Ormond Beach Observer 02-29-24

CITY WATCH

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Golf course rezoning hearing postponed

The Ormond Beach City Commission will meet on Tuesday, March 5 — but it won’t be discussing the proposed rezoning request for the former Tomoka Oaks Golf Course.

The hearing will be rescheduled to a later date due to an error with the publishing of the newspaper advertisement for the Tomoka Reserve agenda item, according to an email by city Planning Director Steven Spraker. A new date for the hearing has not been set yet.

The developers of the proposed Tomoka Reserve subdivision, slated to be located in the 147.94-acre golf course property in the middle of Tomoka Oaks, are seeking a rezoning for the property from a Planned Residential Development to R-2 “Single-family low density.” Their request will reach the City Commission with a unanimously recommendation by the Planning Board to deny the rezoning request, as the board reviewed the request at its meeting on Jan. 11.

City planning staff is also recommending the commission deny the developers’ request.

Riverview Learning Center will transfer to Osceola

Once the Tomoka Elementary student body moves out, the former Osceola Elementary campus will see another group of students: those of Riverview Learning Center, an alternative educational facility for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The Volusia County School Board unanimously voted on Tuesday, Feb. 27, to approve the transfer of Riverview from 801 N. Wild Olive Ave. in Daytona Beach to 100 Osceola Ave. in Ormond Beach. The transfer will allow Riverview to house all of its students in one building.

Currently, Riverview’s elementary students are housed in a modular classroom building almost 10 miles away, on Herbert Street, within Silver Sands Middle School’s campus.

“It’s really not conducive for operational purposes to have a principal over two sites that are so vastly far away from each other,” said Patty Corr, chief operating officer for Volusia County Schools.

After the Tomoka Elementary students and staff leave this summer — they are temporarily housed at the Osceola campus until their new school is built — the district plans to demolish four buildings. Two buildings will remain, and they will be able to house all of Riverview, Corr said.

The school’s attendance fluctuates, as students may be sent to Riverview for a nine-week period, a semester, or rarely, a school year, for a violation of the student code of conduct.

The alternative education facility has 80 students to date.

Last week, the district held a community meeting for the neighbors surrounding the current Riverview building in Daytona Beach, and Corr

said one of their concerns was the building remaining vacant. But, Corr said, that will not be the case.

“We were just having a conversation before the board meeting that we are in desperate need of space, for office space, for personnel in all parts of our county and looking at repurposing the physical building of Riverview,” Corr said.

During a School Board meeting in October 2023, the board was informed that renovating the current Riverview 1920s building for students could cost over $5 million due to its state of disrepair.

School Board members Ruben Colon and Anita Burnette said the district should commit to making some improvements to the Osceola

“I think it’s extremely important that we review an approved template of what we as a body will touch on, to ensure our priorities are in line with our thoughts as a council.”

campus to better accommodate the Riverview students. While School Board member Carl Persis agreed, he also said that the board needs to be informed of how much those improvements will cost and what they will look like.

“We decided to abandon Osceola because it was going to cost too much money to renovate it,” Persis said. “And we said, ‘Let’s just build a brand new school.’ ... I don’t want students to be a substandard facility.”

VCS Superintendent Carmen Balgobin said the improvements suggested for the Osceola campus would be minimal. District staff confirmed that facilities, like the cafeteria, were in good shape.

County Councilman Jake Johansson on State of the County address. See Page 5A

Bank building to become gas station?

The former Bank of America building at 699 S. Nova Road in Ormond Beach could become a Circle K gas station in the near future.

The Site Plan Review Committee met with Circle K representatives on Zoom on Feb. 14, to discuss the redevelopment of the vacant property. The applicants inquired about demolishing the existing building for the project. Due to Hand Avenue’s “No Trucks” restriction, trucks will be required to enter and exit on Nova Road, if a gas station is constructed.

Walmart seeks building refresh

Is the Walmart at 1521 W. Granada Blvd. in Ormond Beach due for an upgrade?

Design professionals representing the big box store met with the city’s Site Plan Review Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 21, to discuss a building expansion to serve online orders, building repainting and signage updates, according to the city’s most recent weekly update.

City to host open house for Enviro Camp 2024

An open house for Enviro Camp at the Environmental Discovery Center is scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, March 16. Families interested in registering their children for the summer camp can tour the EDC, meet the animal ambassadors and ask questions. The camp will run from June 3-28 (Session 1 for 10- to 12-year-olds) and July 8 to Aug. 2 (Session 2 for 7- to 9-year-olds).

Email Jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com.

The former Osceola Elementary campus will house Riverview Learning Center, an alternative educational facility, in the future. File photo by Jarleene Almenas

DON’T CLICK THAT LINK

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

A 71-year-old man sent $50,000 to a person he met in an online chat room, thinking he was investing in a Belgian mine. A 60-year-old woman was told to pay $4,300 using Apple gift cards and Zelle for a puppy. A 78-year-old woman mailed a stranger $8,500 in cash to bring her alleged boyfriend home from the war in Gaza.

These are all fraud cases reported to the Ormond Beach Police Department within the past year. Like many law enforcement agencies, fraud accounts for the majority of OBPD’s cases each year.

Last year, OBPD saw 246 reported fraud cases. In 2022, there were 231 and in 2021, there were 212. So far this year, 34 cases have been reported.

“Criminals adapted to fraudulent activity because it’s harder to find them, harder to prove it, harder to track,” Ormond Beach Police Sgt. John Dovine said.

And criminals are continuing to adapt, as the city is now seeing a growing number of fraud cases involving cryptocurrency. Detective Jessica Fowler, who has been investigating these kinds of cases for three years, said the department used to see one fraud cause involving cryptocurrency — such as Bitcoin —every few months. Now, it’s a few cases a week.

But the department, she said, is also advancing.

“Five years ago, when we couldn’t work these cases, now we can,” Fowler said. “We’re seeing how in depth they go. They’re leading us to all different countries — working with other agencies. We’ve been lucky enough to obtain certain software that allows us to now investigate them fully and hopefully reunite the victims with their funds.”

‘A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE’

Between 2018 and 2022, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, Americans lost $27.6 billion to cyber crimes — fraud, identity theft, scams, data breaches and other criminal acts using technology.

In 2022, the losses accounted for 37.9% of that five-year total: Americans reported $10.3 billion in losses to cyber crime with 800,844 complaints reported to IC3. Total losses reported by elderly victims increased 84% according to IC3’s most recent elder fraud report. In 2022, 88,262 victims over the age of 60 filed a complaint with IC3, reporting a total loss of $3.1 billion.

“Tech and Customer Support schemes continued to be the most common type of fraud reported, with 17,800 complaints filed by victims over 60,” the report states. “Monetary losses due to Investment Fraud reported by victims over 60 increased over 300%, more than any other kind of fraud, largely due to the rising trend of cryptoinvestment scams. In almost every crime type tracked by the IC3, losses involving

“It’s not like they’re creating a scam here in Ormond Beach — they’re global. This is not just a threat on Ormond Beach, but this is a national security issue.”

cryptocurrency increased. Overall, cryptocurrency-related losses reported by the elderly increased by 350%.”

Victims over the age of 60 reported an average loss of $35,101, and 5,456 victims lost more than $100,000.

Similarly, the scams that OBPD sees are typically not small amounts of money. They’re also thousands and thousands of dollars, and the scams, mainly, Fowler said, target elderly victims.

A victim may receive a phone call alleging that they have missed jury duty and now have a warrant out for their arrest. To avoid arrest, the scammer then claims that the victim must pay a large sum of money, using a cryptocurrency ATM or gift cards.

“No reputable business or government agency will ask you for payment in those types,” Fowler said.

Bitcoin ATMs are more commonly found in gas stations and pharmacy retail stores such as CVS and Walgreens.

“These suspects know where they are in our area,” Fowler said. “They will literally give the victims direc-

tions on how to get there, and they look like normal ATMs, so the victims don’t always understand, ‘Hey, I’m putting in $10,000 to buy these types of tokens.’ They just think it’s a payment system.”

Cryptocurrency isn’t illegal. But, people need to be aware that scammers are using it to commit crimes, Fowler said.

The suspects are usually not from the area either, OBPD spokeswoman Pauline Dulang said.

“It’s not like they’re creating a scam here in Ormond Beach — they’re global,” she said. “This is not just a threat on Ormond Beach, but this is a national security issue.”

One active fraud case OBPD is working involves a victim who lost $400,000 of her life savings, Dovine said. That was a case type referred to as a “love scam,” where a suspect creates a “relationship” with their victim, sometimes for months, and once a relationship is established, the suspect continuously asks the victim for money.

The elderly victim was flagged by the U.S. Secret Service, who con-

WHAT DO COMMON SCAMS LOOK LIKE?

EMAIL SCAMS

Suspects will pretend to be someone else, oftentimes creating an

tacted OBPD and asked them to speak with the victim and inform her she was being scammed.

“It was very hard to tell her that this wasn’t real,” Dovine said. “She had developed a relationship with someone she thought was real. It’s tough, especially at their age — they’re lonely, sometimes they’re widowed.”

POLICE: REPORT SCAMS ASAP

When it comes to working fraud cases, time is of the essence, Fowler said.

“[Victims] need to get it reported as quickly as possible, because as soon as the suspect have their money, they’re moving it, and the more they move it, the harder it is to find,” she said.

Even if people suspect and are not sure that they’re being scammed, Fowler suggests they call the department’s non-emergency line, 386248-1777. They can also report the scam to IC3.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center website.

These crimes are all preventable, Fowler said, but the victims don’t know that. The officers do.

A lot of people are often embarrassed to report fraud crimes, Fowler said. Sometimes, they tell police they lost a smaller sum of money to the scam than they actually did.

Dovine encouraged victims not to feel this way.

“They feel like they’re embarrassed for falling for something they thought that they shouldn’t have,” Dovine said. “So a lot of times, they don’t come forward and report it or tell their loved ones out of embarrassment.”

Now that the department has new software to help investigate these cases, Fowler said she can’t help but look back at the hundreds of victims whom they could have helped in years prior.

“The fact that I look back now — so many cases that if we would have had the software, or if the software would have even been developed back then — we might have been able to refund and reunite,” Fowler said. “But, moving forward, we can. We can work these cases to the best of our ability and hopefully get to that point.”

suspect may pretend to be a local government official.

LOVE SCAMS Suspects pose as a potential romantic partner on social media or a dating app, create a relationship with the victim and then continuously ask the victim for money for things like meeting in person, paying for internet and other expenses.

MICROSOFT SCAMS

While online, a victim may get a pop-up stating they have entered a restricted site and are being compromised. The victim is convinced to send money to

safeguard their accounts.

BAIL SCAMS Suspects will call victims and allege a relative has been arrested, often using actors to pose as the family member. Usually, the suspects will send an unknown person to collect the funds to bail out the individual.

INVESTMENT SCAMS

The victim speaks to people pretending to represent a local bank, PayPal or even Amazon, is asked to provide personal details through the phone and later presented with an opportunity to invest in cryptocurrency. The victim is then in structed to de posit funds into a cryptocurrency ATM.

POLICE CHARITY SCAMS

The victim receives a phone call from an individual claiming to be an officer asking for donations

“[Victims] need to get it reported as quickly as possible, because as soon as the suspect have their money, they’re moving it, and the more they move it, the harder it is to find.”

JESSICA FOWLER, Ormond Beach Police detective

to support local law enforcement. Law enforcement will never call to request donations.

AMAZON, USPS, FEDEX SCAMS

Victims receive a text message claiming that something is wrong with their order and asking them to click a link to resolve it. Once the link is clicked, the suspect has control of the victim’s phone and goes to a website that mimics the real business. The victim is then instructed to deposit funds in various ways.

This list was compiled by Detective Jessica Fowler.

The Ormond Beach Police Department. File photo by Brian McMillan

OBPD sees rising number of cryptocurrency cyber scams on elderly population.

PAULINE DULANG, OBPD spokeswoman

Chamber of Commerce’s Dave Walls was a friend of local businesses

Dave Walls died at the age of 67 from a heart attack on Feb. 11.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

For David Walls, supporting local businesses wasn’t just a part of his job with the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce — it was a way of life.

It was eating at restaurants that were members of the chamber. It was getting his homeowners insurance from a company that was a member. It was only referring people to businesses that were members.

“The mission of the chamber truly became a part of him,” Chamber President and CEO Debbie Cotton said. “I don’t know that he realized that at the time, but in hindsight, when we reflect on him now about things, and when I get calls from people ... I don’t think he realized the impact he had on the people here in Ormond Beach.”

But she knew. From the moment she hired him in 2020 to be the director of membership and marketing at the chamber, Cotton said she knew he would be a good fit.

“I knew he had a big impact, but I think his reach was broader than anybody ever expected it to be, which is an amazing thing to have an individual that you were part of,” Cotton said. “It’s great talking about him, but it sure does make me miss him being here in this office, with his team.”

Walls died unexpectedly on Feb. 11 from a heart attack. He was 67.

‘HE WAS SO EASY TO GET TO KNOW’

Walls was born on Aug. 7, 1956, in Indianapolis, Indiana. A graduate from Purdue University, he worked as buyer for Marshall Fields in Chicago until 2018, according to his obituary.

In 2020, he decided to move to Ormond Beach and it was Don Grindle, franchise owner of Money Pages Volusia, that referred Walls to Cotton for the job at the chamber. Grindle first met Walls in the 1970s, as Walls was his college roommate’s

hometown best friend. It was only in the last 10-15 years that they got to know each other better though, and Walls would come down to Ormond and stay with Grindle.

“He was so easy to get to know,” Grindle said. “He was very kind, very open and just very outgoing.”

When Walls moved to Ormond, he didn’t know many people outside of Grindle and his family. So Grindle introduced him to his golf group (they convinced Cotton to let Walls take Friday afternoons off for golf).

That’s how Brad Disch, regional director of operations for Peach Valley Cafe, met Walls. One of the memories that has stuck with him since hearing of Walls’ death is a recent one: Walls coming back for a friend he hadn’t been able to say goodbye to after playing golf, despite having already gotten in his car.

“That just says in a nutshell how he appreciated everybody around him,” Disch said.

He also thinks about a story he heard from Grindle’s son Walker about Walls showing up for a baseball game Walker’s son was playing in — just to show his support.

“He was someone that really would go an extra mile for anyone,” Disch said.

Walls is survived by his mother Barbara; brother Jeffery Walls and sister Holly Wait; children Victoria and Christopher Walls; nephews Jason Walls and Tyler Wait; niece Jami Walls; ex-wife and friend Megan Walls; and significant other Gayle Webb, according to his obiturary.

A ROBUST IMPACT

As director of membership and marketing, Walls’ main goal was to onboard new businesses as members of the chamber. He also served as the staff liaison for the chamber’s ambassador committee.

Steven Oliver, a digital marketing expert with LocaliQ, serves on the committee. But he first met Walls when he walked into the chamber about two years ago. Oliver had

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recently moved into the area and he was looking to get acquainted in the community.

Walls was nice, welcoming and funny, Oliver said.

“He could work the room and light up the room when he walked in,” he said.

Days before Walls died, Oliver saw him at Business After Hours event at Mimi’s Original Art Gallery.

“I walked up and saw him and he saw me and he smiled, and I smiled and shook his hand,” Oliver said. “Things like that is what I remember. He was looking forward to seeing me and I was looking forward to seeing him.”

Denise de La Chapelle, local branch manager of Morgan Stanley and cochair of the ambassador committee, said Walls made the chamber feel like a family. Every time that she would see him at an event, he would always give her a warm hug. The two were part of the Leadership Ormond Beach Class XVIII in 2022.

“It’s tough because he was the face of what you thought about, when you thought about the chamber, because he was that glue and the person that welcomed people in and got new members to join,” de La Chapelle said. His impact on the chamber, she said, was robust.

“I feel like his passion really drove the success of the chamber over the last few years because he was just so passionate about it and getting people to join and be part of that larger group,” de La Chapelle said. “... We’re going to, as ambassadors, continue on that mission to honor him going forward.”

HE MADE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE

THEY BELONGED

Walls used to joke that Cotton made him go through eight interviews for the job. (It was probably closer to four, Cotton said.)

At first, Cotton worried that he would get bored of working for the chamber, a nonprofit that was offering him a smaller salary than what

he made in Chicago. Walls, she said, assured her that he was only looking to get ingrained in the community.

“He was the boots on the ground for us,” Cotton said. Walls was overqualified for his job at the chamber, Grindle said. But when he moved to Ormond, he wanted to meet people.

“What better way to meet people than through the chamber,” Grindle said. “... He was there for four years and was not planning on going anywhere. He was getting ready to retire

at some point, but he promised Debbie that he would stay there as long as she was there.”

Cotton and Walls worked alongside one another so much that some people called him her work husband. Cotton said Walls was like a brother to her.

He made people feel like they belonged, she said.

“Nobody was an outsider,” Cotton said. “Everybody was part of the community and he made sure that everybody knew that.”

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Dave Walls started working at the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce in 2020. Courtesy photo

County Council will review chair’s address ahead of next State of the County

The County Council voted 6-1 to review all materials, including the chair’s speech, prior to annual event in the future to ensure everything aligns with council priorities, not individual goals.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Moving forward, the Volusia County Council will have a say in the chair’s address at the State of the County.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, the County Council voted 6-1 to review all material — including the chair’s speech — prior to the event so the council can agree on what is said and ensure the speech focuses on council priorities, not individual goals. Chair Jeff Brower voted against.

The tense vote came after council members voiced concerns about Brower’s speech during the Feb. 14 address, in which he said one of his personal goals for the coming year was reopening the stretch of beach from East International Speedway Boulevard to the boardwalk in Daytona Beach to beach driving and called for an end of draining, dredging and filling in wetlands for new development.

“If the structure is going to allow for speeches that don’t necessarily

BRIEFS

Volusia County increases wages for corrections personnel

The Volusia County Council unanimously ratified a new bargaining agreement with the International Union of Police Associations, AFLCIO, during its Feb. 20 meeting. This agreement, effective through Sept. 30, 2026, will enhance the compensation and benefits for the dedicated

reflect on what this body has worked on, or is focusing on, that concerns me,” said Councilman David Santiago, who did not attend the State of the County event, citing a prior engagement.

The Volusia County charter calls for the chair to report annually to the council and residents on the year’s activities and accomplishments, as well as set forth new and revised goals and objectives for future action. That annual report is presented at the annual State of the County event.

Council members felt that the address should be limited to only what the council agrees are collective goals.

Councilman Jake Johansson said he had concerns after last year’s address that the message was not reviewed to be a “joint message.”

“We are not the federal government,” Johansson said. “This is not the president’s State of the Union. We don’t have a chief executive elected official and therefore, I think it’s extremely important that we review an approved template of what we as a body will touch on to ensure our priorities are in line with our thoughts as a council.”

He doesn’t want surprises, he said, asking nothing be unscripted in next year’s address. If it remained unscripted, Johansson said he would not attend.

Brower — who had been admonished by his fellow council members

individuals serving as corrections officers, senior corrections officers, and corrections sergeants in the division.

“My team believes that this contract is promising for Corrections,” said Matt Harrison, president of the Volusia County Corrections Officers Union.

For the fiscal year 2023-24, corrections officers will receive an increase in base pay of $1.75 per hour, along with placement on the pay schedule. Similarly, senior corrections officers and sergeants will

earlier in the meeting for sending letters as chair in opposition of SB 1624 and SB 1628, which aim to restrict local government actions regarding land uses for energy facilities and legal challenges — said that when he took office in 2020, he was told by county staff that he had free rein over the State of the County address, from the speech to the food served.

“That has been said,” County Manager George Recktenwald said. “I totally agree with that, because that is actually how it evolved.” Brower said he referenced the five goals of the council twice during his speech. He didn’t see anything wrong with stating his personal goals in addition, as those are issues he plans to bring before the council for debate. He said he worked with county Community Information Director Michael Ryan to bring forth a “unifying message” using the video

receive a $2 per hour increase in base pay, also coupled with a pay schedule placement. As the county is currently operating in fiscal year 2023-24, the increases will be retroactive from Sept. 30, 2023, in which staff will be compensated for the difference.

Addressing the future of the Corrections Division, the agreement introduces an enhanced compensation structure for newly hired corrections officers hired on or after Oct. 1, 2024. This structure offers increased starting pay based on years

addresses by his councilmen.

“My appeal was for unity,” Brower said. “I asked everybody to come up on the stage afterwards, but yeah, I gave my goals for the next year as well.”

Councilman Danny Robins said that the State of the County address “has taken a life of its own and it’s getting a little out of hand.”

“I think we’re out of balance on a couple things,” Robins said. “... I just want us to be a little bit more professional and organized and united.”

The council is a group of seven and regardless of who the chairman is, Councilman Troy Kent said, he didn’t want them to feel like they “have a muzzle on them.” But, he would rather the State of the County address focus on council goals, generated by previous passing votes.

“And that could have been a 4-3 vote, doesn’t have to be 7-0,” Kent

of verified full-time experience, aimed at attracting highly qualified professionals to the county’s corrections team.

Volusia County seeks agencies for summer food program

Volusia County’s Community Assistance Division Staff is looking for sites to participate in the federally funded Summer BreakSpot program, which will run for 10 weeks from June 3 through Aug. 9.

said. “But if this council agreed on it, four of us at least, then it’s a goal. ... That’s what I would stick with, only because it becomes problematic in the sense that — we’re sitting here and talking about this at 11:09 p.m — because it’s the State of the County address, it’s not the state of the chairman address, it’s not the state of District 4 address, it’s not the state of Deltona address. It’s the State of the County.”

During his closing comments, Brower said he doesn’t want the council to become a “circus” with fighting back and forth. He repeated the sentiment he shared from a resident at the State of the County that the public deserves better and that the council needs to work together.

“That was my message,” he said. “It failed. It’s a flat zero, so we’ll deal with it from here.”

Summer BreakSpot provides meals and snacks to all children ages 18 and younger in geographical areas where at least 50 percent of the children are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. It was created to ensure children receive nutritious meals during summers. Approved sites will receive meals to serve participating children. There is no cost to the organization sponsoring the site, and the county will provide free training. Applications must be received by April 12. Call 386-736-5956, ext. 14712.

The Volusia County Council — Troy Kent, Don Dempsey, Danny Robins, Jake Johansson, Matt Reinhart and Jeff Brower — stands onstage after the 2024 State of the County on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

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Resisting an officer without violence. Police arrested a 54-year-old man from Texas who claimed he could not see an officer trying to stop him from riding away on his bicycle due to the sun’s glare. The reporting officer noted in the man’s arrest report that the road they were both on was “heavily shaded.”

9:47 p.m. — 100 block of Williamson Boulevard, Ormond Beach Breach of peace. A 47-yearold Fort Lauderdale man was arrested after he shouted that he would shoot and beat up two elderly men in a local chain restaurant, causing other patrons to leave the establishment.

