Ormond Beach Observer 6-8-23

Seabreeze valedictorian Matias Cabeza

Mainland valedictorian

Woodruff

CITY WATCH

Tymber Creek Apartments are a go

Rejecting the proposed Tymber Creek Apartments would be too big of a gamble, Ormond Beach City Commissioners said at their meeting on Tuesday, June 6, as they approved a rezoning and development order for the development on second reading with a 4-1 vote.

Commissioner Travis Sargent voted against.

ReGrow the Loop initiative begins

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

Community workshop coming

The city of Ormond Beach, in partnership with the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, will host a “Vulnerability Analysis Community Workshop” from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, at City Hall, in the Ormond Beach City Commission Conference Room 103.

The workshop is made possible as part of a Resilient Florida grant received this fiscal year, according to a city notice. The workshop will include an overview of the grant program, a summary of model results and a review of best practices and policy considerations for resiliency, and will give residents a chance to provide input.

To participate via Zoom, visit bit.ly/3quDIfI.

Septic-to-sewer moves forward

The commission approved a request to execute a grant agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for $532,000 for the design and construction of a sewer system to convert 76 Ormond Beach homes on Magnolia and Oak avenues, and Bonita Place.

The Tymber Creek Apartments development — to consist of 270 units on the 19-acre property at 36 N. Tymber Creek Road, behind the existing Walgreens on West Granada Boulevard — was the first to come before the commission after the governor signed Senate Bill 102, also known as the Live Local Act.

The law is intended to address the shortage of affordable housing by allowing developers to build multifamily or mixed-used residential buildings on land zoned commercial, industrial or mixed-use, and to do so at the highest allowed density without going through the commission’s review process for approval — as long as at least 40% of units are slated for affordable housing.

The law goes into effect on July 1.

“It was a very good intended bill that’s had some very unfortunate consequences,” Commissioner Lori Tolland said. “It did not take into consideration the effects of increased density on infrastructure, roads, traffic congestion, hospital, and obviously, taking away our home rule is not something I would prescribe to us either.”

Some citizens have criticized the commission’s approval of the development on May 16, noting that the Live Local Act has yet to be enacted and has not yet been tested in court.

If the commission had denied the development, the developer, VCP Ormond Beach II, LLC, could have built up to 525 units on the property

based on the Live Local Act, according to city staff.

The developer has repeatedly met with residents of nearby Moss Point and Indian Springs and has made concessions such as decreasing the number of units from 300 to 270 while increasing setbacks and buffers. Tolland said she couldn’t personally take the risk and deny the project to see if the developer will actually build a development under the Live Local Act.

Commissioner Harold Briley agreed.

“I don’t know if it’s worth taking that gamble,” he said. “I’m not sure you want to be the first, as far as a city, to challenge a new law that comes in, because I don’t know where that will actually get you.”

Sargent, who voted no, said he continued to have concerns about overcrowded hospitals, schools and

County Councilman Jake Johansson on Culture Council grants. See Page 5A

traffic.

“I do appreciate that the applicant worked great with Moss Point and Indian Springs on resolving issues,” Sargent said. “However, we have multiple other neighborhoods in the vicinity that I didn’t hear that were brought to the table, such as Breakaway Trails, Tymber Creek. There’s thousands of homes that are going to be affected by this.”

Mayor Bill Partington said this project has been one of the most challenging projects to come before the commission in the last 20 years.

“The city is too important to me to gamble with possibilities, knowing that there is a quality project that’s been heavily negotiated between the developer and the directly-abutting communities,” Partington said. “That’s about the best result we can hope for in this situation.”

The Volusia County government has launched ReGrow the Loop, a one-year pilot program to restore and enhance the natural beauty of the 30-mile Ormond Scenic Loop and Trail. The county has partnered with the UF/IFAS Extension Volusia County and other local organizations to eradicate invasive plant species, increase native vegetation, attract more wildlife and pollinators and share information about sustainable practices to protect the county’s natural beauty. Ormond Beach resident Alan Burton donated $1,000 to support the project.

“We have an opportunity to get our hands dirty, plant a tree and nurture our environment not only for ourselves, but also for future generations,” Burton said. Residents can get involved by signing a pledge, attending a workshop, and organizing or participating in a Loop volunteer event. Each will receive a native 3-gallon tree at one of the giveaway events this fall or summer 2024. The first in a series of free, monthly educational activities will be offered from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at the Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St. Register at https://tinyurl. com/32yj2jjy.

BY THE NUMBERS

$792,000

budgeted to complete Doug Thomas Way to the Hull Road front gate. Email Senior Editor Jarleene Almenas at Jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com.

Rendering courtesy of the Tymber Creek Apartments site plan submittal

The Tymber Creek Apartments will have 270 units.

“It isn’t that we think culture isn’t worth funding. It’s to make sure that the dollars we give are dollars well spent.”

Thank you, Officer

OBMS holds ‘clap out’ for Ormond Beach Police Officer Greg Stokes.

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

For the past six years, Ormond Beach Police Officer Greg Stokes has been a steadfast presence at Ormond Beach Middle School.

As the school’s resource officer — OBPD’s first assigned to that role — he’s set the bar high for those who will follow, said Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey. And on Thursday, June 2, OBMS students, teachers and faculty honored Stokes by organizing a surprise “clap out” to bid him farewell in the school’s quad, an idea brought forward by OBMS Principal Heather Iannarelli.

It’s a moment Stokes said he will always remember, especially because of the effort it took to organize the surprise.

“Just seeing all the kids [who] think enough of you where they’re clapping and they don’t want you to leave, it was uplifting,” Stokes said.

A police officer for 23 years, Stokes has been the school resource officer at OBMS since January 2017. Before that, the position was filled by a Volusia County deputy who rotated between OBMS and the Holly Hill School. Godfrey said that in 2016, OBPD applied for a grant to fund three school resource officers positions. He received grant funds for one.

“When I became chief, it was always abundantly clear to me that we needed our own person in that school,” Godfrey said. “Number one, to build the trusting relationships that we’ve already built through our DARE program up to fifth grade, but I thought it would be a great idea to continue that in the sixth, seventh grade with an Ormond Beach Police officer — to be the eyes and ears on the ground, to connect with the community and to build trusting relationships with students, staff, faculty and parents.”

Stokes was then chosen for OBMS. He had a background in community outreach, having first started as a Leisure Services employee with the city of Ormond Beach and a volunteer at the South Ormond Neighborhood Center, coaching and mentoring local youth. Stokes is also involved with the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League.

“He does a lot in the community that probably a lot of people take for granted or don’t even know, unless you know Greg,” Godfrey said. “It was a blessing to have him down [at OBMS.]”

But, it’s time for someone else to serve as the school resource officer, Godfrey said. Come next school year, OBMS will meet its new school resource officer: Marc Pedevillano, who has been with OBPD since 2021 and previously worked with the New York Police Department.

BRIDGING THE GAP

Stokes said he loved working with the kids the best. It created an opportunity to be able to help students, he said, especially those who may be dealing with difficulties at home or at school.

School resource officers help bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community, Stokes said. “It makes law enforcement more approachable,” he said. “It gives a different perspective, not only to the kids, but to the staff about the rules and duties of an officer — that we’re not standoffish. We will get into the thick of things and roll our sleeves up and help out, even if it’s not law enforcement related.”

Stokes takes great pride in his work, Godfrey said. He described Stokes as a man with great work ethic, integrity, compassion and ability to treat people with respect, making him a great fit for a school resource officer.

Every police department should have a school resource officer, Godfrey added, and he’d love it if he were able to place one at every Ormond school.

“To me, it’s a win-win,” Godfrey said. “I can tell you this: As a police chief, this is one of my victories that I will take with me, that I will claim, that I was allowed to do, because I thought it was a great move and I got lucky and got it approved. So, I’m appreciative of the council back in the day that approved it, because they supported me on this endeavor.”

SMART DECISION

Stokes never thought he’d be a police officer. When he was first approached by former Ormond Beach Police Chief Larry Mathieson, who wanted to sponsor his training, he turned him down. But Mathieson came back and convinced him.

“It was one of the smartest decisions I made,” Stokes said.

He said the “clap out” last week rendered him speechless.

“It’s kind of hard for me to believe that someone would do something like that for me,” Stokes said. “When they say, ‘You’ve done so much for us,’ when I don’t look at it like that. I can’t describe it; you do it because it’s who you are — it’s part of your character.”

“It's kind of hard for me to believe that someone would do something like that for me. When they say, 'You've done so much for us,' when I don't look at it like that.

Ormond Beach Police Officer Greg Stokes (center) was supported by fellow officers, school staff, community leaders and members of the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League during the “clap out.”

Officer Greg Stokes is recognized on Thursday, June 2, by OBMS students and faculty.

Reagan Fatta and Zahra Denard say goodbye to Ormond Beach Police Officer Greg Stokes.

I can't describe it; you do it because it's who you are — it's part of your character."

GREG STOKES, Ormond Beach Police officer

Photos by Jarleene Almenas

AdventHealth cuts ribbon on new hospital’s medical office building

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway is scheduled to open in two months. On Friday, June 2, AdventHealth held a ribbon cutting for the 30,000-square-foot medical office building next to the new hospital.

The 100-bed Palm Coast Parkway hospital will be AdventHealth’s second hospital in Flagler County, joining AdventHealth Palm Coast, which is located off State Road 100. The new hospital is scheduled to open on Aug. 2.

Because of the county’s continued growth, a second hospital was necessary, said Denyse Bales-Chubb, president and CEO of AdventHealth Palm Coast and the health system’s Flagler/St. Johns market.

“We are doubling the size and bed capacity of the county,” BalesChubb said. “We’ve often been a little bit over-capacity, especially in the emergency department. We try to accommodate the needs of the community, and with an additional 24 emergency rooms over here, we’ll be able to absorb those needs.”

Wally De Aquino, the CEO of the new hospital, said doctors will begin

seeing patients in the medical office building in mid-June.

“It is truly a special day for us to be here,” De Aquino said at the ribboncutting ceremony. “It wasn’t too long ago, we were doing the groundbreaking ceremony. It feels like it wasn’t too long ago, but it was actually September of 2021. We were in the midst of Covid, so it was a virtual program celebration. But we are blessed today to be in person here celebrating the opening of this beautiful building, which will be the cornerstone for this campus.”

The Palm Coast Parkway hospital will have several specialties including urology, gynecology, cardiology

and gastroenterology.

Many doctors and staff members toured the medical office building for the first time on June 2.

“My jaw dropped when I walked through,” said Dr. Jessica Marshall, a general surgeon who is currently practicing at the S.R. 100 hospital. “I’ve been eager to get in the door. Everything is just beautiful, and we’re going to have state of-the-art equipment.”

The orthopedics suite in the medical office building has an X-ray machine in the middle to make it convenient for patients who see doctors there, De Aquino said.

Doctors will be moving into the medical office building in phases with the first few coming in this month, De Aquino said.

“There’s a few more that are coming between August and September, and we’re still looking for one or two more for the other suites that we have available. We are having conversations with them already,” he said.

The new hires be will split between the two hospitals, with some physicians who are currently at AdventHealth Palm Coast moving to Palm Coast Parkway.

“The opportunity for us is not

“The opportunity for us is not only to recruit and bring great talent to Flagler County, but to also have a building to support the physicians right next to the hospital. It’s a big deal.”

