The Ponderings From Palm Coast Podcast
Ponderings From Palm Coast hosted by Mark Webb covers life in Palm Coast. It offers a liberal leaning voice to our community. Mark covers local politics and policies and interviews members of our community about life here and what Palm Coast offers to residents. He also covers that wider Flagler County area and national topics. Video of these podcasts can be found on YouTube at Suncoast Media Services LLC. If you’re so inclined please like and subscribe and share with people you feel would be interested!
Episodes
Mark’s guest is Caroline Johnson, founder of S.M.A.R.T., Saving Missing Animals Response Team, which is a pet rescue and foster/adoption service here in Flagler County. She also runs the Facebook group Lost Pets of Palm Coast and Flagler County. S.M.A.R.T. is reaching out to the Palm Coast/Flagler community for volunteers to foster and adopt all kinds of dogs. Caroline also discusses the recently finished pet memorial Rainbow Bridg...
Mark has on Lori Robinson who is introducing us to Michele Gordon, Founder and CEO of I Just Want To Say Women’s Group, a philanthropic group here in Flagler/Volusia Counties. Founded in 2022 by like-minded women, they are eventually looking to expand into Putnam County as well. One of their campaigns is a Scholarship Program, now entering its third year, with an upcoming goal of reaching $20,000 in scholarships to young deserving ...
Mark flies solo for this preparatory episode to the upcoming No Kings II rally on Saturday, October 18th, 11 AM to Noon, at the usual locations: Palm Coast Pkwy and Old Kings Rd, and Target on Rt. 100. Mark lays out some guidelines everyone should follow, so Saturday goes smoothly but makes its point. Mark also encourages everyone to secure a license for their pets. It would greatly help the Flagler County Humane Society that admin...
This week Mark has Antonio (Tony) Amaral, a local business owner and builder, and a local resident since he was eight years old! Our first lifelong resident. Tony, 52, has nearly four decades of studying Palm Coast as an adult. Tony is throwing his hat in the ring for Councilwoman Theresa Pontieri’s District Two Council seat. They talk about Palm Coast City issues, the makeup of the City staff, and the challenges the City faces soo...
This is the first of several workshops presented to the public for citizen commentary. It was a lively back and forth on upcoming revisions to Palm Coast's city Charter. Full video available at https://youtu.be/ca8UNqbiWuE
Ponderings from Palm Coast w/Mark Webb-Ep035-Palm Coast Charter Committee 2nd meeting-9-22-2025 We bring you the Palm Coast's newly-formed Charter Committee's 2nd meeting on September 22, 2025 as the city is not videotaping the procedures. Follow along as the process begins... Full video is at: https://youtu.be/5niTSs2e1AQ
Mark talks with Special Guest former Sheriff Jim Manfre. His interesting background brought him to Palm Coast in 1999 the year Palm Coast was incorporated. Two years later he was Sheriff. They discuss egregious double taxation on Palm Coast residents regarding law enforcement and the explosion of the PC budget that is continually requested by the Sheriff's department. He discusses the historical mismanagement of properties owned/so...
Mark's guest this week is Former Councilman Ray Stevens, who had to cut his newly won Council seat short due to an unexpected and severe illness. Fortunately, he made a wonderful recovery, and is now poised to run for his seat again! He shares his continued concerns for Palm Coast, and what he plans to do if re-elected. Full video of this episode is available at: https://youtu.be/jlfaeqs7T5o
Mark has with him Mike Cocchiola (Coach), Former Chair of the Flagler County DEC, and current Director of the Palm Coast Friends of The Library, and Jim Manfre, former Flagler County Sheriff and current Palm Coast attorney. They discuss gun rights and gun handling concerns, the cultural changes happening to the U.S., reactions to the Charlie Kirk murder, and a little history lesson! A must watch. Full video of this is available at...
Mark has a conversation with Tom Townsend, a long-time Putnam County resident. Tom has served as the Putnam County School Superintendent, and is Vice-Chair of the Putnam County Democratic Executive Committee (DEC). Mark gets Tom to reveal his methods for holding or starting a conversation with the other team, to ask more questions than you answer, and generally to not put your debater on the defensive. Full video of this is availab...
A brief history of the Flagler County Black Democratic Caucus (http://flaglercountydbc.org), its mission statement, projects including a newsletter (for more info email: jashford442@gmail.com.) Next meeting is October 9 from 6-9 at the Democratic Headquarters at 160 Cypress Point Parkway. Finding and supporting democratic candidates. Full video of this episode is available at: https://youtu.be/kcpzKdbp8lE
Friends of the Library provides the library with full programs from yoga, cooking, children's activities, senior activities including concerts, classes all day long. Each library is like a civic center. It is a 501-3C not for profit and its mission is to raise funds for the library. Funds from the county are being cut back so fundraising is even more important. Over the year The Friends of the library holds book sales, hosts a book...
The Communications Team for Palm Coast joins us to talk about what's happening around Palm Coast including the new comms in the meeting room, an upgraded and updated new app integrated with your account by the end of the year, Citizens Academy and Virtual Citizens Academy, the rules about the length of the City Council meetings, budget cuts and how they will be handled, why it's fun to work in city government, upcoming events and c...
The Democratic Executive Committee D.E.C. explained, along with an explanation of what Precinct Leaders are and do. Mark shares his own experience contacting new Democrats in his Precinct. The differences between Democratic Clubs, Caucuses and Committees is described. Flagler County Democrats strategic plan. Important: Renewal of your voter registration! Candidate cultivation discussed. Full video available on YouTube at: https://...
Owner and publisher of the Observer, Brian McMillan. Brian shares how he started at the Observer, and how he eventually wound up buying the entire Paper from his bosses. Juggling stories that are relevant and timely for local readers. Bunnell and Flagler Beach to possibly get their own specifically local editions. Brian provides a different perspective in understanding the makeup of Palm Coast, and its unique mix of residents. Full...
Special Guest Donna Stancel. Citizens Residential Draining Issues Committee. Over 200 PC Citizens had issues, the committee visited homes and made recommendations for remediation. Donna explains how the committee worked to help the citizens and what they could do to help the situation. How the city liaison Lynn Stevens from the drainage department worked to educate the committee members so they could take action. The Drainage Commi...
Discussion of The Johnson Amendment a provision in the U.S. tax code, since 1954, that prohibits all 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations from endorsing or opposing political candidates and the order to the IRS to stop enforcing it. Separation of Church and State. Influence that can be bought. Can religious leaders change on a dime to supplient themselves to this new decree? Does it only take a small group of dedicated people as Marg...
Mark hosts guests Vicky Haley, Michaelle Harle, and Roberta Bianucci from Flagler 50501. This is a private group on Facebook and they explain why it is private, that it is a peaceful, safe and joyful group. They talk about the national organization, what inspired the local group, how it's organized and the issues they tackle, for example: Hazardous Waste in Flagler County (Palm Coast and Bunnell), Library Changes, Good Trouble July...
Ponderings from Palm Coast with Mark Webb - Ep.24 - 6-Month Reflections Mark talks about the status of the podcast on our 6 month anniversary. What your subscription to this feed (free) means, on leaving a comment to continue conversation. New Facebook page for Ponderings From Palm Coast, our clubs and caucuses available here in Palm Coast letting you know about the support and camaraderie from like minded people. The power in gett...
Mark and Al talk about world politics specifically the conflict in Iran. They talk about what is happening in Israel and the different points of conflict both in Gaza and Iran. Predictions for possible ramifications and outcomes, particularly domestic terrorism resulting from a pushback from Iran, the need to be extra vigilant in our daily lives, changing and evolving points of view. Please like, subscribe and share! Full video of ...
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