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First Cast, In Full Glory

FlaglerLive | June 24, 2017

Flagler Beach photographer and attorney Scott Spradley was by the Pier at dawn this morning to capture images of fishermen’s first cast. He did, superbly, and tells the story of the picture.

Coming to Flagler Beach: No-Parking Barriers and Silt Mounds to Stop A1A Washouts

FlaglerLive | June 23, 2017

The city and the state transportation department will block off portions of A1A to parking and build silt mounds to soak up water, though some commissioners are skeptical of silt’s effectiveness.

637-Ft. Flagler Beach Pier Re-Opens Saturday, 8 Months After Hurricane Matthew Lobotomy

FlaglerLive | June 22, 2017

The Flagler Beach Pier will reopen Saturday as emergency repairs end, to the joys of a city that’s lived without its iconic amenity since Hurricane Matthew sheared 163 feet from its end and made it unstable.

More Washouts Plague Flagler Beach’s A1A as Commissioners Wonder: Another Year and Half Of This?

FlaglerLive | June 16, 2017

Heavy rains caused more washouts of the low dunes and rock revetments along State Road A1A this afternoon in what is becoming a recurring problem with almost every heavy rain event.

Flagler Beach Pier Repair to Last a Bit Longer and Cost More as Engineers Test Loads

FlaglerLive | April 27, 2017

The Flagler Beach Pier was set to fully open May 1, but the opening date has been pushed back to the end of May, and engineering work, which won;t affect the date, will add up to $45,000 in costs.

Along A1A, Protective Plants Replace Rock Art as Volunteers Pilot Adopt-A-Dunes Program

FlaglerLive | April 25, 2017

Flagler Beach City Commissioner Joy McGrew is leading an all-volunteer effort to dug up plants from properties of willing owners along A1A and replanting them on dunes as protection against people using them as walkovers.

In Big Victory for Flagler Government, Feared Vacation-Rental Bill Suddenly in Retreat in Legislature

FlaglerLive | April 17, 2017

Flagler County’s vacation-rental regulations currently in place would be preserved according to a new version of a Senate bill the county had been fighting before. And a House bill may be dead.

State Transportation Department Asks Flagler Beach Police to Crack Down on A1A Rock Art

FlaglerLive | April 7, 2017

Flagler Beach City Manager Larry Newsom said police officers will not suddenly arrest people who build rock structures on A1A, but will use a more friendly, educational approach.

After 11 Years, Flagler Beach’s First Fridays Events Get Their First Written Policy

FlaglerLive | March 23, 2017

The proposed four-page policy formalizes what had been verbally agreed to, or assumed, over the years, but doesn’t change the focus on favoring local businesses while outlining documentation requirements.

Flagler Increases Tourism Tax to 5%, Benefiting Beach Fix, Then More Promotions

FlaglerLive | March 21, 2017

The first two years of new revenue will swell the beach-repair fund by $2.5 million, settling back down to $500,000 thereafter, when the promotions revenue will rise to $1.5 million a year.

O’Brien Beach-Funding Proposal Prevails, And Flagler Beach Gets $2 Million Pledge

FlaglerLive | March 20, 2017

County Commissioner Donald O’Brien’s proposal to shift more money toward beach restoration prevailed today in a joint meeting of the County Commission and the county’s tourism board, and the county administrator pledged to allocate $2 million to Flagler Beach’s needs.

Flagler Tourism “Promotions” Slush Fund Jumps 76% in 3 Years, And We’re Counting Pennies For Beach Repairs?

FlaglerLive | March 20, 2017

Paying for critical repairs to Flagler County’s beaches is hostages to a tourism budget’s scandalous and unaccountable promotions spending, which the county administration wants to increase despite the emergency.

O’Brien Surprise: Commissioner Agrees To Higher Tourism Tax, But With Beach Twist

FlaglerLive | March 6, 2017

County Commissioner Donald O’Brien today was willing to raise the county’s tourism tax to 5 percent, but to further increase revenue for beach restoration, and, for a year, lower revenue for promotions.

Flagler Beach Could Have an 1,100-Foot Pier, But On Concrete, and Not Before 2021

FlaglerLive | March 2, 2017

Concepts of a future Flagler Beach pier were unveiled, projecting greater length but less wooden rusticity, and still a lot of uncertainty regarding cost. The earliest date for a new pier would be 2021.

Flagler Beach Pier To Be Repaired and Opened By May 1, But More Concrete Plans in Its Future

FlaglerLive | February 14, 2017

The $918,000 contract will stabilize the Flagler Beach pier but will not restore the 160 feet it lost during Hurricane Matthew. That’ll be the long-term fix, which may entail pouring concrete.

