Weldon and Richlin Ryan’s new Calypso Fine Art Gallery at Marvin garden, along with Sheila Skipp Zinkerman’s ZinkZank gallery and Salvo Art Project, are burgeoning an art walk similar to what existed at City Marketplace before an exodus two years ago.
Local Business
Golden Lion’s Key Lime Tartar Sauce Yields $2,800 in Latest Donations to Needy
The Bunnell Food Pantry, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Halifax Urban Ministries of Daytona Beach were the beneficiaries of the third distribution of proceeds from Golden Lion’s sauce.
Palm Coast City Employees Get Free Screenings From Florida Hospital Flagler
Florida Hospital Flagler provided free health screenings to 80 City of Palm Coast employees. The screenings included blood pressure, pulse oxygen, carbon monoxide, body mass index (BMI), diabetes testing and musculoskeletal assessment.
Are We Finally Ready For Smart Guns? Daytona’s iGuns Technologies Aims For Yes
The iGun’s chip technology only works within centimeters and makes it impossible for anyone other than the person wearing the ring to fire it. Some gun advocates are resistant for various reasons.
Carmen Bourdeau Is Florida Hospital Flagler’s New ICU Nurse Manager
Bourdeau has been a nurse for nearly 25 years and began her career at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in New Jersey, as a nurse in the ICU.
FPL Bills Customers for Unbuilt Nuclear Plants But Wants Out of Justifying Need
Attorneys for consumers and business and environmental groups are fighting FPL’s request for a waiver from filing an annual analysis about the feasibility of adding two nuclear reactors in South Florida.
Critical Care Physician Muneeruddin Q. Mohammed Joins Florida Hospital Flagler
As an intensivist, Mohammed will work with the hospital’s critical care team in the intensive care unit (ICU).
Construction on Florida Hospital Flagler’s $15 Million Expansion Advances
Construction continues to progress on Florida Hospital Flagler’s $15 million expansion project to add 32 new beds on the second and third floors over the hospital’s emergency department.
For Flagler’s Gun Shops, New Residents Spur Brisk Business But Laws Conceal Debate
Flagler County’s gun shop owners say fear and a need for protection rather than hunting still drives much of their business, but they have differing views on gun regulations and the need for additional laws.
Behind Palm Coast’s Inspired Mic, A King With Nine Lives Defies Dreads, Death and Taboos
After a hiatus The Inspired Mic, Palm Coast’s most daring and unpredictable open mic event, returned to the New Europa under the direction of Michael Ray King, who organizes the monthly event with a light touch, himself inspired by a personal history of harrowing survival.
In Palm Coast’s Expensive Hunt for New Retailers, a Few Leads, But Only Low Wages
Last July Palm Coast government signed a $135,000, contract with marketing company to recruit retailers. Nine months later, a couple of low-wage retailers are possible, and a half dozen more are long-term possibilities, but nothing more firm than that.
Gate Gas and Aldi Grocery Will Rise at Corner of SR100 and Belle Terre, Ending Political Signs
The Palm Coast City Council approved a redrawing of the property into six lots, three of which are under contract, with two projected for non-fast-food restaurants in the future.
Flagler’s Unemployment Ticks Down to New Post-Recession Low of 5.3% as Employment Surges
In March, strong job growth continued in Flagler County with a gain of 396 for a two-month gain of 868 jobs–numbers not seen since before the Great Recession. Florida’s unemployment rate fell to 4.9 percent.
Nurse Assistants at Grand Oaks Rehab Strike for $15/hr Wage in Echo of National Movement
Workers at Grand Oaks Rehab Center in Palm Coast, most on poverty wages, walked out for 24 hours, though they’d given the facility almost two weeks’ notice and replacements ensured no residents lacked care.
New Partnership Will Expand Grand Haven Realty Beyond the Gates
Grand Haven Realty announced today a new partnership between company president Jim Cullis and Lindsay Dolamore, the 2016 President of the Flagler County Association of Realtors.
Florida Hospital Flagler CEO Ken Mattison Leaving For Volusia; Ron Jimenez, a Physician, Takes Over
FHF CEO Ken Mattison was reassigned to head the transition of Bert Fish Medical Center’s 112-bed hospital in New Smyrna Beach into the Adventist system. Dr. Ron Jimenez will have his first posting as a hospital CEO.
In Brief: Broker Sheehan Jones Brokers a $450,000 Transaction, Palm Coast Data Lands New Account
Parkside Realty Group’s Margaret Sheehan Jones brokered a $450,000 transaction for Bunnell’s D & K Automotive and Tire Repair and Palm Coast Data added Fort Worth, Texas Magazine to its fulfillment stable.
