Thursday Briefing: Talent Show Night at the Auditorium, Varn Park Reopens, Social Media Day Proclaimed

Today’s weather: partly cloudy, high 83, low 71. Details here.
Today’s fire danger is Low. Flagler County’s Drought Index is at 525
The weather in Krasnoyarsk, Russia: high 66, low 42. Details.
The OED’s Word of the Day: obtund, v.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

• In Flagler and Palm Coast
• Local News Recap
• In Court
• In State Government
• Beyond
• PR Releases
• Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
• Local Road and Interstate Construction
• Missing Pets
• In the Press
• In Coming Days in Flagler and Palm Coast
• Blood Donations Needed
• Cultural Coda

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated.

Today is an early dismissal day and the last day of school for all students in Flagler County public schools.

Spotlight on Flagler Youth Variety and Talent Show, 7 p.m. at the Flagler Auditorium., sponsored by the Flagler County Youth Center. All proceeds from this year’s show will be donated to the George Washington Carver Foundation. Flagler County’s Youth Entertainer of the Year will be crowned in the Senior Division, 9th -12th Grade, Junior Division 6th -8th Grade, and Elementary Division for K-5th grades. Show tickets are available at the door and on sale at the Flagler Auditorium Box Office, $6 per person. Call Cheryl Massaro, Director Flagler County Youth Center, for additional information, at 386/437-7540 extension 5101.

Closure note: Matanzas Parkway Bridge at I-95 will close on June 5 at 7 p.m. for the I-95 interchange project and will remain closed until Aug. 9. Detour will be via Old Kings Road. Details here.

Local News Recap:

Flagler Schools Will Settle Civil Rights Lawsuit And Appoint Disciplinary Oversight Council: The Flagler County School Board has reached a settlement in a three-year civil rights lawsuit that charged the district with unfair disciplinary practices toward black students and a regime of excessive suspensions or expulsions. At the heart of the agreement is a new mission for an existing committee, called the Coalition for Student Success. That committee will be turned into something similar to a civilian review board that operates as a watchdog of some police agencies.

The Flagler County school district Tuesday afternoon recognized some 70 retiring faculty and service employees in a brief reception. “You’ve touched future generations, and you may not see or know what the outcome of that will be for many years to come and how that will impact their families,” Board Member Colleen Conklin told the teachers, in a report by the Observer’s Jonathan Simmons. “I know for me as a past teacher, finding those stories from students you’ve had tin the past, hearing from them, will just make a world of difference in your own lives. … Thank you for what you’ve done for our community and for our district.” Among iconic figures on the retirement list: Shelly Kleinfelder–always called Mrs. Kleinfelder–who’d been the receptionist at Flagler Palm Coast High School for decades, and Monica Campana, who made Indian Trails Middle School’s media centers one of the more interesting school libraries around.

The Florida Senate overwhelmingly voted Wednesday to approve the latest version of its plan to use federal Medicaid expansion funds to help lower-income Floridians purchase private health insurance. Despite the 33-3 vote in favor of the bill (SB 2-A), which would create the Florida Health Insurance Affordability Exchange, or FHIX, program, the odds of the measure becoming law still seem incredibly long. Gov. Rick Scott and House Republican leaders staunchly oppose the legislation, which helped grind budget negotiations to a halt earlier this year and spark a special session currently underway.

Sea Ray Boats’s 650 employees were honored for an exemplary safety record and awarded $10,000, which they immediately donated to a hospice company. Brunswick Corp. CEO Dustan McCoy told a gathering of employees that the safety record played a large part in the company’s decision to bet on the Flagler Beach plantr, keep it open and adapt it to new production capacities as other plants closed and merged.

Trial set for St. Augustine man accused of causing the death of a K-9: “Brandon Allison, 29, appeared before Judge Michael Traynor in a St. Johns County courtroom Wednesday on charges of resisting an officer without violence and causing the death of a police dog,” the St. Augustine Record reports. “When deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Twin Aspen Circle in the early hours of Oct. 7, 2014, Allison, who had a warrant for his arrest on a charge of sale of cocaine, fled into the woods. … A short time later, a deputy heard Baron engage with a man. But when she caught up to him, she found the dog unresponsive in a shallow pool of water and the man gone.” (paywall-protected)

Palm Coast’s Reilly Opelka continued his stunning run at the French Open Juniors tennis tournament in Paris, beating No.1-ranked junior Orlando Luz of Brazil 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 to advance to the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam for the first time ever. That was on Wednesday. Today, however, Opelka lost in two sets to his friend and fellow top American Michael Mmoh.