WALLY DE AQUINO, AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway CEO

only to recruit and bring great talent to Flagler County,” DeAquino said, “but to also have a building to support the physicians right next to the hospital. It’s a big deal. So it’s the beautiful start of a great journey here in Flagler County.”

The new hospital will be able to withstand a Category 4 hurricane, De Aquino said. Its operating rooms will have 600 square feet of space, 150 square feet more than the ORs at AdventHealth Palm Coast.

“As technology changes and we start using more and more robots in our ORs, they need more square footage,” Bales-Chubb said. “It’s not that they can’t be accommodated in the existing hospital, but this allows for additional space to accommodate additional technology.”

AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway was designed during COVID-19, so many design elements, especially those affecting airflow, were implemented with COVID in mind, De Aquino said.

“This medical office building is just the beginning of a journey,” Bales-Chubb said at the ribbon cutting. “We are dedicated to expanding our services and reaching even greater heights in the future.”

Officials cut the ribbon in front of the medical office building at AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway.

AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway is scheduled to open on Aug. 2. The medical office building is on the right.

Doctors will be able to see their patients in the building attached to the AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway hospital.

Photos by Brent Woronoff

County OKs funding for arts groups Penalties to rise

don’t have any idea how you handle your money, and they look at us and say, ‘Why are you giving this money away?’”

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

For two hours, the Volusia County Council heard impassioned pleas at its meeting on Tuesday, June 6, from representatives of local art and culture organizations, artists and art enthusiasts, all echoing a central message: Do not eliminate the Cultural Council of Volusia County.

The councilmen listened and voted 6-0 to keep the Cultural Council active — which simultaneously keeps its $611,758 of grant funding in play for local cultural and heritage organizations. Councilman David Santiago was absent.

“There’s nobody up here that doesn’t agree art and culture is valuable to the community,” County Council Chair Jeff Brower said.

Brower, who had broached the topic at a council meeting on April 18, said that he did so to reexamine the Cultural Council, which was created by the County Council in 1989, and how to best fund the arts.

He still wants to alter the program — for instance, by streamlining the application process to make it easier on organizations, requiring a transparency page for onboarding requirements and bylaws, and basing grant awards on merit.

“You’ve already got [the information],” Brower said. “But the public doesn’t know it. They don’t see it. They

The Cultural Council, a nine-member advisory board, provides operating grants to local cultural and heritage organizations. The funding supports over 30 organizations that serve over one million people, according to the county’s website.

Unlike other county grant programs, the Cultural Council grant funding amount of $611,758 has not increased in the last 13 years, said Donna Butler, county director of community services.

In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, some of the organizations that received community cultural grants include youth arts charity ArtHaus, the Daytona Playhouse, Bel Canto Singers of Daytona, Ormond Beach Historical Society, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and the Museum of Arts and Sciences.

Former OMAM director Susan Richmond, who used to fill out the grant applications, described the grant funding as “golden dollars.”

“We can use them for operating expenses,” she said. “Many of the funding opportunities out there are purely program-driven. If you want to have a free art class for veterans, if you want to have children’s theater and so many of the programs that have been mentioned today, there are sources for that kind of funding. But if you need it, you can use county grant money to keep your lights on, pay your insurance and keep your internet going.”

Fine artist Shannon Holt said the arts are an “important community builder.”

She cited the city of DeLand as an example: It’s attractive to visitors because of its robust

arts scene, with murals, art installations and museums.

“The arts create a welcoming sense of belonging, engaging citizens to integrate and learn about each other and our cultures,” she said. “The arts preserve culture and heritage and showcase our county’s unique character traditions for future generations.”

Among the speakers was former County Councilwoman Barb Girtman, who spoke on the economic impact that arts and culture have on the local community. She said she remembers what it’s like to have to make tough fiscal decisions, too.

“Today, what I saw was our community telling you the investment that they want you to make, and you as a representative of them, the decision that they need for you to make to support our community,” she said.

County Councilman Jake Johansson said he didn’t think it was ever the council’s intention to eliminate the cultural arts.

But the council is serious about protecting taxpayers’ dollars, he said.

“It isn’t that we think culture isn’t worth funding,” Johansson said. “It’s to make sure that the dollars we give are dollars well spent.”

Councilman Don Dempsey, who used to run a comedy club, said he understands and appreciates the arts — but that there are also people asking the council not to raise taxes at a time when costs are rising.

“It really is a tough balance,” he said. “I just don’t want you guys thinking — I speak for myself on this — we somehow slight you guys or we don’t think that what you do is important.”

ALEXIS MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Starting Aug. 1, Volusia County Schools students will face stiffer penalties for on-campus drug and alcohol possession, vape use and possession, consensual sex and malicious threats.

The Volusia County School Board approved the student code of conduct changes during a board meeting on May 23. The new student services resource and support guide was presented at the meeting by Rose Roland, assistant superintendent for Student Services.

“I think when we give this information up front, the parents will know and the students will know as well,” Roland said.

The district has seen an increase in drug and alcohol possession in schools, Roland said. Based on feedback from administrators, the district decided to increase the threeto five-day suspension for a first offense to a 10-day outof-school suspension.

The popularity of CBD gummies has also impacted schools, Roland added.

The district will also issue a 10-day out-of-school suspension for any student caught with or using CBD gummies. Those students will also be referred to a District Student Placement Committee.

A 10-day out-of-school suspension will also be the consequence for students under 16 caught having sex.

The district’s guide also outlines that all reports of bullying must be investigated.

THREATS

student misconduct

result in an assault have been redesignated from a level three offense to a level four offense.

Such threats may require law enforcement involvement, depending on their severity.

A level three offense is considered a major offense that results in but is not limited to a suspension, a civil citation, restitution or Saturday school. A level four offense is more severe and could result in expulsion, administrative assignment to an alternative education program, restitution, concern of harm referral or a student services referral.

The guide also addresses vaping.

Students caught with a vape face a five-day suspension, and those caught using them face a 10-day suspension and a referral to DSPC.

School Board member Anita Burnette said the district needs to ensure the guide’s policies are followed.

“We have to follow the matrix for this because if we don’t, the students will know, and then it’s going to continue and continue,” Burnette said.

Vaping has a growing problem for the district, Roland said.

“Lots of times when nothing happens, the kids sometimes think it’s just a joke, and it’s not — because they often share, and then it can affect a great number of kids,” she said.

School Board member Carl Persis asked if the district had a policy on the sale and distribution of vapes at school. Roland said a plan is in the works.

“We know that’s what’s going on, because middle school kids can’t buy it legally,” Persis said. “They’re buying it from other middle school students who probably are getting it from high school

siblings or someone else, and it’s trickling down and they’re selling it.”

School Board Chair Jamie Haynes said vaping is also becoming a problem at elementary schools. Haynes urged parents to help the district minimize the likelihood of children getting vapes and other drugs by sending them to school without cash.

Persis suggested that the district continue implementing counseling measures for students reentering schools after suspensions. Each suspension will include a reentry meeting with parents, evaluating the child’s actions, before the child can return to school, according to the district.

REPORTING CRIMES

School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting was initiated in 1995-1996.

The reports collect data on 26 types of crime and other disruptive behavior at school and at school functions. Because these acts are severe, law enforcement agencies must be notified, and the district cannot intervene in law enforcement officers’ investigations.

Roland said some districts are not properly reporting incidents. But Volusia is, she told the board.

“We pulled up the report, and our county was one that was pretty much commended for making sure we were putting in our accessory events accurately and not underreporting,” Roland said.

The district is also coming up with a plan for schools to keep investigation statements for at least three years so that attorneys and the court system can more easily access them.

Senior Editor Jarleene Almenas contributed to this story.

The

Cultural Council, a nine-member advisory board, provides operating grants to local cultural and heritage organizations.

The policy changes will go into effect on Aug. 1.

COPS CORNER

MAY 27

DECLUTTERING

5:44 p.m. — 300 block of South Atlantic Avenue, Ormond Beach Unarmed burglary. A 37-yearold Daytona Beach man suspected of breaking into an Ormond Beach home told police that not only was he friends with the homeowner, but he had been organizing the homeowner’s property and putting items in a black trash bag for disposal. Police had responded to the home after the victim no tified them that he had found the man on his back porch

with items strewn around — items he usually keeps inside his house, according to a police report. The suspect began walking along the beach, where police approached him. When asked to provide his personal information, the man told the reporting officer a false birth date, claiming he had forgotten it. He also told police that he was friends with the homeowner, whom he said invited him over to “organize and paint,” according to the report. The victim, who wanted to pursue charges, determined that the man likely entered the home through the basement. Police found that the suspect was carrying methamphetamine. He was taken to jail.

MAY 28 CHARGE TO CREDIT

2:50 p.m. — 100 block of Cypress Point Parkway, Palm Coast Shoplifting. A Palm Coast man has been charged with 12 counts of shoplifting after allegedly skipping items during checkout.

A loss prevention employee at a large department store contacted the Sheriff’s Office about the suspect, according to the suspect’s arrest report. The employee told deputies that the store had surveillance footage of the suspect either skip-scanning items during checkout or scanning different, lower-priced tags in place of the correct price tag.

The suspect allegedly did this over 12 different visits to the store from March 24 to May 16. In all, the man is accused of shoplifting $158

worth of merchandise, the report said.

Among the items he allegedly either switched tags on or skipped entirely were: men’s swim trunks, instant ramen, frozen pizza rolls, cold medications and tampons. Loss prevention staff could identify him because the man paid for some of the items with a credit card, the report said.

MAY 29 SUNKEN TREASURE

11:17 a.m. — first block of Thomas Road, Palm Coast Grand theft. A woman’s missing boat was recovered just a day after it was reported missing: It was found submerged in the water behind her home.

The woman reported the boat stolen on May 28, just after 8 p.m. At the time, she told deputies that the 55-pound boat with a transom-mount trolling motor had last been seen the night before on her dock’s lift, according to an incident report.

The next day, the woman’s neighbor told her he found the boat submerged in the water by her dock, the report said. The woman told deputies that she believed the craft may have been sunk by wakes from boats passing by on the Intracoastal.

MAY 31 WINE DRUNK

11:27 a.m. — Intersection of Jefferson Street and South Yonge Street, Ormond Beach DUI. Two sips of wine and some cake — that’s all a 59-year-old man from Virginia told local police he’d had to eat and drink when the officer stopped the man’s car because the man wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.

But the reporting officer noted that the driver’s speech was slurred and that he was moving slowly as he produced his documentation, according to a police report. That’s when the officer spotted an open bottle of wine in the car’s center console.

The man agreed to perform a series of field sobriety exercises, which he failed. He told police he had been driving to South Daytona, but he didn’t know what street he was on nor which direction he was heading, the report states. He claimed he’d eaten some cakes from a gas station convenience store around midnight, and that he had “started drinking at 11 a.m. and stopped drinking at 11 a.m.”

The man told police that he couldn’t feel the effects of the wine, and admitted to taking cocaine earlier that morning. He was taken to jail.

FT-BRV0007861-02

Man arrested after crashing into fire hydrant, attacking deputy

The suspect, 52, grabbed the crotch of a deputy who tried to restrain him, according to the FCSO.

OBSERVER STAFF

A drunk 52-year-old Palm Coast man crashed into a fire hydrant June 1 then attacked a deputy by grabbing and squeezing the male deputy’s genitals, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies had responded to the crash scene at a RaceTrac gas station at the intersection of State Road

100 and Old Kings Road at about 3:55 p.m. after a bystander reported the crash.

The bystander found the suspect, Frank Clement Jr., slumped in the driver’s seat of a Ford Ranger and helped him out of the truck, according to Clement’s arrest report.

The bystander later told deputies that Clement had begged him not to call 911, then approached the bystander “in a way to make [the bystander] back away,” according to the report.

When deputies arrived, water was pouring from the hydrant into a swale, and Clement’s dog was running around near the crash scene, an

CRIME REPORT

Man points gun at neighbor over use of his driveway

A 60-year-old Palm Coast man was arrested May 27 after he allegedly threatened to shoot his neighbor because a car visiting the neighbor’s house backed into the man’s driveway.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the first block of Wood Ash Lane when the 60-year-old man, Terry Vetsch, called about the incident, according to his arrest report.

Vetsch told deputies he saw a Ford Escape backing into his driveway from a security camera, and immediately grabbed his gun and went outside.

Vetsch banged on the car’s window and yelled at the driver.

The driver told deputies that he had been visiting with Vetsch’s neighbor and backed into Vetsch’s driveway while moving the car.

Vetsch and his neighbor, a woman, began arguing, and when Vetsch started walking back to his property, the neighbor followed him, the report said. Vetsch then turned around and

pointed his gun at the neighbor’s head from inches away and threatened to kill her, the report said.

Vetsch told deputies that he pulled the gun because the neighbor was yelling and waving her hands in his face, the report said. Vetsch has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Two women charged with using broomstick to beat teen girl

Two women were arrested on May 29 after allegedly beating a 15-yearold girl with a broomstick.

The women — the mother and the aunt of the victim — told deputies that the teen had been helping put away party supplies at their home on Pine Haven Drive when she accidentally knocked a sliding closet door off its track, according to their arrest reports.

The teen told Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies she argued with her mother over the door, but then went into her bedroom. Her aunt followed her in and slapped her for being disrespectful, the teen told deputies.

The teen said she hit her aunt in

See a Doctor Who Specializes in Hearing

arriving deputy’s body camera footage shows.

The deputy asked Clement what was going on, and Clement said, “I’ve been drinking,” according to the report.

The deputy told Clement to lean against his truck, and Clement did so, but then started walking toward the deputy.

When the deputy told Clement to step back, Clement replied, “F--that,” and approached the deputy with a clenched fist.

The deputy put a hand on Clement’s chest to get him to back up, but Clement swung at the deputy, saying “Put your hand off me,” then swear-

the chest with a piggy bank in self defense, and her mother came into the bedroom and began striking the teen with a broom handle.

The teen said her mother and aunt both began to pull her hair and hit her with their hands and the broom. Deputies noted in the arrest reports that the teen had visible injuries on her legs, foot, hands and cheeks.

Suspected car thief caught within an hour

Flagler and St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office deputies worked together to catch a suspected car thief less than an hour after the theft was reported on May 31.

A Palm Coast resident had reported their car stolen after seeing the theft on a home security camera while at work, according to the news release. The footage showed the thief enter the garage, remove the car’s keys from a rack and drive off. Deputies identified a neighbor with a history of trespassing as a possible suspect, and, coordinating with the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, tracked the stolen car into St. Johns County. St. Johns County deputies found the car and the 19-year-old suspect and arrested him.

ing at the deputy as the deputy tried to restrain him, the video shows.

As the deputy tried to radio for other deputies, Clement grabbed the deputy’s groin and twisted, according to his arrest report. The deputy punched Clement in the face several times until Clement fell to the ground, yelling, “I’m sorry, man.”

Other deputies arrived and helped handcuff Clement.

A witness later said that it looked like Clement had been reaching for the deputy’s gun during the fight, according to the news release.

Clement was treated at AdventHealth Palm Coast then taken to the county jail.

BRIEFS

Flagler County performs ‘ecological timber thinning’

The Flagler County government is performing “ecological timber thinning” on a 497-acre county-owned property south and west of Old Kings Road and east of Interstate 95.

The thinning will affect 313 acres of the site and is expected to be completed by the end of June, weather permitting, according to a news release from the county government.

The thinning is designed to improve the rest of the site’s pine tree stand while promoting herbaceous plant growth for wildlife and avoiding impacts to 181 acres of cypress dome and other wetlands.

It is also expected to mitigate the intensity of any potential wildfires.

“We want to let people know that this project is not clear-cutting for development,” Public Lands and Natural Resources Manager Michael Lagasse said, according to the news release.

Revenues from the thinning will be used for further land management work at the property and at Princess Place Preserve.

He faces felony charges of aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence as well as a misdemeanor charge of DUI with property damage.

“Getting drunk, driving a vehicle, and crashing is bad enough, but then attacking a deputy sheriff will only land you in jail with even more charges, including felony charges,” Sheriff Rick Staly said, according to the news release. “Being drunk makes you do stupid things. This time he gets to sit in jail and think about his actions. Fortunately, our deputy was not seriously hurt defending himself from his attacker.”

Officials issue algae alert for Bull Creek

The Florida Department of Health in Flagler County has issued an alert for the presence of harmful bluegreen algal toxins found in a May 30 water sample north of the Bull Creek Fish Camp.

This alert is in response to a water sample taken on May 30, according to a news release from the Health Department. The Health Department has advised residents and visitors to take the following precautions:

nDo not drink, swim or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom.

nWash your skin and clothes with soap if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water.

nKeep pets away from the area. Waters where there are algae blooms is not safe for animals. Pets and livestock should have a different source of water

nDo not cook or clean dishes with algae-contaminated water. Boiling it will not eliminate the toxins.

Eating fillets from healthy fish caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe. Rinse fish fillets with tap or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well. Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms.

BUSINESS OBSERVER

Development, real estate + business news

Unity Prosthetics renovation to make facility more holistic

Locally minded coffee shop has been owner’s dream

businesses.

Balmer said keeping things local is her goal. She hosts monthly pop-up shops for local vendors.

JARLEENE ALMENAS SENIOR EDITOR

Ormond-by-the-Sea resident Todd Sicilia has spent the better part of his life out on the water. Surfing is addicting, he said. Once you start, it’s hard to stop.

But for two and a half years, surfing — along with his other active hobbies, skateboarding and mountain biking — were put on hold after a drunk driver crashed into his motorcycle at the top of his street on Dec. 10, 2008.

“That’s when things changed,” Sicilia said. “I was just carrying on with a regular evening, and a drunk driver changed that.”

For the two and a half years after that moment, doctors worked to save his left leg. But when he got a bone infection, doctors gave him an option: undergo more surgeries, or amputate.

“So I asked the doctor, ‘What day is good for you to amputate?’” Sicilia recalled.

During the time he was in a wheelchair, he’d remembered watching on TV how veterans from the Afghanistan War ran marathons on prosthetic legs. To amputate, Sicilia said, was an easy decision to make.

That’s how he met John Jump.

BEYOND CLINICAL

Jump, prosthetist and clinical director of Unity Prosthetics and Orthotics in Daytona Beach, has been helping amputee patients for about 25 years.

He started working with prosthetics when he was in high school after a friend lost a leg in a car crash. Jump knew the family that made his friend’s prosthesis, so when his friend had an appointment, Jump went along.

At the time, Jump was working summers as a gravedigger, and one day, he was offered a job helping to make prosthetics — for an extra 25 cents an hour and the promise of working under air conditioning.

And when it came time to decide what he wanted to do for his future, he decided to apply for prosthetic-orthotic school because he enjoys helping people get up and get going after crashes or illnesses change their lives, he said.

“It’s just a huge setback, obviously,” Jump said. “... But you’re helping out people.”

Since March, Jump has been revamping his clinic at 1320 Mason Ave. to better serve his patients.

He formed a vision a couple years ago that went beyond the standard clinical space to fit prosthetics. He wanted a place where amputees could hang out, meet each other and create a support system, since prosthetic appointments often last several hours.

“I think what I realized was that I wanted it to be more of a healthy, or holistic or a wellness-type environment,”

Jump said. “And I was in what this building used to be, and it just felt like confinement.”

Once completed, his new practice will have a gym, kitchen, resource room, onsite fabrication lab and a room specific to upper extremity prosthetics.

“There’s other people that do this in the community — we know that,” Jump said. “... But the goal is we want to be accessible to the people who need our services.”

Aside from having a full clinical staff, to Jump, that also means creating a space that is pleasant for amputees to spend time in.

Jump hopes to complete the renovations this month and hold an open house for the community from 12-6 p.m. on Friday, June 23.

REGAINING MOBILITY

As soon as he was fitted with his prosthetic, Sicilia was walking with crutches. He soon graduated to a walking with a cane and within a month was able to walk on his own.

About six months later, he was back on his surfboard. He stood up and rode a wave right away, he said. He’s now been surfing for 52 years. He also still rides a motorcycle and skateboard.

“I am living my best life with my new normal,” Sicilia said. “These are the cards I was dealt. This is the hand I’ve gotta play.”

Sicilia said he can’t say enough good things about Jump and Unity prosthetics — and he’s looking forward to the renovated facility.

“In my opinion, John is just fantastic,” he said. “He’s very personable. He knows what he’s doing. He listens if you have issues.”

Jump said he appreciates when clients like Sicilia send him photos of themselves doing activities they enjoy — whether that’s surfing, riding a motorcycle or going on vacation with their families.

“They trust you enough they want to share these exciting moments in their life with you,” Jump said. “It’s kind of cool.”

ALEXIS MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Shelby Balmer has dreamed of opening a coffee shop since she was young. In January 2021, she did so in Ormond Beach with Pine to Palms.

“Since I was around 15 years old, I thought, ‘One day I’m going to move to Florida and open a coffee shop, and use coffee beans from back home,’” Balmer said.

Balmer is from Washington state, and regularly visited her dad in Florida before moving here. But every time she visited, she missed the coffee from Washington.

Now, all the coffee beans she uses are shipped weekly to Ormond Beach from Olympia, Washington — a journey that inspired the name of the shop.

Before opening Pines to Palms, Balmer was an aesthetician, but that work started to cause her eyestrain.

A doctor told her that if she ever wanted to heal, she needed to take a break and let her eyes rest, she said.

That pushed her to open her coffee shop at 1450 U.S. 1, Suite 400, in Ormond Beach.

Two years later, Pine to Palms is not only a coffee shop but a venue to aid other local

TRIBUTES

Joe Cranford 1937-2023

“We like to make sure we only have three or four vendors at a time to really spotlight each of those individual businesses, because I know what it’s like to start from literally nothing,” Balmer said. “This is a big way for me to try to help others out.”

The shop offers coffee, Italian sodas, lemonade, tea and tea lattes as well as Lotus, a natural energy drink made from lotus flower extract, cascara, green coffee beans, super fruits and other botanicals.

The most popular drink on the menu, Balmer said, is the white mocha, which is made with Ghirardelli white chocolate powder.

In keeping with her mission to support local businesses, Pine to Palms also sells baked goods from Kneading More Sweets, an Ormond Beach bakery.

The collaboration between the two business started around a year ago, said Kim Fairweather, owner of Kneading More Sweets.

