Bunnell and Flagler County put on a show for Amtrak’s 60-second slice through Bunnell as it considers resuming passenger service on the old Florida East Coast Railway tracks.
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Photo Gallery:
Flagler’s Hopes Shimmer to the Glint of a Train
A photo gallery of Saturday’s turnout of some 150 people at Bunnell’s and Flagler’s plea to Amtrak to reestablish a stop in Bunnell.
Old Kings Road Reopens, Speeding Past History
Old Kings Road in Palm Coast reopens wider and newer, but also more distant from the history and intimacy that gave it its name.
Arts Foundation’s Music in the Air All Weekend
It’s went on all weekend at Central Park: live performances, small-town and big-name musicians, pop, jazz, soul, and plenty of food.
The Uses of Poetry
Reading poetry, Dave Riegel argues in his latest column, has a practical value in the board room, on the campaign trail, in advertising, and anywhere popular art is consumed.
Palm Coast Opens Fiber Optic Network To Local Companies
In a first for Florida, Palm Coast is opening its fiber optic network to business use beginning in hopes of spurring commerce.
In Forceful Terms, Flagler Beach Knocks KKK
In contrast with county and Palm coast statements, Flagler Beach explicitly slams KKK drive as “a hate message.”
The Liberation of Charlie Crist
Charlie Crist, never foreign to transgression, transgressed what’s left of the Republican Party, which has no room for moderates.
Bunnell Bails from Billion-$ Desalination Band
Bunnell joins Flagler County, and possibly Flagler Beach soon, in dropping out of the $1 billion project.
In Alabama, They Speak Ass
Alabama Republican candidate Tim James pledge to ban non-English driving tests, in a campaign video, is xenophobic mob appeal.
Two-Car Wreck at Belle Terre & Rymfire Sends 2 to Hospital
Not quite worth the news splash, the wreck was more light show and twisted metal than injuries worth blessing-counts.
FPC’s Problem Solvers Make History
Flagler Palm Coast High School will send three teams, a national organization record, to the international problem solving competition this summer.
3-Year-Old Nathaniel Ordered Back to Flagler from NYC
The boy is in the middle of a custody battle as his parents sit in jail in Flagler and Pasco.
Bunnell Begs Amtrak With $1,000 Spree: Please Stop Here
Bunnell city commissioners are spending up to $1,000 to catch Amtrak’s attention for 20 seconds Saturday.
Palm Coast Glows Red:
2010 Revenue $4 Million Below Budget
The city’s money pots face severe revenue shortfalls that are, for now, being offset by dips into reserves and severe spending cuts.
When God and Politics
Take Over Public School Buildings
The Flagler School Board revisits its policy on community uses of school buildings in light of a growing controversy over Tea Party activists using Flagler Palm Coast High School.
Cash for Clunkers:
The Mica-Beaven Money Race
Complete charts, graphs and analysis of campaign finance for incumbent John Mica and challenger Heather Beaven in their 7th Congressional District race.
Of People’s Parks and Parked Reporters
When Catholic priests boff young boys, turf wars and fire engines, the editorial page brings out Ed Meese from his crypt, and the local page discovers “scenic” Palm Coast.
US To Florida: Health Care Opt-Out Is Not an Option
Hours after the Legislature voted on party lines to “opt out” of the new federal health law, the Obama administration said that will not be permitted.
Brian McMillan’s Stick Figures
The Palm Coast Observer’s managing editor has a new blog full of tiny jewels of witty wisdom from our most precious philosophers.
Arizona Boots Up Brown Immigrants’ Guantanamo
The virus that led to Arizona’s anti-immigration law has crossed Arizona’s borders into the rest of America. Its carrier is as white as a bed sheet and by far the greater threat to America’s character than anything that ever crossed the Rio Grande.
The Rosa Parks Arrest Report, 1955
Image copy of the Rosa Parks arrest report, Montgomery police, Alabama, December 1, 1955.
When Flagler Schools Booted Out Rosa Parks
As the Flagler School Board revisits its policy on building uses by political groups, churches and community organizations, it may find a former superintendent’s banning of Rosa Parks from Flagler schools instructive.
Great Ocean View, Fun Pier, 5,000 Landlords. $3,329/mo. (Big Chains Need Not Apply)
Flagler Beach’s government is advertising for anyone interested in taking over the 20-year lease of the Pier Restaurant on the city’s landmark waterfront.
Bunnell Drug Raid Nets 3 Arrests
Some 75 grams of marijuana, cocaine, a gun, prescription drugs and cell phones were found in a public-housing residence early Thursday morning.
Flagler Beach City Manager Announces Resignation
City commissioners convinced Murphy, an “interim” manager since 2006, to extend his tenure until October 1.
Cop-Killer Link in Ex-Missing Child Captor’s History
The father of Eleanor Black, who briefly held 3-year-old Nathaniel Fons, served 26 years for murdering a police officer in 1978.
Conklin’s Latest: Paddy Wagon for Rowdy Kids
School board members were cool to Colleen Conklin idea of a paddy wagon for rowdy riders. They were warmer to her volunteer ride-along idea.
50-Year-Old Man Killed in U.S. 1 Wreck South of Bunnell
The driver of a Toyota pick-up truck was over-correcting from a failed passing maneuver as he drove south on U.S. 1 at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday.
“Undesirables” Rile Residents Near Ralph Carter Park
The city built the $2.2 million park for young people. now a neighborhood watch group near Rymfire’s Ralph Carter Park is upset that park users are spilling beyond the park at night and on weekends. The sheriff is promising more “law enforcement action.”
Shellenberger, Steadying Voice for 8 Years, Will Not Run Again for School Board
After eight years on the school board and 41 years in education, Evie Shellenberger, 64, is looking for more leisure and less politics.
Missing Since Monday, 3-Year-Old Nathaniel Fons Found in NYC
Nathaniel Fons, the three-year-old boy missing since Monday, was found in New York City.
Brett Copeland Star Spangles at School Board
Brett Copeland, a senior at Matanzas High School, switched from violin to voice to sing the national anthem at a school board meeting.
Legislature’s Roadkill: Raiding Trust Funds
The Florida Legislature has balanced the budget by taking money from the transportation trust fund. It’s a short-sighted solution with dire consequences, argues Mark Wilson, president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Palm Coast Joins County in (Unspoken) KKK Denunciation
The city will re-post the same statement Flagler County posted on its website last week. The statement doesn’t mention the KKK.
How Ginn Corp. Stuck Flagler Taxpayers With a $2 Million White Elephant
Once seen as a magic bullet, Ginn Development Corp. had Flagler County build it a $2 million palace at the county airport. Then Ginn defaulted. Taxpayers are now taking a bullet between the eyes.
Students Fail. Cut Teachers’ Pay. Seriously?
The thinking behind Senate Bill 6 is rooted in the idea that teachers cause students’ success or failure. That’s wrong, argues Dave Riegel, a high school principal.
What Are They Building On Seminole Woods & SR100?
Actually, nothing–for now. The site is being cleared and drained for eventual development.
Sheriff Fleming to 3-Year-Old’s Kidnappers: Bring Him Back
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued an alert this morning for 3-year-old Nathaniel Fonz of Palm Coast, last seen in Jacksonville overnight.
KKK Confirms: We’re Recruiting in Flagler
In an interview with FlaglerLive, KKK Imperial Wizard Cole Thornton says the drive will continue across the state. Dan Warren recommends vigilance.
Why Is Flagler Being Mealy-Mouthed Over KKK Fliers?
How easy to pick at an obvious target like the KKK, and easier still to do it in language that commits to nothing more than fortune-cookie bromides. How meaningless too.
Happy Birthday, Sisco Deen
Sisco Deen, the living memory drive of Flagler County and its archive curator, turns 70 today.
At 16.6%, Flagler Unemployment Crawls Lower
While Florida’s unemployment rate continues to break post-Depression records, Flagler’s may be steadying downward.
Flagler Mayors: You Call That a Transportation System?
A day after a county-wide meeting of government leaders on transportation, Flagler County’s mayors blistered the county’s public transportation system but showed little vision themselves.
Festive Fears and Cheers at Tea Party Rally
Palm Coast’s Tea Party movement brandished its message in a Tax Day rally in the heart of town Thursday, and in an atmosphere more festive than furious.
Rockwell Meets Rubio: A Tea Party Photo Gallery
Norman Rockwell reckognized a compelling subject when he saw one. Chances are he’d have recognized an equally worthy subject in the Tea Party movement, whatever its stripes.
Call Me a Tea Party Fan
Maybe not a fan of the tea partiers’ ideas. But definitely a fan of their sincerity and, yes, eloquence. Let’s bust some stereotypes.
Crist Vetoes Senate Bill 6
Teachers are celebrating, but by vetoing SB6, Charlie Crist sent a message to Marco Rubio that the race for US Senate will be played out in the general election.
Tea Party Circus Is In Town
I’m about to head out to Palm Coast Parkway and Old Kings Road where the tea party folks are holding their latest rally against (fill in the blanks).
Blasting SB6: Teacher Rally Photo Gallery
If Gov. Crist had been in Palm Coast the afternoon of April 14, he’d have witnessed enthusiastic, dedicated anger at SB6 from a big segment of the county’s teachers.