In Court:

Circuit Judge J. David Walsh holds drug court at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 401 and starting at 1:30 p.m., holds probation violation and bond hearings. Circuit Judge Michael Orfinger holds foreclosure hearings at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and injunction hearings at 5 p.m., Courtroom 402. County Judge Melissa Moore Stens is in various hearings most of the day, Courtroom 404.

The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in three cases, including death-penalty cases from Duval and Miami-Dade counties. The Duval County case involves Thomas Bevel, who was convicted of fatally shooting a father and son in 2004, while the Miami-Dade case involves Tavares Calloway, who was convicted of fatally shooting five people in 1997. (9 a.m., Florida Channel)

The Florida Supreme Court releases opinions at 11 a.m.

In State Government:

Note: Most proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel.

The House and Senate are expected to hold a floor session at 10 a.m.

A health panel created by Gov. Rick Scott to dig into hospital funding will hold its third meeting. Scott formed the Commission on Healthcare and Hospital Funding as lawmakers grapple with issues such as a proposed expansion of health coverage for hundreds of thousands of uninsured Floridians and questions about funding for the Low Income Pool health program. (8 a.m.)

–Compiled by the News Service of Florida

Beyond:

French Open: No. 7 seed Ana Ivanovic vs. No. 13 seed Lucie Safarova (9 a.m. ESPN2); top seed Serena Williams vs. 23 seed Timea Bacsinszky (11 a.m., NBC).

Daily presidential-run announcements: today’s turn goes to Rick Perry, the former governor of Texas whose 2012 bid for the presidency was memorable for the wrong reasons. See below.

PR Releases:

Palm Coast officially proclaims June 30th Social Media Day: Lisa Ekinci of Office Divvy, and Cindy Dalecki of Marketing2Go received the proclamation on behalf of the socially savvy residents and business owners in Palm Coast; and said a few words. “Social Media is the gateway for Palm Coast and Flagler County to rest of the United States and the World,” said Dalecki. Monica Lao, a junior Digital Associate at Office Divvy who spearheaded the effort for the proclamation, was also present at the event. Lao started with Office Divvy when she was 16 as an unpaid intern, became a stipend-based intern, then a paid intern, now she’s a Junior Associate working on special projects (like the Social Teller) and managing the rest of the interns at Office Divvy. Lao is an exemplary young individual from our community with a bright future, who embraces Social Media. “With this proclamation and the event on June 30th, we are putting our red dot on the map for Palm Coast and Flagler County; and creating a differentiator for our community as a socially savvy community in Florida, in these United States and in the World,” Ekinci said. Hashtag for the local event is #SMDayPC and hashtag for the worldwide event is #SMDay2015 Event will be celebrated at COWORK by Office Divvy on Tuesday, June 30, at 6:30 p.m. RSVP are required at: http://EntrepreneurNight.com/smdaypc/

Varn Park reopens, construction complete: The red, teal and goldenrod sculptural restroom facility at Varn Park invites passersby to come see the new improvements just completed. “This has been a fun project,” said Travis Terpstra, Flagler County administrator for this project. “It’s not very often you get to do something truly unique like this.” The bathroom is an abstract stingray with glass brick insets in the brightly painted concrete walls bathing the interior with warm light. Outdoor showers will allow beach goers to leave the sand at the park. The 8-acre park has been closed since mid-December while renovations have been in the works. The parking lot has been expanded from 42 regular parking spots to 106 spots, including four that are ADA-compliant. A current dune walkover was refurbished, and a second new dune walkover was built at the north end of the parking lot. Both have ADA ramps and stairs. Ramps have also been built to connect the parking lot to the existing sidewalk along State Road A1A. “The new bathroom is stunning,” County Administrator Craig Coffey said. The new bathroom is more environmentally friendly with the removal of a septic system and connection to a central wastewater collection system. The cost for the project was $549,420 of which 80 percent of the cost will be reimbursed from federal grant dollars issued through the Florida Department of Transportation. Local funds and in-kind services will cover the remaining 20 percent, or $105,000. A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. on June 22. “By then we will have landscaping and finishing touches complete,” County Engineer Faith Alkhatib said. “This is a beautiful park for our residents and visitors. It will provide enjoyment for years to come.”

