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Weather: Sunny, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming north around 6 mph in the afternoon. Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 64. Light and variable wind.
- Daily weather briefing from the National Weather Service in Jacksonville here.
- Drought conditions here. (What is the Keetch-Byram drought index?).
- Check today’s tides in Daytona Beach (a few minutes off from Flagler Beach) here.
- Tropical cyclone activity here, and even more details here.
Today at a Glance:
General Election Early Voting is available today in Bunnell, Palm Coast and Flagler Beach from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at five locations. Any registered and qualified voter who is eligible to vote in a county-wide election may vote in person at any of the early voting site, regardless of assigned precinct. According to Florida law, every voter must present a Florida driver’s license, a Florida identification card or another form of acceptable picture and signature identification in order to vote. If you do not present the required identification or if your eligibility cannot be determined, you will only be permitted to vote a provisional ballot. Don’t forget your ID. A couple of secure drop boxes that Ron DeSantis and the GOP legislature haven’t yet banned (also known as Secure Ballot Intake Stations) are available at the entrance of the Elections Office and at any early voting site during voting hours. The locations are as follows:
- Flagler County Elections Supervisor’s Office, Government Services Building, 1769 East Moody Boulevard, Bunnell.
- Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Pkwy NW, Palm Coast.
- Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE.
- Palm Coast’s Southern Recreation Center, 1290 Belle Terre Parkway.
- Flagler Beach United Methodist Church, 1520 South Daytona Avenue, Flagler Beach.
See a sample ballot here. See the Live Interviews with all local candidates below.
Palm Coast Mayor Cornelia Manfre Mike Norris Palm Coast City Council Ty Miller, Dist. 1 Jeffrey Seib, Dist. 1 Ray Stevens, Dist. 3 Andrew Werner, Dist. 3 Backgrounders Manfre’s and Norris’s Final Clash Temper and Temperament at Tiger Bay Forum Stevens and Werner Sharpen Differences |
Drug Court convenes before Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols at 10 a.m. in Courtroom 401 at the Flagler County courthouse, Kim C. Hammond Justice Center 1769 E Moody Blvd, Bldg 1, Bunnell. Drug Court is open to the public. See the Drug Court handbook here and the participation agreement here.
The Flagler Beach City Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 105 South 2nd Street in Flagler Beach. Watch the meeting at the city’s YouTube channel here. Access meeting agenda and materials here. See a list of commission members and their email addresses here.
Model Yacht Club Races at the Pond in Palm Coast’s Central Park, from noon to 2 p.m. in Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave. Join Bill Wells, Bob Rupp and other members of the Palm Coast Model Yacht Club, watch them race or join the races with your own model yacht. No dues to join the club, which meets at the pond in Central Park every Thursday.
The Palm Coast Beautification and Environmental Advisory Committee meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 160 Lake Avenue, Palm Coast.
 Keep Their Lights On Over the Holidays: Flagler Cares, the social service non-profit celebrating its 10th anniversary, is marking the occasion with a fund-raiser to "Keep the Holiday Lights On" by encouraging people to sponsor one or more struggling household's electric bill for a month over the Christmas season. Each sponsorship amounts to $100 donation, with every cent going toward payment of a local power bill. See the donation page here. Every time another household is sponsored, a light goes on on top of a house at Flagler Cares' fundraising page. The goal of the fun-raiser, which Flagler Cares would happily exceed, is to support at least 100 families (10 households for each of the 10 years that Flagler Cares has been in existence). Flagler Cares will start taking applications for the utility fund later this month. Because of its existing programs, the organization already has procedures in place to vet people for this type of assistance, ensuring that only the needy qualify. |
Notably: Could it be that a letter to the editor, lost at the very bottom right of The New York Times on on a July day in 1915, gave rise to one of the first–if not the first–beach renourishment project in American history? “In the Summer months the poor people of the city are breathing the warm air day after day and cannot enjoy a day’s bathing at the seashore because the one municipal bath house at Coney Island is overcrowded, and the price demanded at the others is above their reach,” Harry B. Denner wrote the editor from New York, in a letter dated July 22. Note the capitalization of Summer (the letter appeared next to one titled, with that spelling: “Porto Rico’s Misery”). “There is nothing more beneficent that the city can do than build another bath house at Coney Island, remove the rocks, and enlarge the beach at City Island and construct a new bath house there, where many thousands more will be accommodated than at the present one.” A future engineer with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must have caught the letter. Coney Island in 1923 turned into the island Mr. Denner wished for it, with sandy beaches created by the Corps. It celebrated its 100th anniversary last year.
—P.T.
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The Live Calendar is a compendium of local and regional political, civic and cultural events. You can input your own calendar events directly onto the site as you wish them to appear (pending approval of course). To include your event in the Live Calendar, please fill out this form.
Flagler Beach Farmers Market
Coffee With Flagler Beach Commission Chair Scott Spradley
Grace Community Food Pantry on Education Way
Gamble Jam at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area
ESL Bible Studies for Intermediate and Advanced Students
Grace Community Food Pantry on Education Way
Palm Coast Farmers’ Market at European Village
Al-Anon Family Groups
For the full calendar, go here.
In the late 19th Century, Coney Island was America’s biggest and most visited seaside resort and amusement park destinations, boasting some of the largest and most luxurious hotels in the country, fancy fish houses and racetracks. It was so internationally famous that it was compared to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Pyramids of Egypt. The destination attracted millions of visitors annually to its several competing amusement parks that included Steeplechase Park that had mechanical horses that carried guests around the grounds, Luna Park, that was considered a genuine fantasyland with large towers and camel and elephant rides, and Dreamland. In addition to many independent amusements. Some of the attractions were so large that immigrants arriving from Europe on ship could see them from the water during the years before the Statue of Liberty was built. Coney Island was also a place that showcased innovations. For example, it was the first place that many people experienced lightbulbs for the first time. In fact, Luna Park had 1,300,000 electric lights that enabled visitors to have fun for hours after dark. The public’s amazement of the park’s lights even continues today. Salim said of her first visit there, “In the evening, it got so bright from all of the lights from the amusement park. It felt so festive.” Coney Island is also where modern American amusement was invented and was the first place to have rides, including having the very first roller coaster in the United States named the Switchback Railway. In addition, Coney Island had the Wonder Wheel, a 150-foot-tall steel Ferris wheel, the Cyclone, a roller coaster with an 85-foot, 58-degree drop, and the 262-foot-high Parachute Jump. All of these attractions still exist today and are historic landmarks. At this time, the beach at Coney Island was owned by adjacent landowners, but in 1923 it officially became a public beach and was expanded. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation increased the size of the beach by pumping sand onto the shore to build up the existing bathing area. In addition, a boardwalk was constructed and named in honor of then Brooklyn borough president Edward Riegelmann. This was done by erecting concrete piles and pile caps out in the water and laying timber stringers and decking. This new boardwalk, as well as new subway service in the 1920’s helped to draw more visitors. During this time, the park started to feature many sideshows and entrepreneurs, such as Nathan Handwerker, started selling hot dogs for a nickel, which would eventually turn into the Nathan’s Famous hot dog chain known today.
—From “Preserving an iconic beach for future generations,” by JoAnne Castagna of the Army Corps’ New York District, June 2, 2023.
Laurel says
This cartoon says it all, and it’s telling women and girls that no matter how hard you work, or how smart and capable you are, at best, you are equal to a white, felon, liar, rapist, con man.
What an irresponsible shame on our society.
Ray W, says
According to CNN, Jeffrey Michael Kelly, a retired aerospace engineer who once held a top security clearance, appeared in a Maricopa County courtroom yesterday after having been stopped and arrested for three felony counts of terrorism and four other counts related to early morning hour shootings on Sept. 16th, Sept. 23 and Oct. 6th of a Tempe area Harris campaign office.
Law enforcement officers found a machine gun in the car he was driving at the time of his arrest. In his home were found scopes, body armor and silencers, along with more than 120 guns and 250,000 rounds of ammunition.
Based on the “sheer size” of the cache, authorities believe “this person was preparing to commit an act of mass casualty.”
Mr. Kelly also stands accused of hanging razor blade edged hand-painted political signs critical of Democrats generally and Harris specifically on trees in the affluent Phoenix suburb of Ahwatukee.
Make of this what you will. Me? Since the earliest of my comments, I have proffered to all FlaglerLive readers the idea that we are early in a wave of incidents of political violence. Perhaps we are at or near the end of the beginning of this wave, but I suspect that we are nowhere near the beginning of the end of the wave.
I have repeatedly commented on the Oresteia, or the three plays of Agamemnon, from which social historians infer that the ancient Greeks, horrified by the damage wrought by a law based on the debt of blood vengeance, repealed the law and instituted a form of law based on an independent judge and jury that dispensed justice. The change is considered as a switch from an honor-based society to a respect-based society. Under this theory, honor demands vengeance and respect commands justice.
My comment is not limited to any one side of the political spectrum.
The political violence we now endure may last for decades before we come to our senses. The last time that such a wave that overwhelmed all of Europe, including Russia, and North America occurred lasted from roughly 1890 to 1915.
Vengeance, retribution, hatred for the “other”, all are signs of society-wide political sickness.
Perhaps it is time to introduce the ideas of antipathy and empathy.
Antipathy, per Collinsdictionary, is defined as “a natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion.” Under this definition there may be three types of antipathy. One that is “natural”, one that is “basic”, and one that is “habitual.” In the political context, it is probably best to focus on the “habitual” aspect of antipathy. Our founding fathers understood human nature. We can internalize and habitualize forms of political thought. Those of our founding fathers who completed a curriculum of liberal arts in an Age of Scottish Enlightenment were exposed to the Oresteia. They also studied Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and other ancient Greek philosophers. They knew of the antipathy produced by engaging in partisan party politics. Madison deemed such affiliations “pestilential.”
Empathy, per Dictionary.com, is defined as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.” Does anyone wonder that antipathy is the opposite of empathy?
When someone spreads a lie to further the agenda of a malicious partisan politician can that act ever be considered one of empathy?
Pogo says
@Hello, Ray W.
Is there any doubt that Trump has found the next “leader” of ATF?
Ray W, says
Hello Pogo.
An update to Mr. Kelly’s array of weaponry now lists a grenade launcher as one of his possessions. I am unconvinced that possession of 120+ weapons and 250k or so rounds of ammunition disqualifies him from the ATF post in a nihilistic future administration, but the grenade launcher probably does.
Laurel says
I can’t believe this is the first I have heard of this Kelly person! People are losing their minds! How is it that “They’re eating dogs and cats” is an acceptable statement? How is it people are lining up to vote for this craziness? The only thing I can think of, is the middle class has been so beat down, since the 1970’s that they are desperate, so what do they do? Vote for the same shit! Give tax breaks for the wealthy. Get rid of Medicare and Social Security. Stop teaching truth in schools, along with omitting civics and history. Support hate for people who are a little different.
It’s absolutely mind blowing.
North Korea is now sending soldiers to Russia to help Putin beat democratic Ukraine. Before Trump, the Republicans saw Russia and North Korea as adversaries, not to be supported by us. Both men, Putin and Kim Jong Un, are admired by the very man we have running for President.
Antipathy is the rule of the day, and practiced by half our nation. We will soon see if it rules our country.
Ray W, says
Hello Laurel.
We all miss much of what is considered news.
I take the position that Mr. Tristam likely has his hands full keeping up with the shenanigans of 130k Flagler County residents. I assert that it would by physically impossible for any one person to keep up with the antics of 330,000,000 Americans.
I limit my own offerings. I don’t comment on who is running for school board or whether someone should get a zoning variance to build another 147 homes, unless I can practice snark.
I find it hard enough to keep up with those who engage in disinformation laundering in just one national election. I will comment on the energy field, or transportation, or law, or the economy. I avoid a lot of comments as unproductive.
For the FlaglerLive commenters among us who claim that Mr. Tristam should be covering even more news (only that which they like, naturally), please get a little perspective. There is stress enough for everyone. I don’t want him dropping from a chronic stress-related incident.
Get back to basics says
Don’t forget FlaglerLive first mission is a clear conscience LOCAL news.
They shouldn’t even be promoting the political arena to influence people’s individual perspective
Laurel says
I was not putting the lack of this particular information on Mr. Tristam, I have other news sources too, mostly PBS News Hour. Too much news can be depressing. I’m considering less.
Your comment is the first I’ve heard of this Kelly fella.
Ray W, says
The Washington Post reports that the Bureau of Land Management just issued the final permit necessary for Ioneer, an Australian company, to begin constructing the infrastructure for extracting boron and lithium from a Rhyolite Ridge mine in Esmerelda County, Nevada, located between Las Vegas and Reno.
Laura Daniel-Davis, deputy interior secretary, stated: “This project and the process we have undertaken demonstrates that we can pursue responsible critical mineral development here in the United States, while protecting the health of our public lands and resources.”
At full capacity, the mine is expected to produce enough lithium to power 370,000 battery electric vehicles per year for more than 20 years. Boron is useful in producing glass and ceramic products, among other things.
500 workers will construct the infrastructure, and 350 miners will extract the ore.
On a separate issue, earlier today, the Treasury Department finalized rules making mines producing critical minerals eligible for federal tax credits.
Make of this what you will. Me? Depending on perspective, the Biden administration remains wedded to a pragmatic form of capitalism that defies characterization as communist or socialist.
Ray W, says
Reuters interviewed a number of attendees at a Houston-area energy conference.
Among many subjects, the reporter wrote:
“A wave of consolidation in the top U.S. shale field has concentrated output in the hands of companies that are promising to restrain output so as not to crash prices by over-producing.”
Make of this what you will. Me. American shale oil producers could produce a lot more oil than they currently produce.
Yes, the pipeline network out of the Permian Basin is largely running at capacity.
The author of the article reports that one company plans to moderately increase production over time, but the general consensus is that adding to pipeline capacity might drive down crude oil production, i.e., profits. This actually might be the wisest choice for the companies and their shareholders. If peak worldwide demand for crude oil occurs at some point in the next 10 years, as expected, building additional pipeline capacity might be cost-ineffective.
One of our presidential candidates is promising to “Drill, Baby, Drill” if elected. Maybe the shale oil companies will drill for a lot more oil if he asks them to. Maybe they won’t. The faithful can always daydream of $2.00 gasoline prices.