Tuesday Briefing: Nathaniel Shimmel Pre-Trial, O’Brien Town Hall, Vacation Rentals, Mary Kelly Performs

Looking into Flagler’s future: Flagler County Commissioner Don O’Brien hosts a town hall meeting this evening at 6 at the Flagler County Public Library. See details below. (© FlaglerLive)

Today: Patchy fog in the morning. Cloudy with a 40 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 70s inland…in the lower 70s coast. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph. Tonight: Cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers. Lows in the upper 50s. North winds 10 to 15 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 Index59
The OED’s Word of the Day: key-cold, adj. and 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 Last 24 Hours of Incident 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

“We don’t want a president who bends over backward to give the benefit of the doubt to neo-Nazis, wife beaters, pedophiles and sexual predators — or who is a sexual predator himself. We don’t want a president who thinks #me is more important than #metoo.”

–Maureen Dowd, from her New York Times column on Feb. 11.

Previously:

Spinoza’s science | Hartley’s real change | Chesterton on public opinion | Music saves lives | Knausgaard’s Autumn | Dworkin’s intercourse | Religion’s subversiveness | Malcolm X | Dead bodies | 17th Century Nature | Imperfect mother | One’s stupidity | Third World | Tramps’ necessity | Stock market folly | Sunrise on America | Migrants through time | Mother tongues | Roth on age | Baudrillard’s reality | Madame de Sévigné’s fever | Public opinion | Wealth and art | Pascal’s world | Wheelies | Knausgaard on writing | Bach’s grace | Suffragette fury | Donna Tartt | Regrettable intercourse | Glory’s obscenity | Atheism v. Bach | Describing music | Dostoevsky’s truth

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.

In Court: Paul Dykes, who earlier this month was sentenced to two life in prison terms for child rape and related crimes, appears again in court this morning for the prosecution and the defense to discuss the possibility of a plea deal on charges still pending, and on which Dykes had previously been scheduled to go to trial. At 8:45 a.m. before Circuit Judge Dennis Craig in Courtroom 401 at the Flagler County courthouse.

Nathan Shimmel.

The Flagler County Affordable Housing Committee meets at 8:30 a.m. in the Financial Services Conference Room, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. 2, Third Floor, Bunnell.

The Palm Coast City Council meets at 9 a.m. in workshop at City Hall at Town Center. The council will hear a presentation on the latest survey the city conducts with citizens to gauge resident satisfaction or dissatisfaction with city services. The council will discuss approval of the contract to begin construction of the next phase of renovation at Holland Park, which would include among other things a splash park, pickleball courts, three racquetball courts, an exercise fitness area, picnic pavilions and a maintenance building. The current discussion is for approval of $131,000 in two contracts for design work. The full agenda and background here.

Vacation rentals: The House Government Accountability Committee will consider a proposal (HB 773), filed by Rep. Mike La Rosa, R-St. Cloud, that would limit the ability of local governments, including Flagler County, to regulate vacation rental properties. A deregulation bill in the Senate has already cleared two committee.
This is the first hearing for the House bill, which also faces three committee stops. At 3 p.m. Watch here.

The Flagler County Planning and Development Board meets at 6 p.m. in Board Chambers at the Government Services Building, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Bldg. 2, first floor, Bunnell. The board will hear a request for a special exception for a medical and dental office building at 5182 N. Oceanshore Boulevard in the Hammock.

Flagler County Commissioner Don O’Brien holds a town meeting at 6 p.m. at the Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast.

Library Black History Month Live Performance by Mary Kelly at 2 p.m. in the Dough Cisney Room. Kelly offers a live performance of “Midnight Train: Harriet Tubman on the Underground Railroad.” Everyone is welcome to attend this special event sponsored by the Florida Specific Cultural Project Touring Grant. The library is at 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast.

(christopher sebela)

School advisory council meetings: The Belle Terre Elementary Advisory Council meets at 4 p.m. in the principal’s conference room at the school, The Matanzas High council meets at 6 p.m. in the school’s Learning Commons.

An F/A-18C Super Hornet like the ones used in bombing runs on a range in the Ocala National Forest. Click on the image for larger view. (Shawn J. Stewart/US Navy)

Live and inert bombing: Navy training schedules indicate that live and inert bombing will take place at the Pinecastle Range Complex located in the Ocala National Forest, which may rattle windows in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The schedule is as follows:

• Tuesday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Live/Inert
• Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Inert
• Wednesday: 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. – Inert
• Thursday: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Inert
• Friday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Live/Inert
• Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Live/Inert
• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Live/Inert

During bombing periods wildlife may be temporarily displaced. Use extra caution when driving through the Ocala National forest and surrounding areas. Secure any items around your residence that could attract wildlife. Always be mindful of larger animals including black bears and practice bearwise measures. The telephone number for noise complaints is 1-800-874-5059, Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility, Jacksonville, Fla.

Note: today is the Flagler Class 25 Application Deadline at the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce. $385 for members, $535 for non-members. Call the Chamber at 386-437-0106.

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

• Tuesday: Daytona State College’s Palm Coast Campus, 3000 Palm Coast Parkway Southeast, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursday: Hammock Beach Resort, 200 Ocean Crest Drive, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Thursday: Metro Diner, Island Walk, 250 Palm Coast Parkway, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Thursday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Friday: Publix at 800 Belle Terre Parkway, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Saturday: Publix at 4950 Belle Terre Parkway, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Sunday: Publix at Palm Harbor, 250 Palm Coast Parkway, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell

Jail Bookings, May 2-3 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, May 2 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, May 2 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, May 2 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, May 2 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, May 2 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, May 2
Previous and archived reports

Announcements:

A Message From Flagler Beach Government on Dune Walkovers: Effective now, the following Beach Access Stairways or Dune Crossover locations are open for public usage in Flagler Beach:

Please utilize the above Beach Access/Dune Crossovers only. Do not walk on or across the Sea Dunes to prevent further erosion of the Dune system. City Ordinance 6-9 prohibits the destruction, harm, molestation, cutting, harvesting, removal or eradication or cause of destruction of any plant life on the Dune areas within the City, east of Highway A1A. Please do not attempt to utilize closed Beach Access/Dune Crossover locations. Closed locations have clearly visible yellow “Caution” tape and wooden boards blocking access. These locations have been deemed unstable and have hereby been closed for public safety. Please utilize caution when accessing the Beach at the above locations, as there may be a varied distance between the last step of the Beach Access Points and the sand. The City will be working to re-open as many Dunes Access Points, both North and South of SR100, before March 1, 2018.

The Florida Agriculture Museum’s Latest Newsletter is out. Download it here or see below:

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.

JEWISH HERITAGE HONORED: Rep. Emily Slosberg, D-Boca Raton, and Sen. Daphne Campbell, D-Miami, are scheduled to host a Jewish heritage breakfast as part of Jewish American Heritage Week. Honorees during the breakfast are expected to include Rep. Rick Stark, D-Weston. (Tuesday, 8 a.m., 116 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PAYDAY LOANS CONSIDERED: The House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee will consider a proposal (HB 857), filed by Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, and Minority Leader Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, that would revamp regulations for payday lenders. The proposal would allow a new type of “installment” loan that could be up to $1,000 and be repaid over 60 to 90 days. (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

RECORDS EXEMPTION SOUGHT: The Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee will consider a proposal (SB 532), filed by Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, that would prevent the release of information about 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds who preregister to vote. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 401 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

GENETIC INFORMATION TARGETED: The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up a bill (SB 1106), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would bar life insurers and long-term care insurers from using people’s genetic information in deciding whether to cancel, limit or deny policies. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS AT ISSUE: The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will take up a bill (HB 1249), filed by Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, that would make a series of changes related to access to electronic communications. Among other things, it would effectively criminalize reading text messages or emails on another person’s cell phone without getting permission. (Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

ANIMAL CRUELTY ADDRESSED: The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up a bill (SB 952), filed by Chairman Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, that would allow judges to prevent people who have been convicted of animal cruelty from owning or possessing animals. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

