Weekend Briefing: Christmas Parade in Flagler Beach, Arts Foundation Takes the Stage in Town Center, Messiah and Candlelight

fyo salvo art project — The Flagler Youth Orchestra performs at Salvo Art Project, the Bunnell gallery, Friday evening. See below for details. (© FlaglerLive)

Weekend:: Sunny and cool Friday, high in the upper 60s, Saturday and Sunday in the 70s, lows in the 50s Friday and Saturday night, back into the 60s Sunday night. Details here.
Drought Index is at 383.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Today’s document from the National Archives.
The OED’s Word of the Day: Mona Lisa, n. and adj..
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Flagler Jail Bookings and Sheriff’s Crime Reports
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
The Day’s Best Reads
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Local Road and Interstate Construction
Cultural Coda

“As the ineffable Mr Donald V. Fites of Caterpillar memorably suggested, one brutal reality behind the falling earnings of US workers is that American industry is increasingly competing internationally not with superior technology, nor with more efficient plant and machinery, nor with better education and training, but simply with cheaper labor. Indeed it is with cheap “international” labor than American corporations compete at home as well, relocating production overseas, or simply across the border in Mexico, with an ease that makes Caterpillar, still in Peoria, Illinois, seem a paragon of patriotism, or provincialism.”

–Edward Luttwak, from The Endangered American Dream (1993).

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.

Free For All Fridays on WNZF: Host David Ayres welcomes Sheriff-Elect Rick Staly and Jack Bisland, designated to be the undersheriff, starting at 9 a.m. with a commentary by FlaglerLive Editor Pierre Tristam on “Achieving Our Country.” (You can hear it here.)

Friday: Ribbon-cutting and open house at The Anchor Restaurant in Flagler Beach, 4 p.m. at 500 S Ocean Shore Blvd.

fyo salvo art — Click on the image for larger view. (© FlaglerLive)

Friday: The Flagler Youth Orchestra performs at Salvo Art Gallery in Bunnell at 6 p.m. featuring the Harmony Chamber Orchestra–the most advanced of the FYO ensembles–under the direction of Sue Cryan, with works themed around the arts. There is a $10 cover charge, kids get in free. The event is a fund-raiser for the Youth Orchestra and Salvo. 313 Old Brick Rd, next to Nature Scapes.

First Friday in Flagler Beach from 6 to 9 p.m., including music in the park with Christmas music and the lighting of the Christmas tree in Veterans’ Memorial Park. There will be lots of children’s activities and vendors from 6 to 9 p.m.

Friday and Sunday: Choral Arts Society Christmas Concert, 7 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Sunday at St Thomas Episcopal Church, 5400 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast. There is no admission charge, but tax-free donations are accepted to assist in providing scholarships to local college-bound students.

Saturday: Flagler Audubon Society Bird Walk, 8-11 a.m., Matanzas Inlet, yust north of Flagler County on A1A, this barrier island and inlet is considered to be one of the best nearby locations for observing shorebirds. Join experienced bird walk leaders who will help you explore the varied habitat in and around Flagler County. Explore woodland nature areas, parks, lakes, coastal, scrub habitats and saltwater marshes and learn the birds who live here. Bird walks are geared for the beginner/intermediate birders looking for an introduction to local birds. You can practice identification, observation, and interactions observed in the field. All are welcome on bird walk events. Bird walks DO NOT require advance sign-up, just show up at the specified meeting time and place.

Saturday: The Palm Coast Arts Foundation in Town Center celebrates the completion of its outdoors stage with a ribbon cutting at the Central Avenue venue. The event starts at 11:30 a.m. with food trucks, speeches begin at 12:15, with words from Mayor Milissa Holland, among others, the ribbon cutting is at 12:40, to be followed by several live performances, including the Liturgical Dancers, the Flagler Youth Orchestra and Kevin Guerra Salsa Dancers, among many others until 5 p.m.

Saturday: Flagler Beach’s Annual Holiday Parade starts with Santa parachuting down at the Pier at 1 p.m., on State Road A1A. Details here.

Paige Dashner Long conducts Handel's Messiah in two performances in Palm Coast. (© FlaglerLive) — Paige Dashner Long conducts Handel’s Messiah in two performances in Palm Coast. (© FlaglerLive)

Saturday and Sunday: Performances of Handel’s Messiah: Saturday at 4 p.m., Sunday at 11 a.m., the Music Ministry of Palm Coast United Methodist Church will present the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah, concluding with the Hallelujah Chorus. Complete with professional soloists, large Festival Chorus, accompanied by orchestra, these concerts are free and open to all. Please invite family and friends. Soprano, Pamela Hanson-Peterson; Alto, JoAnne Stephenson; Tenor, Norton Christeson; Tenor, Jeremy Hunt; Bass, David Stork. Accompanied by the Chamber Players of Palm Coast, under the direction of Paige Dashner Long. Palm Coast United Methodist Church, 5200 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast.

Saturday: Annual Fantasy Lights Festival Musical Performance: 6:30 p.m., the Flagler County Rotary’s Fantasy Lights Festival will be the venue for a Mia Bella performance in Central Park.

Saturday: A Holiday Showcase Presented by The Spotlight Performers, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, a night of song and performance as The Spotlight Performers present A Holiday Showcase. Refreshments will also be available for purchase. Adults $5 and Children 12 and Under, $3. Come support the Arts in the community while spreading a little Holiday cheer. 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE.

Sunday: Candlelight Service at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home, Memorial Gardens and Crematory: The annual Candlelight Service of Remembrance is at 6 p.m. at the Garden of Memory Mausoleum located at 511 Old Kings Road, South in Flagler Beach. The event, now in its 13th year, usually draws between 300 and 400 people. Details here.

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel.

Property taxes: The Revenue Estimating Conference will discuss ad valorem, or property, taxes. (Friday, 9 a.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

College enrollment: The Education Estimating Conference will take up issues related to Florida College enrollment. (Friday, 1 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:

♦ Dec. 8: “Imagine,” an evening of live music and art celebrating John Lennon, at Salvo Art Gallery. Musicians performing John Lennon’s Beatles songs and solo hits include Bob Thames, Linda Epstein Flynn, Curt McKenzie and Mick Marino, Clayton Park, Rick de Yampert on sitar, the band Glass Onion (featuring Anthony Sica, Pat Floyd and Matthew Godwin), the Flagler Youth Orchestra, Joe Gibran, Jim Gear, Morris Sullivan and Fylo Zoet. Lennon and Beatles-inspired art by Andy Sovia and others will be on exhibit. Admission: $10, or $15 includes two raffle tickets for artwork and door prizes. All proceeds benefit Salvo Art and the Flagler Youth Orchestra. Where: Salvo Art Project, 313 Old Brick Road (in the Nature Scapes Landscape & Garden Center), Bunnell, Florida. Parking also is available in the southwest corner of Marvin Gardens, 4601 E. Moody Blvd. (S.R. 100), Bunnell. Admission: $10, or $15 includes two raffle tickets for artwork and door prizes. All proceeds benefit Salvo Art and the Flagler Youth Orchestra. Where: Salvo Art Project, 313 Old Brick Road (in the Nature Scapes Landscape & Garden Center), Bunnell, Florida. Parking also is available in the southwest corner of Marvin Gardens, 4601 E. Moody Blvd. (S.R. 100), Bunnell. Info: 386/334-2752.
♦ Dec. 10: Palm Coast Starlight Holiday Parade and Event: the Parade is at 7 p.m. with activities from 4-6 p.m. including visits/photos with Santa, music, children’s activities, food trucks and fun family entertainment. Night-time parade featuring lighted floats starts at 7 p.m., at Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast. More info: 386-986-2323 or www.palmcoastgov.com/events.
♦ Dec. 10: Handel’s classic, popular oratorio, “Messiah,” will bring musical magic, and will be performed by the First Church Choir for one performance only, at 4 p.m. Dr. Samuel Shingles, former Music and Fine Arts Director of the phenomenal Edward Waters Concert Choir, will conduct. Shingles is currently director of the Paxon Concert Choir and the Women’s Chorus at the Paxon School for Advanced Studies in Jacksonville. Both choirs are Triple Superior Choirs awarded by the Florida State MPA Competition. Admission is free, but a freewill offering will be requested. For further details, contact Jeroline D. McCarthy at 386/446-5759.
♦ Dec. 10: Daytona State College Enrollment Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wetherell Center (Bldg. 100), 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. Students can take advantage of the one-stop events to complete everything from admission to registration and have a chance to win a $350 scholarship (Dec. 10 only) for a free class from the Daytona State Foundation. Students start by completing a Daytona State application, then meet with an Admissions Advisor and Financial Aid Counselor, take an assessment test (if applicable), meet with an Academic Advisor, and then lock in their schedule.

What's left of A1A south of 12th Street. It doesn't get better for many blocks. Click on the image for larger view. (c FlaglerLive) — (c FlaglerLive)

♦ Dec. 15: The Florida Department of Transportation hosts a public meeting on the long-term improvement strategies for the reconstruction of State Road A1A in Flagler Beach at the south end of town. The meeting is scheduled from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Flagler Beach City Hall, 105 S 2nd St, Flagler Beach. The meeting will be an open house with an ongoing loop presentation. The purpose of the public meeting is to present initial findings related to existing and future conditions and to receive input from interested stakeholders.
♦ Dec. 15: The Flagler County Historical Society is having a Holiday Open House from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Holden House, 204 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell. Author Sandra Thurlow who has complied a history of the US Life-Saving Service, Florida’s East Coast will be present. Refreshments will be served. The public is invited to attend. For information contact Susan Baird at 437-8414.
♦ Dec. 17: Annual Holiday Boat Parade at 6 p.m., presented by the Palm Coast Yacht Club. Boats will be lighted and begin departing the Cimmaron Basin, following this route: Cimmaron Basin to Intracoastal Waterway, turn south, passing Tidelands, Canopy Walk, St. Joe’s Walkway, Waterfront Park, Island Estates, then turning at Grand Haven Gazebo before heading back north to Clubhouse Waterway.
♦ Dec. 17: Starlight 5K at 6 p.m., in and around Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave. The run is part of the Run Flagler P.A.L. Running Series. More info: www.triumphraces.com.
♦ Dec. 20: Learn about historic and interesting Flagler County sites with local author Bill Ryan as your guide. The bus leaves at 10 a.m. from the Holden House, 206 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell, and returns at 2:30 p.m. The cost is $20 per person which does not include lunch at Bull Creek Fish Camp. To make reservations or for more information call 386-439-5003.
♦ Jan. 7: Daytona State College Enrollment Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wetherell Center (Bldg. 100), 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd., Daytona Beach. Students can take advantage of the one-stop events to complete everything from admission to registration and have a chance to win a $350 scholarship (Dec. 10 only) for a free class from the Daytona State Foundation. Students start by completing a Daytona State application, then meet with an Admissions Advisor and Financial Aid Counselor, take an assessment test (if applicable), meet with an Academic Advisor, and then lock in their schedule.
♦ Feb. 6: The great violinist Itzhak Perlman opens the 2017 season of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival with a 7:30 p.m. performance at First Baptist Church, 1600 South 8th Street in Fernandina Beach. Tickets here.

The Day’s Best Reads:

Solving the problem of fake news. https://t.co/HwqNdKvEbn pic.twitter.com/xNZ4wsK8qy

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) December 2, 2016

https://twitter.com/Paula_Dockery/status/804509587152007168

Black Lives Matter has a plan for the age of Trumphttps://t.co/Gk3WOJd9mv pic.twitter.com/6BOgkkVGio

— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) December 2, 2016

Why blackface is still part of Dutch Christmas: https://t.co/Uj6zZzSkFv

— Vox (@voxdotcom) December 2, 2016

A new journalism, past fear-mongering https://t.co/DF0MvAyKm2 pic.twitter.com/7zaVgpMyPD

— High Country News (@highcountrynews) December 2, 2016

Jonathan Pie: Reporter gets angry about Matt Damon, David Cameron, Alan … https://t.co/kUK7pRk2G5 via @YouTube

— Pierre Tristam (@PierreTristam) December 1, 2016

A Twitter List by PierreTristam

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

The following is an update of ongoing permitting, construction and development projects in Palm Coast, through Nov. 10 (the city administration’s full week in review is here):

Click to access development-nov-10-20161.pdf

Road and Interstate Construction: