For the first time in 22 years, Flagler Beach will not hold its traditional July 4 parade and fireworks, nor will Palm Coast hold its own Independence Day festivities, which would have normally taken place in Central Park on July 3.
The latest casualties of the coronavirus emergency, the two cities are cancelling their events as the virus is still rampant, social distancing would be impossible, and the $45,000 the two cities rely on from the Tourist Development Council to pay for their events is not available.
Flagler Beach’s parade and fireworks were last cancelled in 1998 as that season’s wildfires had raged through the region, forcing an evacuation of Flagler County on Independence Day weekend. Both parade and fireworks were rescheduled to that year’s Labor Day. No such possibilities are considered this year, at least for now. Palm Coast has been uninterruptedly hosting its own Independence Day fireworks show since 2011. Mayor Milissa Holland confirmed this morning that the event has been scrapped.
The Flagler Beach City Commission never took a formal vote to cancel the events, though it approved the cancellation by consensus at a workshop in late April. The decision was to be ratified by vote at last week’s commission meeting, but it never made it to the agenda.
“We’ve been talking about 4th of July in a lot of different meetings and we need to get that wrapped up,” Commissioner Eric Cooley told City Manager Larry Newsom. “Is this something we can ask you to do to get a position or finalization on that?”
“If I understand correctly, we’re not doing 4th of July, correct?” Newsom said.
“Is there anything formal we need to do with that?” Cooley asked. There wasn’t, in Newsom’s view. “I will take care of the PA,” Newsom said, apparently referring to a public announcement.
At a workshop a week earlier, all five commissioners and the mayor had agreed to scrap the events in favor of something more modest, not yet defined. “Can we just agree that we will cancel the parade and the fireworks and if the mayors come up with some plan for other activities, maybe we could revisit that,” Jane Mealy, who chairs the commission, asked her colleagues in a Zoom session.
“Absolutely,” Newsom said. “What we’ll do is we’ll actually put it on the agenda for the board meeting so the board can actually vote on it, that way it’s very clear,” Newsom said. “I appreciate the input on this. I think [City Clerk Penny Overstreet] doesn’t have a problem to make it an agenda item on the next board meeting.” (It was not on the May 14 agenda.)
Newsom at that April 30 workshop had made the case for cancelling the events.
“It’s going to be challenging because the 4th of July typically is a $25,000 tab, and I and I’m going to give you my opinion, take it or leave it,” Newsom said. “My opinion is is that we take the Fourth of July this year, We may do something in the park small, but all the hoopla with the 4th of July, and that’s the parade, that’s the fireworks, my opinion is we just we just play it for next year when we’re back on our feet as a country, as a state and as a city.”
He said the $25,000 expense, usually subsidized by the Tourist Development Council, “they don’t have it,” nor could the city secure the usually free buses from the mainland’s parking lots to the island. “At the end of the day just for this year, maybe we just tone it down, have a couple of games out in the park and just keep it very simple. We can talk about next year once we get through this year.”
Commissioner Eric Cooley seconded the approach. “We don’t know where our capacities will be,” he said, referring to allowable indoor capacities at restaurants and retail businesses. Currently, the allowable customer capacity is at 50 percent, and state orders still require that public gatherings be limited to groups of 10 or fewer.
“It doesn’t do you any good to have 4th of July, over 50,000 people downtown, if our restaurants are only at 50 percent capacity,” Cooley said. “There is no way you can social distance on the 4th of July. You can’t do it in a parade, you can’t do it in the evening, it’s just not going to happen. We don’t know where this thing is going to be. I think having a nice beach day where everybody can spread out in the sand, and after the beach day they can get the sunshine and they can enjoy their own celebration in their own way, I think that’s a very safe and smart way to go, because to bring crowds in where we don’t know where capacities are going to be, and the ability to even be able to social distance: it’s far too risky.”
There are grim precedents in the way a virus can spread uncontrollably at parades, the most infamous being Philadelphia’s so-called Liberty Loan Drive parade in late September 2018, intended to build support for American soldiers in World War I. Wilmer Krusen, the city’s public health director, had been under intense pressure to cancel the parade as the influenza epidemic had been claiming casualties in other cities. Philadelphia had not been spared (its hospitals had admitted 200 people with influenza symptoms the day before the parade) but was suffering much less than other communities. Krusen gave the go-ahead.
The parade drew 200,000 people and stretched over two miles. Just two days later, Krusen issued a statement: “The epidemic is now present in the civilian population and is assuming the type found in naval stations and cantonments.” Three days after the parade, 117 people dies of the epidemic in Philadelphia. “That number would double, triple, quadruple, quintuple, sextuple,” John Barry wrote in “The Great Influenza,” his 2004 book. “Soon the daily death toll from influenza alone would exceed the city’s average weekly death toll from all causes—all illnesses, all accidents, all criminal acts combined.” (The book influenced George W. Bush and the development of social distancing protocols currently in effect.)
“If we if we take the 4th to July and we bring it out here and we get a big spike in this virus, then what we’ve done is we’ve hurt everything we’ve done to this point in time,” Newsom said at the workshop.
Flagler Beach Mayor Linda Provencher, a champion of the events, had been having conversations about them with Amy Lukasik, the county’s tourism director, and Holland. “Because there’s no bed taxes right now, that $45,000 that they give to us and Palm Coast for the fire works would be a nice chunk to take out of their budget,” Provencher said. The county’s $2 million tourism revenue is drawn from the sales surtax on hotels, motels and short-term rentals. “We have tossed around a couple of ideas that could possibly help the businesses and possibly the residents but without overwhelming our beaches by bringing people here for fireworks. So I agree with Eric. We don’t know where we’re going to be at in two months, and I can’t imagine inviting 50,000 people to our beach when we don’t know what’s going to happen, because the worst thing that could happen is we spike and all a sudden to shut everything back down and start from square one. There are some discussions going on, some ideas, we’ll be happy to share those when it’s time for some action. But Palm Coast isn’t going to be having fireworks either at this point.”
“When you don’t know what you’re planning for, how can you plan for it?” Commissioner Rick Belhumeur said. “And of course the money is a big thing too.” Commissioners Ken Bryan and Deborah Phillips also agreed.
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John A. Staub Jr. says
We can not celebrate freedom because we are not free.
Fake flu. Not serious at all. Just like all the others. Wake up and open up. Being completely safe means never… god bless the usa!
I am not afraid to say it or sign my name.
True Story.
Linda H. says
Mr. Stain, I could not agree with you more. They are not even going to allow anybody to place flags in the National Cemeteries to honor our dead.
You don’t celebrate Independence Day when you are no longer free. Many cities are now releasing felons from the prisons, and arresting the hairdressers.
FlaglerLive says
Flagler Beach’s city manager specifically spoke of honoring veterans with flags all over the city, and there are no state or local prohibitions on honoring the dead in local cemeteries in keeping with past practices.
Name (required) says
But everyone will still flock to the beaches in heavy droves for Memorial Day, right?!? Makes sense! Not every situation on earth can have A covid free solution. But someone (whom I can’t remember name to credit) said “it’s like having a designated pissing area in a public swimming pool.” …. Doing THIS but NOT THAT! , is redundant. And silly.
Name (required) says
Who is “they” exactly? Not sure I follow.
Jose Vasquez says
We have more dead in just three months then the Vietnam War, two Iraq Wars, the Afghanistan War and the 9/11 attacks COMBINED! But of course, its just a “fake flu” that is not serious even though it has strained the country’s healthcare system to the limit with thousands of frontline healthcare workers falling sick and even dyeing. We “only” have 1.4 million infected in addition to those that have died over this “fake flu” and the United States which was always on top of whatever endeavor it undertook and is now the worst country on the planet in terms of how poorly prepared and how poorly it has handled its response to this pandemic. Only unenlightened people can ignore the carnage being raged across this country and the impact on so many lives only to complain about their personal “freedoms” which have been curtailed for safety concerns. How far we have sunk under the tutelage of an incompetent Administration.
Mike Cocchiola says
John… America has 1.5 million cases of coronavirus. We have 92,000 dead with projections as high as 143,000. And that’s if we take precautions. “Fake Flu”… I think not.
Brian says
Well that kinda sucks.
tulip says
As disappointing this cancellation is to a lot of people, I think it’s the right thing to do. However, If cities and beaches to the north and south of us don’t cancel their festivities, Flagler Beach Palm Coast, and Bunnell residents will go North or South to celebrate and THEN some will come back infected with Covid and spread it around and we start all over again. Any chance of Volusia County , St John’s county and Flagler County forming some kind of coalition not to have fireworks and parades?
Gary Woloszyn says
Well, that sucks! Fortunately I decided to take my annual two week vacation to Flagler Beach this weekend and support the local restaurants. I understand Mayor Linda’s position with very little money coming in to pay for it.
See you at The Golden Lion, Anchor, Funky Pelican’s, Finnegan’s, Johnny D’s or Snack Jacks!
Gary
Mike says
No doubt that Mullins windbag will chime in on his FB page. The idiocy-laced comments will flourish.
WhackAMole says
Great, as if people already didn’t set off enough fireworks of their own for days in a row. Aerials going off near my house. Things exploding until almost midnight. Now they will go crazy and with it being so dry, if we don’t get some major rain soon, Palm Coast will have a different sort of fireworks to deal with.
Nancy says
AMAZING !! This is the most patriotic article i have read in awhile! Good on Flagler officials, they did the right thing. Nothing is more American than coming together as a country to fight this pandemic together!
As Americans, this year we will celebrate our freedom from this virius as we stay isolated and do our part. GOD BLESS AMERICA!
charley says
government control and socialisim is here. america the free is no longer free
we will become taken over sooner than we think.
FlaglerFlyer says
I will be actively supporting any candidates running against the current city commissioners. I hope the new commission will remove chief Doughney. I cannot believe what a failure in government leadership we have all across Flagler County! (who am i kidding, some things never change).
30 year local says
Locals only that weekend would be a nice change
Tator Chip says
You can bet there will be a lot of FIREWORKS going off EVERWHERE NOW…Including firearms……..
GOD BLESS AMERICA
CB from PC says
Truth is. the law-abiding citizens who love the United States, flaws and all, based on the vision of Jefferson, Adams, Washington, etc., will continue to celebrate Independence Day. This, in spite of politicians who condone illegal immigration, no bail for criminals, and a slew of economic policies which undermine American workers and interests. And to that, an early salute to that Star Spangled Banner, and may it ever yet wave.
Keith Sullivan says
It’s time for mr. Newsom to find another place to work
Sherry says
To those that make light of this horrific and tragic pandemic. . . please have the human decency to consider for one moment the family and loved ones mourning the deaths of over 91,000 human souls in the US alone. Some comments here are nothing short of appalling and despicable!!!
Sherry says
Floridians we are being lied to by our state government, and the people who are trying to report accurate data are being removed from their jobs:
The head of the Florida public information portal that lists the number of coronavirus casualties and cases claims she was ousted from the project for refusing to censor the dismal data.
Rebekah Jones said the responsibility for updating the COVID-19 Data and Surveillance Dashboard was taken from her office on May 5 and, in an email first obtained by the newspaper Florida Today, she questioned the state Department of Health’s pledge to maintain “accessibility and transparency.”
“As a word of caution, I would not expect the new team to continue the same level of accessibility and transparency that I made central to the process during the first two months,” Jones wrote. “After all, my commitment to both is largely (arguably entirely) the reason I am no longer managing it.”
In an email to a Florida TV station, CBS12 News, Jones said her exit was “not voluntary” and that she was ousted after she refused to “manually change date to drum up support for the plan to reopen.”
Jones was referring to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ plan to gradually reopen the state, some sectors of which were locked down to prevent the spread of a virus that as of Tuesday had claimed more than 2,000 lives in Florida.
In particular, Jones reportedly balked at removing data that showed Florida residents reported coronavirus symptoms before cases were officially announced, according to internal emails obtained by The Tampa Bay Times.
Keith says
(Sherry says ))Rebecca Jones the very next day recanted her statement . You democrats seem to be always flying off at the handle with half-truths lies and innuendo
Proud American says
Ridiculous that we can’t celebrate with outdoor activities. All this means isn’t a lot of people doing their own fireworks and lord only knows what damage that will do.
ITs a sad day for all Americans, the fear mongers are winning.
Whathehck? says
Mr Staub and Ms. H. why don’t you offer $25.000 each to both Flagler Beach and Palm Coast to prove your patriotism. Put your money where your mouth is.
So far 92,258 fake deaths and 1,558,631 fake flu cases. Fake news indeed.
Honest Truth says
This is a time to be grateful for what we have especially our health. Everyone should still honor the 4th of July and our independence go to the dollar stores or anywhere and buy yourself and American flag and place it on your property or hang it from your window.
We don’t need fireworks to celebrate July 4th, place a flag in your yard.
Veteran says
Great News! I know several veterans that fought for this country that have p.t.s.d. , they will be extremely happy not having to deal with the stress that comes with exploding fire works. This causes very bad episodes in many veterans , so if you want to celebrate your independence and the men and women who fought so you can have it, then STOP with the fireworks ,it is direspectful to the veterans with p.t.s.d.
Whathehck? says
Unfortunately selfish airheads will be sending fireworks from their yards or the beach with no regards to our many Veterans with PTSD. Their pleasure is more important that respecting the men and women who risked their life and limbs for us. The 4th of July has become nothing but an occasion to get together, drink beer and eat.
Show your real patriotism and get out of bed early to attend one of 3 ceremonies held twice a year in Flagler County to honor our service men and women. No politics, just respect, united we stand.
I agree with all of Sherry’s point.
LawAbidingCitizen says
Although I agree with the cancellation of the festivities, I will also add that FCSO and Flagler Beach PD better have every cop and deputy working that day and night as people are going to celebrate it themselves at their homes and on their streets. you’re going to see a lot more personal firework displays then every before. with that being said, more drinking and accidents happening throughout the county is inevitable. the cops/deputies working that night are going to definitely work for their money that day/night.
wouldn’t be surprised if the next step is prohibiting private parties and/or stopping of personal fireworks displays
Sherry says
Other ways to celebrate our wonderful country:
1. Wear a mask to protect your neighbors
2. Practice random acts of kindness
3. Teach your children to be honest, ethical and loyal
4. Call your loved ones and make them feel it
5. Reach out to someone you’ve forgotten
6. Advocate for justice
7. Contribute to a charity/food drive
Many, many, many ways to celebrate!