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Palm Coast: Public Works Hosts Second City-Wide Community Clean-Up Event

Volunteers cleanup the parks in Palm Coast for the 14th Annual Intracoastal Waterway Cleanup on September 4, 2021, including Lane Ashby and Nathan Cross (center).

Palm Coast – Keep Palm Coast Clean and Love Where You Live by helping to pick up litter in your City.

The City of Palm Coast Public Works Department is hosting its second bi-annual “Keep Palm Coast Clean” litter pick-up event on Saturday, May 14 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Volunteers will meet at the Public Works Department located at 1 Wellfield Grade off of US-1. Multiple roadways and medians are listed as focus areas for the event, including but not limited to:

  • Palm Coast Parkway
  • Belle Terre Parkway
  • Belle Terre Boulevard
  • White View Parkway
  • Pine lakes Parkway
  • Matanzas Parkway
  • Seminole Woods Parkway
  • Royal Palms Parkway
  • Old Kings Road South

This litter clean-up initiative encourages residents to help pick up trash in the community. It protects our environment and keeps our City looking beautiful. The event is FREE to participate and still accepting volunteers. Those Individuals or groups interested in volunteering can email Benny Cope at BCope@palmcoastgov.com.

The theme for this event is Keep Palm Coast Clean and Love Where You Live #PublicWorks.

“Last year we picked up over 1,275lbs of litter and over 300lbs of debris to include Truck tires, small refrigerators and much more!! Totaling 1,575 lbs. removed during this event. Since October 1, 2021, the Public Works Department has picked up and removed over 35,835 lbs. of litter alone! This does not include all the illegal dumping along our road ways. End of year data projections forecast removing a total of 100,000 lbs. of trash throughout our beautiful community.” says Public Works Workforce Data Analyst, Benny Cope.

Event Agenda:

8 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Briefing & introduction along with location assignments

9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. On-site cleanup

12 p.m. End the day adjourn from locations

*Rubber gloves, trash bags, and water will be provided to all volunteers. During the cleanup, 2-3 trucks will be picking up bags along the routes. Please do not put trash in personal vehicles. Weight of total trash collected will be done at the end of the event and results will be shared by the Communications & Marketing team.

To ensure the safety of all volunteers, please do not clean up trash in the medians. All trash cleanup will be conducted on the shoulder of the road and along the swales in order to stay clear of moving vehicles. If you must cross the road, please do so at a crosswalk.

For more information, please contact the City of Palm Coast Public Works Department at 386-986-2360.

Watch promotional event video here: https://youtu.be/xqbchDo9OnE

City website event page: https://www.palmcoast.gov/Events/Home/Details?slug=keep-palm-coast-clean-love-where-you-live

Palm Coast to Host Inaugural Tunnel to Towers 5K on May 14th

Palm Coast – Palm Coast is proud to partner with Tunnel to Towers to host a 5K walk/run in Palm Coast at 8:00 a.m. on May 14, 2022 at Central Park in Town Center. This inaugural event supports Tunnel to Towers, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services to our nation’s fallen and catastrophically injured first responders, military heroes and their families.

The event will kick-off with the Presentation of Colors by the Palm Coast Fire Department Honor Guard followed by a few speakers from the Palm Coast Fire Department, City of Palm Coast, Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and Tunnel to Towers. The 5K race will begin directly after the speeches, at approximately 8:30 a.m.

Medals will be awarded to the fastest students (male and female) under 18 years of age. The top three male and female finishers in the following age groups will also receive medals for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place: 18-39, 40-59, 60 and over. All participants will receive a Tunnel to Towers commemorative badge and t-shirt.

Registration check-in and the event starting line will be located on the southwest side of Central Park, at the intersection of Central Avenue and Park Street. Race packet pickup will be available on the day of the event beginning at 7 a.m. Early packet-pickup will be on Thursday, May 12 from 3-6pm, and Friday, May 13 from 11am-2pm at the Community Wing of Palm Coast City Hall, 160 Lake Avenue. This will be a timed event.

For those interested in participating in the 5K run/walk, registration will remain open through Wednesday, May 12 by visiting https://dogood.t2t.org/event/2022-tunnel-to-towers-5k-run-and-walk-palm-coast-fl/e390030

Parking for the event will be available along Central Avenue from Park Street eastward to the Epic Movie Theaters, where there will be overflow parking available. During the event, all westbound vehicle traffic from City Place to Market Street will be closed.

………………………………………………..

Tunnel to Towers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing services for the nation’s first responders and military. Through its Smart Home Program, dozens of customized high-tech “smart homes” have been built throughout the country for catastrophically injured service members. These homes, created primarily for those who are now triple-and quadruple-amputees as a result of IED explosions, have specialized features run off of iPads to allow these heroes to lead as independent a life as possible. Through its Fallen First Responder Home Program, the Foundation pays off the mortgages for the families of law enforcement officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty who leave behind young children. The Foundation’s goal is to ensure stability and security to these families facing sudden tragic loss. Through its Gold Star Family Home Program, the Foundation honors the legacy of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country by providing the surviving spouses and young children with mortgage-free homes.

About Stephen Siller/the Tunnel to Towers Foundation:

Tunnel to Towers is dedicated to the memory of FDNY hero, and father of five, Stephen Siller, who lost his life on 9/11. Stephen, who was off-duty when the first plane hit, drove to his Brooklyn firehouse and retrieved over 60 pounds of his gear, then sought the quickest route to the World Trade Center. Finding the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel blocked, in a supreme act of heroism, Stephen ran about three miles with that gear, to the Twin Towers, where he perished.

Stephen’s six much-older brothers and sisters, who had raised him after Stephen was orphaned at age 10, subsequently established the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in his honor. Its signature event is its Annual Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk held in New York City the last September of the month. The event, which draws 25,000 participants from all over the world, follows in Stephen’s heroic footsteps on 9/11.

Media Release: City of Palm Coast

The First Organized Women’s Basketball League Comes to Palm Coast

Palm Coast – The Palm Coast Parks and Recreation Department is organizing it’s first-ever women’s basketball league this summer, beginning June 8 and continuing through July 27.

The women’s league will run every Wednesday evening from 7–10 p.m. at the Rymfire Elementary School gym. Each team will play six to ten regular season games before advancing to single-elimination playoffs. Games will consist of two 20-minute halves with two FHSAA certified officials. Teams are allowed a maximum of 11 players per team. Participants are able to register an entire team for a fee of $325 or sign up as a free agent for $35. Free agent participants will be assigned to a team at random.

Every summer, Palm Coast Parks & Recreation offers an Adult Summer Basketball League that is dominated by men with only an occasional female participant. The last female to participate in the league was Alicia Smith, who played in the summer of 2019. Smith played as a free agent on a team called The Legends and was the only female player in the league.

Adult Basketball League participant and captain of The Legends, Larry Leavy, age 69, told Joseph Trinkle, Recreation Specialist, “We need a women’s league.” Leavy is a former basketball coach and current basketball athlete who believes age and gender are irrelevant in basketball. “I am sure there are plenty of former and current high school and college ballers around here that would love to play,” he said.

In Palm Coast and the neighboring cities of Daytona, St. Augustine, and Jacksonville, there are over ten high school and college women basketball teams. Palm Coast Parks and Recreation Department’s goal is to meet the needs of these post-graduate female athletes by providing them with a friendly yet competitive league to participate in. With the help of our local partners and coaches, we hope to fill four to six teams to start the first women’s adult basketball league in the northeast Florida region.

For more information or to register for the Women’s Basketball League, please visit parksandrec.fun or call 386-986-2323.

Media Release & Image: City of Palm Coast

A Life Worth Binge Watching S2:This is 50 E1: Go Big or Go Home

A Life Worth Binge Watching

S2:This is 50 E1: Go Big or Go Home

Turning 50 is no joke. I mean, how can you even begin to define this milestone in your life where you literally have lived half a century?  I could drown myself in a pool of tears thinking that I only have half of my life left, but why the hell would I do that?  I think by now you all know me better!  I may be 50, but I identify as 30, so I decided to make my 50th an adventure to remember.

It took me some time to decide exactly how to celebrate this momentous occasion, but after some deliberation I decided to take my celebration to Ft Worth, Texas.  For those of you who know me or have followed my column for a while, you know that my inner cowgirl has more than peeked her head out.  It’s just who I am deep down in my soul, so this seemed like the perfect place to start my next chapter.  Let me tell you, I could have written my next three columns about this experience, but I’m going to try to cram it all in!

So the story begins as three of my best friends and I (Ashley, Helen and Mary) embark on my 50th birthday celebration, Texas style.  I mean everything is bigger in Texas, so go big or go home, right?  I will say that the trip started out a bit sketchy.  A really early morning flight at the Orlando airport on Frontier Airlines pretty much says enough, but add in the fact that I left my credit card in the car and we missed the Starbucks line just to find out our flight was delayed.  All I can say is thank God for Apple Pay, great friends and a sense of humor.  Once we made it to Dallas/Ft Worth and finally found our Uber driver, the fun times officially started..  

Ft. Worth is like going to an authentic cowboy town, and you all know I like cowboys.  Everywhere you look there are cowboy hats, boots and wranglers.  To top it off, men both young and old say “yes, ma’am” in the most respectful way.  There are weekend rodeos and when you go to a bar in Ft. Worth ,men politely ask you to dance.  I can’t remember the last time that happened in Florida (but that is a whole other article topic).  One of my favorite cowtown moments was when the cowboys led a herd of steer down the middle of the road downtown.  We met a working cowboy named Jorge who allowed crazy tourists like us to take photos on his precious steer named Jake.  If I could have taken Jake back to Florida with me I would have.  

Ft. Worth is also home to some of the most incredible restaurants and bars.  Of course we had to check out the world famous Billy Bobs where they have bands playing on multiple stages and the best country line dancers I’ve ever seen.  John Fogerty was there over the weekend and they had a packed house.  One of the other bars that stood out was the White Elephant, which is the oldest bar in Ft. Worth.  Inside you can find cowboy hats all over the walls and ceiling of famous country western singers and cowboys.  I danced with a cowboy in the Filthy McNasty Bar, as it was his birthday too and I had to show off my mad two-stepping skills.  Well ok, so I caught on eventually and even learned a spin or two. 

One of the best local spots we discovered was this bar/restaurant called the Brand Room in The Stockyards.  This eclectic venue was formerly a members only club with alcohol lockers and the sweetest bartender named Jess.. The owner, Dawn, opened it up to the public and I can honestly say it was my favorite place.  There were hundreds of cattle brands  from ranches around the country hanging from the ceiling and random Texas themed antique decor all over the dining area.  The food was so incredible that we ate there twice and I can’t rave enough about the tenderloin sliders and banana pudding!  The best part of the night was when my friend Monique surprised me by showing up in her semi truck from Florida.  I was actually waiting outside the restaurant when she showed up because Nolan Ryan was also dining at the Brand Room and I wanted to meet him!  And yes, we met the Hall of Famer and he was very nice!  Taylor Sheridan was there but unfortunately I did not see him. Monique was our Uber that evening as we all piled into the cab of her rig!

When I say that there is just so much more to write about, I am not exaggerating, but I am going to just give you a few more short clips.  The Drover Hotel is probably one of the most beautiful hotels that I have ever seen.  Look it up, I want to stay there one day.  A few more highlights:  The Second Rodeo Brewing Company outdoor patio and the women’s bathroom ;  the Atico Rooftop bar at the Springhill Suites Stockyards-this is not your run of the mill Springhill; the outdoor dining at Joe. T. Garcia’s; the incredible rooftop view and food at Reata in Sundance Square; the custom made boots at Lucchese; hanging out with Gophie the gopher at the Curfew Speakeasy.

The trip would not have been complete without riding a mechanical bull.  I mean why wouldn’t I do that on my 50th birthday?  I stayed on for way more than 8 seconds, got thrown off and have the bruises to prove it, but I sure had a blast!  Ft. Worth, thank you for the best birthday ever!  I will be back!

So there you have it, this is 50, and this is just the beginning of the next season of A Life Worth Binge Watching  Join my Facebook page for more photos and videos.  I’d love to hear your ideas for my next adventure.  https://www.facebook.com/alifeworthbingewatching/

 

Melodye Lewis is a Friday columnist for Flagler News Weekly giving you something to talk about over lunch. Follow @ALifeWorthBingeWatching on Facebook.

17th Annual Arbor Day Event Celebrating Monarch City USA

Palm Coast – The City of Palm Coast will be holding its 17th Annual Arbor Day event on May 7th from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Central Park in Town Center, 975 Central Ave. Admission is free! Refreshments and products from vendors will be available for purchase.

The tree tent opens at 9 a.m. A Master Certified Arborist will be in the tree tent from 9 a.m.-noon, offering free guidance on proper pruning, placement, planting, and root shaving techniques. To get a free tree, bring a non-perishable, non-expired human or pet food item to trade for the tree while quantities last! City of Palm Coast employees and volunteers will be available to assist with loading the trees into your vehicle.

This year’s Arbor Day celebrations will commemorate the City’s newly recognized commitment to help aide in the recovery of Monarch Butterflies nation-wide by joining Monarch City USA. Monarch City USA signs will be installed throughout Palm Coast as well as our proud to be Tree City Signs. The native Monarch butterfly release will be at 11 a.m. Other fun activities are planned for all ages, including a butterfly tent, a petting zoo, free arts and crafts, and goodie bags for the kids.

While at the event, residents will also be able to take advantage of free paper shredding services. City of Palm Coast employees will be on standby to assist attendees wishing to use this service by wheeling totes to attendees’ cars to help unload paper and bring it to a chute that dumps all of it into a shredder.

For the free shredding service, acceptable items include staples, paper clips, spirals, notebooks, expired credit cards, checkbooks, and folders with small prongs with small amounts of metal/plastic. Unacceptable items include batteries, three-ring binders, binder clips, hard drives, X-rays, and large amounts of metal/plastic. Shredded materials will be recycled, with the ink and color removed to produce new paper towels, tissues, etc.

“Arbor Day in Palm Coast is such an amazing event and all the incredible benefits it provides to our residents and the environment,” said City of Palm Coast Urban Forester Carol Mini. “This event is about so much more than trees. It’s about bringing together Palm Coast families and friends to share in our passion for trees and keeping Palm Coast green”. In addition to the tree giveaway the City is celebrating our love of butterflies, Monarch butterflies to be exact. Come out and celebrate our new Monarch City USA designation with our Monarch Butterfly release.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

  • 9:00 to 10:30 DJ Vern
  • 11:00 Native Butterfly Release located in the rear of Central Park next to City Hall
  • 11:15 to 2:00 DJ Vern

For more information contact Palm Coast Urban Forester Carol Mini at 386-986-3722 or cjmini@palmcoastgov.com.

Catch A Free Ride: Visit Flagler County Parks on Free Bus Tour

May 3, 2022 – Who says there’s no free ride? More than a dozen lucky residents will be able to join Parks and Recreation staff and the Flagler County Parks Advisory Board for the Summer 2022 Tour of Parks on June 10.

Reservations are required and can be made online at www.FlaglerCounty.gov/summertour. Participants must be at least 18 years old.

“Twice a year the Flagler County Parks Advisory Board schedules a parks tour, and invites the public to join them on an adventure through some of the 28 parks the county maintains,” said Parks and Recreation Manager Frank Barbuti. “We have room to take about 14 residents with us, so don’t delay making your reservation.”

Stops on the tour include the following Flagler County parks: Herschel King, Wadsworth, Hammock Community Center and Park, MalaCompra Park, Bay Drive Park, and Princess Place Preserve. There will be a lunch stop at High Jackers Restaurant at the end of the tour, but attendees will be responsible for paying their own way there.

