In her debut column for FlaglerLive, Milissa Holland traces the journey that brought her from New York to Palm Coast and her father’s influence, in life and death, on a career still defined–as it will be in writings and on her radio talk show–by her passion for Flagler County.
Economy
Less Than 5 Months In, Charter School Closes, Upending Parents, District and County
Global Outreach Charter Academy opened hurriedly at the Flagler County Airport in August, with generous lease terms from county government and accommodations from the school board, only to tell its 122 students and staff on New Year’s Day that the school was out of business.
Florida’s Minimum Wage Rising by 12 Cents, to $7.79/hr, on Jan. 1
Florida’s minimum wage on Jan. 1 will increase 12 cents to $7.79 an hour for the estimated 210,000 minimum wage workers across the state, in line with a 2004 constitutional amendment requiring the annual adjustment.
Oh, What a Night: The Hit Men Behind Frankie Valli Take the Auditorium, Minus Frankie
The Hit Men bill themselves as the original stars of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, and are behind such hits as “Oh, What a Night,” “Who Loves You,” and “Swearin’ to God.”
Florida’s Own Fiscal Cliff: Gov. Scott Pleads With Obama to Help Avert a Strike at Seaports
Barring an agreement between longshoremen and shippers, Gov. Rick Scott and executives of Florida’s largest ports urged President Barack Obama to use his authority to keep containerized cargo moving while talks continue, saying any interruption would have a ripple effect throughout Florida and across the country.
Milissa Holland Live: Former Commissioner Launches WNZF Show and FlaglerLive Column
Milissa Holland Live begins airing Fridays at 10 a.m. on WNZF on Jan. 9, and Holland’s FlaglerLive column begins running on Jan. 2 (every Wednesday) as the ex-commissioner aims to foster serious and sustained conversations on the most important state and local issues of the day.
Florida Unemployment Falls Sharply to 8.1%, But Flagler’s Edges Back Up to 11.4%
Florida’s unemployment rate dropped sharply in November, to 8.1 percent, from 8.5 percent last month–and 10.1 percent a year ago–but Flagler County’s unemployment rate rose a decimal point, to 11.4 percent.
When the End of the World Is Art’s Excuse to Remake It in Rapture’s Image
“I Decided Not to End the World,” an exhibit that opens at Hollingsworth Gallery Friday, marks the alleged end of the world (according to the Maya calendar) by remaking it anew with the art work of children, adults and students, curated by JJ Graham.
Palm Coast Approves Surtax Tool as It Looks To Recoup Old Kings Road Widening Costs
The Palm Coast City Council, still looking to repay the $6.2 million it cost to widen Old Kings Road, laid out plans to create a special taxing district next year that would levy a property surtax on property owners long the southern portion of Old Kings.
As Flagler Beach Asks for Hand-Outs, A Commissioner Asks for Employee Raises
Flagler Beach City Commissioner Marshall Shupe proposed a mid-year raise or a $500 bonus for employees. Three commissioners rejected the idea, citing process and timing, including the recent lay-off of some employees. They could have also cited Flagler Beach’s hat-in-hand requests for money from the county'[s tourism council and from Palm Coast.
BOLO: Christmas With a Deputy Will Light Up Target With 100 Children Friday Evening
Don’t panic: more than 60 cop cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring will take 100 children, with $150 gift certificate each, to Target at Town Center Friday, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Conflict Over Hammock Vacation Rentals Dominates Legislative Meeting, To Little End
Florida House freshman Travis Hutson and John Thrasher, both Republicans and the sum total of Flagler County’s legislative delegation, listened to almost two hours of direct lobbying and appeal from local leaders and residents Tuesday evening in Bunnell, but distanced themselves from the evening’s most contentious issue: vacation rentals.
Carrabba’s Opens In Palm Coast, Edging the City’s Economic Center of Gravity a Little North
Palm Coast’s Carrabba’s, the Italian restaurant, will add some local 82 jobs and further solidify economic growth along Cypress Edge Drive, while Town Center continues to wait for its equivalent day in the sun.
