Monday Briefing: Michael Stavris in Court, Turtle Trail, Stamp and Coin, Poetry Show Entries, Renner's 'Shared Savings' Accounts

Officer Zapata, left, and ffficer Hirschi read to a class at the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia. — Bunnell Police officer Zapata, left, and Officer Hirschi read to a class at the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia. The Early Learning Coalition of Flagler & Volusia kicked off a partnership on March 11 with the Bunnell Police Department to bring the “Officer Friendly” Program to Bunnell. Each month, Bunnell Police Officers will visit selected early learning programs to read stories to preschool aged children. Stories will focus on building children’s selfesteem, developing their social skills and creating positive relationships with police officers. The coalition will provide each early learning program with play-based activities which will enrich their existing curriculum and extend the learning well after the officer has left the program, leaving a lasting impression on the children. “The Bunnell Police Department is excited to be part of this valuable program. We believe that community engagement and early intervention with our children, is an investment for the future of our community,” Bunnell Police Chief Tom Foster said. “We hope to develop trust with our youth and look forward to our continued partnership with the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler and Volusia.”

Today: Mostly sunny in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 50s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.
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: 242
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: reverberate.
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

“… old folks and old trees, if you remove them, it is ten to one that you kill them.”

–Benjamin Franklin, cited in Carl van Doren’s “Benjamin Franklin” (1938).
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.

In Court: Michael Stavris, the ex-Bunnell cop just released from prison on a conviction of child abuse, is arraigned before Circuit Judge Terence Perkins on a violation of probation after he is alleged to have returned to the same behavior that had landed him in prison–creating fake Facebook accounts by using the identity of an underage girl and making contact with her friends or other men. The hearing is at 8:30 a.m. See background here and here.

The Bunnell City Commission meets at 7 p.m, 201 West Moody Boulevard, City Commission Chambers – Building 3.

The Palm Coast Arts Foundation dedicates the third public sculpture of its Turtle Trail, by Paul Beaulieu, the artist who will be at the dedication of “Marc,” a Chagall adaptation inspired by Chagall’s “Peace Windows” stained glass work at the United Nations in New York. 5 p.m. at Grand Haven Village Center, 2001 Waterside Parkway, by way of the main entrance to Grand Haven off Colbert Lane. This project is an on-going public sculpture project launched May 2018 by the Palm Coast Arts Foundation. Once a few more turtle sculptures are placed in the community, a map will be created to help guide you to their resting spots. Each sculpture was created to depict an important artist of the past. PCAF works with the sponsor and artist to develop the plan, site location, and all details from start to finish. Anyone interested in sponsoring one of these public sculptures is encouraged to contact the Palm Coast Arts Foundation, 386-225-4394 or [email protected]. More information can be found on our website: www.palmcoastartsfoundation.com. Artists interested in participating in this community project, send your contact information, and a link to your website or examples of your work to: [email protected]

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.

The Flagler Palm Coast High School Advisory Council meets at 6 p.m. at the school.

The “L” Word Identity Group, 6 p.m. at UNF-Jacksonville’s John A. Delaney Student Union, Building 58E Room 1111. The L Word is a peer-led discussion group that allows female/feminine and lesbian spectrum identified individuals to meet and discuss a wide range of topics on coming out, relationships, labels, family dynamics, etc. The discussion group is open to all individuals falling on the female/feminine spectrum, including but not limited to: nonbinary, gender nonconforming and trans, bisexual women, queer folks, and questioning.

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):

Tuesday: Palm Coast Elks Lodge, 53 Old Kings Road North, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday: Moe’s Grill, 250 Palm Coast Parkway, noon to 6 p.m.
Saturday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: Santa Maria del Mar Church, 915 North Central Avenue, Flagler Beach, 9 a.m. to 1 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.

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.

Last Updated: March 25

Segment 2 (South 22nd Street to South 9th Street):

The contractor continues installing a new water main along the west side of S.R. A1A. The work began at the south end of the project and is moving north. The contractor is expected to be installing new pipe between South 19th Street and South 18th Street over the next two weeks. Farther south, the contractor will be preparing to pour concrete for the new sidewalk.

Pedestrians are asked to stay within the temporary pedestrian walkways for safety. Residents and visitors also are reminded that all of the dune walkovers are closed, and removing any signage or barricades to access a walkover is unsafe and unlawful.

Segment 3 (North 18th Street to Osprey Drive) Project Update:

The contractor has completed more than 200 of the approximately 1,800 piles that need to be drilled to create the secant wall.

Construction activities will continue during daylight hours Monday through Saturday. The contractor is requesting that spectators stay off the shoulders and out of the work zone for safety. Drivers need to obey the 25-mph speed limit and remember that parking is not allowed on the shoulder.

Caution! Flagler Beach police and and Sherriff’s deputies are actively monitoring speed and writing tickets. “I got a warning on north section of A1A before construction actually began so I keep to the 25 limit, but still getting tailgated by cars wanting to go faster,” a reader tells us.

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) — 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.

