adams avenue street fair

It's only a few hours into the Adams Avenue Street Fair and, already, it's more packed than Street Scene was last weekend.

Maybe because it's free?
Or because it's in the actual street, which is what San Diegans seen to want out of a festival?

So there's no band as big as Muse scheduled to perform over the next two days, but that does not seem to bother anyone out here. Not when the Sickstring Outlaws are doing punky Johnny Cash covers. Or when Sir Splendid is stylishly rocking it out for the alternative set.

With all these booths and food and dogs and strollers, it's not easy to maneuver down Adams Avenue without getting stepped on once or twice. But that may also be because the Gospel singers and the old-time country bands are gathering crowds of dancers.

She tells police that she was walking to school when a masked man pulled her into his car.

A 12-year-old girl told police that a masked man abducted her Friday morning as she was walking to school.

The girl told police that she was walking to Clinton Middle School, 2224 W. 41st St., about 8:15 or 8:30 a.m. when she was abducted.

She said a masked man drove up in a blue two-door car and pulled her inside through the driver's door while she was in the 4300 block of South 23rd West Avenue, Officer Leland Ashley said.

The girl's shirt was torn as the man pulled her into the car, Sgt. John Adams said. He then reportedly started driving away.

The victim told police that the man said, "Take your clothes off, or I'll kill you."

However, she managed to get out of the car after a short time and was not sexually assaulted, police said.

She then walked to her home in the 5100 block of South 36th West Avenue. Her family called the police about 9:30 a.m. and took her to a hospital to be examined.

Detectives from the Exploitation Unit are investigating.

The girl said she lost one brown tennis shoe and her blue backpack inside the man's vehicle. The backpack has "Clinton Middle School" printed on it.

She described the abductor as Hispanic with thick lips and said he spoke with a Spanish accent.

He was wearing a ski mask, a long-sleeved black shirt, gray shorts and white sneakers, the girl told police.

The description is different from that of the man who abducted and raped a Broken Arrow 5-year-old Sept. 20.

That girl described her attacker as a fair-skinned white man, age 30 to 40, who is partially bald with thinning, light-colored hair.

Although no preliminary evidence links the two reports, "we will be comparing this case to the Broken Arrow case just to make sure," Adams said.

The vehicle used in Friday's abduction is described as a blue two-door car with dice with flames on them hanging from the rearview mirror.

The radio was missing, and wires were sticking out of the car's console, the girl told police. The vehicle reportedly had tinted windows.

Adams said parents should be aware of the routes their children take to school and try not to let them walk alone.

"They should at least walk in pairs," he said. "The more people there are in the group, the less of a target they are."

Adams added that kidnappers tend to single out people who are alone. He said children are also more of a target if they are late or straggling behind.

Anyone with information about the reported abduction is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.

Callers can be anonymous, and the Crime Commission offers rewards for information that leads to arrests.
Blessing of the Animals: In honor of Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 930 S.W. Tunis Ave., Port St. Lucie, 11 a.m., Donations for St. Vincent de Paul Society.

Dogs and Cats Forever Thrift Store: Volunteer orientation, Dogs and Cats Forever Thrift Store, Fountain Plaza, 10036 Federal Highway, Port St. Lucie, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (772) 337-1062.

Hobe Sound Animal Protection League: Adoptions for homeless kittens, cats. Petsmart, 2435 Federal Highway, Jensen Beach, noon. (772) 287-0597.

Arts/Crafts

Art Classes: 10 a.m.-noon, Elliott Museum, Stuart. All ages. $85 month (772) 225-1961.

8th Annual Downtown Stuart Craft Festival: Today-Sun., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Contemporary crafts from more than 100 of the nation's most talented artisans. Free admission. www.artfestival.com or (954) 471-3755.

Benefits/Fundraisers

Gigantic Garage Sale: South Florida Expo Center, off Southern Boulevard a mile west of Florida Turnpike Exit No. 97, West Palm Beach, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Free parking. (561) 793-0333.

Second Annual Distance for Disaster 5K Run: Proceeds to benefit American Red Cross, Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, Jonathan Dickinson State Park, 16450 S.E. Federal Highway, Hobe Sound, 7:30 a.m., $25, $20 for students, (561) 622-8003.

Stuart ChestNuts Breast Cancer Fundraising Brunch: Benefits the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Gymnasium, Redeemer Lutheran Church and School, 2450 S.E. Ocean Blvd., Stuart, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $10, $12 at door. www.the3day.org/tampabay07/hosmon

Texas Hold 'em Charity Benefit Pop-A-Top: 802 S.W. Bayshore Blvd., Port St Lucie. 7:30 p.m. Free. (772) 361-5555.