May 16, 2012
Contact: Parks & Recreation Department
City of Palm Coast
386-986-2323

YOUNGSTERS WILL LOVE FIT N FUN SUMMER CAMP

Days filled with smiles, games, weekly themes, swimming, music and fun await children this summer at the Palm Coast Parks & Recreation's Fit N Fun Summer Camp. Kindergartners through fifth graders (just completed grade) can enjoy the entire summer with friends, from Monday, June 11th through Friday, August 10th. Camp will be held at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy NE, every Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with early drop off and late pick up options available. Choose to attend as many weeks as you'd like: fees of $75 per week include snacks, camp T-shirt and special fun days at the pool. Registration is available at the Palm Coast Community Center (305 Palm Coast Pkwy NE) or the Frieda Zamba Swimming Pool (339 Parkview Dr.). For more information, log onto palmcoastgov.com or call the City's Parks & Recreation Department at 386-986-2323.

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May 15, 2012
Contact: Parks & Recreation Department
City of Palm Coast
386-986-2323

CHILLING OUT AT THE 'CHILL ZONE'

Middle and high school students will love Palm Coast's exciting Teen Chill Zone! Parks & Recreation staff invites teens to stop by James Holland Park on Friday night, May 25th to listen to great music, play video games, trivia and enjoy many more fun activities. Only $2 and an appropriate school ID is all that's needed for a great evening with friends. Chill Zone opens from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. and is located 18 Florida Park Drive. For more information, log onto palmcoastgov.com or check it out on the City of Palm Coast's Facebook page.

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May 14, 2012
Contact: Lisa Gardner
Events Coordinator
City of Palm Coast
386-986-2341

CELEBRATE CULTURAL DIVERSITY AT OUR FIRST INTERNATIONAL FOOD & WINE FEST

Feast your way around the world at Palm Coast's very first International Food & Wine Fest in Central Park on Saturday/Sunday, June 2 & 3. A culturally diverse tapestry will spread across the park with music, cuisine, dance and costumes presented by a global representation of our local cultural organizations, highlighting the spirit of Hispanic, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Caribbean, Polish, African American, Jamaican, American, Greek and Italian customs. Beer and wine samples from across the globe, kids' bounce houses and live internationally-renowned entertainment will round out two days of adventure. Spectacular fireworks will light up the evening sky at dusk.

Guests entering the park will receive a passport to be stamped at each country exhibit. Completed passports may be entered into a drawing for a free trip, compliments of the Gerling Travel Group.

Plan to tour the world from noon to 9:00 p.m. on June 2nd and noon to 5:00 p.m. on June 3rd. Admission is only $3 per day (kids under 12 are free of charge) with free parking surrounding Central Park. The Park is located just north of Flagler Palm Coast High School on Bulldog Drive. Event sponsors include the City of Palm Coast, WNZF Radio, Palm Coast Observer, Daytona Beach News Journal/Tribune, Palm Coast Ford, Bright House Networks and Palm Coast Holdings. Log onto discoverpalmcoast.com or palmcoastgov.com for more information or call Lisa Gardner, Palm Coast Event's Coordinator at 386-986-2341.

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To improve sewer service to citizens, the City of Palm Coast will be smoke testing the sanitary sewer lines on streets listed above, beginning Monday, May 28th and extending through Friday, June 1st. This test, which involves forcing smoke into the sanitary sewer lines, will check for leaks, breaks and defects in the system.

The smoke is odorless, creates no fire hazard and will not enter your home or business unless you have defective plumbing or dried-up sink traps or floor drains. The smoke test should only affect your home for approximately fifteen minutes. Homes affect by smoke testing will find a door tag hanging on the front door.

The smoke used for this test is manufactured strictly for this purpose, leaves no residuals or stains and has no effect on plants and animals. Direct contact with the smoke may cause minor respiratory irritation in some people.

If people in your building suffer from a heart condition, asthma, emphysema or some other respiratory condition and are planning to stay in the building during testing, notify the City of Palm Coast at 386-986-2371 to discuss your specific case.

Prior to testing, please pour two gallons of water in the seldom-used sinks or floor drains to prevent sewer gases, smoke or odors from entering the premises. If smoke does enter your home during testing, immediately remove yourself from the building, notify the crews that are conducting the test or call the City. Again, if smoke enters your home, it is an indication of a plumbing defect, so you should also notify a plumber. While we can assist in the location of any defects on private property, the correction of any defects are the responsibilities of the property owner.

Smoke that you will see coming from the vent stacks on houses is normal. However, smoke coming from holes in the grounds IS NOT normal and is considered a defect. All such defects will be photographed and logged. The City will then contact the property owners if a defect is located on private property.

This smoke testing is part of the City's continuing effort to provide a safe, economical, efficient and environmentally sound sewer system throughout Palm Coast. The smoke testing procedure has been recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency as an effective means of identifying problem areas in the sewer system. Eliminating system defects and illegal connections will help our community remain in compliance with the new federal legislation regarding sewer systems maintenance and sanitary sewer overflows.

Thank you for your cooperation.

