Monday Briefing: Eclipse Starts At 1:18, Peaks at 2:49 PM, Mosquito Control Eclipse at 10 AM

FlaglerLive | August 21, 2017

It’s on. (NASA)

Weekend: Partly cloudy with chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout, highs in the lower 90s, nights in the 70s. Details here.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index is at 62.
The OED’s Word of the Day: phelloplastic, 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

John Steinbeck (Peter Stackpole, NYPL Collection)

“As I went farther and farther north and it got colder I was aware of more and more advertising for Florida real estate and, with the approach of the long and bitter winter, I could see why Florida is a golden word. As I went along I found that more and more people lusted toward Florida and that thousands had moved there and more thousands wanted to and would.”

–From Rick Perlstein’s “The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan” (2014).

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.

For the first time since 1979, a total eclipse of the sun will cut a path across the center of the contiguous United States. In Florida, you can see the eclipse beginning at 1:18 p.m., peaking at 2:49 p.m., and ending at 4:13 p.m. The next such eclipse will be in 2024 and 2044. Details of the eclipse here.

The Flagler County Commission meets in workshop at 3 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center in Bunnell to discuss the possible acquisition of the Bunnell Fire Department. The county would provide fire services for Bunnell, and take ownership of Bunnell’s fire equipment, positioning a new ambulance unit at the Bunnell fire station. The Bunnell City Commission has not yet voted on the proposal.

The Flagler County Commission meets at 5 p.m. at the Government Services Building, Bunnell. The commission is expected to approve a $6.5 million bond issue based on tourist development revenue to finance beach restoration projects in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. The commission is also expected to approve an ordinance opening the county’s commercial zones to medical marijuana dispensaries.

The East Flagler Mosquito Control District board meets at 10 a.m. at the district’s offices, 210 Airport Executive Drive. It is the first board meeting since the district revealed that it had a $1.1 million deficit in its $1.8 million budget. The district’s three board members are expected to hear a plan on closing the gap, including the sale of district assets, layoffs and other cutbacks. They are also expected to decide how to handle the retirement of Director Joe Cash, who has been at the agency since 1978. See: “Flagler Mosquito Control District In Crisis as It Faces $1.1 Million Deficit in $1.8 Million Budget, Weeks After Dedicating New HQ.”

Blood donations on the Big Red Bus:

At the Government Services Building in Bunnell, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For a full list of dates and locations for the bus, go here.

Announcements:

elderly abuse assisted living facilities

(Kevin Dooley)

You are Invited to a Senior Focus Group Wednesday, August 30: On behalf of the City of Palm Coast, ElderSource has been asked to facilitate a senior focus group to discuss the development of additional programs for seniors in Flagler County and the function of an expanded community center. As the City looks to its future and plans for a new facility, the City Council thought it would be in the best interest of the project to seek feedback, questions and commentary from the community before the project progressed any further. Any interested persons or parties are invited to attend and participate in this discussion. ElderSource is a non-profit agency designated by the state as the Area Agency on Aging and Aging & Disability Resource Center for Northeast Florida. ElderSource serves as the focal point to which older adults, adults with disabilities, caregivers, and the general public can receive information, referral, assistance and answers on aging issues. The focus group is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the community wing of Palm Coast City Hall, 160 Lake Avenue, in Town Center. If you are unable to attend and would like to submit comments, please email
nancy.tufts@myeldersource.org and these will be shared at the meeting.

Flagler County Seeking Veteran of the Year Nominations: The award will be presented to a living Flagler County veteran who has not only served the United States with honor, but has used the leadership skills and abilities learned in the military to improve the Flagler County community through selfless volunteer service. If you have a nominee in mind, details are here.

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.

Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange, will tour Eastern Florida State College and go the college planetarium for the solar eclipse. (Tour at 10 a.m., Eastern Florida State College, Melbourne Campus, 3865 North Wickham Road, Melbourne. Also, eclipse, 1 p.m., Eastern Florida State College, planetarium and observatory, 1519 Clearlake Road, Building 19, Cocoa.)

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

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

♦ July 19: Urban Surf 4 Kids Surf Camp, 9 to 1 p.m. at South 6th Street on the Beach in Flagler Beach.
♦ July 19: The Flagler Beach Charter Review Commission meets at 9 a.m. at City Hall, 105 S 2nd St.
♦ July 19: Dive-in Movies, 8 p.m. at Palm Coast Aquatics Center, 339 Parkview Drive. Just bring your swimsuit and enjoy the show! Dive-in movie nights at the Palm Coast Aquatics Center provides a unique outdoor movie viewing experience for the entire family. Be sure to grab your favorite snack, sit back and enjoy the show! Food and snacks will be available for purchase. This month features “Incredibles 2” (PG). More info: 386-986-4741 and www.palmcoastgov.com/movies.
♦ July 20: Flagler Pier Fishing Tournament, 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., Flagler Beach Fishing Pier. For any questions, please contact the Pier bait shop at 386-517-2436.
♦ July 20: Youth Fishing Derby, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. at Waterfront Park, 150 Waterfront Park Road, Palm Coast. Come out to Waterfront Park for a day of family fun, food, and catch-and-release fishing. Youth will be eligible for various prizes based on different categories such as longest fish, heaviest fish, most fish, smallest fish and others. Youth must be accompanied by an adult. Any adult actively assisting a youth must have a fishing license. For ages 15 and under. Free and registration is encouraged but not required at www.parksandrec.fun/events. More info: 386-986-2323.
♦ July 20: Meet with your local Fire Rescue personnel, while you tour your community’s Fire Station and equipment, at Flagler County Fire Station 92 at the county airport, 130 Airport Rd., Palm Coast, from 9 a.m. to noon. Additionally, personnel from Florida Forest Service and Flagler County Emergency Management will be available to explain and assist residents in signing up for the ALERTFlagler emergency notifications, and Special Needs Sheltering programs. For more information please contact Chief Fire Marshall (386) 313-4258
♦ July 20-21: Jr. Lifeguard Camp, 8 a.m-12p.m. at Palm Coast Aquatics Center, 339 Parkview Drive. The Junior Lifeguard Camp offers step-by-step lifeguarding skill development. Learn water safety, lifeguard rescues, and First Aid CPR/AED in a weekend camp. Class attendees will receive a CPR mask, Red Cross whistle and T-shirt. For ages 11-15 years. $70/session. Registration required at www.parksandrec.fun/camps. More info: 386-986-2323.
♦ July 20-21: "Sleeping Beauty," at the Daytona Playhouse, Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m., Adults $13, Seniors 55 and up, $18, Youths 18 and under $7. Address: 100 Jessamine Blvd., Daytona Beach, or see directions here. Buy tickets online here. Box office: 386-255-2431.
♦ July 22:

The Flagler County Stamp and Coin Club meets at 4:30 p.m. at the VFW Post 8696 47 N. Old Kings Road. From 4:30 - 6 p.m. the time is used for buying, selling and trading stamps and coins. The club meeting starts at 6 p.m. and ends at 7:30. There is a live auction of stamps and coins at the end of the meeting. The club is open for members, the general public, and all who are interested in stamp and coin collecting and investing. Free stamps and coin evaluations at all our meetings. The club is the only non-profit Stamp and Coin Club in Flagler County. For more information please visit the club's web site.
♦ July 22: Nar-Anon offers hope and help for families and friends of addicts. Every Monday, 6 p.m., St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, 303 Palm Coast Pkwy NE, Palm Coast, Fellowship Hall Entrance. See the website, www.nar-anon.org, or call (800) 477-6291.
♦ July 23: Flagler County is hosting a ceremonial signing of its beach renourishment agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers at 2 p.m. in the Commission Chambers of the Government Services Building. Commission Chair Donald O’Brien and Jacksonville District Commander Colonel Andrew Kelly will make a few opening comments about the 2.6 mile 10-foot dune and beach profile extension in Flagler Beach. They, along with County Attorney Al Hadeed, will sign four copies of the final agreement. The 50-year, $100 million project is largely unfunded but will depend on Flagler County to secure half the money. The federal government would assume the other half. It applies to only 2.6 miles of beach in Flagler Beach. See: "Flagler About To Sign 50-Year, $100 Million Deal to Rebuild 2.6 Miles of Dunes in Flagler Beach. It Has Only a Fraction of the Money."
♦ July 23: The Flagler County Opioid Task Force meets at 6 p.m. at the Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway. The task force will meet the fourth Tuesday of every month at the library through November.
♦ July 24: A meeting of Facing Grief Together, formerly known as Compassionate Friends, is scheduled at the Vitas Office at 4 North Old Kings Road (across from Kentucky Fried Chicken) in Palm Coast. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Facing Grief Together, a nonprofit self-help bereavement support organization for families that have experienced the death of a child. The meeting is open to all parents, grandparents, and siblings over age 18 who has suffered the loss of a child of any age. For more information, call John Brady at 610-428-3139. To learn more about Facing Grief Together, visit their national website at www.compassionatefriends.org.
♦ July 25:

Carolyn Gosselin, Vice President of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, is the featured speaker at the Flagler Chamber's Common Ground breakfast, 8 a.m. at the Palm Coast Hilton Garden Inn, 50 Town Court. Registration is required by July 19. Members can preregister for $25, Guests and future members can attend for $35. No walk-ups.
♦ July 27: Tour de Palm Coast: Ride along the scenic route of St. Joe Walkway on this free tour. The tour will begin leaving promptly at 8 a.m. from the Palm Coast Community Center. Riders are encouraged to bring water, and all riders must wear a helmet.
♦ July 27: First Aid and CPR/AED, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Fire Station 25, 1250 Belle Terre Pkwy., Palm Coast. This class is a seven-hour course (one hour for lunch) designed to meet OSHA regulations and teach administering CPR to children and adults, using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), using a mask or barrier device, assisting with bleeding, broken bones. $50/person with registration required by 9 a.m. June 27. Register at www.parksandrec.fun/adults. More info: 386-986-2300 and cprcertification@palmcoastgov.com.
♦ July 27: The Flagler County Chamber of Commerce and the Palm Coast Area Council invites you to a small business development workshop. With Thaddeus Hammond, Economic Development Director of the SBA North Florida District, a leading expert in developing small businesses as guest speaker. 5 to 7 p.m., The Windsor of Palm Coast, 50 Town Ct, Palm Coast. Chamber Member: $15 per person, Guest and Future Chamber Member: $25 per person. Contact Melinda Rivera at 386-437-0106 or send her an email at melinda@flaglerchamber.org.
♦ July 29-Aug. 2: Monday-Friday, July 29-Aug. 2, 8 a.m-5 p.m. at Palm Coast Aquatics Center, 339 Parkview Drive. Love art? Come enjoy a week where you can let your creative side take flight. Campers will spend their days creating, drawing, sketching, painting and more! Of course, we’ll go to the pool and play some games, too. Lunch is provided at no extra charge by the Flagler County School District. For grades 6-8 (grade just completed). $80/entire week. Registration required at www.parksandrec.fun/camps. More info: 386-986-2323.
♦ July 29: Nar-Anon offers hope and help for families and friends of addicts. Every Monday, 6 p.m., St. Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, 303 Palm Coast Pkwy NE, Palm Coast, Fellowship Hall Entrance. See the website, www.nar-anon.org, or call (800) 477-6291.
♦ July 31:

An evidentiary hearing twice postponed is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in the case of James McDevitt, who is serving a 40-year prison sentence in the 2015 rape of a woman in Flagler Beach, has been postponed to July 31. McDevitt pleaded guilty to the rape charge, but is now claiming ineffective counsel by two successive lawyers and is seeking to have the conviction and sentence vacated. The hearing is before Circuit Judge Terence Perkins in Courtroom 401 at the Flagler County courthouse. Perkins has reserved one hour for the hearing. The hearing had originally been scheduled for early April. McDevitt's lawyer asked for it to be rescheduled because of an emergency family issue (regarding the lawyer's family). It was again postponed to May 17. McDevitt has been at the Flagler County jail since April 4, awaiting the proceeding. He is normally incarcerated at Taylor prison in Perry, in Florida's Big Bend area. See details here.

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:

2000-year-old trees are on the chopping block. https://t.co/zUYRD30Hyl

— Mother Jones (@MotherJones) August 21, 2017

Anti-Trump protesters, beware: the Justice Department wants to know what you're doing online https://t.co/ZjRECDgdIt

— NYT Opinion (@nytopinion) August 18, 2017

21 Deep Thoughts We've All Had While High. https://t.co/qFa68n38du pic.twitter.com/HQz3e1fRbA

— HIGH TIMES (@HIGH_TIMES_Mag) August 20, 2017

Celebrating the anniversary of the Voyager Golden Records: Behind the effort to explain Earth to aliens. https://t.co/Joy8mn4xkx

— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) August 20, 2017

Large Asteroid to Safely Pass Earth on Sept. 1 – https://t.co/Jmmjzrz19X pic.twitter.com/iA6xE30jH2

— World and Science (@WorldAndScience) August 18, 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 July 26 (the city administration’s full week in review is here):

Road and Interstate Construction: