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Flagler Beach City Commission

In Flagler Beach, Jane Mealy Warns Eric Cooley of ‘Consequences’ Over Conduct. He Doubles Down.

May 12, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 40 Comments

Flagler Beach City Commissioner Jane Mealy warned Commission Chairman Eric Cooley of unspecified “consequences” if he were to ever treat her the way he did at a special meeting last week. Cooley conceded that he had been “spitting fire,” doubled down, dismissing Mealy’s criticism as “armchair quarterbacking” and accusing her of not behaving like an adult.

Hang 8 Dog Surfing Contest Returns to Flagler Beach in All Its Ridiculous and Timely Exuberance

May 9, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 2 Comments

One of the larger dogs catching a wave at last year's Hang 8 Dog Surfing competition in Flagler Beach. The event returns later this month. (Hang 8)

This time the Hang 8 Surfing Contest’s organizers are better prepared than they were last year, when they expected 50 people, maybe 100 at most, and got overrun with about 500. Hang 8 since its first edition last year has caught waves of attention, and gives Flagler Beach a break from seriousness, polarization and mountains of challenges.

Flagler Beach’s Next City Manager Salary May Go Up to $165,000 as Commission Pitches for Candidates

May 5, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 12 Comments

eric cooley jane mealy

The next Flagler Beach city manager will have a salary of between $125,000 to $165,000, an upper range that would have been unthinkable only a few years ago for the small city of 5,000 people. The city commission in an often-snippy special meeting Thursday also rewrote the profile that accompanies the job announcement for a new manager, which will be issued this weekend.

YMCA, 3 Fire Stations, Road Projects: Palm Coast and Flagler Stand to Gain Nearly $100 Million From State

May 3, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 19 Comments

The Flagler Beach pier stands to get a $4.5 million state appropriation for its demolition and reconstruction, in addition to some $10 million in Federal Emergency Management Administration dollars. (© FlaglerLive)

Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell may be at the receiving end of the largest appropriations of state dollars for local special projects, by far, in the county’s history–nearly $100 million for roads, fire stations, pier reconstruction, water projects, a substance abuse facility and other, smaller projects, according to the $116 billion budget the Florida House and Senate published Tuesday.

Written Out of Public Eye, Profile Framing Flagler Beach Search for Next City Manager Falters on Some Facts

May 2, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 4 Comments

The top part of the brochure's front page.

A nine-page brochure framing Flagler Beach’s search for its next city manager does not appear to have been fact-checked or written with much depth beyond Trip-Advisor-type web scans and perhaps outdated news articles. It was written without public input. The city commission discusses the brochure on Wednesday, and will adopt it on Thursday.

Flagler Beach, With Unusually Limited Transparency, Is on a Schedule to Hire Next City Manager By Mid-July

April 28, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 3 Comments

Interim Flagler Beach City Manager Mike Abels. (© FlaglerLive)

The Flagler Beach City Commission is on course to hire its next city manager by mid-July, but through an accelerated timeline that involves the least public input or transparency of any recent executive searches for local governments. That’s unusual in Flagler Beach, whose commission over the past decade and a half–regardless of make-up–has prized transparency and deliberation, at times to painful extremes. It’s also about to change, the commission chairman says.

With a $400,000 Loss in 5 Years, Flagler Beach Pier’s Bait Shop Will Close Permanently as a City Business

April 17, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 17 Comments

The bait shop at the Flagler Beach pier is closing on une 1. (© FlaglerLive)

The bait shop that for decades burnished the Flagler Beach pier’s quaintness and served as gatekeeper to pier fishers and visitors, will close permanently as a city-run business on June 1. The city may consider leasing the small space to a private company, whether as a shop or as a different kind of business, but it won’t decide that until May.

Much-Touted App Swiped Off as Flagler Beach Re-Focuses on Clunky Website to Communicate

April 14, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

flagler beach app

Flagler Beach’s year-long attempt to launch an app that would improve engagement and communication with residents is flickering out. The City Commission Thursday evening voted unanimously to end development of the app and shift money allocated for it back to improving the city’s website. There was little indication that the city was interested in further app development, though that door remains ajar.

Head-On Crash at Flagler Beach Pier Narrowly Misses Mayor, Her Child, Former Mayor and Commissioner

April 1, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 65 Comments

The Honda in the crosswalk across from the Flagler Beach Pier after this morning's head-on collision. (© FlaglerLive)

A speeding car was in a head-on crash in front of the Flagler Beach pier this morning, just as a beach clean-up involving children and other volunteers was starting. The collision took place within a few feet of the city’s mayor, her child, a former mayor, a city commissioner and the city’s parks and recreation director.

Scott Spradley Wins Big in Flagler Beach, Belhumeur Is ‘Re-Commissioned,’ Defeating Incumbent Phillips

March 7, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 15 Comments

It wasn't a congratulatory handshake just yet--the picture was taken about an hour before polls closed--but it might as well have been: Flagler Beach Commission Chairman Ken Bryan, who decided not to contest his seat, all but passed the torch to Scott Spradley, left, whom Bryan had endorsed. (© FlaglerLive)

Attorney Scott Spradley won election to the Flagler Beach City Commission by a large margin Tuesday, an unsurprising result from an electorate looking for the analytical cool-headed approach Spradley represents, after a turbulent year in the city and the recent firing of a city manager.

In Flagler Beach, 5 Commission Candidates Play Forum Softball Ahead of March 7 Election

March 1, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 2 Comments

The five candidates in the March 5 Flagler Beach election at last week's forum at the Flagler Woman's Club, on Feb. 21. From left, Doug O'Connor, Scott Spradley, incumbent Deborah Phillips, Rick Belhumeur and Bob Cunningham. (© FlaglerLive).

There were no surprises at the only forum for Flagler Beach City Commission Candidates. The questions–at least the nine that were asked–were generally un-challenging, unspecific and at times corny. The candidates are Rick Belhumeur, Bob Cunningham, Doug Bruno O’Connor, Deborah Phillips and Scott Spradley.

For 4th Year in a Row, Flagler Beach Will Have No July 4 Fireworks

February 24, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 13 Comments

With its pier condemned and other locations not feasible for a fireworks show, Flagler Beach will again have a dark July 4 this year. (© FlaglerLive)

Flagler Beach ruled out an Independence Day fireworks show again this year, opting to partner with the county and Palm Coast instead, but there will be better-funded entertainment downtown to keep the celebration from being just “a drunk day at the beach.”

Former DeLand City Manager Mike Abels Will Lead Flagler Beach as Interim for Up to 6 Months

February 23, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

Mike Abels, center, speaking with Flagler Beach residents before the city commission meeting Thursday, with the Commission's Ken Bryan, left. (© FlaglerLive)

Two weeks after firing City Manager William Whitson, the Flagler Beach City Commission this evening hired Mike Abels, the city manager of DeLand for a decade until 2008, as its interim manager for the next few months. The commission had no choice. But based on his broad experience, it also could scarcely have secured a better interim manager.

Flagler Beach Commission Narrows Interim Choices to 3, Eliminating Cameron

February 13, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 13 Comments

The Flagler Beach City Commission this afternoon as its members listened to a candidate for interim manager who'd called in by phone. (© FlaglerLive)

The Flagler Beach City Commission this evening opted to narrow down a list of five candidates to three and pause before making a decision on hiring an interim manager to fill the seat of William Whitson, whom the commission fired last week.

Ex-County Administrator Cameron Has Been Lobbying for Flagler Beach Job Since Before Whitson’s Firing

February 13, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 14 Comments

Jerry Cameron had started as Flagler County's "interim" administrator, but stayed three years, until 2021. He's seeking to be Flagler Beach's interim manager. (© FlaglerLive)

Former Flagler County Administrator Jerry Cameron had conversations or meetings with four of the five Flagler Beach City Commission members about stepping into a job at the city well before City Manager William Whitson was fired last Thursday.

Deborah Phillips, Flagler Beach City Commission Candidate: The Live Interview

February 10, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

Deborah Phillips. (© FlaglerLive)

Deborah Phillips is one of five candidates for two seats on the Flagler Beach City Commission in the non-partisan municipal election that will be decided on March 7.

Scott Spradley, Flagler Beach City Commission Candidate: The Live Interview

February 10, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

Scott Spradley. (© FlaglerLive)

Scott Spradley is one of five candidates for two seats on the Flagler Beach City Commission in the non-partisan municipal election that will be decided on March 7.

Bob Cunningham, Flagler Beach City Commission Candidate: The Live Interview

February 10, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 4 Comments

Bob Cunningham. (© FlaglerLive)

Bob Cunningham is one of five candidates for two seats on the Flagler Beach City Commission in the non-partisan municipal election that will be decided on March 7.

