The number of unemployed persons–2,065–was essentially unchanged compared with April, but it’s down by 250 people from a year ago. The Florida unemployment rate fell to 4.3 percent.
Local Business
After Matanzas Golf Course Owners a No-Show at Hearing, Palm Coast Moves to Recover $228,000
Circuit Judge Scott DuPont rejected what defenses the golf course owners had produced regarding overgrowth, clearing the way for foreclosure on the long-troubled course.
Flagler Awards $90,000 Subsidy to Company, Secret For Now, to Construct “Spec” Building
Though County Commissioners approved the $90,000, the government is not disclosing the name of the company benefiting from it, saying it doesn’t want to undermine the company’s real estate transaction.
As Medical Pot Dispensaries Open Elsewhere, Flagler Official Says “We Need To Get Going”
County Commissioner Donald O’Brien said he is not interested in continuing to extend moratoriums on medical-pot businesses as neighboring counties see such businesses open, leaving Flagler behind.
CareerSource Flagler Volusia, Which Helps Unemployed, Will Lose 10% of Its Workforce
A $1 million cut to CareerSource’s budget is due to lower unemployment, but an agency official notes that underemployment remains a steep challenge, and further cuts may be on the way.
European Village Shooter Facing Up to 35 Years in Prison Is Termed an “American Hero” and Gets 7 Years’ Probation
Daniel Noble fired two shots from an assault rifle at European Village before being wrestled to the ground by three men in December 2014. His attorney pointed to his Iraq War service for leniency.
Gallery Openings: Palm Coast Modern Artist Krystyna Spisak-Madejczyk Looks for ‘Secrets’
Krystyna Spisak-Madejczyk found herself almost a refugee in 1981, with nothing but her art work, when she was in New York and martial law was declared in her native Poland.
Prohibition-Era Liquor Wall Stays in Place as Gov. Scott Vetoes Bill to Deregulate Stores
ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and Publix win, Target, Costco and Walmart lose, as Gov. Scott, opposing deregulation, signs his first veto of the year.
Profile In Resilience: Cindy Dalecki’s Journey From Loss Back to Radiance
Cindy Dalecki, one of the most recognizably sunny personalities and marketing executive in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast, describes her ongoing recovery from losing her husband and companion of 28 years.
Marketing 2 Go, Curley Tail Design and the Branding Box Move to Ripple Coworking in Flagler Beach
Marketing 2 Go, Dalecki’s 7-year-old company and with Kim Fitzgerald’s Curley Tail Design, who together run The Branding Box, moved to Ripple Coworking, a startup in a venerable building.
Flagler Unemployment Falls to New Post-Recession Low, Matching Florida’s 4.5%
In April, the number of the unemployed in Flagler County fell by almost 200, though the labor force shrank almost equally, and the overall number of Flagler County residents with jobs fell by 100.
Sheriff Warns Against Misleading Medical Pot Scams “Popping Up All Over Palm Coast”
Yard signs in Palm Coast have popped up advertising “legal” weed, but the signs are scams, and a further reflecting of the confusion caused by lawmakers’ inability to agree to rules on medical pot, enabling scammers to fill voids.
Gambling or Charity? Conflict Over Shut-Down of Electronic Bingo, Which Had Sustained Flagler Cats
Shamrock Bingo in Bunnell operated for years until an inspection found its 40 electronic machines to be illegal. Lawyers for the business are disputing the finding. The city will seek a state Attorney General’s opinion.
From Austin Outdoor to Brass Tap: A Native Son Opens Palm Coast’s Largest Craft Beer Bar
Ed Schatz, who started Austin Outdoor in 1994 and sold it in 2008, is opening Brass Tap in Palm Coast’s Island Walk Monday, and planning to make it the first of nine such craft beer bars along East Florida’s coast.
11 Months After Fire, Dunkin Donuts On Palm Coast Parkway Reopens, With Sprinkles and 35 Employees
The Dunkin Donuts on Palm Coast Parkway reopens at 4 a.m. Thursday after it burned for reasons yet undetermined in June 2016, affecting about 1,000 customers a day.
David Ottati Returns: Ex-Florida Hospital Flagler CEO Takes Over 3-County Region
David Ottati’s rise in the Adventist organization is again bringing him to Flagler County as he takes over leadership of a seven hospital-region including Florida Hospital Flagler.
Flagler Beach Unanimously Approves Marina Settlement That May End 7-Year Suit
It’s now up to Howard Sklar to sign off on the settlement agreement. His attorney said the marina, idle for almost two decades, could be operating soon, welcoming boats, building and repairing them.
Badcock Furniture Will Fill Old Food Lion Space in Flagler Beach, Ending 8-Year Drought
Badcock Furniture will open in mid-summer in Flagler Square, as will a sweet shop, completing a remarkable revival of that commercial strip eight years after it had become a gaping hole for business.
Lawmakers Set to Enact Long-Sought Solar Energy Tax Break, But Concerns Remain
The House and Senate are working on the proposals to carry out a renewable-energy constitutional amendment, known as Amendment 4, that voters approved during August’s primary election.
In Big Victory for Flagler Government, Feared Vacation-Rental Bill Suddenly in Retreat in Legislature
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.
New Starbucks Location Brewing Next to Aldi in the Shoppes of Palm Coast on SR100
A 2,200-square-foot Starbucks just got a development order and will soon rise next to Aldi, Gate gas station and Tractor Supply Co at Belle Terre and SR100.
House Panel Votes 9-6 to End Vacation Rental Regulations in 3rd Straight Defeat for Flagler
Flagler County government had staked its chances on killing the bill in this particular committee because Rep. Paul Renner, who represents Flagler, sits on the panel and had pledged to do what he could to halt the bill’s momentum.
At Vacation-Rental Town Hall, Renner Hears Unanimity Against Impairing Local Control
A standing-room-only crowd at Saturday’s Hammock Town Hall urged Rep. Paul Renner to battle a legislative attempt to scale back local regulatory control of vacation rentals won through a 2014 law.
Flagler Unemployment Down to 5.3% As 1,150 More Local Residents Gain Jobs in 2 Months
Flagler County’s unemployment in February fell sharply again, to 5.3 percent from 6 percent the previous month, even as the labor force in the county surged for the second month in a row, to just under 46,000–a record–as did the number of residents holding jobs.
Renner Seizes Reins for Flagler After Hutson’s Striking Disregard on Vacation Rentals
Rep. Paul Renner and County Commissioner Greg Hansen are organizing a town hall meeting in the Hammock Saturday, hoping to rally support against a proposed legislative retreat on vacation-rental regulations.
7-3 Vote Loses Flagler Another Round on Vacation Rentals In Hurried Senate Hearing
Flagler County government’s attempt to protect its vacation-rental regulations took another turn for the worse as a Senate committee today voted to advance a bill that would wipe out those regulations.
Flagler Tourism “Promotions” Slush Fund Jumps 76% in 3 Years, And We’re Counting Pennies For Beach Repairs?
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.
Flagler’s Hutson Files Amendment to Vacation-Rental Bill That Would “Eviscerate” Regulations
Sen. Travis Hutson had supported the 2014 law enabling Flagler County to regulate vacation rentals. His amendment, which he calls a “compromise,” would scale that back even though he sees no problems with local regulations or short-term rentals.
Setback For Flagler as Bill Scrapping Vacation-Rental Regulations Advances on 9-6 Vote
A divided House Agriculture and Property Rights Subcommittee was not swayed by a presentation from Flagler County Attorney Al Hadeed as it voted to scrap county authority to regulate short-term, vacation rentals. The bill has several additional hurdles to clear.
Prohibition on Liquor In Grocery Stores Approaching Repeal as Bill Advances
The contentious bill, sought by Wal-Mart and Target and opposed by Publix and ABC, needs to make it through one more committee in the House and awaits a floor vote in the Senate.
Senate Committee Kills Recovery Centers Palm Coast Opposes, But Approves Expanded Surgical Centers
A Senate committee today killed a proposal to create the sort of “recovery care centers” Palm Coast government and Florida Hospital Flagler oppose, but it agreed to expanded ambulatory care centers.
Flagler May Lose Vacation Rental Regulations Just 2 Years After Regaining Authority
After a three-year battle, Flagler County government regained the right to regulate short-term rentals in the Hammock, which had become disruptive to local residents. Now the state is poised to take that authority away–again.
Unemployment Spikes to 6% in Flagler, Highest in 15 Months, But Labor Force Also Grows
While Flagler County’s number of unemployed grew by 11 percent month-over-month, the county also saw a very large increase of 600 people in its workforce, pointing to optimism about the county’s climate.
U.S. Economy Adds 235,000 Jobs,
Continuing Long Pace of Robust Growth
The unemployment rate fell to 4.7 percent, not quite the post-Great Recession low of 4.6 percent recorded last November, but close enough.
