Nysean Giddens goes on trial on a first-degree murder charge in the overdose drug death of Shaun Callahan, the Flagler County Commission and the Flagler County Planning Board meet jointly, Disneyland turns 68.
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Milan Kundera and the Absurdity of Being Human
Milan Kundera, that remarkable novelist, essayist, poet, philosopher and political critic who died at the age of 94, opened up new ways of thinking, writing and reading. In his literary presence, the world seemed tuned to a higher frequency.
End Legacy Admissions
Who will benefit from the Supreme Court’s recent ruling striking down race as a factor in college admissions? Mostly, just wealthy white people. That’s because the ruling refused to touch so-called “legacy admissions.” Colleges are free to continue giving preferential treatment to the children of alumni, donors, and other well-connected, privileged people.
A Reminder to Anglers: Release Reef Fish with the Right Tools
Florida requires a descending device and/or venting tool be rigged and ready for use when fishing for reef fish from a vessel in state waters (within 3 nautical miles on the Atlantic and 9 nautical miles on the Gulf).
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Sunday, July 16, 2023
Sunday Chess Club at Chabad of Palm Coast, Barenaked Ladies at the St. Augustine Amphitheater, Bach’s wedding cantata, Whitman on the vanished the proud boasts.
America’s Use and Abuse of Puerto Rico
In the 125 years since U.S. troops invaded Puerto Rico on July 25, 1898, during the Spanish-American War, the U.S. government has controlled the island militarily, politically and economically – with no end in sight or, for Puerto Rico, a clear path to statehood.
Ron DeSantis’ Very Gay Ad
Ron DeSantis wants you to know he’s a manly man, a manlier man than any manly man ever born, with mighty currents of 100-proof androgen surging through his sinews. He made a video about it. Diane Roberts asks: how could this steaming pile of bovine excrement (and lightning bolts shooting out of the governor’s eyes) get released by his campaign?
Eatonville Residents Sue Over Future of Historic Black School Site
A descendant of the founders of the Black-incorporated Town of Eatonville has joined a lawsuit contesting the Orange County School District’s control of property dedicated long ago to the education of Black children.
$15,000 in Go Girl Grants Now Available Through Professional Women of Flagler County
The Go Girl Grant is an initiative by The Professional Women of Flagler County to foster the growth and success of professional women in Flagler County. By providing financial aid, the grant money can be used to remove some of the barriers that may hinder the advancement of these women in their respective fields.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Saturday, July 15, 2023
The St. Augustine Craft Beer Festival, the Democratic Women’s Club meets, Men’s Fish Fry at First Church of Palm Coast, the barbarous practice of civilians bearing arms.
90-Degree Waters Are Putting Florida’s Corals at Risk
The water off South Florida is over 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) in mid-July, and scientists are already seeing signs of coral bleaching off Central and South America. Particularly concerning is how early in the summer we are seeing these high ocean temperatures. If the extreme heat persists, it could have dire consequences for coral reefs.
Father Arrested After Taking Children, 3 and 4, Without Custody
Derek Jordan, the biological father of a 3-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy, forcefully took the children though he did not have custody, and drove away from palm Coast. He was stopped and arrested on I-10.
Flagler Beach Offers City Manager’s Job, By Acclamation, to Dale Martin of Fernandina Beach
The Flagler Beach City Commission today voted to hire Dale Martin, the city manager in Fernandina Beach for seven years until last March, as its next city manager. If each commissioner could vote twice for him, that’s what would have happened: he was that acclaimed.
Verdict in Teron’s 2nd Trial Means Life in Prison or Acquittal as Judge Prods Lawyers Toward Last Plea Attempt
Weeks after a hung jury and days from Monserrate Teron’s second trial on capital charges of raping his 7-year-old granddaughter, a judge today spurred lawyers on both sides to give a plea deal one more go, but chances of such a deal are slim. The trial begins July 24.
Yes, There Is a Free Lunch
Step back a moment and take stock of the paradox. On one hand a community can and should take pride in its willingness to rally for those in need. On the other hand, there should not be such things as food drives–not in a country that presumes itself wealthy and civilized. There should not be food insecurity, period. Basic nutrition is a human right, as ought to be universal food assistance where necessary and free school meals whether necessary or not.
Mayor David Alfin and Dr. Steven Bickel’s Arm-Wrestling Match Will Launch $1 Million Food-A-Thon
Dr. Stephen Bickel, the medical director at the Flagler Health Department and the county’s leading philanthropist, will arm-wrestle in a best-of-three match with Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin to launch this year’s $1 million Food-a-Thon, an effort to raise $200,000 that will e leveraged into $1 million worth of food for needy families, through Grace Tabernacle Food Pantry.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Friday, July 14, 2023
The second annual Food-a-Thon is today, a status hearing is scheduled in the case of Monserrate Teron, LGBTQ+ Night at Flagler Beach’s Coquina Coast Brewing Company, a journalism festival in France kicking off on Bastille Day, Charles Portis.
Finally, an Over-the-Counter Post-Pill Paradise
On July 13, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a drugmaker’s application for the first daily over-the-counter birth control pill for people seeking to prevent pregnancy, to be available next year. This expanded access could be a significant development in the post-Roe era as individual states further restrict women’s access to abortion.
Disney’s Bob Iger Calls ‘Preposterous and Inaccurate’ DeSantis Claims of ‘Sexualizing’ Children
Disney CEO Bob Iger dismissed as “preposterous” arguments by Gov. Ron DeSantis that the company is “sexualizing children” or experiencing a drop in attendance at its Florida resorts because of a long-running fight with the governor.
Public Meeting Set for July 20 on Re-Paving of SR A1A in Flagler Beach
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is to hold a public meeting at 5:30 p.m. July 20 (Tuesday) about the resurfacing project plans for State Road A1A from South 8th Street to North 18th Street in Flagler Beach.
Bored, a 13-Year-Old Boy Floods a House Under Construction, Takes Video, and Now Faces Felony Charge
A 13-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s B-Section broke into a house under construction on Bud Hollow Drive, clogged its two toilets and ran the water, flooding the house with an inch of water, all the while taking video and laughing about it. He faces three charges, including felony burglary.
Flagler Beach in 4-1 Vote Approves a 39-Unit Apartment Complex Off Leslie Street, Near SR100
The Flagler Beach City Commission Wednesday evening cleared the way for a 39-unit, two-building apartment complex on 3.2 acres between Leslie and Joyce streets, off of John Anderson Highway and just south of State Road 100. The 4-1 vote followed insistance from commissioners that the development’s recreational amenities be more enhanced as such.
Semi Crash on I-95 Spills Chemicals and Shuts Down All Northbound Lanes Near Matanzas Woods
A tandem tractor trailer that crashed into a disabled car on I-95 early this morning spilled hazardous chemicals and caused the closure of the highway’s northbound lanes and two of its southbound lanes. No one was injured, and the chemical spill was deemed of no danger to the public, according to the Palm Coast Fire Department.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Thursday, July 13, 2023
Public Meet and Greet with finalists for Flagler Beach City Manager at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, the Palm Coast Democratic Club meets, remembering Milan Kundera.
Ugly as Tin, the Glaring, $12 Million Bridge Over SR100 Is Radiating Concerns–and Publicity
The just-completed A-frame pedestrian bridge over State Road 100 has turned into a recurring joke and a legitimate traffic concern that the county is addressing. But some officials see an opportunity in the bad publicity the bridge is attracting, because with it comes tourist interest and a potential marketing coup.
The Shooting of Ralph Yarl and the Myth of a Colorblind America
In the United States, any Black person outside of what someone else determines is his or her socially designated physical or social location is presumed to be out of place, with repercussions ranging from what some might call benign amusement to death.
Seminole Woods and Quail Hollow Get New Palm Coast Fire Department Engine Company
The Palm Coast Fire Department (PCFD) has added a sixth engine company to expand services to the southern end of Palm Coast, including the Seminole Woods and Quail Hollow neighborhoods. PCFD’s Engine 29 has been redeployed from reserve status as the primary fire protection coverage for the area previously protected by Flagler County Fire Rescue Engine 92.
Judge Refuses to Block Two Parts of Florida’s Newly Restrictive Election Law
One of those parts requires representatives of voter-registration groups to provide receipts to people who sign up to vote. The other part prevents people with certain felony convictions from “collecting or handling” voter-registration applications.
Brendan Depa’s Attorney Meeting with Prosecutor Friday for Negotiations
The attorney representing Brendan Depa, the 17-year-old former Matanzas High School student facing a first-degree felony in the beating of a school employee, is meeting with the prosecutor on Friday for negotiations signaling the possibility of a plea.
District ‘Playing Games’ With Belle Terre Swim Club Books, Hurting Revenue Picture
Flagler County School Board member Colleen Conklin is objecting to the way the district is accounting for the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club’s revenue numbers and pointing to a shell game that has made the club’s balance sheet look much worse than it is.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Wednesday, July 12, 2023
Separation Chat, Open Discussion, a pre-trial for Brendan Depa, Social Security heists, did Paul Renner whitewash an allegation of sexual harassment against one of his freshman House members?
Courts Are Striking Down Anti-LGBTQ Laws for Limiting Speech of Drag Queens and Doctors
Nearly 500 anti-LGBTQ bills have been introduced in state legislatures in the U.S. in 2023. Most have not become law, and many of those that have did not survive legal scrutiny when challenged in court.
Farmers Insurance Exiting Florida, Ending Home and Car Policies for Tens of Thousands
The Florida insurance market took a hit Tuesday, as Farmers Insurance said it will end residential, auto and umbrella policies in the state, forcing tens of thousands of customers to look elsewhere for coverage.
A Suicidal Felon Is Tased Twice After Assaulting an Elderly Man
Leo Vincent Ford, a 51-year-old resident of 60 Rickenbacker Drive in Palm Coast, was tased twice by a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy after Ford ignored commands and later said he was hoping the deputy would shoot him and end his life.
Sheriff Staly Buries Two Time Capsules Commemorating Agency Milestones
The “FCSO Centennial Time Capsule” is set to be opened on July 9th, 2067, the agency’s 150th anniversary. The second time capsule is to be opened on November 7th, 2072, the 50th anniversary of the Dedication Ceremony for the new Sheriff’s Operations Center.
Palm Coast Explores 6% Tax on All Electric Bills Through ‘Franchise Fee’ Repeatedly Opposed in Past
For the third time in 11 years, the Palm Coast City Council is exploring the imposition of a new, 6 percent tax on all electricity bills by way of a so-called “franchise fee” that would be levied on Florida Power and Light and passed down to customers.
Cancer Will Have New Foe in Town as AdventHealth Palm Coast Announces $30 Million Center on SR 100
AdventHealth Palm Coast officials and benefactors unveiled the latest expansion of the State Road 100 campus: the Freytag Health Plaza, a $30 million, 30,000 square foot, two-level cancer and rehab center that will open with the newest technology at the beginning of 2025.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Tuesday, July 11, 2023
The Palm Coast City Council talks about a new franchise fee (or tax) on your utility bills, the Flagler County School Board meets (bring Dramamine), To Kill a Mockingbird’s birthday.
Group Aiming for Abortion-Right Ballot Initiative Raises $1.94 Million in June
As of June 30, the Floridians Protecting Freedom committee had collected about $4.719 million since being formed in April. It had spent almost $4.59 million, including about $2.52 million in June.
Your Anti-Apartment Prejudice Is Contributing to Housing Problems
The ability of small suburban municipalities to limit multifamily housing is more the rule than the exception. As proposals for new housing are deflected away from smaller communities, housing either doesn’t get built, thus raising rents by limiting residential supply, or it gets pushed to far-flung exurbs that are distant from most jobs.
Paul Renner Pushing for Consolidation of Circuit Courts, Citing ‘Cost Savings’
Rep. Paul Renner, the House Speaker, believes “the consolidation of circuits would result in improved economies of scale in the judiciary’s back-office operations, leading to substantial cost savings for Florida’s taxpayers.”
Flagler County Approves 1st Step to Doubling Levy in the Mondex, Angering Residents
The Flagler County Commission today voted 4-1 to potentially double the special assessment rate residents of Daytona North pay for some road maintenance and other infrastructure improvements. Residents attending the meeting were not happy. Nor was County Commissioner Leann Pennington.
Flagler County Whirs Closer to Buying $5.4 Million Replacement for FireFlight Helicopter
In a busy pair of meetings today, the Flagler County Commission got closer to buying a new emergency helicopter, set the maximum tax rate for next year, and set proposed rates that would increase garbage pick-up costs by 45 percent.
Flagler County Library’s Budget, Hours and Staffing Shrunk as Population Increased 25%
Flagler County’s population has increased 25 percent since 2010, but the budget of the county library has shrunk 3 percent when adjusted for inflation, the library’s hours have been cut, it’s lost staffing and its materials budget has declined.
The Daily Cartoon and Live Briefing: Monday, July 10, 2023
The County Commission sets its maximum property tax rate after a budget discussion, the Flagler Playhouse is holding auditions for Hello Dolly, Donna Tartt on Charles Portis, why people love their Donald.
Harsher Drug Penalties Aren’t Helping Addicts Recover
A former drug addict who now helps others overcome their addiction describes his experience: Compassionate treatment and care make it possible to recover. Putting punishment before healing does not. But state laws are getting harsher, at addicts’ expense.
Can You Give Your Children Too Much Attention?
While secure attachment is important, ever rising levels of attention won’t necessarily increase it proportionally. Instead, it is important to carefully consider the degree of engagement and balance this with supporting children to reach appropriate stages of resilience and independence.
Dale Luther Greene, 1940-2023
Dale Luther Greene, founder of Hollar and Greene, was born on March 2, 1940 in Stony Fork, North Carolina. He died on Saturday, July 1, 2023.
In Flagler Beach, Warning Tickets Can Be Commuted Into Christmas Toys for Needy
The Flagler Beach Police Department is proud to announce that the summer version of our “Toys for Tickets”, titled “Christmas in July,” has returned.
‘Word!’ South Florida Book Festival Celebrates 50 Years of Hip-Hop Culture July 13-15
“Word! Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop Culture” brings together literature and visual and performing arts, featuring leaders, authors and scholars of Florida’s hip-hop community, from July 13 to 15 at Broward County Library’s African American Research Library & Cultural Center (AARLCC), 2650 Sistrunk Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale.