Today: Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers. Highs in the mid 60s. North winds 10 to 15 mph. Tonight: Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of showers after midnight. Lows in the lower 50s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. 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: 235
Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day: smithereens.
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
“The old peddler woman on the bench and the overalled men in the stern had seen enough husbands meeting their wives and children after a long absence to know how such people ought to behave. The most volatile races, such as the Italians, often danced for joy, whirled each other around, pirouetted in an ecstasy: Swedes sometimes just looked at each other, breathing through open mouths like a panting dog; Jews wept, jabbered, almost put each other’s eyes out with the recklessness of their darting gestures; Poles roared and gripped each other at arm’s length as though they meant to tear a handful of flesh; and after one pecking kiss, the English might be seen gravitating toward, but never achieving an embrace.”
–From Henry Roth’s “Call It Sleep” (1934).
Previously:
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.
I-95 resurfacing: A major resurfacing project begins on I-95 in Flagler County, today starting at Palm Coast Parkway to the St. Johns County Line. The project will resurface the entirety of I-95, add new guardrails and other improvements, and stretch to the fall of 2020, with lane closures along the way. See details here.
The Flagler County Commission meets at 5 p.m. at the Government Services Building, Bunnell. Commissioners are expected to approve a $35,000 security video system for the county library on Palm Coast Parkway (the money is drawn from the library’s own passport program).
Bunnell Elementary PTO meeting, 5 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
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):
- Tuesday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday: MPower Fitness, Atlantic Fitness, 160 Cypress Point parkway (City Marketplace), 8:30 a.m. to noon.
- Wednesday: Epic Theaters, 1185 Central Avenue, Palm Coast, 1 to 4 p.m.
- Thursday: Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Thursday: Sandvik Kanthal Palm Coast, 1 Commerce Boulevard, 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Thursday: Coastal Cloud, One Hammock Beach Parkway, Palm Coast, 2 to 5 p.m.
- Friday: Walmart, 174 Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Jail Bookings and Last 24 Hours' Incidents in Flagler, Palm Coast, Flagler Beach, Bunnell
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| 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 |
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.
Segment 2 (South 22nd Street to South 9th Street):
The contractor has begun installing the new water main along the west side of S.R. A1A. The work began at the south end of the project and is moving north. Sidewalk has been removed to accommodate the water main installation. Temporary pedestrian walkways have been created, and pedestrians are asked to use the walkways for safety.
Construction activities will continue during daylight hours Monday through Saturday. Please obey the posted speed limit through the work area and detour, and be alert to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Segment 3 (North 18th Street to Osprey Drive) Project Update:
The contractor has drilled and set reinforcing fiberglass cages in more than two dozen shafts to create the buried seawall. Work is continuing northward to clear and place additional sand within the project corridor.
Construction activities will continue during daylight hours Monday through Saturday. The contractor is requesting that spectators stay off the shoulders and out of the work zone for safety. Drivers need to obey the 25-mph speed limit and there is no parking on the shoulder.
Caution! Flagler Beach police and and Sherriff’s deputies are actively monitoring speed and writing tickets. “I got a warning on north section of A1A before construction actually began so I keep to the 25 limit, but still getting tailgated by cars wanting to go faster,” a reader tells us.
See Also:
- In Flagler Beach, A1A Shops and Restaurants Hope Their ‘Open For Business’ Signs Are Louder Than Road Construction
- $22.4 Million A1A Rebuilding and Sea Wall Construction in Flagler Beach Starts in January
- A New, Not Much Improved A1A in Flagler Beach: Median, 30MPH, Drainage, But No Added Protection
- Council Endorses Raising Flagler’s Tourism Tax to 5% to Pay For Beach Repairs
- FDOT’s Regional Construction Page
(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.
The Florida Department of Transportation will be closing Old Dixie Highway and C.R. 325 at U.S. 1 on Monday night, March 4, from about 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. The closure is needed to allow the contractor to make improvements to the crossover at the temporary intersection. U.S. 1 will remain open in both directions.
More details here.
See Also:
- Roundabout Construction on US1 and Old Dixie Begins: Be Prepared For Traffic Shifts and Single Lanes
- Roundabout Construction at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Begins in Weeks; Expect Detours
- Strident Opposition to Roundabout at US1 and Old Dixie Even As Another Crash Results In Critical Injury
- FDOT’s Project Page
Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool is now Palm Coast Aquatics Center? Not quite: The City pool facility is now called the Palm Coast Aquatics Center. Just to clarify, the pool itself will retain its dedicated name of Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool. Since the facility is much more than a pool – with fitness classes, special events, classroom for rentals and more aquatics programming than ever – it was important to find an overall facility name that better captured what is offered there. The new name more closely matches other Parks & Recreation facilities: Palm Coast Community Center, Palm Coast Tennis Center, and Palm Harbor Golf Club. “As we continue to offer more activities and training outside of the pool, we are more than just a swimming pool,” said James Hirst, Aquatics Supervisor of Parks & Recreation. “Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool is not going away; rather, it is becoming part of the overall Palm Coast Aquatics Center and everything it encompasses.” The Palm Coast Aquatics Center will open for the season on Monday, April 1, and registration is now open for Aqua Zumba, Water Aerobics, a new class called Fitness on the Water, swim lessons and much more. The municipal pool, which is heated, will introduce new hours this year. It will be open 8 a.m. to noon and then 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday from April 1 through Memorial Day Weekend, when it will be open seven days a week for the summer. For a complete list of pool hours and fees, please visit www.palmcoastgov.com/pool. The Palm Coast Aquatics Center is located at 339 Parkview Drive, Palm Coast. At the pool, there are three pavilions on the pool deck currently available for reservation, and the entire facility can be rented for birthday parties and other after-hours events. More information can be found at www.palmcoastgov.com/pool. Daily admission is $4 for adults; $3 for seniors (65 and older) and youth (ages 2-17); and free for children under 2. Monthly, seasonal and quarterly passes are available for families, limited families (two people in the same household) and individuals. The full schedule of activities, including swim lessons, for both spring and summer seasons can be found at www.parksandrec.fun/aquatics. For more information, call the pool at 386-986-4741. The Parks & Recreation Activity Guide is available online at www.palmcoastgov.com/recreation.
Flagler Executive Airport wins regional FAA Safety Award: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Southern Region Airports Division has named Flagler Executive Airport the winner of the 2018 General Aviation Airport Safety Award. The award recognizes Flagler Executive Airport specifically for the Runway 11-29 Relocation and Extension Project, an accomplishment the FAA Airports Division selection committee felt clearly and significantly enhanced airport safety. “This was the single largest project undertaken since the airport was originally constructed in 1942,” said Airport Director Roy Sieger. “This special recognition is quite an honor as the FAA Southern Region Airports Division oversees airport development, certification and safety for all of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, Puerto Rica and the U.S. Virgin Islands.” The Runway 11-29 Project began in February 2017 and closed in January of 2018, relocating the runway 400 feet to the south, 800 feet to the east, and lengthening it by 501 feet to the east. These changes increased the size of runway safety areas, increased the separation between the runway and parallel taxiway, and improved safety grading and intersection safety.
Residents reminded Rebuild Florida deadline is March 29: The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reminds residents the application deadline, March 29, for its “Rebuild Florida” is fast approaching. To date, 214 Flagler County residents have registered for assistance. The department established the program in September 2018 to provide $616 million to help families repair or rebuild homes significantly damaged by Hurricane Irma – including communities within Flagler County. “I understand the registration process only takes between 15 and 30 minutes, so it is worthwhile to take the time to do it,” said Emergency Management Chief Jonathan Lord. “We want to encourage everyone who is looking for assistance throughout Flagler County to review the requirements and apply.” The funds are available through the Department of Economic Opportunity’s Rebuild Florida initiative, which will “repair and rebuild homes for low-income families, construct additional affordable housing units, assist businesses in disaster recovery and update local infrastructure to better withstand future storms.” Rebuild Florida is a partnership of DEO and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Though restrictive, some money will be made available to mobile and manufactured homes less than 5 years old and with repair costs up to $5,000. Replacement mobile homes may be made available to those not meeting the initial criteria. For more information, go to www.rebuildflorida.gov, or call 844-833-1010. Eligible Florida residents now have until March 29 to register for the Rebuild Florida Housing Repair and Replacement Program.
Flagler Executive Airport will receive a plaque from the FAA commemorating this award during the 2019 Southern Region Airports Conference, which takes place in Atlanta, GA in April.
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.
CHEAPER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS SOUGHT: The House Appropriations Committee will consider a proposal (HB 19), filed by Rep. Tom Leek, R-Ormond Beach, that would create a program aimed at importing cheaper prescription drugs from Canada. The House has moved forward with the proposal after Gov. Ron DeSantis announced support for such a program. (Monday, 1 p.m., 212 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
CITRUS GREENING, BEES GET ATTENTION: The Senate Agriculture Committee will receive updates about the deadly citrus greening disease and Florida’s bee population. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 301 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
CRIME STOPPERS INFORMATION TARGETED: The Senate Criminal Justice Committee will take up a bill (SB 1766), filed by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, that would shield from disclosure “privileged” information provided to Crime Stoppers programs. Such information includes the identities of people who communicate with Crime Stoppers. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 37 Senate Office Building, the Capitol.)
HOSPITAL REGULATIONS AT ISSUE: The Senate Health Policy Committee will consider a proposal (SB 1712), filed by Chairwoman Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, that would make a series of regulatory changes related to hospitals. (Monday, 1:30 p.m., 412 Knott Building, the Capitol.)
—-Compiled by the News Service of Florida and FlaglerLive
In Coming Days in Palm Coast, Flagler and the Occasional Beyond:
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 March 1, 2019, with a link to the full week in review here.
Click to access week-in-review-march-15-2019-developments.pdf
Cultural Coda
J.S. Bach’s Double Violin Concerto in D minor BWV 1043 Krakowska Młoda Filharmonia
Previous Codas:
- Willie Nelson: Hello Walls
- Jacques Loussier Trio Plays Bach
- Norbert Burgmüller: Duo for clarinet and piano, op. 15
- Mozart: Symphony No. 29 in A major, K.201, Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra
- Nina Simone: Good Bait
- Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody
- FPC Jazz Band, 2019 District MPA, Love is Here to Stay
- Johann Sebastian Bach: Triosonata in C Minor BWV 526, Katja Sager, organ
- J.S. Bach: Trio Sonata in E-Flat Major, BWV 525, Doug Marshall, Organ
- Willie Nelson and His Sons Discuss Growing up on Tour and Performing as a Family
- Sulkhan Tsintsadze: Miniatures for String Quartet
- Joseph Marx: Trio-Phantasie (1914)
- George Antheil: Violin Sonata Nr. 2
- Elgar’s Serenade for Strings, Op. 20
- Vaughan Williams: Rhosymedre (US Marine Band)
- Maurice Ravel: La Valse
- George Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue, Maja Babyszka, piano
- Abel Carlevaro: Tamboriles
- Leonora Spangenberger (13) plays Heitor Villa Lobos’s Etude No 9
- Michel Sardou: Le France
- Smetana: Má Vlast / Kubelík Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
- Leontyne Price: the Interview
- Florence Price’s Fantaisie Negre, Performed by Elijah Stevens
- Jean Sibelius, Tapiola: Schlosstheater Schönbrunn, Orchestra of the Slovak Philharmony
tom mutschler says
FDOT plans poorly again. The resurfacing of I-95 in Flagler County is badly needed but to schedule it while the “roundabout” on US#1 is under construction is a recipe for disaster. With lane closings on both roads possibly going on at the same time where do all the cars go in the event of total road closing s due to accidents or , God forbid , a hurricane evacuation mess as we saw a couple of years ago ???