In Flagler Again, Gov. Scott Issues $15.8 Million For Beach Fix in 4 Counties, $5.4M for Flagler

FlaglerLive | January 27, 2017

The $15.8 million is not necessarily new money but includes at least $5.3 million Flagler County has been lobbying for to rebuild dunes. Gov. Scott made the announcement at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park’s beach.

Flagler Beach Approves $40 Million State Plan to Rebuild Dunes, With Sea Wall at City’s North End

FlaglerLive | January 26, 2017

In a surprising shift, Flagler Beach City Commissioners agreed to a state plan to build a sea wall at the city’s north end in exchange for a beach management plan the state would pay for.

Why Is the County Chairman Meddling in Flagler Beach’s Business, and Why Was Flagler Beach’s Manager Job-Hunting in Bunnell?

FlaglerLive | January 25, 2017

Flagler Beach officials were perplexed and angered by County Commission Chairman Nate McLaughlin’s apparent interference in their city manager’s–and their city’s–business at a time when county and city are trying to work out difficult issues.

Rift Opens Between County and Flagler Beach Over Dunes Fix; County Depletes TDC Fund

FlaglerLive | January 23, 2017

Flagler County commissioners agreed today to deplete a $1.5 million fund for beach management as part of a match to draw down state dollars, but none of the money would benefit Flagler Beach, angering officials there.

Pier Repairs, 52 Dune Walkovers, A1A: Flagler Beach Manager Newsom’s Post-Hurricane Status Report

FlaglerLive | January 7, 2017

Among other plans, Flagler Beach City Manager Larry Newsom wants the city to have the longest pier in Florida, but getting there will take a while yet as he updates all repair plans.

Why a Seawall in Flagler Beach Could Harm Sea Turtles and Violate the Law

FlaglerLive | January 6, 2017

Flagler Beach’s situation on the ground has changed enough between Hurricane Matthew and recent findings about sea turtles that state transportation department construction plans should be rethought in light of those developments, argues Chad Boda.

Numerous Concerns, Elusive Certainties as Flagler Beach and County Governments Talk Beach Renovation

FlaglerLive | January 3, 2017

Assurances Flagler Beach was looking for–that there would be no sea walls anywhere, that the city’s beaches would have priority–proved elusive in a joint meeting with county government.

Flagler Seeks to Raise County’s Tourism Sales Surtax to 5% to Help Pay for Beach Restoration

FlaglerLive | December 21, 2016

The 4 percent surtax currently generates $2 million a year. An extra penny would add $500,000, but there are differences over whether all the added revenue should go to beach restoration or whether some should go to marketing the county.

County Tallies Up Almost $60 Million Cost of Repairing Beaches But Lacks Comprehensive Plan

FlaglerLive | December 19, 2016

Flagler County commissioners heard sobering costs of repairing 18 miles of beaches but a “unified” plan local cities, state and federal agencies can agree to is entirely lacking.

In Flagler Beach Again, Sen. Nelson Conveys Feds’ Message on Beach Fix: No Seawalls

FlaglerLive | December 12, 2016

Sen. Bill Nelson was back in Flagler Beach to tout the passage of a water bill that includes authorization for $15.6 million in federal beach renourishment dollars for Flagler County. But it’s conditional on the state not building sea walls.

Flagler Beach Holiday at the Beach Parade Set for Saturday: Late Participants Welcome

FlaglerLive | November 27, 2016

The Rotary Club of Flagler Beach is once again hosting the Holiday at the Beach parade this Saturday, Dec. 3, along resilient State Road A1A in the city and is welcoming last minute parade applicants this week. See the application below.

Contractor Gunning to Reopen A1A 30 Days Ahead of Schedule. The Reason: $1 Million Bonus

FlaglerLive | November 2, 2016

Halifax Paving is set to reopen State Road A1A in Flagler Beach next week, some 30 days ahead of schedule, earning itself a $1 million bonus on top of the original $4 million emergency contract. Businesses and others are cheering.

FEMA Finally Broadens Emergency Declaration to Include Homeowners; Flagler Beach Re-Opens Beaches Wednesday

FlaglerLive | October 18, 2016

FEMA’s declaration will let homeowners claim up to $33,000 in repair or recovery expenses attributed to Hurricane Matthew. The beaches in Flagler Beach will reopen from North 4th Street to South 8th Street on Wednesday, and go further after the weekend.

150 Volunteers Swarm to Clean Up Flagler’s Beaches, Some to Reopen by Mid-Week; FPC Students Clear Graham Swamp Trail

FlaglerLive | October 16, 2016

In Flagler Beach Mayor Linda Provencher drew a mass of volunteers in less than 24 hours for the Sunday clean-up, and in Palm Coast, FPC track Coach David Halliday led his team along Graham Swamp’s trails, cleaning them up around the same time.

Flagler Beach Fireworks and “Home of the Brave” Parade on July 4; Palm Coast’s Show July 3