Doug Bruno O’Connor, Flagler Beach City Commission Candidate: The Live Interview

February 10, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 1 Comment

Doug Bruno O'Connor. He didn't mind posing in front of the Scott Spradley photograph of the pier, hanging for many years at City Hall's commission chamber. (© FlaglerLive)

Doug Bruno O’Connor is one of five candidates for two seats on the Flagler Beach City Commission in the non-partisan municipal election that will be decided on March 7.

Rick Belhumeur, Flagler Beach City Commission Candidate: The Live Interview

February 10, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 11 Comments

Rick Belhumeur. (© FlaglerLive)

Rick Belhumeur is one of five candidates for two seats on the Flagler Beach City Commission in the non-partisan municipal election will be decided on March 7.

Flagler Beach Commission Fires City Manager William Whitson After Withering Criticism

February 9, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 27 Comments

William Whitson this evening, immediately after the city commission's 4-1 vote to fire him. Commissioner Eric Cooley is in the background. (© FlaglerLive)

The Flagler Beach City Commission this evening fired City Manager William Whitson in a 4-1 vote, capping a rocky year and a withering night for the manager. The commission will choose an interim manager on Monday.

In Major Shift, Flagler Beach Residents Appear to Favor Sea Walls, But Misconceptions Abound

February 3, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 15 Comments

The secant seawall at the north end of Flagler Beach, built in 2019, held strong during the last two hurricanes last fall, but the dunes that once covered it are gone, so is the high-tide beach in front of it, scoured as it's been by wave energy that cannot be diffused by the slope of dunes. (© FlaglerLive)

A majority of Flagler Beach residents now appear to favor so-called secant sea walls, according to 58 responses gathered by FDOT and obtained by FlaglerLive. But that support rests on a fundamental misconception–that sea walls would not only protect State Road A1A behind them, but the beaches in front of them as well.

‘We Have a Deal’: Dune Hold-Out in Flagler Beach Concedes, Clearing Path to Renourishment

January 31, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 12 Comments

One of the two dune remnants in front of Cynthia d'Angiolini's property in Flagler Beach. It's only 1,800 square feet. D'Angiolini has agreed to sign easements for two such remnants, ending a three-year wait for Flagler County. (© FlaglerLive)

A property owner’s three-year stand-off with Flagler County that has delayed a long-promised beach renourishment in Flagler Beach is over. Cynthia d’Angiolini through her lawyer today agreed to sign a pair of easements, clearing the way for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ dune-rebuilding project–and ensuring that the south side of the city will finally get a major new protective buffer against rising seas.

Flagler Beach’s New Concrete Pier Will Be 10 Feet Higher to Account for Sea Rise and Violent Storms

January 31, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 14 Comments

Flagler Beach City Manager William Whitson sizes up the scene with a snapshot just before the city's contracted design team launched into a preliminary description of the pier-reconstruction project ahead. (© FlaglerLive)

Flagler Beach’s new, bigger, higher pier could be completed by the end of 2025 and will be designed to withstand the realities of more violent storms and rising seas, its designer told a large crowd at the Wickline Center Tuesday evening.

Sea Walls, Granite, Dunes: FDOT Options to Strengthen A1A Are Nothing Flagler Hasn’t Seen Before

January 25, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 15 Comments

Some 150 people turned out at the Florida Department of Transportation's "listening session" in Flagler Beach Tuesday evening, regarding options to more permanently strengthen State Road A1A against storms, sea rise and erosion. (© FlaglerLive)

Some 150 people, including numerous Flagler Beach and county officials, turned out to see the state Department of Transportation’s four options to more permanently strengthen State Road A1A, with sea walls taking precedence over dune rebuilding. But a combination of the four options is likely ahead.

Divided Flagler Beach Commission Will Require Inspections of Street Golf Carts Every 2 Years

January 13, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 24 Comments

A divided Flagler Beach City Commission agreed Thursday evening to change the frequency of required inspections of golf carts used as street vehicles from every year to every two years. Some commissioners and the mayor wanted only one inspection, and none after that. The city has a few hundred residents using golf carts as street vehicles.

