The Inspired Mic, Palm Coast’s most daring and unpredictable open mic event, is scheduled for its monthly edition at The New Europa, European Village, Democrats are now turning to conspiracy theories.
All Else
250 to 300-Acre Fire, Largest Since 2011, Burning Uncontained in Old Haw Creek Area
County and state fire crews began battling the fire just before 3 p.m. The fire was still several miles from the nearest homes to the east but had grown rapidly.
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.
Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Bunnell Officials May Face Stronger Financial Disclosure Requirements
Financial disclosure forms filed by elected city officials are cursory compared to the detailed forms filed by county and other officials. That may soon change as the Legislature considers extending the stricter requirements.
Marginal Risk of Strong to Severe Thunderstorms Wednesday Afternoon in Flagler-Palm Coast
The weather center’s simulation of the storm front, issued Tuesday, places the most active parts of the storm above Flagler County at 3 p.m. Wednesday. That can change with subsequent simulations.
Wednesday Briefing: Hammock’s Bay Drive Park Plan, Superintendent Search, Trans Rabbi, Assisted Living on US1
A Flagler County park for the Hammock talked about for decades may be reality: a community meeting is scheduled about it this evening, the school board holds a workshop to sharpen what it’s looking for in a superintendent, Palm Coast considers yet another assisted living development.
Palm Coast Community Center’s Walls Crash As Shovels Ordain Much Bigger Successor Building
Work crews put destruction on display at the old Palm Coast Community Center today, just after the city council marked the $7.8 million rebuilding and tripling of the site with a groundbreaking ceremony.
Spate of Bills Would Allow Floridians to Carry Guns at Colleges, Airports, Bars, Courthouses, Stadiums
One of the proposals would decriminalize the penalty for people who briefly display a firearm in public, others would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry guns in courthouses, jails and government meetings, among other places.
Flagler Beach Pier To Be Repaired and Opened By May 1, But More Concrete Plans in Its Future
The $918,000 contract will stabilize the Flagler Beach pier but will not restore the 160 feet it lost during Hurricane Matthew. That’ll be the long-term fix, which may entail pouring concrete.
Tuesday Briefing: Community Center Re-Groundbreaking, Linda Cole Sings Valentine, Local Ethics
The Palm Coast Community Center’s $7.8 million renovation begins with a groundbreaking, Linda Cole performs her Valentine’s Day songs at the public library, local government ethics get another look in Tallahassee.
In Flagler Beach, Scott Attacks Renner Over Tourism and Economic Development Programs
Gov. Rick Scott was in campaign mode in a visit to Flagler Beach Monday as he criticized Flagler’s Rep. Paul Renner, a fellow-Republican, for introducing a bill that would eliminate Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.
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.
Monday Briefing: Flagler Youth Orchestra’s World Concert, Gov. Scott in Flagler Beach, Tattoos Against Abuse
The Flagler Youth Orchestra’s 350-some students in five ensembles perform music from around the world at the Auditorium, Gov. Scott stops in at a Flagler Beach sandwich shop, a tattoo artist uses her work to combat abuse.
Renner Is Right: Kill Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, Twin Kleptos of Public Troth
Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida are two tax-supported state agencies that act more like slush funds, wasting money behind secretive veils and returns on investment that have never lived up to the promise.
Travel Ban Sham By The Numbers: Trump Is Inventing Refugees’ Threat to National Security
Contrary to President Trump’s factually misleading claims, a rational evaluation of his travel ban indicates its measures would have virtually no effect on improving U.S. national security.
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.
Judge Rules No Discrimination In Bakers’ Refusal to Call Gays “Abomination” on a Cake
A customer had accused an Orlando bakery of religious discrimination when the owners refused to make a cake with the words “Homosexuality is an abomination unto the Lord.”
Weekend Briefing: Love Letters at CRT, Bird Fest, Valentine Dances, and “Almost, Maine”
The school board holds a special meeting to pick a superintendent, City Repertory Theatre features three different casts on three successive representations of “Love Letters,” Bird Fest all weekend in Palm Coast.
Three Ways Forward on Enacting Florida Voters’ Medical Marijuana Mandate
Former Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre, just back from a state conference on medical marijuana, argues how and why to move ahead with consumer- and patient-centered regulation.
Safety Study on Deadly White Eagle Lounge Intersection Was Issued 7 Weeks Ago: No Traffic Light or Speed Limit Recommendations
Some 207 crashes have been recorded in three years at or near US1 and Old Dixie Highway, but a state transportation department safety study issued in December recommended only cosmetic changes.
Flagler Beach Is Proposing Draconian Restrictions and Prohibitions on Drones
Flagler Beach would even further than an Orlando ordinance that just passed, banning drones over public buildings, parks, assemblies and other places absent permission from the city.
Against Counsel: House Panel Backs Term Limits for Supreme Court and Appeals Judges
The proposal would revamp a decades-old system in which Supreme Court justices and appeals-court judges do not face term limits — though they are required to go before voters every six years for merit-retention.
Thursday Briefing: Repairing the Pier, Regulating Drones in Flagler Beach, “Almost, Maine,” at FPC
The Flagler Beach Commission will award a bid for pier repairs out of three submissions ranging from $900,000 to $1.2 million, and regulate drones in the city, William Henry Harrison is remembered for his 32 days.
When There Almost Was a Bowling Green Massacre — By a White Supremacist
The case of Richard Schmidt in Bowling Green, Ohio, deserves an important place in any debate about what is real and what is fake, what gets reported on by the news media and what doesn’t.
Local Governments Nursing Headaches Over Legalized Pot as Health Department Holds Hearing Across Florida
Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell and County government joined two dozen counties and four dozen cities in enacting moratoriums temporarily banning medical marijuana dispensaries.
Sheriff Seeking Public’s Help in Identifying 2 Alleged Shoplifters at Palm Coast’s Ulta Store
Two suspects entered the Ulta cosmetics store at 5224 State Road 100 in Palm Coast Saturday (Feb. 4) and allegedly stole many bottles of nail polish, valued at more than $2,400.
Wednesday Briefing: Canales in Court, Palm Coast Strategies, Enterprise and Visit Florida, Jules Verne
Jonathan Canales, the Mondex veteran accused of shooting his wife on the neck, is in court today, Superwash Express, the car wash on 110 Cypress Point Parkway, marks its grand opening, Palm Coast plans the budget year.
Palm Coast’s Jim Landon Gets 4% Pay Hike, Raising Total Compensation to $226,700
The Palm Coast City Council unanimously endorsed the $6,700 pay raise but limited annual automatic increases to 1 percent through 2021, and set aside concerns over Landon’s very generous severance package.
FPL Will Bill You an Extra $40 This Year For Restoring Power During Hurricane Matthew
The state Public Service Commission approved a $318.5 million request by FPL to cover the costs of restoring power after the storm pummeled Flagler and other Florida counties.
Flagler County May Be Out $2 Million as FEMA and State Deny Hurricane Reimbursements
FEMA denied $1.1 million in Flagler claims for debris pick-up, the state is not providing a match the county expected, and the county has yet to hear on millions more in claims to FEMA.
Kayaking Trips Planned For Flagler’s Centennial Celebration, on Haw Creek and Longs Landing
Registrations, for $15, are needed in advance. Each person registering will get a competition style tee shirt commemorating the County’s Centennial.
Five People Killed, 3 Hurt in 3-Vehicle Crash at White Eagle’s US1 Intersection With Old Dixie; Deadliest Crash in 6 Years
Five people were killed in a three-vehicle crash late this morning (Feb. 5) at the notoriously dangerous intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1, by the White Eagle lounge, in Korona.
Tuesday Briefing: Landon’s Raise, School Board’s Toil, Texting and Driving, Eubie Blake, Philip Roth on Death
Palm Coast City Manager will seek a 4 percent raise even though a majority of the city council has never evaluated him, the school board holds its first all-workshop evening, the great Eubie Blake.
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.
Health Savings Accounts Gain GOP Favor as Obamacare Sub; Gimmickry May Hurt Most
Expanding the use of such accounts, greatly favored by Wall Street, is part of almost every GOP replacement plan under consideration on Capitol Hill. But less well off people and the sick would not likely benefit.
Monday Briefing: Revels v. DeLorenzo, New Runway at Airport, Death Sentences, Obamacare Repairs
Barbara Revels and Jason DeLorenzo reemerge in a bid for a seat on the economic development council, the county breaks ground at its airport’s runway extension.
Don’t Play Into Trump’s Hands on the Muslim Ban
Dina El-Rifai, a Muslim woman, writes of being terrified, heartbroken, and outraged by Donald Trump’s “Muslim ban.” But, she notes, The Obama administration’s wars were often justified through the demonization and dehumanization of Muslims.
Florida Senate Moves to Replace Tuition Billing By Credit Hour With Controversial Flat-Fee Plan
The dilemma: how to move to a block-tuition system without financially penalizing students while at the same time providing incentives for them to take enough courses per semester to graduate in four years.
After NY Cop Salutes Violence Against Anti-Trump Protester, His Online Post Comes Under Review
An anti-Trump marcher got punched in the face. A Port Authority cop posted “Grow up bitches and get a job.” The department’s inspector general gets a referral.
Prosecution Puts Kim Weeks’s Lawyers on Defensive After Arguing She Must Testify
The prosecution today questioned whether Kimberle Weeks had standing to challenge the validity of the search warrant that uncovered all the evidence against her. Her defense was shaken up by the ploy.
Weekend Briefing: Kimberle Weeks Wants Out, Men’s Futures Tennis, Medical Pot Summit, Sugar’s Evils
The Men’s Futures tennis tournament heads into its finals weekend at the Palm Coast Tennis Center, Kim Weeks moves to have all charges against her dismissed, a children’s fair at Carver Gym.
Behind Woman’s Suicide in Flagler Beach, Despair and a Last Evening With Caring Strangers
Janis Washburn, the 68-year-old Palm Coast resident found dead in the Intracoastal last week, had spent the last three hours of her life with a group of strangers who took her in to cheer her up. She had long spoken of suicide.
Thursday Briefing: Animal Control, Flagler Audubon, All Flagler Democratic Club, Re-Joyce
The emerging All Flagler Democratic Club meets, the Flagler Audubon Society gets ready for the annual Shorebird Survey, James Joyce and Ayn Rand improbably share a birthday.
Divided School Board Blocks Internal Hire of Next Superintendent, Opting for Fast Search
In a 3-2 split, Flagler School Board members opted against cutting short the search for Superintendent Jacob Oliva with an immediate, internal hire despite the risks of an expedited, broader search to fill the position by June 1.
Cops’ Dash-Cam Video Evidence Gets Big Boost in 5-2 Ruling By Florida Supreme Court
“We cannot expect officers to retain information as if he or she were a computer,” the court ruled, granting power to judges to review video evidence when available.
Wednesday Briefing: Superintendent Search, Tax Collector’s New Branch, Buddy Taylor Agronomy Lab, Gorusch
Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston opens a new branch office in the old Food Lion shopping center in Flagler Beach, the Flagler County School Board this evening begins the process of replacing Superintendent Jacob Oliva.
At Staly’s Sheriff’s Office, Deputies Speak of “Concerted Effort” to Raise Morale and Profile
Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies contacted independently of the sheriff’s own public relations efforts say the improved morale and more commanding leadership is sincere, though the changes are less fundamental than about attitudes.
Palm Coast Council Favors $6,800 Raise for Manager Landon, and Automatic Increases
Vying for a raise for the third time in 10 months, Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon appears to have convinced a new council to award him a 4 percent raise and build in automatic annual raises absent intervention by the council.
Tuesday Briefing: Jim Landon’s Raise, Meeker’s Late Goal, Vienna Boys’ Choir at Peabody, Hugo Chavez Redux
Palm Coast Manager Jim Landon makes yet another pitch for a raise, the soccer fields at Wadsworth Park were dedicated to the late Frank Meeker, David Altmaier in Daytona.
Monday Briefing: Suicide Prevention Training, Juvenile Arraignments, Romeo and Juliet, FDR
A regional suicide prevention specialist hosts a three-hour seminar on the subject at EOC in Bunnell, a non-eventful day in local government, Romeo and Juliet’s and FDR’s anniversaries.