THE HAMMOCK
Observer YOU. YOUR NEIGHBORS. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
WOMEN WITH WINGS PAGE 2
VOLUME 6, NO. 9
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BRIEFS FRIENDS OF A1A DEDICATE ALLAMERICAN ROAD
Volusia County is discussing how to mitigate growth, but it isn’t alone. Flagler grew by 298% from 1990 to 2020.
A1A was dedicated as an All-American Road on March 29, at the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine. Attended by guest speakers Florida Rep. Tom Leek (District 25), U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz’s District Director (Retired) Brig. Gen. Ernie Audino, Flagler County Commissioner Greg Hansen, St. Johns County Commissioner Henry Dean, National Scenic Byway Foundation President Dr. Christopher M. Sieverdes, and Scenic America’s Mark Falzone, dignitaries and friends of the byway organization gathered for the celebration. “Florida’s A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Byway is truly one of this country’s greatest roadways, and it’s an honor to be here to celebrate its designation as an All-American Road,” said Falzone. “The road itself represents so many outstanding qualities, and the community behind it gives us a great example of how to showcase those qualities to maximize its impact.” Designated in 2021 by the Federal Highway Administration as Florida’s second All-American Road, the A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway is one of 57 U.S. Department of Transportation designated All-American Roads in the United States.
WOMAN DIES BY SUICIDE AFTER SEVENHOUR STANDOFF
Growth spurt The Reverie, a 55+ community, is under construction on U.S. 1 just south of Matanzas Woods Parkway in Palm Coast.
Photo by Brian McMillan
too many new developments, said said Clay Ervin, county director of growth and resource management. “It’s happening at the city level, it’s happening at your level,” Ervin said. “It’s a situation where folks are coming in and they’re concerned about whether or not we are providing enough facilities, enough service to accommodate the folks that are moving in here.” But Ervin was also quick to point out that this isn’t just a Volusia County problem. “What you’re seeing is it’s a statewide phenomenon that’s impacting everybody,” he said. In nearby Palm Coast, with locals often expressing concern about rising development during City Council meetings — especially when that development includes apartments — the city government is consider-
ing surveying residents about their views on development and multifamily housing. The proposal came from Palm Coast City Councilman Eddie Branquinho, who’d initially suggested a moratorium on multifamily housing east of U.S. 1 before opting to address growth and density issues during the city’s strategic planning process. “I think that the density of Palm Coast — it’s going to be overwhelming if we keep on building up instead of sideways,” he said after a Palm Coast City Council workshop.
“It’s a situation where folks are coming in and they’re concerned about whether or not we are providing enough facilities, enough service to accommodate the folks that are moving in here.” CLAY ERVIN, county director of growth and resource management
JARLEENE ALMENAS ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Growth. Can something be done to manage and mitigate its impacts? On Tuesday, April 12, the Volusia County Council held a six-hour workshop on the topic, with county department heads outlining how Volusia approaches issues like land uses, building permits, and environmental management. Officials also suggested some potential changes for the County Council to consider in the near future. These changes — among them expanding the county’s low-impact development standards, requiring septic system inspections and establishing a citizen’s advisory panel — are meant to address growing concerns in the community that elected officials are allowing
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DATA ON GROWTH
From 1990 to 2020, Volusia County grew by 49%, or 182,831 people. But according to the county workshop presentation, Volusia is neither SEE GROWTH PAGE 6
Wide range of vehicles on display at EV Showcase Owners praised safety, performance and low maintenance costs at Sustainable Flagler’s second Electric Vehicle showcase.
BRENT WORONOFF STAFF WRITER
Nick Klufas had a full car at the Sustainable Flagler’s Electric Vehicle Showcase. The Palm Coast City Council member showed off what his 2021 Tesla Model S Plaid can do. Riders got to see the autopilot in action, as
well as the acceleration speed. The Model S Plaid does 0 to 60 mph in just under 2 seconds. It’s the fastest 0-to-60 production car on the market, and the experience from the backseat feels like taking off in a rocket. Klufas takes the car to the drag strip, and he also notes, it’s the safest car ever built. The cost? About $140,000. He could afford it, he said,
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A Palm Coast Plantation woman died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound April 10 after crisis negotiators tried for seven hours to end a domestic violence situation peacefully. The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office had received a 911 call at 8 a.m. about an armed domestic violence situation. Sheriff Rick Staly and deputies, FCSO SWAT and crisis negotiation units worked with Flagler County Fire Rescue, the Palm Coast Fire Department and Palm Coast technology at the Emerald Lake Drive scene to de-escalate the situation. The woman initially held her husband at gunpoint, but he and a child were rescued by deputies shortly after the standoff began. For the next few hours, attempts to communicate with the armed woman were unsuccessful. Because of the threat to the neighborhood, and her lack of responsiveness, tactical gas was deployed. The woman went into the home’s lanai holding a gun to her head and started to walk into the pool. Deputies used non-lethal weapons to try to disarm her, but she shot herself in front of deputies while in the pool just before 3 p.m. Deputies immediately pulled her from the pool and began first aid. She was later flown to Halifax Health Medical Center in Daytona Beach, where she died.
• APRIL 2022
Photos by Brent Woronoff
Elaine Bailey, left, who brought her BMW i3, poses with Sustainable Flagler co-founder Kevin Saint and Jenny Jaegal, sustainability coordinator for Orange County Schools.
because he put all his money in Tesla stock seven to eight years ago. Flagler Palm Coast High School senior Dylan Long stresses that not all electric vehicles have price tags out of reach for the average person. Long started Sustainable Flagler with FPC computer science and math teacher Kevin Saint early this school year. The April 9 EV Showcase in the City Hall parking lot was the club’s second event of its kind. Long, an Internal Baccalaureate student, said he paid $5,200 for his 2013 Nissan Leaf. The car has thermal management issues, which causes battery degradation, but it still has a range of 65 miles, Long said, only about 10 fewer miles than when it was new. “The Leaf is a very good first car for teenagers or a second car,” Long said. EV owners brought a variety of models to the Showcase and talked about their experiences. Three dealerships — Napleton Volkswagen of Sanford, Fields BMW of Daytona and Volkswagen of St. Augustine also brought EVs to the event. SEE WIDE RANGE PAGE 5