Army Corps Must Redesign Entire Flagler Beach Dunes Project, ‘Substantially’ Delaying It Again

January 13, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 18 Comments

Hurricane Nicole carved out more segments of State Road A1A in the segment of shore that has been awaiting a dune-rebuilding project for years. That project has now yet again been delayed. (© FlaglerLive)

Because of years of delays and further erosion, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must redesign the entire project to rebuild 2.6 miles of dunes on the critically eroded shoreline south of the Flagler Beach pier, now that the current design is out of date. That will further delay for at least a year or more a project 20 years in the works. Meanwhile, the coast continues to erode, threatening or damaging A1A.

One Term In, Flagler Beach Commissioner Ken Bryan Decides to Pull Out of Re-Election Run After All

January 10, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

Flagler Beach City Commissioner Ken Bryan is opting out. (© FlaglerLive)

Ken Bryan, a one term Flagler Beach city commissioner and currently the chairman of the panel, has decided not to seek re-election after all. His decision still leaves five candidates, including incumbent Deborah Phillips, running for the two seats in the March 7 election.

DOT Will Seek Public Input on More Permanent Protection for A1A, But Options Are Limited

January 6, 2023 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

Hurricanes Ian and Nicole left only a sliver of sand between the high-tide waterline and State Road A1A at the south end of Flagler County. many other parts of A1A suffered the same fate. The state Department of Transportation has been rebuilding protections with rock revetments and sand. (© FlaglerLive)

After two months of closed-door sessions involving state, federal and local officials on how to more permanently secure State Road A1A in Flagler and Volusia counties from storm damage and rising seas, the Florida Department of Transportation will seek public input in two sessions later this month–one in Flagler Beach, one in Volusia County, and present a half dozen options or so.

April Groundbreaking for 100-Room Margaritaville Hotel in Flagler Beach, With Opening in Fall of 2024

December 12, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 92 Comments

The 100-room hotel ion the heart of Flagler Beach should open in the fall of 2024.

Large-scale construction for Flagler Beach’s 100-room Margaritaville Hotel in place of the former grounds of the farmer’s market will take place at the same time as the construction of a new pier and the dune-rebuilding project on 2.6 miles of beach.

Flagler County Accuses Dune Hold-Out of ‘Bad Faith’ and ‘Abomination,’ and Wants Property Seized

December 8, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 16 Comments

The Cynthia d'Angiolini homestead is--ironically--more protected from bankruptcy court than it is from a surging ocean, though she has continued to refuse to sign easements for a beach-front parcel, or dune remnant, in front of the house (across the street), and one other nearby, thus preventing the county from going forward with a dune-reconstruction project. The county learned last week that she had also not disclosed ownership of the remnants in bankruptcy proceedings, as required by law. (© FlaglerLive)

Flagler County government is accusing the lone hold-out in a planned dune-rebuilding project along State Road A1A in Flagler Beach of “bad faith,” “fraud” and deception, and is asking a federal court to revoke her discharge from bankruptcy and enable the government to seize all but her homesteaded assets. Cynthia d’Angiolini, the 71-year-old property owner, today countered that “Flagler County is not a creditor in this case and has no standing.”

Flagler Beach Raises Water, Sewer, Garbage and Stormwater Costs $12 a Month for Average Household

November 21, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 12 Comments

Flagler Beach's sewer infrastructure needs a lot of tender loving care. (© FlaglerLive)

A divided Flagler Beach City Commission voted 3-2 to raise the cost of all city-provided utilities–water, sewer and garbage–by 8.5 percent, to match inflation, and the stormwater fee by 42 percent.

Withering Criticism of Flagler Beach City Manager Divides City Commission Over Claims of Toxicity

November 18, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 20 Comments

Flagler Beach City Manager William Whitson. (© FlaglerLive)

Flagler Beach City Manager William Whitson got hit with yet another storm Thursday evening, this time from waves of witheringly critical residents, business owners and some members of his own commission who spoke of low morale, poor communications, lack of urgency on some projects, a “toxic work environment” and an instance of Whitson hanging up on a resident who was reporting a flooding issue. The criticism inevitably spread to commissioners by association.

What About Flagler Beach’s One Hold-Out Against Dune Fix? County Says December Deadline Will Be Met.

November 17, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 18 Comments

hold-outs flagler beach

Almost three years after Flagler County sought property owners’ permission to start a dune rebuilding project on 2.6 miles of beach in Flagler Beach, and despite more recent ravages to the shore, one property owner is still holding out, but County Attorney Al Hadeed stresses that her permission will be secured by December 31 and the Corps project will be on by June.

