Tuesday Briefing: Education Funding Fallout, FPL Footpath Rethink, Women in Politics, World Refugee Day

FlaglerLive | June 20, 2017

Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, who is considering running for U.S Representative for Florida’s 6th Congressional District, which includes all of Flagler, and Stephanie Mickle, a democratic strategist, are the speakers at a Coquina Coast Democratic Progressive Caucus event at African American Cultural Society this evening. See the details below.

Today: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the morning, then chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 80s. Southeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening, then chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms after midnight. Lows in the mid 70s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent. Details here.
Drought Index is at 94.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Today’s document from the National Archives.
The OED’s Word of the Day: exemplum virtutis, n..
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
Announcements
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

“The news in those days was full of war and migrants and nativists, and it was full of fracturing too, of regions pulling away from nations, and cities pulling away from hinterlands, and it seemed that as everyone was coming together everyone was also moving apart. Without borders nations appeared to be becoming somewhat illusory, and people were questioning what role they had to play. Many were arguing that smaller units made more sense, but others argued that smaller units could not defend themselves.”

–Mohsin Hamid, from Exit West: A Novel (2017).

Previously:

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.

The Sheriff’s daily incident reports and jail bookings are posted here.

The Palm Coast City Council meets at 9 a.m. at City Hall in Town Center. The council, at the behest of members Heidi Shipley and Steve Nobile, will reopen a discussion of the previously approved foot path through the F-Section, under the FPL powerlines. The project, mishandled by City Manager Jim landon (as it was mishandled in 2008) is drawing considerable opposition from residents, as it was rejected in 2008. Nobile asked for options to be discussed at today’s meetings.

The Flagler County School Board meets at 1 p.m. in workshop, and will discuss the impact of House Bill 7069, which will affect the district’s finances. (See details here.) Board members will also discuss coaches’ pay. In Training Room 3 on the third floor of the Government Services Building, Bunnell. The board meets again at 6 p.m. in a regular meeting, in board chambers on the first floor. The board is scheduled to approve a bif for renovation of the Flagler Auditorium’s restrooms.

The Bunnell Planning Board meets at 7 p.m. at Bunnell City Hall, 201 West Moody Boulevard, City Commission Chambers, Building 3. On the agenda: a request for a special exception to allow a transitional housing project for women and children at 210 N. Fig Street. The city is recommending approval, pending certain amendments: “Given the congestion of this area during school hours and the narrowness of the existing street, the potential to park on the City right-of-way overnight, during school hours or for any length of time which may affect the traffic flow in this area is a concern that needs to be addressed,” city staffers say.

Women in Politics Forum: Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, who is considering running for U.S Representative for Florida’s 6th Congressional District, which includes all of Flagler (currently held by Republican Ron DeSantis, who may be running for governor) and Stephanie Mickle, a democratic strategist, are the speakers at a Coquina Coast Democratic Progressive Caucus event at African American Cultural Society, 4422 N US Highway 1, Palm Coast, starting at 6:30 p.m. Ambassador Soderberg has served in the White House as Deputy National Security Advisor, as an Ambassador at the United Nations, as an advisor to Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and on four presidential campaigns. She is President and CEO of Soderberg Global Solutions and the Director of the Public Service Leadership Program at the University of N. Florida in Jacksonville. Stephanie Mickle, Esq. is an attorney and political consultant providing strategic advice and representation to businesses, government entities, and national and international organizations in the areas of government relations, regulatory affairs, public policy analysis, messaging, media and strategic communications. Come meet these two political influencers and hear first-hand how to take constructive action and increase your impact. More details here.

Food Truck Tuesday, in Palm Coast’s Central Park, starting at 5 p.m.

Today is World Refugee Day: Every minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. Details here.

Announcements:

None.

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.

Gov. Rick Scott is expected to speak during a New York State Republican gala event. (7 p.m., Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel, 811 Seventh Ave., New York.)

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

To include your event in this section, please fill out this form.

