Business Blog

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Written by: Palm Coast Local

Parent Category: Business Blog

Category: Government

What the Backyard Chicken Ordinance Allows

Under Palm Coast’s backyard chicken ordinance, eligible households may keep up to four hens on their property.

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Written by: Palm Coast Local

Parent Category: Business Blog

Category: Local Community Palm Coast

Palm Coast, FL — What began as a simple idea rooted in fun and community quickly became one of Palm Coast’s most meaningful grassroots fundraising efforts of the year.

Through a series of Music Bingo events hosted at Palm Coast Lanes, local nonprofits were given something rare and powerful: a no-cost venue, full coordination support, professional promotion, and a welcoming environment where the community could come together to give back.

At the center of it all was Mark Mistie, whose leadership and generosity set the tone for the entire initiative. Mark not only opened Palm Coast Lanes to host the events at no charge, but personally facilitated and coordinated each Music Bingo night, ensuring that participating nonprofits could focus on fundraising while attendees focused on having fun.

Entertainment for the events was provided by DJ Mike Brown, who donated his time and talents to create an engaging, upbeat experience that kept crowds coming back week after week. From sing-along moments to the popular 50/50 bonus rounds, the energy in the room reflected what happens when community support meets thoughtful execution.

To further support the effort, PalmCoastLocal.com created and distributed professional promotional flyers at no cost, helping nonprofits reach wider audiences and ensuring each event was well-attended and well-organized.

How It All Got Started

The Music Bingo initiative began with a simple conversation—and a shared belief in community-first collaboration.

A meeting between Mark Mistie of Palm Coast Lanes, Shara Brodsky, President of the Palm Coast Lions Club, and Melondy Bosko, owner of PalmCoastLocal.com, was originally centered around hosting a single Music Bingo fundraiser to benefit the Palm Coast Lions Club.

What started as one event quickly evolved into something much bigger.

Recognizing the potential to combine entertainment, accessibility, and community impact, the group saw an opportunity to create a repeatable fundraising model—one that removed financial barriers for nonprofits while inviting the entire community to participate. That initial meeting led to the first-ever Music Bingo fundraiser hosted at Palm Coast Lanes, setting the foundation for a series that would soon extend far beyond a single organization.

As word spread and attendance grew, Music Bingo became a community-wide fundraising platform, offering local nonprofits a fun, welcoming, and no-cost way to raise funds and connect with supporters. The success of that first event proved the concept—and sparked a movement that would go on to support multiple causes across Palm Coast.

Community Organizations Supported Through Music Bingo

Over the course of just three months, Music Bingo events helped local charities and nonprofit organizations raise nearly $20,000, benefiting causes across health, education, youth programs, animal welfare, and community service.

Participating organizations included:

• Palm Coast Lions Club - supporting diabetes, blindness & hearing impared.
• ST. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School (SEAS)
• Bumper Bulldogs - bulldog rescue, rehome and medical care
• S.M.A.R.T. Animal Rescue of Flagler County 
• The Pink Army, supporting breast cancer awareness
• Live Like Cameron, helping children with cancer and their families offset treatment-related expenses
• Community Cats of Palm Coast and Flagler, supporting humane care and population management
• Palm Coast Starlets, a varsity Winter Guard team supporting youth performance arts

Each organization was given the opportunity to connect with supporters, share their mission, and raise funds in a relaxed, inclusive setting proving that fundraising doesn’t have to be formal to be effective.

An Above & Beyond Community Impact

The success of Music Bingo wasn’t the result of one effort alone, but of collaboration, generosity, and consistency. Businesses donated space. Talent donated time. Media support was given freely. And most importantly, local residents showed up, week after week to support causes they care about.

This collective effort is why Mark Mistie and Palm Coast Lanes are being recognized with the Above & Beyond Community Impact Award for 2025 for their leadership and generosity in supporting local nonprofits: For leadership that went beyond expectation and created lasting benefit across the Palm Coast nonprofit community.

Get Ready for 2026: Music Bingo Returns

With the overwhelming success of the 2025 Music Bingo series, the community is already looking ahead.

Music Bingo is expected to return in 2026, offering even more opportunities for local nonprofits to raise funds, build awareness, and connect with supporters in a fun, welcoming environment. Organizations interested in participating—or community members eager to support their favorite causes—are encouraged to stay connected as plans for the upcoming year begin to take shape.

When Palm Coast comes together, everyone wins.

To secure 2026 Music Bingo Fundraiser dates in 2026 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Written by: Palm Coast Local

Parent Category: Business Blog

Category: Local Community Palm Coast

Palm Coast, FL — During a season meant for togetherness, kindness, and connection, local community leaders joined hearts to ensure no senior felt forgotten during the holidays. Seniors at Gold Choice of Palm Coast Senior Assisted Living became a beautiful reminder that even the smallest acts of generosity can create lasting joy. This heartfelt initiative brought warmth, love, and holiday cheer to over 85 residents.

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Written by: Palm Coast Local

Parent Category: Business Blog

Category: Government

Matanzas Woods Parkway: The Expansion That Signals Palm Coast’s Next Era

Palm Coast has come a long way from its early identity as a quiet bedroom community: A place where residents lived, retired, and relaxed, while jobs and major commerce largely existed elsewhere. The original vision focused on calm neighborhoods, cul-de-sacs, golf courses, and a retiree-centered lifestyle.

But the city — and its identity — is evolving.
Younger families are moving in. Larger companies and service industries are taking interest. Traffic patterns, commuting needs, and expectations for local amenities are changing. And one of the clearest indicators of this shift is happening right now along Matanzas Woods Parkway. This is not a city milestone, but a singal for residence and future inititives that will connect to the west-side current expansion and growth. 

This major expansion is underway, not just a repaving or minor widening, but a complete re-engineering of the corridor that will reshape how Palm Coast moves, grows, and connects in the years ahead.

“Matanzas Woods already connects to U.S. 1… so what exactly is being rebuilt?”

This is the #1 question residents are asking and for good reason.

Yes, Matanzas Woods Parkway already has a roundabout at U.S. 1, completed several years ago. But the section between U.S. 1 and the Florida East Coast (FEC) railway is still the old, two-lane system — the original layout left from the bedroom-community era.

What’s happening now is much bigger:

Here’s what the new project actually does:

• Rebuilds the existing western section (from U.S. 1 toward the railroad)

• Widens the road into a true multi-lane corridor designed for higher traffic flow

• Extends the roadway farther west into large undeveloped areas

• Constructs a brand-new overpass over the FEC railroad

• Creates the backbone connection that will eventually link Matanzas Woods Parkway all the way to Palm Coast Parkway

• Prepares thousands of acres for future residential and commercial growth

• Improves flow for emergency services, commuter traffic, and school routes

In simple terms:

Palm Coast is replacing an old, low-capacity road with a modern roadway ready for the city we are becoming — not the city we once were.

Why This Matters Now: Palm Coast Is Outgrowing Its Original Design

For decades, Palm Coast’s layout was built around quiet neighborhoods separated into “letter sections.” The community was intentionally designed for retirees seeking tranquility — not for tech workers, young families, and employers seeking local workforce hubs.

But today’s reality is different:

• Younger families are moving in rapidly

• Infrastructure demands are increasing

• New businesses are looking toward Palm Coast’s west side

• Traffic volumes are no longer compatible with the old 2-lane system

This expansion isn’t just a road project. It’s a signal of transition — from bedroom community to a more balanced live-work city.

How We Got Here: A Quick, Clear Timeline

• I-95 Interchange Opens (2016)

Matanzas Woods finally gets its own interstate access point, setting the stage for future growth and reducing pressure on Palm Coast Parkway.

• U.S. 1 Roundabouts Completed (2019–2020)

A major safety and flow improvement, modernizing how traffic enters and exits Matanzas Woods from U.S. 1.

• West-Side Expansion Planning Begins (2024–2025)

Initial design and engineering work starts for widening, modernizing, and extending the corridor westward.

• Utility & Infrastructure Preparations Underway (2025)

FPL, FEC Railway, and other partners begin relocations, adjustments, and agreements required for new construction.

• Construction Phase Expected to Begin (2026)

A multi-year build begins for the new multilane corridor, including the railroad overpass and roadway expansion.

• Future Phase: The Loop Connection to Palm Coast Parkway

A long-term vision that would tie together the city’s major east-west arteries, improving traffic distribution across all sections.

What This Means for Palm Coast Residents

When completed, the Matanzas Woods expansion is expected to:

• Improve connectivity between northern, western, and central Palm Coast

• Reduce congestion at existing high-volume roads 

• Create new opportunities for commercial development

• Support housing growth where thousands of acres are currently inaccessible

• Push Palm Coast further into a new era of economic growth and family-centered neighborhoods

Most of all, it symbolizes that Palm Coast is no longer just a place to sleep — it’s a place to live, work, and build a future.

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Written by: Palm Coast Local

Parent Category: Business Blog

Category: Government

Why Are Gas Prices Higher in Flagler County? It comes down to fuel supply and location.