss the possibility of opening Madrid Street to the State Road 7 extension.

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WEST PALM BEACH - Mobile pet groomers are coming together this month to groom shelter dogs for free in order to help them get adopted.

The groomers will be at Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control’s Main Shelter from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 at 7100 Belvedere Rd. The dogs will receive special “spa treatments” and they will be available for adoption. Palm Beach County residents over 55 can adopt a shelter dog for $20.

Call 561-233-1272 or visit their Web site for more information.

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WEST PALM BEACH - Fright Nights, which opens Thursday night at the South Florida Fairgrounds, is taking a more family-friendly approach this year to its annual Halloween event that organizers call the the "biggest Halloween event in South Florida."

Discounted advance tickets are on sale until Wednesday, Oct. 14.

This year they've expanded their kid friendly Spookyville to nine nights versus one weekend in the past.

"We have two halloween events and there was a wall in between the two," said Creative Director of Fright Nights Craig McInnis. "This year the whole family can get out there."

Spookyville, which takes place in the Fairground's Yesteryear Village, will have an exit leading to the Midway so children can enjoy the Midway rides for an additional fee.

"We had a lot of success with Spookyville last year," said John Picano, a spokesperson for the Fairgrounds. "We had a good turn out with families and young people and we wanted to offer the community an option with various forms of entertainment."

But if you're looking to be scared McInnis said not to worry they're not sacrificing their adult entertainment. They've expanded their Midway, added three scare zones, and all three haunted houses, Next of Kin, Origins and Malpractice are new this year. They've also added a variety children's rides to the Midway that the whole family can enjoy.

However, fans of the world renowned Brothers Grim Sideshow, an authentic sideshow modeled after sideshows of the 1920's, will be disappointed to learn that the show will not be back this year.

Spokesperson for Fright Nights Woody Graber wanted to emphasize though: "This is the biggest Halloween event in South Florida. The haunts are all new this year. So if you saw it last year you haven't seen it this year."

IF YOU GO:

PRICES

Total Terror Ticket: $25.00 - Admission to Park + one-time entry to each of the three Haunted Attractions and Unlimited Monster Midway Rides.

General Admission: $15.00 - Admission to Park + one-time entry to each of the three Haunted Attractions. (Midway Rides Not Included)

Spookyville Admission: $5.00 - age 2 & younger admitted free. Ride all rides wristband $10.00

Discounted advance tickets are on sale online through Wednesday, October 14.

DATES:

Thursdays through Saturdays, Oct. 15 to Oct. 31
Thursdays - 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Fridays and Saturdays: 6 p.m. to Midnight

Spookyville:
Thursdays to Saturdays: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 31: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

WHERE: South Florida Fairgrounds (9067 Southern Blvd.)

MORE INFO: www.frightnights.net

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ROYAL PALM BEACH - The Royal Palm Beach Village Council has called a special public meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the RPB Cultural Center, 151 Civic Center Way, to discuss the possibility of opening Madrid Street to the State Road 7 extension.

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LOXAHATCHEE - The Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center raised more than $15,000 at its third annual Harvest Fest this past Saturday at the Jim Brandon Equestrian Center. More than 300 guests attended this year's event.

"It's always inspiring to see the community surround us with support," said VTRC Executive Director Ruth Menor in an e-mail to supporters. "We want to express a huge thanks to all of those who donated their time and money to this unique event, and encourage our mission at VTRC."

Vinceremos provides recreational and therapeutic riding instruction to people of all ages with developmental, physical, and psychological disabilities.

Visit www.vinceremos.com to learn more.

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WEST PALM BEACH - Environmental activist Erin Brockovich, made famous by Julia Roberts' portrayal of her in 2000, will be addressing Acreage residents' concerns 7 p.m. Thursday at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., in West Palm Beach.

The Florida Department of Health is in its second phase of studying whether a cancer cluster exists in the Acreage. While the Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently released a report stating the ground water in the Acreage showed no signs of made-made contamination.

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WELLINGTON - More than 400 people came out Sunday to Gypsy's Horse Irish Pub and Restaurant to support Acreage resident Courtney Wolfe, 13, who was diagnosed with leukemia in August.

Michelle Boyle, president of the Kids Cancer Foundation, said the event raised more than $15,000, which will be used to help assist the family.

"The money will not only help Courtney’s family financially during this difficult time but just knowing that so many people love and care about Courtney will help to give both Courtney and her family the strength they will need to fight this battle against leukemia," Boyle wrote in a e-mail to supporters.

The event featured a chicken wing-eating contest, live band, 50/50 raffle and silent auction. The winner of the chicken wing-eating contest was able to eat 27 wings in 3 minutes. The Forum's sports editor Jason Stromberg took part, eating 16 wings down in 3 minutes.

"I felt like everybody was a winner there, not just the person who ate the most wings," he said. "Just being there was the most important part. We all were there for a good cause to support a good family."

Courtney's father Larry Wolfe said his daughter is currently in remission, but will still have to face 2 and a half years of treatment.

"It's hard to see my 13-year-old go through this," he said. "She used to be very active. She has good days and bad days. I'm very proud of her. She still has a strong spirit."

To learn more about Courtney or to keep track of her progress click here.

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THE ACREAGE - The Indian Trail Improvement District held a ceremony at Hamlin Equestrian Park yesterday to rename the park after a local 12-year-old girl who died in 2006 after being thrown off of her horse. The new name will be the Nicole Hornstein Equestrian Park.

Nicole's horse was spooked by a passing car. She was not wearing a helmet and spent 20 days in a coma before dying.

"Today is also an especially special day because today is the first day Nicole's Law goes into effect," said Michelle Damone, president of ITID. "Last fall while this law was being lobbied…people right here in Palm Beach County died and were severely injured proving…that adults should be wearing helmets too. This park will remind everybody that Nicole did not die in vain and her untimely death will save other lives."

Nicole's Law requires children younger than 16 to wear a helmet while riding a horse on public land. Parents of children who break the law can be fined $500.

Nicole's father Gary Hornstein has been lobbying legislators for three years for this law. But even though the law just took effect he's already decided to pass a similar elsewhere.

"We're going to Georgia to pass a law there. Then to Alabama and the Carolinas, all the way up the East Coast," he said.

The new sign at the park reads:

In memory of local Acreage child Nicole Marie Hornstein
(8/7/1993 - 6/24/2006)
An Equestrian Enthusiast

Nicole was an amazing, caring and thoughtful daughter and friend. She loved any and everything to do with horses, and she wanted to learn everything she could about them. She loved being with her family and friends, and was a great listener. She was always caring and put others before herself. Nicole loved her horse Fred.

"Nicole's Law" (F.S. 773.006) was signed on June 9. 2009 by Governor Charlie Crist here at this park. This law went into effect on October 1, 2009.

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