Tuesday Briefing: State of Education, Election Forum, LGBT Youth Group, DSC Veterans Ceremony, Chess on the Porch

Superintendent Jim Tager delivers the State of Education address tonight. (© FlaglerLive)

Today: Mostly cloudy with chance of showers and slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Southwest winds 5 mph shifting to the north in the afternoon. Chance of rain 50 percent. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Lows in the upper 60s. North winds around 5 mph.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s National Commemorations.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index: 132
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: sobriquet.
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
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Cultural Coda

“What may be most telling about the episode is how little attention the disparity of details received. In the past, presidential words were scrutinized with forensic exactitude and any variance from the established record could do lasting political damage. In the era of Trumpian truth, misstatements and lies are washed away by the next story, prompting Pinocchios from fact checkers and scolding from Democrats and Never Trumpers while Republicans dismiss them with that’s-just-Trump-being-Trump weariness. ‘Donald Trump is not simply a serial liar; he is attempting to murder the very idea of truth, which is even worse,” said Peter Wehner, a former strategic adviser to President George W. Bush and an outspoken critic of Mr. Trump. “Because without truth, a free society cannot operate.'”

–From “The ‘Whimpering’ Terrorist Only Trump Seems to Have Heard,” The New York Times, Nov. 1, 2019.

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.

Daytona State College will salute service members past and present with ceremonies on its campuses in observation of Veterans Day. The Daytona Beach Campus commemoration features a color guard, speeches and various military organizations. DSC’s Flagler/Palm Coast Campus commemoration, at 3000 Palm Coast Parkway, S.E., is at 11 a.m., featuring the Flagler County Sheriff’s Department Color Guard and National Anthem sung by student-veteran Mark Poole. Speakers include Lauren Driscoll, Paws of War; Terry Throop, DSC student veteran; Dr. Nancy Duke, associate professor; Dr. John McNeeley, professor; and Campus Safety Coordinator Charles Fordham. Introductions provided by James Marindino, Campus Director.

Grievance Flagler County School Board meeting with former Flagler Palm Coast High School teacher Robert Sprouse: A meeting originally scheduled for October 15 was postponed to today in the case regarding former Flagler Palm Coast High Schoool i3 teacher Robert Sprouse’s grievance over his contract not being renewed at the end of the last school year. Sprouse contends the administration retaliated against him because he raised issues about the way the school was addressing issues involving a make student who was harassing girls and acting inappropriately toward them at school. Sprouse also documented the issues in writing. The October grievance meeting had also not been properly noticed by the school board. See: “A “Highly Effective” Teacher Loses His Job at FPC. He Says It Was Retaliation for Whistle-Blowing. District Disagrees.”

The Flagler County School Board meets for an agenda workshop at 3 p.m. Training Room 3, 3rd floor, Government Services Building, 1769 E Moody Blvd., Bunnell. The meeting is an information workshop only. The agenda workshop focuses on items the board will take action on at its next regular meeting. The board will discuss the Flagler Auditorium’s financial audit, its five-year work plan, and the 2020-21 academic calendar. The school board’s full agenda is accessible here.

Flagler Schools Superintendent James Tager will offer his final “State of Education” address at 6 p.m. at the Board Chambers of the Government Services Building in Bunnell. Tager will recap his initiatives which helped lead Flagler Schools to an A-Rating by the Florida Department of Education, as well as increased graduation rates for Flagler Schools students. Prior to the start of the 2019-2020 school year began, Tager announced he will be retiring at the end of this school year, on June 30th which coincides with the end of his contract. The public is invited to attend, and Flagler Schools will Livestream the address on the district’s website, www.flaglerschools.com.

The Palm Coast City Council meets at 6 p.m. at City Hall in Town Center. The council will proclaim November Buy Local Month and is expected to approve, on first reading, an ordinance that would ban heavy trucks from using Florida Park Drive as a thru-way. The council is also expected to approve a resolution of support for higher education in palm Coast, what amounts to the council’s first open discussion of the University of Florida’s hope of opening a satellite operation in Town Center. The full agenda and background materials are here.

Flagler Beach’s Planning and Architectural Review (PAR) Board meets at City Hall at 5:30 p.m., 105 S 2nd St Flagler Beach.

Primary Election County Commission Candidate Panel hosted by the Hammock Community Association, featuring candidates Andy Dance, Tom LeGault, David Sullivan, Donald O’Brien and Bob Jones, 7 p.m., Hammock Community Center, 79 Mala Compra Rd. The candidates will participate in a panel discussion where association members will ask questions about issues that will affect The Hammock.

A monthly gathering for the LGBT youth group, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Find Your Peace by Pieces, 300 Palm Coast Pkwy S.W. Unit 9 and 11. Middle and highschoolers welcome in a place created for community and togetherness. This group is organized by Shoshanah Mercado, a licensed school psychologist at Buddy Taylor Middle School who volunteers her time at Peace by Pieces: Making friends, joining together, getting to know one another, talking about topics, or talking about life. Find Your Peace by Pieces creates a support system in Flagler County. Any donations go to help support the space and keep it available for all the donation based offerings and other affordable pieces of wellness we offer ♡ !