Registration opens for 2015 Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches Senior Games: Active older adults can now sign up for the second annual Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches Senior Games – offering competition in 14 sports. The Senior Games, presented by Florida Hospital Flagler Health Partners, Orthopedic & Sports Medicine, will be held Sept. 12 to 19. The Seniors Games are open to men and women ages 50 and up. Registration is $15 and includes a T-shirt and participation in one sports event; participation in each additional sports event is $5. Competition is offered in eight different age categories. “The tradition of the Senior Games is to offer fun, fellowship, fitness and competition, and that is a perfect match for Palm Coast and our surrounding community with our area’s emphasis on active lifestyle and recreation,” said Palm Coast Director of Parks & Recreation Luanne Santangelo. “Please join us in making our second annual Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches Senior Games even bigger and better than last year’s.” To register, visit www.palmcoastgov.com/seniorgames for the registration form. Mail the form with payment to Palm Coast Parks & Recreation, attn.: Senior Games Coordinator Ginger Parnell, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE, Palm Coast, FL 32137. Or drop it off Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE, or email it to [email protected]. Checks should be payable to: City of Palm Coast. Eleven of the 14 sports being offered in the local Senior Games this year are sanctioned by the Florida Sports Foundation, with the Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches Senior Games serving as a qualifier for the Florida Senior Games State Championships.

This year’s Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches Senior Games sanctioned events are:
· Archery: Sept. 19; at Indian Trails Middle School fields, 5505 Belle Terre Pkwy., Palm Coast
· 5K Road Race: Sept. 12; at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE, Palm Coast
· Basketball: Date to be announced; at Flagler Palm Coast High School 5500 E. State Road 100, Palm Coast
· Horseshoes: Sept. 16; at Old Dixie Community Park on North Old Dixie Highway, Bunnell
· Softball: Sept. 12-19; at Flagler County Ball Fields, 2298 Sawgrass Road, Bunnell
· Pickleball: Sept. 17; at Belle Terre Park Tennis Center, 339 Parkview Drive, Palm Coast
· Tennis: Sept. 14-15; at Palm Coast Tennis Center, 1290 Belle Terre Pkwy., Palm Coast
· Table Tennis: Date to be announced; at Flagler Palm Coast High School, 5500 E. State Road 100, Palm Coast
· Indoor Volleyball: Date to be announced; at Flagler Palm Coast High School, 5500 E. State Road 100, Palm Coast
· Golf: Sept. 16; at Palm Harbor Golf Club, at 20 Palm Harbor Drive, Palm Coast
· Cycling: Sept. 13; at Wadsworth Park, 101-145 Connecticut Ave., Flagler Beach

Additional, non-sanctioned events in the competition include:
· Ballroom Dancing: Sept. 13; at Matanzas High School Pirate Theater, 3535 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast (Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Swing, Rumba and Cha Cha)
· Powerlifting (Ages 18+): Sept. 12; at Matanzas High School Field House, 3535 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast
· Golf Croquet: Sept. 12; at Ralph Carter Park, 1385 Rymfire Drive, Palm Coast

For more information, visit www.palmcoastgov.com/seniorgames or call Palm Coast Parks & Recreation at 386-986-2323.

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports:

The following is an update of ongoing construction and development projects in Palm Coast, through May 29:

Island Walk Shopping Center (Former Palm Harbor Shopping Center), 80 percent done: A 3rd Grease Interceptor has been installed behind the new buildings on the west end of the project. Three sewer wyes have been installed to serve the Grease Interceptors.

Palm Coast Parkway Six-Laning is 76 percent done: Widening on the north side of the parkway continues. Landscape irrigation work continues. Fence installation on north side of bridge is complete. Fire hydrant at Florida Park Drive has been relocated. Hydrants installed at Palm Coast
Parkway on water main heading North and East. Contractor continues with dig locates in areas of tie in points for the new 12″ and 16″ water mains.

Royal Palms Parkway Improvements, 96 percent done: Finished remainder of paving. Grading for sod at roadway edge. Sodding at Rickenbacker and seeding on south side of Royal Palms.

Holland Park, 18 percent done: Demolition of remainder of park roadway.

Palm Coast City Hall at Town Center, 47 percent done: Installation of drywall of interior walls has begun. Mechanical duct work installation and electrical conduit rough-in and fire sprinkler piping continues. Installation of exterior windows and exterior wall trim has begun. See ongoing images of construction here.

Shops at Pine Lakes Convenience Store, 65 percent done: The package Pump Station has been set and plumbing continues. Contractor has installed the Force main into the existing manhole on Wynnfield Drive. The road lane closure for the manhole core to install the force main was completed
and the road has been repaired.