Salvo Art Project Close To Taking Over Maxwell House In Bunnell After 3-Month Hibernation
JJ GRaham’s and Petra Iston’s Salvo Art Project, forced out of Nature Scapes two months ago, is close to moving into the 5,000 square foot Maxwell House in Bunnell after getting approved for a loan to buy the $275,000 building.
Palm Coast Retreats From Mayor Radio Show In Favor of Free, Staff-Hosted Podcast
After the controversy triggered by City Manager Jim Landon’s mishandling of a radio show proposal featuring the mayor, his administration is proposing a podcast instead, but while still spending $8,000 on promotional radio advertising.
Florida Hospital Flagler, County’s Largest Private Employer, In Network Named Great Place to Work
The “150 Great Places to Work in Healthcare” distinction recognizes organizations for their commitment to fulfilling missions, creating outstanding cultures and offering competitive benefits to their employees.
In Victory for Local Governments, FPL Loses Appeal Over Having to Bury Power Lines
The state Supreme Court on Friday turned down an appeal by Florida Power & Light in a case about whether the utility could be required to install underground transmission lines.
“Mass Chaos” At Walmart Girl Scout Cookie Stand as Clash Turns Violent Over $20 Debt
Palm Coast’s Daniel Kennedy, 18, and his 16-year-old brother, were arrested after destroying a Girl Scout cookie stand and allegedly attacking three people at Walmart Saturday when they were told they could not take cookies instead of money allegedly owed them.
Rep. Renner Takes Another Beating, This Time From Palm Coast Council Over Slew of Bills
The Palm Coast City Council excoriated Rep. Paul Renner over several bills he’s introduced, saying the proposals would hurt Florida Hospital Flagler and end the city’s ability to regulate local business, among others.
Superwash Express Brings 40 Jobs to Heart of Palm Coast and Lava of Choices For Car Care
Superwash on Cypress Point Parkway held its grand opening last week, creating 40 new jobs, about 25 of them full-time, in a car town that seems to take to carwashes with zeal.
Europa Owner’s House Demolished in Evening Fire in Palm Coast’s C-Section
Marcella and Ambroz Ferrena, who own New Europa, the restaurant and lounge at European Village, were in their Palm Coast home by the canals late Sunday afternoon when they smelled smoke. It was a small fire in the garage that rapidly spread through the roof.
Woody’s Joe Rizzo Named Director of Flagler Education Foundation, Replacing Williams
Joe Rizzo, a Flagler native and part-owner of several local restaurants, will diminish his role there to take up the full-time job at the foundation, on whose board he’s served for eight years, one of them as president.
Commissioners Uneasy With Flagler’s Bail-Out of Agriculture Museum and New 400-Acre Park
Flagler County government would pay off an $185,000 museum mortgage and grant it $25,000 a year while acquiring more than 400 acres of the museum’s land, calling it an “extension” of Princess Place Preserve.
County Breaks Ground on 5,500-ft Runway at Airport to Accommodate Larger Corporate Jets
The $12.1 million project will be carried out over the next 350 days at Flagler County Executive Airport. It will also create new space at the north end of the airport for more building construction.
Tax Collector’s New Branch Office in Flagler Beach Compelled By Rising Traffic–and Guns
The new tax collector’s branch at the Food Lion shopping center in Flagler Beach will be the exclusive location for the boom in concealed weapons permitting, and possibly a commercial seed for the long-moribund Flagler Square.
Rebecca DeLorenzo Resigns Flagler Chamber Presidency to Head Red Cross Chapter
Flagler Chamber officials say DeLorenzo’s resignation is an opportunity for the chamber to rethink its direction, including what staffing will be needed. The chamber had employed seven, down from 13 four years ago.
Continuing Year-Long See-Saw, Flagler Unemployment Dips Back Down to 5.4%
For the past 13 months, Flagler County’s unemployment rate has been stuck within in narrow band in the mid-5.5 percent range, bottoming out at 4.9 percent last May and peaking at 5.7 percent three times along the way.
Short-Listed For High-Tech Finance Company’s 250 Jobs, Flagler Seeks $500,000 in Incentives
Flagler County government is making its most expensive pitch to attract 250 jobs, a high-tech finance company based in the Northeast and looking to expand either in Florida or Georgia.
Palm Coast’s New Founders:
Steven Nobile’s Multi-Generational Vision
Inspired by the muti-generational households he knew in Brooklyn, N.Y., Councilman Steven Nobile sees a Palm Coast where young families raise children, have plenty of work opportunities, and retire all in place.