Today: high in low 60s, low in upper 40s. Details here.
Today’s fire danger is moderate. Flagler County’s Drought Index is at 312.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Today’s document from the National Archives.
The OED’s Word of the Day: halo-halo, n..
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.
Today’s Briefing: Quick Links
- In Flagler and Palm Coast
- Local News Recap
- In State Government
- In Coming Days in Flagler and Palm Coast
- PR Releases
- In the Press, In the News
- Fact-Checking the Knaves
- Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
- Local Road and Interstate Construction
- Cultural Coda
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 Bunnell City Commission meets at 7 p.m. at Bunnell City Hall, 201 West Moody Boulevard. It’s a light agenda.
No other local events of note.
What It Takes to Get New Retailers to Palm Coast: Behind a $135,000 Matchmaking Deal: In July Palm Coast signed a three-year contract with the Buxton Company, paying the Texas-based marketing and analytics firm $45,000 a year to help boost the city’s economy and bring major stores to town. It’s somewhat of a bet on a company that’s delivered retailers to some towns and not to others.
Flagler Unemployment Falls to 5.9%, an 8-Year Low; Job Growth at 23.7% Since 2007: Flagler County’s unemployment rate fell to a post-recession low of 5.9 percent in October, the first time since 2007 that it has been below 6 percent, continuing a steady trend downward. The last time the local unemployment rate was this low was in November 2007.
Gov. Scott’s push for Enterprise Florida powers draws some resistance, but mostly endorsements: Flagler and Volusia county officials have been lining up the endorsements for the governor’s push for greater powers and money for the state’s economic development fund, but the Volusia County Council was divided on the issue, with dissenters worrying about putting too much unaccountable power in the governor’s hands, the News-Journal reports. (Story paywall-protected)
Traffic Tickets as a Sleigh to Christmas Come True: Yes Virginia, There’s Santa Cop: The toy waiver by Flagler Beach police will encourage motorists to donate a new, unwrapped toy to Christmas Come True, a Flagler Beach not-for-profit organization that provides “a complete Christmas experience” (dinner, toys, necessities, clothing and more) for local families in need.
Note: Most proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel.
Solar power: The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will hold a workshop about a proposed solar-energy ballot initiative backed by a group called Consumers for Smart Solar. (9 a.m.)
Scott’s Budget: Gov. Rick Scott will hold a news conference Monday in Jacksonville to release his 2016-17 budget proposal, an initial step as lawmakers prepare to negotiate a spending plan. Scott is expected to call, in part, for cutting taxes and creating a $250 million fund for economic incentives. (10 a.m., Harbinger Sign, 5300 Shad Road, Jacksonville.)
–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive
In Coming Days in Palm Coast and Flagler:
Click on the links for more details:
- Nov. 24: Join Palm Coast United Methodist Church for a Thanksgiving meal and service with the Honorable Hubert L. Grimes. Free to all.
- Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Feet to Feast, 15K, 5K run and walk, at Indian Trails Middle School, 7:45 a.m.
- Nov. 30: 5th Annual Tree-Lighting Ceremony in Palm Coast’s Town Center, 6 p.m.
- Dec. 1: ERAU’s Honors Series welcomes Dr. Bruce Jakosky, presenting Water, Climate, and the Potential for Life on Mars.
- Dec. 4 and 5: Blowout book sale at the Flagler County Public Library in Palm Coast, all books in the Friends book shop will be priced at 25 cents. The sale will be held during normal business hours: Friday, 9 to 6 and Saturday 9 to 5. Shop for yourself or, stock up for your holiday gift giving. 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW. Call 446-6705 with any questions.
Click on the link for more details.
Virtual Homes Realty teams up with Toys for Tots to brighten the holidays for children in Palm Coast:
Florida Forest Service Set to Begin Prescribed Burning
Astronomy Open House at Embry-Riddle
The Honors Series welcomes Dr. Bruce Jakosky, presenting Water, Climate, and the Potential for Life on Mars
Join Palm Coast United Methodist Church for meal, service with the Honorable Hubert L. Grimes
Palm Coast Mayor honored with NEFRC’s 2015 ‘Regional Leadership Award’: Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts has been selected to receive the Regional Leadership Award from the Northeast Florida Regional Council, a network of local governance serving seven counties and their 27 municipalities. The award – one of the top honors in NEFRC’s annual awards program – will be presented Dec. 3 in Jacksonville. The City of Palm Coast also won an award in the category of Planning & Growth Management, for its work in the redevelopment of the Island Walk Shopping Center. “This is a huge honor, very well-deserved,” Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon said in announcing the recognition for Mayor Netts at the Nov. 17 Palm Coast City Council meeting. In its formal announcement of this year’s winners, the Northeast Florida Regional Council said: “Jon Netts personifies the essence of a Mayor who unites his constituents and assures that Palm Coast has meaningful input into all that is happening in the Northeast region of Florida. Always with an eye on the bigger picture, Mayor Netts stays true to his belief that ‘We are part of a region. What they do affects us and what we do affects them. What we do together, we do better than if we try to do it alone.’ Mayor Netts has served nine years on the Northeast Florida Regional Council and was recently elected as chair of their non-profit policy affiliate, the Regional Community Institute. He also serves as a Commissioner on the Florida Inland Navigation District. Under Mayor Nett’s leadership, the City has received two Gold and one Silver Designation Certifications for Green Local Governments for the Florida Green Building Coalition and is now ranked third in all of Florida; bringing pride and recognition to the Northeast region. Additional sustainability awards during his tenure include the Outstanding Sustainability Initiative Award from the Florida Planning and Zoning Association (Surfcoast Chapter) and three NEFRC Awards for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship.” Island Walk, a 28.7-acre shopping center, has been redeveloped through a partnership with the City and the property owner, Branch Properties. This redevelopment is a showcase project for city-wide strategic planning goals identified in Prosperity 2021, the Strategic Action Plan and the Parkway East District Plan that center on maintaining the relevance, functionality and appearance of all parts of the city, including its older areas. Island Walk represents one of many keystone projects undertaken to maintain the quality of the Parkway East community as it matures, which is reflected in a focused directive in the City’s Strategic Action Plan: keeping older neighborhoods attractive and relevant. An early indicator of the success of this project is that more than 80 percent of the available square footage has been pre-leased according to the property owner, inclusive of new major tenants for the existing large retail spaces that were planned to remain.
The Willie Horton ad feels quaint compared to the stuff that's gone on in this race. https://t.co/blZZYrH1jn
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) November 23, 2015
Cops took more stuff from people than burglars did last year https://t.co/uQyZVMAxNq pic.twitter.com/nrlKRmy7KE
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) November 23, 2015
40 percent of young adults are for the government outlawing hate speech against minorities: https://t.co/N915zv78Wx pic.twitter.com/Rn5I5s1a2i
— The Root (@TheRoot) November 23, 2015
China’s #Nuclear Vision Collides With Villagers’ Fears via @nytimes https://t.co/0HIqlOmbVR pic.twitter.com/FMNWFUWyOq
— Federation of American Scientists🔬 (@scientistsorg) November 23, 2015
How to Negotiate with Someone More Powerful Than You https://t.co/k78w8UEfrR pic.twitter.com/uSFANM1aZL
— Harvard Business Review (@HarvardBiz) November 23, 2015
Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
The following is an update of ongoing construction and development projects in Palm Coast, through Nov. 5:
Palm Coast Parkway Six-Laning is 97 percent done: (Not updated this week.)
Holland Park, 37 percent done: Perimeter sidewalk continues to be formed and poured. The new 8″ water main was installed across Florida Park Drive and the water tap was made. Electrical trenching and conduit installation continues. 8″ water main and 2 hydrants being re-installed per plan. New irrigation system installation continues.
County’s I-95 Interchange Matanzas Woods Reclaim Water, 76 percent done: Retention ponds are being excavated and fill continues for the ramps.
Palm Harbor Parkway Roadway Extension, 32 percent done: The City Fiber Optic cable was removed to allow the demucking to continue north on Forest Grove. The Fiber Optic cable will be replaced when the new force main is installed. Installation of stormwater pipe continues.
Colechester Bridge, 90 percent done: Bridge Deck has been paved and striped and has been reopened. Pedestrian railings are installed, demolition of slope pavement continues. Directional bore of water main almost complete.
North Old Kings Road Extension to Matanzas Woods Parkway, 19 percent done: Asphalt was installed on the new section of roadway adjacent to the old roadway at the intersection of Old Kings Road and Forest Grove.
Island Walk Shopping Center Phase 1, 93 percent done: Water mains behind the Island Doctor and Bealls have been chlorinated for 2nd day bacteriological samples.
Old Kings Road Force Main 50 percent done:: Contractor is working on Force main at the entrance north of spray field.
Road and Interstate Construction:
John Cleese on Philosophy
Hear a series of public service announcements on the value of philosophy, by John Cleese, here
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