The bus will leave at 9 a.m. from the front of the Government Services Building – 1769 E. Moody Boulevard, Building 2, Bunnell – and will return shortly after 2 p.m.

“This is a great opportunity to get an overview of some of these spectacular parks,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “It also gives residents a chance to talk with the advisory board and provide input.”

Herschel King Park – is located on the west side of Intracoastal Waterway at the end of Grady Prather Jr. Cove off Colbert Lane. Visitors can fish from the pier, or simply relax and enjoy the view. There is a boat launch that is convenient starting point for fishing trips or for sightseeing along the Intracoastal. There is a shaded walking trail and a playground all within this 20-acre park.

Wadsworth Park – is a 45-acre park that stays busy both day and night because of its amenities: lighted soccer fields; racquetball, tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts; a skate park; two playground areas; a picnic pavilion; an elevated boardwalk; and, a dog park (currently under reconstruction). The park is located on the north side of State Road 100 in Flagler Beach.

Hammock Community Center and Park – is located steps away from the beach on MalaCompra Road. The building can seat 100 or provide standing room for about 200. There is an ample pavilion for outdoor functions. Other amenities include: pickleball courts, basketball, horseshoe pits, volleyball, and a playground.

MalaCompra Park – also located on MalaCompra Road – is a beachfront park that provides access to coquina rock formations on the coast. There is plenty of parking, and restrooms with an outdoor shower. There are also hiking and nature trails, and ample space for wildlife viewing and birding.

Bay Drive Park – is on the ocean at the end of Bay Drive. There is a two-story building that includes restroom facilities, water fountain and showers on the first level and an observation deck on the upper level. The upper-level deck includes three telescopes (one of which is ADA accessible) for ocean viewing. Educational signage has been installed both along the walking trail and on the upper-level deck to highlight Right Whales and their migration and describing the native vegetation and wildlife.

Princess Place Preserve – located off Old Kings Road near U.S. 1 – this 1,500-acre preserve is rich with history. It was purchased by Henry Cutting in 1886 and passed on to his widow Angela Mills Cutting Worden, who eventually married Boris Scherbatoff, an exiled Russian prince. Visitors can take in its splendor while on one of the many hiking trails, fishing the salt marshes along the Matanzas River and Pellicer Creek. The preserve is a popular spot for horse enthusiasts, with an equestrian campsite and plenty of trails. There are three well-appointed cottages for rent for those who would rather “glamp” than camp.

Media Release: Flagler County. Julie Murphy, MPIO

Flagler County Supervisor of Elections Announces 2022 Precinct Changes

Flagler County, FL (May 5, 2022) Proposed changes to Flagler County precinct boundaries were presented to the Board of County Commissioners on May 2, 2022.

Voting precinct boundaries are drawn locally, in each county, and approved by the Board of County Commissioners. Election results to the Department of State are reported at the precinct level. Election Day voting occurs within precincts, or at combined polling locations. Precincts are not representative districts. U.S. Census block data must be used to change precinct boundaries.

Precincts must be ADA accessible and large enough to safely accommodate the number of voters who are expected to vote on Election Day. In Flagler County, we have a shortage of suitable facilities for voting. We do not have community centers or other public buildings in areas with large residential populations.

Main focus areas:

  • District Alignment
  • Numbering System
  • Safety & Accessibility
  • Future Growth
  • Election Day Turnout

The precinct boundaries were adjusted to balance voter populations in neighboring precincts. Three smaller precincts were combined with larger facilities to safely accommodate the expected turnout.

The numbering system was changed to a three-digit sequence to indicate our city and unincorporated voters. The precinct boundaries were also aligned with adopted local district changes and municipal borders which eliminates unnecessary precinct splits and simplifies the ballot proofing process.

The Board of County Commissioners adopted the proposed changes during this public meeting. View the presentation and see the new precinct map here:

Flagler County District and Precinct Maps

The following precincts were combined into locations with adequate space.

PRECINCTS 5/7

Rima Ridge Fire Station + Community Baptist Church

Rima Ridge does not have a polling place within Flagler County. This is a very rural area, and residents have been voting at Precinct 7 (formerly St. Mary’s Catholic Church) since 2012. The Catholic Church is no longer available as a polling location, and the voters will be moved to Community Baptist Church, half a mile away. This change will formalize the practice which has been in place for many years.

PRECINCTS 8/9

Flagler Executive Airport + Flagler County Association of Realtors Building

The Flagler Executive Airport polling room is not large enough to accommodate the number of voters at this location. This precinct was added in 2017, and an expansion project was planned for the administrative building at the airport. Plans have changed to add hangars instead of revamping the existing facilities. Meanwhile, the voter population in the area has outgrown the size of our polling room. The adjacent precinct voting location at the Flagler County Association of Realtors Building (FCAR Building) is one of our largest facilities, with plenty of room for more voting booths and equipment to handle the increase expected on Election Day.

Areas impacted: All voters who live in Seminole Woods and Grand Landings in Palm Coast will now vote at the Flagler County Association of Realtors Building on Election Day. Voters in this area will be mailed a new Voter Information Card at the end of this month.

PRECINCTS 15/16/17

Wadsworth Elementary School + Buddy Taylor Middle School + Belle Terre Swim & Racquet Club

 

The portable we used as a polling room at the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club was removed, and this location is no longer available for voting. The neighboring precincts are Buddy Taylor Middle School and Wadsworth Elementary School. We are thankful for our partnership with the Flagler County School District, which has incorporated Election Days for Primary and General Elections into the school calendar. Election Days are closed for students, so these polling locations are safer and more accessible. This change will combine these three precincts into the large multipurpose room at Wadsworth Elementary, which the School Board has offered for voting. The multipurpose room is nearly 3,300 sq. ft. and has a separate entrance with parking off of Parkview Drive. Like the FCAR building, this room will have space for more voting booths and equipment to handle the increase expected on Election Day.

Areas impacted: All voters who live in the “P” section of Palm Coast, east of Belle Terre, and in between Palm Coast Parkway and Royal Palms Parkway, will now vote in the multipurpose room at Wadsworth Elementary School on Election Day. Voters in this area will be mailed a new Voter Information Card at the end of this month.

 

Flagler Volunteer Services’ Semi-Annual Rummage Sale This Friday & Saturday

THIS WEEKEND!!

FRIDAY May 6th 

8am – 3pm

SATURDAY May 7th

8am – 1pm

Cattleman’s Hall

at The Flagler County Fairgrounds

150 Sawgrass Rd, Bunnell

The proceeds from the sale benefit the Giving Store.

The Giving Store allows children to

select gifts for their

household family members at Christmastime.

Volunteers are needed to help with the packing up of supplies from Cattleman’s Hall and moving items back to storage unit.

SATURDAY, MAY 7th

12:30pm – 3:30pm

**STUDENTS ARE WELCOME AND CAN EARN

COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS**

To sign up to volunteer for the pack up,

please click on the link below:

https://www.needsconnector.com/packup

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

For more information

please call 386-597-2950 or email volunteer@flaglervolunteer.org

Flagler County Receives ‘Distinguished Budget Presentation Award’ for 13th Year

Flagler County is being praised for the 13th consecutive year for its annual budget presentation by the Government Finance Officers Association.

Flagler County’s 2021-2022 fiscal year budget was rated in four categories: as a policy document, as a financial plan; as an operations guide; and, as a communications device.

“This award is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting,” said GFOA Technical Services Center Director Michele Mark Levine in a correspondence with Financial Services Director John Brower. “Its attainment represents a significant achievement by your organization.”

Brower credits staff with pulling together the award-winning document including: Budget Manager Brian Eichinger; Amanda Gilbert, financial analyst; Chad Bleuel, financial analyst; and, Carlos Hernandez, digital media coordinator.

“There is some very detailed information the GFOA asks for, and they are looking for a document that stands out above the rest,” Brower said. “We need other departments to assist us creating charts and graphics and preparing it to be published on the website.

There are more than 1,600 participants in the Budget Awards Program. A news release issued by the GFOA states: “Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.”

Media Release: Flagler County