FWC: Splash into License-free Freshwater Fishing Weekend
Mark your calendars for an opportunity to go freshwater fishing during the upcoming Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) license-free freshwater fishing weekend!
This spring’s license-free fishing weekend is on April 5 and 6 and invites residents and visitors to explore the many recreational freshwater fishing opportunities Florida has to offer. Whether you like to fish from the shore or your boat, there are so many options available across the state.
Visit the FWC’s fishing basics webpage for tips and information on how to start fishing or refresh your knowledge.
All other rules, such as seasons, bag and size limits apply. To renew or purchase a fishing license, visit GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Anglers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to take advantage of this special weekend that allows them to reel in their favorite freshwater species without the need for a fishing license. There are two family fishing events during this weekend:
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Tenoroc Fish Management Area
3829 Tenoroc Mine Road, Lakeland, FL 33805
April 5, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Pre-registration required and ends on Friday, April 4, at 5 p.m. Call the FWC at 863-648-3200 to register for the event. There will be a casting contest, exhibitors and other outdoor activities for youth participants. A free lunch will be provided by Publix Supermarkets and the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Bait and a limited number of loaner rods and reels will also be provided free of charge to youth aged 15 and younger. A parent or guardian must accompany youth participants.
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Florida Bass Conservation Center
3583 County Road 788, Webster, FL 33597
April 5, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Attendees should bring fishing gear and bait. A free lunch of hotdogs and hamburgers will be provided by Vital Fleet Services.
Visit MyFWC.com and learn where to go freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing, or how to find a boat ramp or pier near you.
Check out FWC’s bass fishing recognition program TrophyCatch and submit your 8-pound and greater largemouth bass to win prizes.
City of Palm Coast Announces Next Steps in City Manager Search
Palm Coast, FL – The City of Palm Coast is moving forward in its search for a new City Manager, narrowing the field of candidates to five finalists who will participate in an on-site interview process on April 24-25, 2025.
The search began in December 2024, with the City engaging Strategic Government Resources (SGR)—a consulting firm specializing in local government recruitment—to lead the process. A total of 38 candidates applied for the position, and on March 11, 2025, the Palm Coast City Council selected the top five finalists for in-person interviews.
The finalists are:
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William (Lee) Smith III
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Paul Trombino III
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Richard Hough
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Sonia Alves-Viveiros
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Michael Reese
The City is planning a two-day interview process to give candidates, city leaders, and the community multiple opportunities to connect. On Thursday, April 24, 2025, finalists will participate in community tours, meetings with senior staff, one-on-one interviews with City Council members, and a public meet & greet. The process continues on Friday, April 25, 2025, with 90-minute public interviews between each candidate and the City Council. These interviews will be open to the public and live-streamed on the City’s YouTube channel.
Following these interviews, the City Council will convene for a Special Workshop on April 28 or 29, 2025, to select the next City Manager.
The interview timeline was designed to allow City Council time to fill the District 3 seat, which was vacated by Ray Stevens on February 28, 2025, due to health concerns. The Council is expected to appoint a new representative on April 15, 2025, before the City Manager interviews begin.
The new City Manager will be responsible for implementing the City Council’s strategic action plan, managing daily operations, preparing the annual budget, and ensuring transparency and accountability in governance. This role is pivotal in maintaining Palm Coast’s high quality of life, supporting economic growth, and enhancing municipal services for residents.
The City Council is committed to selecting a leader who demonstrates integrity, accountability, and proactive communication. The next City Manager will work closely with City leadership, staff, and residents to address community needs and advance initiatives that make Palm Coast a premier place to live, work, learn, and play.
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.
SJC Moves Forward to Secure the Florida Museum of Black History
SB 466 is supported by the Florida Senate Committee on Community Affairs
On March 11, 2025, the Florida Senate Committee on Community Affairs reported favorably on Senate Bill 466 by a vote of 7-0, which supports the efforts of St. Johns County to secure the state’s first Black History Museum in the West Augustine area. Florida Senator Thomas J. “Tom” Leek, District 7, filed the legislation creating a governance framework for the Florida Museum of Black History.
The bill provides for the creation of the Florida Museum of Black History Board of Directors, including a selection process for board members. It directs the board to oversee the commission, construction, operation, and administration of the museum, working jointly with the Foundation for the Museum of Black History, Inc. and the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners, which will provide administrative support and staffing to the board for preconstruction activities.
The next step in the legislative process is for the bill to be heard before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government. The companion bill in the Florida House of Representatives, HB 659, sponsored by Representative Kiyan Michael, is referred to the House Government Operations Subcommittee. A hearing date for HB 659 has not been announced.
St. Johns County led a group of community supporters to Tallahassee to attend the Florida Senate Community Affairs Committee meeting. The supporters included leaders from the West Augustine area, the City of St. Augustine, and the Board of County Commissioners represented by Commissioner Sarah Arnold, District 2, and Commissioner Christian Whitehurst, District 1.