Daytona State College Foundation’s Wisdom in Senior Education program (WISE): This week, Florida, the fire in the sky: James “Zach” Zacharias, Museum of Arts and Sciences. Hear the history that few know anything about, Florida’s historic urban fires. Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Ocala, DeLand and other major cities endured epic fires that destroyed swaths of their original downtown areas. These fires left death and destruction in their wake before modern firefighting could save their towns. Learn about the aftermath of these fires and their long-term effects. At DSC’s Advanced Technology College, 1770 Technology Blvd., Daytona Beach (located ½-mile north of LPGA Blvd. off Williamson Blvd.) – all presentations are from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The Foundation created the WISE program to provide continuing education and cultural enrichment activities to senior members of the community.WISE is open to anyone age 50 or older; $15 for an individual or $25 per couple for the period September-December. For more information, contact Suzette Cameron, Director of Alumni Relations and Development, call (386) 506-4506, or email [email protected].

Chess on the Porch (and backgammon): The Humidor at European Village hosts an open chess evening starting at 6 p.m. Anyone and everyone welcome. Bring your chessboard if you have one. Great beer and wine, plus cigars. 101 Palm Harbor Pkwy, Palm Coast. Call 386.445.2221.

Stetson Woodwind Ensembles: Experience an exciting evening of music for clarinet and flute choirs and saxophone ensembles at Stetson’s historic Lee Chapel. 7:30 p.m. Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. All concerts are free and open to the public. Call 386/822-8950.

Navy Bombing in the Ocala National Forest: Navy training schedules indicate that inert and live bombing will take place at the Pinecastle Range Complex located in the Ocala National Forest this week. Bombings at times can be heard in Flagler-Palm Coast. The bombings are scheduled as follows:

Tuesday: 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 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. For additional information, call (904) 542-5588.

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):

Saturday: Winn-Dixie, 1260 West palm Coast Parkway, 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: Oct. 28

Segments 1 and 3 are complete.

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

The drainage installation is complete, and work on the new median curbs and flumes is continuing and approximately 70% complete. Work on the southbound roadway continues as the contractor has placed limerock base to 18th street and will continue moving north. The traffic separator is taking shape and is over 50% complete.

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

Wall construction is complete, and walkover construction will begin once Hurricane Season is over.

Announcements/Press Releases:

None.

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.

RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA EYED: The House Health & Human Services Committee will receive a presentation about recreational marijuana from the executive director of the Oregon-Idaho High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. The presentation comes as groups try to get proposals on the November 2020 ballot to legalize recreational marijuana in Florida. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

VISIT FLORIDA EXTENSION SOUGHT: The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee will take up a bill (SB 362), filed by Sen. Ed Hooper, R-Clearwater, that would extend the legal authority for the tourism-marketing agency Visit Florida until Oct. 1, 2028. Visit Florida, which has been embroiled in controversy in recent years, will be eliminated on July 1 unless it is reauthorized by the Legislature. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

RACIAL IMPACT ANALYSES DISCUSSED: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will receive a presentation about racial impact analyses conducted by the Florida State University College of Criminology and Criminal Justice. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

LAWMAKERS FOCUS ON VOTING RIGHTS: Sen. Linda Stewart, D-Orlando, and Rep. Geraldine Thompson, D-Windermere, will hold a news conference to discuss efforts to protect voting rights. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., fourth floor, the Capitol.)

CONVERSION THERAPY TARGETED: Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, and Rep. Michael Grieco, D-Miami Beach, will hold a news conference about legislation that would prohibit conversion therapy, which involves trying to change people’s sexual orientations. (Tuesday, noon, fourth floor, the Capitol.)

MARRIAGE GUIDE DISCUSSED: Sen. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, and Rep. Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, will hold a news conference to discuss legislation that would create the “Florida Guide to Healthy Marriages.” (Tuesday, 1 p.m., fourth floor, the Capitol.)

GENDER DYSPHORIA ON AGENDA: The Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee will receive a presentation from a doctor at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital about gender dysphoria. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

SINGLE SUBJECTS SOUGHT: The Senate Judiciary Committee will take up proposals (SJR 176 and SJR 396), filed by Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez, D-Miami, that would place a single-subject requirement on constitutional amendments proposed by the state Constitution Revision Commission and the state Taxation and Budget Reform Commission. The issue became controversial last year when the Constitution Revision Commission placed a series of amendments on the November ballot that combined unrelated subjects. For example, one of the proposals banned vaping in workplaces and offshore oil drilling. (Tuesday, 2 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

FEA CONTINUES BUS TOUR: The Florida Education Association will continue a bus tour focused on calling for increased education funding. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., Nocatee Elementary School, 4846 S.W. Shores Ave., Arcadia. Also, 1:15 p.m. and 6 p.m., Rogers Garden-Bullock Elementary School, 515 13th Ave. West, Bradenton. Also,

RUBIO SPEAKS ABOUT DIGNITY OF WORK: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., will speak at Catholic University on the topic, “Catholic Social Doctrine and the Dignity of Work.” (Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Catholic University, Busch School of Business and Economics, Maloney Hall, Della Ratta Auditorium, 620 Michigan Ave. N.E., Washington, D.C.)

STATE COLLEGE LEADERS GATHER: The Association of Florida Colleges Board of Directors will meet. (Tuesday, 3 p.m., Innisbrook, Edinburgh Building, 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor.)

–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

Coming Days:

The Live Calendar is Flagler County’s and Palm Coast’s most complete, detailed and searchable community calendar of events, including culture, the performing arts, theater, government, the courts and justice system and a lot more. If you’re not listed here, you’re not getting the visibility you deserve. To include your event, please fill out this form. Any other issues, email the editor.

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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. 1, 2019:

Click to access City-of-Palm-Coast-Week-in-Review-Issue-01-Oct.-28-20191.pdf

Cultural Coda

Wenzeslaus Thomas Matiegka: Sonata Op. 23, Elliot Simpson, guitar