Missing Pets:

Harley is a 75-pound dog who broke away from its owner at Linear Park on Thursday, May 28, at 10:15 a.m. and ran down Sabal Trail, with owner calling and running after him. “He exited out the other end where the two joggers that had stopped to admire him (which caused the bolting) had tried to cut him off but he was too fast. He went left towards the Jehovah Witness complex and was gone,” Harley’s owner says. At 11:30 a woman driving along Palm Coast Parkway Westbound almost hit him and blew her horn to warn cars. He still had the retractable blue leash on him at that time and was heading toward the fairways condos and the palm harbor golf course. On Monday, a resident who was at Lowe’s reports spotting a dog matching Harley’s colors around 7 p.m. Harley is timid with strangers, not a barker. He is due for his flea meds and heartgard within the next two days.

In the Press, In the News:

Inequality Troubles Americans Across Party Lines, Times/CBS Poll Finds: Americans are broadly concerned about inequality of wealth and income despite an economy that has improved by most measures, a sentiment that is already driving the 2016 presidential contest, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll. The poll found that a strong majority say that wealth should be more evenly divided and that it is a problem that should be addressed urgently. Nearly six in 10 Americans said government should do more to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, but they split sharply along partisan lines. Only one-third of Republicans supported a more active government role, versus eight in 10 of Democrats. These findings help explain the populist appeals from politicians of both parties, but particularly Democrats, who are seeking to capitalize on the sense among Americans that the economic recovery is benefiting only a handful at the very top. Far from a strictly partisan issue, inequality looms large in the minds of almost half of Republicans and two-thirds of independents, suggesting that it will outlive the presidential primary contests and become a central theme in next year’s general election campaign. […] The percentage of Americans who say everyone has a fair chance to get ahead in today’s economy has fallen 17 percentage points since early 2014. Six in 10 Americans now say that only a few people at the top have an opportunity to advance. […] Seven in 10 Americans support an increase in the federal minimum wage to $10.10 from $7.25 an hour, although Republicans are about evenly divided on the question. Americans were also skeptical of free trade. Nearly two-thirds favored some form of trade restrictions, and more than half opposed giving the president authority to negotiate trade agreements that Congress could only vote up or down without amending, a White House priority.” From The Times.

Romanticizing ‘Broken Windows’ Policing: Charles Blow writes: “One of the most pernicious and slanderous theories is that protests over police officers’ excessive use of force, or “police bashing” as some prefer to call it, is responsible for the uptick. As the Manhattan Institute’s Heather Mac Donald put it last week in The Wall Street Journal, “The most plausible explanation of the current surge in lawlessness is the intense agitation against American police departments over the past nine months.” Actually, “most plausible” is simply theoretical argumentation and not corollary proof of anything. And, it seems to me that this has the effect, intentional or not, of conflating protests with criminality, of smearing the blood running in the street onto the hands holding the placards, of shifting the burden of law enforcement from those charged with it to those who simply want equity in its application. […] Mac Donald summarized: “Contrary to the claims of the ‘black lives matter’ movement, no government policy in the past quarter century has done more for urban reclamation than proactive policing. Data-driven enforcement, in conjunction with stricter penalties for criminals and ‘broken windows’ policing, has saved thousands of black lives, brought lawful commerce and jobs to once drug-infested neighborhoods and allowed millions to go about their daily lives without fear.” Watch carefully the rhetorical sleight of hand here. “Urban reclamation.” From whom for whom? “Proactive policing.” Some are dragnet policies that swept up hundreds of thousands of black and brown men in stop-and-frisk, although nine out of 10 had committed no crime. “Saved thousands of black lives.” This assumed that the drop in the murder rates from the 1990s and before was entirely attributable to policing and not also to cultural shifts, like the end of the crack epidemic. “Allowed millions to go about their daily lives without fear.” This depends in large part on the darkness of your skin and the economics of your community.” From The Times.

A federal judge this week agreed to allow the League of Women Voters of Florida, Florida Legal Services and Florida CHAIN to file a brief supporting the Obama administration in a lawsuit filed by Gov. Rick Scott about major health-care issues. Chief U.S. District Judge M. Casey Rodgers issued an order Tuesday granting the groups’ joint request to file the brief. Scott’s lawsuit has sought to prevent federal officials from linking an extension of the Low Income Pool, or LIP, health-funding program to a potential expansion of Medicaid. Scott also has sought a preliminary injunction in the case. The three groups said in their joint request that the brief would apply to Scott’s motion for a preliminary injunction. In the request, the groups said they are “consumer, educational, and legal services organizations whose members, constituents, and clients are directly affected by the Florida Medicaid program.” The federal government filed documents Monday blasting Scott’s arguments in the case, describing the arguments as “baseless.” From the News Service of Florida.

