Seminole Path, Fearless Women, The US' Too-Low Taxes, Rubio Again

jamestown founding — Today marks the 409th anniversary of the landing at Jamestown, England’s first permanent settlement in Virginia, in 1607. The settlement was founded four days later. (New York Public Library)

Today: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 80s inland…in the lower 80s coast. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 60s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Details here.
Today’s fire danger is moderate. Flagler County’s Drought Index is at 229.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Today’s document from the National Archives.
The OED’s Word of the Day: cryptarchy, n..
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

In Flagler and Palm Coast
Local News Recap
Flagler Jail Bookings and Sheriff’s Crime Reports
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler and Palm Coast
The Day’s Best Reads
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Summer Camps for Children
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 Commission holds the first in a series of workshops on next year’s government budget. This one will be an overview of the budget. 9 a.m., Emergency Operations Center, Bunnell.

The Palm Coast City Council meets in workshop at City Hall in Town Center at 9 a.m. On the agenda: a presentation by Sheriff Jim Manfre on crime prevention, a discussion of a proposed $100,000 spending plan for improvements to fire station 22, an $86,000 work order for rest rooms in Town Center and at the Indian Trails Sports Complex. The Town Center bathrooms will benefit walkers and joggers east of the movie theater, and also the Palm Coast Arts Foundation’s grounds, and a $573,000 bid from MCG Services to build a multi-use path along Seminole Woods Boulevard.

The Flagler County Affordable Housing Advisory Committee meets at 8:30 a.m. in the Financial Services Conference Room, third floor of the Government Services Building in Bunnell. See the agenda.

The Flagler County Centennial Committee meets at 1:30 p.m. in the Government Services Building’s Third Floor Financial Services Conference Room to discuss logos and sand sculptures for the 2017 celebration.

The Flagler County Planning and Land Development Board meets at 6 p.m. in board chambers at the Government Services Building in Bunnell. It will review applications from Plantation Bay and Old Kings Village. The agenda is here.

The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will meets at 11 a.m. or upon completion of earlier committee meetings, district headquarters, 4049 Reid St., Palatka.

Pegine Echevarria, a motivational speaker, headlines the Flagler Chamber of Commerce’s “Fearless and Focused Women in Business” lunch at the Hilton Garden Inn, 55 Town Center Parkway in Palm Coast. Echevarria, according to a chamber release, “is CEO of Team Pegine, a think tank, training and consulting, event management firm that specializes in leadership, team building, inclusion engagement and situational training.” The chamber took over the lunch series that was previously hosted by Palm Coast’s Business Assistance Center. Registration 11:30 to 11:45 a.m., $35 for chamber members with advance registration and payment, $40 the day of the event. Guests: $40 with advance registration and payment, $45 the day of the event. Reservations are due by May 5 by 5 p.m. Please call to reserve your seat or with questions, 386/437.0106.

Rymfire Elementary School Spring Concert, 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria.

Local News Recap:

Updated jail bookings and day and night shift incident summary reports are available here.

For Flagler’s Gun Shops, New Residents Spur Brisk Business But Laws Conceal Debate: With the discussion of gun control and gun rights provoking more discussions than foreign affairs this election season, FlaglerLive spoke to three store owners who hold different views on many aspects of the debate, though one thing they all agree on is that the gun sales business in Florida is doing very well.

South Florida Judge Declares State’s New Death Penalty Law Unconstitutional: The reason: the new law does not require juries’ recommendation for death to be unanimous. It requires only a 10-person majority, in panels of 12 jurors, making Florida one of just three states where a unanimous verdict is not required.

Palm Coast’s Patricia Darvish, 50, Is Found in Flagler Beach Surf, an Apparent Suicide: There were no obvious signs of trauma on Darvish’s body. But Darvish was found clothed, strongly suggesting that she had walked into the surf, and that her death may have been a suicide.

Child Among Three Killed, 4 Injured, “Multiple Ejections” in I-95 Wreck Just South of Flagler-St. Johns County Line: The year’s deadliest crash in Flagler County killed three people and injured four just after 2 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-95, north of the newly-opened Matanzas Woods Parkways interchange. The wreck briefly shut down I-95 in both directions. I-95 northbound remains closed north of the Matanzas Woods interchange, causing traffic to back up for several miles south of the wreck.

In Florida and in State Government:

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

Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet will meet and take up a series of issues, including a pair of proposed land deals that would cost the state about $6.6 million and conserve nearly 3,800 acres in Osceola County . (9 a.m.)

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is scheduled to speak at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., about the “Middle East in Crisis.” You can watch the live stream of the event, starting at 12:30 p.m., here.

Vouchers on appeal: The 1st District Court of Appeal will hear arguments in a lawsuit led by the Florida Education Association challenging the state’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program. The voucher-like program provides tax credits to companies that donate money to non-profit entities that help pay for low-income children to attend private schools. A Leon County circuit judge rejected the lawsuit last year because he ruled the plaintiffs did not have legal “standing.” (2 p.m., 1st District Court of Appeal, 2000 Drayton Dr., Tallahassee.)

Florida Republican Chairman Blaise Ingoglia, who also is a state House member, is scheduled to speak to the Pinellas County Young Republicans. (7 p.m., St. Petersburg Yacht Club, 11 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.)

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS DUE: State candidates and political committees face a Tuesday deadline for filing reports showing campaign-finance activity through April 30.

–Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast and Flagler:

Click on the links for more details:

♦ May 11: The Public Safety Coordinating Council meets at 8:45 a.m. at the Emergency Operations Center in Bunnell. The meeting will feature a discussion on the decriminalization of pot, with potential guests including the mayors, police chiefs and city managers from around the county.
♦ May 11: Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon is the guest speaker at the free Lunch N’ Lecture at the Palm Coast Community Center, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The presentation, “Preparing for the Future, Improving our Past,” will include plenty of time for questions, so take the time to pre-register by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 386-986-2323. Attendance includes a free lunch, if you reserve in advance. (space is limited).
♦ May 128-29: Flagler Palm Coast High School Class of 1996’s 20-Year Reunion. The event combines a fundraising event for the Josh Crews Writing Project through the Education Foundation and two events, one for the graduates and a family picnic. A dinner for alumni and guests at Oceanside Country Club is planned for Saturday and a family picnic is planned for Sunday at Herschel King Park. Graduates are asked to provide gift certificates, goods and products or a donation to be part of a silent auction towards the Writing Project and to register for the celebrations. For more information go to www.fpc1996.com or call Magda at 386-986-9300 or Carl Laundrie III at 386/237-4845.
♦ June 4: Flagler County’s Democratic Executive Committee holds a potluck picnic at Hershel King Park at 1000 Grady Prather Jr. Cove in Palm Coast starting at noon, with honorary guest James Canfield, first mayor of Palm Coast. Plenty of children’s activities, a dunk tank, ice cream truck, and a chance to meet Democratic candidates. Free admission includes hot dogs, baked beans and coleslaw.
♦ June 7: A 1:30 p.m. hearing is scheduled in the case of Anna Pehota, accused of second-degree murder in the shooting death of her husband on Sept. 23, 2015, in the Hammock. Her trial was scheduled for April 18, but her attorney, Ray Warren, was granted a delay so he could explore Pehota’s memory issues, which could play a deciding role in the handling of her case. The results of that inquiry are to be the subject of this hearing.
♦ June 14: Dr. Bill Mefford, Faith Outreach Specialist for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, leads a discussion entitled “Religion and Partisan Politics Don’t Mix,” hosted by the All Flagler Democratic Club at 7 p.m. at the African American Cultural Society, 4422 US 1 North, Palm Coast. Call 386-447-7030 for best directions. This program is free, open to the public, all are welcome, no advance arrangements are necessary.

Survey Request: The River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), which includes Palm Coast, is seeking input from residents of Palm Coast as it plans transportation improvements for the Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA) that includes Volusia County and portions of Flagler County. The TPO has launched a “Tell the TPO” campaign to survey people who live or work in Volusia and/or Flagler counties, as well as visitors. The 11-question survey can be accessed here. All responses received by May 31, 2016, will be placed in a drawing for a chance to win a free iPad Mini.

The Day’s Best Reads:

ICYMI: Six economic myths you hear in an election year–all popped. By N. Gregory Mankiw https://t.co/8GVYeU6lLv pic.twitter.com/5HlGDvhZmi

— The Upshot (@UpshotNYT) May 9, 2016

I ran Ralph Nader’s campaigns. Political revolution is vital—and much harder than you think. https://t.co/NlODswRBfZ pic.twitter.com/ND2rkEsCn5

— Vox (@voxdotcom) May 9, 2016

Undercover police beat up innocent James King, then charged him with three felonies. https://t.co/d8X6tySYKn pic.twitter.com/z9vZrC7YQK

— Cato Institute (@CatoInstitute) May 9, 2016

Many angry denials that US is low-tax country. Mostly rightists, but some "anything Hillary shill says is wrong" pic.twitter.com/h1oBfmnJpM

— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) May 9, 2016

Middle East Cultural and Historical Regions Map by Michael Izady at Columbia University pic.twitter.com/W1TMeh4YzH

— Explaining Sapiens (@XplningSapiens) May 8, 2016

The I-just-got-compared-to-Hitler-on-the-Internet club is growing. Here's the data: https://t.co/0iqKJsTFAj pic.twitter.com/I3DlaIEw2l

— NPR (@NPR) May 9, 2016

Fact-Checking the Knaves:

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

The following is an update of ongoing permitting, construction and development projects in Palm Coast, through April 27:

Click to access progress-report-april21-27-2016.pdf

Summer Camps:

Florida Agricultural Museum Summer Camps: Become a junior farmer at the Florida Agricultural Museum this summer! Junior farmers will learn about farm life, forestry, and Florida history. Participate in arts & crafts, farm animal care, Florida fauna/flora education, fun and games. Sessions are all 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $175 per session and are as follows:
1st) June 7-9
2nd) June 14-16
3rd) June 21-23
4th) June 28-30
5th) July 5-7
6th) July 12-14

Road and Interstate Construction:

Moody Boat Launch to close April 6 through May 20 for improvements: Flagler County’s Moody Boat Launch will be closed April 6 through May 20 for improvements. “The scheduled upgrade will enhance the launch’s usability in a number of ways,” said Heidi Petito, Director of General Services. “The new system provides for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance, minimizes docking difficulties caused by fluctuating tides, and new lighting will promote boater safety and security.” The closure includes the Moody Boat Launch– located at 825 Moody Lane in Flagler Beach– the parking area, restroom, and dockage on the Matanzas River. It does not affect Betty Steflik Preserve and boardwalk. The scope of work includes dredging 1,650 yards of silt from the launch basin, thus improving navigability. The adjacent wooden docks will be replaced with an aluminum floating dock and gangway system. Additionally, the existing restroom will be replaced with an ADA compliant facility. Moody Boat Launch provides public access to the Intracoastal on the east shore, just south of SR100. The closest alternative boat launches are located at Herschel King Park on the west side of the river at 1000 Grady Prather Jr. Cove, Palm Coast, and Bing’s Landing on the east shore at 5862 N. Oceanshore Blvd. in Palm Coast.