The Florida Department of Transportation will be closing Old Dixie Highway and C.R. 325 at U.S. 1 on Monday night, March 4, from about 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closure is needed to allow the contractor to make improvements to the crossover at the temporary intersection. U.S. 1 will remain open in both directions.

More details here.

See Also:

I-95 Construction, Repaving: Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m., single lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line. Monday – Friday, 9 p.m. – 7 a.m., double lane closures on NB I-95 from north of Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County line.

See this week’s full Interstate Construction Report for Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns here.

Announcements/Press Releases:

Flagler County Art League’s 8th Annual Poetry Competition: All poets are invited to participate in the 2019 Flagler County Art League National Poetry Month Competition, to run concurrently with our April Art Show. The competition will have an open theme. There will be a $25 prize for the first -place poem, a $15 prize for second place, and a $10 prize for third place. Entry fee is $3 for one poem, $5 for two. Winners are announced and can read their entries during our show opening, April 13, 6-8 p.m. Register here. The judge is Benjamin K. Atkinson, PhD, prestigious poet active in Ancient City Poets of St. Augustine and other northeastern Florida venues.

camp blanding winners — Click on the image for larger view.

2 Flagler Emergency Planners graduate FEPA Intermediate Academy: Two Flagler County Emergency Management Planners – Lea Tardanico and Nealon Joseph – recently graduated from the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA) Intermediate Academy. “The commitment of Nealon and Lea to expand their horizons for the betterment of Flagler County increases the pride that I already have for our amazing emergency management team,” said Emergency Management Chief Jonathan Lord, noting that volunteers and several community partners round out the team along with county and municipal staff. “I am also grateful for the efforts put forth by the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association to better prepare Florida’s emergency managers for the future.” Tardanico and Joseph – Flagler County’s newest emergency managers – spent a week in mid-March the Florida National Guard Camp Blanding Joint Training Center with other like-minded professionals from across the state to dive deeper into practical applications and principals of Emergency Management. The course included more than 60 hours of classroom instruction endured in 12- to 14-hour days to simulate real life emergency deployment and response. “I came away even more motivated to continue my path in emergency management,” Tardanico said. “There is still so much to learn, and it is wonderful to get information directly from the subject area experts.” Joseph added that nothing tops an opportunity to learn from others’ experiences. “It really illustrated that there can be a disconnect between what is happening in the field and the operations center,” Joseph said. “It is critical to follow the plans and the planning process to prevent creating a communications gap between the two.” The Intermediate Academy course training counts toward the completion of the FEMA Advanced Professional Series certification for Joseph and Tardanico.

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.

HEALTH SAVINGS SOUGHT: The House Ways & Means Committee will take up a bill (HB 1113), filed by Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, that would allow health insurers to create “shared savings” accounts. The proposal is designed to encourage insured people to shop for cheaper health services and be able to share the savings with insurers. (Monday, noon, Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

HEMP PROGRAM PITCHED: The Senate Agriculture Committee will take up a bill (SB 1020), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would authorize the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to move forward with rules for a state hemp program. The proposal comes after a 2018 federal law legalized the industrial use of hemp. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

LAWSON GOES BEFORE SENATE PANEL: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Ken Lawson, who was appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis as executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

AMENDMENT 4 AT ISSUE: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will consider a proposal (SPB 7086) that would carry out a constitutional amendment designed to restore the voting rights of felons who have fulfilled their sentences. Voters approved the constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 4, in the November election. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

CANADIAN DRUG IMPORTS CONSIDERED: The Senate Health Policy Committee will take up a bill (SB 1528), filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, that would seek to import cheaper prescription drugs from Canada for state programs such as Medicaid. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AT ISSUE: The House Civil Justice Subcommittee will take up a proposal (HJR 57), filed by Rep. Rick Roth, R-Loxahatchee, that would make it harder to pass constitutional amendments. Under the proposal, two-thirds of voters would have to approve amendments, up from the current 60 percent. (Monday, 3 p.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

WORKERS’ COMP CHANGES SOUGHT: The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee will consider a proposal (SB 1636), filed by Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, that would revamp workers’ compensation insurance laws dealing with issues such as benefits and attorney fees. (Monday, 4 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

DISTRACTED DRIVING TARGETED: The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up a bill (SB 76), filed by Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, that would toughen a law that bans texting while driving. The proposal would also ban talking on handheld cell phones while driving. Also, it would consider texting while driving and talking on handheld phones while driving as “primary” offenses — meaning police could pull over motorists who are violating the law. (Monday, 4 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

CHILDREN’S ISSUES ON TABLE: The Florida Children and Youth Cabinet will meet. (Monday, 1 p.m., Cabinet meeting room, the Capitol.)

BENSE HONORED AT FSU: Former House Speaker Allan Bense, R-Panama City, will receive an honorary doctorate of humane letters during an event at Florida State University. Bense also is a former chairman of the Board of Trustees at FSU, his alma mater. The event is expected to include FSU President John Thrasher and former House Speaker Will Weatherford, who is Bense’s son-in-law. (4 p.m., Florida State University, Dodd Hall, 641 University Way, Tallahassee.)

—-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 March 22, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.

Click to access week-in-review-march-22-2019-developments.pdf

Cultural Coda

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach – Symphony in C major