May 10, 2012
Contact: Carol Bennett
Urban Forester
City of Palm Coast
386-986-3722

THANKS, PALM COAST, FOR YOUR SUPPORT . . .ARBOR DAY BY THE NUMBERS

Thanks to community support and generosity, Palm Coast's May 5th Arbor Day event was the most successful green celebration of all! Here are some of the final numbers:

• 4,500 guests attended
• 200 runners participated in the 5K and One Mile Flutter Fun Run
• 600 free trees were distributed
• 2,660 pounds of food were donated
• $148 was raised by the Flagler County Youth Center by selling canned goods for donation

500 butterflies were released into the environment 50 Learn and Serve student green educational exhibits were shared

City staff is already planning the 2013 event to be bigger and better than ever.

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]]> http://www.palmcoastgov.com/Default.aspx?ArticleID=1468 Thu, 10 May 2012 09:32:00 GMT SMALL BUSINESS WEEK PRODUCES BIG AWARENESS IN PALM COAST

Recognizing the energy set forth by small businesses in our community to create jobs and drive our economy, the Palm Coast Business Assistance Center will be celebrating National Small Business Week with several unifying events:

• Tuesday, May 15th - Social Media Marketing Training, 6:00 p.m. at City Offices, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suite B-106. Come to this impactful FREE seminar and learn the best tips, techniques and strategies you need to know to make a difference using Social Media Marketing and Constant Contact. For more info and to RSVP visit: www.PalmCoastBAC.com.
• Tuesday, May 22nd – Small Business Start Up Workshop, 8:00 a.m. at City Offices, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suite B-105. Come to this FREE seminar and learn the basics to starting and owning your own businesses. For more info, contact the BAC at 986-2499.
• Thursday, May 24th – Business Assistance Center First Anniversary Celebration, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Business Assistance Center, 160 Cypress Point Parkway, Suite B105. Enjoy delicious refreshments, camaraderie and celebrate with us.
• Tuesday, May 29th – Palm Coast Entrepreneur Night, 5:30 p.m. at Europa Lounge and Bistro in European Village. Join your fellow Palm Coast and Flagler County startups, business-people, those who invest in new businesses and folks who provide services & support to entrepreneurs. Free to attend. For more info and to RSVP visit: www.EntrepreneurNight.com.

If your business needs a boost; if you’re looking for assistance to grow in our community, Small Business Week in May is the perfect time to stop by the BAC to seek help. Consulting is free of charge. For more information, call the Palm Coast Business Assistance Center at 386-986-2499.

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]]> http://www.palmcoastgov.com/Default.aspx?ArticleID=1467 Wed, 09 May 2012 16:36:00 GMT In order to maintain the reliability of the water distribution system serving our customers, the City of Palm Coast Utility Department will temporarily change the disinfection process for the Palm Coast potable (drinking water) water supply. From June 4th, through July 3rd, 2012 we will disinfect the water with free chlorine rather than combined chlorine/ammonia (chloramines). This change will also affect residents and customers of Flagler County Utilities. This conversion to chlorine (which is a stronger disinfectant) from chloramines (which is a longer-lasting disinfectant) allows us to perform a water distribution system purge as recommended by the Department of Environmental Protection for water utilities using chloramines as their primary disinfectant. After this process is completed, we will revert to disinfection by the chloramines method.

During this period, customers may experience a slight increase in the taste and odor of chlorine.

Customers on dialysis who use a proportioning machine to prepare dialysate are advised to contact their physician to obtain the appropriate steps to accommodate the change in water disinfection. Customers who have fish tanks or aquatic species are advised to contact a professional aquarist to avoid any problems associated with chlorine.

Customers are asked to call the Utility Department's Customer Service telephone number (386) 986-2360 with any questions concerning this change in disinfectants.

]]> http://www.palmcoastgov.com/Default.aspx?ArticleID=1466 Wed, 09 May 2012 14:25:00 GMT CITY OF PALM COAST
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NEWS RELEASE/PUBLIC NOTICE

May 8, 2012
Contact: Parks & Recreation Department
City of Palm Coast
386-986-2323

TODDLERS ENJOY SUMMER AT TINY TIKES CAMP

Two to five-year-old youngsters will laugh and smile this summer at the Palm Cost Parks & Recreation Department's Tiny Tikes Camp. On Monday/Wednesday/Friday mornings, games, music, sports and interactive outdoor activities will give little ones enriching memories to last a lifetime. Camp runs from June 11th through August 10th at the Frieda Zamba classroom, 339 Parkview Drive. Fees are only $50 per week. For registration information, log onto discoverpalmcoast.com or call 386-986-2323.

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]]> http://www.palmcoastgov.com/Default.aspx?ArticleID=1465 Tue, 08 May 2012 11:07:00 GMT CITY OF PALM COAST
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NEWS RELEASE/PUBLIC NOTICE

May 2, 2012
Contact: Parks & Recreation Department
City of Palm Coast
386-986-2323

FREE SPORTS CLINICS FOR KIDS

Every Saturday from May 12 through June 9th, kindergarten through high school students can learn new and informative conditioning skills for a variety of sports. And these training sessions are free!!

The Palm Coast Parks & Recreation Department will present 'En Route to the Heisman Sports Clinics' at Ralph Carter Park on these warm spring Saturdays, located adjacent to Rymfire School. Boys and girls will participate in stretching, agility drills, speed, accuracy and route running. Participants will be divided into various age groups so each can benefit most by conditioning methods. A fun game will close out each program session.

Registration forms are available at the Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway NE. Call 386-986-2323 for more information.

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]]> http://www.palmcoastgov.com/Default.aspx?ArticleID=1460 Wed, 02 May 2012 15:35:00 GMT