ArtsFest 2011 means all events from Feb 4-13 are free in 81 arts and performing in Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties. A wonder sampling of what the Central Florida arts community has to offer. Plus a boat show.
Watch the Egyptian Revolution Live: BBC and Al-Jazeera Feeds Here
Front seat to the revolutions: watch the BBC or al-Jazeera’s live English feeds of the unfolding events in Egypt and the Middle East, embedded on FlaglerLive.
Scott at 35%, Dueling Cellists, Daviana’s Valentine Dance: The Live Wire, Feb. 2
Florida’s power over health care law, Enterprise Florida’s Scott test, how to buy Adam Putnam, smooth criminals and bohemian rhapsody on the ukulele, and more.
Bill Delbrugge Live From Egypt:
“This Is Just a Different Type of Hurricane”
In a 40-minute interview from the outskirts of Cairo today, the former school superintendent explained why he’s staying in Egypt, what Egyptians are after and deserve, and what conditions are like.
More Power to Principals, Less Transparency as Board Kills Policy Inspired by Mockingbird
The rejected policy had called for supporting plays “that challenge, nurture and extend student skills” while respecting community sensibilities. Instead, the board retreated to more general “tweaks” of two existing policies.
Washington Oaks Gardens and Bulow Ruins Among 53 State Parks That Would Close
Similar proposals have been made before, but the state must close a $3.6 billion budget gap, and Gov. Rick Scott is not as friendly to the environment as Charlie Crist was.
Unconstitutional Mandate: Florida Judge Calls for Repeal of Entire Health Care Law
Though Florida Federal District Judge Roger Vinson termed his ruling “reluctant,” he also ruled that the private insurance mandate is so intricately tied to the the law that the entire law must be repealed.
Local Governments Agree To a Therapist To Cut Through Economic Dysfunction
After a meeting lasting two hours and 17 minutes Monday, local governments conceded they have no agreement on economic development, except to meet again and let a “facilitator” help them find some.
Live: Flagler County’s Economic Development Summit
The economic development summit at the Flagler County Emergency Operations Center began at 5:30 this evening. For background on the summit, go here. For a recap and analysis of the meeting, go here. Click below to follow the summit moment by moment. Flagler County Economic Development Summit
Challenging Jon Netts, Charlie Ericksen Runs for Palm Coast Mayor on a Pro-Business Agenda
Charlie Ericksen is critical of a city council that rubber-stamps too many decisions without debating or explaining them, and a city that he says hasn’t given local business a fair shake. Netts has been on the council since 2001.
Economic Development Summit: Can Flagler’s 33 Elected Get It Up?
Many plans, little agreement, no concerted action: Monday evening’s economic development summit between Flagler County’s seven local governments is unlikely to yield substantive results beyond a meet-and-greet of powerpoints.
Flagler Beach City Commission Candidates Down to 3 As Jamie NeJame Withdraws
Jamie NeJame’s last minute withdrawal from the March 8 election increases chances for Phil Busch, Kim Carney and Marshall Shupe, who are vying for the two seats being vacated by Ron Vath and Joy McGrew.
Bob Pickering, Flagler Voice of Climate Safety, Wins National Weather Association Award
Bob Pickering, for 17 years a technician in Flagler County’s Emergency Management, won the national award from the National Weather Association for bridging weather forecasting with public safety.
Carla Traister: Myths and Realities of Bunnell’s Cold-Weather Shelter, and Flagler’s Homeless
Carla Traister, director of Flagler County’s cold-weather shelter in Bunnell, dispels misconceptions and stereotypes that have cropped up about the shelter, located in Bunnell behind the Bank of America.
Home Show Melodies: Throngs and Benefits At Annual Commerce and Civic Fair
Some 300 businesses, civic, political, cultural and educational organization gathered for the 23rd Flagler Home & Lifestyle Show at FPC this weekend. Watch the photo gallery.
Incentive This: Corporate Tax-Breaking Our Way to Job Creation
Barack Obama’s second State of the Union Address fell flat, argues St. Augustine novelist Jack Cowardin, who makes an original proposal for job creation and a break in the corporate tax rate.
Flagler 911: The Live Crime Blotter
Threats and racist epithets, a stolen and recovered car, Oxycodone and death, head-butting at the Country Store on CR 305, taking a raccoon out of his agony, and more from the files of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Flagler Beach Commission vs. Hurricane Patty’s: A Lot of Noise Over a Few Complaints
Hurricane Patty’s opened as a popular restaurant and bar on Flagler Beach’s side of the Intracoastal in December. A few noise complaints are causing the city to rethink its noise ordinance. Patrons are unhappy.
Against Civility
More handshakes, fewer guns and Fox news sounding more like NPR won’t make us a better country. Fewer assassinations of reason, of facts, of character, and of course of people might.
Guns on Florida Campuses, Bachmann vs. Veterans, the Story of O: Live Wire Weekend, Jan. 28-30
Sen. Greg Evers wants to let students and faculty carry guns openly, Florida might be rethinking its prison madness, Michelle Bachmann wants to cut veterans’ benefits, the anonymous author of O is unmasked, and more.
Bruce Campbell to Remain Flagler Beach’s Manager Until At Least Early Summer
Taking the kind of decisive inaction it’s famous for, the city commission turned back an attempt by Commissioner Jane Mealy to stick by the commission’s pledge last year to discuss the issue in January.
Beyond Controversy: A Video Profile of The Sheltering Tree, Flagler’s Cold-Weather Shelter
Don’t listen to rumors. See Flagler’s homeless for yourself, hear them speak. Charlotte Martne’s special video report of Flagler County’s cold-weather shelter puts faces behind the stereotypes and dispels a few myths.
As Bunnell PD Tries to Clear Its Name, Missing Evidence Turns Up, Discrepancies Remain
A follow-up investigative report by the State Attorney’s office sheds more light, and raises more questions, on the Bunnell Police Department’s habit of producing previously missing evidence and paperwork.
A Cancer Navigator, Flagler’s Agricultural Disaster, Disney’s Lethal Princesses: The Live Wire, Jan. 27
A possible cure for Alzheimer’s, Obama’s lousy Sputnik moment, Thomas Edison’s light bulb, Wikipedia animated, Arizona’s gun deaths, this year’s freshmen, and more.
Video: Ghost Opposition to Cold-Weather Shelter Draws Out Advocates in Bunnell
Unseen and unheard opponents of the cold-weather shelter in Bunnell have complained to that city’s mayor. Shelter advocates made their case at a city commission meeting this week.
From Biggest Flirt (E. Bartley) to Most Likely to Succeed (Kaci Ellis): FPC’s Oscar Night
FCAT results and teacher of the year awards give way to the real student Oscars at FPC: a complete list of the winners and nominees, and an image gallery of the show.
Pill Mill Regulation Price Tag in Florida: $65 Million; Medicine Board Approves New Rules
The $65 million cost of the proposed pill mill rules would be due to urine test requirements on patients and other minor costs that would be spread out among 1,300 pain management clinics and tens of thousands of patients.
Spotted Seatrout Fishing Prohibited in February North of Flagler-Volusia Line
The harvest and possession of spotted seatrout is prohibited from Feb. 1 to March 1, 2011 in all waters north of the Flagler/Volusia counties line to the Florida-Georgia border.
Leak at the Flagler Auditorium Pushes
Ten Tenors’ Gigs to Wednesday and Thursday
A leak in the middle of the Flagler Auditorium caused by the heaviest rains of the winter caused the Ten Tenors’ performance Tuesday, Jan. 25, to be rescheduled to Thursday, Jan. 27. Wednesday’s performance will go on as planned.
Palm Coast Largely Rejects County’s Economic Development Track, Including New Tax
Ahead of Jan. 31’s countywide summit on economic development, Palm Coast is saying no to a new sales tax, no to a common pot that limits Palm Coast’s influence, and no to a new economic development council.
Child Neglect, Drug Charges, Rotting Food in Palm Coast’s R Section Land 4 in Jail
A 10-year-old child was removed from the home at 20 Rockne Lane in Palm Coast and turned over to child services. Thomas Ksiezopolski, Nina Holley and three others face a variety of charges.
Bunnell Manager Armando Martinez Forced To Give Up Cop Shield, But Not Extra $7,500 Pay
The Florida Constitution forbids public employees from holding two public officer jobs simultaneously. Martinez had argued that he was a cop but not a “public officer” as such. The city attorney disagreed.
Who’s Afraid of Musical Menopause–Or Virginia Woolf? Culture Worth The Miles
“Menopause, the Musical,” at Orlando’s Plaza Theatre, Edward Albee’s “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,” “West Side Story” at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, a benefit for the Ronald McDonald House, and more.
Blank Check: City and County Bankrolling Enterprise Flagler Without a Contract
Since 2006, Enterprise Flagler, the public-private economic development partnership, has received more than $1 million in taxpayer dollars from Palm Coast and Flagler County. Elected officials are just discovering there was no contract.
Seeking “One Voice” At Countywide Economic Summit, Commissioners Can’t Agree On Theirs
County commissioners can’t agree on what the county’s economic development plan should be, or what should come first–a strategy, a funding mechanism or a structure to manage the whole thing. They’ll try again Tuesday.
Miami Gun Vice, Leadership Flagler Wants You, Edith Wharton Is 149: The Live Wire, Jan. 24
Florida State Rep. Frank Artiles’s nutty new gun bill muzzling doctors, Obama’s average averages 46.7%, George Hanns loves the press, John Cage on silence, and more.
Zora Neale Hurston Festival in Eatonville, Jan. 22-30
The Zora Neale Hurston Festival in nearby Eatonville (just north of Orlando), Jan. 22-30, celebrates the life of one of Florida’s and black and American literature’s greatest 20th century voices.
Ten Tenors, Two Nights, One Flagler Auditorium
The Ten Tenors made the Flagler Auditorium part of their inaugural US itinerary in 2002. They’ve performed here every year since, and will be there Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 25-26.
Blair Kanbar, Flagler County Commissioner from 1998 to 2006, Dies of Cancer
Blair Kanbar was 66. He won election to the county commission just two years after moving to Flagler from Massachusetts. His eight-year tenure coincided with Flagler County’s fastest-growth years.
’03 FPC Grads Brandon Anderson and Jonathan Alter Win Half-Marathon and 5K
Some 346 runners finished the two races, Palm Coast’s first half-marathon, with temperatures around 37 degrees at the start: just right for runners.
Palm Coast Half-Marathon Results By Division, Jan. 23, 2011
Palm Coast Half-Marathon Results By Division and overall winners (183 finishers, including 102 women and 81 men. Average time: 2:05:22).
Palm Coast 5K Results By Division, Jan. 23, 2011
Palm Coast 5K Results By division and overall winners, Jan. 23, 2011. (165 finishers, including 104 women and 61 men. Average time: 39:43).
What’s All the Fuss About? A Gallery of Provocative Art From 3 Local Shows
The art of Beth Garren, JJ Graham, Peter Cerreta and others at three local galleries provokes strong emotions, favorable and not so favorable. Here’s a sample of their work to whet your appetite for more before the shows’ close at month’s end.
Olbermann’s End, Markowitz’s .406, Stokes’s Chamber: Live Wire Weekend, Jan. 21-23
What Harpo Marx wrote JFK in 1960, what far-away planets look like, why lovers really fight, a 13 year old tries to set a masturbation record, but not at the chamber of commerce, and more.
Sock Hops, Narcotic Nostalgia and Interracial Kisses: “Hairspray” Rocks the Flagler Playhouse
In “Hairspray,” gaudiness and 1962 have never been so much fun. The Flagler Playhouse is reviving the 2002 Broadway musical with a cast of 45 and a parade of showstopping kitsch.
Arbor Day Memorial: A Redcedar Rises in Town Center, a Gift from Palm Coast’s Garden Club
Palm Coast’s Garden Club memorialized seven of its late members in an Arbor Day ceremony at Town Center Friday, featuring its southern redcedar gift to the city. The tree will become a focal point of Christmas-tree lighting ceremonies.
Reality Check: The GOP’s Straw-Stuffing Health Care Repeal
If repealing health care without presenting an alternative is the best thing the new GOP majority can do in an economic crisis, pack up your worries about 2012 right now and congratulate Obama for his second term.
Flagler Unemployment Seesaws to 15.7%, Florida’s Rate Unchanged at 12%
Both Flagler’s and Florida’s unemployment rates have been stuck within the same range for more than a year, with no signs of breaking the trend. Flagler’s numbers again show a decline in the labor force.
The Southern Redcedar, or “Sand-Cedar”
The Southern Redcedar: a brief definition and description of the hardy tree found in mid-to-northern Florida and the coastal South, with images.
RV Smash-Up Closes I-95 Just North of Flagler and Triggers Another Chain Wreck
Two related crashes several miles apart in the southbound lanes of I-95 closed the interstate for several hours Thursday afternoon and early evening. There were no major injuries.