JUST THE FACTS: U.S. Senate and House Take Steps to Reopen the Government
There is one summary for H.R.5371. Bill summaries are authored by CRS.
several public health, Medicare, and Medicaid authorities and programs;
Republican Senator Paul voted against.
S.2392 – Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025.
Flagler County Fall Arts Festival Fills Central Park with Music, Art, and Family Fun
PALM COAST, Fla. – The Flagler County Cultural Council’s annual Fall Arts Festival transformed Central Park in Town Center, Palm Coast into a vibrant celebration of creativity on Saturday. Under perfect autumn skies, hundreds of residents and visitors came out to enjoy a day filled with local art, live music, family-friendly crafts, and community spirit.
The park’s lakeside path was lined with artists, makers, and vendors showcasing everything from Driftwood and Decor and handcrafted jewelry and fine art by Pat Block to photography by local favorite Christophe.com. Families stopped at the kids’ tent where children painted free turtle piggy banks and created Thanksgiving-themed turkey crafts, a highlight for many parents and grandparents.
The live music lineup kept energy high throughout the day, beginning with the Community Band of Palm Coast, followed by a Planet e Studios youth cover group, Rūju, that brought back nostalgic hits from the ’90s and 2000s. Closing out the afternoon, a band made up of local music teachers, Friday Morning Jam Club, rocked the stage—proving educators can command the spotlight, too.
Visitors browsed dozens of vendor booths offering holiday décor, artisan gifts, and specialty items for pets, while local nonprofits and cultural groups added to the community connection. Exhibitors included the African American Cultural Society, the Hispanic American Cultural Society, the Palm Coast Historical Society, and other organizations representing Flagler County’s diverse cultural scene.
Hosted in partnership with the City of Palm Coast, the festival continues to grow as one of the area’s most beloved arts and culture events, attracting thousands of attendees each fall.
Festival Chair Nancy Crouch said she was thrilled by both the turnout and the enthusiasm from artists and guests.
“It was another successful festival day,” Crouch said. “Thank you to all the vendors and patrons who came out to support our local artists. We appreciate you—come back in the spring!”
By three o’clock the final notes of live music echoed across the lake, closing out a perfect day that celebrated everything Flagler County’s arts community stands for—creativity, connection, and community pride.
Housing Workshop Set for November 15 in Palm Coast
Join the City of Palm Coast for the Community Development Block Grant Housing Workshop this Saturday, November 15, 2025. Discover how you might qualify for housing rehab and purchase assistance to help make your housing dreams a reality!
November 15, 2025
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Palm Coast Community Center (305 Palm Coast Pkwy NE)
Find out more: palmcoast.gov/housing-programs
Battalion Chief Gary Potter recognized with Tony Gasparino “Lest We Forget Award”
Palm Coast, FL – The Knights of Columbus Corpus Christi Assembly 2810 and Santa Maria Del Mar Catholic Church recognized Palm Coast Battalion Chief Gary Potter with the Tony Gasparino “Lest We Forget Award.” Chief Potter accepted the award alongside his wife, Jacqui, and their children during the annual Veterans Day Celebration hosted by the Knights of Columbus.
The Knights of Columbus Assembly 2810 has hosted the Tony Gasparino Veterans Day Celebration and Lest We Forget awards since 2019. Anthony Gasparino was a Vietnam Veteran and a past Grand Knight and Faithful Navigator of the councils. The Knights of Columbus recognizes Active-Duty Military, Veterans, Law Enforcement, and Fire Rescue, as well as other first responders, for their commitment and service to the Nation and their communities.
Battalion Chief Gary Potter has proudly served with the Palm Coast Fire Department since 2008. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Safety Studies from Siena Heights University and a Master of Public Administration from Barry University. Over his career, Chief Potter has risen through the ranks—promoted to Lieutenant in 2012, Captain in 2016, and Battalion Chief in 2018.
A respected leader in the department, Chief Potter is recognized for his professionalism, operational excellence, and commitment to firefighter safety and mentorship. His steady leadership and commitment to service embody the very principles that the “Lest We Forget Award” honors.
For more information, contact the Palm Coast Fire Department at 386-986-2844. More photos are available on the Palm Coast Fire Department’s Facebook Page. You can also follow @PalmCoastFire on Twitter for more updates.
Stay informed with the latest news and information from the City of Palm Coast by following us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. You can sign up for weekly updates by visiting www.palmcoastgov.com/government/city-manager/week-in-review.
Garden Club at Palm Coast Celebrates 50 Years Hosting District Meeting
Palm Coast, FL – The Garden Club at Palm Coast proudly celebrated its 50th Anniversary while hosting the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs (FFGC) District VI Fall Meeting on October 24 at the elegant Hammock Dunes Club. The milestone event brought together a full complement of members from across the district for a day of fellowship, learning, and celebration of Florida’s gardening community.
The morning began with registration, hospitality, and boutique shopping, where guests mingled and browsed unique garden-inspired gifts from local vendors. The scenic coastal venue set the tone for a day filled with camaraderie and inspiration.
District VI Director Debra Griffith presided over the meeting, guiding a full agenda that highlighted club achievements and initiatives from across the district. The event provided an opportunity for each participating garden club to share updates on their projects, from community beautification efforts to youth engagement and conservation programs.
Garden Club at Palm Coast President Denise Garcia was recognized for the club’s 50th anniversary milestone, honoring five decades of service, education, and environmental stewardship in the Palm Coast community.
Months of work came down to the last few days as The Garden Club at Palm Coast put the finishing touches on the event.
“We had a very special day here at the Hammock Dunes Country Club,” said Garcia. “I am so proud of the team. They all came together as a community effort.”
FFGC President Christy Linke, along with officers Mary Whisler, Maria Wolfe, and Leticia Gunn, expressed their appreciation for the hospitality and enthusiasm shown by the hosting clubs. “We felt the love these past three weeks and were so thrilled to see all the lovely Garden Club members from across our beautiful state,” Linke shared.
Local dignitaries attended the meeting and luncheon including Flagler County Commissioner Pam Richardson.
“What a beautiful celebration of the Palm Coast Garden Club’s 50th anniversary, said Richardson.
“President Denise Garcia transformed the Hammock Dunes ballroom into a botanical wonderland as members and dignitaries from across the region gathered to share gardening inspiration and friendship. We enjoyed a delightful meal in the sunlit, oceanfront venue, browsed holiday gifts from local vendors, and learned about the club’s youth summer camp scholarships that foster a love of nature. Here’s to the next 50 years of growth and blooming success,” she said.
The event concluded with lunch overlooking the ocean—an elegant and fitting tribute to both the legacy and the continued growth of The Garden Club at Palm Coast, as it blossoms into its next fifty years of community impact and friendship.
“The nice thing about garden club is we have a convention every year. So, you’ve got friends you might only see once a year. You might see those friends when another club does the district party so that’s one of the fun parts about it, getting to see people you’ve known for years.”
The Florida Federation of Garden Clubs will hold their 2026 Convention & State Flower Show on April 14-17, 2026 at the Embassy Suites, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Visit www.ffgc.org for details.
Flagler Nonprofits Get Boost Ahead of the Holidays from Women United Flagler
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Women United Flagler awarded $11,000 in community grants to local nonprofits serving Flagler County during its annual Meet & Greet held on Wednesday, November 5. The free event, open to women interested in learning more about Women United Flagler, took place at The Shape of Water Restaurant, 5047 N. Ocean Shore Drive in Palm Coast.
“This was an opportunity for our community to experience the impact of Women United Flagler’s initiatives and to meet others who share a passion for supporting our efforts to help Flagler County residents in need, especially the ALICE population,” said Haylie Allegra, Sr. Director of Business Development at Florida Blue and Social Chairperson for Women United Flagler.
Grant recipients included Vincent’s Clubhouse, Christmas Come True, Teens-In-Flight, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation’s Pink Army, and Flagler County Education Foundation. Each organization received funding to support programs that make a tangible difference in the lives of local residents.
In a touching show of partnership, the Pink Army also made a donation to the Women United Flagler Chapter during the evening’s event in the amount of $1,755, raised as part of the annual Pink Army 5K. The contribution underscored the spirit of collaboration and shared purpose among local organizations committed to helping Flagler County residents in need.
The evening was also a bittersweet one for Sheila Pillath, Vice President of Development for the Community Foundation of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, who recently announced her retirement. Pillath shared that while she looks forward to spending more time with her aging mother and new granddaughter, she plans to remain engaged with Women United.
“Women United Flagler are our eyes and ears in the Flagler community because they are so well-connected to the nonprofits because they have such a caring heart. They are the ones saying to be mindful of the smaller nonprofits and are our connection to the smaller nonprofits to make sure they have the resources they need to serve the community,” shared Pillath.
“It is so incredible to see these ladies come tighter and through their caring hearts take care of the community, and that’s what Women United has been about since it’s inception,” she said.
“I admit I am having a lot of FOMO. There are so many seeds that have been planted and to not be here as a staff person to see all of these things bloom, I admit is tough. But I’m still in the community and I’ll still see things come to fruition.”
Adding to the evening’s charm, The Shape of Water Restaurant—known for its enchanting atmosphere featuring man-made waterfalls, caves, and a whimsical fairy garden—generously donated the use of its venue for the celebration.
“We were grateful to The Shape of Water Restaurant for donating their magical space to help us celebrate and shine a light on these nonprofits and the vital work they do for those in need throughout our community,” Allegra added.
Women United Flagler, an affiliate of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties, continues to empower women through philanthropy, volunteerism, and leadership, strengthening the community one act of kindness at a time.
Florida Students Invited to Participate in 2025 Native American Heritage Month Contests
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.,– The Florida Department of Education and Volunteer Florida invited students to participate in the 2025 Native American Heritage Month student art and essay contests with the theme “Celebrating Florida’s Native American Heritage.” Native American Heritage Month is recognized and celebrated in the United States during the month of November.
“We are proud to offer students opportunities to learn from and honor the Native Americans who have shaped Florida’s story,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “I encourage every student to learn about our Native American history and discover the remarkable achievements they made.”
“I am honored to recognize the rich culture and heritage of Native Americans, whose contributions greatly enhance the fabric of our nation,” said Volunteer Florida CEO Josie Tamayo. “As we observe Native American Heritage Month, we celebrate the impact and legacy of Native American communities here in Florida and beyond.”
All Florida students are invited to participate in academic and creative contests based on this year’s theme. Students in grades K-3 are invited to participate in an art contest, while students in grades 4-12 are invited to participate in an essay contest. Additionally, students, parents, teachers and principals are invited to nominate full-time educators of all student grades for the Native American Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award.
About the Student Art Contest
The Native American Heritage Month art contest is open to all Kindergarten through third-grade students in Florida. Each student should submit one original, two-dimensional artwork based on this year’s theme. Four statewide winners will be selected, and each winner will receive a $200 gift card for school supplies and a 1-year pass to Florida State Parks.
About the Student Essay Contest
The Native American Heritage Month essay contest is open to all students attending any Florida school in grades 4-12. Six winners will be selected: two elementary school students (grades 4-5), two middle school students (grades 6-8), and two high school students (grades 9-12). Each winner will receive a 2-year Florida College Plan scholarship provided by the Florida Prepaid College Foundation and a $200 gift card for school supplies.
Contestants must be Florida residents, attend school in Florida in grades 4-12 (including public, charter, private, home or virtual) and able to provide a Social Security Number. Each student may enter only one essay, written in English, no longer than 500 words.
There are many examples throughout our state’s history of Native Americans and their contributions to Florida’s success. Using your own words, write about a Native American who has had an impactful effect whose story should be shared. The subject of the essay should be a Floridian.
Some examples are:
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Betty Mae Tiger Jumper – First woman elected as Chair of the Seminole Tribe of Florida
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Florida’s Timucuan Pocahontas, Ulele
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Osceola – An outspoken advocate for Seminole rights in the 1800s
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Noah Billie – An acclaimed Seminole painter
About the Excellence in Education Award
Governor Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis’ Native American Heritage Month Excellence in Education Award Contest is open to all full-time educators in an elementary, middle, or high school in Florida. Four winners will be selected, and nominations may be submitted by a principal, teacher, parent/guardian, or student. Excellence in Education award winners will receive $2,500 from the Volunteer Florida Foundation.
Contest Entries and Nominating Forms and Guidelines
Student contest forms and educator nomination forms must be mailed to Volunteer Florida or submitted online at www.
Volunteer Florida
Native American Heritage Month Committee
1545 Raymond Diehl Road, Suite 250
Tallahassee, Florida 32308
All entries must be received by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on Friday, November 21, 2025.
For more information about the contests, please visit www.
Cold Weather Shelter to Open Monday – November 10
November 7, 2025 – The Sheltering Tree is opening next week because of cold overnight temperatures that will fall below 40 degrees on Monday (November 10). The shelter, operated at the Rock Transformation Center, (formerly Church on the Rock) is not only for those experiencing homelessness, but for anyone who is without heat.