State Transportation Department to Flagler Beach: Simply Rebuilding A1A Again Won’t Do

November 14, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 25 Comments

John Tyler, the Florida Department of Transportation's District 5 secretary, speaking with Flagler Beach City Manager William Whitson after tonight's City Commission meeting. District 5 covers nine central Florida counties, including Flagler, Volusia and Brevard. (© FlaglerLive)

John Tyler, the Florida Department of Transportation’s District 5 secretary, told a special meeting of the Flagler Beach City Commission this evening that simply rebuilding A1A until the next storm won’t achieve a different result: it’ll be demolished again. DOT is creating a task force to devise a more durable solution, with all options on the table, including sea walls and moving A1A.

Flagler Beach City Election Already Shaping Into Most Contested In 19 Years, Signaling Disquiet

November 14, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 14 Comments

Four of the candidates and potential candidates challenging two incumbents in the March 7 election in Flagler Beach. From left, Scott Spradley, Rick Belhumeur, Bob Cunningham and Doug "Bruno" O'Connor. Incumbents Ken Bryan and Deborah Phillips are running as well. (© FlaglerLive)

At least five, possibly six, candidates are running for the March 7 Flagler Beach City Commission election, including two incumbents. The number of candidates may be a reflection of unsettled times in Flagler Beach, with recent embarrassments still fresh and mounting challenges ahead.

DOT Dumping Sand at South End of Flagler to Protect A1A, But Heart of Flagler Beach Is Defenseless

November 4, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 26 Comments

Workers today building new dunes in a severely eroded section of shore along State Road A1A, south of the Flagler Beach city limit. (© FlaglerLive)

Workers have been dumping new white sand at the rate of 590 cubic yards a day to buttress the dunes and protect State Road A1A from the Flagler Beach city limit down into Ormond By the Sea. Yet Flagler Beach itself, including the area at the heart of the city that has eroded even more since Hurricane Ian, remains critically defenseless.

FEMA Dollars May Not Be Enough to Rebuild Pier, State Emergency Chief Guthrie Tells Flagler Officials

November 3, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 9 Comments

Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie, right, with Flagler Beach City Manager William Whitson during Guthrie's last visit to Flagler in mid-October, when he surveyed damage from Hurricane Ian. (© FlaglerLive)

Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie told a group of Flagler County and Flagler Beach officials that they’ll need to lobby their state representatives for additional money if they hope to have all the funds necessary for an 800-foot concrete replacement pier.

Dangerous Flagler Beach Pier Is Condemned, Demolition Moved Up As Hazards Worry City Officials

October 28, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 21 Comments

Engineers are urgently recommending the immediate demolition of a further 125 to 150 feet from the end of the pier, which remains in danger of collapse, and walling off the entire structure before it is entirely demolished. (© Scott Spradley for FlaglerLive),

With repair costs pegged at $2 million over 14 months and dangerous collapses possible, the Flagler Beach City Commission agreed to condemn the rickety pier and wall it off, accelerating a demolition schedule in preparation for the construction of a $15 to $18 million, 800-foot concrete pier that could be completed in late 2025.

At Post-Ian Town Hall, Flagler Beach Projects Resilience, Public Is More Guarded

October 26, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 4 Comments

Tracy Callahan-Hennessey of Flagler Strong describing how the volunteer organization mobilized to help residents through Hurricane Ian's aftermath in Flagler Beach. (© FlaglerLive)

The city’s message was: Between city preparedness, the mobilization of volunteers, the city’s (and the county’s) continuing luck and ongoing planning for recovery, Flagler Beach made it through with limited damage but to its pier and beaches, which are unrecognizable. Some residents were a bit less cheery.

Report Describes Flagler Beach Pier as ‘Unsafe’ and Partly in Ruins, Calling for Keeping It Off Limits

October 24, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 8 Comments

flagler beach pier

Even under the parts of the pier that remain, piles have disappeared, bracing has been severely damaged, and hardware even on parts of the pier closer to the shore–parts not made of stainless steel–has failed. The entire structure is severely damaged to the point that further collapses of sections of the pier during mildly heavy seas would not be surprising.

In DeSantis Talks of Damage to Flagler’s Shore During Visit, 2 Words Spell Relief: Paul Renner

October 16, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 26 Comments

Flagler County Engineer Faith al-Khatib this morning explained to Gov. DeSantis the loss of yet another 160 feet of the Flagler Beach pier, after a similar loss during Hurricane Matthew. To the governor's right were Flagler Beach Mayor Suzie Johnston and City Manager William Whitson. (© FlaglerLive)

During a 60-minute stop in Flagler County this morning Gov. Ron DeSantis and Emergency management Director Kevin Guthrie took in the extent of damage to the pier and Flagler’s nearly-erased dunes, and the governor repeatedly spoke of Rep. Paul Renner, the incoming Speaker of the House, as an opportunity for Flagler to score big in funding help.

