School officials had thought (and feared) that the tea party throngs would turn up at Monday’s town hall on the proposed $0.25 mill school tax referendum. They didn’t. What those tea leaves say is not clear.
Flagler, Palm Coast & Other Local News
Holden House and the Old Courthouse: A Grateful Historical Society and an Update
Flagler County Historical Society President Mary Ann Clark thanks the county commission for the $23,400 renovation, and Sisco Deen relates the latest fixings.
County Raises Bed Tax to 4%, a Victory for Milissa Holland’s Tourism Marketing Thrust
The higher tax, Milissa Holland argued, will broaden Flagler County’s marketing power, drawing more visitors and creating more jobs for local, small businesses.
Calvary Christian’s Bus Ministry: Treasuring the Homeless, One Sunday at a Time
Every Sunday, Calvary’s school buses pick up some 120 homeless men, women and children to clean, feed and clothe them while ministering to them without illusions.
In Race to Replace Judge Hammond in Flagler, Craig and Horrox Scrape for Distinctions
In the race for the 7th judicial district’s court seat Judge Hammond is vacating, Dennis Craig and Joe Horrox are two competent, unexciting choices, though Craig’s experience is more varied.
Teen White Out: White T-Shirts to Blank Out Traffic Crashes
The Department asks Floridians to show support by wearing a white shirt on Oct. 19 to help white out teen crashes, the leading cause of death for teenagers. This is National Teen Driver Safety Week.
It’s Drescher’s Tower Now: Year-Long Quest Ends With Town’s Name in Its Place
The job was finished Sunday, but it took Stan Drescher, a newcomer to Flagler Beach, almost a year and perseverance through slamming doors to have the town’s water tower named after it.
Cubism Squared at “Picasso’s Legacy,” Flagler County Art League’s Latest Show
The second show at the Art League’s new home at City Walk/City Market Place features several attempts at translating Picasso’s cubist (and not so cubist) legacy, with varying degrees of success.
Scott DuPont and Don Holmes:
Dogma vs. Nuance in 7th Judicial Circuit Race
Don Holmes and Scott DuPont’s experience in law is the least of their differences in the Group 10 race for Florida’s 7th Judicial Circuit Court seat (Putnam County), in which Flagler voters do have a vote.
FPC’s Boys Raced, Pink-Socked, in Breast Cancer Solidarity at Manhattan Invitational
Inspired by their coach, an idea started by Brad Walbert, to honor his grandfather, developed into team-wide solidarity for breast cancer victims–with unexpected and moving results as the boys raced in in New York City.
To Bitter Reactions, Flagler Beach Commission Again Delays Hiring a New Manager
This time, Commissioner Joy McGrew, piped in by phone from North Carolina, asked for the decision to be delayed until her return. The vote was moved to Oct. 28.
Election Primer: Amendment 2 Loop-Holes a Tax Exemption for Soldiers in War Zones
Amendment 2 would give soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan (or future war zones) a property tax exemption but only if they own homesteaded property. The amendment is more controversial than you’d expect.
The Live Crime Blotter, Oct. 1-5, 2010
A woman’s house is burglarized–for meat and chicken packs in the freezer; a fight at Smiles Night Club; a 29-year-old man is tasered; an injured deer is put out of its misery; and more.
Palm Coast Fire Department Takes Delivery of Versatile $1 Million Ladder Truck
The 59,000-lb., pump-equipped Sutphen truck can extend its ladder 100 feet high and fire water guns at 2,000 gallons per minute in winds of up to 50 mph. The $1 million truck was ordered two years ago from Sutphen’s Ohio plant.
Shetland Ponies Give Flagler Sheriff’s Deputies the Old Kings Run-Around
Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies spent part of Wednesday morning rounding up 11 ponies that ran away from the Italian-American Club’s property on Old Kings, where they’ll be part of the weekend’s fall festival.
Burglaries Spike 44% In Flagler in 1st Half of 2010; Violent Crime Falls Locally and Statewide
Aggravated assaults and robberies are down, but Bunnell continues to record a disproportionate number of arrests for a town its size in the semi-annual crime report, which points to the year’s overall crime trends.
Why Republicans Are Listed First All Over Flagler’s Nov. 2 Ballot (It’s Not a Conspiracy)
Being listed first does matter in local races, especially in non-partisan ones, as lazy or uninformed voters tend to go for the first choice they’re presented.
School Board Members Talking to Empty Benches at Town Halls on Tax Levy
School officials think most people have already made up their minds about Flagler’s .25 mills school tax levy. They just can’t tell which way they’ll vote.
Potential Juror’s Misconduct Leads to Mistrial in William Gregory Double-Murder Case
A potential juror who had been excused spoke improperly inf front of the larger jury pool on Friday, prejudicing the group. One of the seated jurors reported the incident.
Bunnell Police’s Latest Slipshod Accusations Clear Ex-Cop of Counterfeiting
Former Sgt. Frank Gamarra had cooperated with a State Attorney’s investigation of shoddy policing at the Bunnell PD only to be fired and charged with carrying a fake $20 bill.
At Indian Trails, a Visa to Middleworld By Way of 2012’s Maya Calendar Rubbish
The Jaguar Stones trilogy authors Jon and Pamela Voelkel brought their live spectacle, humor and accurate history to some 90 Indian Trails Middle School students, setting a calendar’s record straight along the way.
Dry, Cool Creekside Festival Packs Them In Under the Pines, With Sunday To Go
In a matter of a few years (this is its sixth) the Creekside Festival has grown into the county’s largest attraction of its kind. It’s benefiting from good weather and more recognition this year.
To Counter Bullying, Flagler Sheriff Is Giving Away 3,000 Internet Monitoring Programs
The free programs enable parents to keep track of their child’s internet activity and exposure, from chats to bullying, though the cyberbullying problem may be overstated.
New York Bound: FPC’s Cross-Country Best Running in Manhattan Invitational Saturday
The storied Manhattan Invitational, actually held in The Bronx, is the largest high school cross-country meet in the nation, with some 10,000 competitors from 14 states.
The City of Palm Coast’s Problem With Breast Cancer Awareness Month? Not Regulation.
Lenny Grocki, a Palm Coast utilities employee, was told to go home and take off his pink steel-toed boots. When he switched to pink laces and pink socks, he was told he’d face disciplinary action for those, too.
Ending 8 Years on the Flagler School Board, Evie Shellenberger Endorses Raven Sword
Citing Raven Sword’s clear vision and analytical abilities, Evie Shellenberger said Sword was preferable to John Fischer’s poor grasp of issues and misunderstanding of a school board member’s role.
Small Recovery Victories for Nate Truelove, the 7-Year-Old in Brutal Old Kings Road Wreck
Sixteen days after the accident that sheared in half the car he was riding in, Nate is still in critical condition but now breathing on his own and giving his family more reasons to hope.
Leery of Landowners and Litigation, Palm Coast Council Kills Latest Stormwater Proposal
Property owners of large and vacant lands objected to paying a stormwater drainage fee in exchange for no discernible benefit. The two-year old attempt to rewrite the ordinance continues.
Bill Proctor and Doug Courtney Struggle To Out-No Each Other In Florida House Race
In the race for the Florida Legislature seat closest to Flagler residents, Republican incumbent Bill Proctor of St. Augustine is facing perennial candidate and Democrat Doug Courtney of Palm Coast.
Sued by Its Architect Over Unpaid Bills, Flagler School Board Says Resolution is Near
Close to $300,000 was in contention by Paul Stressing Associates, but the school district has agreed to pay most of that, leaving the two sides haggling over about $75,000.
“They Don’t Give a Damn”: Flagler Beach Wants Pier Restaurant Owners Who Do
A consultant’s report was as if tailor-made for Raymond Barshay, owner of River Grille on the Tomoka in Ormond Beach, to take over and remake the dilapidated Flagler Beach Pier Restaurant.
Bunnell Nights: “Smidge” Spearmon’s Two Crank 911 Calls and Two Stints in Jail
Spearmon, a 21-year-old Bunnell resident with no arrest history, called 911, pretended to be shot, and asked the dispatcher out on a date before hanging up. He was later arrested.
Flagler Harvests Poverty Warriors To Stalk Rising Hunger and Its Stigmas
Jacksonville’s Second Harvest and a local coalition of social and business agencies want to reach thousands of Flagler residents who need help but aren’t seeking it for various reasons.
Defeated Without a Vote, Economic Tax Talk Shifts Back Uncertainly to the County
A sales tax increase to fund economic development may still be discussed, but its chances of being enacted any time soon are slim to none. Governments want to talk.
Flagler 911: The Live Crime Blotter, Sept. 26-29, 2010
A rash of stolen laptops all over the place, a rash of smashed up car windows and stolen purses left in those cars, an assault and battery, a suspiciously acting private investigator, and, unfortunately, more.
Palm Coast Hispanic Festival Ramps It Up From Puerto Rican Power to Colombian Folklore
The fourth annual Hispanic festival, held at Town Center over three days, aimed to exceed last year’s attendance of 10,000 despite an eventful weekend in Flagler County.
Flagler Beach’s Great Bed Race: The Nuttiness, The Bed-Hopping, The Photo Gallery
Flagler Beach’s second annual Great Bed Race featured 14 contesting beds with five contestants each, and plenty of bed hopping. The full photo gallery.
All Maya All the Time: How the Government Building in Bunnell Became Archeology Central
The four-day Maya at the Playa Conference at the county and school building gathered the leading experts in Maya archeology and history from nine countries and 29 states, drawing some 160 participants.
Remember: 3 pm Today, The Great Bed Race in Flagler Beach
The bed race will be preceded by a parade of the beds, all part of Flagler Beach’s fall celebration. The event raises money for Flagler County’s neediest children.
Sitter Who Ran “Chrissy’s Cottage” in Palm Coast’s P Section Is Charged With Child Abuse
The 1-year-old child left in Cinelli-McFall’s care spent a month in a Jacksonville hospital following injuries he sustained on July 16.
“Economic Development” Tax Dies: Enterprise Flagler Wants It Removed from the Ballot
Enterprise Flagler will ask the county commission to ensure that the voting on the troubled tax not be counted. Plan B: a sales tax proposal.
Caryn Miller Appointed Flagler Beach’s Acting Manager As Commission Flirts With Stalemate
Caryn Miller’s appointment was a compromise to enable the commission to have an acting manager without being locked into making a more consequential decision involving Bruce Campbell.
Bernie Murphy’s 1,500 Days: With Few Regrets, Flagler Beach ‘Interim’ Manager Exits
Bernie Murphy was hired as interim city manager of Flagler Beach. That was more than 1,500 days ago. Tonight’s meeting could be his last, though one never knows with that commission.
Census: Flagler’s Population Stalls at 91,600; 28% of Housing Units Vacant; Poverty Rising
The 2009 population figures mean that Flagler will almost certainly not cross into six-figure territory when decennial census figures are announced. Figures on housing, income, poverty and insurance were also released.
From Beirut to Bulldog Drive: Palm Coast’s Uncivil War Over Gus Ajram’s Property Rights
From escaping Lebanon’s civil war to building automotive businesses in New York and Edgewater, Gus Ajram never expected his biggest battle to be over his property rights in Palm Coast.
Flagler Beach Reloads As 3 Candidates Are Re-Interviewed for City Manager
The commission interviewed two out-of-towners and one hometown candidate, who turned the afternoon into the Bruce Campbell hour.
Palm Coast Consistently Beating Florida As Taxable Sales Indicators Continue to Improve
Tourism and retail sales, and fewer people traveling elsewhere to buy goods, are keeping Palm Coast’s taxable sales among the most-improved in the state, compared with 2009.
Palm Coast Redraws Its Stormwater Tax, Benefiting Some Big Landowners
Vacant properties of 25 acres or more will pay less than considerably less than the $8 a month stormwater tax assessed on the typical residential property in Palm Coast.
Beyond the Wounds: Purple Heart Monument Dedication at Heroes Park Tuesday Morning
Tuesday morning’s Heroes Park dedication of a monument dedicated to Purple Heart recipients was to feature veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and both Gulf wars.
Daytona Postmark Vanishing, Postal Service Says Palm Coast Deliveries Won’t Slow
To save $5.7 million and cut 109 jobs, the USPS is planning to close the Daytona Beach mail processing facility, where most of Palm Coast and Flagler’s mail goes, and merge it with Lake Mary, doubling the distance the mail will travel.