If you’re buying it as a watch you’ll be miserable. If you’re buying it because you think it’ll be cool talk, text and send heartbeats you’ll be even more disappointed. But if all you wanted was the best health tracker on the market – that also happens to do some really cool stuff, this is surely the device for you.
All Else
Monday Briefing: Racism in Palm Coast’s L Section, Beachfront Parking in the Hammock, Bill Cosby Uncut
Racist and Confederate graffiti is spray-painted on a street and on vehicles in Palm Coast’s L Section, the county reconsiders parking at Malacompra’s beach access, the Palm Coast Arts Foundation breaks ground on a pavilion at Town Center, Chuck Jones is profiled.
Flagler Live-Blogs Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman,” Chapter 1: Back to Maycomb
Ten diverse and opinionated members of the Flagler-Palm Coast community take on Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman” in a new experiment in communal reading, chapter by chapter. Join us.
Donald Trump Isn’t the Exception.
He’s the Republican Prototype.
Donald Trump isn’t an exception or an offense to the GOP brand. He’s he’s almost indistinguishable from the other 14 Republican crackpots running for president, starting with Jeb Bush, the alleged “moderate” of the bunch. Bush’s Florida record proves it.
Video of Greg Lynn Jewelers Burglary Points to Suspects Possibly Tied to 5 Recent Incidents
Two burglars are shown in a surveillance video inside Greg Lynn Jewelers. The burglars are possibly tied to a string of incidents in Flagler and Daytona Beach.
Florida Loses 47,000 Jobs, Flagler 190, But Shrinking Labor Force Lowers Unemployment
Florida’s labor force shrank by a significant 79,000 and Flagler’s by 325, bringing down their unemployment rates to 5.5 and 6.3 percent respectively.
Weekend Briefing: Art in Public Places at Salvo, Eid Mubarak, Bunnell Elementary’s Chefs, Dying Mothers
Salvo Art Gallery has a new opening Saturday with Art in Public Places, Bunnell Elementary students will cook at a DeLand restaurant, 1.5 billion Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan.
Florida’s Impending “Pastor Protection Act” Weds Spurious Scenarios With Homophobia
The proposal is aimed at safeguarding clergy members from being forced to perform gay-marriage ceremonies even though they’re categorically protected from doing so by the First Amendment.
Palm Coast Data Evacuated as Suspicious White Powder Discovery Calls For Hazmat Team
The white powder was discovered just after 11 a.m., and Palm Coast Data issued an evacuation order at 1:39 p.m. The response from St. Johns County’s Hazmat team is ongoing.
Rick Look, Long-Time Flagler Sheriff’s Chief Deputy and Cop’s Cop, Dies at 65
Rick Look had been chief deputy for over seven years until three years ago under Sheriff Don Fleming, had two Purple Hearts and 42 years in law enforcement until his last four years’ battle with illness.
Thursday Briefing: Lifeguard Competition in Flagler Beach, McLaughlin’s 100, Ginsberg’s Poem to Bernie Sanders
The Regional Surf Lifesaving Championships, hosted by Flagler Beach Ocean Rescue, starts today; No Child Left Behind is repealed today, and Allen Ginsberg writes a poem on socialism to Bernie Sanders.
Reclaiming Islam’s Enlightenment From Its Fundamentalist Hijackers
Granting that more than a few Muslims back the hijackers’ extremism, what is needed is cultural exchanges instead of armed, panicky overreactions,
Opposing Floridians for Solar Choice, Right-Wing Launches Amendment Drive of Its Own
Consumers for Smart Solar includes two ex-lawmakers, a Jacksonville tea-party founder and an ex-chairman of the Florida Public Service Commission.
Abandoned by Family, Giuseppe Verdone Is Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Carjacking of Chinese Restaurant Owner
Judge J. David Walsh imposed two life terms and two 30-year terms, all concurrently, after denying a motion for a new trial. Verdone, 24, declined to address the court.
Flagler Beach Police Seeking Person of Interest in June Burglary of A1A Beverage
The suspected three male burglars took some 40 lottery tickets valued at $20 each before scratch-off, among other items, but left behind some blood.
Public Art Soars Increasingly Into View, Part of Gargiulo Foundation’s Gifts to Palm Coast
Tom Gargiulo and his foundation will be underscoring the growing role of public art in Palm Coast, between a panel discussion at the Flagler County Art League Saturday and the dedication of two more soaring heron sculptures at Waterfront Park.
Wednesday Briefing: A Competency Hearing for Accused Mobil Mart Murderer, Car Wash on Cypress Point, Improv Comedy and Galuppi
Joseph Bova, accused murderer of Zuheili Roman Rosado, was deemed incompetent to stand trial last year. His case is reviewed. Giuseppe Verdone is sentenced today for his carjacking and brutalizing of a Chinese food restaurant owner.
Against Protest, Walton County in Panhandle Joins Marion to Let Confederate Flag Fly For Now
Walton County flew started flying the Confederate flag at its courthouse in 1964 in direct opposition to the Civil Rights Act, which extended rights protections to blacks.
Palm Coast’s Sign Regulations May Be Forced to Loosen, City Attorney Warns
The changes, which would likely relax Palm Coast’s rules, would be required to comply with a new U.S. Supreme Court ruling making the regulation of temporary signs on private property much more difficult.
Florida Adds Still More Specialty License Plates to Some 120 Accenting Causes
It’s not as if Floridians need more specialized license plates. But more are going on the market and some are being redesigned.
Tuesday Briefing: Bastille Day, Guns at UF, Transgenders in the Military, Weddings in Flagler, Rambo v. ISIS
A court hears arguments today to allow guns at UF dorms, Flagler plays up its wedding-destination cachet, Sylvester Stallone decides to take on ISIS.
Flagler’s Circuit Judge J. David Walsh, Master of Judicial Temperament, Retiring in February
Circuit Judge J. David Walsh, who addresses the state’s too-harsh sentencing guidelines in an interview, was appointed to the bench in 2001 by Gov. Jeb Bush, and has been in Flagler County since 2012.
Millionaires Make Up Nearly One-Third Of the Florida Legislature, More in Senate
Almost half of the Florida Senate is in the millionaires club, and more than two dozen senators saw their net worths grow in the past year.
40-Year-Old Micale Annilus Is Killed on I-95 At Palm Coast Parkway in Wreck With Trailer
Micale Annilus, a 40-year-old resident of Houston, Texas, was killed early Monday morning, Dagobert Laurent, 43, and Winderson Annilus, 21, were taken to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach.
Monday Briefing: Synchro Belles Silver at Junior Olympics, Financial Audit in Bunnell, Understanding Bernie Sanders
Flagler County’s Synchro Belles got silver at the 2015 Junior Olympics in Greensboro, N.C., Bunnell accounts for its past deficits, why Bernie Sanders is making Hillary Clinton nervous.
4-Year-Old Palm Coast Boy Critical After He’s Found Unresponsive in Locked Van in Driveway
The incident unfolded in early afternoon at a house at the corner of Blakefield Drive and Blare Castle Drive in Palm Coast. No foul play is suspected.
Reilly Opelka Is Wimbledon Boys Champion; Roger Federer Congratulates Him in Person
Reilly Opelka, raised on the courts of Flagler County, used a powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes to realize a dream that seemed so farfetched even a few weeks ago, defeating Sweden’s Mikael Ymer, 7-6 (5), 6-4 to win his first Wimbledon championship.
Palm Coast Takes Pride as Surging Opelka Plays in Two Wimbledon Finals Sunday
Winning his doubles semifinal match Saturday at Wimbledon, Reilly Opelka will be playing in two straight finals Sunday as Palm Coast gears up congratulations and possibly a watching party.
Memo to GOP Candidates: Why Conservatives Should Embrace Gay Marriage Decision
As a conservative who has always supported gay marriage, it’s difficult for Nancy Smith to understand why so many people of her generation — the ones who grew up witnessing some of the worst discrimination of the 20th century — could consistently rage against it.
John Ruffalo, a Reagan Assemblies Leader, Affronts County Commissioner at Courthouse
Two months after another Reagan Assemblies member had to resign for a public obscenity, a founding member of the group allegedly insulted the county commissioners names at the county courthouse after calling him dishonorable in an email.
Palm Coast’s Opelka Stuns World’s No. 1 and Advances to Wimbledon Boys Final Sunday
The 17-year-old continued his dream run at Wimbledon Friday, defeating No.1 seed Taylor Fritz, 6-3. 7-6 (13) to reach his first-ever Slam final.
In Flagler Beach, Lighter Rules for Farmers’ Market and 2-Week Limit on Golf Course Buy
The Flagler Beach City Commission voted to apply only a light regulatory hand on the city’s famed farmer’s market, and to start negotiations on buying the last remaining enclave in private hands at the former Ocean Palm Golf Club at the south end of town.
Weekend Briefing: Princess Place on TV, the Mockingbird Sequel’s First Chapter, Shrek at the Playhouse
Reese Witherspoon narrates the opening chapter of Harper Lee’s sequel to Mockingbird, 30 young actors put on Shrek at the Flagler Playhouse all weekend, ibuprofen is a killer.
