Thursday Briefing: A1A Reconstruction Open House, FPC Thespians, Nancy Soderberg, Palm Coast Yacht Club

check please play fpc — Tonight at the Flagler Auditorium.

Today: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 60s inland… In the mid 60s coast. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Details here.
Today’s document from the National Archives and the Astronomy Picture of the Day.
Today’s tides: at the beaches, at the Intracoastal Waterway.
Drought Index66
The OED’s Word of the Day: emotion, n..
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Flagler Jail Bookings and Sheriff’s Crime Reports
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
The Day’s Best Reads
Editor’s Tweets
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Local Road and Interstate Construction
Cultural Coda

“Bach provides a sense of order in a world of disorder.”

–Harpsichordist and Holocaust Survivor Zuzana Ruzickova, who died Sept. 27 at age 90.

Previously:

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 Sheriff’s daily incident reports and jail bookings are posted here.

In Court: L’Darius Smith, 21, of Palm Coast, is on trial on charges he molested two girls, 8 and 9, five years ago. Smith, a former football player at Flagler Palm Coast High School, is accused of holding a gun to one of the children’s head and threatening to harm the children’s mother if the child did not masturbate him. The alleged victims were 8 and 9 at the time of the encounters, 12 and 13 at the time they were interviewed by the Child Protection Team. The trial started with jury selection Monday before Circuit Judge Dennis Craig, with opening arguments today at 1 p.m. Smith is represented by attorney Peyton Quarles.

A1A Reconstruction in Flagler Beach: The Florida Department of Transportation holds a public hearing to introduce a multi-million dollar repair project of State Road A1A in Flagler Beach to the public. The department begins construction of road and sea walls on a stretch of A1A from South 22nd to South 9th Street in the summer of 2018 (the sea walls would be buried under dunes). The hearing starts with an open house at 5:30 p.m. and a formal presentation at 6 p.m. at the Flagler Beach Methodist Church, 1520 South Daytona Avenue, Flagler Beach. Questions or more information, contact Project Manager Ty Garner at [email protected] or call him at 386/943-5299.

Town hall meeting featuring Flagler County School Board member Andy Dance, Superintendent James Tager and County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin, who will be joined by the Sheriff’s Office’s Sgt. Lutz, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hidden Trails Community Center, 6108 Mahogany Blvd., Bunnell.

Nancy Soderberg, a Democratic candidate for the 6th Congressional District, which includes all of Flagler County, speaks to the Palm Coast Democratic Club at the African American Cultural Society Center at 7 p.m. 4422 N. US HWY 1, Palm Coast.

Flagler Palm Coast High School’s Thespian Troupe 5023 presents An Evening of One Acts, staging two plays, “Check, Please!” by Jonathan Rand and “Cut!” by Ed Monk, directed by Kelly Rivera. Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. $10 for adults, $6 for students, at the Flagler Auditorium on FPC’s campus.

“Plaza Suite,” the Neil Simon comedy, at the Flagler Playhouse for the second of three weekends. Three couples successively occupy Suite 719 at the Plaza Hotel, New York City. A wry tale of a marriage in tatters, followed by the exploits of a Hollywood producer looking for sexual diversion, and finally, a couple fighting to persuade their nervous daughter to leave the safety of the bathroom and go to the hotel’s ballroom to get married. This funny yet thought provoking show has become a classic. To book tickets, go online (flaglerplayhouse.org) or call the Box Office (386-586-0773) while tickets are still available. Nov. 2, 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 5 at 2 p.m., Nov. 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. The playhouse is at 301 E Moody Blvd, Bunnell.

The newly-formed Palm Coast Model Yacht Club meets at Palm Coast’s Central Park pond in Town Center at 2 p.m. to race its sailing boats, which vary in length from 3 to 5 feet. The club meets every Thursday at 2 p,m. at the pond, welcomes new members–there are no dues–or spectators, who can have a go at piloting the sail boats as well. To join or for further inquiries, contact Otto Pope at 248/444-0115, or by email at [email protected].

Flagler Audubon Society Monthly Program: in meeting rooms A & B, and start at 6:30 p.m. with a chapter activity update and social session. Formal presentation begins at 7:00 p.m. Programs are open to the public and free to attend. Visitors are welcome. Today’s focus: Microplastics: What’s the Big Deal? Maia McGuire of the University of Florida’s extension service will explain the problem of microplastic pollution in our oceans.

Neighborhood Watch Meeting for Palm Coast’s C Section, at 10 a.m., Elks Club, 53 Old Kings Road North, Palm Coast.

Belle Terre Elementary School PTO at 5:30 p.m. in the media center.

Critic’s Choice Dinner Club, 5:30 p.m. This monthly club visits a new restaurant, chosen by the group, to spend time with friends enjoying a casual dinner while rating food and service. New members welcome. This month’s location is D.B. Pickles, 400 South Nova Road in Ormond Beach. Food and transportation are the participant’s responsibility. Pre-register by 5 p.m. Sept. 5: www.palmcoastgov.com/register. More info: 386-986-2323.

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week:

Wednesday: Palm Coast City Hall, 160 Lake Avenue, Town Center, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Thursday: Sandvik, 1 Commerce Boulevard, Palm Coast, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday: St Mark by the Sea Lutheran Church and Christian Day School, 303 Palm Coast Parkway NE, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday: Farmers’ Market at European Village, 101 Palm Harbor Parkway, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 6: Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Announcements:

Rotary Requests Volunteer Bands For Fantasy Lights: The Fantasy Lights event at Palm Coast’s Central Park put on by the Rotary Club of Flagler County is looking for bands to entertain in the evening. Fantasy Lights runs the entire month of December and is a popular event with families who come to see the lights display, snow and Santa. Church bands and choirs, school groups and individuals and others are invited to sign up and sing seasonal music for the holidays. Sound equipment is available but groups can also bring their own sound equipment. To sign up, contact music coordinator Carl Laundrie at [email protected] or a member of the Rotary Club of Flagler County with your contact information.

Deadline Extended to Register for Federal Disaster Assistance in Florida: Floridians impacted by Hurricane Irma have until Nov. 24 to apply for federal disaster assistance that may cover temporary housing, essential home repairs and serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance. Disaster assistance is available to eligible individuals and households in the 48 disaster-designated counties with storm-related damages between Sept. 4 through Oct. 18, 2017. Damage resulting from Hurricane Irma and its aftermath after the closing date will not be covered by the disaster declaration. To date, more than 2.5 million people have applied for assistance. Hurricane survivors should register for assistance even if they have insurance. FEMA cannot duplicate insurance payments, but underinsured applicants may receive help after their claims have been settled. Applying for disaster assistance is a two-step process that ensures consideration for all FEMA programs and the U.S. Small Business Administration low-interest disaster loans. First, register with FEMA. Then complete and return the SBA loan application, if referred to the SBA. The quickest way to apply for federal assistance is online at www.disasterassistance.gov. Survivors may also apply by phone at 800-621-3362 (Voice, 711 or VRS) or 800-462-7585 (TTY). Due to high demand, lines may be busy during the day. Try calling in the morning or evening when call volume may be lower. The FEMA Helpline numbers are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. (ET), seven days a week until further notice. FEMA grants do not have to be repaid. FEMA assistance is nontaxable and will not affect eligibility for Social Security, Medicaid or other federal benefits.

In Florida and in State Government:

Note: Some proceedings below can be followed live on the Florida Channel. Most legislative proceedings can be followed through the Senate or House websites.

CONSTITUTION PANELS MEET: The Education and Judicial committees of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission will meet. (Thursday, 8:30 a.m., Education, 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Judicial, 9 a.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

AP HOLDS PRE-SESSION GATHERING: The Associated Press will hold an annual pre-session event that will include Gov. Rick Scott, legislative leaders and gubernatorial candidates. They will talk about the upcoming legislative session and the 2018 elections. (Thursday, 9 a.m., 22nd floor, the Capitol.)

DEW, BRANDES AT AIF EVENT: Associated Industries of Florida and Port Tampa Bay are scheduled to hold a symposium titled “Building Florida’s Future,” with speakers including Department of Transportation Secretary Michael Dew and Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Port Tampa Bay, Cruise Terminal 2, 651 Channelside Dr., Tampa.)

COLLEGE PRESIDENTS MEET: The Florida College System Council of Presidents will meet. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Innisbrook, 36750 U.S. Highway 19 North, Palm Harbor.)

SUPREME COURT RELEASES OPINIONS: The Florida Supreme Court is expected to release weekly opinions. (Thursday, 11 a.m.)

INSURANCE `SUMMIT’ BEGINS: The Florida Chamber of Commerce will start a two-day insurance “summit.” Speakers Thursday are expected to include state Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis; Sen. Dorothy Hukill, R-Port Orange; Citizens Property Insurance CEO Barry Gilway; and Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, 4012 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando.)

PENCE SPEAKS AT GOP DINNER: Vice President Mike Pence will be the keynote speaker during the Republican Party of Florida Statesman’s Dinner. (Thursday, 6 p.m., Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, 4401 Floridian Way, Orlando.)

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:

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The Day’s Best Reads:

More than a thousand people a week die from opioid-related overdoses. What to know about the crisis: https://t.co/mwVV7hpGDp

— Council on Foreign Relations (@CFR_org) November 1, 2017

An unknown object is making our solar system wobble https://t.co/pyUA4z8373 pic.twitter.com/dePG413zPL

— World Economic Forum (@wef) November 1, 2017

“I don’t think we can have a good society if we don’t have good poetry.” —Octavio Paz https://t.co/JikWMYwvje

— The Paris Review (@parisreview) November 1, 2017

Where do new ideas come from? https://t.co/p3p0uDxiHS

— Smithsonian Magazine (@SmithsonianMag) November 1, 2017

On the potential futility of trying to save the lost soul of college sports. https://t.co/ZlJhKJHRMQ pic.twitter.com/avyN6fHYRk

— Literary Hub (@lithub) November 1, 2017

Editor’s Tweets

Editor’s Tweets by @PierreTristam

A Twitter List by PierreTristam

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Updates of ongoing permitting, construction and development projects in Palm Coast usually run here, along with a link to the city’s Week in Review. But the Week in Review, under the guise of being modernized, has become flashier and power-point like while becoming less substantive and dumbed down. We may or may not link to it in future. Here’s a summary of the latest developments as of Oct. 6

Click to access Oct-6-2017.pdf

Road and Interstate Construction: