Monday Briefing: Look Out for Manatees, Look Out at the County Commission, Cottage Fever

manatees safety — Look out for manatees: November is Manatee Awareness Month. Florida has more than 6,600 manatees swimming in rivers, bays and coastal waters. These large aquatic mammals can weigh over 1,000 pounds. As the weather cools, manatees are on the move, searching for warmer waters to survive the winter. Remember: Disturbing manatees at warm-water sites may cause them to leave those areas at a time when it is critical for them to remain there. Seasonal manatee protection zones also go into effect in the fall, depending on the county. The zones are marked by waterway signs, and maps of local manatee protection zones are available online at MyFWC.com/Manatee by clicking on “Data and Maps.” Wear polarized sunglasses to spot them moving, grazing and resting in the water. Keep a lookout for the circular “footprints” or ripples they leave on the surface of the water. Follow posted manatee zones. Observe manatees from a distance to limit disturbance. Disturbing manatees at their warm-water sites may cause them to leave these areas during the winter. Report injured, entangled, orphaned or dead manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline: 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on your cellphone or text [email protected] (FWC)

Today: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Northeast winds 5 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s. North winds 5 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 Index: 228
The OED’s Word of the day: zeitgeber, 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
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Local Road and Interstate Construction
Cultural Coda

“At state dinners during the Obama administration, she was the one guest other than the president whom people wanted to sit next to. Ben & Jerry’s has been petitioned to come out with “Ruth Bader Ginger.” (There have been no requests for Plain Vanilla Alito.)”

–From David Kaplan’s “The Most Dangerous Branch: Inside the Supreme Court’s Assault on the Constitution” (2018).

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.

It’s Thanksgiving week: no school in Flagler.

The Flagler County Commission hosts a ribbon-cutting for its new tourist cottages at the Princess Place Preserve, 2500 Princess Place Road, at 10 a.m. The commission holds a reception for outgoing Commissioner Nate McLaughlin at 3 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Bldg. 3 (behind the Government Services Building), Bunnell.

The Flagler County Commission has a scheduled workshop at 1 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Bldg. 3 (behind the Government Services Building), Bunnell. Commissioners will discuss legislative priorities in the legislative session next year.

The Flagler County Commission meets at 5 p.m. at the Government Services Building to consider the last agenda before Commissioner Nate McLaughlin is replaced. To that end, the county administrator has loaded the agenda with items designed to gain McLaughlin’s vote before his replacement by Joe Mullins, an avowed opponent of County Administrator Craig Coffey and many of his policies. Among the controversial agenda items: a proposed lease that would allow Captain’s BBQ, a private restaurant at Bing’s Landing to build a new, larger structure near its existing restaurant, as the current structure is decaying, and to extend the lease to mid-century. Commissioners are also expected to consider buying space for the tax collector’s office and selling a parcel of land at Matanzas Woods Parkway to Florida Hospital Flagler, as well as approve a large contract for a document-management system.

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):

Monday: Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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


Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21
Previous and archived reports

Sources: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department. This is Flagler County's only comprehensive, one-stop compilation of all local law enforcement's daily day and night shift commanders' reports.

Announcements:

Flagler Beach Thanksgiving: Mayor Linda Provencher is currently collecting cash donations to help feed Flagler Beach residents this Thanksgiving. There is a donation box located in the front of the finance department at City Hall located at 105 S. 2nd St, or you can contact Linda Provencher directly at 386-439-8815. There will not be a sit down Thanksgiving dinner this year, but any residents who would like a turkey to prepare, or if would like an individual meal delivered, please contact Linda Provencher at 386-439-8815.

The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach invites the community to participate in the Holiday at the Beach Parade to be held Saturday, December 1st at 1:00 PM. There is no cost to participate and those interested are asked to complete a parade application by visiting http://www.flaglerbeachrotary.org/. The entry deadline is November 26th, 2018. The parade line up is between 11:00AM and 1:00PM, with the parade beginning promptly at 1:00PM. Participants will receive an entry number and map to their line up location on November 29th via email. The parade route is east on N. 6th Street, south on A1A, then west on S. 6th Street. For safety reasons, the City of Flagler Beach bans the throwing of anything from moving vehicles. Candy can be handed out by accompanying walkers. Trophies will be awarded to: Best of Parade, Judges Choice, Best Marching Unit, Performances, Best Holiday Theme. There is one trophy for Best of Parade and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd categories for all other awards. Parade participants are asked to go to Veterans Park immediately following the parade for the awards ceremony. Further details are attached and available via this link.

