For the second year in a row, Flagler Beach will not host its traditional July 4 parade and fireworks, the city commission decided tonight, nor will the event be postponed to Labor Day. Doing so would be too “risky,” the commission agreed with Flagler Health Department Chief Bob Snyder, with coronavirus infections still high today and a rapidly closing window for preparations even if the pandemic were to recede dramatically by July.
Commissioners are placing their hopes on a big event and parade around Christmas, including fireworks. By then the near-totality of those who want to be vaccinated will have been vaccinated, and expectations are that the pandemic will be reduced to an occasional nuisance rather than a hindrance.
First Fridays, too, will not resume until at least after August. The commission will take up the matter of both a Christmas parade and other larger events in August.
Though it won’t be much consolation for Independence Day fans, the commission on the other hand agreed to possibly resume small events and gatherings of 100 people or less, such as Pier parties or fund-raisers, starting in late April, assuming covid infections trend down and the proportion of people who are vaccinated continues to grow robustly. The commission will make a definite decision on that on April 22, potentially making permits available starting April 26.
But there was no disagreement from the mayor and the five commissioners about going with the recommendations from Snyder and Police Chief Matt Doughney to forego the July 4 events.
Smaller events are fine, especially when conducted within recommended guidelines, Snyder said, cited the Centers for Disease Control’s latest guidance. “Large events, that’s different, especially when we have 40,000 people that come into town to see the fireworks, be here all day,” he said. “As a Flagler Beach Rotarian, for years I was involved in helping to orchestrate and implement the planning for the parade, and being here throughout the whole day. So I know what it’s like. I’m thinking of the parade where people are shoulder to shoulder, nose to nose, in close proximity, in a congested space. Well, that’s different than a smaller event. I’m thinking of the 40,000 people that here in town will watch the fireworks, which I have done numerous times. It’s a small, congested space, comparatively speaking, and there is risk to that. I know that none of us including yourselves want to put yourselves in that position, possibly causing harm or allowing it to happen. It’s risky.”
Snyder said the county is experiencing a surge of new infections, including over 300 in the last two weeks, which he attributes to the recent Bike Week. He said he hopes it’s just a “blip.” It’s possible, but not likely, to reach herd immunity with the vaccine by July 4.
For a moment Snyder seemed to offer up the possibility of a July 4 event after all. Assuming that by the end of June 200 million Americans have been vaccinated–not a wishful hope: current projections have 70 percent of Americans, or 245 million, vaccinated by June 19, according to the CDC–and the infectious or transmission rate of the coronavirus has fallen, and with it the positivity rate below 1 percent (it’s 12 percent currently in Flagler County), “and there’s hardly anyone in the hospital for covid, maybe one or two patients,” Snyder said, “then maybe we can reevaluate, lickety-split, right? and quickly get a parade organized, or even talk about the fireworks. But that is not what we’re seeing right now, with respect to what’s happening.”
Mayor Suzie Johnston quickly disabused him of that possibility. “I have planned a parade with help from Bob, it’s a lot of work to put in overnight,” she said. “It should have already been started. So postponing is definitely a wise choice” She said a parade takes a minimum of two and a half to three months’ preparation, making even a Labor Day event difficult to navigate, given current uncertainties.
Doughney, speaking of larger events, said cardboard cutouts of people were set out at the Super Bowl and at the Daytona 500. “We don’t have the opportunity to put cardboard cutouts of people for a parade over a 10 block area,” he said. “In my opinion, the parade and the fireworks are not a good idea.” But, he cautioned, “If we don’t have a parade and we don’t have fireworks for the 4th of July, that doesn’t mean that 25,000 people still won’t come up to the city of Flagler Beach, because we’re not going to have people walking down A1A in the parade. They’re still going to come. Flagler Beach is its own field of dreams.”
When Commission Chairman Eric Cooley queries the mayor and the rest of the commission about the Snyder-Doughney recommendations, he heard only support. There was brief talk of doing something on Labor Day, but not much interest in that, given the possibilities for Christmas.