Man Arrested Over Cocking AK-47 Outside Metro Diner After Words With Manager
Joseph Eberhardinger, 24, had gone to Metro Diner with his girlfriend so she could retrieve her last paycheck when the incident unfolded. The same evening, Anthony Catoggio, 19, was arrested on an identical charge in a separate incident.
Economy Adds 215,000 Jobs But Unemployment Rises to 5% As Workers Flood Back
The more accurate, so-called U-6 unemployment rate, which includes part-time and discouraged workers, places unemployment and underemployment at 9.8 percent, and 11.5 percent in Florida.
With Less Accountability, Flagler’s Tourism Dollars Continue Shift To Big-Ticket Events
County government’s tourism arm, which manages $1.6 million in tax dollars, is diminishing emphasis on community events to push sports and conferences which draw people without necessarily promoting the county.
Palm Coast’s Paul Aiello, 52, Local Business Owner, Is Killed in Motorcycle Wreck Near Hammock Resort
Paul Aiello was traveling on Ocean Crest Drive on a 2014 Harley Davidson when he lost control, struck a tree and was ejected. He was the owner of RHS Mechanical.
Centra Urgent Care Center Opens on Palm Coast Parkway Under Florida Hospital Imprint
Centra Care on Palm Coast Parkway is the latest urgent care clinic to open in the region as health care providers shift services away from emergency rooms when possible, to control costs. But Centra Care also helps channel patients to the Florida Hospital Flagler system.
Palm Coast Takes 9th and Nearly Final Step to Ban Bottle Clubs
No businesses will be forced to close. They’ll simply not be allowed to open. But aside from one possible such club at City Market Place, bottle clubs were not lining up to open in the city.
Flagler’s Aveo Pandering: The Artful Way To Do a Groundbreaking, and the Bogus Way
It was rank manipulation when Aveo Engineering, county government and Rick Scott pretended to break ground on a factory at the Flagler County airport three years ago. It was never built.
Chamber Crystal: How Pot, Trump, and Independents Will Affect Elections in Flagler and Florida
Marian Johnson of the Florida Chamber of Commerce gave a Flagler County group of candidates and business interests an overview of the election season ahead Thursday at the Hilton Garden Inn.
School District’s Decision to Demolish Old ITT Building Triggers Upheaval Behind the Scenes
A board member pledged to call the attorney general over the improper end of the discussion surrounding the 3-2 vote last week, and the company picked to demolish the building lost the license enabling it to do so.
Upset By Cheesy Garlic Knots and “Disrespect,” Quartet Trashes Palm Coast Pizza
Four Palm Coast residents are accused of trashing Palm Coast Pizza after one of them was upset by cheese on her garlic knots, and the way she was refunded the money.
Buy This Art: Ocean Art Gallery’s Laws of Shopper Attraction, at the Point of a Spear
Frank Gromling, owner of Flagler Beach’s Ocean Art Gallery, is all about marketing and selling art. He’s not interested in museum-like browsers, let alone displaying art for art’s sake.
Promising 300 Jobs 3 Years Ago, Aveo Engineering Bails on Airport Lease But Pledges to Remain in Flagler
Aveo Engineering, the much-touted LED parts manufacturer had promised 300 jobs by 2016 at the Flagler County Airport. Neither jobs nor facility have materialized, though the company is still pledging to grow in Flagler, but not at the airport.
At Florida Hospital Flagler, an Additional 32 Beds as Facility Grows Beyond Rural Stage
The $15-million, 32-bed addition tips Florida Hospital Flagler past the 99-bed threshold, reducing its Medicare dollars by up to $12 million, but hospital officials see the expansion as meeting local needs.
FPL Reports Profits of $1.65 Billion for 2015 But Still Seeks 15% Rate Increase by 2019
Despite the good news to FPL shareholders, FPL has asked for an $8.50-a-month rate increase in 2017, rising to $14-a-month by 2019. The Florida Public Service Commission must approve the rate increases after public hearings.
Emerald Day Spa Opens in Palm Coast
Jenny Marafurova in December announced the opening of Emerald Day Spa, a high end spa and salon experience at 1490 Palm Coast Pkwy Suite #3 in Palm Coast, with a ribbon-cutting attended by Palm Coast Mayor Jon Netts and others.
A Pair of Big Checks Contribute to Pink Army and United Way
The Pink Army’s 5K run in Town Center last fall raised $12,585.35, and the five Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties donated $10,000 to the United Way.