Be Local Buy Local’ on Small Business Saturday this Nov. 24: The City of Palm Coast is a ‘Be Local Buy Local’ kind of community! To support local retailers and restaurants as the holiday shopping season kicks off, the City is participating in the national celebration of Small Business Saturday on Nov. 24. The Palm Coast City Council is planning to proclaim Nov. 24 – the Saturday after Thanksgiving – as Small Business Saturday in Palm Coast. “When our community shops locally, businesses thrive, jobs are created and it boosts our local economy,” said Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland. It also has the added benefit of generating money for amenities and projects for the community, because a portion of the sales tax collected returns back to Palm Coast to fund projects such as the new Palm Coast Community Center and Holland Park renovations, road repaving and street lights. “I want to encourage all of our residents to get out with their family and friends on Small Business Saturday this November 24th and enjoy the local shops and restaurants you love,” Mayor Holland said. “If every resident of Palm Coast were to spend $25 at a local business on Small Business Saturday it would infuse $1.462 million into our local economy!” Let Small Business Saturday encourage everyone to shop small all year long. For more information, visit the Palm Coast Business Assistance Center website at www.PalmCoastBAC.com.

The City of Flagler Beach needs volunteers to serve on the following government advisory boards:

Investment Committee 1 Vacancy for an Attorney
This Committee meets quarterly, is required by Statutes, and provides recommendations to the City Commission regrading the investment policies and strategies.

Personnel Advisory Review Board 1 Vacancy
This Committee rarely meets but is required by our Code of Ordinance in the event an employee has a grievance and wishes to appeal disciplinary action.

Economic Development Task Force 1 Vacancy
This Committee meets monthly and provides recommendations to the Commission related to goals and assignments established by the City Commission.

If you’re interested, contact City Clerk Penny Overstreet, (386)-517-2000 EXT 233.

Audition Call: Flagler Playhouse’s “A… My Name is Alice”: Audition dates/time: Monday, December 3 and Tuesday, December 4 @ 6:30 pm at Flagler Playhouse. Looking for 5 talented females to play multiple roles in the musical, “A… My Name is Alice”. Voice types needed: 2 sopranos, 3 altos. Ages: 18 and up. Please prepare a song in the Pop genre for the audition. You will also be asked to read prepared selections as part of the audition process. If you are unable to make the scheduled audition dates, please email Michele at [email protected] for an alternate date. Performance dates : January 25 through February 10, 2019. Please park in the rear lot and enter through the cast door.

The Rotary Club of Flagler County is looking for bands and musical groups to perform seasonal music at the Fantasy Lights in Central Park, Palm Coast. The free event featuring lighted displays around the lake, Santa’s Village, Train rides for the kids also has a nightly live performance of seasonal music at 7 p.m. each night for the month of December. The music is carried throughout the park and Rotary provides some sound equipment and lights. If your band is interested in performing please contact Carl Laundrie at [email protected] or call 386-283-8386.

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.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS GATHER: The House Republican caucus will meet in advance of an organization session Tuesday in which Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, will formally become House speaker. Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, will lead the House during the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions. (Monday, 4 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

GIBSON TO LEAD SENATE DEMOCRATS: The Senate Democratic caucus will meet and elect Sen. Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, as the Democratic leader for the 2019 and 2020 legislative sessions. Gibson was elected to the Senate in 2011 and served from 2002 to 2010 in the House. (Monday, 5:30 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

CASTOR LOOKS TO FIGHT HUNGER: U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Fla., will hold a media availability after meeting with Feeding Tampa Bay to discuss efforts to fight hunger in the region. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., 4702 Transport Dr., Building 6, Tampa.)

FEDERAL MEDICAID MONEY AT ISSUE: The Social Services Estimating Conference will discuss the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage, or FMAP, which helps determine how much federal money Florida will receive in the Medicaid program. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

MEDICAID CASELOADS ANALYZED: The Social Services Estimating Conference will consider caseloads in the Medicaid program and the KidCare subsidized health-insurance program. (Monday, 2 p.m., 117 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

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

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A Twitter List by PierreTristam

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 Nov. 11, 2018, with a link to the full week in review here.

Click to access developments-nov-11-20181.pdf

Road and Interstate Construction: