Wednesday Briefing: Opioids Crisis, Community Cats, Leadership Flagler, Hansen’s Hammock

FlaglerLive | February 13, 2019

Palm Coast’s Animal Control Division is inviting caretakers of community cats to a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Palm Coast City Hall tonight. Details below. (Pop H.)

Today:: Cooler. Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of showers in the morning, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 60s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Colder. Partly cloudy in the evening then becoming clear. Lows in the lower 40s. North 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 Index: 68
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: teem.
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
Flagler Beach A1A Construction Updates
US 1-Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Cultural Coda

“… golf, a sport that, like smoking pot, was a habit that I enjoyed cultivating.”

–From Willie Nelson’s “It’s A Long Story” (2015).

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.

The Public Safety Coordinating Council meets for the first time since April 2018 at 8:45 a.m. at the Emergency Operations Center in Bunnell. This is a joint meeting of the County Commission and the Public Safety council, with a discussion of the opioid crisis. See the agenda and background here.

The Bunnell Code Enforcement Board meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 201 West Moody Boulevard, Bunnell.

Community Cats: Palm Coast’s Animal Control Division is inviting caretakers of community cats to a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Palm Coast City Hall, 160 Lake Ave. Alice Burton and Brianna Lovell from Alley Cat Allies, a leading advocate for outdoor cats, will speak to the group via Skype, offering information about colony management, resources available, low-cost spay/neuter, and more. All are welcome to attend. Palm Coast Animal Control seeks to provide education and receive public information from community cat caretakers. For more information, contact Cindi Lane, Communications & Marketing Manager, at clane@palmcoastgov.com and 386-986-3708. (Rescheduled from its original Feb. 6 time.)

Leadership Flagler: The Flagler County Chamber of Commerce hosts a Leadership Flagler Kickoff Reception from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Chamber, 20 Airport Rd, Ste C, Palm Coast: Join the newest class of Leadership Flagler for a kickoff reception and orientation for Class 26. Meet past alumni, chamber staff and the newest class. The reception will consist of an orientation, ice breaker event, appetizers and drinks.

Flagler County Commissioner Greg Hansen speaks to the Hammock Community Association at the Hammock Community Center, 79 Mala Compra Rd., to share information about emergency preparedness and community paramedicine, 6 p.m.

The Blue Power 2020 Action Forum, 12:30 p.m. at the Fair Trade Cafe at Palm Coast’s City Marketplace, 160 Cypress Point Pkwy. 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.

COMMUNITY INPUT SOUGHT ON HEALTH ISSUES: Flagler county residents are being asked to speak up and voice their opinion on a variety of health-related topics through an online survey. The input from the community will be used to create health improvement plans to address community concerns and improve quality of life. The survey is online here countyhealthsurvey.com and is available in English and Spanish. Results of the survey provide the foundation of Community Health Needs Assessments, which are a collection of data used to inform communities and develop goals to improve health outcomes. Once the assessments are complete, they will be used to create three-year Community Health Improvement Plans for both Volusia and Flagler counties. The assessments are being conducted in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health in Flagler and Volusia counties, Flagler Cares, local hospitals and Volusia and Flagler county government. Residents, employers and community partners are encouraged to share this link and ask others to take the survey as well. The survey will close February 28, 2019. Please take the survey here.

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):

Wednesday: Integra Woods Apartments, 1000 Integra Woods Blvd., Palm Coast, 3 to 6 p.m.
Wednesday: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 402 North Palmetto St., Bunnell, 5 to 8:30 p.m.
Friday: Chick Fil A, 1000 Palm Coast Parkway, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday: Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area, 3100 South Oceanshore Boulevard, Flagler Beach, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday: Epic Theaters, 1185 Central Avenue, Palm Coast, 1 to 6 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

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.

Flagler Beach Is Open For Business: A1A Construction Update:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to year-long construction on and near State Road A1A in Flagler Beach as the Florida Department of Transportation rebuilds a 1.5-mile segment from South 9th Street to South 22nd Street, and builds a sea wall at the north end of town. These updates are provided through DOT or local officials. If you have any relevant information or images, you’re welcome to email them to the editor here.

February 4 Update: Construction is scheduled to begin this week week on Segments 2 and 3 of the S.R. A1A project. Work on Segment 2, from S. 22nd Street to S. 9th Street will include removal of the existing low-profile barrier wall, and construction of the temporary lime rock base on the east side of the roadway to prepare for placement of temporary asphalt. This work will require single lane closures with flagging operations during the day. Work is expected to progress from south to north. Both northbound and southbound traffic will remain on S.R. A1A. The southbound S.R. A1A detour is expected to begin in late February.

Work on Segment 3, from N. 18th Street to Osprey Drive will include removing two existing beach walkovers near N.18th Street and one walkover in front of Oceanside Condominiums as noted in the plans. Work also will include importing and placing sand in preparation for installing the auger cast pilings. Traffic will be shifted slightly to the west on S.R. A1A to accommodate the work. Drivers can expect a single lane closure with flagging operations when traffic is shifted.

The contractor has 300 days to complete the work.

See Also:

The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county’s most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view.
(DOT)

U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to the planned 15-month, $4.1 million construction of a roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway. The project started in late January and is scheduled for completion by spring 2020.

This week southbound U.S. 1 will be reduced to one lane and be shifted slightly west onto new pavement. Southbound U.S. 1 traffic heading to Old Dixie Highway will be directed to stay on southbound U.S. 1 and make a U-turn to return to Old Dixie Highway using northbound U.S. 1. Old Dixie Highway drivers heading to southbound U.S. 1 will have to turn onto northbound U.S. 1 and make a U-turn to access southbound U.S. 1. Later this week, northbound U.S. 1 will be reduced to one lane and shifted west onto the existing southbound side of the roadway. Once this shift is made, U.S. 1 will have one lane in each direction through the project area. The speed limit will be reduced along U.S. 1 through the construction zone, and drivers are asked to be alert and use caution when traveling through the work area.

More details here.

See Also:

Announcements:

Scholarship Applicants Wanted: The Flagler Woman’s Club will award multiple $2000 scholarships to male and female graduating seniors in all areas of study including Theatre, Art, Music, and Trade Schools. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen; a resident of Flagler County for a minimum of one year; have a financial need and qualify for acceptance to a college or a trade school. Printed applications are now available at the Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas High Schools’ Guidance Departments; the Flagler County Library in Palm Coast and the Flagler Beach Library. The application is also available on our Face Book page at The Flagler Woman’s Club. The application deadline is February 8, 2019. For more information call Kay Johnson at (386)439-3960 or (386)405-8518.

County Commissioner Joe Mullins. (© FlaglerLive)

Commissioner Mullins named to national steering committee: The National Association of Counties named Commissioner Joe Mullins to serve on its Telecommunications and Technology Policy Steering Committee. “A great deal of NACo’s strength is in our committees and your active participation reflects and reinforces that strength,” NACo president Greg Cox wrote to Mullins about the nomination. “The expertise and engagement of our steering committee members is a main reason why Congress and federal agencies often look to NACo for feedback on legislative policy decisions being made in Washington D.C.” As a member of the steering committee, Mullins is required to participate in monthly conference calls and attend NACo’s Legislative Conference and its Annual Conference. This year’s initiative is “Connecting the Unconnected: Counties Linking Residents to Services.” “It is a great honor to be nominated to this important committee,” Mullins said. “I look forward to serving our local residents at the national level. We are trying to bring fiber to the area, which will attract high-paying jobs.”

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.