Doug Williams, Immigration and Criminal Law Attorney, Joins Chiumento Selis Dwyer as Partner
Chiumento Selis Dwyer, the Palm Coast law firm, announced that attorney Douglas Scott Williams, better known as Doug, has joined the firm as a partner.
Flagler’s Unemployment Rate Falls to New Post-Recession Low of 5.5%, Florida at 5%
Flagler County’s rate is vastly improved since even a year ago, when it stood at 6.9 percent. There were 487,000 jobless Floridians out of a labor force of 9.7 million.
Marketing 2 Go Hires Community Manager Dana Nobile
Marketing 2 Go last week announced the hiring of Flagler County native Dana Nobile as a new Community Manager for the 6-year-old company, which helps firms develop and manage their media presence, public relations and marketing.
Gail Downs, 2015 Realtor of the Year, Joins Parkside Realty Group
Parkside Realty Group Broker and Owner Sam Perkovich announced last week that Gail Downs, the 2015 Flagler County Realtor of the Year, has joined Parkside Realty.
Palm Coast’s $9 Million Scam at Taxpayers’ Expense
Since 2008, Palm Coast government has wasted over $9 million in taxpayer money to subsidize its privately run, money-losing golf and tennis operations, which serve a small group of people. It’s been a colossal scam perpetrated on taxpayers.
Flagler County Revises Vacation-Rental Rules as Lawmakers Propose Yet More Changes
The county commission’s authority is limited but it plans to stiffen fines against vacation-rental rule violators. Lawmakers meanwhile, catching on to the controversy, may revert more regulatory authority to local governments.
Losses at Palm Coast’s Golf and Tennis Clubs Mount to Record $431,000; City Council Shrugs
Palm Coast’s Palm Harbor Golf Club and its Tennis center have together lost more money in 2014 than in any year since 2009 under contractor KemperSports’ management, yet council members raised few questions about the operations during a presentation Tuesday.
Mokonzy Computer Club Hosts Facebook Training Workshop With Cindi Dalecki Jan. 15th
Cindy Dalecki, owner of Marketing 2 Go, a five-year-old social media and marketing company headquartered in Flagler County, will lead a workshop on how to best use Facebook for business.
Flagler School Enrollment Flat For 8th Straight Year Even as Population Continues to Grow
Most of those moving into Flagler and Palm Coast are retired or non-working, while not enough working-age families with children are moving in to replace those moving out.
At Five Star Pizza, A Confrontation With A Dissatisfied Customer Ends With a Gun
When Palm Coast resident Tammie Bouie wouldn’t leave Five Star Pizza, owner-manager Denis Gotlib pulled out a Glock, telling deputies he had a right to stand his ground.
Denied Belle Terre Swim Club, Innovative Soccer Academy Turns to Permanent Palm Coast Roots
The 57 students enrolled at Palm Coast’s Professional Sports Pathways are part of a growing trend of hybrid specialty school-skill training programs that also serve as magnets for families looking for specific educational opportunities.
Unemployment Stays Flat in Flagler, at 5.9%, and in Florida, at 5.1%, as Workforce Stalls
All numbers dipped a little in Flagler County’s economic graphs in November in what amounts to a tepid unemployment report locally and in Florida. But most numbers are still heading in the right direction.
Take-Out, Groceries, Pills, Booze? Palm Coast Delivery Factory Will Get It To You
Palm Coast Delivery Factory, the new service that just launched in town, will deliver just about anything to customers by way of a phone call or–as its young owner-entrepreneurs prefer, by text.
Traffic Tickets as a Sleigh to Christmas Come True: Yes Virginia, There’s Santa Cop
The Flagler Beach Police Department is issuing “toy waivers“ with warning citations for certain offenses to help Christmas Come True, Nadine King’s annual fund-raiser for poorer children that’s considerably short of its $40,000 goal this year.
What It Takes to Get New Retailers to Palm Coast: Behind a $135,000 Matchmaking Deal
Palm Coast signed a three-year, $135,000 contract with Texas-based Buxton, a retail recruiter, in hopes of filling storefronts and empty commercial lots. The approach has its mix of skeptics and cheerleaders.
Flagler Unemployment Falls to 5.9%, an 8-Year Low; Job Growth at 23.7% Since 2007
The number of people with jobs in Flagler has grown by 23.7 percent since 2007, even though the population has grown by just 13.6 percent, pointing to a relatively robust recovery.
Nutrition Supplement Firm Will Expand Into Ex-Palm Coast Data Building, With 50 Jobs
Designs for Health, a nutritional supplement and vitamins company, will get a $25,000 county subsidy to expand from Hargrove Grade to Commerce Boulevard in exchange for 50 jobs and a $3 million investment in the old Palm Coast Data building complex.