Road and Interstate Construction:

Palm Coast:

Matanzas Woods Parkway closes Friday at 7 p.m. for two months: Matanzas Woods Parkway will close Friday for two months as construction of the Interstate 95 interchange begins. The portion of Matanzas Woods Parkway that spans I-95 will be reconstructed to accommodate four single-lane ramps for on and off access to the interstate. Other improvements include the widening of the interstate to accommodate new acceleration and deceleration lanes, wet detention ponds adjacent to the roadway, sidewalks, lighting, overhead signs and landscaping. Project details are available and regularly updated at http://www.matanzas95interchange.com. The detour map is available here.

Lane closure planned for Palm Coast Parkway Rescheduled to June 8-12: Due to equipment issues, the lane closures along Palm Coast Parkway and Boulder Rock Drive have been re-scheduled for 8 p.m. Monday, June 8, to 7 a.m. Friday, June 12. The northbound thru lane on Boulder Rock Drive from Palm Coast Parkway will be closed and traffic will be shifted into the southbound lane of Boulder Rock Drive. Additionally there will be only one left turn lane open from Palm Coast Parkway eastbound onto Boulder Rock Drive. A uniformed law enforcement officer will be on-site to direct traffic into the southbound lane on to Boulder Rock Drive. The existing two left turn lanes from Boulder Rock Drive will modified to allow one thru lane and one left turn lane. Motorists are encouraged to watch for flaggers and work zone signs. The lane closure is required in order for the contractor to install a water main across Boulder Rock Drive.

Palm Coast Parkway between Cypress Point Parkway and Florida Park Drive. IMPACTS: Lane shifts and closures will occur and this may cause traffic congestion on this already busy roadway. Most construction work will occur between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. though weather and unforeseen issues may adjust the schedules. This project will be complete by December 2015.”

Volusia: I-4 Widening from SR 44 to east of I-95, Monday and Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Eastbound/Westbound shoulder closing. Sunday through Thursday, Eastbound and Westbound lane closures as needed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thursday, 9:00 p.m. – 5:30 a.m. EB road closure between Canal St./SR 44 and I-95 with detour at US 92 exit ramp.Motorists should be aware of traffic shifts near Canal St./SR 44.

Palm Coast Parkway Project Website

Florida Department of Transportation Road Project List

County Road 304 Project Map and Description

In Coming Days:

The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Starbucks is hosting “Coffee with a Cop” Friday, June 5 from 9:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. at Starbucks located at 216 Palm Coast Parkway NE, Palm Coast. Coffee with a Cop offers the public the opportunity to openly talk with Sheriff Jim Manfre and members of the Sheriff’s Office in a relaxed and neutral environment. This program allows citizens to sit down, one-on-one with Manfre and discuss law enforcement concerns they find important while enjoying their favorite cup of coffee. “I wanted to give the public the opportunity to get to know me and my employees that serve the community where they live. It will give us a chance to become acquainted with one another while discussing law enforcement issues,” Manfre said. Coffee with a Cop provides “distraction free” time with Sheriff Manfre and his employees without pending radio calls or cellular phone interruptions. For questions or additional information, please contact Deputy Paula Priester at [email protected] or call 386-586-4813.

For the Poor, Access Flagler First: The overarching message coming from the many social services agencies that participate in Access Flagler First is that there is help available for those who need it. ElderSource brings a motor home for the every-other-month event, which is held at Cattlemen’s Hall at the Fairgrounds, to provide individual counseling. SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) volunteers provide the “crown jewel” of services offered – advice about all of the insurance options for those who are turning 65. “There is help out there,” said volunteer Vivian Rowe. “We also help people do thing like apply for assistance if they need it. We are willing to do the secretarial work. We don’t make the decisions and we think that everyone who needs help should apply.” Access Flagler First was started four years ago by Janet Nickels, program manager for Flagler County Human Services, and Pastor Charles Silano, of Grace Tabernacle Ministries. About 40 social services agencies have agreed to provide information and assistance. “That says something about all of the social services agencies here in Flagler County,” Nickels said. “There is a need here and they have committed to do this.” TRAIL, which stands for Transitioning youth with disabilities into Real vocational opportunities through Action planning and Individual Learning, was given the spotlight in April. TRAIL is part of the Flagler County School District and serves 18- through 21-year-olds with disabilities who are looking for employment. Nutritious food and “gently used” clothing is given out at each Access Flagler First. “We provide food for about 350 families,” Silano said in April. “This time we had dry goods for them, a whole frozen chicken, bread and fresh vegetables.” The next event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. on Friday, June 5. For more information and to access a full list of participants, visit the website.

June 10: The Elks Lodge of Palm Coast will be hosting the bicycle riders of the “Brotherhood Ride” as they complete the 6th leg of their nine-day bicycle ride across Florida. This year The Brotherhood Riders will be riding in honor of 10 Fallen Florida First Responders (Police, Fire, EMS). The ride is held each year to raise awareness and to support the families of these heroes. The Palm Coast Elks will be providing sleeping quarters and meals for the 40-some riders, all of whom are active or retired police and fire fighters. The Elks along with other local organization and local political leaders will be present to welcome the rider on Wednesday, June 10th, 2015 at 4:30 pm. For further information please contact Palm Coast Elks at [email protected] or Brotherhood Ride at http://www.brotherhoodride.com/

June 14: Flagler County Democrats Honor George Hanns: Join us on Flag Day from 2 to 5 p.m. at Hijackers Restaurant to recognize the 25 years of service Flagler County Commissioner George Hanns has provided to Flagler County. Children are welcome to come and play in the sand box. There’s no cover, but you have to pay for your food and drink. Hijackers is at 202 Airport Road at the Flagler County Airport.

“The Art of Selling”, a business seminar, will be offered by the Palm Coast Business Assistance Center from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, June 17. Registration is now under way. The seminar will be held at City of Palm Coast offices, 160 Cypress Point Pkwy., Suite B106. A $10 early-bird, reduced registration fee is available now through May 31. From June 1 to 17, the registration cost is $15. For enrollment information, contact the Palm Coast BAC at 386-986-2499 or log onto www.PalmCoastBAC.com. Seminar Topics will include: The 7 steps of the sales process, how to improve the odds of making quota, preparation approach and discovery, and so on. The seminar will be taught by Ray Peter, Area Manager of the Florida Small Business Development Center. The Palm Coast BAC is a partnership between the City and the SBDC hosted by the University of Central Florida.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Flagler County Children Through Seamless Summer Freeding:  The Flagler County Schools, Food & Nutrition Services Department is please to announce that free breakfast and lunch meals will be made available at no charge to all children in the community who are 18 years of age and under. Free meals will be available at the following sites from June 8th – August 14th and closed on July 3rd. Closed site means it’s just for children who are attending camp through the school location. An open site means anyone can come in and have a meal. Menus available online at FlaglerSchools.Nutrislice.com.

Bunnell Elementary – Closed Site: 800 East Howe Street Bunnell, Breakfast from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Lunch from  11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. 
Imagine School – Open Site:  775 Town Center Blvd Palm Coast,  Breakfast from 9 to 9:30 a.m., lunch 12:30 p.m. 
Versie Lee Mitchell Community Center – Open Site: 405 E Drain Street,  Bunnell, Breakfast, 8:45 a.m. to 9:15 a.m., Lunch, 12:30 p.m.
Wadsworth Elementary School – Open Site: 4550 Belle Terre Parkway Palm Coast, Breakfast, 8 a.m to 9:45 a.m. , Lunch, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Reverse Church – Open Site: 4601 East Moody Blvd. Bunnell, Breakfast, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information call or email Amy Holstein, Food Service S Specialist for Flagler County Schools, 386-437-7526 x1305 or by email, [email protected]

June 24, Veterans Pancake Breakfast: Meet with fellow Veterans and chat over breakfast, Wednesday, June 24, from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Princeton Village, 100 Magnolia Trace Way, Palm Coast. To confirm your attendance or for more information call Laura Zublionis 386-206-9730

Blood Donations Needed

Blood donations are urgently needed. Patients in our local hospitals are in need of blood transfusions, and the need for blood does not take a holiday. That’s why OneBlood is asking people to donate immediately.

Big Red Bus schedule in Flagler-Palm Coast:

None provided so far this month.

Cultural Coda:

Charles-Valentin Alkan, Wikipedia tells us, “was a French composer and pianist. At the height of his fame in the 1830s and 1840s he was, alongside his friends and colleagues Frédéric Chopin and Franz Liszt, among the leading virtuoso pianists in Paris, a city in which he spent virtually his entire life.” Here’s Marc-André Hamelin playing the 1st movement from Alkan’s “Concerto for Solo Piano.” The second movement is here, the third is here.