Wednesday Briefing: Greenland Melting, Commercial Development West of I-95, Mad Endures

Today: high in mid-80s, low in mid-60s. Details here.
Today’s fire danger is moderate. Flagler County’s Drought Index is at 381.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Today’s document from the National Archives.
The OED’s Word of the Day: inukshuk, 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
• PR Releases
• In the Press, In the News
• Fact-Checking the Knaves
• Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports
• Local Road and Interstate Construction
• Cultural Coda

In Flagler and Palm Coast:

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.

The Flagler County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meets at 10 a.m. at the Government Services Building, 1st floor conference room. No agenda was posted.

The Friends of A1A Scenic and Historical Byway Committee meets at 2 p.m. at St. Augustine Beach City Hall. The agenda is here.

Local News Recap:

George Hanns, “Vindicated” by State Ruling His Removal From Election Board Improper, Declares for 7th Term: The Flagler County Canvassing Board exceeded its authority and had no business booting off County Commissioner George Hanns at a meeting last November, the Florida Division of Elections said in an advisory opinion issued Monday.

Accused Wells Fargo Robbers Caught in Philadelphia After String of 4 East Coast Robberies: The couple was arrested near Philadelphia International Airport in the brown Buick Encore briefly caught in surveillance video in Palm Coast. According to Philadelphia’s NBC affiliate, the couple, believed to be homeless, accompanied by several dogs and supporting a heroin addiction, robbed a Citizens Bank this morning in Wilmington. They then fled and were spotted by Delaware state police, who initiated a chase.

Palm Coast city manager: No simple way to make local roads safer for kids: The Palm Coast City Copuncil discussed street safety in light of the fatal wreck this month that took the life of 7-year-old Kymora Christian in the W Section. But potential problems arise with most suggestions, the Observer’s Jonathan Simmons reports. “Crosswalks? There are restrictions on where and how they can be installed. Signs that say, “Caution, children at play”? You’d have to put them almost everywhere in Palm Coast, and then drivers become numb to them. Paint on the street warning drivers to slow down? Unlikely to change driver behavior without enforcement.”

Jordan Marie Rineer, 25, Is Killed in Single-Car Wreck on US1, Tyler Dutton Survives: Jordan Marie Rineer had lived and gone to school in Flagler and Alachua counties before moving to Lancaster, Penn., to attend school there. The 25-year-old was visiting her sister and her grandmother, who lives in Palm Coast’s W Section.

Planning board approves zoning change for potential restaurant, hotel at I-95 and State Road 100: The chage affects a 1.1-acre parcel west of I-95, in preparation for retail, hotel, restaurant and office development, the Observer reports.

In State Government:

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

Redistricting: The Senate could vote on a plan (SJR 2-C) that would redraw the state’s Senate districts. (10 a.m.)

The State Board of Education will take up a series of issues, including an issue related to Florida Standards Assessment cut scores and school accountability. (9 a.m., Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, 9300 Jeff Fuqua Blvd., Orlando.)

–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast and Flagler:

Click on the links for more details:

• Starting Oct. 16: 14th Annual October Scare Haunted House to benefit Flagler Habitat, October 16, 17, 18 October 23, 24, 25 and 29, 30 – Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday & Friday, Saturday evenings, 6 to 9 p.m., Atlantis Industrial and Business Park, UNIT 80, 2323 N. State Street, Bunnell.
• Oct. 30: Come join the Halloween fun at the Friday, October 30, Candlelight Trail Walk at Bulow Plantation Ruins, 3501 Old King’s Road, Flagler Beach. The event is sponsored by the Bulow Parks Historic Alliance. It begins at 5 p.m. and features children’s games, a costume contest, living history re-enactors and lots of family fun. $5 donation per vehicle. For information call 386-437-5338.
• Nov. 6: San Diego Artist Kari Powell is November’s Featured Artist at Ocean Art Gallery in Flagler Beach for the month of November, starting with a Nov. 6 reception from 6 to 9 p.m.

PR Releases:

Click on the link for more details.

Kumon Math and Reading Center Celebrates Five Years in Flagler County
San Diego Artist Kari Powell is November’s Featured Artist at Ocean Art Gallery
Golden Lion’s Key Lime Tarter Sauce Proceeds Buy 7,000 lbs of Food for Second Harvest Food Bank

In the Press, In the News:

Fact-Checking the Knaves:

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

The following is an update of ongoing construction and development projects in Palm Coast, through Oct. 14:

Palm Coast Parkway Six-Laning is 95 percent done: Work in median continues and landscape along project continues. Traffic Signal loop installation continues.

Holland Park, 35 percent done: Dewatering of wetland area continues. 92% of roadway thru wetland has been excavated and is being backfilled. Installation of storm structures and piping continues under roadway thru former wetland. Electrical trenching and conduit installation continues.

Palm Coast City Hall at Town Center, 99 percent done: Project is substantially completed.

Old Kings Road Force Main, 40 percent done: Connections of the directional and direct bury pipe continues.

County’s I-95 Interchange Matanzas Woods Reclaim Water, 76 percent done: 16″ direct bury pipe has been staged for installation on the west side of the northwest ramp.

Palm Harbor Parkway Roadway Extension, 26 percent done: De-mucking continues thru wet areas for new roadway.

North Old Kings Road Extension to Matanzas Woods Parkway: City did not update.

Island Walk Shopping Center Phase 1, 95 percent done: Last 1500 gallon Grease Interceptor was installed. The Utility Final was completed for Publix 10-13-15.

Road and Interstate Construction:

The intersection of Old Kings Road and Matanzas Woods Parkway will be closed for reconstruction beginning at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, and continuing through the weekend until 3 a.m. Monday morning, Nov. 2. The intersection will be closed to traffic during that entire time. Variable message signs will be used to alert the traveling public of the closure. For more information, contact Palm Coast Customer Service at 386-986-2360.

• Palm Coast Parkway Project Website
• Florida Department of Transportation Road Project List
• County Road 304 Project Map and Description

Cultural Coda:

Krystian Zimerman performs Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 3 in C minor, Op 37