Thursday Briefing: Thanking Flagler’s Volunteers, Growth and Development, End of Hurricane Season

FlaglerLive | November 30, 2017

Some of the appreciation medals Flagler Volunteer Services handed out to its volunteers at a four-hour thank you event Wednesday at the County Fairgrounds. No fewer than 1,130 volunteers were documented to have lent a hand during the Hurricane Irma emergency. ‘We know there’s a lot more than that,’ says Suzie Gamblain, who leads the organization. They helped at the Emergency Operations Center’s call center, in all hurricane shelters, at the special assistance centers set up in the aftermath of the storm, they helped clean up people’s homes, tarp roofs and do innumerable other jobs, for nothing in return. ‘We couldn’t have done the hurricane things we’ve done without you guys,’ County Administrator Craig Coffey told the group. ‘I just feel blessed to have each and every one of you.’ (© FlaglerLive)

Today: Partly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs in the upper 70s inland…in the mid 70s coast. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. Northeast winds 5 mph shifting to the northwest after midnight. 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 Index27
The OED’s Word of the Day: come-hithery, 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
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

“As to literature, I still believe, subjectively, that the definitive orange sentence — evoking love, languor, and New England autumn — is Grace Metalious’s opening line in Peyton Place: ‘Indian Summer is like a woman.'”

–Alexander Theroux, from “The Secondary Colors” (1996). [Click on the image or the link to buy the book]

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.

Today, the 2017 hurricane season ends.

Managing Flagler County’s Growth & Land Development, a Common Ground Breakfast discussion hosted by the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce, featuring Jason DeLorenzo, Flagler Home Builders Association, Charlie Faulkner, Faulkner & Associates, Memory Hopkins, president of Flagler County Association of Realtors, Adam Mengel, Flagler County Planning Department, and Ray Tyner, City of Palm Coast Planning Department. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., at the Hilton Garden Inn, 55 Town Center Blvd, Palm Coast. Members can preregister for $25, day of is $30. Guests may attend for $35. Contact Gretchen Smith at the chamber.

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week:

Friday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Announcements:

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.

This weekend's supermoon will be the brightest of the year https://t.co/Yyx4hQAgRG pic.twitter.com/JIlcL02BjJ

— WESH 2 News (@WESH) November 30, 2017

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.

E-CIGARETTES AT ISSUE: The General Provisions Committee of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission will consider a series of proposals, including a measure (P65) that would bar the use of devices such as electronic cigarettes in workplaces. (Thursday, 8 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

BUSH OPENS NATIONAL EDUCATION GATHERING: Former Gov. Jeb Bush will give an opening address at the annual National Summit on Education Reform, held by the Tallahassee-based Foundation for Excellence in Education. (Thursday, 8:45 a.m., Omni Nashville Hotel, 250 Fifth Ave. South, Nashville, Tenn.)

SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release its weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

ELECTIONS ISSUES CONSIDERED: The Ethics and Elections Committee of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission is scheduled to continue a meeting that starts Wednesday. (Thursday, 1 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

COMMITTEE DISCUSSES MEDICAL MARIJUANA: A joint committee of the Board of Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine will discuss issues related to medical marijuana. (Thursday, 1 p.m. Rosen Plaza Hotel, 9700 International Dr., Orlando.)

MACMANUS SPEAKS AT TIGER BAY: University of South Florida political-science professor Susan MacManus will speak at a Tiger Bay Club of Southwest Florida dinner. MacManus is expected to discuss results of the annual USF-Nielsen Sunshine State Survey. (Thursday, 7 p.m., The Marina at Edison Ford, 2360 West First St., Fort Myers.)

HURRICANE SEASON ENDS: The 2017 hurricane season ends Nov. 30.

—-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.

♦ May 28: The Flagler County Opioid Task Force meets at 6 p.m. at the Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway. (note the venue change: it had previously been scheduled at the Government Services Building). The task force will meet the fourth Tuesday of every month at the library through November.
♦ 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.
♦ June 7: Coffee Series: 9-10 a.m. at Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE. This month’s topic: “The History and Development of Palm Coast” with Elaine Studnicki of the Palm Coast Historical Society. The event is free, but registration is required (while space available) by 9 a.m. June 5: www.parksandrec.fun/adults. More info: 386-986-2323.
♦ June 7: Daytona State College holds another session in its strategic planning process for 2020-2023 and wants your ideas and insights about initiatives the college might pursue during that timeframe. The session is from 9 to 10 a.m. at DSC's Hosseini Center, in the ballroom, 1200 W. International Speedway Blvd. Daytona Beach. Interactive focus groups are scheduled on each campus, starting at the end of April and ending the second week of June. Faculty, staff, students and the public are invited to attend and participate. Plan to attend and share your vision for DSC’s future. To participate, bring your mobile device (cell phone, tablet, etc.). For more information, contact Dr. Karla Moore, (386) 506-3650, Karla.Moore@DaytonaState.edu; or John Brady, (386) 506-3837, John.Brady@DaytonaState.edu.
♦ June 8: The 2019 Flagler County Republican Club's annual barbecue is scheduled from 4 to 9 p.m. at Caldwell Dairy Barn at the Florida Agricultural Museum, 7900 Old Kings Road, $20 per ticket, $35 for couples, with a live auction. Be sure to get your cookbook out and slip on your apron if you're taking part in the 3rd Annual Blue Ribbon Cake & Pie Contest. One of the most anticipated competitions of the year, bakers tempt celebrity judges with their skill and guests get to enjoy sampling the entries! Enjoy tours of the museum's grounds and historic buildings from 4-6 pm, followed by food, music and live auctions in the evening.
♦ June 10-14: Tennis Summer Camp (Session 1) – Monday-Friday, 9 a.m-4pm. at Belle Terre Park, 339 Parkview Drive, Palm Coast. Tennis and so much more! Please come with athletic clothes and shoes, swimsuit (for the pool), water bottle, sunscreen, lunch, snacks and drinks. For ages 6-13 years. $175/week. Registration required at www.parksandrec.fun/camps. More info: 386-986-2550.
♦ June 10: Daytona State College holds another session in its strategic planning process for 2020-2023 and wants your ideas and insights about initiatives the college might pursue during that timeframe. The session, the only one in Flagler, is from 9 to 11 a.m. at DSC's Student Center Building on the Palm Coast campus, Room 106. Interactive focus groups are scheduled on each campus, starting at the end of April and ending the second week of June. Faculty, staff, students and the public are invited to attend and participate. Plan to attend and share your vision for DSC’s future. To participate, bring your mobile device (cell phone, tablet, etc.). For more information, contact Dr. Karla Moore, (386) 506-3650, Karla.Moore@DaytonaState.edu; or John Brady, (386) 506-3837, John.Brady@DaytonaState.edu.

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:

“You’re going to jail!” an elderly woman exclaimed triumphantly https://t.co/jhWEDHai5d

— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) November 30, 2017

Warming winters: a multi-million dollar stress
Winter is the fastest-warming season in Florida and for across much of the eastern half of the U.S.
Read more here: https://t.co/DSFqXGUTo6 pic.twitter.com/TR0jr4qhiE

— Irene Sans (@IreneSans) November 30, 2017

Matt Lauer had a secret button under his desk to auto-lock his office door: Report https://t.co/wn5aqVK4xI pic.twitter.com/srfwqIR4dD

— Fast Company (@FastCompany) November 30, 2017

“I had no idea that ____ was so interesting!” Canoes, oranges, the Merchant Marine – how does John McPhee get us to care about such subjects? https://t.co/vsWnZTyjPi

— Arts & Letters Daily (@aldaily) November 29, 2017

Scientists say they think the founding of a Chinese space telescope can help crack the secrets of dark matter. https://t.co/Mprsk87N7O

— China Daily (@ChinaDailyUSA) November 30, 2017

Editor’s Tweets

Editor’s Tweets by @PierreTristam

A Twitter List by PierreTristam

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: