Today: high around 90, low in low-70s. Details here.
Today’s fire danger is low. Flagler County’s Drought Index is at 123.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Today’s document from the National Archives.
The OED’s Word of the Day: alerion, n..
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.
Today’s Briefing: Quick Links
- In Flagler and Palm Coast
- Local News Recap
- In State Government
- In Coming Days in Flagler and Palm Coast
- Police, Fire and Emergency Notes
- PR Releases
- In the Press, In the News
- Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
- Local Road and Interstate Construction
- 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.
It is Banned Books Week. Honor the book, screw the censors and pick up a little Nabokov, Voltaire, Rushdie, even Harper Lee.
Friends of A1A Scenic and Historical Byway board meets at 2 p.m. at the Coastal Policy Center in Marineland. It’ll feature a presentation by Adam Morley on the recent Waterway Cleanup Challenge.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office opens the new Sheriff’s Operations Center to the public from 4:30-6 p.m. The refurbished 34,000 square foot facility is located at 901 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell. Tours provided.
Sept. 30: The Heritage Crossroads: Miles of History CME will meet at 1:30 p.m. in the Flagler County Government Services Building, 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Building 2. Plans for the coming year’s activities will be discussed, and all are invited to participate. For information call 386-439-5003.
Ribbon Cutting: 10 year anniversary of Servpro of Flagler County: 1 Enterprise Drive, Suite 4 in Bunnell, 4 to 6 p.m.
City Manager Jim Landon as Control Freak: Two Council Members Fret Over His Grip: It took City Manager Jim Landon being three time zones away—at a conference in Seattle—for the two newest members of the Palm Coast City Council to speak about him this morning with a candor they never have in his presence, though what they said explicitly is widely known implicitly: that he’s too controlling, that he doesn’t listen to certain council members’ perspectives, that he too narrowly pre-packages recommendations that come before the council to reduce possible outcomes, and that he sends distinct signals to those who cross him, even if it’s a council member.
Offered a Chance at a Small Pay Raise, Split Bunnell Commissioners Decline: The proposed pay increase would have raised commissioners’ salaries to $8,976 a year, and the mayor’s salary to $11,220. It would not have been effective until March 2016, after the next city commission election. A 2-2 vote killed the proposal.
Real Estate Contracts and Truth-in-Lending Disclosure Rules Change: The rules change for home buyers who need a mortgage if they apply this Saturday, Oct. 3, or later. To prepare for that change, Florida Realtors forms have been updated, with the new version effective today, GoToby reports.
Christmas Come True’s elves at work in Flagler Beach: Now at the seven-year mark, Nadine King’s Christmas Come True has become a local institution, providing gifts for the needy. “It’s an individualized Christmas experience for each family” King tells the Observer. “We talk to the parents so we know exactly what food their children eat. I know they are going to eat turkey and stuffing, but maybe they don’t like cranberry relish so I am not going to give it to them. We will give them something else.”
St. Johns County’s slow season could be ‘branded’ to spur visitation: “The continued success of the Nights of Lights celebration and the recent success of the 450th commemoration have spawned a plan to add some punch to the slowest season for tourism for St. Johns County,” the St. Augustine Record reports. “The idea is to give the shoulder season of about mid-August into October a “sub-brand” — the way the lights display in downtown St. Augustine does for the winter holiday season.” But no concrete plans are in the works. (Story paywall-protected.)
Note: Most proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel.
The Florida Commission on Offender Review will consider numerous parole cases involving crimes committed decades ago. (9 a.m.)
Medical marijuana: The Financial Impact Estimating Conference will hold a workshop about a proposed constitutional amendment that would legalize medical marijuana.(12:30 p.m.)
The Keep Florida Learning Committee will start two days of meetings and is expected to discuss the Florida Standards Assessment and strategies to increase parental involvement. (1 p.m., Florida Department of Education, Turlington Building, 325 West Gaines St., Tallahassee.)
–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive
In Coming Days in Palm Coast and Flagler:
Click on the links for more details:
- Oct. 3:The International Festival takes place in Palm Coast’s Town Center from noon to 9 p.m.
Oct. 3: The Bulow Parks Historic Alliance will have an extra Trail Maintenance Day to prepare for the October 30 Candlelight Trail Walk. Workers are asked to meet at the Trail head at 9 a.m. wearing gloves, hats, appropriate clothing and carrying bug spray. Water will be provided.For information call 386-437-5338. - Oct. 5: Pink Army 5k Run/Walk for Breast Cancer, 7:45 am at Florida Hospital Flagler. Gather your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors and run or walk in honor of those who have battled and continue their battle against breast cancer. Proceeds from the Pink Army Run/Walk go to the Florida Hospital Flagler Foundation to educate and support women of Flagler County.
- Oct. 6: The Flagler County School Board holds a town hall meeting at the Government Services Building.
- USA Today’s Alan Gomez to discuss immigration and its role in 2016 presidential election at Flagler College Forum: USA Today immigration reporter Alan Gomez will discuss recent attempts to change the nation’s immigration laws, why they failed and how immigration has become a central issue in the 2016 presidential debate at the Flagler College Forum on Oct. 6. His presentation, titled “Immigration in the 2016 Elections and Beyond,” takes place at 7 p.m. in the Lewis Auditorium and is part of the Forum on Government and Public Policy’s “Road to the White House” theme leading up to next year’s presidential election.
- Oct. 10: The Women’s Missionary Society of First Church has scheduled the monthly food giveaway for Oct. 10, 1-3 p.m., at 91 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast. For more information, call Jeroline D. McCarthy, 386-446-5759.
- Oct. 10: Saturday Evening with the Artists at the Flagler County Art League: This is the League’s signature event, an open-themed art show where Flagler artists show off their best work, their newest work, their most recent forays into other mediums or their latest artistic exuberances. The exhibit’s popularity has a traditionally high rate of artist participation and creativity. Judge for the show is artist/sculptor Harry Messersmith. City Marketplace, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suite 207C, Palm Coast. 386-986-4668.
- Oct. 14: The Bulow Park Historic Alliance meets at 6 p.m. in the Annex of the Flagler County Historical Society, 204 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell. Plans for the October 30 Candlelight Trail Walk and other events will be discussed. For information call 386-437-5338.
- Oct. 17: The Bulow Parks Historic Alliance’s monthly Trail Maintenance Day, to prepare for the October 30 Candlelight Trail Walk. Workers are asked to meet at the Trail head at 9 a.m. wearing gloves, hats, appropriate clothing and carrying bug spray. Water will be provided.For information call 386-437-5338.
Police, Fire and Emergency Notes:
1st Annual Florida Hospital Pink Army Ride Raises $4,500 to Benefit the Local Fight Against Breast Cancer: On Sept. 27, more than 150 bikers clad in a unique combination of leather and pink raised more than $4,500 to benefit the Florida Hospital Pink Army. The foundations for the five Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties hosted the first annual Pink Army motorcycle ride to benefit breast cancer awareness, education and screenings. “Seeing literally hundreds of folks support this first ever event was, quite literally, a sight to behold,” said John Subers, executive director of the foundations for the five Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties. “This was an incredible first for our hospitals. Every penny of the proceeds raised by this event stay local and will help fund mammograms and biopsies for women who are our neighbors and are in need.” Presented by Bright House Networks, the event began with a breakfast at Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City and ended with a Florida Hospital Pink Army flag raising party at Bruce Rossmeyer’s Daytona Harley-Davidson at Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach. “We are also very grateful to the Iron Order for teaming up with the Florida Hospital Pink Army to unite with us against breast cancer,” Subers said. “The Iron Order is a national organization with local and regional chapters. In addition to enjoying motorcycle rides, they give back to the community in many ways, from supporting events to benefit United Way, Prevention of Child Abuse to name just two worthy causes.”
September 2015: Florida Hospital Volusia/Flagler TV News:
and MLB Hall of Famer and KinderVision National Spokesperson Rollie Fingers.
Al Gore criticizes Rick Scott at climate-change summit: “Miami Beach’s streets flooded at high tide Monday. And the timing couldn’t have been better for former Vice President Al Gore, who used images of South Beach’s inundated sidewalks to criticize Gov. Rick Scott and the state’s power companies for ignoring the effects of global warming. “The glacial ice is melting in Greenland, and some of it is on the streets of Miami Beach,” Gore, highlighting the pictures on an overhead projector, told a crowd of about 1,200 activists on the opening day of a three-day “Climate Reality Project” conference in Miami. “I don’t know how the governor wades through this and says, ‘I don’t see anything, do you see anything?'” Gore said, adding he wasn’t making an “ad hominem” attack. Scott’s office declined to comment.” From Politico.
Economists question Bush’s prescription for lower gas prices: “The link between ending a 40-year oil export ban and lower prices at the gas pump is not as direct as Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush would have voters believe in his new energy proposal, industry economists said Tuesday.