Florida Hospital Flagler CEO David Ottati in Awe of EMS Response at Trauma Wreck Scene
Florida Hospital Flagler CEO David Ottati witnessed the wreck of motorcyclist Brian Davis on john Anderson Highway Friday night, called 911, assisted the victim, then was in awe of Flagler County Fire Rescue’s paramedics at work as he’d never seen them beyond the hospital.
From Washington Oaks Gardens to Flagler Beach, a Drenching of Grayish Christmas Cheer
Flagler Beach’s parade packed A1A and ran for 75 minutes, while Washington Oaks Gardens’ Holiday in the Gardens drew more than 1,000 people who donated food and toys for the needy.
Magnificent Minis Tangle with FPC Student Artists’ Work in New Flagler Art League Show
The exhibit of miniature art known as the Magnificent Minis is an anual event at the Flagler County Art League, as is the showcasing of Flagler Palm Coast High School’s rich trove of student art and design.
Kangaroo Express Donates $110,000 To Florida Hospital’s Breast Cancer Pink Army
Florida Hospital Flagler received approximately $37,000 of the sums raised ntirely by customers’ donations at the Kangaroo Express registers throughout October in several counties, with the balance going to other Florida Hospital campuses.
Bullish on 2013: Palm Coast and Flagler Housing Markets in Full Recovery
Have we returned to a normal market? No yet, writes Toby Tobin, but in a bullish analysis of Palm Coast’s and Flagler County’s current housing markets, he expects momentum to build into 2013, with all segments of the market are rising.
Despite Sandy, Unemployment Rate Falls to 7.7%, Best Since December 2008
Despite Hurricane Sandy and economists’ predictions of a poor jobs report, the economy added 146,000 jobs in November, for a combined 416,000 jobs in the last three months. But the numbers are still lower than what they should be for a robust recovery.
Bill Filed to Guarantee In-State Tuition to Florida Children of Undocumented Immigrants
Unlike the federal Dream Act, which covers children brought to the country illegally, the Florida bill filed Tuesday only deals with children who are American citizens by virtue of being born in the United States.
Alone Among NFL Franchises, Miami Dolphins Suffer Huge Fan Drop in Last 10 Years
As the Dolphins muddle through another season, the South Florida organization was the only professional team from Florida — and the only NFL entry on the whole list of North American sports franchises — to record a plummet in fans over the past decade.
Robert Gill’s Mark Twain Takes Palm Coast at City Repertory Theatre
Robert Gill has taken Mark Twain all over Florida, performing in Jacksonville, Orlando, Avon Park, and St. Augustine, but this will be the Palm Coast debut, and it flows with whiskey and irreverence.
Doug Baxter, Flagler Chamber President Since 2007, Resigns Unexpectedly; DeLorenzo Leads
Doug Baxter was president since 2007. Rebecca DeLorenzo is taking over for now. The chamber was facing some financial issues, and the resignation was not internally as surprising as it appears from beyond the chamber walls.
Growth Industry: Cops Bust Third Palm Coast Pot Grow House in 9 Months, on Wheatfield
Authorities arrested Jorge Rodriguez, 61, and charged him with marijuana cultivation at 15 Wheatfield Drive in Palm Coast, where some 48 plants with a potential street value of $86,000 were discovered Monday.
For FPL Customers, Bills $20 Higher in 2013 for Nuke-Plant Construction That May Never Happen
Flagler County customers of FPL will pay an additional $1.69 a month, or $20 for the year in 2013, for nuclear-plant construction slated for the distant future, and that may never take place. It’s the third year in a row that customers are paying those up-front costs.
WNZF’s David Ayres, Voice of Flagler County, Is Named One of Nation’s Top Radio Managers
David Ayres, named one of Radio Ink’s 50 top radio managers in America, steered away from his parents’ tool and die shop to take on a career in radio and TV. He’s is ending one of his more successful years after overseeing the expansion of Flagler County Broadcasting to a fourth radio station.
