WHO: West Palm Beach GreenMarket
WHAT: Canine Costume Contest & Parade
WHEN: Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 am
WHERE: 2nd Street and Narcissus Avenue, Downtown West Palm Beach

(October 24, 2008) – The West Palm Beach GreenMarket will hold its annual Canine Costume Contest & Parade this Saturday, October 25 at 10:00 am.  Patrons are invited to bring their furry friends dressed in costume and enter them in the contest for great prizes.  Categories for the canine costume contest include scariest, funniest, most original and best overall.  Registration begins at 9:00 am at the GreenMarket merchandise booth (at the intersection of 2nd Street and Narcissus Avenue).  All costume contest participants will be included in the parade to show off their pooch’s Halloween ensemble. (more…)

When: Saturday, October 25, 2008
Time: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Where: South Olive Community Center

The City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation is presenting “Fun and Fairytales,” an event in which children will walk through a series of fairytale scenes, complete with costumed characters. There will also be a hayride around the park, arts and crafts, and a pumpkin patch storytelling area. This all ages event will be held on Saturday, October 25 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm. The fee is $3 / City of West Palm Beach residents and $4 / non-residents, or $7 / resident family and $9 / non-resident family. South Olive Community Center is located at 345 Summa Street in West Palm Beach.

For more information, please call South Olive Community Center at
(561) 804-4945.

When: Friday, October 24, 2008
Time: 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: South Olive Community Center

The City of West Palm Beach Department of Parks and Recreation is holding a Haunted Hayride at South Olive Community Center on Friday, October 24, 2008 from 7:00 – 9:30 pm.  Participants will be able to take a scary hayride around the park, listen to spooky stories, and roast marshmallows around a fire. This event is for all ages. The fee is $2 / City of West Palm Beach residents and $2.50 / non-residents, or $5 / resident family and $6.25 / non-resident family. South Olive Community Center is located at 345 Summa Street in West Palm Beach.

For more information, please call South Olive Community Center at
(561) 804-4945.

“Stuck in the Bubble Gum Children’s Book Store”
When:  Saturday, October 25, 2008, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Where: 506 Northwood Road, West Palm Beach

(10/24/08)   Local parents will now have a great new place to get their kids excited about reading and help them with their education.  “Stuck in the Bubble Gum Children’s Book Store” will hold a grand opening celebration Saturday, October 25, 2008 from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.  The ribbon cutting will be at 11:00 a.m at 506 Northwood Road.

Stuck in the Bubble Gum Children’s Book Store will offer the community reading theaters, tutoring, reading clubs, dramatic expressions, story time for day cares and reading theaters for school field trips.

The owner of the store, Shilondra Sheppard, says “Stuck in the Bubble Gum Bookstore was inspired by my daughter Sydni Sheppard who at the age of eight expressed how reading made her feel ‘Stuck in the Bubble Gum.’  I knew then that she needed more help with reading.  She needed me to help her find creative ways to not only like to read but to want to read.  I needed to make reading fun and exciting.  My goal is to create an environment that will prevent children from feeling “Stuck in the Bubble Gum” like Sydni.”

Please call (561) 820-0030 for more information

(October 24, 2008) The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has just released its mid-year crime report for cities through-out the state.
The report shows a 20% decrease in the crime rate over the first six months of 2008 in the City of West Palm Beach.
This is the largest drop for any city it’s size in Florida.

Mayor Lois Frankel credits a multitude of strategies with this extraordinary accomplishment,”Strong cooperation with other law enforcement agencies, more officers on the streets, innovative police strategies, active participation of our citizens and programs for our youth are major factors in this accomplishment. Our reduction in crime translates into millions of dollars in savings for taxpayers because of reduced costs for enforcement and prosecution and the hardship and losses caused to victims.”

Chief Delsa Bush believes the hard work of her officers and enforcement of new legal and high-tech tools play a role “We were the first in the state to have an anti-gang ordinance, the first in the area with a downtown curfew for teens, and one of the first departments to utilize the latest technology such as remote cameras in high crime areas. Of course, the dedication of our officers is the key.”

This major reduction is not a statewide trend. Many areas are experiencing significant increases in crime…you can see the stats for the entire state by visiting this web address:

http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/FSAC/UCR/2008/2008SA_County_Municipal_Off.pdf

The decrease represents almost 900 fewer crimes in the city to date this year.

Mayor Frankel asks all residents and visitors to continue their vigilance,” We know that there is still much work to be done. And we will work diligently to keep this trend going.”
 

For Additional Information: West Palm Beach Public Information Office Chase Scott (561) 822-1411