Overpowering Opelka Moves into Wimbledon Juniors Semifinal to Face World’s No. 1
Palm Coast’s Reilly Opelka’s astounding run on Wimbledon’s grass continued with two wins Thursday, as he now faces the U.S.’ Taylor Fritz, the world’s No.1 junior, in a semi-final match.
As South Carolina Folds the Confederate Flag, Florida County Votes to Raise It Back Up
The Marion County Commission voted unanimously to raise the Confederate flag again on government grounds after removing it last week, just as the South Carolina Legislature ended debate this morning ina vote to remove it from state grounds.
Thursday Briefing: Belly Dancing at the Library, Farmer’s Market Rules in Flagler Beach, Bull Creek at 1
The Flagler Beach City Commission takes up new rules for farmers’ markets, a belly dancing workshop for teens and adults at the public library, Diderot’s encyclopedia, marking Bull Creek restaurant’s one-year anniversary.
Jews Then, Muslims Now: How Imprudent Judgments Desecrate Western Values
To assume that all Muslims think alike because of their religious background, that they have “a mind” rather than individual thoughts, is as big a mistake as to assume to know the minds of Jews, Christians, or anyone else.
Florida’s Lagging Early-Childhood Education Programs Again Fail to Win More Legislative Support
Florida’s voluntary pre-kindergarten and school-readiness programs are funded below national averages. Advocates turn their hopes toward federal support.
Opelka Doubles Down on Wins as He Cruises Into Wimbledon Juniors Quarterfinals
After dramatic three-set wins the past two days, Opelka needed only 72 minutes to advance to his second consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal, then on his first-round doubles match at Wimbledon.
Man Found Dead Behind Walmart Is Identified as Mathew Talacko, 25, Victim of Inhalants
Mathew Talacko was a big man–he stood 6’6”–who could muster big smiles, big hopes, a searching intelligence and, apparently, great despair.
Taking Harder Line Against Sheriff Manfre, Florida Ethics Commission Finds Probable Violations on 3 Counts
The Florida Ethics Commission last year had rejected a deal that would have had Manfre admitting to one violation, seeking a deeper investigation that has now resulted in a potentially harsher penalty.
Wednesday Briefing: Peter Grimes Goes Epic, The McMillans Go Kerouac, South Carolina Battles the Flag
The South Carolina state house today debates whether it will bring down the racist Confederate flag from the grounds of the statehouse, Benjamin Britten’s opera “Peter Grimes” is at Palm Coast’s Epic Theaters.
Palm Coast’s Opelka Fires 17 Aces to Upset 3rd Seed, Advancing Again at Wimbledon
Once again swinging on drama, the 17-year-old Opelka played his best in the big points and narrowly upset No. 3 seed Corentin Denolly of France, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 to advance to the third round in his first trip to Wimbledon.
In Donald Trump, Democrats Have a “Very Useful Idiot”
Republicans have an image problem. And it gets worse when somebody like Trump exacerbates the problem when he called Mexicans rapists.
Flagler School Taxes Going Up About 4%, Heralding Season of Steeper Government Levies
The typical Palm Coast house valued at $150,000 will pay roughly $50 more in school taxes for the year even as the tax rate goes down slightly.
Tuesday Briefing: Shrek Animates Flagler Playhouse, School Cops Contract Renewed, Kids on Gay Marriage
Middle school students put on “Shrek” at the Flagler Playhouse, the school board buys 22 million sheets of paper and approves a new school resource deputies contract, kids talk about the court’s gay marriage decision.
2 More “Ridiculous” Ethics Complaints Against Commissioner Revels and Attorney Hadeed
The complaints, filed by Ronald Reagan Assemblies member John Ruffalo, allege conflicts of interest in the commissioner’s votes and target the attorney’s counsel to the commission.
As Cremation Outpaces Burial Rates,
Jewelry Glitters the Afterlife
Florida is well ahead of the nation in cremation rates, but for the first time this year cremations nationally will outpace burials. A jewelry industry is marking the shift.
Monday Briefing: $4.9 Million for Old Kings Road Extension, Naming Buildings, Confederate Flag Debated
The Flagler County Commission considers a policy on tacking names to buildings and other government landmarks, the South Carolina Senate debates the Confederate flag.
Palm Coast Motorcyclist Gregory Fagas, 40, Is Killed Across from Belle Terre Elementary, Rider Critical
Gregory Daniel Fagas, a 40-year-old motorcyclist from Palm Coast, was killed, and Nacomi Marie Campbell, 27, was flown to a hospital in critical condition