Today: high in low 90s, low in mid-70s. Details here.
Today’s fire danger is moderate. Flagler County’s Drought Index is at 419.
The weather in Skagen, Denmark: high 68, low 55. Details.
Today’s document from the National Archives.
The OED’s Word of the Day: overner, n..
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
- In the Press, In the News
- Today’s Mass Shooting(s)
- Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
- Local Road and Interstate Construction
- In Coming Days in Flagler and Palm Coast
- Comment of the Day (From the Comment Section)
- Cultural Coda
Note: all government meetings noticed below are free and open to the public unless otherwise indicated. Many can be heard or seen live through each agency’s website.
Friday: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio’s staff holds “mobile office hours” in Flagler County, from 1 to 3 p.m., at the county fairgrounds, at 1000 Belle Terre Boulevard, and later, at First Friday in Flagler Beach.
First Friday in Flagler Beach, tonight HAS BEEN CANCELLED due to weather.
Friday: “The Magical Color Palette of His Creator,” Art Opening Reception for landscape photographer Kenny Fasnacht, at Ocean Art Gallery in Flagler Beach, 200 South Oceanshore Boulevard, A1A, 6-9 p.m.
Friday: Kevon Re’mon’te, live at Center Stage at European Village, 6 to 9 p.m. The son of the late famous organist, Cornell Muldrow, Kevin Muldrow, who is also known as Kevon Re’Mon’te is the man with the velvet voice. Often times he is said to be the duplication of Nat King Cole. This evening prepare to hear genres such as R&B, Soul, and Jazz. Re’mon’te specializes in dance and soft music that will bring tears to your eyes.
Saturday: The annual Back to School Jam, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Flagler Palm Coast High School Gymnasium. $5 Backpacks & $5 Uniform Shirts, Technology Expo & Learning Stations, Flagler Family Connection Sessions, After School Programs, free haircuts, and more.
Saturday: Flagler County Art League’s Plein Air Art Exhibit, opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m., 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast.
Saturday: The Friends of Washington Oaks hold their second Saturday Plant Sale featuring clearance items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Ranger Joe Woodbury will give a butterfly talk at 11 a.m., teaching visitors how to attract butterflies to their backyards.
Saturday: Justin Gurnsey live at Center Stage, European Village, 6 to 9 p.m. Justin is the lead singer of The Greener Grass Band, based in Rochester, NY.
In Setback for Sea Ray, Flagler Beach Votes 3-2 to Challenge Land Use Change Over Parking lot: Flagler Beach city commissioners were divided. At times they spoke derisively about Sea Ray and the county commission for ignoring the city’s concerns. At times they called it all a done deal that defies further opposition. In the end, they voted 3-2 to take a challenge to the state of a county land use amendment enabling Sea Ray Boats to build a parking lot on 24 acres south of its property off Colbert Lane in Palm Coast.
Matanzas Woods co-owner promises to clean up property: Stephen “Matt” Richardson, co-owner of Golf Group of Palm Coast, which purchased the Matanzas golf course property last fall for more than $266,750, appeared before Palm Coast’s Code Enforcement Board this week and said the golf property is not a golf property anymore, since no one has played golf there in eight years. By not calling it such, he would not be held to the maintenance standards that apply to golf courses. “In the end,” the News-Journal’s Tony Holt reported, “the Code Enforcement Board voted unanimously to uphold city staff’s recommendation to require the property owner to mow the grass and bring it into compliance in 14 days. Richardson, however, was told by the city attorney that the board had no authority to establish a work schedule, but he must eliminate all the weeds and overgrowth on the 277-acre property.” (Story paywall-protected.)
In Latest Round of County-City Water War, Flagler Now Objects to 25% Surcharge From Palm Coast: Commissioners, on Barbara Revels’s motion, voted to delay approving an agreement framing Palm Coast water delivery to the county airport until early September, giving Palm Coast 30 days to come up with different options. The city should “consider a reduction of the 25 percent or an elimination of the 25 percent,” Revels’s motion read, “however they would decide to handle that.”
Flagler’s Irresponsible Gun Owners: 37 Firearms Stolen So Far This Year, Mostly From Unlocked Cars: Since Jan.1, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office stated in a release issued today, 34 firearms were stolen from vehicles in the county. Of those, only seven have been recovered. The value of the guns stolen has been estimated to be more than $16,500.
Flagler Beach Will Seek In-House City Manager Before Putting Out Broader Call: Flagler Beach city commissioners on Thursday gave the go-ahead to give their own staff preference and first crack at the city manager’s job, which Bruce Campbell is leaving in September. A broader search will seek candidates who have experience in small, coastal communities. The job will still pay what it has for the past five years: no more than $90,000.
16-month-old Joseph Garcia of Palm Coast boy expected to be OK after near drowning: The boy was found at the bottom of a backyard pool Tuesday by his 22-year-old mother, Lauren Yacovino. “Yacovino told deputies she was inside her home cleaning and thought the baby was in the living room. She soon noticed the rear sliding door leading to the pool deck was open. That’s when she ran outside and found her son lying on the pool’s floor,” the News-Journal reports. (Story paywall-protected.)
Circuit Judges Judge J. David Walsh holds a 2 p.m. hearing in the case of Michael Lee King, the 32-year-old resident of Hickory Street in Bunnell accused of sending Facebook messages to three teen-age girls—two sisters and their neighbor—age 15, 16 and 18. Docket sounding, the last step before trial, is scheduled for next week. County Judge Melissa Moore-Stens hears pre-trials in 79 cases in Courtroom 404, starting at 9 a.m.
A foreclosure sale is scheduled for 11 a.m. in the civil department lobby of the courthouse.
Note: Most proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel.
Florida starts a 10-day “sales tax holiday,” which will allow back-to-school shoppers to buy clothes, shoes, school supplies and other items without paying sales taxes. The holiday will start at 12:01 a.m. Friday and last through 11:59 p.m. Aug. 16.
The Education Estimating Conference will analyze enrollment in the Florida College System. (9 a.m.).
President Obama starts a two-week vacation on Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
The American Psychological Association votes today on whether to prohibit psychologists from involvement in all national security interrogations, which have involved torture.
Unemployment: The Labor Department releases the July jobs report at 8:30 a.m.
Senior Citizens Day Awards for Outstanding Elders in Flagler County Community: Flagler County will be honoring its outstanding community elders at an awards ceremony. This public event will pay tribute to the elders who have made a difference in the lives of individuals of all ages in Flagler County. The awards ceremony will take place at the Florida Hospital Flagler on Friday, August 21, 2015 from 4 – 6 PM in Education Room D and will honor three outstanding seniors from the county. The awards will go to elders who have made valuable contributions through their vocations and/or their volunteer activities. Florida Hospital Flagler is sponsoring the event and will be providing light refreshments. Limited space at awards ceremony—reservations required. Call 446-1416 with name, phone number, and the number of participants attending. This ceremony was inspired by and loosely modeled after the Santa Fe Living Treasures program, which was founded in 1984: “Peace activist and minister Mary Lou Cook, along with friends, founded the Santa Fe Living Treasures program in 1984. Inspired by Gandhi’s advice, ‘You must be the change you wish to see in the world,’ the group wanted to do something that wasn’t being done—express appreciation for the important contributions of our Elders. Modeled after traditions from Japan, it is a simple concept of honoring those Elders in our communities who make a difference.” Preceding the awards ceremony, the City of Palm Coast and Flagler County will be presenting proclamations to celebrate elders on August 4 at 6:30 PM and on August 17 at 5 PM, respectively, to bring more awareness to the valuable contributions elders have made in their lives through their work and volunteer efforts. The community is invited to participate by attending the proclamation presentations, sending a nomination form by August 10 with the name of their nominee along with a description of what and how the elder has made a difference in Flagler County, and attending the August 21 awards ceremony. From the nomination submissions, three outstanding elders will be chosen to receive an award at the ceremony. For additional information on National Senior Citizens Day and to get a nomination form, please send an e-mail to [email protected].
Donald Trump Steals the Show, Mixing Politics and Pizazz: “Donald J. Trump was outrageous. He was demeaning. He was even somewhat menacing, warning a female moderator that he could turn on her at any moment. When confronted with his tendency to describe the women he dislikes as “fat pigs,” “slobs” or “disgusting animals,” he dismissively replied that neither he nor the United States “have time for political correctness.” After he thoroughly rattled the Republican presidential field and emerged as its singular vexation in the 2016 campaign, the question hovering over Mr. Trump, the developer turned reality TV star turned candidate, was whether he would adopt the measured and diplomatic manner of a plausible president for Thursday night’s debate. Not a chance. From the opening moments of the evening, when he flashed a wry grin and a mischievous victory sign at the boisterous crowd, Mr. Trump remained his irrepressible self: aggrandizing, unapologetic and cutting. […] Over and over, in moments that were as startling as they were comedic, he openly flouted the rules of political decorum — not to mention those of a Republican Party that punishes disloyalty and the slightest flirtation with members of the opposition. […] In his antic performance, Mr. Trump telegraphed that he would stick with a candidacy whose sole selling point is a fiery and uncontrollable personality. And it is unclear that he is capable of, or even interested in, turning the anger that he has stirred into a full-fledged political movement or a set of policy prescriptions that could attract a broader following.” From The Times.
Florida Lottery game proposed for breast-cancer programs: In what would be a change for the Florida Lottery, a state lawmaker Thursday proposed creating a lottery game that would help fund breast-cancer research and services. The state has traditionally used lottery money to bolster spending on education programs. But Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, filed a bill (SB 102) that calls for creating a special instant-lottery game called “Ticket for the Cure,” with proceeds going to breast-cancer research and services. The services would be provided to people who have breast cancer and are low income and uninsured. Research money would go to public or private universities that have medical-research facilities or are associated with such facilities. The bill, which will be considered during the 2016 legislative session, calls for starting the special game on Jan. 1, 2017, and ending it Dec. 31, 2022. News Service of Florida.
New seasonal hurricane forecast a change from May prediction: “The likelihood of a below-average hurricane season is even higher than what forecasters first predicted in May, but whether the sluggish forecast and Florida’s 10-year lull signals a permanent shift in weather patterns is doubtful. An updated storm forecast released Thursday by NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center upped the chances of a quieter than normal 2015 Atlantic hurricane season to 90 percent — the highest confidence level given since seasonal hurricane outlooks were first issued in 1998 and an increase from the previous 70 percent prediction. The new report, which was timed to coincide with the beginning of the more active storm months of August through October, also reduced the number of storms expected this season. Overall, six to 10 named storms are forecast, down from May’s 6 to 11. Of the named storms, one to four will become hurricanes with zero to one gaining Category 3 level strength or higher. An average hurricane season has 12 named storms and three major hurricanes Category 3 or higher.” From the Palm Beach Post.
St. Louis. Total Killed: 1. Total wounded: 4. “The shooting happened on Semple Avenue in the Wells-Goodfellow neighborhood just after 11 o’clock. Police say 21-year-old Dominique Young was killed, and two women and two other men were also hurt. The victims told officers they were standing near the front porch of a home when a four-door sedan drove by and an unknown occupant opened fire.”
From Mass Shooting Tracker. See the full lists for 2015, 2014, 2013.
Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports:
The following is an update of ongoing construction and development projects in Palm Coast, through July 31:
Palm Coast Parkway Six-Laning is 85 percent done: Widening on the north side of the parkway almost complete. Landscape irrigation work continues. Signage installation is complete. Milling and Resurfacing of Roadway has begun. FPL completed installation of light poles and fixtures along the south side of the roadway.
Holland Park, 25 percent done: Installation of new underground sanitary piping and structures. Continuation of installation of new water main.
Palm Coast City Hall at Town Center, 80 percent done: Installation of drywall on interior walls, mechanical duct work
& VAV damper installation, electrical conduit rough-in and fire sprinkler piping are all 98% complete. Painting of interior and exterior walls continues. Floor tile in bathrooms continues. FP&L set meter. Mechanical system being prepped for startup next week. Exterior trellis and clock installed. 2 of the 4 glass entry door systems have been installed.
Colechester Drive Bridge, 30 percent done: Bridge deck is being removed.
County’s I-95 Interchange Matanzas Woods Reclaim Water, 25 percent done: Contractor has installed approximately 1,000 ft. of reclaim water main total installed 5,000 ft. to date.
Palm Harbor Parkway Roadway Extension, 6 percent done: Contractor working on submittals and coordinating utility work with FPL & ATT.
Island Walk Shopping Center Phase 1, 90 percent done: An 8″ insert a valve was installed on the water main behind the north west corner of the old Bealls store to isolated water main and adjust where storm water conflicts with the 8″ water main location.
Shops at Pine Lakes Convenience Store, 90 percent done: The Pump Station panel has been set and is ready for startup testing.
Walmart Addition, project completed.
Old Kings Road Utilities Work, 85 percent done: Pressure testing of new water main has passed.
Old Kings Road Force Main – Master Pump Station, 4 percent done: Contractor clearing crew removing trees from site.
Road and Interstate Construction:
Palm Coast:
Road Closure Note: The northbound lane of S. Old Kings Road from Town Center Boulevard going north approximately 2.5 miles will have a moving lane closure starting Monday, July 27. The lane closure will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and will continue for approximately three weeks. A flagman will direct traffic.
Lane closures to begin July 27 on South Old Kings Road in Palm Coast: The northbound lane of S. Old Kings Road from Town Center Boulevard going north approximately 2.5 miles will have a moving lane closure starting Monday, July 27. The lane closure will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and will continue for approximately three weeks. A flagman will direct traffic. This lane closure is needed to allow a City contractor to clear the right-of-way along the roadway in preparation for an upcoming wastewater system project.
Lane closure planned for Palm Coast Parkway July 26 through August 7: Beginning Sunday, July 26, motorists and other travelers should expect a lane closure along Palm Coast Parkway between Florida Park Drive to just west of Cypress Point Parkway. The lane closure will occur in two phases. From 7 p.m. Sunday, July 26 through 7 a.m. Friday, July 31 one eastbound lane will be closed, and one eastbound lane will remain open. From 7 p.m. Sunday, August 2 through 7 a.m. Friday, August 7 one westbound lane will be closed and one westbound lane will remain open. Motorists are encouraged to watch for flaggers and work zone signs. The lane closures are required in order for the contractor to perform milling and paving operations. Weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances could alter work schedules.
Matanzas Woods Parkway closed: Matanzas Woods Parkway is closed until early August for construction of the Interstate 95 interchange. 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.
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.
Flagler County Road 302 is Closed to all but local traffic as repaving began on June 7 and the roadway will be closed to all but local traffic. Others will be required to detour around County Road 302 using State Road 100. The roadway will be closed for 90 days, or until early September.
Palm Coast’s Colechester Lane bridge to be closed July 7 through Sept. 4: A detour will be established taking travelers over the Colorado Drive bridge instead. Signs will be posted directing motorists to the Colorado Drive bridge. The City of Palm Coast strives for safe construction zones. The City asks for the cooperation and patience of residents as this important bridge improvement project is completed. For more information, contact Palm Coast Customer Service at 386-986-2360.
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
Click on the links for more details:
- Flagler County is now accepting applications for the Fall 2015 Citizens Academy. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 p.m. beginning September 10 for nine weeks. For more information, click this link or go to flaglercounty.org/academy.
- Nominate Your Veteran of the Year: Flagler County government is taking nominations from Aug. 1 through Sept. 30 for the veteran of the year. Nominations must be mailed in to the county. Click here for details.
- Back to School Immunization, required by schools, available at the Flagler County Health Department from August 10 through August 21, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on a walk-in basis. For further information, please call: 386-437-7350 ext. 2224.
- All Summer: Free Breakfast and Lunch for All Flagler County Children Through Seamless Summer Freeding
- All Summer: Flagler Sheriff’s Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) Offers Free Summer Activities for Youth .
- All Summer: Swimming lessons and lifeguard classes available at Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool.
- Registration opens for 2015 Palm Coast & the Flagler Beaches Senior Games.
- August 15-16: Softball tournament fund-raiser for the Casey-Dixon family who suffered a house fire in May in the LL-section. Games will begin at 8 a.m. at the Flagler Fairgrounds Softball Field.
- Saturday, Aug. 15: Daytona Beach’s 3rd Annual Community Unity Festival, from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. This free event, which will include activities for all ages, will be held at Daisy Stocking Park, 555 Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. in Daytona Beach.
- Sept. 28: Bunnell’s State of the Art Water Treatment Facility Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting at 100 Utility Drive (directly across the street from the Flagler County Government Services Building), from 4 to 6 p.m.
Comment of the Day (From the Comment Section):
DWFerg, in “In Latest Round of County-City Water War, Flagler Now Objects to 25% Surcharge From Palm Coast“: Palm Coast’s Utility for water and sewer service seeks to be / remain a first class, world class operating entity. One only need to tour and see the investments made at water treatment plants #2 and # 3 to view firsthand the degree of sophistication this utility has committed your tax money to be “world class”, state of the art facility.. Apparently, their consecutive ten year honors being recognized as such is testimony to their performance. However, , water rates are correspondingly High to support world class, reverse osmosis technology..Have you tasted water from the Bunnelll water plant over the years ? Quality has a cost ! Whether a 25 % premium should be charged to the County property at the airport remains Open for discussion/ and further ,good faith negotiation. Since Palm Coast charges all users outside its city limits, the precedent is consistent with similar county customers. I urge the Palm Coast Utility franchise to examine its policies for charging premium rates for such customers as it relates to good/ best business practices. If the County becomes so disenfranchised to obtain an alternate water/sewer provider, Palm Coast would be remiss to lose a good customer . More importantly, the relationship between both parties warrant a “most favored nations “clause in their intra -local agreements to serve as a foundation of a spirit of Cooperation/ Unity in making the overall community an exceptional one , not one so bitterly provincial in its thinking. There should not be such strong “turf” mentalities between government entities. I say FIX IT !” Reply to DWFerg here.
Cultural Coda:
Werner Herzog Narrates the Existential, Emotional Journey of a Plastic Bag
From Open Culture: “Plastic Bag was one of 11 films released in the Internet Television Service’s “Futurestates” film series exploring “what life might look like in an America of the future.” Upon its release, Herzog told The Guardian, ‘I’m so glad this is not an agenda movie or I would run like mad and get away from here. I mean, we can talk about sustainability issues, about plastic, about the Earth, but the movie’s about something else, something more … it’s about a journey.” An emotional, existential one, indeed.”
groot says
Yes, the clean up has begun. What’s next for Matanzas Woods? Hard choices coming.