Today: Partly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 70s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog. Lows around 60. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. 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 Index12
The OED’s Word of the Day: freak flag, 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
- Editor’s Tweets
- Fact-Checking the Knaves
- Palm Coast Construction and Development
- Local Road and Interstate Construction
- Cultural Coda
“In fact, I’m not an atheist—I’m a scientist. Atheism is the belief that there is no god, and you declare there is no god: ‘Come, my fellow atheists, let us march together and conquer those idiots who think there is a god—all these other tribes. We’re going to prevail.’ I would even say I’m agnostic because I’m a scientist. Being an agnostic means saying, dogmatically, that we will never be able to know, so give it up. The important thing is that it appears that humans, as a species, share a religious impulse. You can call it theological, you can call it spiritual, but humans everywhere have a strong tendency to wonder about whether they’re being looked over by a god or not. Practically every person ponders whether they’re going to have another life. These are the things that unite humanity.”
–E.O. Wilson, in a February 2015 interview with Slate.
Previously:
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.
In Court: Nathaniel Shimmel, the 22-year-old Palm Coast man who faces a first-degree murder charge in the stabbing death of his mother, Michele Shimmel, 60, in August, has a pre-trial before Circuit Court Judge Dennis Craig at 9 a.m. in Courtroom 401 at the Flagler County courthouse. Shimmel is represented by Ray Warren. Also on the docket is a pre-trial for Bruce Haughton, who faces a negligent homicide charge in the suicidal death of his girlfriend, Katherine Goddard, in Palm Coast’s R Section in August.
The Palm Coast City Council meets in workshop at 9 a.m. at City Hall in Town Center. The council was originally scheduled to discuss the charter-review process, which included four public meetings over the past two months. The discussion has been postponed to early January. Council members are scheduled to discuss the Hurricane Irma after-action report, and discuss park impact fees.
The Flagler Education Foundation’s Connect Bus is at Ameris Bank at 10:30 a.m. at 181 Cypress Point Pkwy, Palm Coast.
Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week:
- Tuesday: Moe’s Southwest Grill, 250 Palm Coast Parkway NE, noon to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: Palm Coast Post Office, 2 Pine Cone Drive, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Friday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Online version of National Citizen Survey now open to Palm Coast residents: The City of Palm Coast invites all residents to take the City’s comprehensive citizen survey between now and Dec. 9. The online survey went live on Nov. 24. You can access the survey here. The online option is in addition to the regular mail-in survey conducted for the City by National Citizen Survey every other year. Earlier this fall, 1,500 surveys from the National Citizen Survey were mailed to randomly selected residents, with representation from each of the City’s four districts. Both survey processes are anonymous. The City of Palm Coast has been participating in the NCS since 2002. Currently, the City conducts the NCS every other year, with the City conducting separate surveying on its own in the off years. The City uses all survey results to improve city services. With the National Citizen Survey, Palm Coast’s results are compared to more than 500 other local governments across the United States. The feedback received from residents is presented to the Palm Coast City Council and is used for strategic planning and to help City leaders set priorities for the next fiscal year. To review past years’ National Citizen Survey results, visit www.PalmCoastGov.com/about/citizen-survey.
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.
ELECTIONS COMMISSION MEETS: The Florida Elections Commission is scheduled to meet. (Tuesday, 8:30 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETS: The State Board of Education will take up a series of issues, including “turnaround option plans” for schools in Bradford, Duval and Escambia counties. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Lake-Sumter State College, Everett A. Kelly Convocation Center, 9501 U.S. 441, Leesburg.)
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AT ISSUE: The Executive Committee of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission will take up a proposal (P68) that would revamp the duties of the state chief financial officer. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
JUDICIAL TERMS CONSIDERED: The Judicial Committee of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission will take up proposals that would increase the mandatory retirement age for judges to 75, up from the current 70. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
E-VERIFY ON TABLE: The General Provisions Committee of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission will consider a series of proposals, including a measure (P29) that would require Florida businesses to use the federal E-verify system to prevent the hiring of undocumented immigrants. (Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
UNF TRUSTEES TAKE UP BARGAINING AGREEMENT: The University of North Florida Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting to discuss a collective-bargaining agreement with the Police Benevolent Association. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., University of North Florida, J.J. Daniel Hall, Jacksonville.)