Strings on Speed: Bowfire Brings Its Holiday Blaze to the Flagler Auditorium
Thursday, Bowfire returns to the Flagler Auditorium, this time with its new Holiday Heart Strings show, giving Christmas favorites the Celtic, Blue Grass, Rock, Texas Swing, Gypsy and Klezmer treatment.
Get Set for Higher Power Bills in January as FPL Bids for Annual Increases Through 2016
A house consuming the typical 1,000 kWh would see its base monthly rate increase by $5.23, but if a state settlement is approved with FPL, there would actually be no change in net costs to customers in the coming year, but the settlement would also ensure that there would be rate increases every year for three straight years thereafter.
Palm Coast City Council’s Bill Lewis: Two Minutes, Six Errors, Countless Sneers
When Palm Coast City Councilman Bill Lewis took to the floor of a council meeting to correct a fact in a FlaglerLive column, which had already been corrected, he committed more than six errors of his own, including about his own personal history. Lewis’s errors bear correcting as publicly as he committed them.
The Language of Class Warfare from Shaw’s “Pygmalion” to Sbordone’s Repertory Theatre
Language as class still has its cliques, as do all prejudices. It’s also a central theme of Pygmalion, the newest production of an old classic opening tonight (and running through Sunday) at John Sbordone’s City Repertory Theatre, at Hollingsworth Gallery.
Unemployment Drops Sharply in Flagler, to 11.3%, as State and U.S. Trends Also Improve
Flagler County’s unemployment rate in September dropped sharply to 11.3 percent, from a revised 12 percent in August, as improving economies statewide and in the country continue to to trickle down. Flagler’s 11.3 percent rate is the lowest in four years: it was last at 11.3 in November 2008.
In a Far More Challenging Year, Feed Flagler Struggles to Meet Needs and Expectations
Despite much lower monetary and food donations than last year, Feed Flagler intends to serve nearly 4,000 free meals and distribute more than 500 boxes of free food at 12 locations across the county, as needs have intensified. The organization is still accepting donations.
Taking on Challenges and Skeptics, Palm Coast Arts Foundation Plants Grand Design
The Palm Coast Arts Foundation, lease finally in hand, plans to raise up to $7 million and build an events venue in Town Center, the first phase of a much bigger plan that would culminate in a $30 million, 2,300-seat performing arts center. It faces a tide of difficulties in a fractured arts community.
Awarding Just $20,000 in Arts Grants Again, Palm Coast Agrees to Rethink Its Stinginess
Palm Coast is willing to subsidize its money-losing tennis center to the tune of $240,000 in the last two years, but is awarding just $20,000 to support just nine arts and culture organizations. Some council members (calling the small amount “a joke”) want to change that.
How Companies Mine Your Facebook Profile, Tweets and Posts, and Sell Your Habits
Some companies record — and then resell — your screen names, web site addresses, interests, hometown and professional history, and how many friends or followers you have, according to a report released this week. Some companies also collect and analyze information about users’ “tweets, posts, comments, likes, shares, and recommendations.”
At Hollingsworth Gallery:
Richard Schreiner, Artist of the Year
Richard Schreiner, the Louis CK of painting, influenced many artists in Palm Coast through Hollingsworth gallery, where he worked until his death in July. Naming him the 2012 Artist iof the Year was an easy choice for the Gargiulo Art Foundation. A new exhibit, “Richard and Friends,” celebrates his work and those he influenced, at Hollingsworth through November.
Daytona State Launches Social Media Course This Spring, Available Online (Naturally)
Daytona State College is offering Social Media Marketing, a college-credit, stand-alone course launching this spring semester, along with a parallel course, Advertising. Both courses will be offered online.
U.S. Economy Adds 171,000 Jobs in October, Topping Half a Million in Last 3 Months
The economy added 171,000 jobs in October, exceeding economists’ expectation of 135,000, and figures for August and September were revised upward, adding 84,000 to previous tallies, for a total of 511,000 jobs in the last three months.
Palm Coast Water and Sewer Rates Set to Rise Up to 22% Over the Next Three Years
The Palm Coast City Council prides itself on keeping property taxes low, but its array of fees continue to increase steeply, as will utility rates if the council approves a debt refinancing plan that would let the city borrow another $15 million for utility improvements, even though growth in the city has slowed to a drip.
In Startling Confrontations, DeLorenzo Takes On Palm Coast’s Jim Landon–and Impact Fees
Palm Coast City Council member Jason DeLorenzo on Tuesday questioned the veracity of City Manager Jim Landon’s numbers and his “backroom” style while making the case for a two-year moratorium for impact fees on new construction in the city in a rare, direct and sustained public challenge to the assuming city manager.
Another Feather in Bird’s Cap as Fire Flight Rescues 2 Mud Muckers Lost Overnight
Wayne Oley, 30, and Brigett Madorma, 24, lost their ATV in the wilds of Mud Muckers’s 19,000 acres Sunday night, and were lost after that, until Fire Flight spotted them Monday morning, shivering from a cold night but otherwise fine.
Florida Chamber, Countering GOP Allies, Opposing Ban on Cuba-Syria Contracting
The Florida Chamber of Commerce is asking a federal appeals court to continue blocking a new law that would prevent state and local governments from contracting with firms that have business links to Cuba or Syria. A a Miami federal judge ruled in June that the law likely violates the U.S. Constitution.
Hurricane Sandy: Flagler May Get Lashed By Winds and Rip Currents But Little More
Hurricane Sandy became the 10th hurricane of the season Wednesday as it approached Jamaica and Cuba, but Flagler will only feel side effects from its tropical-storm winds, at most 25 to 35 mph, this weekend.
Amendment 3: A Fight Between Capping Taxes and Funding Government Responsibly
Amendment 3 before Florida voters on the November ballot would tighten the state’s rarely-used revenue cap, potentially giving it more teeth – something supporters say will restrain reckless spending but opponents say would gut vital services.
Smart Meters and the Paranoia of Fake Fears
With smart meters as with numerous other issues, some of our most basic scientific or technological advances are being held hostage to perversions of evidence no more legitimate than superstition and sham controversies.
Flagler’s Unemployment Rate Falls to 11.9%, Its Lowest Level Since December 2008
Flagler County may have a little something to cheer about: its unemployment rate in September fell to 11.9 percent, from 12.3 percent the month before. That’s the lowest unemployment rate in the county since December 2008, when it was 11.8 percent.
The Orlando Sentinel Endorses Romney
Right-wingers’ elation at the Romney endorsement aside, to call the Orlando Sentinel liberal of course is to seriously misread the house organ of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, central Florida edition.
Another Major Blow to Palm Coast Data as Newsweek, a Major Account, Ends Print
Newsweek, with 1.5 million subscribers, is one of Palm Coast Data’s largest accounts. The company landed it less than two years ago, helping it stanch the loss of other titles. Newsweek will end its print publication in December, a move that will again hurt Palm Coast Data’s bottom line.
After Ridiculing County’s Sales Tax Revenue Compromise, Palm Coast Now Wants to Deal
In a turn-around stunning for its audacity, the Palm Coast City Council Tuesday agreed to ask the county commission to revive a compromise the commission had proposed on sharing sales tax revenue–a proposal Palm Coast rejected derisively over the summer.
Save Your Teeth: Flagler Dentists Drill Halloween With $1-a-Pound Candy Buy-Back
Like the sheriff’s office’s gun buy-back and the DEA’s drug give-back, Flagler Dental, a group of dentists, is offering a $1-a-pound candy buy-back from Nov. 1 to Nov. 10 at its two locations, with the candy–or sugary drugs, if you prefer–being shipped off to troops overseas.