Thursday Briefing: Birds of a Feather Fest, FPC Theater, Critic's Choice at Dahlia's Mexican, Science Café

Palm Coast's beloved Birds of a Feather Fest begins today and through the rest of the week. See details below. Above, a cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) nesting. (Jill Bazeley) — Palm Coast’s beloved Birds of a Feather Fest begins today and through the rest of the week. See details below. Above, a cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) nesting. (Jill Bazeley)

Today:: Partly cloudy in the morning then clearing. Patchy fog in the morning. Highs around 80. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Tonight: Mostly clear. Areas of fog after midnight. Lows in the mid 50s. South 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 Index: 30
The OED’s Word of the day: hand-wringing, n. and adj.
The Live Community Calendar
Today’s jail bookings.

Today’s Briefing: Quick Links

First Light
In Flagler and Palm Coast
Flagler Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours of Incident Reports
Flagler Beach A1A Construction Updates
US 1-Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates
Announcements
In State Government
In Coming Days in Flagler, Palm Coast and Beyond
Fact-Checking the Knaves
Palm Coast Construction and Development
Cultural Coda

“But nobody ever claimed that the legal system (or society) had to be totally coherent, totally rational, totally consistent.”

–From Lawrence Friedman’s “Law in America” (2002).

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.

Thursday and Saturday: Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing 80s Style,” Flagler Palm Coast High School’s winter play at the Black Box Theater next to the Flagler Auditorium, FPC, Thursday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students. Seating is limited.

The Indian Trails Middle School Advisory Council meets at 5:30 p.m. at the school.

Critics Choice Dinner, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: Enjoy a delicious Mexican meal at Dahlia’s Mexican Kitchen in Flagler Beach. Join fellow residents who will meet at the restaurant to rate the food and service. Dinner cost and transportation is the responsibility of each guest. Pre-registration is required. Call 386-986-2323. Organized by the Palm Coast Parks and Recreation department.

Birds of a Feather Fest, Friday through Sunday, at Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy. NE, and various venues throughout Palm Coast and beyond. A fun birding and nature festival invites everyone to enjoy a weekend of guided birding, photography, workshops, social events and a keynote by National Audubon Society’s David Ringer. Many activities are free; some for a fee. Schedule and registration at: www.birdingfest.com. More info: 386-986-2484.

Science Café at Stetson’s Gillespie Museum: A Conversation with the Cast of Florida’s “Fossil Hunters,” 7-8:30 p.m. Explore Florida geology and paleontology with the cast of the “Fossil Hunters” television series, which follows the adventures of a group of amateur paleontologists and friends as they travel with their families to amazing fossil sites. The world’s first and only fossil hunting television series, “Fossil Hunters,” highlights the cast’s fossil collections and past and present excavations as well as world-class discoveries. In this informal conversation with slides, you’ll learn of their travels to various fossil sites and museums, exploring our state’s geological past. All events at the Gillespie Museum are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. Stetson University Gillespie Museum 234 E. Michigan Ave., DeLand. Contact Director Karen Cole, 386-822-7330.

COMMUNITY INPUT SOUGHT ON HEALTH ISSUES: Flagler county residents are being asked to speak up and voice their opinion on a variety of health-related topics through an online survey. The input from the community will be used to create health improvement plans to address community concerns and improve quality of life. The survey is online here countyhealthsurvey.com and is available in English and Spanish. Results of the survey provide the foundation of Community Health Needs Assessments, which are a collection of data used to inform communities and develop goals to improve health outcomes. Once the assessments are complete, they will be used to create three-year Community Health Improvement Plans for both Volusia and Flagler counties. The assessments are being conducted in collaboration with the Florida Department of Health in Flagler and Volusia counties, Flagler Cares, local hospitals and Volusia and Flagler county government. Residents, employers and community partners are encouraged to share this link and ask others to take the survey as well. The survey will close February 28, 2019. Please take the survey here.

An F/A-18C Super Hornet like the ones used in bombing runs on a range in the Ocala National Forest. (Shawn J. Stewart/US Navy) — An F/A-18C Super Hornet like the ones used in bombing runs on a range in the Ocala National Forest. Click on the image for larger view. (Shawn J. Stewart/US Navy)

Navy Bombing in the Ocala National Forest: Navy training schedules indicate that inert and live bombing will take place at the Pinecastle Range Complex located in the Ocala National Forest this week. Bombings at times can be heard in Flagler-Palm Coast. The bombings are scheduled as follows:

Thursday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Live/Inert
Friday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Live/Inert
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. – Live/Inert
Sunday: 5-11 p.m. – Live/Inert

During bombing periods wildlife may be temporarily displaced. Use extra caution when driving through the Ocala National forest and surrounding areas. Secure any items around your residence that could attract wildlife. Always be mindful of larger animals including black bears and practice bearwise measures. The telephone number for noise complaints is 1-800-874-5059, Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility, Jacksonville, Fla. For additional information, call (904) 542-5588.

Blood Donations: The Big Red Bus will be at the following locations this week (schedule your donation by going to the website and entering a Palm Coast zip code, then locating one of the venues below):

Wednesday: Post Office, 2 Pine Cone Drive, Palm Coast, 2 to 5 p.m.
Thursday: Banfield Pet Hospital, 5270 State Road 100 (Target ShoppinG center), Palm Coast, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Thursday: Woody’s BBQ, 99 Flagler Plaza Drive, Palm Coast, 3 to 6 p.m.
Sunday: Trinity Presbyterean Church, 156 Florida Park Drive, Palm Coast, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Sunday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell


Jail Bookings, June 19-22 Sheriff's night shift incident reports, June 21 Sheriff's day shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's night shift incident reports, June 21 Flagler Beach's day shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's night shift incident reports, June 21 Bunnell police's day shift incident reports, June 21
Previous and archived reports

Sources: Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Flagler Beach Police Department, Bunnell Police Department. This is Flagler County's only comprehensive, one-stop compilation of all local law enforcement's daily day and night shift commanders' reports.

Flagler Beach Is Open For Business: A1A Construction Update:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to year-long construction on and near State Road A1A in Flagler Beach as the Florida Department of Transportation rebuilds a 1.5-mile segment from South 9th Street to South 22nd Street, and builds a sea wall at the north end of town. These updates are provided through DOT or local officials. If you have any relevant information or images, you’re welcome to email them to the editor here.

February 4 Update: Construction is scheduled to begin this week week on Segments 2 and 3 of the S.R. A1A project. Work on Segment 2, from S. 22nd Street to S. 9th Street will include removal of the existing low-profile barrier wall, and construction of the temporary lime rock base on the east side of the roadway to prepare for placement of temporary asphalt. This work will require single lane closures with flagging operations during the day. Work is expected to progress from south to north. Both northbound and southbound traffic will remain on S.R. A1A. The southbound S.R. A1A detour is expected to begin in late February.

Work on Segment 3, from N. 18th Street to Osprey Drive will include removing two existing beach walkovers near N.18th Street and one walkover in front of Oceanside Condominiums as noted in the plans. Work also will include importing and placing sand in preparation for installing the auger cast pilings. Traffic will be shifted slightly to the west on S.R. A1A to accommodate the work. Drivers can expect a single lane closure with flagging operations when traffic is shifted.

The contractor has 300 days to complete the work.

See Also:

The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county's most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view. (DOT) — The proposed roundabout at the intersection of Old Dixie Highway and U.S. 1 is intended to drastically reduce the number of severe crashes at one of the county’s most dangerous intersections. Two other such roundabouts are proposed for other dangerous intersections in Flagler. Click on the image for larger view.
(DOT)

U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway Roundabout Construction Updates:

FlaglerLive is providing weekly updates to the planned 15-month, $4.1 million construction of a roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway. The project started in late January and is scheduled for completion by spring 2020.

This week southbound U.S. 1 will be reduced to one lane and be shifted slightly west onto new pavement. Southbound U.S. 1 traffic heading to Old Dixie Highway will be directed to stay on southbound U.S. 1 and make a U-turn to return to Old Dixie Highway using northbound U.S. 1. Old Dixie Highway drivers heading to southbound U.S. 1 will have to turn onto northbound U.S. 1 and make a U-turn to access southbound U.S. 1. Later this week, northbound U.S. 1 will be reduced to one lane and shifted west onto the existing southbound side of the roadway. Once this shift is made, U.S. 1 will have one lane in each direction through the project area. The speed limit will be reduced along U.S. 1 through the construction zone, and drivers are asked to be alert and use caution when traveling through the work area.

More details here.

See Also:

Announcements:

Scholarship Applicants Wanted: The Flagler Woman’s Club will award multiple $2000 scholarships to male and female graduating seniors in all areas of study including Theatre, Art, Music, and Trade Schools. Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen; a resident of Flagler County for a minimum of one year; have a financial need and qualify for acceptance to a college or a trade school. Printed applications are now available at the Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas High Schools’ Guidance Departments; the Flagler County Library in Palm Coast and the Flagler Beach Library. The application is also available on our Face Book page at The Flagler Woman’s Club. The application deadline is February 8, 2019. For more information call Kay Johnson at (386)439-3960 or (386)405-8518.

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.

‘DEREGATHON’ DETAILED: The House Business & Professions Subcommittee will receive an update from Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Halsey Beshears about “Deregathon,” an event held to discuss ways to reduce regulations. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)

GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, HEALTH BUDGETS EYED: The House Government Operations & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee and the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee will receive presentations about Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed 2019-2020 budget. (Thursday, Government Operations & Technology, 10:30 a.m., Morris Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol. Also, Health Care, 10:30 a.m., 404 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP SCHOOLS DISCUSSED: The House PreK-12 Innovation Subcommittee will receive a presentation on community partnership schools. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., 306 House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LICENSE PLATES, DESIGNATIONS ON AGENDA: The House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee will take up a series of bills dealing with specialty license plates and transportation-facility designations. (Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Reed Hall, House Office Building, the Capitol.)

LOCAL AUDITS WEIGHED: The Joint Legislative Auditing Committee will consider a request by Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, to conduct an audit related to the city of Melbourne and a request from Rep. Ralph Massullo, R-Lecanto, to conduct an audit related to the Citrus County Hospital Board. (Thursday, 1:30 p.m., 110 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)

JUSTICES HEAR PANHANDLE MURDER CASE: The Florida Supreme Court will hear arguments in four cases, including an appeal by Johnny Mack Sketo Calhoun, who was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2010 death of Mia Brown in Holmes County. Brown’s body was found in the trunk of a burned car in Alabama. (Thursday, 9 a.m., Florida Supreme Court, 500 South Duval St., Tallahassee.)

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

—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive

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

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A Twitter List by PierreTristam

Keep Up with Donald Trump’s attacks on the press through the ACLU’s running tab here.

Keep Up with mass shootings in a running database here.

Palm Coast Construction and Development Progress Reports

Here’s a summary of the latest city developments as of Jan. 31, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.

Click to access week-in-review-jan-31-2019-developments.pdf

Cultural Coda

Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, Op. 20