Wednesday Briefing: Ashes to Go, Book Club and Paws to Read, Stetson Jazz Ensemble

Today: Showers likely and slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning, then showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. Southwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80 percent. Tonight: Cooler. Mostly cloudy. Showers likely in the evening, then slight chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent. See the latest National Weather Service-Jacksonville Briefing here.
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: 259
Global Warming: The daily carbon count.
Today’s word: abaft.
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
In State Government
Statista’s Chart of the Day
Announcements
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development

“I think the tradition is not to be scoffed at but let me say this very candidly. I think it is the final arrogance to talk constantly about our religious tradition in this country and acquaint it with this Bible. Sure, religious tradition, whose religious tradition? It isn’t any part of the religious tradition of substantial number of Americans of a great many — a great many things and really some of the salient features of the King James Version or the Douay Version to that matter. And it is just to me a little bit easy and I say arrogant to keep talking about our religious tradition. It suggests that the public schools at least to Pennsylvania are a kind of Protestant institutions to which others are cordially invited.”

–From Henry Sawyer III, the lawyer for Schempp in School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp, arguing on February 28, 1963, before the US Supreme Court on religious exercises in public schools.

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.

Ashes to Go on Ash Wednesday at St. Thomas Episcopal: Ash Wednesday on February 26 is the beginning of Lent, so to assist busy commuters, St. Thomas Episcopal Church is offering the opportunity to drive up to the outside of the church for the imposition of the ashes. Coffee will also be available to go. Ashes to go will be available from 7 to 10 a.m. at 5400 Belle Terre Parkway. Contact the church office at 386-446-2300 for information.

The Flagler County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meets at 10 a.m. in the First Floor Conference Room, Government Services Building, 1769 E. Moody Blvd., Building 2, Bunnell. See all agendas here.

The Blue Power 2020 Action Forum, 12:30 p.m. at the African American Cultural Society, 4422 North U.S. Highway 1, Palm Coast (just north of Whiteview Parkway). 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. Republicans, Independents and Whigs welcome.

Palm Coast Arts Foundation Unveiling of Turtle #8 on the Turtle Trail: initially scheduled for 3 p.m. at the Flagler Beach Historical Museum 207 S. Central Avenue Flagler Beach, this event has been postponed to Friday due to weather. The name of the turtle will be revealed at the unveiling. Created by local artists Erik and Helene Bess.

The Flagler County Public Library Book Club meets at 3:30 p.m. at the Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast. This month’s book: “An American Marriage,” by Tayari Jones, and the 2019 winner of the Women’s Prize for fiction.

Paws to Read at the Flagler County Public Library 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast, in the Children’s Department. The Flagler County Public Library in partnership with the Flagler Humane Society offer the opportunity for kids ages 4-8 to read to a real dog. Every Wednesday from 4 to 5:30 p.m. First Come – First Serve. Contact: Alyssa Gilbert or Theresa Ten Eyck at 386-446-6763 or email: childrens@flaglercounty.org.

A meeting of Facing Grief Together, formerly known as 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. Facing Grief Together, 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 Facing Grief Together, visit their national website at www.compassionatefriends.org.

Stetson Jazz Ensemble: Patrick Hennessey, director, Athens Theatre, 124 N. Florida Ave., DeLand. $15 adults, $5 youth and free for Stetson University students with an ID. Tickets are available at the door or at www.stetson.edu/music-tickets. Call 386/822-8950.

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):

Thursday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday: Verizon, 4895 Belle Terre Parkway, Palm Coast, 5 to 9 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.

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.

BALLOT INITIATIVES TARGETED: The Senate Rules Committee will consider two proposals that would make it harder to put proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot. One of the proposals (SJR 7062), sponsored by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, would increase petition-signature requirements for political committees backing ballot initiatives. Currently, initiative supporters must meet a statewide signature threshold and thresholds in 14 of Florida’s 27 congressional districts. Under the proposal, political committees would have to meet thresholds in all congressional districts — a standard that would be more expensive and more time-consuming to meet. The other proposal (SB 1794), filed by Sen. Travis Hutson, R-St. Augustine, would place a series of new restrictions on the petition-signature process. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

HOUSE EYES HEALTH CARE ISSUES: The House will consider a variety of bills during a floor session, including proposed changes in the health-care industry. For example, it will take up a bill (HB 6059), filed by Rep. Heather Fitzenhagen, R-Fort Myers, that would eliminate a prohibition on the licensure of certain types of specialty hospitals. Another bill (HB 1205), filed by Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral, is aimed at increasing “price transparency” in health care services. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., House chamber, the Capitol.)

WRONGFUL INCARCERATION AT ISSUE: The Senate will take up numerous issues during a floor session, including a bill (SB 28), filed by Minority Leader Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, that would provide $2.15 million to a man who spent 43 years in prison after being wrongfully convicted in a murder and attempted murder in 1976 in Duval County. The measure would provide $50,000 for each year that Clifford Williams spent in prison. Among other issues on the agenda, the Senate could approve a bill (SB 346), filed by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, that would loosen sentencing laws for certain drug offenses. (Wednesday, 3:30 p.m., Senate chamber, the Capitol.)

–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

Coronavirus Fears Wipe Out 2020 Stock Market Gains: The Dow Jones Industrial Index shed more than 1,030 points (-3.56 percent) on Monday, marking the third-largest single-day point drop in the index’ long history. The tech-heavy S&P 500 also dropped by 3.35 percent as the GAFAM group of tech companies collectively shed $237 billion in market capitalization. Both the Dow Jones and the S&P 500 are now in the red for 2020, as the losses of the past few days erased all gains from the previous six weeks. The Nasdaq Composite Index also dropped by 3.7 percent on Monday, but it’s still up 2.7 percent year-to-date.

Announcements/Press Releases:

Flagler Beach Citizens’ Academy: Eight consecutive Wednesdays beginning on March 4, 2020, running through April 22, 2020, from 2:00—5:00 PM. Learn all there is to know about the history of your city, how your government works and is financed, and the responsibilities of staff and elected officials. Tour your city’s recreational, first responder, library, and public works facilities. Discover plans for the city’s future and opportunities for resident involvement. These sessions are open to anyone residing within the City of Flagler Beach. There will be a limit of 20 participants. Registration applications are available at City Hall, Building Department, Library, Police Department, Fire Department and on our City’s website (www.cityofflaglerbeach.com). All applications must be received by February 21, 2020.

Jane Mealy, Commissioner
City of Flagler Beach
PO Box 70
Flagler Beach, FL 32136

You will then receive a detailed schedule of the sessions and where each will be held. If you have any questions, contact Jane Mealy at: 439-4811 or
jmealy@cityofflaglerbeach.com

Through April 4, Palm Coast Mayor’s 90/90 Challenge: Get outdoors and get active – join us for the Mayor’s 90/90 Challenge! The challenge is to move at least a mile a day for the 90 days from Jan. 6 to April 4. You can choose your own form of exercise. Log in to Palm Coast Connect and record your progress throughout the month. Everyone who completes the Challenge will receive a prize. Share your progress along the way on social media using #Mayors9090 and #ConnectToFitness. More info: www.palmcoastconnect.com and 386-986-2323.

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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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 Dec. 16 2019:

See the full Week in Review here.