EVERGLADES RESTORATION DETAILED: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee will take up numerous issues, including receiving a presentation from the Department of Environmental Protection about Everglades restoration. (Wednesday, 8 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

PRISON HEALTH CARE AT ISSUE: The House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will receive a presentation from the Florida Department of Corrections about inmate health services and litigation. (Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

‘FRACKING’ BAN WEIGHED: The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee and the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee are scheduled to take up bills (PCB ANRS 19-01 and SB 314) that would prohibit the controversial oil- and gas-drilling process known as “fracking” in the state. (Wednesday, House Agriculture & Natural Resources, 1:30 p.m., 12 House Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Senate Environment and Natural Resources, 1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

WORKFORCE HOUSING SOUGHT: The Senate Community Affairs Committee will consider a proposal (SB 250), filed by Chairwoman Anitere Flores, R-Miami, that would create a tax-credit program to try to boost workforce housing. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

LOCAL TAX REFERENDUMS TARGETED: The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee will take up a bill (SB 336), filed by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that would require local governments to hold sales-tax referendums during general elections. Supporters of the proposed restriction contend tax referendums should not be held during what are often sparsely attended special elections. But critics have argued, in part, that sales-tax issues can get lost on lengthy general-election ballots. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

PROFESSIONAL LICENSING CHANGES PROPOSED: The House Business & Professions Subcommittee will consider a bill (HB 397), filed by Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood, that would make changes in professional licensing to try to help people get jobs after leaving prison. The changes would apply to certified nursing assistants, barbers, cosmetologists and several types of contractors. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

SUNPASS SYSTEM DRAWS SCRUTINY: The House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee will receive a presentation from the Department of Transportation about the SunPass Centralized Customer Service System. Implementation of the system last year caused major problems and a backlog of toll invoices. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

CONSTITUTION REVISION PANEL TARGETED: The House Civil Justice Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HJR 53), filed by Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, and Rep. Bobby Payne, R-Palatka, that would require ballot measures proposed by the state Constitution Revision Commission to contain only single subjects. Also, the subcommittee will consider a proposal (HJR 249), filed by Rep. Brad Drake, R-Eucheeanna, that would repeal the commission, which meets every 20 years and has unique powers to place measures on the ballot. The commission drew criticism last year for “bundling” unrelated issues into single constitutional amendments. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

‘MASS VIOLENCE’ RECORDS EXEMPTION SOUGHT: The House Oversight, Transparency & Public Management Subcommittee will consider a proposal (PCB OTM 19-08) that would expand a public-records exemption to prevent the release of photos, videos and audio recordings that show or record the killing of victims of “mass violence.” (Wednesday, 4 p.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

SCHOOL SAFETY MONEY DISCUSSED: The House PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee will receive presentations about “safe schools” funding. (Wednesday, 4 p.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

ELECTION QUALIFYING STARTS: A qualifying period will begin for candidates in special elections in three House districts vacated by lawmakers who took positions heading state agencies. The special elections will be held in District 7, which was vacated by former Rep. Halsey Beshears, R-Monticello; District 38, which was vacated by former Rep. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills; and District 97, which was vacated by former Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Coral Springs. Beshears recently became secretary of the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Burgess became executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and Moskowitz became director of the Division of Emergency Management. (Wednesday, qualifying starts at 8 a.m.)

STONE SPEAKS AT TIGER BAY; Republican political operative Roger Stone, who was recently charged as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections, is scheduled to speak to the Gold Coast Tiger Bay Club. (Wednesday, 11:30 a.m., City Fish Market, 7940 Glades Road, Boca Raton.)

—-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 17-19:

"Southern Fried Funeral," a play at the Daytona Playhouse, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Adults $20, Seniors 55 and up, $18, Youths 18 and under $8. Address: 100 Jessamine Blvd., Daytona Beach, or see directions here. Buy tickets online here. Box office: 386-255-2431.
♦ May 18: Flagler Pier Fishing Tournament, starting at 6 a.m. at the pier.
♦ May 18: The 2nd Annual Bunnell Bonanza, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It's a great family-friendly tradition located in the heart of Bunnell. In its second year, the Bunnell Bonanza will be expanded to a centrally-located venue in the heart of Bunnell at the historic Coquina City Hall. Brought to you by the Flagler County Chamber, the Bunnell Area Council, the City of Bunnell and Yellowstone Landscape.
♦ May 18: Matanzas High School Interact Club's “Rise Up Against Hunger,” in the school's Dining Hall, a food packaging event for the needy starting at 1 p.m.
♦ May 18: First National Kids to Park Day at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. 3rd Saturday of every month. 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. For any questions, please contact the Pier bait shop at 386-517-2436.
♦ May 18: Household Hazardous Waste Clean Out Campaign, City of Flagler Beach Library Parking Lot, 315 S. 7th Street, Flagler Beach,8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
♦ May 20: A trial is scheduled to begin, with jury selection on Monday, in the case of Bruce Haughton, the 54-year-old R-Section man who two years ago survived what was alleged to be a double-suicide. Katherine Goddard, 52, who lived at 29 Red Clover Lane in Palm Coast, died. It is an unusual case rich in legally gray areas, with Houghton facing a second degree felony charge of n "negligent manslaughter while assisting in self-murder." The case will be tried before Circuit Judge Terence Perkins in Courtroom 401 at the Flagler County courthouse. See more background here.
♦ May 20: The East Flagler Mosquito Control District board meets at 10 a.m. at the district’s offices, 10 Airport Executive Drive (off Belle Terre Boulevard), Palm Coast.

♦ May 20: Sheriff Rick Staly hosts a ceremony outside of the Flagler County Sheriff's Marine Unit substation at 69 Malacompra Road at 10:30 a.m. to unveil new signage honoring Captain Grady Prather. Prather was a 33-year veteran of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office who headed up the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit, which he also created. Prather retired on January 31, 2008 and died on Nov. 17, 2009. In 2011, an artificial reef was deployed in Flagler Beach through grants from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation and the St. Augustine Port, Waterway and Beach District. The reef was also named in Prather's honor.
♦ May 20: The Flagler County Commission meets at 5 p.m. at the Government Services Building, Bunnell. The commission is expected to hear a status report on the troubled Plantation Bay utility and will be presented a roughly $10 million spending plan, on borrowed money, to address the utility's problems. The county administrator says the spending plan does not foresee a raise in rates for utility customers. The commission will also discuss where to place the sheriff's operations as the sheriff contends with space issues, both with a too-expensive lease at City Marketplace and with too little space at the courthouse.
♦ May 20: The Buddy Taylor Middle School Advisory Council meets at 5 p.m., the PTO at 6 at the school’s media center.
♦ May 20:

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.
♦ May 21: The Palm Coast City Council meets at 9 a.m. at City Hall in Town Center. The council is expected to discuss and possibly approve a final plat for American Village in Palm Coast's P-Section: Hammock Real Estate Development proposes to replat and subdivide approximately 8.9 acres into
45 single family residential lots, 8.01 acres into three multi-family tracts, a stormwater tract and two recreational tracts for a total of 16.91 acres. American Village, a gated community, is located on the south side of Pritchard Drive, approximately one block north of the Pritchard Drive and Prince Michael Lane intersection. See background here.
♦ May 21: The Flagler County Economic Opportunity Advisory Council meets at 9 a.m. in board chambers at the Government Services Building, Bunnell.
♦ May 21: The The Flagler County School Board meets in workshop at 1 p.m. in training room 3 on the third floor of the Government Services Building, Bunnell, and at 6 p.m. in a meeting in board chambers at the GSB. At the workshop, the board will hear a legislative wrap-up from its Tallahassee lobbyist and discuss records confidentiality.
♦ May 21: Flagler Beach's Beach Management Plan Ad-Hoc Committee meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall.
♦ May 21: Daytona State College hosts an Express Enrollment afternoon and evening from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Palm Coast campus, 3000 Palm Coast Parkway.
♦ May 21: Food Truck Tuesday, 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. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to the Family Life Center, which is a local organization that provides essential support services to individuals and families to end domestic violence and sexual violence in Flagler County. Support services include shelter, food, clothing, transportation, medical services, employment coaching, education resources, legal service support, counseling, community education, outreach programs, and partnering with other social service and law enforcement agencies to coordinate support services and programs. More info: www.palmcoast.gov.com/foodtruck or call 386-986-2323.
♦ May 22: 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 22: The IB Class of 2019 has its "Baccalaureate Night" at Santa Maria del Mar Catholic Church in Flagler Beach, at 7 p.m.
♦ May 22: A meeting of the 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. The Compassionate Friends, 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 The Compassionate Friends, visit their national website at www.compassionatefriends.org.
♦ May 23: The Flagler Chamber's Common Ground Breakfast features a 2019 Legislative Update with Sen. Travis Hutson and Rep. Paul Renner at the Hilton Garden Inn, 55 Town Center Dr., Palm Coast, Checkin begins at 7:30, breakfast starts promptly at 8.
♦ May 23: Flagler Lifeline, a volunteer committee and Flagler Cares affiliate established to broaden conversation and awareness of suicide, will host a public town hall event at 6 p.m. at the Flagler County Association of Realtors building, 4101 East Moody Blvd. in Bunnell. The Town Hall will feature presentations by mental health experts, suicide survivors and others who have been touched by suicide, and will be facilitated by Colleen Conklin, the long-time school board member and one of Flagler Lifeline’s founders. For the past several years Conklin has hosted periodic events, including electronic town halls, to bring awareness to bullying and suicide prevention. The May 23 town hall, like Flagler Lifeline's emergence, is partly a result of Flagler County's place in 2017 as the county with the leading suicide rate in the state, proportional to its population. See the background story here.
♦ May 23: The Flagler Beach City Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 105 South Second Street. Commissioners will consider making the city a member of the American Flood Coalition.
♦ May 23: The Palm Coast Beautification and Environmental Advisory Committee meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall in Town Center. An agenda had not been posted online as of May 18.
♦ May 23: The Wadsworth Elementary School Advisory Council and PTO meet at 6 p.m. in the school’s media center.
♦ May 23:

Palm Coast Artist and 2011 Flagler County Artist of the Year Weldon Ryan hosts a meet and great at the Bronze Kingdom African Art Gallery, 3201 East Colonial Drive, Orlando, from 6 to 9 p.m. Wine and cheese, 15 percent off on all of Weldon's works.
♦ May 23-26: "Southern Fried Funeral," a play at the Daytona Playhouse, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m., Adults $20, Seniors 55 and up, $18, Youths 18 and under $8. Address: 100 Jessamine Blvd., Daytona Beach, or see directions here. Buy tickets online here. Box office: 386-255-2431.
♦ May 24: Flagler County Emergency Management chief Jonathan Lord hosts a media roundtable at noon on the upcoming hurricane season, at the Emergency Operations Center, 1769 E. Moody Blvd, Bldg. 3 (behind the Government Services Building), Bunnell.
♦ May 24: Butterfly Walk at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 North Oceanshore Blvd., 10 a.m. Join a ranger at 2 p.m. for a walk through our historical gardens. Learn about the history of our park while exploring the beauty of the formal gardens, with an emphasis on butterflies. The walk is approximately 1 hour. Please bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes. Meet in the garden parking lot. Garden walk included with park entry. No registration required.
♦ May 25: Pool Safety Day at Palm Coast's Freeda Zamba pool, 339 Parkview Drive, open to all ages, from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is designed to teach the importance and seriousness of safety, but while having fun and participating in activities that children will remember. Florida is one of two states that lead the nation with at least 21 fatal child drownings last summer, according to a report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission and USA Swimming Foundation. About ten people die every day from unintentional drowning and of these, two will be children age 14 or younger, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fee is $1 for seniors and youth age 17 and under. It is $2 for adults.
♦ May 27: Memorial Day, 8 a.m. start time at Heroes Memorial Park, 2860 Palm Coast Pkwy. The City of Palm Coast welcomes the community to share a meaningful Memorial Day tribute to those who have lost their lives while serving their country. U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, who represents District 6, will speak. Rain Location: Fire Station 21 at 9 Corporate Drive Free and no registration required. More info: 386-986-2300.
♦ May 28: The Flagler County Opioid Task Force meets at 6 p.m. in the first-floor conference room at the Government Services Building
♦ 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.

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.

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 Feb. 8, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.

Cultural Coda

Sulkhan Tsintsadze: Miniatures for String Quartet