Still, Bush’s overall premise that lifting the ban would expand economic growth holds up to independent scrutiny. Environmentalists say the negative impact on the planet would be too great. Eliminating the export ban, enacted in the 1970s, is the key piece of Bush’s proposal, first published in a paper online Tuesday and later discussed by the candidate. “We should sell that to the world for national security purposes, for lower prices for us and for greater high-wage jobs in this country,” Bush told more than 200 supporters and employees of Rice Energy, a small independent company outside Pittsburgh. Bush cited studies suggesting a drop of 6 cents per gallon over time, while independent economic forecasting firms suggested a decline of 8 cents. However, oil is a global commodity and U.S. production has little to do with overall pricing. Presidents have even less power over prices. “They all begin with the flaw that you can relate the price of oil on the high seas to what Mr. and Mrs. Smith pay at the pump,” said Tom Kloza of the independent Oil Price Information Service. What is clearer is that oil companies would benefit immediately, said Michael Noel, an oil economist for Texas Tech University.” From AP.
Guns and medical marijuana in Florida Legislature: As lawmakers continue preparing for the 2016 legislative session, House panels next week will take up a bill that would allow people to openly carry firearms and will get an update about a medical-marijuana law passed last year. The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Tuesday will consider a measure (HB 163), filed by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, that would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to openly carry firearms. The bill also calls for other changes in gun-related laws, including giving direction for judges to use “strict scrutiny” when reviewing laws dealing with the right to bear arms or self defense. “The right to bear arms is a fundamental and individual right that exists in any place that a person has the right to be, subject only to exceptionally and narrowly tailored restrictions that employ the least possible restriction on the right in order to achieve a compelling government interest,” the bill says. Meanwhile Tuesday, the House Health Quality Subcommittee will receive an update about how the state is carrying out a 2014 law that allows the sale and use of non-euphoric types of medical marijuana. Backers of the law said it could help patients such as children with severe forms of epilepsy, but the cannabis remains unavailable, at least in part because of delays stemming from legal disputes. News Service of Florida.
Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
The following is an update of ongoing construction and development projects in Palm Coast, through Sept. 23:
Palm Coast Parkway Six-Laning is 93 percent done: No change from last week: Contractor has placed the new 6″ reuse main into service and has prepared the old line to grout filled. Work in median continues and landscape along project continues.
Holland Park, 32 percent done: Began dewatering and removal of wetland muck in roadway area through former wetland. Excavation for lighting and fiber conduits began. Excavation continues for sidewalks in the ball field areas.
Palm Coast City Hall at Town Center, 94 percent done: Contractor has placed concrete around valve collars and identifying tabs. Wire testing has been completed. Carpet and Tile in (Phase 1) of the project is 95% complete. Furniture installation in Phase 1 first floor 80% complete.
Colechester Drive Bridge, 43 percent done: Seawall Caps being formed, work has begun on the bridge deck, South traffic barrier poured, North traffic barrier being formed, demolition of slope pavement continues.
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, 25 percent done: Clearing and fill work thru low areas continues.
North Old Kings Road Extension to Matanzas Woods Parkway, 12 percent done: Site clearing continues at 85 percent.
Island Walk Shopping Center Phase 1, 93 percent done: Final Utility Inspection was issued 9/21/15 for the first state on the west end of project.
Old Kings Road Force Main – Master Pump Station, 22 percent done: Jack and Bore casing has been placed under Old Kings Road at south entrance to spray field. The 16″ Force main piping installation has started.
Grand Haven Sales Center on Colbert Lane, 35 percent done: Water and Sewer services have been installed on site.
Road and Interstate Construction:
Palm Coast:
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
Comment of the Day (From the Comment Section):
Tom Brown in “Rick Scott, Who Made Millions as Hospital CEO, Now Faults Hospital Costs“: This concept of informed shopping for healthcare has been talked about for years, and endorsed by previous Florida governors. I thought it was supposed to be part of Obamacare, but apparently it got sidetracked. The current pricing system is actually no system, because there is no one-price-for-all. A few years ago, I helped an uninsured friend shop for an MRI test, and received quotes ranging from $500 to $2,000 plus — Halifax Hospital was among the highest. When my friend’s doctor used his influence to make a phone call on behalf of my friend, he was able to get the test at Bert Fish in New Smyrna for $300. When I needed surgery for cancer 6 years ago, I did not try to find a low price. My concern was to find the best surgeon and best hospital, as recommended by my urologist. I ended up at Shands even though my HMO at the time wanted to push me into Halifax. I don’t know what the final price was — no one ever sent me a bill — but I was happy to pay a $500 co-pay for quality.” Reply to Tom Brown here.
Human: The Movie Features Interviews with 2,020 People from 60 Countries on What It Means to Be Human
Mike says
Al Gore – I thought that goofball had vanished forever.