♦ May 23: The Flagler Chamber's Common Ground Breakfast features a 2019 Legislative Update with Sen. Travis Hutson and Rep. Paul Renner at the Hilton Garden Inn, 55 Town Center Dr., Palm Coast, Checkin begins at 7:30, breakfast starts promptly at 8.
♦ May 23: Flagler Lifeline, a volunteer committee and Flagler Cares affiliate established to broaden conversation and awareness of suicide, will host a public town hall event at 6 p.m. at the Flagler County Association of Realtors building, 4101 East Moody Blvd. in Bunnell. The Town Hall will feature presentations by mental health experts, suicide survivors and others who have been touched by suicide, and will be facilitated by Colleen Conklin, the long-time school board member and one of Flagler Lifeline’s founders. For the past several years Conklin has hosted periodic events, including electronic town halls, to bring awareness to bullying and suicide prevention. The May 23 town hall, like Flagler Lifeline's emergence, is partly a result of Flagler County's place in 2017 as the county with the leading suicide rate in the state, proportional to its population. See the background story here.
♦ May 23: The Flagler Beach City Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 105 South Second Street. Commissioners will consider making the city a member of the American Flood Coalition.
♦ May 23: The Palm Coast Beautification and Environmental Advisory Committee meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall in Town Center. An agenda had not been posted online as of May 18.
♦ May 23: The Wadsworth Elementary School Advisory Council and PTO meet at 6 p.m. in the school’s media center.
♦ May 23:

Palm Coast Artist and 2011 Flagler County Artist of the Year Weldon Ryan hosts a meet and great at the Bronze Kingdom African Art Gallery, 3201 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, from 6 to 9 p.m. Wine and cheese, 15 percent off on all of Weldon's works.
♦ May 23-26: "Southern Fried Funeral," a play at the Daytona Playhouse, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Adults $20, Seniors 55 and up, $18, Youths 18 and under $8. Address: 100 Jessamine Blvd., Daytona Beach, or see directions here. Buy tickets online here. Box office: 386-255-2431.
♦ May 24: Flagler County Emergency Management chief Jonathan Lord hosts a media roundtable at noon on the upcoming hurricane season, at the Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Bldg. 3 (behind the Government Services Building), Bunnell.
♦ May 24: Butterfly Walk at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd., 10 a.m. Join a ranger at 2 p.m. for a walk through our historical gardens. Learn about the history of our park while exploring the beauty of the formal gardens, with an emphasis on butterflies. The walk is approximately 1 hour. Please bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes. Meet in the garden parking lot. Garden walk included with park entry. No registration required.
♦ May 25: Pool Safety Day at Palm Coast's Freeda Zamba pool, 339 Parkview Drive, open to all ages, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is designed to teach the importance and seriousness of safety, but while having fun and participating in activities that children will remember. Florida is one of two states that lead the nation with at least 21 fatal child drownings last summer, according to a report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and USA Swimming Foundation. About ten people die every day from unintentional drowning and of these, two will be children age 14 or younger, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fee is $1 for seniors and youth age 17 and under. It is $2 for adults.
♦ May 27: Memorial Day, 8 a.m. start time at Heroes Memorial Park, 2860 Palm Coast Pkwy. The City of Palm Coast welcomes the community to share a meaningful Memorial Day tribute to those who have lost their lives while serving their country. U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, who represents District 6, will speak. Rain Location: Fire Station 21 at 9 Corporate Drive Free and no registration required. More info: 386-986-2300.
♦ May 28: The Flagler County Opioid Task Force meets at 6 p.m. in the first-floor conference room at the Government Services Building
♦ May 29: The Blue Power 2020 forum, hosted by Mike Cocchiola, who heads the Flagler County Democratic Party, meets at 12:30 p.m. at the Democrats' office, 2 Office Park Drive, Suite D, all welcome. The weekly forum is intended to discuss local, state and national issues and to develop action plans to influence policy.
♦ May 30: Flagler Palm Coast High School and Matanzas High School hold graduation ceremonies at the Daytona Beach Ocean Center. Matanzas High School’s ceremony begins at 4 p.m. and Flagler Palm Coast High School’s starts at 7. Doors to the Ocean Center open one hour before the start of each ceremony. The student procession begins approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Tickets for the ceremonies are free. However, both schools have a 10-ticket limit per student. There may be opportunities for additional tickets. Students will be notified and information is located on each school’s website. Parking passes are also available for pre-purchase. Parking is $5. security measures instituted last year will be in place this year. Please take note and be prepared before you head to the Ocean Center. There will be security checks before ticket holders are allowed entry into the ceremony. Watch livestreams of the ceremonies: Matanzas here, and FPC here.
♦ May 31-June 1, 2 and 8: American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification Class – May 31-June 2 and June 8, Friday 5-6:30 p.m.; Saturdays and Sunday 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at Palm Coast Aquatics Center, 339 Parkview Drive. The American Red Cross Lifeguarding course provides entry-level knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries, and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over. For ages 15 and up. Cost is $200 (includes CPR mask and certification fee). Registration required at www.parksandrec.fun/aquatics. More info: 386-986-4741.
♦ June 1: The Palm Coast Arts Foundation hosts its First Saturday Creative Bazaar, an arts and crafts flea market. at 1500 Central Avenue in Town center. Arts foundation members and other vendors will have booths of goods for sale. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
♦ June 1: 2nd Annual Neighbors Helping Neighbors Golf Benefit for Homeless Animals: Neighbors Helping Neighbors is a local group of business professionals coming together to raise money for the Halifax Humane Society. Join us for 18-holes of premiere golf at the legendary LPGA International Golf Club. Shot gun start at 8 a.m. Registration at 7. 1000 Champions Drive Daytona Beach. To download entry form, visit https://www.halifaxhumanesociety.org/events/index and then scroll down to the golf outing listing. Hole Sponsorship $100. Single Player $125. Lunch Provided. For more information contact Gus Schutt (386) 233-5302.
♦ June 4: Daytona Tortugas Youth Baseball Clinic, 8:30 a.m-12 p.m. at Indian Trails Sports Complex, 5455 Belle Terre Pkwy., Palm Coast. The Daytona Tortugas will be teaching kids, ages 7-13, skills to improve their ball game in this coed baseball clinic. Grab your glove and bat and learn from the pros! Participants will receive a free ticket to a Daytona Tortugas game. $37/person. Registration required at www.parksandrec.fun/camps. More info: 386-986-2323.
♦ June 4: The Hammock Community Association meets at 7:30 p.m. at the Hammock Community Center on MalaCompra Road, with County Attorney Al Hadeed as speaker, who will present a History of the Hammock Part II.
♦ June 5:

The Blue Power 2020 Action Forum, 12:30 p.m. at the Democrats' office, 2 Office Park Drive, Suite D. Come and join other progressive Democrats to discuss local, state and national issues, and propose actions to influence elected leaders. The Forum is open and informal and all opinions and ideas are welcomed. This is your opportunity to meet and lend your voice and knowledge to people who share your values. For more information, contact Mike Cocchiola, palmcoastdemocraticclub@gmail.com. The Blue Power forum meets every Wednesday.
For events beyond this date, see the fuller Coming Days here.

To include your event in this section, please email the details, including date, time, a brief description of the event, contact information, and, if you wish, an image, please use this form.

The Day’s Best Reads:

Record 65 million people displaced in 2016: UN https://t.co/l0WI25vDhp

— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) June 19, 2017

Recent immigrants are more educated than Americans in 26 states https://t.co/b2ONFNOtNP

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) June 19, 2017

Jesse Lee Peterson says that the Democrats who prayed before the congressional baseball game were praying to Satan. https://t.co/r78LvgqA4N

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) June 19, 2017

Being a writer in prison: Dean Faiello finds daily meaning through the act of writing. https://t.co/GO7RRFq3ne pic.twitter.com/pq8er4r9nn

— Literary Hub (@lithub) June 5, 2017

In a harrowing new book, Edward Luce argues that liberal democracy "is facing its gravest challenge" since WWII:https://t.co/POOHkV1aDG

— Michiko Kakutani (@michikokakutani) June 19, 2017

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 June 8 (the city administration’s full week in review is here):

Road and Interstate Construction:

Florida Department of Transportation Road Project List

Cultural Coda:

From WQXR in New York: ““Down in the River to Pray” is a fantastic song. Maybe you know it from Alison Krauss’ beautiful rendition in 2000’s O Brother Where Art Thou, a film that also boasts one of the greatest soundtracks of all time.) It’s a simple melody, and its calming lyrics act as a balm for the soul. That serenity translates pretty well to baritone and bass brass, as the The University of Texas Tuba/Euphonium Studio demonstrates in the featured video. Many orchestra’s don’t typically need a combination of 11 tubas and euphoniums — let alone to carry the melody — so we’re very happy to see them take center stage. Not much is known about the history of this song. In 1867’s Slave Songs of the United States, an early effort to compile the spirituals and work songs of the country’s recently emancipated population, “Down in the River” (titled “The Good Old Way”) is classified as a song of the “Inland Slave States” (Tennessee, Arkansas, and the Mississippi River). It’s also attributed to a certain George H. Allan. However, Allan was almost certainly not the composer. Like many folk tune compilations, the contribution here is most likely the work of a transcriber who simply wrote down what they heard.”

Down in the River to Pray: University of Texas Tuba/Euphonium Studio