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Police had responded to a local home after receiving calls about a disturbance. When the reporting officer arrived, he saw the man and a woman speaking loudly with someone inside the home, both unaware of his presence. Then, the man began to ride away on his bike, and the officer loudly called out to him, according to the report. The reporting officer said the man looked back at him and continued to ride away and stated he didn’t know anything.

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swerving her car in and out of the lane, an arrest report said. When asked about the incident earlier, she told the deputy it was none of his business, the report said. The woman was clearly drunk, according to the deputy’s report — not only could he smell the alcohol on her, but she was slurring her words her pants were falling down and she could not stand up with using her sedan, the report said. The woman said she had not had alcohol for hours, and then “began crying excessively.” The deputy said he attempted to place her under arrest she began screaming, the report said.

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The officer returned to his patrol vehicle and began to search for the man, spotting him riding west on Greenwood Avenue. After securing the man, the officer discovered he had a felony warrant for his arrest out of Texas.

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11:43 p.m. — first block of Wildwood Drive, Palm Coast DUI. A woman caught banging on the windows of a man’s house was later arrested for

The man called the Sheriff’s Office about the banging and told dispatch he believed the woman was drunk. When deputies found her, she was driving her car away from the home,

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A police officer was called down to a bar in Bunnell when the victim reported the spat. The victim told the officer that the suspect was the wife of an ex-boyfriend the victim had recently slept with, according to an arrest report.

The victim said the suspect walked up to her in the bar and put her arms around the victim’s neck and shoulder and began telling her to leave the bar. The victim refused and the two walked outside to talk.

The suspect kept telling the victim to leave and when she continued to refuse, the victim said the suspect pushed her to the ground and punched her in the face.

The suspect told the police officer the victim slapped her before she was pushed, but the suspect did not want to press charges, the report said.

Instead, the suspect was arrested and charged with simple battery.

BRIEFS

Flagler County men convicted in federal drug enforcement case

Two men from Palm Coast and Bunnell have been found guilty of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances by a federal jury.

Alfred Lamar Shavers, 49, from Bunnell, and Tyrone James Jones, 56, from Palm Coast, were both charged on Feb. 23, alongside seven coconspirators in a superseding indictment resulting from a joint, multi-state investigation, a press release from Florida’s Middle District’s United States Attorney office said. Their sentencing hearings have been scheduled for May 28, 2024.

The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force operation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Michael Sartoian and Special Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Del Mastro.

Both Shavers and Jones were convicted of other charges as well, the press release said. Jones was also convicted of distributing methamphetamine on two separate occasions and Shavers of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to trial evidence, Shavers and Jones were local drug dealers and part of a drug trafficking organization that imported meth and cocaine from Mexico into California, Arizona and across the U.S., the press release said.

Investigators executed six search warrants in October 2022 in Palm Coast, Bunnell and Daytona Beach, including at Shaver’s home.

Multiple agencies worked together during the investigation.

trict 5 seat against incumbent Cheryl Massaro.

Two School Board seats are up for election in the Aug. 20 primary. Paul Mucciolo is currently running unopposed for the District 3 seat. District 3 incumbent Colleen Conklin announced that she is stepping down after 24 years on the board.

Sullivan is a partner at Chiumento Law and a board member of the Flagler County Education Foundation. A 2008 graduate of Matanzas High School, Sullivan has been actively involved in community service.

He received last year’s Ed Foundation “Make It Happen” award. He recently received one of the inaugural “36 Under 36” awards from the Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division, recognizing lawyers under the age of 36 who exemplify the highest standards of professionalism in their practice.

Sullivan co-founded Chiumento CARES, a philanthropic initiative focused on finding solutions for homeless students through fundraising efforts and benefiting the Flagler Families in Transition program. Sullivan participates in the Law and Justice program at Matanzas High School.

“As a first-generation Matanzas High School graduate, I understand the importance of a strong education system,” Sullivan said in a

press release. “My commitment to Flagler County is personal, and I am eager to contribute to the continued success of our schools.”

Seabreeze celebrates new improvements to home field

The Seabreeze High School baseball team celebrated new upgrades to its home field at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex with a ribbon-cutting on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Joined by city officials and community members, the baseball team and Seabreeze Principal Tucker Harris cut the ribbon prior to the team’s game against the Deltona Wolves. The field improvements — made possible thanks to a grant by the Daytona Beach Racing and Recreational Facilities District, and donations by the Daytona Turkey Run, the Seabreeze Baseball Booster Club, the Katsikos and Sanders families, as well as Newkirk Engineering — include a covered batting cage, a new turf halo

surrounding home plate and windscreens.

Head coach Jeff Lemon thanked the donors for their support.

“Pretty much all the fundraising, everything that we do, ever since we’ve been here, we’ve always said, ‘Anything that we raise is going to go right back to these guys,’” Lemon said. “... It’s truly turned it into a first-class operation.”

City Commissioner Susan Persis said the improved field is “absolutely fabulous.”

“This is what we love,” she said. “We want our kids to have a place to go out and play and enjoy themselves and play sports — whatever it is, baseball, soccer, football. It’s just wonderful.”

35-year-old Palm Coast man killed in crash in west Flagler County

A 35-year-old Palm Coast man was killed on Feb. 21 when his motorcycle collided head on with a pickup truck.

The crash happened 8:35 p.m. at County Road 305 and State Road 100 in unincorporated Flagler County, according to a crash report from the Florida Highway Patrol. The truck was carrying two people and driving west on S.R. 100. The pickup truck made a left turn onto C.R. 305 and the motorcyclist, driving east on S.R. 100, hit the front of the pickup truck. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene by Flagler County Fire rescue. Neither passenger in the pickup truck was injured, the report said.

One killed, two in serious condition after three-car crash on S.R. 100

A 24-year-old Bunnell woman was killed on Feb. 25 after a sedan sideswiped a pickup truck on State Road 100, a Florida Highway Patrol report said. The woman was one of four passengers in the pickup truck, going west on S.R. 100 near Deen Road at 10:43 a.m. when the crash happened. The sedan was driving east when it crossed over the centerline and hit the pickup, the report said. The pickup’s driver lost control of the truck, crossing the center lane and colliding head-on with a SUV driving east. The pickup rolled over, landed upright and came to a stop in the road, while the SUV went into a ditch, the report said.

Of the pickup truck’s four passengers, all from Bunnell, the 24-year-old woman was killed while the driver, a 49-year-old woman, is in serious condition. The other two passengers — a 29-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy — sustained minor injuries.

The driver of the SUV, from Altamonte Springs, also was seriously injured in the crash. The sedan’s driver, a 59-yearold female, and the 13-yearold passenger, both from Daytona Beach, were uninjured.

Vincent Sullivan

Seabreeze baseball head coach Jeff Lemons speaks during the ribbon-cutting on Feb. 27. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

BUSINESS OBSERVER

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The menu includes drinks such as the Caffe Dolce Latte, iced Tuscany Toffee Latte, or a Cookies and Cream Freezer, a blend of coffee and ice cream. The franchise also offers smoothies, teas, milkshakes, New York-style bagels, breakfast bowls and more.

FOUNDATION RISK PARTNERS WELCOMES NEW LEADERSHIP

Foundation Risk Partners has promoted Chris Bell to chief administrative officer and Natalie Corbett to chief human resources officer, a press release announced Wednesday, Feb. 21.

The promotions came after Tom Tinsley, who will begin to enjoy semiretirement as he moves to his new role as senior advisor at FRP.

Tinsley, a co-founder of FRP, served as chief administrative officer since 2017.

Bell joined FRP in 2021 and quickly transformed the company’s approach to acquisition integration, according to the press release. He’s led enhancements to FRP’s strategic planning

and reporting processes and has improved enterprise program management efforts. Prior to coming to FRP, Bell worked at Fifth Third Bank for 22 years. Corbett comes to FRP from Global Atlantic Financial Group, where she was head of human resources. Prior to that, she worked as a human resources officer at Cigna Healthcare.

WILD RABBIT BISTRO IN ORMOND BEACH NOW OFFERS DINNER

Wild Rabbit Bistro has a new dinner service.

The restaurant, located at 48 E. Granada Blvd. in the Gaslamp Shoppes, will be open for dinner on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 4-8 p.m., according to a news release. Wild Rabbit Bistro, known for its vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options,

has been open in Ormond Beach since 2017. Restaurant owners Laura and Steve Hannan said in the news release that they are excited about the expansion of their offerings and services. “We have really loved offering organic, wholesome and locally-sourced ingredients to our loyal diners and are thrilled to offer dinner and a ‘Hoppy Hour’ experience, too,” Laura Hannan said. “The fresh and local experience will allow us to offer dinner in a way that Ormond hasn’t previously experienced, and we look forward to welcoming folks for dinner, wines, desserts — as a destination — as well as a stop for the many community ‘nights out’ here in Historic Ormond Beach.”

The dinner service will also offer red-meat dishes, such as new grassfed beef burgers. There will also be Mahi Mahi and salmon dishes and new sides such as a three-cheese mac and cheese.

In addition to the dinner hours, Wild Rabbit Bistro is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

COSTCO IS NOW OPEN AT ONE DAYTONA

One Daytona celebrated the opening of Costco with a ribbon-cutting on Thursday, Feb. 22.

Located in the northwest section of One Daytona next to the CMX Daytona Luxury Theatre, the new Costco spans about 150,000 square feet and has a members-only gas station. It is the only Costco location to display a checkered flag pattern on the storefront, paying tribute to its proximity to the Daytona International Speedway.

The ceremony was attended by Costco executives and local representatives, including Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry, who spoke on the city’s partnership with One Daytona. The Costco at One Daytona is forgoing the shopping and entertainment center’s 1% amenity fee, which is added to each purchase at One Daytona to offset development investments.

“We promised when we partnered with One Daytona to bring the best in class to this particular facility,” Henry said. “I want to thank [Lesa] France Kennedy, the folks at One Daytona and the folks at Costco for helping us deliver on that promise, because Costco is serving the best in class.”

Costco is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 10 a,m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 12-8 p.m. on Sundays.

Ellianos Coffee was founded in 2002 in Lake City by entrepreneurs Scott and Pam Stewart. Courtesy photos

Wild Rabbit Bistro owners Laura and Steve Hannan.

Volusia County’s first Costco opened on Thursday, Feb. 22.

Flagler County approves next stage in Hunter’s Ridge

The development, known as Gardenside, is the first phase of a 29-acre, single-family residential subdivision within the Hunter’s Ridge development.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

The Flagler County Commission has universally approved the final step of a 76-lot development in Ormond Station, located within Hunter’s Ridge.

The development, known as Gardenside, is the first phase of a 29-acre, single-family residential subdivisiont.

Located on Airport Road, west of the Hunter’s Ridge Boulevard roundabout and extension, the development is on 29 acres.

The commission approved the change at its Feb. 19 meeting. Commission Chair Andy Dance said the development is already under construction since the preliminary plat was previously approved.

“They’re just bonding a remainder of the finished work so that they can sell their their parcels basically,” he said.

Two other developments are planned for Ormond Station as well, called Woodside and Amberwoods. These development applications were approved by the Flagler County Commission last August.

Amberwoods, on 14 acres, would add 40 single-family homes on Airport Road, just east of Hunter’s Ridge Boulevard.

Woodside is on 21 acres of land on the south side of Airport Road and west of Hunter’s Ridge Boulevard. The developer would build between six to 10 single-family homes per acre for that development, according to Woodside’s site plan.

Flagler County Growth Mannagement Director Adam Mengel said Greenside is wrapping up its utility infrastructure.