The response buoyed Snyder, because when it comes to the summer’s larger events, Flagler Beach is setting a tone that other local governments can now follow without seeming to be the outliers: Palm Coast, for example, also holds a July 4 fireworks display in Central Park and is very unlikely to do so this year.
“You all are an inspiration to us,” Snyder told the commission. “I just want to thank you for your transparency and your questions and taking on a very, very important topic.” He said he and Dr. Stephen Bickel, the medical director at the department, will put together a document guiding the commission and others offering recommendations on how to put on events. “We’re going to give you a document that you can use, going forward.”
That will come in handy now that the city is also close to restarting smaller events.
“I’m not opposed to opening up those events 100 people or less,” Doughney said, though in this case, too, he had words of caution: “One of the things that really does scare me about that is, if we cap it at 100, and people put in event permits, are they going to be absolutely truthful about how many people that they’re expecting. They’re going to put in 100, and 1,000 show up.”
Snyder offered up two examples of relatively smaller events held with appropriate safety measures in the last few months locally. One was the Flagler Broadcasting-produced Rockin’ the Runways in early fall at the county airport. It was limited to 350 people. Mask wearing and social distancing was required. It was held outdoors, with the two bands that played socially distanced. Snyder also mentioned the recent resumption of calibrated events at the Flagler Auditorium, where Amelia Fulmer, the director, is choreographing a strict but friendly balance between the performing arts and safety measures. “If it’s done safely with public health measures involved, even larger a little bit larger events” can be held, Snyder said.
Commissioners had also heard from Melissa Parish, the Flagler Beach librarian, who presented a plan for reopening the library’s doors four hours a day, five days a week as a start. The library itself only closed entirely for 34 days, continuing pick-up and drop-off service since last May, but in-person browsing and use of the library has been shut-down.) Commissioners loved her plan, which emphasizes safety through strict measures, and used it as a model to explore small steps toward the resumption of smaller events, though not for another 30 days.
“Now we have a forward-looking vision, it makes sense to hold for 30 then to reevaluate with the mindset that at some point we’ll be moving forward,” Cooley said.
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A Concerned Observer says
I am very pleased to see that Flagler Beach leaders have the courage to do the right thing. Thank You! So many people are too selfish or too ignorant to do what it takes to end this pandemic that our leaders are forced to do it for them. Quit whining people. Wear masks when in public. Self-isolate yourselves wherever possible. Get vaccinated. If everyone would follow these simple rules we will all come out the back side of this and be able to live our lives again the way we used to. Until then, the many will continue to suffer for the actions of the few.
Eva says
Very sad that the inadequate leadership in this pandemic response last year is prolonging our need to once again forego our most cherished community events. It reflects the strength of our local leaders who are steadfastly doing the right thing, thank you for stepping up! Let’s get planning for a Christmas parade with fireworks, we can call it July for Christmas instead of Christmas in July :) Continued prayers for all the families affected forever by this pandemic and all the lives lost. Let’s all get vaccinated ASAP please.
Steve says
Disagree. Vaccine and mask it. By then 250 million will get shot. Between Bike wk, Spring Break its too late for that anyway. Its move on time. Just adhere to Protocol. IFF one is not comfortable with it stay home. This of course is barring a Tsunami spike. Can always cancel. IMO
Mythoughts says
Hat’s off to the Flagler Beach leaders to make this decision, it is a real shame we don’t have a Governor that is that smart after what we witnessed with spring break in Miami Beach.
DeSantis doesn’t care about public safety he just feels bringing revenue is his priority and that is all.