FIREWORKS BAN COULD BE DEFUSED: The House Commerce Committee will take up a bill (HB 6037), filed by Rep. James Grant, R-Tampa, and Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, that would end a decades-old prohibition on fireworks sales. Many people have gotten around the ban by using loopholes that allow the purchase of fireworks for such things as frightening birds for agriculture-related purposes. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SPECIAL ELECTION IN HD 72: A special election will be held in Sarasota County’s House District 72. Republican James Buchanan, Democrat Margaret Good and Libertarian Alison Foxall are running to replace former Rep. Alex Miller, a Sarasota Republican who resigned last year.

NEW CRIME APPROACH SOUGHT: The group Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice will hold a procession to the Capitol, followed by a healing vigil and prayer circle, as it calls for a new approach to public safety. (Tuesday, procession starts at 10:30 a.m., Trinity United Methodist Church, 120 West Park Ave., Tallahassee. Healing vigil and prayer circle, noon, fourth floor, the Capitol.)

‘STEM DAY’ MARKED: A news conference will be held as part of the “2018 STEM Day at the Florida Capitol.” Representatives of the Orlando Science Center, the Tallahassee Museum and Motorola Solutions Foundation are expected to take part in the news conference. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Capitol courtyard.)

GILLUM, CORCORAN DEBATE: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum and House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, will take part in a televised debate about “sanctuary” cities. (Tuesday, 8 p.m., Florida Internet and Television studio, 246 East Sixth Ave., Tallahassee.)

—-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.

The Day’s Best Reads:

Editor’s Tweets

Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.

Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of Feb. 8, 2018, with a link to the full week in review here.

Road and Interstate Construction:

• Florida Department of Transportation Road Project List

Cultural Coda

Abdel Rahman el Bacha Plays Two Nocturnes by Chopin

Previous Codas:

• Edith Mathis’s Creations
• Sheku Kanneh-Mason: No Woman No Cry, Cello Version
• Viotti’s Violin Concerto No 23 in G Major, Performed by Jennifer Jeon
• Bruckner’s Symphony Nr. 7 at the Lucerne Frestival
• Beethoven’s 5th Symphony in the style of Chopin: Syd R Duke
• Nikolai Kapustin performing Prelude, op. 53, no. 11
• Ray Chen, Sarabande from Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D minor
• It’s A Small World: Ken Kubota and Friends
• Maria Callas: The Mike Wallace Interview
• Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach – Oboe Concerto in B flat major, Wq 164
• The Cranberries: Linger
• Martha Argerich Performs Liszt’s Piano Concerto No 1 in E flat major
• Vivaldi’s Winter in a Wintry Performance By Milan Řehák
• Bach: Musical Offering BWV 1079, Concert des Nations Jordi Savall
• Bach: Sonata for Gamba and Harpsichord in G minor, BWV 1029
• Claude Debussy, La fille aux cheveux de lin, from Préludes
• Bach’s Complete Christmas Oratorio BWV 248, Gardiner, Monteverdi Choir & Bach Soloists
• Angels in Heaven: Chris Rodrigues and the Spoon Lady
• Hindemith: Der Schwanendreher
• Brendel Performs Schubert’s A Major Sonata No. 22, D. 959
• The New York Philharmonic in a 2016 Performance of Dvorak’s New World Symphony
• Alexander Gavrylyuk Plays Bach İtalian Concerto
• Daniel Lozakovich, at 12 Years Old, Performs a Beethoven Violin and Piano Sonata
• Jacquet de la Guerre: Sonata in D minor for Violin and Continuo performed by House of Time
• Evgeni Koroliov Performs Claude Debussy Préludes
• Turkey’s Fazil Say Plays Mozart’s Alla Turca, Then His Own
• Guitarist John Williams at the BBC: The 2016 Documentary
• Sviatoslav Richter Plays Schubert’s Great Piano Sonata No 13 in A major, D 664
• Philip Glass’s Violin Concerto Performed on Sax by Amy Dixon
• 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