Hunter’s Ridge has an agreement with Ormond Beach about using its water for the development, but last October, Ormond Beach threatened to shut off water utilities when it said Hunter’s Ridge violated agreements with the city.

The city has since filed lawsuits against the developer and Flagler County.

Despite the ongoing legal action between Ormond Beach, the Hunter’s Ridge developer and Flagler County, the development is continuing smoothly.

“So this is, best we know, still moving forward still under that vested agreement,” Mengel said.

The commission also approved an application to expand Ormond Station’s proposed Community Development District.

A CDD is a special-purpose government that functions as a way for developers to finance the infrastructure costs of a large residential community.

The expansion adds the Greenside development to the current Ormond Station CDD boundaries, located on the northeast side of the Hunter’s Ridge Boulevard roundabout.

Mengel said the CDD’s boundaries first only included the 38-acre Groveside, which was the first development in the Hunter’s Ridge development.

When phase two of Greenside comes to the County Commission for approval, he said, the board will also see another CDD expansion request.

The land between the two developments is not part of the CDD, but land in the CDD does not have to be contiguous, Mengel said.

Email Sierra Williams at Sierra@ observerlocalnews.com

Teacher runs for Lions Club International director

ALEXIS MILLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

For over 30 years, Jacquie Tripp has had a love for teaching. This passion has transcended into something more with the Ormond-by-the-Sea Lions Club.

Tripp is running for International Director of Lions Clubs, and in May, during the Lions Multiple District convention in Orlando, she will run against a candidate from Miami to move on to the next level, which involves an interview with an international board member. The candidates will then continue their campaign for international director.

“I’m trying to help the Lions Club get fresh ideas, get fresh members and do a full refresh; kind of like cleaning a closet and rearranging things,” Tripp said.

Tripp grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, where she graduated with her bachelor’s degree in elementary and special education at Kearney State University, and later her master’s degree in counseling and human development from Troy State University. She began teaching in 1984 and moved to Florida seven years later.

Tripp taught at Seabreeze High School for 15 years as a special education reading teacher and a guidance counselor. In 2016, she retired and moved to Cocoa Beach — though she continues to be an associate member of the Ormond-by-the-Sea Lions Club. After taking a few years off, Tripp decided she wasn’t done teaching and got a job at Gulfview Elementary School.

She joined the Lions Club in 1999. Throughout this time, she attended training sessions through Lions Club International and was licensed and certified as an instructor. She taught

at an institute in Florida and surrounding states, and eventually was asked by the current international president to be an instructor for district governors.

“In her 20-plus years of being a member, she has not missed a meeting and has perfect attendance which is remarkable,” said Bobbie Cheh, a fellow Lions Club member. “She’s a very dedicated person, her persona, her attitude, she’s a teacher by trade and she enjoys teaching people, and in Lions that’s what you need to do to help and serve the community. She goes above and beyond, and she is a great person all around.”

The Lions Club was founded in October 1917 and has expanded to 250 countries with over 1.4 million members. The organization’s current goal is to expand their numbers and reach 1.5 million members.

Last year, Tripp went to St. Charles, Illinois, and spent a week training over 750 district governors

from around the world. But while she was an instructor, she was learning too.

“My favorite class in college was cultural geography,” she said. “Learning about the different foods, and different mannerisms was fascinating. When I was teaching in St. Charles, I had several students from India, and I wondered about certain physical behaviors that they were doing that I didn’t understand. So, when I finally got home, I started asking around and researching the different conversational attitude and types, and how the address to each other.”

Tripp is part of the Satellite Beach club in Cocoa Beach as well, which raises money by parking cars at car shows and packaging food during the holidays. Last year, they gave away over 230 boxes of food at Christmas.

Tripp also helps with Family Promise of Brevard, an outreach program in partnership with St. David’s by the Sea Episcopal Church in Cocoa Beach, that aims to prevent families from becoming homeless. She was been part of initiatives that provide food for people in need, diapers and canned food for Mother’s Day and school supplies for Kafeel Elementary School.

The Lions Club International Board is made up of a president, three vice presidents and 34 international directors. To become an international director, one has to have training as well as have previously served as a district governor, which Tripp did in 2015 and 2016.

Past elections used to have a rule that, in order to run for international direction, a candidate had to have 1,250 members in their district, but with member numbers decreasing in the U.S., the international board removed the rule, allowing Tripp a chance to run.

“She takes advantage of every opportunity that she can to learn more about the Lions Club, so she can leave with a new perspective,” said Greg Evan, Lions Club member and restaurant owner of Alfie’s in Ormond-By-the-Sea.

2-BR,

Step

FLAGLER BEACH

Jacquie Tripp, who taught at Seabreeze High School for 15 years, is vying for an international position with the Lions Club.

Jacquie Tripp with Alfie at Alfie’s restaurant in Ormond By the Sea. Photo courtesy of Jacquie Tripp

LETTERS

Home Rule! Local voices make local choices for clean water

Dear Editor:

Elected as a public servant for the city of New Smyrna Beach, it became my duty to advocate for policies that best serve our community. It is my duty to strongly oppose state Legislature interference with local government fertilizer controls. In 2023, the Florida

Legislature tied the hands of local governments by preventing them from adopting common-sense rules for safe application of fertilizer to our yards and landscapes. They enacted a one-year moratorium against new, protective ordinances. Allowing unfettered nutrient run-off into our waterways burdens taxpayers with the cost of clean-up and restoration — even feeding the starving manatees.

As a locally-elected official, I am committed to preserving our property values, the health of our waterways for sport and local busi-

Hometownie Hero

nesses, and our reputation as an internationally-renowned tourist destination. I have a fiduciary responsibility to taxpayers to minimize their burden.

Florida Legislature — please reject fertilizer ordinance preemptions.

Our unique environment deserves policies designed specifically for each community’s needs and challenges. Empower us to protect our quality of life and our community’s ecological health.

The power to make decisions about how we manage our natu-

ral resources should remain at the local level, not only in New Smyrna Beach and Volusia County but throughout Florida. I urge leadership in Tallahassee to respect home rule. Empower local governments to lead the fight for clean water.

LISA MARTIN

New Smyrna Beach City Commission, Zone 2

Send letters up to 400 words to Jarleene@observerlocalnews.com. and/ or length.

Who Will Survive Temptation Table?

Memories of a mean middle school game offer Observer columnist Mike Cavaliere perspective on parenting.

At age 11 — next summer, she’ll be “almost 13,” she’d want you to know — my stepdaughter, Charlotte, is finally old enough to bully her parents.

“Your butt is squishy,” she tells my wife, who tries to take it as a compliment.

Then she gets me in her sights: “Is your forehead so big because you’re losing your hair?”

Her attacks are sometimes sneakier. Last week, she begged us to watch a movie then, once we agreed, she set out on a Napoleonic-like campaign to ruin said movie by relentlessly repeating “bruh” throughout it, anytime something “weird,” such as dialogue or action, occurred onscreen.

It was a blitzkrieg of “bruhs.” A

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ORMOND BEACH Observer

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& Events. A $40 donation per person is requested. RSVP by Friday, March 8, by calling 386-341-0479.

MARC BLACK TO PERFORM AT THE ORMOND LIBRARY

Marc Black, a musician and storyteller, will bring his program “A History of the 1950s and 60s Through Popular Song” to the Ormond Beach Library Auditorium on March 26 at 2 p.m.

During a career spanning more than four decades, Black has performed with the Doors, Van Morrison, Art Garfunkel, Richie Havens, John Sebastian and Pete Seeger. He is also a New York Blues Hall of Fame inductee.

In this program, Black will reconnect the audience with their past using his stories, humor and versatile guitar playing. The songs will be as varied as “Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” and “Blowing in the Wind.” A unique visual presentation created by Black’s wife, Susan, will accompany his music and storytelling.

This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ormond Beach Library and is open to the community.

bombardment. Our spirits were quickly broken.

But we had this coming. Like death and taxes, the karmic onslaught known as Parenting is one of life’s few certainties. In our youth, we unknowingly sowed nuclear seeds, and now, honest farmers that we are, we reap radioactive fruit, the kind that grows eyes, a mouth and an attitude — all the better to sneer at you with whenever you do something “cringe,” like make a dinner that’s not chicken nuggets.

We were no angels.

Eighth grade, Indian Trails Middle School, 2000: My friends and I weren’t yet farmers. We were terrorists, and we hated grownups most of all: the way they flaunted their freedom — to drive, say “no,” stay up past 8. To hit ‘em where it hurts, Will and I once perforated a fresh cantaloup with blow darts in his parents’ living room. Simon and I once pushed a swivel chair down his parents’ staircase, cratering a hole in the drywall at the foot of the steps.

But we were equal-opportunity crusaders. If no adults were avail-

able, we happily terrorized each other.

“The name of the game is Temptation Table!” I announced to my classmates in the cafeteria. The rules were simple: Everyday, write a friend’s name on a piece of paper. You get the most votes, you’re gone. Find a new lunch table, bruh.

We were inspired by “Temptation Island,” a new realty TV program that was part dating show, part “Survivor,” all lust, desperation and rejection — which, coincidentally, are the three words I’d use to describe the whole of my childhood.

“You are the weakest link!” we’d happily tell each day’s loser, borrowing from other realty shows as needed to twist the knife. “Goodbye!”

Then this schlub would slink away to sit alone, and the rest of us would laugh and laugh — until the next day, that is, when it was time to vote again, banish another friend again, until just one of us remained — one 13-year-old to rule them all.

None of us saw this as bullying, though. Remember: We were still just radioactive fruit, products of our parents’ mistakes, unaware of our place in this cosmic cycle.

Around this time, we started

LOCALS RECOGIZED AT TAX COLLECTOR’S OFFICE

Two local employees have earned top honors for the Volusia County Tax Collector’s Office. On Monday, Feb. 19, the organization’s Employee of the Year and Supervisor of the Year awards were bestowed upon Spruce Creek High School and DeLand High School graduates during the annual awards ceremony.

“Earning this designation speaks volumes for the caliber of these team members,” Volusia County Tax Collector Will Roberts said. “Both of these women were nominated and selected by their peers for consistently demonstrating the organization’s core values. When your peers recognize your dedication and commitment, it’s a huge stamp of

BEACHSIDE CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Beachside Elementary held its annual African American Read In event celebrating Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 23.

“We welcomed many guests from our community,” Beachside Elementary teacher Amy Stoner said. “Every classroom had a guest reader or two. We love this event and it’s so important for our students to meet members from our community.”

Among the readers were Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Don’Neisha McFadden, Miss Bethune Cookman University.

approval from the team members who work alongside you.”

Jennifer Spell earned the Employee of the Year award. A Daytona Beach native, she attended Spruce Creek High School and the University of Central Florida. Spell joined the organization in March 2021 as a motorist services specialist and currently serves as an outreach specialist.

Brandi Holley, the Supervisor of the Year, is a DeLand High School graduate who joined the team in June 2018 as a motorist services specialist. Now a Deltona resident, she recently was promoted to a supervisory position.

launching full Dasani bottles down the length of the cafeteria table. We’d rear back then slide the bottles rocket-fast past our classmates’ Styrofoam lunch trays, or maybe into them, blasting their food into their laps or knocking their milk cartons over to glug-glug onto the tabletop. As we threw each one, we’d howl, “MISS-ILE!” (pronounced: miss-eye-ull), then dreamily crunch into our Dunkaroos, sure that life would always be this simple.

“IsThat … your … finalAn-saw?”

I asked as Regis Philbin when it was my turn to count Temptation Table votes. I peeked at the name scrawled on the first slip of paper: “mIKe,” it read.