“I am beyond excited about the decision by the Community Affairs Committee,” said Commissioner Arnold, whose District 2 includes the West Augustine area. “It is another step forward on our journey to make the dream of the Florida Museum of Black History in St. Johns County a reality. I praise the community for traveling with us to Tallahassee to demonstrate their ongoing support for this project.”
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FCSO Wraps Up Busy Bike Week 2025
BUNNELL, Fla. — The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office was very busy during the 84th Annual Daytona Beach Bike Week, which brought hundreds of thousands of visitors to the area.
During the event, which began on February 28 and concluded on March 9, the FCSO Communications Center handled 4,654 total calls, including 1,304 911 calls. Deputies responded to 3,636 calls for service, conducted 945 traffic stops, and made 76 arrests over the 10-day period.
FCSO had increased presence on roadways throughout Bike Week, with deputies conducting several operations to curb aggressive driving and criminal activity. This included a multi-day operation as the FCSO Traffic Enforcement Unit partnered with Florida Highway Patrol’s Motors and Aviation units to conduct 323 traffic stops, during which they issued 167 uniform traffic citations and 187 warnings. Additionally, FCSO teamed up with FHP, the Bunnell Police Department, and the Flagler Beach Police Department for Operation CRASH, a one-day countywide traffic enforcement operation on March 6. During the operation, deputies, troopers, and officers conducted 78 traffic stops, issuing 29 uniform traffic citations and 58 warnings.
During Bike Week, deputies responded to 102 crashes, including 30 with injuries, 60 without injuries, and 12 hit-and-runs. Four traffic fatalities occurred, two involving motorcycles. Deputies responded to each fatal crash before turning the investigations over to FHP.
“It was another busy Bike Week, but our team was up to the task,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “Our dispatchers handled thousands of calls, and our deputies worked hard alongside our partner agencies to keep our roadways as safe as possible and deter criminals. Sadly, the week also saw four fatal crashes, and our thoughts are with the victims’ families.”
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Leadership Lessons with Dr. Saviak … Leadership Creates and Sustains a Culture of Trust
People must feel comfortable and confident at work to ask questions, offer ideas, seek help, report problems, admit mistakes, assist others, and tell you the truth.
They have to feel safe to speak.
The worst place to work is where people don’t feel safe. They can’t trust others and they aren’t trusted. They can’t be certain the organization or others will support them.
People predictably resort to all kinds of defensive and protective behaviors wasting a tremendous amount of time, effort, and energy. People constantly worry about covering themselves. Instead of a conversation with a trusted co-worker in a different department, everything must be documented with an email “cc”ing everyone.
Co-workers can’t be teammates – they are viewed as witnesses either for or against you. Employees know leaders and co-workers seek to assign blame instead of finding solutions, support each other, and share in success. The emotional and financial costs are high. People become unhealthy in a sick culture.
The chronic stress takes a toll.
These are low energy organizations. Talent, performance, productivity, efficiency, retention, and customer service are lost. Customers know it too. How long will your clients trust your company when they can see employees cannot trust each other there?
Without trust, there’s no team. Without workers feeling safe and confident, there’s no strong performance. A low trust environment ensures a low productivity organization. Low trust work cultures never innovate as talented people know that voicing new ideas only carries risk.
We need employees to feel safe to speak up and share bad news and good ideas. We don’t want to force them to feel they must stay silent and hide mistakes or problems. We want them to feel secure they can always suggest better ways of doing things.
Leaders create and sustain a culture that brings out the best or worst in us. A genuine team culture makes us feel safe and trusted, so we focus on our mission, customers, and helping each other. This culture optimizes performance, productivity, efficiency, innovation, and customer service. Recruitment and retention benefit from offering a work culture defined by a high degree of trust. Real leaders trust their teams and their teams trust them and each other too (Abrashoff, 2002; Blanchard, 2011; Collins, 2001; Drucker, 2001; Grant, 2017; Kotter, 2012; Lencioni, 2012; Maxwell, 1998; Welch, 2005).
#LeadershipLessonsWithDrSaviak
Applications Accepted for Palm Coast City Council District 3 Seat
Palm Coast – The Palm Coast City Council is seeking applicants from District 3 residents to fill the vacant City Council seat following the resignation of Council Member Ray Stevens on February 28, 2025. The appointed individual will serve from the appointment date through November 2026.
To qualify, applicants must reside in District 3, maintain residency in District 3 for the duration of the appointment, and must reside in District 3 for at least 45 weeks in the year. Please be advised that background screening of all applicants is required.
The application window is open from March 4, 2025, until 5:00 p.m. on March 19, 2025. City Council will thoroughly review each application as part of their consideration for the appointment to District 3. Applicants will be interviewed by the current City Council members in a public session on April 1, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
The City Council will further discuss the applicants during the workshop meeting on April 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., with the final appointment scheduled for April 15, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. All meetings will be held at City Hall, 160 Lake Avenue, and are open to the public. Meetings will also be streamed live on the City of Palm Coast YouTube channel: youtube.com/CityofPalmCoastTV.
Key dates to remember:
- Application Period: Open until March 19, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
- Interviews: April 1, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
- Discussion of Applicants: April 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
- Appointment Date: April 15, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
Residents interested in applying can find more information, including the application form and a map of District 3, by visiting https://www.palmcoast.gov/district-3-seat. For additional details, please contact the City Clerk’s office at (386) 986-3713 or email CityClerk@palmcoastgov.com.
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.
Palm Coast City Council Workshop Meeting on March 11, at 6 p.m.
Topics Include the City Manager search and updating the wireless master plan.
Palm Coast—The Palm Coast City Council meets regularly to discuss and vote on official City business. These meetings are open to the public, and Palm Coast residents are strongly encouraged to attend. An increase in public engagement helps to build a stronger sense of community, increase valuable discussions, and decrease division.
The agenda for the City Council Business Meeting on Tuesday, March 11, at 6 p.m. will be as follows:
Presentations
The following presentations will be presented:
- The Human Resources department and Strategic Government Resources (SGR) will present semifinalist rankings and guide the City Council in selecting finalists for the City Manager position. The recruitment process began in November 2024, with 35 applicants narrowed down to 10 semifinalists after multiple workshop meetings.
- The Information and Technology Department will present a resolution approving the updated wireless master plan. The revised Wireless Master Plan includes 17 city-owned properties, replacing need-based selection. It removes school sites and allows the City Manager to remove unsuitable locations for efficiency.
Public Comments will be opened at the beginning and end of the business meeting in accordance with Section 286.0114 Florida Statutes and pursuant to the City Council’s Meeting Policies and Procedures. Each speaker will approach the podium, provide his/her name, and may speak for up to 3 minutes.
Proclamations and award presentations during evening business meetings will now begin at 5:30 p.m., 30 minutes before the meeting start time. Additionally, public comments on non-agenda items will be limited to 30 minutes at the beginning and end of each meeting. This schedule is subject to change due to holidays or other unforeseen circumstances. Residents are encouraged to visit the Palm Coast City Council meeting webpage for the latest schedule and agenda updates.
Business meetings and workshops are open to the public and are streamed live on the City’s YouTube channel. Meeting agendas for all public meetings are posted in advance of each meeting on the City’s website. All agendas can be viewed here.
If you wish to obtain more information regarding the City Council’s agenda, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 386-986-3713. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing assistance to participate in any of these proceedings should contact the City Clerk at 386-986-3713, at least 48 hours before the meeting.
Generation Impact is Sparking New Ideas in the Community
Thursday, February 20th Generation IMPACT an affinity group of the Community Foundation and United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties (CF UWVFC) held their 7th annual Social Innovation Fund (SIF) pitch competition. SIF provides local high school, college or vocational school students with mini-grants in order to implement innovative projects that address critical challenges in Flagler and/or Volusia counties.
To be a part of the Social Innovation Fund pitch competition, students submitted their proposal in the fall of 2024 to Generation IMPACT to have their projects approved and pitch ready.
All projects must work to improve the lives of the ALICE population (Asset Limited Income Constraint and Employed), in addition to focusing on one of the areas of health, education, financial stability or DEI. The students were then paired up with a mentor from Generation IMPACT to prepare for the competition. Through CF UWVFC funds, the projects were able to receive $10,000 in min-grants. Generous donors provided an additional $1,300 in donations to ensure these projects become a reality in our community.
This year the SIF Pitch Competition featured four student-led projects:
- Community Garden- Flagler Palm Coast High School- $2,300
- Community Outreach Mobile Salon- Daytona State College- $3,000
- JCC Connect- Junior Chamber of Commerce- $3,000
- Spring Hill Beautification Project- Stetson University- $3,000
CF UWVFC Board Chair Jan Miller shared, “It was an impressive evening to see the high school and college student groups so well prepared for their pitches. The Generation Impact mentors ensured the groups were ready to answer any questions that came their way. I am inspired to see the future generations creating these impactful projects and making them a reality.”
“The Daytona State College Community Outreach Mobile Salon captured a great idea to support ALICE households. By taking cosmetology services to children in Title I Schools, this allows those families to prioritize their budget to meet other household needs. It was neat to see their whole cheering squad of DSC students and faculty supporting this initiative.”
“Many of these groups realized that their goals for the projects would need to be completed in phases. The Spring Hill Beautification Project with Stetson University was a great example of a project that will continue in phases. The student and her faculty mentor understood that the type of long-term project will need continued investment.”
To donate to one of the projects please visit: https://fundraise.givesmart.com/e/w-JuJA?vid=1hd2o6
