- November 17, 2024
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1. Red light cameras
What happens when a judge puts down his gavel and becomes a witness instead? You have your biggest story of the year.
Judge Dennis Craig took time away from court in March to appear before the Palm Coast’s red light hearing board, arguing that the violation he had received in the mail should be invalid because he wasn’t driving the car that had run a red light. He called the program evidence of “bad faith” on the part of the city.
The cameras have become so controversial that in the May 2 edition, City Manager Jim Landon said he thought the city should try to eliminate the cameras altogether. That proved to be difficult because American Traffic Solutions, the Arizona-based company that operates the cameras, is locked in a contract through 2019, and it would cost seven figures to get out of the contract.
2. Weeks vs. World
Supervisor of Elections Kimberle Weeks was at the center of several battles between the city of Palm Coast, Flagler County and the Canvassing Board this year. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is currently investigating her office, and she also called the sheriff to accuse the city of larceny. And the battles continue …
3. Manfre takes official car on unofficial errands
Sheriff Jim Manfre was fined $1,500 for taking Sheriff’s Office vehicles on out-of-state trips for personal reasons. He told investigators later that he felt there was nothing wrong with using a Sheriff’s Office vehicle on vacation because he needed to be able to return home quickly if he was needed. He also did not report a minor accident that occurred during one of the trips.
4. Free lunch and now dinner, at Flagler Schools
More than 56% of Flagler County kids are eligible for the National School Lunch Program. Eleven years ago, that percentage was in the 30s. It’s part of the general trend that more and more Flagler students are struggling to find the basics that they need.
In August, Flagler Schools added free dinner for elementary school students, thanks to greater funding through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. About 500 students are considered homeless among the 12,000 in Flagler Schools.
5. Retail shopping
Ulta is here! Chik-fil-A is on the way! Palm Harbor Shopping Center is under construction and will soon become Island Walk!
It was a busy year for commercial construction in 2014. Among the other headlines this year was the new ownership beginning the revitalization of City Marketplace. A RaceTrac gas station will be built at Seminole Woods and State Road 100. And we can’t ignore the departure of Books-A-Million, which was eventually replaced by Ulta, on State Road 100.
6. Water in the streets
A total of 34 structures and nine cars were reported damaged by flooding at the end of September. Most of the damage was limited to the B- and W-sections, with some other reports in the F- and L-sections. Roads were closed and businesses shut down temporary on Hargrove Grade. Some questioned the city’s outmoded stormwater drainage system, but, all in all, considering 15 inches of rain fell in some areas in Palm Coast, officials considered the city fortunate to escape with the little damage it did.
7. Banner year for Flagler Schools
In May, Belle Terre kindergarten teacher Jill Espinosa is a finalist for Macy’s Florida Teacher of the Year. That was one of the highlights of the year in education, a year when 70% of Flagler Schools earned an A, and the district was given a B, scoring 521 out of 525 points needed for A.
8. Inclusion
Flagler Schools increased the number of general education classrooms that would include exceptional student education students this year, and some parents felt that the program has not worked. ESE students are asked to take tests covering material at levels higher than they are reasonably expected to know, based on the curriculum, according to one School Board member Colleen Conklin. In response, the school district has held workshops to discuss how to improve the program and help ESE students graduate without placing a burden on the teachers and other students in the inclusion classes.
9. Girls soccer shines
Matanzas (24-3-2) and Flagler Palm Coast (15-7-4) reached the Class 3A and Class 5A Final Four, respectively, in girls soccer this year. For Matanzas, it was the best season in school history; for FPC, it was the first time coach Pete Hald had reached the semifinals in 23 years. FPC’s top player during the season was Christen Barney. For Matanzas, Miracle Porter led the way, in the absence of injured star Gabbi Paiz.
10. Libby the Lobster
Marybeth Jeitner did her best to welcome an unexpected visitor to town. A yellow lobster was discovered at a tank at the Flagler Beach Publix in July. It was a rare sight, but no one knew at first just how rare it was: 1 in 30 million.
Jeitner and others saved the lobster and named it Libbie, for liberation, and gave it an appropriate home. Jeitner later wrote a children’s book, illustrated by Stewart Maxcy, about the unusual story.