—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive
In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:
To include your event in this section, please fill out this form. Jan 19 Tue Jan 19 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
The school board’s full agenda is accessible here. See previous board meeting videos here. The School Board members and their email addresses: Jan 19 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Jan 19 @ 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm Food Truck Tuesdays, 5-8 p.m. at Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave, Palm Coast. Purchase and enjoy delicious cuisine available from food trucks situated along Park Street next to Central Park. Free entertainment is also provided. Proceeds from each Food Truck Tuesday benefit a local organization whose work supports children and families. This month’s beneficiary: Palm Coast Arts Foundation. More info: www.palmcoast.gov.com/foodtruck or call 386-986-2323. Jan 19 @ 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Planning Board members are Thea Mathen, chair, Jerry Jones, Howard Kane, Carl Lilavois, Shannon Strickland and Tonya Gordon. Jan 19 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Jan 20 Wed Jan 20 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Jan 20 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am
The council is a collection of government representatives and tourism-related business representatives, appointed by the county commission to oversee the nearly $3 million in revenue generated by the county’s 5 percent sales surtax on hotel, motel, short-term rentals and other short-term lodging in the county. The budget is divided three ways between capital projects that enhance the local tourism experience, beach protection, and promotion and marketing of tourism events, including grants to local and national cultural, non-profit and for-profit organizations that put on events attractive to visitors. See budget figures here. Council members are County Commissioner Greg Hansen, chairman, Flagler Beach Commissioner Eric Cooley, Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland, Stephen Baker, Ryan Crabb, Marc Richardson, Pamela Walker, John Lulgjuraj, and Felicia Robinson Cook. See agendas here. Jan 20 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Jan 20 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Paws to Read at the Flagler County Public Library 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, in the Children’s Department. The Flagler County Public Library in partnership with the Flagler Humane Society offer the opportunity for kids ages 4-8 to read to a real dog. Every Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. First Come – First Serve. Contact: Alyssa Gilbert or Theresa Ten Eyck at 386-446-6763 or email: [email protected] Jan 20 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
The board approves or denies applications of Flagler County authorized contractor licenses and enforces the provisions of the Code in regulation of Class I, Class II, and local specialty and unlicensed contracting. The board hears appeals of decisions and interpretations of the building official and the licensing administrator, including determinations of unsafe building, and issues orders necessary to bring a violation into compliance. The board usually consists of 10 members elected to four-year terms, but some seats aren’t always filled. The current board consist of Luis Medeiros, William Dudley, Jr., William Sink, James Wingo, Glenn Torre, Howard Edgin, and Jill Snyder. See agendas here. Jan 20 @ 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Jan 21 Thu Jan 21 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am The Widow, Widower’s Support Group meets at 10 a.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE. Have you suffered the loss of your significant other? This is a chance to meet others who have had a similar loss in their life. Free but please register at www.parksandrec.fun/seniors. More info: 386-986-2323.
Jan 21 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Jan 22 Fri
Jan 22 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am The Scenic A1A PRIDE Committee meets at 9 a.m. at the Hammock Community Center, 79 Mala Compra Rd. off A1A in the Hammock. Friends of A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway is a non-profit organization. Its mission is to preserve, protect, promote and enhance the outstanding resources of the 72-mile A1A corridor through northeast Florida’s coastal counties of Flagler and St. Johns. The organization is composed of volunteer citizens who collaborate with municipalities, government agencies and other civic groups to improve facilities, amenities and promote interpretive stories about the area’s intrinsic resources including nature, culture, recreation, archaeology, scenery, and history.To subscribe to A1A’s emails, go here. Jan 24 Sun Jan 24 @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Jan 25 Mon Jan 25 @ 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
For Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon meetings, go here. For help with alcoholism or if you think you have a problem with alcohol you can contact the Flagler County Helpline at 386-445-help (386-445-4357). SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, SAMHSA will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. SAMHSA can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities.  Jan 25 @ 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Jan 25 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm The Nar-Anon Family Group for those affected by someone else’s addiction meets at 6 p.m. at St Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, 303 Palm Coast Pkwy. There are no dues or fees. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. We’re never affiliated with any other organization or outside entity. Do you need Nar-Anon? Ask yourself these questions. Addiction is a family disease. It affects the relationships of those close to the addict: parents, spouses, siblings, children, longtime friends, and employers. If someone’s addiction is affecting you, first you must help yourself. Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families and friends of addicts. There are no dues or fees to join. Just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are going through similar problems, talk about how they cope and find recovery. Watch the video:
 Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon meetings: Alateen, part of Al-Anon Family Groups, is for teens bothered by someone else’s drinking. The group meets at 8 p.m. every Monday at Advent Health, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast, at the south entrance, in meeting room D. Al-Anon meets at the same time. For more information about Alateen or Al-Anon, call toll free 1-888-4AL-ANON, or visit www.al-anon.org. Note: All Alateen meetings are only open to teenagers who have been affected by another person’s drinking. For AA and NA meetings in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell, go here. Jan 26 Tue Jan 26 @ 8:30 am – 9:45 am The Jan 27 Wed Jan 27 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am
The board members and their terms: Jan 27 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Jan 27 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm The Flagler County Public Library Book Club meets at 3:30 p.m. at the Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast. See the upcoming titles in the chart below.
