Welcome to Hammock Beach Estates! Here is some useful information to help you get situated.

Updated 11/27/08 denrclark@gmail.com

Note that we live in a portion of unincorporated Flagler County known as the “Hammock”, not in Palm Coast, although that is where our post office is located. We are proud to be independent. Our 5,000 landowners of approximately 8 square miles pay over 25% of Flagler County’s taxes. Flagler County’s population is over 70,000. We have about 3,000 registered voters.

Utilities: Note that Palm Coast water does NOT have fluoride, so dentists recommend using ACT-II mouthwash.

From www.flaglerchamber.org/relocate.shtml

Electric	Florida Power & Light	(800) 226-3545	www.fpl.com
Telephone & DSL internet	AT&T Telephone	(888) 764-2500	www.att.com
Water Service	City of Palm Coast	(386) 986-2360	www.ci.palm-coast.fl.us
Garbage	Waste Pro	(386) 586-0800	www.flaglercounty.org/garbage
Cable, Tel, & Internet	Bright House Networks	(386) 445-5464	www.mybrighthouse.com

Trash – call 386-586-0800 Mon - Trash, Wed (7:30 am) - Yard waste, Thu - Trash and recyclables

Waste Pro. $249.36 billed yearly by Flagler County tax collector. Yard waste is not picked up if left in front of vacant lots - it needs to be in front of a residence. The only holiday in which Waste Pro of Florida, Inc. suspends pickup services is Christmas Day. For more info on recyclables, see www.flaglercounty.org/garbage. Household Hazardous Waste Collection and Recycle Drop-Off Center: 1700 S. Old Kings Road, Palm Coast, Tel: (386) 517-2075.

Cell Phone - Sprint works reliably in the Hammock since their antenna on the water tower across from the Adult Ed Center. Cingular (now AT&T) recently put a tower on Ocean Hammock. Nextel also plans put an antenna on the water tower. Verizon allegedly has an antenna on top of Hammock Dunes. Palm Coast is working on a policy to allow more cell phone antennas without trashing the landscape. I'm not sure if that will help us here. Virgin Mobile is a pay-as-you go service ($80/yr minimum) that uses the Sprint network.

Cable TV – www.mybrighthouse.com Brighthouse Standard "Digital Premier Pack" with one digital DVR set-top is $65.44 + $7.42 in fees and taxes per month. The set-top deposit is $50. Advantage: Brighthouse has central Florida news13, a 24/7 local news and weather channel, and broadcasts local government meetings live on channel 2. Disadvantage: cable may go out when power is out for awhile. Satellite TV will work with a generator.

Satellite – DirecTV is cheaper than cable in the long run, but you'll need to get a separate box for each TV and VCR/DVR. Look for a discount or get the package from BellSouth.

Bridge Toll (386) 446-5593 - Get an application from the toll taker for the reduced tolls at Dunes CDD Bridge. You can pick up your window decals and express cards at the office (ocean side of toll booths). A $20 prepayment is good for 16 tolls and reduces the toll to $1.25 each. A $100 prepayment is good for 85 trips and reduces it to $1.176. http://dunescdd.org/

Driver’s License/ Voting Registration – You may register to vote when you get your driver's license. You need to turn in your out of state license when you get a FL license. Driver License info is at www.hsmv.state.fl.us/offices/flagler.html

Driver License Office - 2523-2527 West Moody Blvd.(RT 100) Flagler Beach 32136 (386) 517-2080 Tues-Fri 7:30am-6pm

Auto Tags - You can get tags for your car after you get your driver’s license. The Motor Vehicle Services office is in Bunnell - 201 E. Moody Blvd, #137 (Court House at RT 100 near RT 1) 32110, (386) 437-7424, Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm. You can check out the specialty tags at www.flaglertax.com/tags.htm. Note that initial registration is expensive (we paid $480 for two cars). You’ll need to pay the registration renewal ($28+) again if your birthday is more than three months out.

Homestead property tax exemption - While getting your tags at the Bunnell county courthouse, you may apply for the homestead tax exemption at the Tax Appraiser’s Office. The deadline is March-1 to get a $50k exemption for that year. First time applicants must apply in person. Thereafter you may renew by mail. The assessed value of a qualifying homestead property can increase by the maximum of 3% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is less (except capital improvements, additions or improvements). You must bring:

• A recorded deed or tax bill in your name.
• Social Security numbers for all owners.
• The following information to establish proof of residency for all owners who occupy the property must be presented in-person at our office:
• Florida driver's license, if you drive or if a non-driver, a declaration of domicile recorded prior to January 1;
• Florida auto tag registration, if you drive
• Florida voter registration card, if you are registered to vote. You must have a deed, have been living in the property on Jan-1, proof of residence (voter’s registration), Florida tags and driver’s license, and supply your Social Security number.

See http://www.flaglercountypropertyappraisers.com/ and see the FAQ section.

Pest Control/ Lawn Service:

Middleton 386-445-8960 middletonpest.com is a large company. Count on $1,000/year for lawn care and inside pest control and another $1,000 for an initial termite bond. Lawn cutting Recommendations: Rick Adams, RA Enterprises Inc 386-437-6957. Billy Tarode Landscaping 669-7356 is Harold’s nephew and also cuts the HBE common areas. Count on $70 per month just for lawn cutting.

Watering your lawn or car washing: Residents of unincorporated Flagler County must limit their lawn irrigation to two days a week, following a policy change by the St. Johns River Water Management District and action 2/20/06 by the County Commission. Odd number houses may water on Wed/Sat, even numbers on Thu/Sun before 10am or after 4pm. Car washing or other casual use using a hand held hose equipped with an automatic shut-off nozzle is allowed anytime.

Water tips and restrictions: see www.ci.palm-coast.fl.us/resident/pcparadise/irrigation.htm#water and http://sjr.state.fl.us/programs/outreach/conservation/restrictions/index.html

Septic Systems: If you are new to septic systems you’ll find more than you ever wanted to know at www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/naturalresources/DD6583.html. I just printed the "Use and Operation" section. A very short version is in http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/Soilfacts/AG-439-22/

Hardware:

Hammock Hardware on A1A is well stocked and very helpful. M-F 8-5, Sat 8:30-3:00, Sun Closed.

Lowe’s (opened Oct-2007) is behind Wal-Mart on Cypress Edge Pkwy.

Home Depot: Right off Palm Coast Pkwy at Boulder Rock Dr.

Ace Hardware in the St Joe’s Plaza strip before Pine Lakes Pkwy (left side when going west).

Pinch-A-Penny: great place for pool chemicals and advice. Old Kings Common Center (behind Dennys)

Post Office: We have our own satellite post office at the A1A Adult Ed Center. The main Palm Coast post office is left on Pine Cone Dr going west on Palm Coast Pkwy. There is also a small post office just over the bridge on the right. The UPS store in the Palm Harbor Shopping Village is open M-F 8:30-6:00, Sat 8:30-1:00 www.usps.com

Movie Theater – St Joe’s Shopping Strip before Pine Lakes Pkwy (left side when going west). A Cineplex is planned for the new Palm Coast Town Center at Belle Terre and Rt 100.

Restaurants – See reviews at www.palmcoast.biz and www.flagleronline.com

Supermarkets:

Publix at 16^th Rd in the Hammock is the best and friendliest.

Publix at Palm Harbor shopping village is the next closest.

Winn Dixie – Palm Coast Pkwy south side between Belle Terre and Cypress Point Pkwy.

Wal-Mart Superstore – Cypress Point Pkwy (west of I-95 across from Boulder Rock Rd)

Super Target – Route 100 at Belle Terre Pkwy (west of I-95)

Flagler Farmers Market in Flagler Beach has great produce – located at A1A and RT 100, 7am-noon on Fri & Sat

Palm Coast Store Hours

Blockbuster 445-2771 F-Sat 9am-1am, others 9am-midnight

Colonial Bank 446-2325 M-Th 9am-4:30pm

Home Depot 445-2497 M-Sat 6am-9pm, Sun 8-6 www.homedepot.com

Library 986-6763 M-Thu 9-8, Fri 9-6, Sat 9-5, Sun 1-5 www.flaglerlibrary.org

Lowes Cypress Edge Pkwy 585-6000 M-TH 6-9, FRI 6-10, SA 6-9, SU 8-7 www.lowes.com

Post Office 800-ASK-USPS M-F 8:30-6:00, Sat 8:30-1:00 (“open later” hours) www.usps.com

Publix – 16^th Rd 445-2193 Mon-Sun 7am-10pm

Staples 447-9155 M-F 8-9, Sat 9-7, Sun 11-6

Walgreens (closest) 986-1880 8-10 every day

Walgreens Pharmacy 986-2824 M-F 8-10, Sat 8-6, Sun 10-6

Here’s a map that Darcy made. Note that North is down.

Valuable web links:

Our homeowners association www.hbehoa.com. Darcy’s is www.hammockbeachestates.com

Flagler Library Links page - www.flaglerlibrary.org/county2.htm

Flagler Chamber of Commerce - www.flaglerchamber.org/relocate.shtml

Reviews of local businesses www.palmcoast.biz

All kinds of info and a good forum www.flagleronline.com

Scenic A1A website is www.scenicA1A.org

Hammock Community Conservation Corp (HCCC) www.hammockccc.com

Hurricane Map 1950-2005 www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/hurricanes.html#latest

Best weather site

http://www.intellicast.com/IcastPage/LoadPage.aspx?loc=usflct19597&seg=LocalWeather&prodgrp=RadarImagery&product=RadarLoop&prodnav=no

Local newspaper (Daytona News Journal/ News-Tribune) - www.news-journalonline.com

Flagler Newspaper www.theflaglertimes.net or www.flaglertimes.com

Emergency services www.flagleremergency.com

Recommended Local Contractors:

All kinds of work John Vegerano 18 Mahoe Dr, 386-447-5326

Grout cleaning & coloring Grout Masters (Jeff) 386-246-4024

Tile work Kevin Murphy 386-503-9987

Landscape, hardscape, sprinklers Prestige Lawn Care (Sara Langford) 386-445-6625

Auto Repairs: Rapid Auto Service (comes to you) – 437-9689

Movie Rentals: Blockbuster at the Palm Harbor Shopping Village (near Publix)

Places to See 

· Washington Oaks State Park (8am to Sundown 365 days) $4.00 per vehicle for up to 8 people www.floridastateparks.org/washingtonoaks

· Fort Matanzas – ferry boat (free - donations) www.nps.gov/foma

· Marineland – reopened March 4, 2006 www.marineland.net ($5 general admission, $50+ for dolphin encounters)

· St. Augustine area www.visitoldcity.com

o Concerts in the Plaza (7-9 pm) www.plazaconcerts.com

o Train Tour [Adult $17, Child (6-12) $4; No Fees-Save Online] www.redtrains.com

o Ripley’s Believe it or Not [Adult $12.67 Child $7.37] www.staugustine-ripleys.com

o Alligator Farm [Adults $17.95 Children ( Ages 5-11) $9.95] www.alligatorfarm.com

o Fiesta Miniature Golf

· Daytona Speedway www.daytonausa.com

o Daytona USA: Adults 21.50 + tax Children (6-12) $15.50 + tax Children under 6 FREE

o Tour: $7.50 + tax

· Daytona Trolley Boats - Adults: $19.70, Children: $14.10 (Age 5-12). Seven days per week from our "launching pad" - Ocean Walk Shoppes 250 N. Atlantic Avenue, (Departure times seasonally adjusted) www.oceanwalkvillage.com Tour Length: Approx. 1 hr. 15 min. 386-238-3738

· Kennedy Space Center http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/home/index.html

· Blue Spring State Park (west of Orange City) $5 per vehicle, 8am to sundown 365 days/year www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/default.cfm

· Silver Springs (Ocala) www.silversprings.com

· Disneyworld (1 day, 1 Park adult $63, Pleasure Island $18.50 advance purchase) http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/index

· Scenic A1A www.scenicA1A.org has an interactive map and other info.

Send updates or suggestions to denrclark@gmail.com