A split Palm Coast City Council has been wrestling with a proposal to allow small home-based commercial bakery operations, as long as the bakeries don’t sell products from the home. Food safety has been a hang-up.
All Else
Flagler 911: A Bi-Polar Bulldog Attacks Her Owners, and Quirky Car Thieves
A 3-year-old bulldog attacks and bloodies her elderly owners, who are forced to lock themselves in their bedroom; a gun and its hollow-point ammunition is stolen from a car on Osprey Lane and mysteriously returned a few hours later. A car burglar leaves Altoids for a calling card. And more from the streets of Palm Coast and Flagler.
When Elderly Is an Offensive Term
The elderly are simultaneously the country’s most powerful single demographic and its least respected. But if the elderly don’t want to be infantilized, if they don’t want to be referred to as the elderly, it may be time to means-test the term and the literal benefits it entails.
Businesses Don’t Create Jobs. Consumers Do.
Nick Hanauer’s TED talk demolishing the notion that businesses create jobs was allegedly censored by TED. That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the controversy around the talk helps spotlight a prevailing dogma worth debating about job creators.
Tropical Storm Beryl: Weather Event Over, Memorial Day Brightens Up
Be cautious, but Beryl is no bear, and it may prove to have more benefits than drawbacks despite dampening Memorial Day plans and grills, at least for Flagler County, which may see heavy rain but may also be spared the rougher edges of the storm.
70 Homes and Counting as Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Project in New Orleans Builds On
Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Foundation, which builds affordable homes in new Orleans’s deva In many cases, the private sector can move faster and better than government agencies. In my opinion, that is the record of Brad Pitt’s vision and action in New Orleans.
Composer Don McCullough Is the New
Director of the Jacksonville Symphony Chorus
Donald McCullough is the celebrated choral director and composer of the Holocaust Cantata, and for over a decade the director of the the Master Chorale of Washington at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Like Son, Like Father: Pianist Xavier Ryan Is Flagler County’s Youth Entertainer of the Year
The 2012 Spotlight on Flagler Youth Entertainers of the Year in the junior division were Amanda Lee Pikowski, Eric Dangerfield and Kali Nina Cobb. Adam Prior and Felicity Furtado took 2nd and 3rd in the senior division of a talent show that raised about $800 for the Carver Center.
Be Prepared: 9 to 15 Tropical Storms or Hurricanes Predicted Beginning June 1
NOAA predicts a 70 percent chance of nine to 15 named storms, four to eight of them strengthening to a hurricane (with top winds of 74 mph or higher) and of those one to three will become major hurricanes. Be prepared.
Philip Reynolds and Nathan Hockenberry Are Flagler Sheriff’s Top Cops of the Year
Sgt. Philip Reynolds was named Deputy of the Year in the road patrol division and Nathan Hockenberry was named the Corrections Deputy of the Year for 2012 at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
Romney Takes 6-Point Florida Lead Over Obama; Rubio’s Impact as VP Is Minor
In a big reversal from two months ago, when the Republican primary contest was damaging Mitt Romney’s brand, Barack Obama’s fortunes have dimmed considerably in Florida, while a Marco Rubio addition to Romney’s ticket appears to yield less than a bang.
Being Sick in America
The recently ill are more likely to say the cost and quality of care have worsened over the past five years, compared to people who weren’t sick. A significant proportions say their treatment was poorly managed.
Flagler Palm Coast High School’s Senior DVD Now Available
Flagler Palm Coast High School’s senior DVD is the annual feature-length send-off, including highlights of sports, plays, homecoming, teacher goodbyes and senior moments.
As FPL’s Smart Meters Convert 50,000 Flagler Homes, County Takes Dim View of Opponents
Florida Power & Light will roll out 50,000 smart meters in Flagler homes and small businesses over six months beginning this summer. The Flagler County Commission supports an opt-out measure for customers, some of whom thing the smart meters are invasive and dangerous, but FPL already provides a temporary opt-out.
The Erosion of Study Time in College
The time college students actually study outside of class has dwindled from 24 hours a week to about 15. The trend is generating debate over how much students really learn, even as colleges raise tuition every year.
Hi Governor Scott, It’s Me, an Early Tea Party Supporter. Not That Much Anymore.
Henry Kelley, a tea party activist, ran Rick Scott’s Okaloosa County campaign and was pretty much the only “No Party Affiliated” person, given his deep-seated mistrust of Florida Republicans. He now tells Scott of his disappointment with his tenure.
Sheriff Candidate Ray Stevens’s Ex-Aide Files Suit Against Rival Pollinger Over GOP Status
Anne-Marie Shaffer was GOP Sheriff’s candidate Ray Stevens’s campaign manager until two weeks ago, when she opted to legally challenge John Pollinger’s status as a Republican on the Aug. 14 primary election for Flagler County Sheriff.
Milissa Holland Formally Launches Campaign for House as Hutson Welcomes the Challenge
Democrat Milissa Holland plans on making her experience at the Flagler County Commission and as liaison in legislative services a centerpiece of her campaign against Republican Travis Hutson, who is accumulating an enormous treasure chest.
Warren Buffett Loves Newspaper Paywalls
Warren Buffett just bought 63 newspapers from Media General, but not the Tampa Tribune, which is in talks with Halifax Media, owner of the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Advanced Placement Gambit: Challenging Students at the Risk of Penalizing Teachers
Flagler County high schools are encouraging more students to take Advanced Placement tests, which beef up a school’s profile. But when students fail the testm their teachers are penalized, now that their pay is tied to student performance.
Gator Shame: Why I’m Relieved My Daughter Won’t Be Attending the University of Florida
Athletics aside, Florida doesn’t take its public universities and public schools seriously, making it difficult for top students to stay here–or for the state to depend on more than tourist ghettoes, sunbathing spreads and Medicare colonies.
Bunnell’s Potato Festival Dishes Up Mouthfuls of Charm Despite Candidates by the Casserole
Bunnell’s Potato Festival featured a knock-down, drag-out potato dish cook-off between some 20 local candidates for political office, plus what has become the festival’s traditional highlights, from the parade to the mashed-potato eating contest. A tasty photo gallery.
Invasion of the Giant African Snail: Florida’s Latest Slimy Bane
The giant African snail is again invading South Florida and possibly spreading north, devouring numerous crops such as banana, potato, onion and cabbage, and also eating stucco plaster and concrete. Frank Gromling reports.
Getting Hurricane Ready: Free Clinics at Home Depot Saturday, 10 to 2
The Home Depot of Palm Coast will host Hurricane Ready Day with fFree get-ready clinics and appearances by Flagler County Emergency Services, The Red Cross and the Flagler County Humane Society.
Flagler’s FCAT Writing Scores Collapse, a Reflection of Florida’s Tougher Standards
As expected, Flagler County’s writing scores for 4th, 8th and 10th graders, released today, fell precipitously as the state imposed a new writing standard and a new passing grade, but itself failed to convey those standards clearly to teachers and principals ahead of time.
Florida’s Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%, Flagler’s at 11.6%, But Many Drop Out
Florida’s jobless rate in April fell to 8.7 percent as the state continued an employment rebound that began 11 months ago, with ripples down to Flagler County, where the unemployment rate was 11.6 percent. But it was still the state’s worst.
It Was Not a Police Chase: That Cop Convoy You Saw on Palm Coast Parkway
A convoy of marked and unmarked Flagler County Sheriff’s cruisers crossing Palm Coast Parkway at noon today gave the impression of being on a chase. It was a commemorative convoy for the late Frank Celico, the deputy who died last year.
Car Rams a School Bus With 34 Children on Board, at Whiteview Parkway; No One Hurt
A Flagler County school bus on a run to three schools was rammed from behind by a Mitsubishi Friday morning, startling the 34 students on board but causing minor damage to the bus and no injuries.
Milissa Holland Will Run For Florida House, Energizing Flagler’s Chances For a State Voice
Ending months of speculation and rumors, Milissa Holland, a county commissioner for the past six years, will run for the newly drawn 24th District House seat, giving Flagler County its strongest chance of direct representation in Tallahassee in half a century.
“An Evening With…” Saturday At City Repertory Theatre: The Manic, the Jazzy and the Stately
Manic comic Jonathan Haglund, the Island Duet (Caren and Paul Umbarger) and the Flagler Youth Strings Quartet are combining for “An Evening With…” Saturday, May 19 at 7:30 p.m. at the City Repertory Theatre at Hollingsworth Gallery in palm Coast. It’s the CRT’s last event of the season.
Dear Gov. Scott: “We Are Going To Start Losing Teachers.” An Ex-School Board Member’s Plea
Evie Shellenberger, the former Flagler County School Board member, writes Gov. Rick Scott to warn him of despairing teachers and a generation of students left behind by Florida’s neglect of vocational education, and invites him to a one-on-one sit down discussion.
Crime Falls, Cop-Killings Rise: Flagler Officers Honor the Fallen and Gauge a Disturbing Trend
For the second year in a row, Florida led the nation in cops killed on the job. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office held its annual ceremony for the fallen, and local top cops discussed the disturbing trend.
Largest Employer in Most Florida Counties, Flagler Included: Government
A government entity is the largest employer in 51 of the state’s 67 counties, including in Flagler, where the school board 1,700 employees, and in every county in Florida government at least one of the top five largest employers.
School Chancellor, in Flagler, Touts Higher FCAT Standards as State Board Drops Them
Florida Public Schools Chancellor Pam Stewart’s 75-minute appearance before the Flagler County School Board, teachers and others Tuesday afternoon lent more PR than insights into the state’s latest FCAT fiasco, satisfying few locally.
Another Blow for the County: Palm Coast Rejects Flagler’s Sales Tax “Compromise”
Citing the county’s “Taj Mahal” of an administration building and the city’s future growth needs (and revenue), the Palm Coast council on Tuesday stuck to its refusal to change the way sales tax revenue is split, a blow for county government.
Ken Mazzie Joins Teens-In-Flight Board of Directors
Jack Howell and Teens-In-Flight in Palm Coast announced this week that Ken Mazzie, a Certified Public Accountant, has joined the Palm Coast organization’s board of directors.
FCAT Scores Plummet Statewide, Sending Education Officials in a Panic
The lower scores can have serious implications on school grades, students’ promotions and graduations, merit pay and evaluations for teachers. The state Board of Education called an emergency meeting for Tuesday to rethink its approach.
Going Nose to Nose, Palm Coast and The County Remain Split on Half-Cent Sales Tax
Palm Coast wants to keep the split of the half-cent sales tax revenue what it is today. Flagler County wants to change the formula, which would decrease Palm Coast’s share by $500,000. The disagreement is jeopardizing a unified approach on a sales tax referendum both sides say is critical to their revenue needs.
Small White Eagle Wildfire Monday Afternoon Flashes Bad Memories of Last Year’s Blaze
A wildfire broke out behind the White Eagle Saloon Monday at around 2:30 p.m., scrambling fire units from around the county and reviving fears of a repeat of last year’s wildfires, which consumed large swaths of the Seminole Woods area east of the White Eagle. But the fire was out 40 minutes after it declared itself.
She Stood Her Ground. She Got 20 Years. The Case of Jacksonville’s Marissa Alexander.
As Florida reviews its “stand your ground” law in the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing, Marissa Alexander on Friday received a 20-year sentence for firing a shot in what she claims was self-defense and her backers say was a case of her standing her ground.
Obama’s Come to Jesus Moment on Gay Marriage: More Buchanan Than Lincoln
One might be tempted to see in Barack Obama’s belated embrace of gay marriage a retraction of the infuriatingly compromising president we’ve come endure and a return to the audacious president we thought we were electing four years ago. But that would be projecting a fantasy on a cave wall.
Flagler 911: Pit Bull Attacks, Combatant-Roomies, Violent Sibling
A pit bull attack near Fischer Lane, a crash-and-run on Rymfire, roommates fight their way to jail, a brother assaults his sister at European Village, a car gets keyed on Karas Trail, and more.
Breastfeeding Frenzy
Time magazine’s cover featuring 26-year-old Jamie Lynne Grumet breastfeeding her nearly 4-year-old son is the latest revival of the old fervors and prejudices surrounding breastfeeding including, unfortunately, the sexualization of an asexual act.
Eric Zimmerman, Marine and Gulf War Veteran, 1969-2012
Eric Lee Zimmerman, 42, of Flagler Beach, was a U.S. Marine, a Gulf War veteran, a champion BMX racer and leaves behind a legacy of honor: an obituary.
From Pathways Academy and Matanzas High To Beverly Beach: A Sea Oats Odyssey
Students from Pathways Academy and Matanzas High School planted 750 sea oats along Beverly Beach’s dunes through a University of Florida project and the initiative of Beverly Beach Commissioner–and FlaglerLive columnist–Frank Gromling, who relates the story.
Mayor Weighs Veto as Flagler Beach, on 3-2 Vote, Bans Night Bonfires During Turtle Season
The rare veto, which Flagler Beach Mayor Linda Provencher might exercise should the bonfire ban ordinance survive a second reading in two weeks, would nullify the ban, heightening the focus on a proposed popular referendum on the issue.
Florida Elections Official Places State’s Potentially Ineligible Voter Tally at 180,000
Officials reported earlier this week that they had forwarded the first batch of those names, about 2,600 to local supervisors of elections for further review and for each voter to be notified that they were on a list of people suspected of being illegally registered.
The Flip-Side of Voter Suppression: Not Everyone Needs to Vote
It is a staple in the newspaper business – especially left-wing newspapers – to exhort people to vote at every election. Conservatives, however, are more interested in quality than quantity, argues Lloyd Brown.
In “Love for Alyssa,” an 8-Year-Old Girl’s Heart For Life Is Unbridled in Kaczmarek’s Photos
“Love for Alyssa,” Jennifer Kaczmarek’s photography exhibit and fund-raiser at Hollingsworth gallery, opening Saturday, is an intimate, realist and daring portrait of 8-year-old Alyssa Hagstrom, who lives with a severe muscular disorder called arthrogryposis.
There’s Only So Much Palm Coast Government Can Do About Eyesores and Vacant Lands
From the Palm Coast Players Club to the Sheraton/Palm Coast Resort or Sesame Island, the city has very limited legal or financial means, absent much higher taxes, to take over such properties and convert them to something residents would prefer, argues city council member Frank Meeker.