AndSoItGoes says
Christmas fireworks? Please no. It’s bad enough they happen twice a year already on the 4th and NYE. As someone who suffers from PTSD, hearing popping all night long over my fuking house is not a good thing (from ignorant selfish neighbors that think only their happiness and rights matter). Last thing we need is an excuse for people to buy them and set them off on Christmas now too. Just have it on the fourth and if people are still dumb enough not to take precautions, then it’s on them. It’s been over a year. The beating of the drum is growing old. Some people are just too selfish and ignorant to care.
Tim B says
Simple numbers.
There are 100 days until July 4th.
In the first 100 or so days 56,000 Covid vaccine doses were given to Flagler County residents.
Match that and by July 4, there will have been 112,000 doses administered.
Flagler County has about 115,000 residents. 112,000 would be 97.4% .
When will it be “safe” to resume normal life???
Makeitso1701 says
No super spreader event on the 4th of July.
THANK GOODNESS!!!!!
tulip says
56,000 vaccine shots were given but they were the FIRST shot. Now those same 56,000 will be returning for their SECOND shot. So that doesn’t amount 20 an actual 112,000 vaccinated people. Not only that but many people come here who haven’t be vaxed and don’t care to be and there are many people that live in Flagler county who, for whatever reason, won’t take the shot either.
Mark says
Thank you!!!
TR says
Your assuming everyone will get the shot. You know what they say about assuming, right?
Sherry says
“IF” Everyone who attended such events were “personally responsible” and wore masks correctly, and socially distanced at least 6 feet, we could relatively safely celebrate with a small group. UNFORTUNATELY, the Republican party, the party of being “personally responsible”, are complete hypocrites as they are often the ones that refuse to wear masks/socially distance, and get the vaccine.
Thank you local leaders for making decisions that keep us “safer” !
Stretchem says
I think Flagler’s going to look silly as Jax, St Aug, Daytona and others light up the sky the 4th, and all will be well. All Americans that want to be vacinated will be so by a month from now. Disproportionately more so than any year’s “normal” flu vacination rate. This virus is an elderly killer. Well, nearly every single one of them are or soon will be vacinated.
Couple all that with far better treatments. We’re smarter than we were a year ago. Infinitely smarter since Jan 20th! We’ll be fine.
AS says
Isn’t that what the Flagler authorities are doing as well? Assuming everyone will have the shot, and by aug they will allow larger gathers for the church including first Friday events.
You pointing that “assuming” factor out for this commenter above, but not about the city authority, just says hypocrite.
Concerned Citizen says
So you allowed Bike Week and Spring Break? Ok then.
Why cancel a freedom celebrating event? When you just allowed frivilous income generating revenue into the area?
Resident says
I couldn’t have said that better myself. There were thousands of bikers here and the city had a “Welcome Bikers” sign up. I guess residents don’t get anything. People keep forgetting when it’s election time.
capt says
Well Stupid Flagler Beach why didn’t you just cancel all of these tourist coming into your town, 90% it appears from what I see ithat come into my business are not wearing mask.. Spring breakers, 1 out of 50 maybe is wearing a mask and you worry about a parade., Get real. The secret in the sauce here, is the tourist and spring breakers bring money, and a paid for parade is free to the public and there is zero dollars into the economy. Just show your true colors of GREEN = Greed.
capt says
“UNFORTUNATELY, the Republican party, the party of being “personally responsible”,, this has zip, zero to do with the Republican party Sherry. There are Democratics and Independents walking around without masks all over the place. Give it up. I’m a Democratic and a lot of my Demo friends don’t feel wearing a mask does any good, while my wife and I wear ours. So this is not a party issues, its a “” I don’t give a shit about anyone but myself Issue” . And most of my Republican friends those over 55, all had had their 2 second shot, while the demo friends are blaming not taking a shot on some depopulation World Rest Plan.
Mary says
Such BS by pusdy leaders. Flagler beach leaders are pathetic and a sore misuse of the air they breath
Gia says
Please tell me this has been reconcidered? This HAS to have changed by now, right?? I have a tripped planned and I feel like cancelling and going somewhere that actually understands what “freedom” means and celebrates it!