“[The collaboration] is wonderful because you get to meet new people, and Shelby and I have developed a friendship,” Fairweather said.

Inside the coffee shop, there’s also a small boutique Balmer created during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The boutique started online, but after Balmer opened the shop, she started adding some of her designs there, beginning with a single rack and

progressing to occupy a whole section of the shop.

“I love going to Pines to Palms, not just for the drinks but for the atmosphere,” said Emily Stepniak, a frequent customer. “All of the baristas welcome everybody with open arms, and they give great drink suggestions. The fact that they remember what type of drinks are my favorite just blows my mind.”

Balmer said she cherishes her customers and staff and wants to always make them feel welcome.

“They (the customers) could come in one time, not see me for a week and most likely, nine times out of 10, I’m going to remember that drink, remember they came in and supported me and my dream,” Balmer said.

Alfred A. Cunningham (Al)

September 27, 1946 - May 9, 2023 (76 yrs)

Joe was born on July 18, 1937 in Downsville, Louisiana to the late Albert Cranford and Mabel Henry Cranford. He was a graduate of Downsville High School, class of 1955. Joe worked as a supply clerk & union representative for Eastern Airlines for over 35 years. He was married to Margaret “Meg” Visnosky and they shared a wonderful life together until her passing in 2001. Joe moved to Palm Coast in 2005 from Homestead, Florida. He enjoyed current events, law and politics, fixing and doing everything for himself and keeping a well-manicured lawn.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife Meg Cranford on October 12, 2001. He is survived by his niece, Karen Whisonant of Norcross, GA & a large number of friends

in our community. Joe requested that there be no services for him. He will rest with his wife in Miami, Florida. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joe’s name to Boys Town, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010 or at boystown.org

The family of Mr. Cranford have entrusted his arrangements to Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations.

DONATIONS: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joe’s name to Boys Town, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010 or at boystown.org

Late of Palm Coast, Florida and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Born in Macfield, Westmoreland, Jamaica, passed away at home leaving behind his Mother: Zella Richards, Brothers: David, Errol (Junior), and James (Peter); Sisters: Alda, Norma, Shirley (Patsy/Mel), Claudette, Laura, and Coral; as well as a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and other relatives and friends that will miss him dearly.

A celebration of his life will be held at Heritage Funeral and Cremation Service, Bunnell, Florida, USA on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 1:00 pm EST. A link to experience the service virtually can be found at:

https://www.heritageflagler. com/obituaries/AlfredCunningham-3/#!/ Obituary

Joe Cranford, 85, of Palm Coast, FL passed away on Saturday May 27, 2023.

He enjoyed current events, law and politics, fixing and doing everything for himself and keeping a well-manicured lawn.

John Jump, clinical director of Unity Prosthetics and Orthotics in Daytona Beach, has been helping amputee patients for about 25 years.

John Jump began working in the prosthetics industry as a technician while he was in high school.

Todd Sicilia started surfing

after he was fitted with his new prosthesis.

Todd Sicilia said the decision to amputate his leg came easy after two and half years in a wheelchair.

The name Pines to Palms represents the journey Shelby Balmer — and her coffee beans — have made from Washington to Florida.

Photo by Alexis Miller Shelby Balmer, owner of Pines to Palms

Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach resident visits all 175 Florida state parks

Janet Frank, a former teacher and avid traveler, said she wanted to see the ‘real’ Florida when she moved to the state in 2017.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

Ormond Beach resident Janet Frank made a goal when she moved to Florida in 2017: to get to know the “real” Florida.

What better way than to visit all 175 state parks?

Frank, 75, achieved her goal on April 21 with her visit to Egmont Key State Park in St. Petersburg.

“It went super,” Frank said. “When COVID hit, I didn’t think I was going to be able to finish, but after things started opening again, I was even more determined to finish.”

She and her husband, Carl, who moved to Ormond from South Carolina, started with Fort Clinch in Amelia Island in December 2018.

The next year, the Franks were joined by Lois Hughes and her husband, but after he died, it became a girls-only venture.

Janet Frank didn’t see many parks in 2020 during the pandemic, but she and Hughes renewed their efforts in 2021, acquiring stamp after stamp

for their Real Florida Passports, created by the Florida State Parks system. Visitors who receive all 175 stamps and submit it a form receive a free family annual entrance pass, valid for up to eight people.

Frank, a retired teacher and an avid photographer and traveler, makes photo album books of the places she visits. She has filled eight books with memories of her visits to Florida’s state parks. Seeing them in person, she said, has given her an educational appreciation for the parks.

“I think people that don’t see any

or many of these are missing the boat, especially if you’re a Floridian,” she said. “I think you should see these things. ... I know everybody can’t do them all, but I think they should see some of those aspects of past Florida life. I know you can read about them in a book, but it’s not the same.”

As someone who loves history, Frank said her favorite parks all had a historical aspect. Silver Springs State Park in Ocala was a memorable one for her because she and Hughes visited it on a day its Cracker Village, a replica of a 19th century pioneer settlement, was open.

“Before I moved to Florida, I had never heard of a Cracker,” she said. “So that was very interesting, plus we did the glass bottom boat ride.”

Other favorites included the De Leon Springs State Park, with its pancake house; Manatee Springs State Park — where she and Hughes swam — and Fanning Springs State Park.

She and Hughes stayed in a cabin to better explore the latter.

When asked how it feels to have completed all 175 state parks, Frank said it’s wonderful.

“I’m a goal-oriented person, and so that was just part of it,” Frank said.

Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Janet Frank at De Leon Springs State Park

Courtesy photos

Janet Frank and Lois Hughes hold up their Real Florida Passports.

Janet Frank at her last park: Egmont Key State Park in St. Petersburg

Janet Frank makes photo album books for all of her travels. Her visit to Florida’s state parks generated eight of these.

‘Session of the century’

Credit Florida lawmakers for going big with legislation that will change Florida for the better.

But more significant than the number of bills passed are a few landmark laws that have the ingredients to change the state’s educational foundation and Florida’s economy.

Topping that list of landmark legislation:

be regarded as transformative. But the above bills are singled out to illustrate how this year’s Legislature is different from those of previous years in at least two respects:

with better traditional school offerings and invigorated magnet schools.”

Let the competition begin.

INCREASED FREEDOM

MATT WALSH

Amonth has passed since state lawmakers closed their 2023 session, and now the fog is lifting to bring into clarity what they did.

We know lawmakers didn’t raise our taxes — ya-hoo.

Nor did they really reduce taxes for everyone. They continued their annual game of “look at us, we cut taxes” — that is, with a laundry list of sales-tax holidays (more on that in our next installment).

And it’s probably a safe guess most Floridians know Gov. Ron DeSantis, angling for his quest of the presidency, continued his culture war against wokeness. With the support of his fellow supermajority Republicans in the House and Senate, DeSantis prioritized more legislation designed to squelch the spread of the destructive ESG, DEI and transgender movements.

While that legislation predictably attracted the attention and ire of the leftist press and TV talking heads, Florida’s lawmakers actually did so much more. So much, in fact, the James Madison Institute, the state’s premier think tank, dubbed it “the session of the century.” Not just for Florida, but for all 50 state legislatures around the country.

Bob McClure, president of the institute, says state lawmakers all over America are taking cues from Florida as the model for good policies that produce economic prosperity and protect and promote liberty.

When Rep. Tommy Gregory, R-Lakewood Ranch, addressed a group of James Madison Institute supporters last week, Gregory, not one to be hyperbolic or effusive, echoed McClure: “It was the session of the century for the country,” adding, “We did more this year than we did in my previous four years combined.”

Indeed, whether you’re a Republican, Democrat or Independent, the breadth and scope of all they accomplished was stunning. Historic. We’ll predict: Decades from now the 2023 legislative session will be recognized as an apex for the Legislature, a turning or trigger point in Florida’s cultural and economic direction.

The numbers tell one story. In DeSantis’ first legislative session in 2019, the Legislature passed 171 bills. In the most recent session, it passed 317 — the vast majority of which will become law. It would take days for even a savvy policy wonk to wade through and understand the new requirements of so many new laws that will touch so many aspects of Floridians’ lives.

BRIEFS

Volusia County Court Judge Belle Schumann to retire

• HB 1, universal school choice. This will end public education as we’ve known it — and it will do so for the better. Universal choice will give 3.3 million Florida K-12 students about $8,000 a year in tax money vouchers and the freedom to choose a public or private school and other educational services.

• HB 837, tort reform. Rep. Gregory estimates the provisions of this complicated legislation will save every Florida family at least $5,000 a year, simply because of a reduction in liability lawsuits against businesses. For decades, Florida has been regarded as “Legal Hell,” a result of previous laws that provided an economic boon to trial lawyers. But now lawmakers have turned off that legal spigot.

Those milestone changes to the state’s education and legal systems were historic because lawmakers have been chiseling away for 25 years at seemingly immovable obstacles in pursuit of visions that were often regarded as dreams that would never come true. But they did it.

A sampling of other new legislation that can be considered transformational:

n The ban on abortions after six weeks, except in the cases of rape, incest, human trafficking or medical necessity.

n Not requiring a concealed weapons license to carry a concealed weapon.

n The elimination of Enterprise Florida, its associated economic development groups and the millions of dollars it dispensed in subsidies to attract corporations.

n The expansion of Kidcare, the state and federally subsidized health insurance for children, a measure estimated to enroll 16,000 children next year at a starting cost of $10 million for Floridians and $25 million for federal taxpayers and sure to grow as entitlements do.

n Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s $700 million bill designed to increase affordable housing via incentives and subsidies to builders and scaling back local zoning restrictions.

n The easing of the teacher certification process.

OUTSIDE THE MARGINS

With the passage of more than 300 bills, there are many others that can

One: Typically, lawmaking is plodding, incremental and in the margins; rarely bold or dramatically disruptive to the status quo. Entrenched institutional and societal ways of business are often impenetrable fortresses, even when they’re failing. That’s the nature of government.

Two: Typically, legislative bodies spend most of their sessions creating more laws that expand government interventionism. And with each intervention, the citizenry loses more of its freedoms.

If you go through the 300 bills Florida lawmakers approved, the vast majority are injecting more regulations and expanding government to solve perceived problems. The Kidcare and affordable housing legislation are two examples.

But with universal school choice and tort reform, this year’s Legislature went outside the margins, went big and bold and actually did something that few lawmakers ever do: increased citizens’ freedoms.

EDUCATION HOLY GRAIL

With school choice, Florida reached the Holy Grail. The late economists Milton and Rose Friedman must be dancing in their graves, while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is seeing the seed he planted becoming an oak.

The Friedmans first proposed school vouchers as a way to improve public education in the mid-1970s. That idea finally began sprouting in the late 1990s. Gov. Bush sparked the revolution in 1999 in his first term. Alarmed then that Florida’s public schools ranked near the bottom nationally, Bush was determined to upend that embarrassing status.

The thrust of his new education initiatives focused on accountability, introducing statewide testing and a grading system for schools and districts. But one small seed of his initiative was a school voucher program that would allow children in failing schools to transfer to better schools. The choice door opened ever so slightly.

Ever since then, Florida has been the national leader in spreading school choice options and spreading more freedom. “This is the next iteration of parental choice,” Bush told us. “Parents will ultimately be able to customize their children’s learning experience with hybrid offerings.”

Bush also believes this expanded choice won’t be the death of public education. Instead, it will inspire public school districts to “respond

GOVERNOR WILL STILL BE PAID

Asked if Gov. Ron DeSantis will continue to receive all of his $210,000 annual state salary while campaigning for president, Press Secretary Jeremy Redfern replied to the Observer in an email:

“The governor remains serving

University and her law degree from Florida State University. She was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1984 and was appointed Volusia County Court Judge by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2005. She was elected/reelected without opposition in 2006, 2012 and 2018.

As a County Court judge, Schumann presided over county court cases including misdemeanors, traffic, civil and small claims. She is credited with spearheading the creation of the Volusia County DUI Court program and received the Chief Justice Award for Excellence in 2018.

Tort reform also increases Floridians’ freedom. Trial lawyers say otherwise, because they argue the laws will now protect businesses and deny poor and middle-class Floridians who can’t afford lawyers access to justice. The increase in freedom comes from having $5,000 more in every family’s checking account.

More freedom: Ability to carry a concealed weapon without having a license.

More freedom: Elimination of corporate incentive subsidies. For every tax dollar used to subsidize or lure corporations to relocate to Florida, those are dollars taken out of the pockets of everyday Floridians and, often times, out of the pockets of existing businesses that end up at a competitive disadvantage to the subsidized corporate newcomer.

More freedom: Relaxing teacher certification requirements. This will give schools the freedom to tap the expertise of Florida’s welleducated but noncertified retirees.

Finally, how is a ban on abortions after six weeks more freedom? It’s giving unborn children the freedom to live.

HOW AND WHY?

Underlying the historic breadth and depth of legislation adopted in this year’s session are the questions of “how?” — how they did it, and why? — why were they able to push through so much?

An obvious answer is supermajorities. Republican have that in the House and Senate, rendering Democrats virtually powerless to stop whatever is on the Republicans’ agenda.

But the answer to those questions goes deeper than that. Republicans have controlled the House, Senate and governor’s office for two decades. But unlike in previous years, this time around there was an essential ingredient: strong and almost complete alignment on the issues among the top three leaders — Gov. DeSantis, President Passidomo and Speaker Paul Renner.

The three of them had multiple meetings over multiple months prior to the session, Renner told us. And in those meetings they “reiterated that we were going to try to do it a different way. It was not necessarily an explicit joint plan, but it was an ‘everybody wins’ approach.”

Renner explained how things were different this year versus, say, 2022 and 2021, when businessman Wilton Simpson was Senate president and lawyer Chris Sprowls was speaker.

moved.’ It was a traditional belief then that everything had to be leveraged — ‘If you want this, I’ve got to get something for it,’ a trading out of priorities of ‘I’ll do this for you, if you do this for me.’”

But there was one other ingredient: “It goes back to having people going big,” Renner said. DeSantis has said in many speeches and in his book, “Be willing to take bold stands.”

Renner is of the same mind.

“That was my overarching goal — to get as much accomplished as we could during my (two years) as speaker. I wanted to make sure that every big problem that could be solved was solved.”

He added: “There is certainly more to be done.”

Passidomo declined to comment.

THE NEXT SESSION

Renner and Gregory already have priorities for the 2024 session. Near or atop the list: infrastructure.

Renner and Gregory both said given the amount of tax money the state is taking in with rapid population growth, the state’s infrastructure needs — roads, bridges, sewer systems, water treatment — will be an essential priority. Renner is forming a strategy commission to determine Florida’s needs 20 and 30 years from now.

Renner also listed health care costs and solving the shortage of physicians and nurses, adding, “Child welfare needs to be fixed.”

Better funding for the state’s overburdened court system is likely to be a high priority as well. As Gregory told the James Madison audience: “When the courts don’t have enough resources, that’s justice delayed and justice denied.”

FREEDOM COMES WITH RISKS

After watching the Legislature for 40-plus years, we’ve observed the standard post-session assessments. Lawmakers go back to their districts and tout how wonderful they are and how they passed more laws to fix problems that were created by previous laws.

The media, in turn, pecks away at the politicians for what they failed to do or how they kowtowed to sacred-cow special interests. And the constituents go “ho-hum.”

This time, it’s different. No one, of course, knows at this point what the unintended consequences will be of, say, universal school choice, tort reform, the six-week abortion ban, the concealed carry gun law, or, for that matter, the 300 other bills that will become law.

the people that he was elected to serve.”

When we emailed Redfern a second time, saying he did not answer the question, Redfern replied again:

“Ron DeSantis is still the governor of Florida. Hope that helps.”

We’ll ask you: Could you do your job 100% and still run for president? — MW

can attest, she is incredibly intelligent and dedicated to the rule of law,” Chief Judge James Clayton said. “She has always had the courage to follow the law in her rulings, even if it was unpopular. But most importantly, she has been a source of wisdom and guidance to those who were smart enough to seek her counsel. She will be missed.” Shumann’s position will be filled by gubernatorial appointment.

Two injured after SUV veers off I-95

Volusia County Court Judge Belle B. Schumann is retiring, effective June 30. Schumann received her undergraduate degree from Stetson

Before joining the Court, Schumann worked in the State Attorney General’s office for over 20 years. “As those of us who know Belle

Two Jacksonville residents were hospitalized after their car swerved off Interstate 95 in Palm Coast and struck a tree the morning of June 2. The driver, a 53-year-old man, was heading south in a sport utility vehicle with a 66-year-old woman

“I would point to a commitment that we made to each other to pass each other’s priorities as the No. 1 reason why we accomplished so much,” Renner said.

“Essentially, we made all those priorities the common priorities of the House, Senate and governor’s office. And that flowed down from the top to our leadership teams to the members.

“In times past,” he said, “you saw things devolve based on personality conflicts, egos or ‘If I don’t get what I want, your bill is not going to get

in the passenger seat when the car veered onto the right shoulder of the road at about 7:11 a.m. and hit a tree near Mile Marker 294, according to a news release from the Florida Highway Patrol. Rescuers extracted the passenger from the vehicle. She sustained serious injuries, while the driver sustained minor injuries. Both were taken to Halifax Hospital, according to the news release.

FCSO’s inmate GED program celebrates first graduate

A Flagler County inmate became the first to graduate from the General Education Development program offered at the jail by Flagler Technical College on May 31. Easton Perez, alongside other FTC

But whether you like or dislike Florida’s Republican controlled Legislature, the governor, Senate president, speaker and Republican lawmakers deserve positive recognition. They did what few politicians do: They went outside the margins and went bold — with the belief they will be changing Florida and Floridians’ lives for the better.

We hope, and we believe, history will prove them right.

When a former teacher told Gregory she worried about the effects of school choice on the state’s public education system, Gregory said he understood her concern. But then he added a comment that applies universally: “Freedom comes with risks.” Risks worth taking.

graduates, walked across the stage at the Flagler Auditorium to accept his diploma at FTC’s May 31 graduation ceremony.

The program gives inmates the opportunity to earn their high school equivalency diploma, according to a press release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Rick Staly said education can help inmates turn their lives around.

“We are incredibly proud of Easton Perez and all of the inmates who will follow in his footsteps to complete their GED in the future,” Staly said. “We greatly appreciate our partnership with Flagler Technical Institute and thank the GED instructors that made this opportunity possible.”

The Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility also offers vocational and substance abuse programs for inmates, the press release said.

Volusia County Court

Judge Belle B. Schumann

LETTERS

Join our ‘dialogue’ group

Dear Editor:

What do we need more of in our community ... or less of? How does one contribute to the betterment of our cities in Volusia County? How do we create change? This is what I and others have been struggling with for years in Ormond Beach. Those of you who know me and Bill Denny, know this is our mission. We started Civil Discourse as a result of the blaming and shaming that was occurring in our public

CAMERA CLUB ANNOUNCES SPRING EXHIBIT WINNERS

The Casements Camera Club announced the winners of its 10th annual spring exhibit at a special reception held May 25 in The Casements Gallery.

The show drew 43 entries that were judged by Casements Camera Club members.

The winners were:

„ Best of Show: “Reigning Monarch,” by Liz Tinder „ First place: “Elevated Onions,” by Janet Bernardini

„ Second place: “Florida Tranquility,” by Garry Norton

„ Third place: “Peaceful Paddle,” by Donna Callmeyer „ People’s Choice: “Milky Way Over the Dock,” by Will Abair Ans van Beek Torkington, president of the Casements Camera Club, said that 148 members of the public voted for their favorite photo.

“The collection of photos was quite diverse, and mediums included framed, canvas and glass surfaces,” she said.

meetings and to provide a place to speak out on issues that divide the community. Next, we came up with Civil Discourse Part 2/Common Ground. That didn’t work if one of the parties involved would not attend. People stayed in their corners.

The third iteration of Civil Discourse is still in the formative stage, and we are coming to understand that most folks are not interested if there is not a hot topic (in their own back yard) on the agenda. In this newly formed “dialogue” group, the “synergy” of the interaction itself, a word most likely familiar to the business world, creates

TAYLOR ROAD BAND RAISES MONEY FOR SHELTER ANIMALS

The Taylor Road Band, a local band in the greater Daytona Beach area, has donated part of its performance fee to raise money for animals at the Halifax Humane Society and Southeast Volusia Humane Society.

“We all love animals and hope to help the fundraising efforts of both shelter organizations,” said Barry KuKes, one of the band’s founding members. “We approach performance venues to host a fundraising event, and the band will donate a large portion of their performance fee for the animals. Having a live band helps draw more patrons and generate enhanced donations from the public, some of which may have never attended the venue before. It’s a win/win for all.”

KuKes retired from Halifax Humane Society as community outreach director in February 2023 but still helps the animals by playing music.

The Taylor Road Band is scheduled to play at the Mosaic ICI subdivision on Friday, June 23, and at Southeast Volusia Humane Society on Saturday, June 24.

Both events are fundraising events. The band played at the 13th annual Mutt Strutt at the Daytona Beach Bandshell in April.

The Taylor Road Band is a variety band playing rock, pop, dance, blues and more.

Visit taylorroadband.com or call 704-685-3247 for more information.

PAUL HOLUB WINS ORMOND CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD

Ormond Beach developer Paul Holub received the Citizen of the Year Award for Ormond Beach at the Volusia League of Cities Distinguished Service Awards on May 25.

The award was one of 11 presented by the Volusia League of Cities and recognizes a citizen who has

solutions that are a win/win for all. This is an amazing process because of the creativity that emerges when participants brainstorm without condemning or judging others’ comments. Because of the free flowing of ideas, solutions emerge that one never imagined before. We have a small group attending and looking into how to create change itself; however, this doesn’t work if we don’t have attendees with different interests, ideas, concerns. In this synergistic way of working together, diversity is welcome and brings more and better ideas to the table. A nice size group would be about 40.

We need representation from all areas of interest: development, sustainability, business, water, transportation, environmentalists, workers who serve our community, police, firemen, those in the hospitality industry, walkers, cyclists, educators, neighbors, one and all. We meet at the Ormond Beach Library at 5:30 p.m. on the second Monday of each month. The next meeting is this Monday, June 12. As interest increases, hopefully groups will emerge in different neighborhoods and online.

LINDA WILLIAMS Ormond Beach

ObserverLocalNews.com

ORMOND BEACH Observer

“If we are to build a better world, we must remember that the guiding principle is this — a policy of freedom for the individual is the only truly progressive policy.”

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944

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The Palm Coast & Ormond Beach

Courtesy photos

Members of Sons of the American Legion Post 267 and Boy Scouts from Troop 403.

SONS OF THE AMERICAN LEGION, BOY SCOUT TROOP PLACE FLAGS ON VETERANS’ GRAVES

The Sons of the American Legion Post 267 and other Legion members, along with Boy Scouts from Troop 403, placed flags on veterans’ graves at Volusia Memorial Gardens over the Memorial Day weekend.

The Sons of the American Legion

enriched the community by volunteering, encouraged others to get involved and recommended solutions that resulted in cost savings and improvements to the city, according to the nomination form.

“Paul Holub’s contributions to the community of Ormond Beach are numerous and significant, demonstrating his commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of the citizens, especially the youth,” the city wrote in its nomination form.

The city highlighted Holub’s contributions to the Ormond Beach Police Athletic League, including funding for its annual National Night Out event and Holub’s commitment to donate $30,000 to the organization annually for the next 20 years.

The city also noted his donation of a new basketball court to the South Ormond Neighborhood Center, his sponsorship of the PAL golf tournament and his donation of theater seats to the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center.

also donated $500 to the local Boy Scout troop, according to an email to the Observer

To learn more about the Sons of the American Legion Post 267, visit floridalegion.org/findpost/northernarea/district-17/post267/.

LOCAL SITES TO TAKE PART IN SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM

Volusia County’s Community Assistance Division is sponsoring a Summer Food Service Program from June 5 through Aug. 11 to provide free breakfast and lunch for children

18 and under.

The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides nutritional meals during summer break when schools are closed.

The following Ormond Beach sites will serve meals Monday through Friday, unless otherwise indicated (all sites will be closed on July 4):

„Camp Destiny, 1060 W. Granada Blvd. (June 5 through July 28).

Breakfast: 8 to 8:30 a.m.; lunch: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

„Nova Community Center, 440 N. Nova Road (June 19 through July 28). Breakfast: 9 to 10 a.m.; lunch: 11:30 a.m. to noon

„Ormond Beach Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St. (June 5 through Aug. 11). Breakfast: 9 to 10 a.m.; lunch: noon to 1 p.m.

„South Ormond Neighborhood Center, 176 Division Ave. (June 12 through Aug. 4). Breakfast: 8 to 10 a.m.; lunch: noon to 1 p.m.

„YMCA Ormond Beach, 500 Sterthaus Drive (June 5 through Aug. 11).

Breakfast: 8:30 to 10 a.m.; lunch: noon to 1:30 p.m.

SEABREEZE’S PAULA TELLES, ALYSSA CAPEL WIN SCHOLARSHIPS

Seabreeze High School seniors

Paula Telles and Alyssa Capel were awarded scholarships by the Ormond Beach Lions Club and honored at a dinner May 11 at the Grind Gastropub in Ormond Beach.

Telles and and Capel each received a $1,000 Youth Exchange Scholarship. Telles also received the $1,000 Andy Romano Scholarship.

The Youth Exchange Scholarship is open to all high school seniors in the Lions Club District 35 service area, which includes 12 counties, according to a press release. Recipients are selected based on financial need, personal or family adversity, extracurricular involvement, leadership, awards, volunteer services, employment and career objectives.

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MEET OMAM’S FEATURED ART NIGHT FAMILY

Habiba, Zaid and Sammie Nadim are Ormond Memorial Art Museum’s featured family from the museum’s June 2 Free Family Art Night event.

The Nadim family — which is new to Florida, having moved from Canada — values creativity and the freedom of expression art provides, according to a statement provided to the Observer by art instructor Linda King.

This month’s art activity consisted of painting pet portraits inspired by artist George Rodriquez, famous for his “Blue Dog Series.”

“This was our first Family Art Night, and it certainly won’t be our last,” Habiba Nadim said. While Sammie and Zaid Nadim came to paint a pet portrait, Habiba Nadim volunteered at the event to help the museum. The museum’s Family Art Night takes place most first Fridays of the month from 5:30-7 p.m. All art supplies are provided, and the program is sponsored in part by the Women United Volusia Chapter. The next program is scheduled for July 7.

Telles and Alyssa Capel were among nine Youth Exchange Scholarship winners chosen from over 100 applications.

The Ormond Beach Lions Club Andy Romano Scholarship is awarded to a Seabreeze student based on academic performance, community service, leadership, career objectives and financial need.

The Ormond Beach Lions Club is a volunteer organization that welcomes new members. Contact ormondbeachfllionsclub@gmail.com or call 941- 284-3241.

Autumn, a 1-year-old terrier and pit bull mix. Her adoption fee is $75.

Cooper, a 6-year-old

To adopt any of these animals, or see others, visit the Halifax Humane Society’s main campus at 2364 LPGA Blvd. or call 274-4703.

“Elevated Onions,” by Janet Bernardini

“Florida Tranquility,” by Garry Norton

“Reigning Monarch,” by Liz Tinder

“Peaceful Paddle,” by Donna Callmeyer

“Milky Way over the dock,” by Will Abair

Sammie, Habiba and Zaid Nadim

NEIGHBORS

‘Once a Sandcrab, always a Sandcrab’

Seabreeze’s first-year principal, Tucker Harris, presided over his first high school graduation for the Class of 2023.

MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Seabreeze principal Tucker Harris presided over his first commencement ceremony of the community’s beloved Sandcrabs on Friday, June 2. It was his first high school gradua-

tion in the chief position — ever.

“As you know, I sat in the same seat you are sitting in close to 30 years ago, never imagining at that time I would be up here as the principal of the greatest high school,” he said.

“Now I stand at this podium with an extremely rapid heart rate hoping not to ruin your ceremony with a terrible speech. And if for some reason this speech isn’t good, I’m going to use the following excuse one last time — this is my first year as a high school principal.”

Tucker went on to tout the graduates for their accomplishments, citing the over 32,000 hours of community service amassed during their tenure and a graduation rate

“Tomorrow you start the next chapter of your amazing life and leave the sandbar of Seabreeze High. It is now time to head to deeper water. Thank you so much, Class of 2023. My fellow Sandcrabs, I wish you all peace and happiness. Don’t you ever forget — once a Sandcrab, always a Sandcrab.”

OVER 4,000 SENIORS GRADUATE FROM VOLUSIA COUNTY SCHOOLS

From May 31 through June 4, over 4,000 Volusia County Schools high school seniors were awarded diplomas as they crossed the stage at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach. Volusia County Schools shared the following statistics for the recent graduations:

Jonathan Woodruff was valedictorian, with Kailee Pruitt as salutatorian.

BRIAN MCMILLAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

nSpring graduates: 4,139

nScholar designations: 629

nMerit designations: 1,771

nFlorida Seal of Biliteracy recipi-

ents: 293

nAssociate degree recipients:

150

nCommunity service hours:

more than 200,000

nStudents entering the military: more than 120.

“This year’s graduating class has overcome unimaginable hurdles and achieved so much during their time with Volusia County Schools academically, athletically and pro-

approaching 93%. Seabreeze students also garnered $6 million in scholarships, had two national merit scholarship finalists and one national Hispanic scholar. Eleven graduates enlisted in the armed forces, 11 student athletes signed letters of intent to play at the collegiate level while 11 were dual enrolled at Daytona State College.

The “proud principal” went on to brag about Seabreeze athletics, stating it had the highest GPA in Volusia

fessionally,” VCS Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said. “I know they will continue to soar high as they spread their wings and move on to their next adventures.”

As freshmen during the start of the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s seniors were the first class to have persevered through the pandemic and its aftermath in all

County schools and was ranked 16th out of 600 schools in Florida.

“Tomorrow, you start the next chapter of your amazing life and leave the sandbar of Seabreeze High,” he said. “It is now time to head to deeper water. Thank you so much, Class of 2023. My fellow Sandcrabs, I wish you all peace and happiness. Don’t you ever forget — once a Sandcrab, always a Sandcrab.”

SEE SEABREEZE PAGE 3B

four years of high school. This year was also special in that Volusia Online Learning held its first graduation alongside VCS’s 10 traditional high schools: Atlantic High, DeLand High, Deltona High, Mainland High, New Smyrna Beach High, Pine Ridge High, Seabreeze High, Spruce Creek High, T. DeWitt Taylor Middle-High and University High.

Valedictorian Jonathan Woodruff told the crowd of graduates to turn to the person sitting next to you, and give that person a high five. “This is your Mainland family,” he said, “and, together, we will write a new chapter of history.”

The Mainland High School Class of 2023 graduation was held June 2, at the Ocean Center, in Daytona Beach.

“Perseverance is our greatest strength,” Woodruff said.

Kailee Pruitt was the class salutatorian. The following students earned summa cum laude honors: Molly Noel Bronson, Camille Roan Cavedo, Abigail Leigh Coffing, Natasha Andrea Counts, Luke Anthonio Davidson, Keely Angelina Dejesus, Bryce Allen Dewey, Brayden Joseph Erker, Liska Itzel Gonzales Caceres, Adrianna Gabrielle Harris, Almany S. Hung, Daniel Jamal Imseis, Aleshia Kay Jordan, Tatyana Jashika Lyons, Michael Peter Marchenko, Megan McCauley Mazzoni, Sebastian Mendoza, Ginikachi Antonneth Okoh, Laura-Sofia Galisim Pagdanganan, Kailee Umi Pruitt, Sadie Lynn Rich, Ty Robert Richmond, Summer Helen Snow, Kasandra Alexis Stoner, Damien Alexander Walden, Drew Owen Whiting, Jonathan Blaine Woodruff and Yashaiya Monae Yisrael.

Principal Joseph Castelli reported that 52% of the class had GPAs higher than 3.0; the class also performed more than 10,000 community ser-

vice hours, and 12 graduated with their associate degrees.

“You are here because someone believed in you and your dreams,” he said.

Marin Houck sings the “Star Spangled Banner” at the Seabreeze High School commencement at the Ocean Center.

Jordon Boddie, Damien Walden, Yashaiya Yisrael and Zahir Allen

Salutatorian Kailee Pruitt

TUCKER HARRIS, Seabreeze High School principal

Triplets Anne Marie McGrath, David McGrath Jr. and John McGrath, all Seabreeze graduates, also graduated from Daytona State College.

Dominic Marinaccio smiles after he walks across the stage.

Photos by Michele Meyers

‘A new chapter of history’

Mainland High School graduates salute during the national anthem.

Photos by Brian McMillan

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, JUNE 8

OPENING RECEPTION OF ‘IMAGINATION: LARGER THAN LIFE!’ EXHIBIT

When: 6 p.m.

Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Join OMAM to celebrate the opening of “Imagination: Larger than Life!” The summer exhibit features the art of storytelling as told through mixed media sculptures by Jeffrey Kennedy, ink and watercolor illustrations by Mary Wentzel and works from three MicheLee Puppets productions. Meet the artists, enjoy light refreshments and hear Polynesian-style music performed live by Otila on the ukulele. Free and open to the public. Visit bit.ly/imagination2023.

FRIDAY, JUNE 9

MOVIES IN THE PARK

When: 8:30-10:30 p.m.

Where: Central Park at Town Center, 975 Central Ave., Palm Coast

Details: Bring your blanket, lawn chairs and picnic baskets and watch “Space Jam,” rated PG, at Central Park. This event is presented by Palm Coast Parks and Recreation.

ANNIE JR.

When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 9 and 10; and 2 p.m. Sunday, June 11

Where: The Flagler Playhouse, 301 E. Moody Blvd., Bunnell

Details: The Penguin Project, a program for children with disabilities, will present “Annie Jr.” at the Flagler Playhouse. Tickets cost $20. Visit flaglerplayhouse.com.

MONDAY, JUNE 12

CIVIL DISCOURSE/COMMON GROUND

When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Regional Library auditorium, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Join Civil Discourse/Common Ground for its next meeting, either in-person or on Zoom. The group is looking for suggestions on what is wanted at the community level and how to go about creating change. Email billdenny105@gmail.com for a Zoom invitation. The public is invited to send feedback or suggestions to linda@bluegreenalgae.com.

TUESDAY, JUNE 13

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP WITH STEWART JONES

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Ocean Art Gallery, 197 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Attend a watercolor workshop with plein air artist Stewart Jones. Learn how to paint a rocky beach scene. No drawing required. Workshop costs $75 per student. All supplies are included. Call 386-3179400 to reserve a space.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14

VETERANS CREATIVE EXPRESSION WORKSHOP: PATRIOTIC WREATH

When: 11 a.m.

Where: Ormond Memorial Art Museum & Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Veterans and active service members are invited to tour the museum’s current exhibit and create a patriotic fabric wreath during this free program. A spouse or other family members (16 or older) may attend the workshop as well. All participants must register in advance. Spots are limited. Visit ormondartmuseum.org.

TWO-DAY ACRYLIC WORKSHOP

WITH SCOTT HIESTAND

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Ocean Art Gallery, 197 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: Learn how to paint acrylic landscapes with local plein air artist Scott Hiestand in this two-day workshop, to be held on Wednesday and Thursday, June 14 and 15. Workshop costs $100. Supplies cost $20, if needed. Call 386-317-9400 to reserve a space.

PROBUS CLUB OF PALM COAST

When: 11 a.m. to noon

Where: Social Club of Palm Coast, 51 N. Old Kings Road, Palm Coast Details: This is a social club for retired and semi-retired men and women who meet monthly with a guest speaker of interest. This month’s guest speaker is Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill. The Club will also tour Station 25 on June 22. All are welcome to attend. Contact Larry Wright at palmcoastprobusclub@gmail.com.

THURSDAY, JUNE 15

ORMOND BEACH AREA

DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETING

When: 7 p.m.

Where: 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach Details: The June meeting of the Or-

mond Beach Area Democratic Club will feature social visiting beginning at 6:30 p.m. before the meeting starts. The focus of the meeting will be to promote awareness of local, state and national issues, as well as responsive ways to put American democratic values into action. Likeminded nonmembers are welcome to attend as guests. Visit ormondbeachdems.org for more information.

SATURDAY, JUNE 17

REEL IN THE FUN

When: 9 a.m.

Where: Neptune Avenue beach approach, Ormond Beach

Details: Register for this free catchand-release kids’ fishing tournament by Wednesday, June 14. Open to city of Ormond Beach residents only, ages 4-12. Call 386-676-3250.

ONGOING INSPIRATIONS AND

Wealth

The

REFLECTIONS

When: June 4 through July 15

Where: Expressions Art Gallery, 2298 Colbert Lane, Palm Coast

Details: See this exhibition featuring artists Suzanne Barrett and Louise Kennedy. There will be an opening reception from 1-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 4.

MOAS EXHIBITIONS

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sunday Where: Museum of Arts and Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach

Details: Want to spend a day looking at fine art? The Museum of Arts and Sciences has the following shows on display: “It’s a Kite Thing: Florida Women’s Arts Association,” “Unfolding the Universe: The James Webb Space Telescope,” and “Caribbean Indigenous Resistance.”

Built Around You.

File photo by Jarleene Almenas

Aurora Zoeckler and Lily Garvey participate in a Reel in the Fun tournament in 2020. File photo by Jarleene Almenas

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

Mainland graduation

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1B

Photos by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze senior speaker Dante Cirone addresses his classmates.

Seabreeze graduates Jamie Bandell, Ernest Baker III, Brandon Badraoui, Emily Marie Avila Vera, Olivia Averett and Alexandra Atanasoski line up before heading out to the ceremony.

Salutatorian Emily Myers claps during the speeches made at the Seabreeze commencement ceremony.

Seabreeze senior speaker Alyssa Capel waits to address the students during the commencement ceremony at the Ocean Center.

tona Beach.

Eleven Seabreeze graduates enlisted in the armed forces.

Seabreeze graduates Chelsea McQuarrie and Kirsten McSweeney are all smiles before the ceremony.

Seabreeze student athlete Banner Best Abramowitz graduates summa cum laude.

Mr. Seabreeze 2023-2024 Gavin Martinez prepares to play the cello during the graduation ceremony.

Kassie Perdue, Madelynn Moore, Samantha Herring and Ellen Kemper

Mainland High School Class of 2023 graduated on June 2, at the Ocean Center, in Daytona Beach.

Ellen Kemper sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Principal Joseph Castelli addresses the graduates.

Janiya Hall and Nevaeh Kendricks

Photos by Brian McMillan

Photos by Michele Meyers The Mainland High School choir

Summer fun league

High school players pick up the pace in 7v7 games.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Flagler Soccer High School 7v7 summer league continues to grow each year. In its 2018 debut, the league had four teams with a total of 33 players.

This year, there are a total of 270 players participating on 20 teams — eight girls teams, eight varsity boys teams and four JV boys teams. The teams represent Flagler, Volusia and St. Johns counties.

The summer league opened its seven-week regular season on Saturday, June 3, at Indian Trails Sports Complex in Palm Coast. High school teammates play together, but their teams are not affiliated with their schools.

Flagler Palm Coast’s girls team has two entries in the summer league — the Hat Trick Girls and the Clean Sheet Crew. The FPC boys also have two teams entered, with the Royal Palms Soccer Club providing team shirts.

Matanzas also has two boys teams entered. The Seabreeze girls and Matanzas girls each have one team entered.

Gavin Ginnane, who operates both the Flagler Soccer adult 7v7 league and the high school league, said with a smaller field and fewer players, everyone has the opportunity for more touches on the ball.

“It’s fast-paced. Counter attacks can happen pretty quickly because it’s a small field,” Ginnane said.

Playoffs follow the regular season with every team guaranteed to play at least eight games during the summer, said FPC boys coach Ramtin Amiri, who runs the high school league.

Seabreeze girls soccer coach Eli

Freidus said the league appears to be more competitive this year. Last year, there were just four girls teams.

“This is really good for foot skills and movement off the ball,” Freidus said. “It’s also good for fitness. You play full blast for five minutes, and then you’re off the field for five minutes. It’s fun.”

FPC JV girls coach Cat Bradley, who coached both of the Bulldogs’ girls teams, agreed that the league is a fun way to develop skills and give some incoming freshmen a chance to play with the older players.

“We do a lot in the summer. We condition three times a week and we lift weights,” Bradley said. “So, this is fun, but the girls are also super competitive. They were ready to go the day after we lost in districts.”

Nevaeh Battle, played for FPC’s Hat Trick Girls, which drubbed a Crescent City team 14-1.

From left, FPC’s Camila Gonzalez, Savannah O’Grady, Natalie Neal and Sam Jennings warm up.

FPC goalie Teagan Paulo kicks the ball downfield.

FPC assistant girls coach Cat Bradley coached both teams on the league’s opening day.

Seabreeze’s Chloe Frank in goal

FPC goalkeeper Natalie Neal warms up before the game.

Seabreeze’s Ellison Kelson and Kylie Watson warm up before their game.

“It’s fastpaced. Counter attacks can happen pretty quickly because it’s a small field.”

GAVIN GINNANE

Photos by Brent Woronoff

By Luis Campos

Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another.

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Complete

FPC’s Hailey Sammons goes airborne for the ball.

FPC’s Aron Binkley with the ball

Matanza’s Aiden White and Alex Diaz celebrate a 4-3 win by their team, the Mangoes Chupadas.

FPC’s Hailey Sammons with the ball

Seabreeze’s Kylie Watson controls the ball.

FPC’s Isabella Kummernes, right, makes a move on two Crescent City players.

WRONGFUL

by Sam Koperwas and Jeff Chen, edited by Jeff Chen

John Anderson Drive home to be sold at Sotheby’s New York auction

The 1.6-acre property at 2627 John Anderson Drive, which includes 200 feet of frontage on the Halifax River, has been on the market for $4.5 million.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

SENIOR EDITOR

A historic Ormond-by-the-Sea home on land that was formerly part of town founder John Anderson’s estate is on the market for $4.5 million, and is scheduled for auction on June 8.

The 1.6-acre property at 2627 John Anderson Drive, which includes 200 feet of frontage on the Halifax River, will be sold to the highest bidder by the end of the auction, conducted by Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions and ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, on June 14 at Sotheby’s New York. Bids will also be accepted virtually, with a $2.75 million reserve.

Listing agent Patrick Meyer, with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty, said that if the 6,571-square-foot home — which has five bedrooms, six-and-a-half bathrooms, a heat-

ed saltwater pool, separate carriage house, three garages, private dock and 10,000-pound boat lift — was located in south Florida, it would be sold for $20-$25 million.

The Ormond Beach real estate market is different, Meyer said.

“It’s a well-kept secret, and I’m seeing more and more people starting to move to the gem called Ormond Beach,” he said.

Construction on the house began in 1987 after Gordon McCarthy bought the land the year before with a plan to build an estate of his own.

Known as “the captain” in the community, McCarthy anchored a World War II-era tugboat at the property as he worked on the house. He died in 2014, and the tugboat, named the Tutahaca, was removed in 2017.

McCarthy never did finish the home before he died.

Lisa Passi bought the home in August 2017 for $550,000. She described it as a concrete shell. McCarthy was an expert in building with concrete.

“There was no running water,” Passi said. “There was no plumbing. There was no electricity. I mean, people have a hard time understanding that he just built the frame of the home in all concrete, and then I took

it from there.”

Passi, who restores and renovates properties, didn’t balk at the challenge. She purchased the home five hours after seeing it for the first time.

“When I walked into the space and I could see the soaring vaulted ceilings, I just imagined how incredibly wonderful it would be to have this as your space to entertain, to enjoy,” Passi said.

She worked with master craftsmen, architects and designers to establish a plan for finishing the project, which she said was the biggest she’s ever taken on.

“It was such an incredible gift to be able to take a property like this,” she said. “... It’s been called the ‘Mona Lisa’ because it really is an archi

tectural masterpiece. It’s incredibly constructed and to be able to build on that was such an incredible experience for me.”

Passi completed the work on the house in 2021. It was always her intention to sell it afterward.

“I had always planned on it being something that I could work on and then turn it over to a family to enjoy,” she said.

Meyer said he’s seen waterfront property all over Florida. When he first saw the house in person, he knew it was a standout. Photos didn’t do it justice.

“It takes a lot to kind of dazzle me, and when I walked in, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’ve never seen anything like this,’” Meyer recalled.

Partnering with Sotheby’s Concierge Auctions is a fairly new sale method for Sotheby’s International Realty, Meyer added. It opens the sale worldwide.

“Everybody knows this property, but it’s the kind of town where you

don’t have a lot of high-end buyers like you have in Palm Beach County,” Meyer said. “So when this home sells, it’s going to set the standard.”

The property at 2627 John Anderson Drive is 6,571 square feet.

The waterfront property includes 1.6 acres of land with 200 feet of river frontage.

The house at 2627 John Anderson Drive is listed by Patrick Meyer with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty.

The house, which has vaulted ceilings, also features a gourmet kitchen.

Courtesy photos

REAL ESTATE

A house beachside tops sales list in Ormond Beach

Ahouse on the beachside was the top real estate transaction for April 23-29 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. Lawrence and Denise Page, of Kenockee, Michigan, sold 353 S. Atlantic Ave. to Ronald and Diane Lessnau, of Ormond Beach, for $2,576,300. Built in 1993, the house is a 4/5.5 and has a gas fireplace, pool, tiki bar and 5,967 square feet of living space. It sold in 2020 for $1.5 million.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos Bonny Kay Rogers Meyer and Carla Gay Rogers McDougal, of Ormond Beach, sold 640 N. Nova Road, Unit 115, for $165,000. Built in 1976, the condo is a 2/2 and has 932 square feet. It sold in 2007 for $120,000.

William Melle, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, sold 10 Lynnhurst Drive, Unit 2100, to Kenneth Doyle Phillips, of Johnson City, Tennessee, for $151,000. Built in 1971, the condo is a 2/1.5 and has 1,055 square feet. It sold in 1976 for $27,500.

Eileen Clyne, of Ormond Beach, sold 203 S. Orchard St., Unit 9D, to Mary Denise McLellan, of Ormond Beach, for $206,900. Built in 1985, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,083 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $120,000.

David and Winnifred McQueen, of Palm Coast, sold 2700 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 417, to Phillip Matthew Kyle and Emily Kyle, of Livonia, New York, for $343,000. Built in 1986, the condo is a 2/2 and has 925 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $140,000.

ORMOND BEACH

Breakaway Trails James Mitchell Grant and Sherry Grant, of Ormond Beach, sold 128 Black Hickory Way to Gabriel and Renata Gozzoli, of Ormond Beach, for $510,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a pool and 1,931 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $307,500.

Brookwood Jo Ann Jordan, of Ormond Beach, sold 95 Mayfield Circle to David Parag, of Palm Coast, for $280,000. Built in 1981, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,689 square feet. It sold in 2006 for $249,000.

Halifax Plantation

Suzanne and Roger Browne, of Greenville, South Carolina, sold 3906 Tano Drive to Catherine and Kevin Jullion, of Ormond Beach, for $485,000. Built in 1987, the house is a 4/2.5 and has a fireplace and 2,648 square feet. It sold in 2002 for $229,000.

D.R. Horton, Inc., of Orlando, sold 1332 Middle Lake Drive to Jeffrey Scott Risner and Rita Risner, of Ormond Beach, for $358,000. Built in 2022, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,828 square feet.

Mary Przybyla, of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, sold 1533 Kilrush Drive to Daniel Skidmore and Debra Jean Skidmore, of Ormond Beach, for $625,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace, a pool, a hot tub and 2,550 square feet. It sold in 2002 for $65,000.

Not in a subdivision

Double Trinity LLC, of Ormond Beach, sold 588 Cameo Drive to Tyrell Lee Evans and Mary Kate Evans, for $229,000. Built in 2005, the house is a 4/2 and has 1,560 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $98,000.

Matthew and Deborah Weinberg, of Ormond Beach, sold 2341 Lipizzan Trail to Kyle Kozlansky, Amara Marie Kozlansky and Glen Kellogg, of Palm Coast, for $875,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 4/3.5 and has 2 fireplaces, a pool and 2,808 square feet. It sold in 2013 for $146,000.

Oak Forest 1417 Oak Forest, LLC, of Daytona

Beach, sold 1417 Oak Forest Drive to Shawn and Lindsey Brooks, of Jacksonville, for $975,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 5/3.5 and has a fireplace, a pool, a boat house, a boat dock and 3,194 square feet. It sold in 2003 for $600,000.

Plantation Bay

Leashia Bruce-Paine and Andrew Paine, of Ormond Beach, sold 424 Long Cove Road to George Cox and Colleen Evans, of Ormond Beach, for $435,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 2/2.5 and has 2,046 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $374,000.

Riverbend Acres Richard Delaney, as trustee, sold 268 Treeline Lane to Kathryn Bodiford, of Ormond Beach, for $1,350,000. Built in 2007, the house is a 3/3.5 and has a fireplace and 5,242 square feet.

The Trails South Forty Dennis William Johnson and

Margaret Joan Kaufman, of Ormond Beach, sold 204 Sage Brush Trail to Gaylord Price Jr. and Ann Kashmer, of Ormond Beach, for $380,500. Built in 1984, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,743 square feet. It sold in 2010 for $155,000.

Tymber Creek

Michael Filegar, Ashley Filegar, Jeffrey Filegar and Todd Filegar, of Ormond Beach, sold 365 Tymber Run to Chad and Sarah Anderson, of Ormond Beach, for $325,000. Built in 1987, the house is a 3/1 and has a fireplace and 1,946 square feet.

ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA

Kevin Goodin and Ruth Ann Barron, of Jenatte, Pennsylvania, sold 5 Eucalyptus Circle to Samuel Tory Bjorklund and Naomi Ruth Bjorklund, of Ormond Beach, for $499,000. Built in 1962, the house is a 4/3 and has 2 fireplaces, a pool, and 2,156 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $249,900.

Doreen White, of Ormond Beach, sold 30 Capistrano Drive to Betty Dunkel-Hernon, of Ormond Beach, for $660,000. Built in 1989, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace, a pool and 2,028 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $285,000.

Ann Marie Osnato, as trustee, sold 60 River Drive to Sunny Dog D, LLC, of St. Augustine, for $239,000. Built in 1952, the house is a 2/1 and has 902 square feet. It sold in 2009 for $30,000.

John Peoples, of Ormond Beach, sold 19 San Jose Circle to Janet and Robert Ecochardt, of Rochelle, Virginia, for $400,000. Built in 1969, the house is a 2/2 and has a pool and 1,266 square feet. It sold in 1993 for $75,000.

John Adams, of Adams, Cameron & Co. Realtors, contributed to this report.

Well maintained ICI-built home that exudes luxury and comfort. 3BR, 2BA, and a 2-CG. Spacious formal living room and dining room. Private master suite with private master bath. The large screened-in lanai has a summer kitchen, inground salt water pool, and heated spa make outdoor living a breeze. MLS#1108937 $589,000 Call Buzzy Porter 386-405-1000.

Beautiful 3 bed 2.5 bath family home. Located on a large corner lot w/ gorgeous golf course views!! New windows in 2023, laminate flooring in 2021, and a new screen porch in 2021. The bright open kitchen has plenty of cabinets and counter space. $425,000 Call Bill Navarra 386-334-9991.

Extraordinary Hanger Home 4BR, 4BA, 2-CG at Spruce Creek Fly In. Beautiful kitchen with high-quality cabinetry and granite countertops. Large owner’s suite with luxurious bathroom and opens to the lanai. Stunning outdoor oasis with a lap pool, spa, waterfalls, fire bowls and gourmet outdoor kitchen. MLS#1109380 $1,975,000

Call Buzzy Porter 386-405-1000.

one with safe step walk in shower. Spacious kitchen has been updated w/ granite countertops and SS appliances. Automated hurricane shutters. MLS#1104068

$635,000 Call Buzzy Porter at 386-405-1000.

The oceanfront home of Hawaiian Tropic founder Ron Rice, this 12,000 sqft oceanfront estate is now on the market for the first time! A commanding presence on A1A, the grounds encompass a full acre lot with 200 feet of beach frontage. Situated on a highly desirable stretch of Ormond Beachside along with other multimillion-dollar residences, the home sits high on the no-drive beach making it your private oasis. Expansive outdoor decking links 3 pools, 2 oceanfront owners suite and more. $4,999,900

Call Bill Navarra 386-334-9991

The house has 5,967 square feet of living space

Spouse, Heirs, Devisees, Grantees, or Other Claimants Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to order rescheduling foreclosure sale or Final Judgment, entered in Civil Case No. 2019CA-000173 of the Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial Circuit in and for Flagler County, Florida, wherein JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff and James T. Miley are defendant(s), I, Clerk of Court, Tom Bexley, will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash AT https://flagler. realforeclose.com/, AT 11:00

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT

to an Order or Final Judgment entered in Case No. 2018 CA 000321 of the Circuit Court of the 7th Judicial Circuit in and for FLAGLER County, Florida, wherein, THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE HOLDERS OF CWALT, INC. ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2005-24, MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-24, Plaintiff and HARRIS, WILLIAM R, et. al., are Defendants. Tom Bexley, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller will sell to the highest bidder for cash at http://flagler. realforeclose.com/, at the hour of 11:00

A.M., on the 30th day of June, 2023, the following described property: LOT 16, BLOCK 50, PALM COAST, MAP OF WYNNFIELD, SECTION 23, ACCORDING TO THE PLAT THEREOF, AS RECORDED IN MAP BOOK 8, PAGE(S) 23 THROUGH 38, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF FLAGLER COUNTY, FLORIDA. Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, must file a claim per the requirements set forth in FL Stat.

45.032.

IMPORTANT

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to access court facilities or participate in a court proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance.

To request such an accommodation, please contact Court Administration in advance of the date the service is needed: Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096.

to discuss any topics presented to the board for consideration.

Copies of the agenda may be obtained from the District Manager, Vesta District Services, 250 International Parkway, Suite 208, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, Telephone (321) 2630132, Ext. 193.

The meeting is open to the public and will be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Florida law for community development districts. The meeting may be continued in progress without additional notice to a date, time, and place to be specified on the record at the meeting. There may be occasions when Staff and/or Supervisors may participate by speaker telephone.

Pursuant to provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in the meeting is asked to advise the District Manager’s office at least forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting by contacting the District Manager at (321) 263-0132, Ext. 193. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Florida Relay Service at 711, for assistance in contacting the District Manager’s office.

A person who decides to appeal any decision made at the meeting, with respect to any matter considered at the meeting, is advised that a record of the proceedings is needed and that accordingly, the person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

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Notice: All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Items Under $200

SOFA, CHAIR, ottoman, coffee table, white wicker, upholstered $200 386-615-8230

TARGUS TSB 212 Laptop Backpack. New, tags, 12 compartments, warranty, $65 (386) 316-9990.

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Edge Freshwater Hand-Control

Bow-Mount $165 (386) 237-8207

TV/FIREPLACE, GREAT condition, can send pictures, dark brown $200 386-793-3155

WOMEN’S DIAMOND Back bicycle, good condition, $40 443-534-8500

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new $39.99; Swedish clogs vintage size 36 $50 (386)283-7172

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DINING ROOM Hutch, Dark wood Spanish motif $185 386-852-1148

LARGE ROLLATOR with seat and basket, made by Costco, excellent condition $30 386-206-9006

RUBBERMAID COMMERCIAL cleaning bucket w/mop $35, wheelbarrow $35, elephant ear/snake plant $1 and up 814-574-6387

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