Flagler Beach Commission Wants Higher Increases in Water, Sewer, and Garbage Rates Than Proposed

October 14, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 5 Comments

A Flagler Beach garbage truck. The city's sanitation department is running a deficit, and needs a substantial rate increase to fix that. (© FlaglerLive)

The Flagler Beach City Commission Thursday evening voted to delay a series of increases to water, sewer, garbage and stormwater until Oct. 27–not because they were uncomfortable with the increases, but because they felt the increases may not be enough. So the rates to be proposed in two weeks will likely be higher than those before them on Thursday.

What To Do With Flagler Beach Pier? City Caught Between Costly Repairs and Demolition

October 14, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 43 Comments

Bedraggled again, the Flagler Beach Pier lost another 165 feet during Hurricane Ian's passage, the same length it lost to Hurricane Matthew in 2016. (© AJ Neste for FlaglerLive)

The Flagler Beach City Commission is wrestling with whether to repair the pier at a potential cost of $650,000 and reopen it for well short of a year or keep it closed until it is demolished next year, ahead of the construction of a new, concrete pier. More data and public input may sway the commission.

Flagler Beach Smoking Ban on Beaches Set to Take Effect This Weekend, Cigars and Vaping Exempt

October 12, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 17 Comments

flagler beach smoking ban

The Flagler Beach City Commission Thursday is set to approve banning smoking almost any tobacco product on beaches, in parks and on the city’s boardwalk, with the exception of unfiltered cigars. Enforcement will be an issue: there are no intentions to police the ban, which does not extend to the beaches under county jurisdiction. The ordinance is silent on vaping and marijuana products.

Karen Barchowski Sells Storied Sally’s Ice Cream in Flagler Beach as She Plots Her Next Revolution

October 7, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 45 Comments

Karen Barchowski has owned Sally's Ice Cream for the past 10 years. She is passing the torch to new owners on Nov. 1. She'd been painting this afternoon when she took a break for a picture. (© FlaglerLive)

Karen Barchowski has owned Sally’s Ice Cream on A1A in Flagler Beach for 10 years. She is selling the business and moving to Vermont, after her embracing outlook fostered through Sally’s a powerful hub of acceptance and diversity. “We found invincible love,” Barchowski says of her years in Flagler Beach.

In Flagler Beach, ‘We Got Hit the Hardest’ in the County, Manager Says at Emergency Meeting, Calling for Patience

October 4, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 7 Comments

Flagler Beach was in repair mode all the way to its water tower today. (© Rick Belhumeur for FlaglerLive)

The Flagler Beach City Commission took stock of Hurricane Ian’s impact on the city at a hastily arranged emergency meeting at noon today, balancing the fact that the hurricane largely spared Flagler County of severe impacts but still left Flagler Beach with the most damage locally.

Westward Ho, Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin Tells Realtors, with View to Double City’s Footprint

September 14, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 18 Comments

david alfiun westward palm coast expansion

Palm Coast Mayor offered a bullish vision of Palm Coast’s westward expansion past U.S. 1 while speaking to fellow-Realtors at the annual Meet the Mayors event Wednesday, along side County Commissioner Greg Hansen, Bunnell mayor Catherine Robinson, Flagler Beach Mayor Suzie Johnston and Beverly beach Mayor Steve Emmett.

Cities, Including Flagler Beach, Looking Into Banning Smoking and Vaping on Beaches

September 3, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 8 Comments

A new law allows cities and counties to ban smoking and vaping on beaches they control. (© FlaglerLive)

Several communities in coming weeks and months could move forward under a new state law that allows cities and counties to ban smoking cigarettes and vaping at locally controlled beaches and parks.

Flagler Beach Commission Set to Approve Budget With 13% Tax Increase

September 2, 2022 | FlaglerLive | 3 Comments

Flagler Beach, when it had a beach. (© FlaglerLive)

The Flagler Beach City Commission is set to vote next week on a proposed budget that would raise the city’s property tax rate slightly and equate to a 13 percent tax increase for non-homesteaded property owners like businesses and renters.

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