I’d survived weeks so far, but Will and Simon were stiff competition. Both were funny and well-liked and had dogs to play with during sleepovers. All I had at home was my collection of Pez dispensers. This did not bode well. Another slip: another “MIKE.”

Uh oh.

“This game is stupid anyway,” I probably told them then, stopping the count to suggest that sitting together is actually way more fun. And let’s oppose bullying, guys. And let’s be inclusive. Be the change

Operations Manager Bonnie Hamilton, bonnie@observerlocalnews.com

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we want to see. And let’s start today!

In the silence that followed, I likely cleared my throat.

“I mean … um, who’s up for another miss-ile?”

Mike Cavaliere is the author of The Humorist: Adventures in Adulting & Horror Movies, available now.

AAEA PARTNERS WITH ADVENTHEALTH DAYTONA

Continuing to build partnerships across the nation, the African American Entrepreneurs Association added hometown support for their efforts in February with the addition of AdventHealth Daytona Beach.

“It is a privilege to provide support for programs led by the African American Entrepreneurs Association, one of our valuable community partners,” said David Weis, president and CEO, AdventHealth Daytona Beach and the East Volusia market.

Since inception, the AAEA has served hundreds of African Ameri-

can and minority business owners, providing training, access to capital, professional networking opportunities, counseling and more, connecting them to the resources needed for success as small business owners in the community.

“This contribution from AdventHealth signifies more than just financial support; it symbolizes a shared vision of creating opportunities and uplifting voices that may have been marginalized or underserved,” AAEA Founder and CEO Leslie Giscombe said.

PALMETTO CLUB OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS

The Palmetto Club will award a $1,000 scholarship to one high school senior from Mainland, Seabreeze, Atlantic and Spruce Creek high schools.

The scholarships are based on financial need, academics, leadership and community awareness. Deadlines and detailed information are available at each high school guidance counselor’s office and school websites. Call 386-212-9330.

Employee of the Year Jennifer Spell, outreach specialist; Volusia County Tax Collector Will Roberts; and Supervisor of the Year Brandi Holley, a motorist services lead. Courtesy photos

Don’Neisha McFadden, Miss Bethune Cookman University, read books to Beachside Elementary students in celebration of Black History Month on Friday, Feb. 23.

Leslie Giscombe, founder and CEO of AAEA; David Weis, president and CEO of AdventHealth Daytona Beach; Deborah McNabb, director of Community Advocacy; Ida Babazadeh, program manager.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

Bronx House Pizza’s Hammock location on State Road A1A raised $84,000 for the Little Smiles charity in just one day.

Bronx House partnered with musician and rapper Robert Van Winkle, known professionally as Vanilla Ice, to promote the event. The restaurant made almost $50,000 in sales at the Feb. 25 event and donated 100% of it to Little Smiles. The remaining funds were raised through donations.

Little Smiles will be donating the funds to Halifax Health Medical Center’s pediatric unit. Little Smiles senior manager Luke Lostroscio said Little Smiles works with local businesses and community events to

fundraise. The organization focuses on bringing smiles to children facing tough times, from hospital stays to those in abuse shelters.

It was last minute organizing it all, Lostroscio said, but this is what Little Smiles does.

“That’s our specialty is right there,” he said. “It’s working with the kids, working with the families to create those smiles anyway we can.”

Bronx House partner Brad Beam said Little Smiles had already purchased multiple bins of books and toys for the children at Halifax.

Fundraising for charity is a core value at Bronx House, Bronx House co-founder Bruno DiFabio said. The restaurant chain hosts monthly charity fundraising events and regularly works with multiple local charities to give back to the community.

This time, DiFabio said, they decided to commit 100% of their Hammock location’s sales on Feb. 25 to Little Smiles.

“That’s unheard of in Flagler County,” he said. “I don’t think anybody has had the nerve to or has

really put their money where their mouth is to donate 100% of sales.”

DiFabio said during tough times, people don’t often think about charitable donations. Everybody is hurting, he said.

“We want to kind of lead by example, and not a cop out like oh, a 10% of this or that,” DiFabio said. “We wanted it to hurt 100%.”

Co-founder Michael Bennici said even their employees across the different stores were jumping to come help out during the event. And while the team knew to expect a big crowd, Bennici said Hammock location had filled over 1,000 tickets by 4:30 p.m.

“I’m blown away by the show of

support from the community,” he said.

So many people showed up, Beam said, that Bronx House actually opened at 11 a.m., instead of 12 p.m. to start serving food. By the end of the day, Beam said over text, the restaurant had 1,900 ticket sales. DiFabio said he and his partners have decided to make the charity event an annual fundraiser where it donates its sales for one day.

“It’s got to hurt,” DiFabio said. “And we hope that we hope in turn that [others] will follow in our footsteps.” In anticipation for the charity event, Bronx House set up a beer garden outside with a DJ. Van Winkle was in and out during the event, but showed up at 4:30 p.m. to sign autographs alongside a social media influencer called “The Greatness,” known for helping those in need by handing out cash.

Later on, Van Winkle performed in the beer garden, bringing two of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on stage with him.

While Van Winkle signed autographs, the Little Smiles team brought up Jacob Hilliker, 18, to meet Van Winkle. Jacob has duchenne muscular dystrophy, a hereditary and terminal neuromuscular condi-

tion.

In November, Tom Hilliker, Jacob’s father, said Jacob went into pulmonary arrest twice and needed a permanent tracheostomy.

This is the family’s first trip since the hospitalization, Hilliker said, and getting to meet Van Winkle was amazing for Jacob, who loves the celebrity’s music and shows.

“[Jacob] just absolutely adores what he does and big fan,” he said said. “... How many times in a lifetime are you going to meet your idol? And for Jake, Ice is one of his favorites.”

Hilliker said they called Bronx House after seeing Van Winkle’s TikTok promoting the event, hoping to arrange a meet up for Jacob. Bronx House connected them to Van Winkle and Little Smiles, which arranged for the family to come down to Palm Coast for the event, including paying for their stay.

Hilliker said none of them had the slightest idea Little Smiles would also offer to pay for two days at a Disney, with a resort stay. The Greatness also gave Jacob $1,500 to spend at Disney, too, Hilliker said.

“It’s been an episode that we didn’t expect and kind of just coming out from nowhere,” Hilliker said. “So, you know, it is a dream vacation.”

Dena Tognotti, Jim Stedry, Jethro Thirteen and Kathy Fraser at the Bronx House Pizza-Vanilla Ice charity event.

Mikkie Turner brought a cardboard stand-in of Vanilla Ice to Bronx House Pizza for the charity event.

Krewe of the 13 members Kathy Allen, Rachelle Caldwell and Noelle Gault dressed up for the event.

Rapper Vanilla Ice performs “Ice, Ice, Baby” at Bronx House Pizza on Feb. 25.

Photos by Sierra Williams

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

House on the Intracoastal sells for over $1.6 million

Ahouse in Harbor Village Marina was the top real estate transaction for Jan. 4-10 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Jerry Barnette, Jr. and Christina Barnette, of Palm Coast, sold 230 Yacht Harbor Drive to Claire Burke, of Palm Coast, for $1,612,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 3/3.5 and has a pool, a hot tub and 3,381 square feet.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos

John Samarkos and Maria Elena Samarkos, of St. Petersburg, sold 600 Cinnamon Beach Way, Unit 535, to KBJB Holdings, LLC, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for $886,500. Built in 2004, the condo is a 3/3 and has 2,003 square feet. It sold in 2004 for $829,500.

John Benjamin and Shannon Cavazzi, of Flagler Beach, sold 3510 South Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 109, to Gregory Mohler and Sandra DyeMohler, of Pickerington, Ohio, for $355,000. Built in 1978, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,107 square feet. It sold in 2017 for $200,000.

Kerry Mihalek and Elizabeth Nader, as trustees, sold 19 Avenue De La Mer, Unit 205, to William Cliett, Jr., of Palm Coast, for $1,200,000. Built in 2005, the condo is a 3/2.5 and has 2,340 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $689,500.

Richard and Karen MacGuire, as trustees, sold 600 Cinnamon beach Way, Unit 543, to Vincent DeGeare and Mary Beth DeGeare, of Louisville, Kentucky, for $699,000. Built in 2004, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,344 square feet. It sold in 2004 for $529,500.

FLAGLER BEACH

Flagler Beach Polo Club West Hulbert Homes, Inc., of Lakeland, sold 63 Steeplechase Trail to Gregory Parish and Zohra Ghilzai, of Flagler Beach, for $1,450,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 5/5 and has a pool, a casida and 3,575 square feet.

PALM COAST

Belle Terre Seagate homes, LLC, of Palm Coast, sold 240 Parkview Drive to Debra Lewis, of Palm Coast, for $369,000. Built in 2023, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,832 square feet.

Easthampton

Blue Crown Construction, Inc., of Orlando, sold 39 Edgely Lane to Vita and Joseph Kramarenko, of Palm Coast, for $583,000. Built in

2022, the house is a 4/3 and has 2,424 square feet.

Harbor Village Marina

Kimberley Kangos, of Palm Coast, sold 254 Harbor Village Point North to Ian and Suzanne Kaswan, of Palm Coast, for $1,145,000. Built in 2015, the house is a 4/3.5 and has a pool, a hot tub and 2,790 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $522,500.

Lakeside at Matanzas Shores

Michael and Melissa Taliaferro, of Palm Coast, sold 4 San Rafael Court to Florence Susan Morrell and Robert Scott Morrell, of Palm Coast, for $507,000. Built in 1996, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,812 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $294,000.

Palm Harbor Joann Kozik, of Boynton Beach, sold 98 Forest Hill Drive to Brian Scott and Krishna Doucet, of Palm Coast, for $300,000. Built in 1987, the house is a 2/2 and has a pool and 1,368 square feet. It sold in 1987 for $73,800.

Pine Lakes Saritta Roeun, Peng Eng and Chattra Roeun, of Palm Coast, sold 1 Wellside Lane to William Korff, of Palm Coast, for $312,000. Built in 1988, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,215 square feet. It sold in 2012 for $70,500.

Toby Tobin, of gotoby.com, contributed to this report.

stars: Tobias Svantesson, Sylvia Whitehouse, Ivan Lendl and Mikael Pernfors.

Legends help celebrate new pickleball courts at resort

Memberships at Hammock Beach are now available.

Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa unveiled four new pickleball courts at 106 Yacht Harbor Drive, Palm Coast, with a grand opening Feb. 27, with the help of tennis and pickleball legends.

“Pickleball is the fastest growing sport not only in our country, but probably in the world. It was very much needed to add these courts,” said Brad Hauer, Hammock Beach Club General Manager.

In addition to the new pickleball courts, racket sports, golf and swimming are also offered to club members, as explained by Hauer.

The event began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by legends of tennis Ivan Lendl, Tobias Svantesson and Mikael Pernfors, as well as legend-

ary pickleball star Sylvia Whitehouse, competing in the court’s first exhibition match.

“We’re hoping to get new memberships from this, and I have a feeling that there will be more pickleball courts in the future,” said Marianne Murphy, Hammock Beach Club Director of Membership.

Whitehouse, who has won the U.S. Pickleball Open eight times, said: “I told Hammock Beach, they should build pickleball courts. So I’m happy.”

SEE FOR YOURSELF

To become a member, visit www.theclubathammockbeach.com

Pool home tops the sales list in Ormond

Beach

Ahouse in Royal Dunes was the top real estate transaction for Jan. 14-20 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. Royal Dunes

LLC, of Boca Raton, sold 236 Royal Dunes Circle to Glenn Garritano, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, for $605,000. Built in 1963, the 4/3 house has a pool, a fireplace and 2,668 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $175,000.

ALEXIS MILLER

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Condos

Hector Reyes and Yarissa Ortiz Reyes, of St. Augustine, sold 3170 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 202, to Stephen and Diann Gerling, of Whitesboro, New York, for $322,000. Built in 1994, the condo is a 2/2 and has 876 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $251,000.

Double Trinity LLC, of Ormond Beach, sold 3370 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 5070, to William and Patricia Elmore, of Athens, Ohio, for $340,000. Built in 1987, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,275 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $229,000.

ORMOND BEACH

Fair Oaks

James Murvine and Ann Lee, of Daytona Beach, sold 12 Fair Oaks Circle to Darwin Leigh Patterson, of Ormond Beach, for $239,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 3/2.5 and has a fireplace and 1,391 square feet. It sold in 2014 for $79,900.

Forest Hills

Scott and Christopher Maclean, of Melbourne, sold 388 Military Blvd. to Tania and Robert Vo, of Ormond Beach, for $293,000. Built in 1974, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,475 square feet. It sold in 1976 for $36,500.

Halifax Plantation

Kenneth and Colleen Hougham, of Daytona Beach, sold 1475 Hohe Lane to William and Gail Privitar, of Ormond Beach, for $540,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool and 2,160 square feet. It sold in 2002 for $196,900.

Oak Forest Lym and Yen Tran, of Vero Beach, sold 18 Heather Lane to John Stewart, of Ormond Beach, for $398,000. Built in 1986, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,859 square feet. It sold in 1996 for $112,000.

Ocean Village Jana Simmons, San Antonio, Texas, sold 601 Robin Road, Unit A, to Kevin and Christine McLaughlin, of

Collegeville, Pennsylvania, for $232,000. Built in 1947, the house is a 1/1 and has 504 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $215,000.

Pineland Nicholas Erwin Moulton, as trustee, sold 255 Carabelle Court to Lisa Beasor, of Ormond Beach, for $445,000. Built in 2022, the house is a 5/3 and has 2,674 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $434,000.

Pine Trails Dorman and Stacey Parsons, of Sanger, Texas, sold 5 Torrey Pines Court to Cleo Madison Beaulieu, of Ormond Beach, for $352,500. Built in 1992, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,588 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $182,500.

Tomoka Estates

Gregory Goerl and Janine Marie Papavero, as trustees, sold to Anton and Nevianna Poleganov, of Schaumburg, Illinois, for $395,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,730 square feet. It sold in 2001 for $133,900.

Village of Pine Run Scott and Keith Martin, of Kissimmee, sold 127 Oak Lane to Robert and Janet Ecochardt, of Ormond Beach, for $460,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 4/3 and has a fireplace, an in-law suite and 2,460 square feet. It sold in 1989 for $140,000.

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

The court was opened with a match by tennis and pickleball

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Green + clean

Seabreeze’s Conservation Collaboration club promotes recycling at school, beach cleanups.

EMMA BRUGNA

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Think global, act local. The Conservation Collaborative is a student-run club at Seabreeze High School that makes that saying true.

What started as a student-led recycling project last spring to limit the amount of paper wasted at Seabreeze turned into a club this school year, aimed at uniting students and teachers who care about conserving the environment. Seniors Kai Bie and Maycie Shaffer, along with junior Camryn Chiumento, wanted to bring attention to the issue.

Last year during testing season, Bie noticed that one of her teachers threw away test review packets. When she asked if he was going to recycle them, he told her no. So she spoke with teacher Tiffany Waters and a couple students at Spruce Creek High School and asked what other schools did with their paper.

“They told me they shredded it and used it for other purposes, so we continued the same thing here at Seabreeze,” Bie said.

Bie presented her idea for a recycling project to Shaffer and Chiumento, and eventually, the three decided to continue their efforts, and expand them, as an official club.

So far, during the 2023-2024 school year, the Conservation Collaborative has conducted three beach cleanups at Andy Romano Beachfront Park, including one on Sunday, Feb. 11, and five recycling days and has also been a part of one climate protest held by Volusia County Fridays for Futures.

Shaffer said that the club helps students become aware of the importance of recycling.

“It promotes conscious conservation on a local level and gets students and teachers excited about doing something as mundane as recycling,” she said.

During its beach cleanup events, the Conservation Collaborative also involves other clubs at Seabreeze, including Key Club and Surf Club, to ensure the beach will be cleaned as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Shaffer said that getting more clubs involved “helps take the environmental efforts from last year to a

new level.”

In 2023, the three had begun to recycle on a much smaller scale, with the help from about five or six teachers. However, in just six months, the club’s reach has involved 22 teachers on campus. At the beginning of the school year, the club placed recycling bins in each participating classroom, where the teachers had their students recycle paper instead of throwing it away.

Then, one day a month, members from the club collect the paper and bring it to Waters’ classroom, as she is the sponsor of the club. After that, Bie, Chiumento and Shaffer bring the paper to the Exceptional Student Education building for shredding. The shredded paper is then delivered to the agriculture program to be used for animal bedding.

By participating in these recycling efforts, Chiumento said that people are made aware of how much paper would otherwise be wasted.

“It kind of puts it in the forefront of their mind and makes them aware that it is an issue, and it’s something they can help fix,” Chiumento said.

GRUBEL WINS WOMEN’S

TITLE

AT RACE OF THE RUNWAYS

5K

Ormond Beach resident Angelika Grubel, 52, won the women’s title at the Race of the Runways 5K with a time of 22:46.79.

Grubel was one of 421 runners ages 5 to 84 that finished the race

on Saturday, Feb. 24, at the Flagler Executive Airport.

Each runner received a finisher medal modeled after the PBY Catalina airplane and ran under the wing of an actual PBY Catalina just past the race starting point. The runners continued on the airport runways before ending back at the start/finish line.

The event benefits the Rotary Club of Flagler Beach.

“It’s such a unique race being on a runway,” said Rotarian Shelia Pillath, the event organizer. “We’re really fortunate we’re able to do something like this, and all the proceeds go back into the community.”

Normally, Chris Batista would be timing the race, but this time, he left the timing in the capable hands of his staff members at 5K Race Director, and ran the race, winning with a time 16:45.8.

Batista, 42, who is also the founder of Run 4 a Cause Foundation, is training for the 2024 Boston Marathon. He edged 13-year-old Douglas Seth of Palm Coast, a seventh grader at Buddy Taylor Middle School who placed second with a time of 16:51.95.

Seth is coming off his Florida Middle School Indoor Championship in the 3,000 meters where he ran the fastest time in the nation this year and the fastest time in Florida history with a 9:33.40.

The race, which previously had

been run during sunset and darkness, was moved up a half hour to 6 p.m.

“It improves safety and we have more daylight and an awesome sunset,” Pillath said. The event included a Kiddie Dash, a Virtual 5K and an after-race party. For complete results, visit runsignup. com/Race/Results/5866#resultSet Id-439005.

ORMOND BEACH GIRL

IS LITTLE MISS NORTH FLORIDA 2024

An Ormond Beach girl won the Little Miss North Florida title at the Feb. 17 pageant in Marianna.

Gianna Capri, 10, was representing Volusia County in the pageant as Little Miss Volusia County, according to a press release. Gianna plans on using this year to continue helping those who live with in her community while honoring her uncle’s legacy through her initiative, Michael’s Ohana, created in memory of her uncle who died from a degenerative neurological disease in 2021.

Giana said she looks forward to

Ellie and Josie Pleier have attended every beach cleanup held by the Conservation Collaborative.

Kai Bie and Peyton Domayer pick up a net that they found lying on the sand.

Peyton Domayer shows how the Conservation Collaborative only uses one plastic glove while picking up trash at their cleanups to minimize waste.

Ellie Pleier, Josie Pleier, Susanna Harris, Kai Bie, Camryn Chiumento, Maycie Shaffer, teacher Tiffany Waters, Weston Waters, Lylah Waters and Peyton Domayer. Photos by Emma Brugna

Camryn Chiumento and Maycie Shaffer enjoy their time cleaning the beach together.

LOCAL EVENTS

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

YOGA OUTDOORS

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center, 601 Division Ave., Ormond

Beach Details: The Environmental Discovery Center is hosting a free outdoor beginner level yoga class by Kim Latford. Chairs available. Mats recommended. Space is limited. Call 386-615-7081.

FREE FAMILY ARTS

NIGHT: HATS

When: 5:30-7 p.m.

Where: Ormond Memorial

Art Museum and Gardens, 78 E. Granada Blvd., Ormond

Beach Details: Create a crazy, fun hat with your family, under the direction of art instructor Linda King. Free program. All art supplies provided. All ages welcome.

MOVIES ON THE HALIFAX

When: 6:30 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach Details: Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a showing of “Barbie,” rated PG-13. Movies are weather-sensitive. Call 386-676-3216 for rainout information.

SATURDAY, MARCH 2

BRIDGES UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

PANCAKE BREAKFAST

When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Bridges United Methodist Church fellowship hall, 205 N. Pine St., Bunnell Details: Join Bridges United Methodist Church for a pancake breakfast benefitting the Soul Cafe, which hosts

TRIBUTES

Diane Marie Dixon Dunn September 19, 1943 -January 28, 2024

Diane Marie Dunn, 80, of Ormond Beach, died Jan. 28, 2024, at Advent Health, Daytona Beach. Diane was born Sept. 19, 1943, in Panama City, Panama, Canal Zone, to Lee Robert Dixon, an American from Oklahoma, and Ofelia Solera Flores Dixon of Heredia, Costa Rica. Her first 12 years were lived in Costa Rica and Panama where she attended both a Spanish and later an American school. She retained her fluency in Spanish throughout her life. The family moved to St. Petersburg, Fla., in September 1955, where Diane completed her education at St. Petersburg High School in 1960, where she was a member of National Honor Society, The Dean’s List and President of Sancho Panza Spanish Club.

August 18, 1962, Diane married George D. Dunn (Sandy), also of St. Petersburg. The couple moved to Daytona Beach in 1968, where Sandy represented Sentry Insurance Company. At the time, they had two sons, Daniel and Gregory, joined by a sister, Leanne, in 1969. In 1974, Sandy and Diane built a home in Ormond Beach which Diane designed the plans for her “Dream Home”, literally built and furnished to her specifications where they raised their active family and had a working hog farm and later cows and donkeys.

As the children grew, Diane joined Sandy in the insurance business, becoming a licensed agent in property and casualty and later, life and health. In 1979, the couple established Dunn and Associates Insurance, Inc., where they worked side by side until Diane’s passing. Diane was a member of the National Association of Insurance Women and the local Insurance Women of Daytona Beach Association where she served on the board of directors and as president in 1982-1983.

In 1993, she joined Pilot International and the Pilot Club of the Halifax Area, Inc. and served on the Board of Directors and as President of the local club for 2000-2001 and Co-President with her daughter, Leanne, for 2001-2002. She and Leanne made many memorable trips to International Pilot conventions. Diane was especially proud of her role in organizing the Community Homemakers Club, a division of the Extension Service of the University of Florida, in 1972. She went on to be president of the Volusia County Council of Extension Homemakers from 1978 to 1980.

In 1994, Diane was named an Honorary Life Member of the Volusia County Fair, having served on the Fair’s Board of Directors for over 20 years and as Creative Arts Display Superintendent for several years.

free community meals at the church every Wednesday. Breakfast costs $8 per person. For more information, call 386-437-3258.

HISTORIC HILLSIDE CEMETERY TOURS

When: 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Where: Hillside Cemetery, 215 Seton Trail, Ormond Beach

Details: Tour the historic Hillside Cemetery with the Ormond Beach Historical Society. Reenactors and guides will share the stories of Ormond’s founders and early settlers buried at the cemetery. Tour costs $20 per person; free for kids 12 and under. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Visit ormondhistory.org/cemeterytour.

2024 FREE SPEAKER SERIES

When: 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: The Palm Coast Historical Society is presenting this program on the women who grew and shaped the state. Free program.

SPRINGFEST

When: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Diane was a generous soul, an engaging personality who made friends everywhere she went and will always be remembered by her contagious and beautiful smile and her adventurous spirit. She enjoyed creative crafts, cooking, baking, antiquing and traveling. She and Sandy made numerous trips throughout the United States including Alaska and Hawaii, as well as Central America and Europe over the years. They also delighted in treating their five grandchildren to weekend trips to Disney World when they were young. One of Diane’s favorite destinations was Costa Rica where she made many trips to visit members of her mother’s wonderful family. Over the years, she saw to it that all her children and grandchildren got the opportunity to visit her homeland.

In addition to her parents, Diane is predeceased by her brother, Robert L. Dixon and sister in law Connie Purvis. Survivors include her husband and best friend of 62 years, George (Sandy) Dunn; sons Daniel Dunn, Gregory Dunn (Michelle); daughter Leanne Hansard (Wayne); grandchildren, Joshua Hansard (Cait), Austin Hansard (Abby), Brittany Dunn, Ashleigh Dunn and Courtney Payne; great-grandchildren, Cami, Jacob, Aria, Leona and Bennett, Uncle Danilo Solera, Mexico City, Mexico (Isabel Lilia), Multiple Cousins in US, Costa Rica and Mexico, Brother in Law Jerry Purvis, nieces Cindy and Chris, and Angela Rector (Chris).

All 4-H donations in memory of Diane Dunn need to be mailed to: St. Johns County Extension Office 3125 Agricultural Center Drive St. Augustine, FL 32259 Attn: SJC 4-H Program Please make checks payable to the SJC 4-H Association

Pilot International https://www.pilotinternational.org/donate St. Jude https://bit.ly/49v1QAI Shriners https://bit.ly/3UPmsPh

Coast Details: Formerly known as the Flagler County Small Business Expo, SpringFest 2024 is a grant-funded event designed to help connect small businesses with residents. Free. Hosted by the Palm Coast-Flagler Regional Chamber of Commerce.

NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT

WHALES: HOW YOU CAN HELP!

When: 1 p.m.

Where: Gamble Rogers

Memorial State Recreational Area, 3100 S Oceanshore Blvd., Flagler Beach

Details: Join Sara Ellis and Jim Hain, lead scientists with the Marineland Right Whale Project, for a 45-minute program about the endangered North Atlantic right whale. All ages are welcome, minors must be accompanied by an adult. Park entry costs $5 per vehicle.

ORMOND ART WALK

When: 3-7 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach

MainStreet Arts District, 128 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond

Beach

Details: Join Ocean Art Gallery, Frame of Mind, Art Spotlight, The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and more on the first Saturday of each month for art openings and art events.

ERNIE HAASE AND SIGNATURE SOUND

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach

Details: Ernie Haase and Signature Sound bring their Southern gospel quartet to Ormond Beach. Tickets start at $20. Visit ormondbeachperformingartscenter.csstix. com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST AND BLOOD DRIVE

When: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Where: St. Brendan Catholic Church, 1000 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: The Father Eamonn Gill Council 13018 Knights of Columbus will serve a pancake breakfast at the Social Hall and the OneBlood Big Red Bus will be onsite to accept blood donations. All donors will receive a free pass to the pancake breakfast, as well as a free gift, $20 eGift card and a complimentary wellness checkup from OneBlood.The breakfast includes all the pancakes you can eat, scrambled eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee. The breakfast for non-donors costs $6 for adults, and children under 12 eat free. All are welcome.

START SPREADING THE NEWS WITH LIZA AND FRANK

When: 2:30 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. 1, Ormond Beach

Details: Join Tony Sands as Frank Sinatra and Whitney Grace as Liza Minelli as they share some of the legendary

singers greatest hits. Tickets cost $34. Visit ormondbeachperformingartscenter.csstix. com.

MONDAY, MARCH 4

PALM COAST ASTRONOMY CLUB

When: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Where: Flagler County Public Library, 2500 Palm Coast Parkway Northwest, Palm

Coast Details: Join the Palm Coast Astronomy Club for its next meeting, themed “Will Astronauts ever live in or explore outer space.” Anyone interested in astronomy is invited to attend.

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

OMAM ROOFTOP DANCE

SOCIAL

When: 6-8 p.m.

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

Details: The Arthur Murray Dance Studio will lead a partnered dance social on the rooftop terrace. Cocktail hour will start at 6 p.m. with dancing from 7-8 p.m. Tickets cost $25 per couple for museum members; $35 per couple for non-members. Visit ormondartmuseum.org/calendarevents.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

YOGA OUTDOORS

When: 10 a.m.

Where: Ormond Beach Environmental Discovery Center, 601 Division Ave., Ormond

Beach

Details: The Environmental Discovery Center is hosting a free outdoor beginner level yoga class by Kim Latford. Chairs available. Mats recommended. Space is limited. Call 386-615-7081.

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

INDIGENOUS FORT

CAROLINE: THE MOCAMA SIDE OF THE STORY

When: 9:30-11 a.m.

Where: Anderson-Price Memorial Building, 42 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Denise Bossy, a history professor at the University of North Florida, will present this program on the Mocama side of the story during the 1565 battle between the French and Spanish to control Florida. This is a free program sponsored by the Florida Humanities Speakers Bureau and hosted by the Ormond Beach Historical Society.

SEVENTH ANNUAL STRAWBERRY FEST

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, March

9-10

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

Coast

Details: Enjoy strawberries, family festivi-

ties, arts and crafts, beer and wine, vendors, live music and more. Admission costs $7.

ONGOING

ART LEAGUE OF DAYTONA

BEACH’S PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS EXHIBIT

When: 1-4 p.m. Tuesday to Sunday, through March 16

Where: Art League of Daytona Beach,433 S. Palmetto Ave., Daytona Beach

Details: See this exhibit featuring photography by the members of the Art League of Daytona Beach. The exhibit will run through March 16. Visit artleague.org.

WOMEN’S BOOK CLUB

When: 12:30-2 p.m. every Tuesday, beginning Jan. 9

Where: Central Baptist Church, 152 Fairview Ave., Daytona Beach

Details: Join this book club, which will study “Love Stories of the Bible Speak” by Shannon Bream. The book club will meet in the Marchman Building, room 117. Contact Sylvia Meincke at 386-451-5223.

MOMS OF PRE SCHOOLERS

When: 9:30-11:30 a.m. on the second and fourth Friday of the month

Where: Central Baptist Church, 152 Fairview Ave., Daytona Beach

Details: Moms of Pre Schoolers is a free faith-based program for moms, moms-tobe and their preschoolers for support and encouragement. Breakfast is provided, as well as a video with discussion and crafts. Playtime offered for children, with adult supervision. Call 386-255-2588.

EXERCISES FOR THE MATURING BODY

When: 9:30 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays

Where: First Baptist Church of Palm Coast, 6050 Palm Coast Parkway, Palm Coast

Details: Attend upbeat classes presented by Synergy Senior Fitness and taught by Senior Fitness Specialist Artie Gardella. Classes are ongoing. Insurances that cover fitness accepted, or a donation for those with no coverage. Visit Synergyseniorfitness.com.

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: “The Lure of Florida Fishing” and “Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived.”

Ron Howell reenacts John Andrew Bostrom during a 2018 Hillside Cemetery tour. File photo by Jarleene Almenas

SPORTS

Bucs are back

Mainland

boys cut

down net on way to final 4

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

For the second year in a row, Mainland’s boys basketball team won its final home game and then took turns cutting down the net.

The net will be added to the Buc-

ing Center in Lakeland. Miami Norland and Cape Coral Mariner will meet in the other semifinal at 1 p.m.

Mainland advanced to the state championship game last year, falling to Miami Belen Jesuit.

“To be able to come back and do it again, it just feels amazing,” Kirk said. The Bucs trailed Rickards 19-18 at the half and made a lineup change,

Bucs led the rest of the way, although the Raiders were never out of the game.

“We got a chance to take the lead and go ahead,” Mainland coach Joe Giddens said. “And then I knew the crowd was going to be a big factor for us late in the game. So we just had to rebound. But they made some tough shots.”

A put-back by Benjamin Plummer pulled Rickards to within two (34-32) heading into the fourth quarter.

“It was very intense,” Kirk said. “They came out and hit us in the mouth in the beginning, but we came back. Our coaches kept telling us to keep it together.”

Giddens went to three final fours and won two championships as a player with the Bucs in the mid1990s. Now he’s taking a new generation of Bucs to the final four for the second year in a row.

“To go as a player three times, and then to go as a coach twice, it’s priceless,” he said. “Going as a coach might be better than going as a player to be honest, because you know what it took to get there, and now I’m able to instill that in some other young men. It’s a priceless moment.”

At halftime, T.T. Toliver, one of Giddens’ former Mainland teammates, stopped in the locker room to give the players a few words of encouragement.

“They clapped and cheered,” Giddens said. “And I said, ‘That’s my teammate, so he knows what it takes.’”

“To go as a player three times, and then to go as a coach twice, it’s priceless.”

JOE GIDDENS, Mainland coach

Mainland girls are two wins away from repeating as state champions

BRENT WORONOFF

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

There were .8 seconds on the clock, but it seemed a lot longer when Pensacola Washington’s Chamiah Francis received an inbounds pass and launched a half-court shot that would have tied the score against the visiting Mainland Buccaneers.

“Honestly? I was like, ‘How is she open?’” Mainland’s Anovia Sheals recalled. “Everybody was supposed to have somebody, but I’m just happy it hit the top of the backboard, because I didn’t want to go to overtime.”

The Bucs defeated the host Raiders 56-53 on Feb. 22 in a packed gym to win the Region 1-5A girls basketball final and advance to the state final four. Mainland is now two wins away

from repeating as the Class 5A state champs.

“The game was one of the most intense that we’ve been in this whole year,” Mainland coach Brandon Stewart said. “They had like 300 or 400 fans in there to our five or 10 fans. So for us, it was a really hostile environment. It was fun, though. People were standing on the side of the sideline. I felt like we were at Rucker Park in New York City, but we ended up getting the job done.”

The Bucs (17-12) will face New

Port Richie River Ridge (25-5) in a state semifinal at 3 p.m. March 6 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. Their game will be followed by the Mainland boys basketball semifinal.

Sheals led the Bucs with 20 points.

Olivia Olson scored 16 and Tia Dobson added 12 points. Mainland,

which never trailed in the game, led 49-39 after three quarters, but the Raiders, led by Francis (17 points) and Mikerria Bonner (20 points) chipped away at the lead.

“It was so loud, the girls couldn’t hear what I was saying, but somehow they ran the plays that I was calling,” Stewart said. “But when the buzzer went off, it got really quiet.”

“You always see those type of games on YouTube or on TV,” Sheals said. “But actually to be able to play in that environment and then win, it’s really big.”

“I felt like we were at Rucker Park in New York City.”

Brandon Stewart

Anovia Sheals (4) dribbles through traffic in a game earlier this season against IMG Academy. File photo by Michele Meyers

Mainland cheerleaders jump after the Buccaneers make a free throw. Photos by Michele Meyers

DeAndre Newland goes up for a shot against a Rickards defender.

Mainland players Narayan Thomas (3), Seven Simmons, Bubba Westbrook (10) and Nathan Kirk (1) try to steal the ball from Rickards’ Travis Morris.

Mainland sophomore Bubba Westbrook grabs the rebound

Narayan Thomas shoots over Rickards’ players.

Nathan Kirk grabs the inbound pass as Rickards’ Travis Morris guards

Seabreeze girls soccer playoff run sabotaged by Horizon’s single goal

For the fourth consecutive year, the Sandcrabs season ended with a one-goal loss.

MICHELE MEYERS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Seabreeze fell 1-0 to Horizon of Winter Springs in the Region 2-5A girls soccer final on Wednesday, Feb. 21, putting a stop to the Sandcrabs’ eight-game winning streak and playoff run.

The No. 2-seeded Sandcrabs went into the final as favorites against the Hawks who were seeded fourth. Seabreeze had just come off a 2-0 win in the regional semifinals against Auburndale which had beaten Horizon 3-1 on Jan. 31.

Seabreeze head coach Eli Freidus said the Sandcrabs felt solid going into the game.

“I think the girls were pretty confident about the game,” he said. “The key to that game was that once we got a goal down, we were in trouble, because Horizon (is) very good defensively. That’s how they upset Cypress Creek the other day. They just played good defense. To their credit, they flustered us.”

Ten minutes into the game, Morgan Long had the first shot on goal for the Sandcrabs. Nine minutes later, Horizon midfielder McKenna McBride answered with the only goal of the game. The referees called for a water break immediately following the goal.

During the break, Freidus said he reiterated the game plan to play the ball wide and not kick to the middle of the field where Horizon’s defenders were positioned. Seabreeze possessed the ball the majority of the game and held the Hawks captive on the Sandcrabs’ side of the field.

“We couldn’t get good position and get our game plan going,” he said. “This group of girls, especially the seniors, they’ve been through so much. They’ve had more playoff wins than any group of girls in the last 20 years at our school. It stings for them. This was the year we were going to break through.”

For two consecutive years, they were regional semifinalists losing 1-0 to Ponte Verde in 2021 and 1-0 to Bishop Moore the following year. In 2023, they lost to Cypress Creek 3-2 in the regional final.

“All those games we lost by one

goal,” Freidus said. “One goal — four years in a row.”

Freidus began coaching the girls team in 2021. Each season, he has ramped up the schedules to include top 10-ranked teams. He said this season’s schedule was the toughest with games played against FHSAA No. 1-ranked Ponte Vedra, No. 4 Bartram Trail, No. 6 Creekside and No. 8 Montverde Academy. Seabreeze finished the season 12-7-1.

Freidus talked with his players after the loss.

“I couldn’t be more proud of your season,” he said. “You were the main group when I came in three years ago. You will never forget your time as Seabreeze soccer players. You guys are sisters.

“That’s what I told you from the beginning, I want you guys to be sisters. Hate me. Hate the other team but you have to love each other. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You

“I couldn’t be more proud of your season. You were the main group when I came in three years ago. You will never forget your time as Seabreeze soccer players. You guys are sisters. That’s what I told you from the beginning, I want you guys to be sisters. Hate me. Hate the other team but you have to love each other. You have nothing to be ashamed of. You are great players and greater people — that’s what’s important.”

are great players and greater people — that’s what’s important.”

Seniors Long and Kylie Watson took the loss hard. Freidus crouched down next to Watson who had retreated behind the bench.

“My seniors are great kids on and off the field,” he said. “They are superstars. I love them. I’m going to miss them. I’ve spent so much time with them now, I told them they are like my own daughters. I told Kylie heads up, she’s had a great career and has a great life ahead of her.”

There will be no down time for Sophia Fabulich, Carly McNerney, Long and Watson who are players on the Seabreeze flag football team.

The team won 13-0 in its season opener against Flagler Palm Coast on Tuesday, Feb. 20, and have two home games scheduled this week vs. Trinity Christian Academy and Matanzas.

Seabreeze head girls soccer coach Eli Freidus lectures his team during the water break in the first half.

Seabreeze’s Olivia Chase (left) and Horizon’s Kylie Will eye the ball.

The ball goes out-of-bounds after Seabreeze’s Charlie Deininger puts pressure on Horizon’s Kylie Willin. Photos by Michele Meyers

Seabreeze’s Charlie Deininger (right) and Horizon’s Hannah Heidle watch the ball as it drops toward them after the goalie kick.

ELI FREIDUS, Seabreeze girls soccer coach to his players

PIRATES END 6-YEAR SKID

When Matanzas’ girls lacrosse team defeated Flagler Palm Coast 8-6 on Feb. 20, the Pirates not only ended a fivegame losing streak against the Bulldogs, they recorded their first victory in six seasons.

But the Pirates weren’t done. They followed that win with another the next night at Jacksonville Sandalwood.

Zoe Alred (five goals) and Mia Apfelbach (four goals) combined for nine goals in the 13-4 victory. Apfelbach scored four goals and Alred three against FPC. Alana Throne led the Bulldogs with four goals.

Brandie Alred is in her first season coaching Matanzas. The Pirates (2-2) bounced back from two lopsided losses to begin the season to Tocoi Creek and Menendez, who have a combined 8-1 record.

LOPEZ’S BALITON WINS STATE TITLE

Father Lopez’s Bergyn Baliton won a state championship at the Class 1A girls weightlifting meet. Baliton won the 110-pound traditonal title with a 270-pound total. She also placed second in the Olympic competition with 255 pounds.

Track alumni return to FPC for event’s 20th anniversary

Rain and wind affected some of the events at the East Coast Classic on Feb. 23, but the weather didn’t dampen the festivities at the 20th anniversary of Flagler Palm Coast’s season-opening track and field meet.

About 30 FPC track and field alumni returned to the school to celebrate 20 years of the elite meet, which David Halliday launched in his first year as the Bulldogs’ coach.

With four events left at the meet, Halliday was surprised by his administrators and staff as they presented him with a golden hurdle inscribed in five places with, “The Halliday Way — Since 2004.”

“They flipped the script on me,” Halliday said. “It was very special and a big surprise.”

FPC jumps coach Alez Giorgianni, who is an FPC track and field alumnus, planned the golden gift for Halliday. Giorgianni, the school’s entrepreneurship facilitator, also had his DECA class produce East Coast Classic 20th anniversary T-shirts for the alumni. Kim Halliday, David Halliday’s wife, presented track hip numbers to the alumni with the numbers corresponding to the years they graduated from FPC.

And while some events were contested in the rain, records were still broken. FPC junior Colby Cronk set a new school record in the shot put with a distance of 16.54 meters (54 feet, 3.25 inches), breaking the old record of 16.24 meters set in 2019 by Nelson Paul. Cronk won the event by more than four feet.

“The circle was wet and Colby is learning how to spin. That was just him doing the glide,” Halliday said.

Cronk also broke the meet record. Cronk, who also placed fifth in discus, currently has the second best shot put in the state.

Atlantic’s Preston Kuznof also broke a meet record in the javelin with a throw of 65.50 meters (214 feet, 11 inches). The throw is ranked No. 1 in the state. Defending Class 4A state champ Aidan Broussard finished second with the second best throw in the state so far, 62.18 meters (204 feet).

FPC’s Olivia Gaines won both the girls long jump (17 feet, 4 inches) and

triple jump (36 feet, 2.25 inches) and helped the Bulldogs place second in the 4x100 relay with Jada Dotson, Aun’Yale Howard and Summer Barnes with a time of 49.45 seconds, the 16th best time in the state this season. Barnes won the 100 meters with a personal-record time of 12.44 seconds. FPC’s Maya Tyson placed third in girls shot put (34 feet, 5 inches). Haley McLeer and Leilany Rosa placed third and fourth in the pole vault.

Matanzas’ Jordan Youngman won the girls 400 hurdles in 1:07.53, the eighth fastest time statewide. Youngman also finished second in the 100 hurdles (15.73 seconds) and was fourth in the high jump (4 feet, 9.75 inches).

The Pirates got another first-place finish from Evanne Miller, who won the 400-meter run with a time of 1:00.00. Matanzas’ 4x400 relay team of Sierra Howard, Youngman, Miller and Gabrielle Duncan placed second in 4:07.89.

Mainland athletes won a couple of events. Emmanuel Yisrael won the 110 hurdles in 15.07 seconds, which is the 12th-fastest time in the state

this season.

Mainland’s boys 4x400 team of Ezaiah Shine, Dennis Murray, Khalil Wimore and Kajuan Curry place first with a time of 3:27.50, the ninth fastest time in the state. Murray placed third in the 400 meters in 52.37 seconds.

The FPC girls (Cassidy De Young, Arianna Slaughter, Madison Lagarde and Isabella Tarsitano) placed third in the 4x800 (10:16.47), while the FPC boys 4x800 team (Tyler JonesBock, Ayden Peterson, Evan Williams, Hayden Herndon) placed second in 8:28.71, just ahead of Mainland (Seth Rose, Wimore, Jack Mathis and Curry) in third place in 8:28.87.

FPC placed third in the girls team standings with 79 points. Niceville was first with 104 points. Ponte Vedra was the runner-up with 97 points. Matanzas was sixth (50 points) and Mainland was 14th (9 points).

Fleming Island won the boys title with 132 points, with reigning Class 4A state champ Niceville second with 126 points. Mainland was sixth (43 points), FPC was seventh (37 points) and Matanzas was 15th (8 points).

Celebrity

HALLIDAY FINALIST FOR COACH OF THE YEAR

Flagler Palm Coast track and field coach David Halliday has been selected as one of eight finalists for the National Boys Track and Field Coach of the Year award, selected by the National High School Athletic Coaches Association.

Halliday, who was also selected as a finalist in 2018, will attend the NHSACA national convention June 24-27 in Bismarck, North Dakota, where the winner will be announced.

Halliday led the the Bulldogs to boys track championships in 2007 and 2009 and a runner-up finish in 2019. The Seabreeze alumnus has been FPC’s track and cross country coach since 2004. He was inducted into the Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame in 2017. He was also inducted into the Florida Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2014.

MICAYLA CRONK WINS FIVE MEDALS

University of Florida swimmer

Micayla Cronk won three golf medals and two silver medals at the Southeastern Conference championships, which ended Sunday, Feb. 25, at Auburn University.

Cronk, an FPC graduate, swam on three first-place relay teams — the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays — and placed second individually in the 50 and 100 freestyle events. The Gators’ 800 relay broke the SEC record with a time of 6:49.65. The Gators swept the men’s and women’s titles at the SEC championships for the second year in a row.

Puzzle One Clue: M equals F

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Puzzle Three Clue: P equals U

© 2023 NEA, Inc.

LIVING IN THE PAST by Ricky Sirois, edited by Jeff Chen

FPC boys track and field coach David Halliday poses with his golden hurdle.

Courtesy photo

Pearls Before Swine

Mother

The

The

SPEARMAN BROWN (FORMERLY QUEEN EATHER GOLDER), A MARRIED WOMAN, JOENATHAN SPEARMAN, A SINGLE MAN, CHARLIE MAE SPEARMAN JENKINS, A MARRIED WOMAN, DOROTHY JEAN SPEARMAN GRIGGS, A MARRIED WOMAN, PAUL EDWARD TO QUEEN SPEARMAN BROWN AND JOE BROWN, JR., HER HUSBAND, DATED 09/30/1986 RECORDED ON 01/26/1987

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Feb. 29; Mar. 7, 2024 24-00090I