The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures to fall below 40 degrees during the overnight hours on Monday, which is the criteria for opening the cold-weather shelter.
The county will provide bus transportation along two routes, following the schedules below:
East side of the county
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Dollar General at Publix Town Center on Market Avenue (leads to Dollar General), 3:30 p.m.
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McDonald’s at Old Kings Road South and State Road 100 at the dirt road on the east side, 4 p.m.
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Dollar Tree behind Carrabba’s in the Dollar Tree Parking lot, 4:30 p.m.
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Palm Coast Main Branch Library, northwest corner of Palm Coast Parkway and Belle Terre Parkway, 4:45 p.m.
West side of the county
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Dollar General at County Road 305 and Canal Avenue in Daytona North, 4 p.m.
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Bunnell Free Clinic, 703 Moody Boulevard, 4:30 p.m.
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Bridges United Methodist Church in Bunnell, 205 N. Pine Street, 4:30 p.m. (listed as the same pick-up time because of the close proximity)
The Rock Transformation Center is located at 2200 N. State Street. The cold-weather shelter will open at 5 p.m. and will close at 8 a.m. the following day.
The Sheltering Tree, 386-437-3258, is under the umbrella of the Flagler County Family Assistance Center and is a non-denominational civic organization that was created to provide cold weather sheltering during cold nights in Flagler County.
Weather and heat safety preparedness tips from Flagler County Fire Rescue include:
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Never use the oven to heat the home
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All fuel-burning equipment should be vented to the outside to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning
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Screen fireplaces to contain sparks
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Portable space heaters should be kept 3-feet away from anything that can burn
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Turn off portable heaters when leaving the room or going to bed
Follow Flagler County Government on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FlaglerCountyGovernment.
Flagler Rallies to Feed Families: 4th Annual Flagler Radio Food A Thon Raises Over $80,000, But It’s Not Over Yet!
November 7, 2025 — As the Federal Government shutdown continues to delay Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Flagler County is stepping up to ensure no one in the community goes hungry.
Earlier today, Flagler Broadcasting’s 4th Annual Food-A-Thon raised over $80,000 during a four-hour live radio broadcast — a powerful show of local generosity in a time of need. The Food-A-Thon, which supports the Grace Community Food Pantry, aims to reach a $100,000 goal to help feed local families.
Hosted by Flagler Broadcasting President & CEO David Ayres and VP of Sales and Events Kirk Keller, the event aired across all four local stations — WNZF, Beach 92.7, KOOL 100.9, and KIX Country 98.7 — and drew participation from more than 100 local businesses, residents, charities, and officials throughout the day.
Notable contributions included Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly’s $5,000 donation, humorously “courtesy of local drug dealers residing at the Green Roof Inn.” The United Way of Volusia-Flagler presented a $6,000 check, and Palm Coast Mayor Mike Norris offered a personal $3,000 contribution.
Flagler County employees and commissioners also “passed the hat,” collecting $3,610 for the cause.
“We didn’t quite make our goal… YET,” said Grace Community Food Pantry Coordinator Dottie Colletta, who expressed optimism that the community’s continued generosity would help reach the $100,000 target.
Meanwhile, recognizing the broader food insecurity crisis caused by the SNAP benefit freeze, Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito approved an emergency allocation of $50,000 from the county’s pooled expenditures budget to bolster local food bank operations. The action, taken under the Administrator’s authority to commit up to $100,000 without prior Board approval, will be presented for reimbursement from general fund reserves at the November 17 Board of County Commissioners meeting.
According to the Flagler County Department of Health, approximately 11,447 residents — or 7.4% of all households — rely on SNAP benefits. With those benefits temporarily suspended, the county’s funding ensures immediate access to food assistance for vulnerable residents.
“One of the core priorities of our strategic plan is public health and safety,” said County Administrator Petito. “This emergency response reflects Flagler County’s compassion and commitment to helping our neighbors in need. I’m proud of our team’s generosity and proud to stand behind this funding decision.”
Flagler County officials emphasized that they will continue to monitor the situation and are prepared to take further steps to protect residents’ well-being.
Why it matters:
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SNAP delays mean some families may have to skip meals or turn to food banks for the first time.
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Local food banks are stretched thin and need immediate support to meet demand.
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This emergency funding ensures that help is available right now — not weeks from now.
Community members can still support the effort by donating to the Grace Community Food Pantry at www.GraceCommunityFoodPantry.org or by contacting Dottie Colletta directly at 386-931-7085.