Jan 27 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Paws to Read at the Flagler County Public Library 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, in the Children’s Department. The Flagler County Public Library in partnership with the Flagler Humane Society offer the opportunity for kids ages 4-8 to read to a real dog. Every Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. First Come – First Serve. Contact: Alyssa Gilbert or Theresa Ten Eyck at 386-446-6763 or email: [email protected] Jan 27 @ 5:30 pm – 6:45 pm 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. Jan 28 Thu Jan 28 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am The Widow, Widower’s Support Group meets at 10 a.m. at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE. Have you suffered the loss of your significant other? This is a chance to meet others who have had a similar loss in their life. Free but please register at www.parksandrec.fun/seniors. More info: 386-986-2323.
Jan 28 @ 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Jan 28 @ 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Mayor, City Commissioners and City Manager emails: Jan 29 Fri
Jan 31 Sun Jan 31 @ 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Feb 1 Mon Feb 1 @ 7:00 am – 9:00 pm
For Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon meetings, go here. For help with alcoholism or if you think you have a problem with alcohol you can contact the Flagler County Helpline at 386-445-help (386-445-4357). SAMHSA’s (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration) National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. The referral service is free of charge. If you have no insurance or are underinsured, SAMHSA will refer you to your state office, which is responsible for state-funded treatment programs. SAMHSA can often refer you to facilities that charge on a sliding fee scale or accept Medicare or Medicaid. If you have health insurance, you are encouraged to contact your insurer for a list of participating health care providers and facilities. Feb 1 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Contact the commissioners by email:
Feb 1 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm The Nar-Anon Family Group for those affected by someone else’s addiction meets at 6 p.m. at St Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church, 303 Palm Coast Pkwy. There are no dues or fees. The only requirement for membership is that there be a problem of addiction in a relative or friend. We’re never affiliated with any other organization or outside entity. Do you need Nar-Anon? Ask yourself these questions. Addiction is a family disease. It affects the relationships of those close to the addict: parents, spouses, siblings, children, longtime friends, and employers. If someone’s addiction is affecting you, first you must help yourself. Nar-Anon is a twelve step support group for families and friends of addicts. There are no dues or fees to join. Just come to a meeting. You will hear others, who are going through similar problems, talk about how they cope and find recovery. Watch the video: Palm Coast Alateen Sereniteen and Al-Anon meetings: Alateen, part of Al-Anon Family Groups, is for teens bothered by someone else’s drinking. The group meets at 8 p.m. every Monday at Advent Health, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast, at the south entrance, in meeting room D. Al-Anon meets at the same time. For more information about Alateen or Al-Anon, call toll free 1-888-4AL-ANON, or visit www.al-anon.org. Note: All Alateen meetings are only open to teenagers who have been affected by another person’s drinking. For AA and NA meetings in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell, go here. Feb 2 Tue Feb 2 @ 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm Feb 2 @ 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm The Flagler County School Board meets for an agenda workshop at 3 p.m. Training Room 3, 3rd floor, Government Services Building, 1769 E Moody Blvd., Bunnell. The meeting is an information workshop only. The agenda workshop focuses on items the board will take action on at its next regular meeting. The school board’s full agenda is accessible here. See previous board meeting videos here. The School Board members and their email addresses: Feb 2 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm Flagler Beach’s Planning and Architectural Review (PAR) Board meets at City Hall at 5:30 p.m., 105 S 2nd St Flagler Beach. The Planning and Architectural Review Board consists of seven residents: Paul Chestnut, Term Length: May 10, 2017 – May 9, 2020 Feb 2 @ 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Feb 2 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Feb 2 @ 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm The Hammock Community Association holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. at the Hammock Community Center, 79 MalaCompra Road, Palm Coast. To join the association as a member, click here. Becoming a member of The Hammock Community Association ensures that you are kept informed on what is going on in the community such as:
Feb 3 Wed Feb 3 @ 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Feb 3 @ 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm Feb 3 @ 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm Paws to Read at the Flagler County Public Library 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, in the Children’s Department. The Flagler County Public Library in partnership with the Flagler Humane Society offer the opportunity for kids ages 4-8 to read to a real dog. Every Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. First Come – First Serve. Contact: Alyssa Gilbert or Theresa Ten Eyck at 386-446-6763 or email: [email protected] Subscribe |
Trump refers to “Pocahontas” during a ceremony to honor Navajo code talkers of World War II https://t.co/RyrHKSAb32
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 28, 2017
Hidden camera's video gives the lie to Philippine police account of three more drug suspects executed, as Pres Duterte urges. https://t.co/kUXFzzTokw
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) November 28, 2017
Why a baker's defense of his refusal to sell a wedding cake to a same-sex couple doesn't hold up legally: https://t.co/6IejEG1N1S
— American Prospect (@theprospect) November 28, 2017
Ethanol burns cleaner than gas because it holds only two-thirds the energy, but the production, which includes harvesting and boiling corn, requires more carbon emissions than it saves. https://t.co/vMULgW6yOr pic.twitter.com/BGU2X1JQct
— Cato Institute (@CatoInstitute) November 28, 2017
The blessing and the curse of being Bill Nye. https://t.co/P1RPMDxtwp
— Smithsonian Magazine (@SmithsonianMag) November 28, 2017
Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
Updates of ongoing permitting, construction and development projects in Palm Coast usually run here, along with a link to the city’s Week in Review. But the Week in Review, under the guise of being modernized, has become flashier and power-point like while becoming less substantive and dumbed down. We may or may not link to it in future. Here’s a summary of the latest developments as of Oct. 6
Road and Interstate Construction:
Philip Glass’s Violin Concerto Performed on Sax by Amy Dixon
Previous Codas:
- Maria João Pires Performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 17 in G Major, K 453
- When Mickey Mouse Jammed Out Carmen and Other Favorites
- Heinrich von Herzogenberg’s Trio for Piano, Oboe and Horn, Op. 61
- The Sublime Valses Poéticos by Enrique Granados, Performed By Albert Flotats
- Complete Performance of Berlioz’s Symphonie Fantastique: Leonard Bernstein, Orchestre National de France
- Yeol Eum Son Performs Charles Valentin Alkan
- A Crazy Encore by Yuja Wang at Carnegie Hall
- Phillip Sear Performs a Waltz By Neapolitan Composer Franco Alfano
- “Stranger Things” Cello Medley – Nicholas Yee
- Discover the Great Daniil Trifonov
- Afro-Venezuelan Shostakovich
- Bill Murray’s Mark Twain Prize: The Full Monty
- Norwegian Ice Festival
- Beethoven Flash
- Worlds Collide: Jan Vogler and Bill Murray
- Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 22 in E flat major: Robert Levin and the Transylvania Philharmonic
- Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 1, KV 478
- Eleanor Rigby, performed by Sirius Quartet
- Mozart: Tamiri’s aria from Il re pastore: Elina Shimkus & Sinfonietta Riga
- Mariko M on the Cello, Mariko Terashita, violin, Perform Limerock
- Bohuslav Martinu: First Sonata for Flute and Piano
- Andras Schiff Performs All Six of Bach’s French Suites
- Paul Lewis plays Schubert’s Piano Sonata No. 20 in A Major, Andantino
- 14-Year-Old María Dueñas Fernández Performs Paganini’s Violin Concerto No. 1 at 2017 Competition
- Andras Schiff Performs the whole of Bach’s Overture in the French Style in B minor, BWV 831
- Alexander Dunn plays Studies by Fernando Sor
- Fandango, by Antonio Soler
- Frescobaldi: Toccata in G, Magdalena Baczewska, harpsichord
- Willie Nelson: Full Concert, Woodstock, 1999
- How playing an instrument benefits your brain
- Mozart’s Requiem: Camerata Salzburg, Arsys Bourgogne, Cond.
- Repairing Willie Nelson’s guitar
Pogo says
@E.O. Wilson – Amen
“In fact, I’m not an atheist—I’m a scientist. Atheism is the belief that there is no god, and you declare there is no god: ‘Come, my fellow atheists, let us march together and conquer those idiots who think there is a god—all these other tribes. We’re going to prevail.’ I would even say I’m agnostic because I’m a scientist. Being an agnostic means saying, dogmatically, that we will never be able to know, so give it up. The important thing is that it appears that humans, as a species, share a religious impulse. You can call it theological, you can call it spiritual, but humans everywhere have a strong tendency to wonder about whether they’re being looked over by a god or not. Practically every person ponders whether they’re going to have another life. These are the things that unite humanity.”
–E.O. Wilson
Sounds right to me – but have you considered 42?
the answer to life, universe and everything
https://youtu.be/aboZctrHfK8