Ormond Beach Observer 04-04-24

CITY WATCH

Airport to be surveyed for obstructions

The Ormond Beach City Commission is moving forward with an aeronautical survey and obstacle action plan for the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport.

On Tuesday, April 2, the commission approved a work authorization with AVCON, an Orlando-based aviation engineering consultant, for the survey and plan.

According to the city, obstructions were identified on the airport’s two runways, all on airport property, during the annual airport licensing inspection by the Florida Department of Transportation. Residents at the meeting questioned if the survey was restricted to only airport property. When the commission opted to wait on a work authorization for the survey last September, engineering consultant firm Hoyle, Tanner and Associates did include off-airport property in its proposal.

An AVCON representative said the airspace analysis would extend beyond the airport’s boundary. “I think everyone’s concern is safety,” Commissioner Travis Sargent said. “... I just want to make sure that we do what’s right.”

Overnight docking proposal on hold

When it comes to a six-month trial period to allow overnight docking at Cassen Park, the Ormond Beach City Commission isn’t saying no.

It’s saying, “Not yet.”

The commission discussed Ormond MainStreet’s proposal during a workshop on Tuesday, April 2. In early February, MainStreet’s Cassen Park City Docks Committee chair approached the commission to ask members to consider allowing overnight docking at the park, saying the city’s choice to align the floating dock’s operating hours with the rest of its city parks hampered its potential for visiting boaters.

And while there was interest expressed in the idea, the upcoming Cassen Park redesign had commis-

sioners thinking now was not the right time to implement an overnight docking trial. Commissioners were informed at the workshop that plans for the park’s redesign are set to be completed in May, with construction to begin in September. If all stays on schedule, the city hopes to complete construction on Cassen Park in June 2025.

“I think this is definitely something I’m in favor of, but I just don’t think the timing is right,” City Commissioner Susan Persis said. “... There’s too much going on. We’ve got to really research it and do it right.”

Deputy City Attorney Ann-Margret Emery cited two concerns to the commission regarding MainStreet’s proposal: Safety and liability.

“We have seen high school kids overdose. They believe they’re vaping THC oil. In reality, they’re vaping fentanyl.”

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood on anti-vaping pep rally. See Page 5A

“There’s no lighting on the docks,” Emery said. “There’s no security there whatsoever.”

There’s also no access to the bathrooms past the park’s closure, and Emery said keeping the bathrooms open would invite further safety and security issues.

She added that derelict boats or longterm docking could pose further problems.

Mayor Bill Partington said Emery could present those concerns to MainStreet to give the board a chance to brainstorm ideas to solve them.

“The good news is we have a professional staff to point out what the issues are,” he said. “They also as a professional staff can help us overcome those.”

Andy Romano repairs coming

The city of Ormond Beach hopes to begin construction of its repairs to Andy Romano Beachfront Park in August.

The park, which was damaged during the 2022 hurricane season, will get a new seawall and a new concrete ramp. The city hopes the new ramp will be more durable.

“This is phase two of Andy Romao park,” Public Works Director Shawn Finley said during the April 2 workshop. “Phase one was the park 10 years ago. We got it open. Now, we’re replacing [the seawall] with the new wall that’s going to bring it through the next 40-50 years.” Finley said he hopes construction at the park will be completed in December.

Electric vehicle charging stations at City Hall?

Four electric vehicle charging stations are coming to the City Hall parking lot.

The City Commission approved a 10-year agreement with Florida Power and Light to add the stations, which are proposed to be located on the south side of the parking lot, next to Tomoka Avenue.

The floating dock at Cassen Park was completed in 2020, during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Courtesy photo JARLEENE

THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE COMMISSION

How does the National Association of Realtors settlement impact Volusia/ Flagler real estate industry?

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Last month, the National Association of Realtors announced a $418 million settlement in a litigation related to broker commissions, and it may upend the entire industry.

Or, it may not. As part of the settlement, which is subject to court approval and is slated to go into effect in July, real estate listing agents will no longer be able to communicate offers of compensation for buyer broker services on the Multiple Listing Service platform — but, local Realtors said that doesn’t mean such offers will go away entirely, and as such, the impacts of the settlement are still to be determined.

“In our area, [commissions] have always been negotiable,” said Bill Navarra, broker and co-owner of Realty Pros Assured. “I don’t know how much of an overall effect this is going to have because, even with the times that have changed and the influence of Zillow and all these different websites, the use of Realtors has increased, and not decreased, over the years.” The settlement aims to make the commission negotiations more transparent, said John Adams, president of Adams, Cameron and Co. Realtors. The process, he said, likely won’t change significantly.

“Things can continue essentially as status quo, so that buyer’s agents are being compensated by sellers,” Adams said. “But also, there will be a lot of instance where buyer’s agents are being compensated by buyers, which is fine, as long as there’s not financing involved.”

NEW PRACTICE

Prior to the settlement, the standard practice for agents was this: The listing brokerage would pay a buyer’s agent a percentage — commonly half of the 5% to 6% of the commission for every sale. Essentially, the seller would end up picking up the tab for both agents’ commissions.

Commissions in the United States are much higher than what home buyers and sellers pay in other countries. Americans now spend about $100 billion a year on commissions, Steve Brobeck, a retired executive director of the Consumer Federation of America, told the New York Times.

With the settlement, that could dip as low as $20 billion, he said.

Under the settlement, sellers’ agents will no longer be able to make

offers of commission to buyers’ agents on the MLS platform, which could lower commissions, especially to buyers’ agents. Sellers could still pay the buyer’s agent, but they won’t be required to. So the burden could fall on the buyer.

Sam Perkovich, the broker-owner of ParkSide Realty Group in Palm Coast, said she is still trying to figure out how the changes will play out.

“I’m sitting home today listening to a bunch of seminars to see if anybody else knows anything more. Most of them are just saying, ‘We’re going to have more answers in May when we resolve some of this,’” Perkovich said. “What we have found out is that we can still offer (buyers’ agents) compensation on our own individual websites and our own listings.”

But buyers will be required now to enter into written agreements with their agents, and according to the NAR, these will “help consumers understand exactly what services and value will be provided, and for how much.”

“What’s changed is they want more clarity by having a contract with the buyer,” Adams said. “... They want those things not to be in the Multiple Listing Service, which is neither here nor there. It doesn’t mean that anything dramatic changes. It just means that it’s not advertised in the same way it was.”

Agents will have to see how the changes play out, he said. It’ll likely make transactions a bit more difficult. “It’s going to be a little more complex for a home buyer or a home seller, but that’s OK,” Adams said. “We can get past all that.”

While some sellers may be paying smaller commissions, Navarra said buyers may find themselves with less opportunities for “good representation.”

“If they’re paying for a buyer’s agent, I definitely think they’re going to be interviewing them, just like a seller interviews their agents,” Navarra said.

IMPACT TO VETERANS, FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS

Local agents do worry about negative consequences to two groups of buyers: veterans and first-time home buyers.

Veterans who rely on Veterans Affairs loans may find themselves in a tricky real estate position. The VA loans are prohibited to be used to pay any real estate commission fees.

“It’s already tough enough to find them a great property with the difficulty of their financing,” Navarra said. “And now this element is going to make it even harder.”

First-time home buyers who use a Federal Housing Administration loan also have a limit for commission fees.

Perkovich said first-time buy-

ers in general will be most affected, because they usually have little left over in their budget.

“They’re just saving diligently so they can buy a house as a rule,” she said. “I mean, that’s not across the board, but it’s going to be a tough go for them.”

Toby Tobin, a Palm Coast real estate agent and publisher of the real estate website, GoToby.com, said agents may offer more ala carte pricing in the future, replacing straight commissions.

“That will be a trend that we will see over time,” he said, “even on the seller’s side. I will say, ‘OK, I’ll list your house but I won’t charge you 3% for my half of [6%]. What I will do is I’ll charge you $350 to put your listing up, I’ll charge $50 to put a sign in your yard. You want an open house, that’s $200. For food and beverages at the open house, that’s another $125.’ So, it will be more of a pay as you go.”

Perkovich and Tobin said more buyers are trying to do their house shopping online through sites like Realtor.com or Zillow.

“One agent I spoke with said, ‘I can see myself saying, “Pick your house. For a fee I will help you negotiate contracts and pricing,”’” Tobin said. “Because real estate agents generally are going to be more equipped to do that for the buyer or seller.”

Buyers who decide to forgo an agent will have no representatives other than the listing agent, Perkovich said “If it’s a good listing agent, they’re probably in good hands,” she said. “But there’s a better chance that they might not be in good hands with every listing agent. So now we’ve got to have an inspection. Well, who do we call for that? Oh, there’s something wrong with the inspection. How do we negotiate that? Is that seller’s agent negotiating in our best interest?”

Tobin expects more buyers and sellers to hire real estate attorneys.

“I think lawyers will become part of more transactions which will take some of the load or revenue away from agents and title companies,” he said. “There are several states, New York State is one of them, that requires a lawyer represent the buyer and the seller.”

PROPERTY VALUES STILL HIGH

Will home prices go down as a result of the commissions change?

Navarra said no.

“The market bears what the market bears,” he said. “... Even though the cost to sell might be reduced, still the value of the property and demand for the property, is still very high right now.”

Tobin agreed.

“I’ve read reports that this is going to reduce home prices. I don’t see that happening. The price of the home is market driven,” Tobin said.

Adams said that a seller who opts not to pay a commission to the buyers’ agents may be limiting their pool of prospective buyers to the very wealthy, investors or those who are buying homes in cash.

“They’re eliminating a lot of potential buyers that would be good buyers if they’re not working through the system,” Adams said. “So they could take that price off, but they’re also taking away their earnings.”

As for real estate agents, any time there is a change in the industry, there will be people who leave, whether it be because they’re unwilling to learn a new system or are reluctant to change, Adams said.

“Do I think that they’re going to get out over fees or how they make their money? I mean, only if they really don’t have the training and they don’t have the guidance to show them how to succeed in a changing environment,” he said.

Tobin said there will likely be fewer part-time agents.

“I think the number of real estate agents who seem to exist for one or two deals a year is probably going to drop, so the number of agents will drop,” he said.

‘A PERIOD OF OPPORTUNITY’

Real estate, Navarra said, has never been more complicated than it is today. He said he could see a decline in the number of agents as a result of the upcoming changes to the process. On the other had, he does feel there will be stronger agents left in the industry. “My hope is that this does not affect everybody from having great representation that they deserve because home ownership is the American dream,” Navarra said.

Perkovich said Realtors will survive, but she is concerned about the buyers and sellers.

“Realtors are professionals and overall very organized, and we’ll get through this,” she said. “But education for the public to me is going to take way longer than July.”

Adams said he believes the settlement will bring a “period of opportunity” for agents.

“Those that understand this, and those that work within the changing guidelines are going to excel,”

Adams said. “And I think that those that don’t aren’t going to continue practice, and that just spells opportunity for people to be successful in the business.”

While the business may change, Tobin said, in the end, the high commissions Americans pay might not go down.

“When you add up all the pieces, ala carte, paying lawyers in some cases, I think you’ll look back five years from now and say, ‘well we’re paying different people, maybe at different points of time through the transaction, but in the end we’re still probably spending 5 or 6%.”

“My hope is that this does not affect everybody from having great representation that they deserve because home ownership is the American dream.”

BILL NAVARRA, broker and owner of Realty Pros Assured

“I’ve read reports that this is going to reduce home prices. I don’t see that happening. The price of the home is market driven.”

Toby Tobin, Palm Coast real estate agent

Adobe Stock

County Council approves ECHO grants for Ormond

The Ormond Beach Sports Complex will get new LED lighting; Nova Rec ballfields to be renovated.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

The city of Ormond Beach will receive over $600,000 worth of ECHO grant funds for improvements to the Sports Complex Softball Quad and baseball fields at Nova Community Park.

timelines and cost timelines.

The council reviewed over $5.3 million in total funding requests from five different municipalities and three nonprofit organizations. The council also approved another cycle of ECHO grant applications to allow the city of DeBary to submit a $2.5 million request for the construction of its Alexander Island passive park, and, for the city of Daytona Beach to submit an application for a project at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, which was found ineligible for an ECHO grant in 2023. Both projects had applications that were deemed incomplete by county staff.

Brad Burbaugh, county director of Community Services, said the applications for this grant cycle were more rigorous regarding construction

On Tuesday, April 2, the Volusia County Council approved two funding requests — the first totaling $456,479 for the installation of LED lighting at the softball quad and the second totaling $216,326 for the baseball fields. The ECHO grant program was created in 2000 to help fund environmental, cultural, historical and outdoor recreation projects in the county. It was renewed by voters for another 20 years in 2020.

YOUR TOWN

GUY HARVEY TO HEADLINE ONE DAYTONA ART FESTIVAL

Marine wildlife artist Guy Harvey will be headlining the fifth edition of the annual One Daytona Art Festival, scheduled for April 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The award-winning festival is a free event welcoming residents and visitors to experience a weekend of art, shopping, and entertainment.

The One Daytona Art Festival offers an opportunity for local and visiting collec-

tors to experience culture and refinement over the course of two days with high-end artists, crafters, live art at Gallery500, and cash prizes for winning artists. The festival features juried fine artists and non-juried fine craft artisans, in partnership with Gallery500.

Attendees will have the opportunity to meet world renowned marine wildlife artist Guy Harvey on Saturday, April 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gallery500. Harvey’s natural skills for recreating marine life on canvas have launched his works into the public eye, earning him numerous awards and exhibitions but his original career path was in the scientific realm, as he holds a doctorate in fisheries management.

“With regard to holding applicants responsible to the timeline they’ve committed to, we have renewed our focus on emphasizing this during the mandatory workshop,” Burbaugh said.

The city of Ormond Beach provided match funds equal to the grant requests it sought.

The dollars came from its Leisure Services Capital Fund, created in September 2023 when the City Commission approved a property tax increase that was 13.71% above the rollback rate (the rate that would generate the same amount of tax revenue as the previous year). The increase was designated to boost funding for Leisure Services and the city’s Facilities Renewal and Replacement Fund.

Both projects were unanimously recommended for approval by the ECHO Advisory Committee.

This year will also offer guests the opportunity to test their painting skills by attending one of Bob Ross Painting’s workshops. The classes will be held on Saturday, April 6 at 2 p.m. and Sunday, April 7 at 11 a.m. The cost is $75, including all materials. Space is limited; those interested are encouraged to sign up by visiting https://danwillcoxart. com/classes.

New this year, six artists will compete in the first live mural competition at One Daytona Art Festival. Prizes for first and second place, along with a People’s Choice award in which viewers can choose their favorite, will be announced during the ceremony on Sunday, April 7 at 4:30 p.m.

Culinary enthusiasts will

At the Sports Complex, the city plans to add about 130 LED lights to its softball quad, as well as upgrade two security lights to LED.

At Nova Community Park, the city plans to renovate fields three to five, and convert field two from a softball field to a baseball field.

In addition to the field renovations, the city plans to install new irrigation technology that will conserve water, according to the application.

Both projects are expected to begin construction this summer in July and be completed by July 2025. Chair Jeff Brower said he liked that the city was implementing new irrigation technology.

“I think that’s forward thinking, and with our water issues, that sets a good standard,” he said.

also have a chance to sip libations and sample cuisine around One Daytona.

The Saturday Awards Ceremony will take place on the Victory Circle stage at 5 p.m. on April 6. In total, more than $6,000 will be awarded in prizes this year.

Ormomd art teacher is running for School Board

Sarah Marzilli, the art teacher at Pine Trail Elementary, has been an educator for the last 15 years.

JARLEENE

ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

A Volusia County Schools teacher is running to represent District 4 on the Volusia County School Board.

Sarah Marzilli, who is the art teacher at Pine Trail Elementary School, filed to run for office on March 11. She’s been teaching for 15 years and said she decided to run because she feels her experience and knowledge on how the school system currently operates, and its effect on students, would be beneficial to the School Board.

“The more of us that actually are voicing our concerns and working collaboratively to come up with a plan that’s actually going to make sense for our school system would ultimately benefit, not only teachers, but students,” Marzilli said.

Testing is one of the top issues she’s interested in. Marzilli said that students are not given enough time in between district mandated testing to learn material. Testing, she said, has gotten out of control.

There should be more time for the teachers to have the freedom of going back to something that they noticed that their class really needed more time on, so that they could be more successful,”

Marzilli said. “That’s what we mainly want — is the best for all of our students to be suc-

Sarah Marzilli

cessful, because if they can feel successful, then they’re going to have that pride in their education.” She’s also interested in examining the budget, particularly after recent emails from the district informed teachers that the federal coronavirus relief dollars previously used for recurring costs — such as staffing — have run out. Cutting programs, Marzilli said, means class sizes will likely increase.

Marzilli said she became a teacher because she was passionate about education. She comes from a family of educators as well.

This is her first time running for office. Marzilli said she’s looking forward to speaking with the community.

“I want them to understand that my best interests are the students, the teachers and the parents, all being involved in working together,” she said.

“I want us to make sure that we have a school system that is very strong, that works together, rather tha separates.”

Marzilli is the fourth candidate to run to represent District 4 on the School Board.

She’s running against incumbent Carl Persis, former lobbyist Donna Brosemer and Daytona State College student Merrick Brunker.

Guy Harvey. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Say no to vaping

Hinson Middle School PTSA holds anti-tobacco pep rally for students.

EDITOR

knows this firsthand. He began vaping at 18 years old, and within three months, he was put on life support.

In 2022, he underwent a double lung and kidney transplant.

Now 24, Mcknight told Hinson Middle School students that he lost his future because of vaping.

At least one Volusia County Schools student is sent to the hospital every week in relation to vaping.

Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis shared this statistic during a tobacco free awareness pep rally at Hinson Middle School on Monday, April 1. The Healthy Bodies Campaign event was made possible thanks to a grant awarded to the school’s PTSA by the National PTA. The pep rally, emceed by with radio station 94.1 DJ Jay Love, featured a scrimmage basketball game between the Hinson boys and girls basketball teams, who were joined by BethuneCookman University girls basketball players.

Persis, who is involved with Students Working Against Tobacco, asked the students in attendance to take the dangers of e-cigarette use seriously.

“I know it sounds so like, ‘Oh, that could never happen to me,’” Persis said. “Well, the person that went to the hospital thought it could never happen to him or her either.”

“You don’t want to take for granted how healthy your body is right now,” McKnight said. “You’re never going to get your health back once it’s gone.”

Two months into his freshman year at Florida Atlantic University, where he was a cheerleader and volleyball player, Mcknight came home very sick, said his father, Dave McKnight. A hospital visit revealed he had a severe infection in his left lung

and he was admitted to the intensive care unit. Days later, he was connected to a respirator.

If it weren’t for the double lung and kidney transplant, Dave McKnight said, his son would be dead.

“My hope and prayer for all of you is that you realize that there’s dangers involved with doing drugs of all kinds, especially ones that have not been thoroughly tested and approved,” he said. “Your body is precious, your mind is sensitive and your heart is fragile, so take care of it.”

Walker McKnight asked the middle school students to raise their hands if they knew someone who vaped. Several did.

“That’s a lot of you,” he said.

Mayor Bill Partington issued a proclamation and asked students to stay away from all forms of tobacco.

“Y’all are young, you’re healthy,” Partington said. “We’ve invested a lot in you — not only your parents have invested a lot in you — but your overall community has invested a lot in you because we want you to be successful. You have your entire futures in front of you. You can do whatever you want to do, and I can tell you this, your city needs you.”

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood warned students of the unseen dangers of vaping — the traces of other drugs, such as fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine they may contain, particularly in the vape

cartridges obtained on the streets.

“We have seen high school kids overdose,” Chitwood said. “They believe they’re vaping THC oil. In reality, they’re vaping fentanyl.”

Daytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed spoke about peer pressure and said students must make up their own minds.

“Some time in your life, you’re going to determine a job or career that you want to have,” Reed said. “And in doing so, you have got to be the best you that you can possibly be. So today’s program is to encourage you to not take on vaping and taking on smoking, because those are definitely some hindrances.”

“I know it sounds so like, ‘Oh, that could never happen to me. Well, the person that went to the hospital thought it could never happen to him or her either.”

(Craig

sister

Langford (Sam Langford); Niece Vanessa Mazzola (Joe Mazzola); Niece Ericka Stenborg (Peter Stenborg); Nephew Troy Langford. Celebration of Life: Sunset Pavilion at Tomoka State Park on April 6,2024 from sunrise till sunset. Prayer will be held at 1300. Bring your pole!

Mayor Bill Partington and the Hinson Middle School PTSA: President Lisa Benitez, Suzette Calabrese, Roshni Patel and Amy Annon.

Students play basketball during the pep rally on Monday, April 1, at Hinson Middle School. Students line up to shoot free throws.

Students play basketball during the pep rally.

Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis, Daytona Beach City Commissioner Paula Reed, Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood and Walker McKnight.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING

Guest speaker Walker McKnight

Seabreeze High School students Brooke and Bree Johnson sing the national anthem. Photos by Jarleene Almenas

Volusia County Council of PTA President Jenny Wessler speaks

CARL PERSIS, Volusia County School Board member

CRIME REPORT

Whitfield has never had complaints filed against her at work.

“Ms. Whitfield is a valuable member of the Human Resources Team and the county,” Wu wrote.

Palm Coast woman arrested for firing shots into the ground

Bunnell man arrested for threatening two with shotgun

A Bunnell man was arrested after he allegedly threatened two people with a shotgun at his home on Railroad Street.

On Thursday, March 28, just after 11 p.m., Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies and uniformed detectives with FCSO’s PACE Unit responded to a residence in Palm Coast’s W-section after neighbors reported hearing screams and a gunshot.

whereabouts,

report said.

was originally charged with stalking and unauthorized installation of a tracking device, but the State Attorney’s Office filed an intent not to prosecute the stalking charge on March 8, according to Flagler County Clerk of Court documents. Flagler County Human Resources Director Pamela Wu wrote in an email that

COPS CORNER

MARCH 10

CIVIL MATTER

3:19 p.m. — 100 block of Interchange Boulevard, Ormond Beach Trespassing. Police responded to a local hotel after receiving a call about a 68-year-old woman from Montana hurling racial slurs and yelling at staff over $2.

When officers arrived, the woman was still standing in the lobby and was trying to talk to them, according to an incident report. Police instructed her to wait outside as they spoke with the manager, who informed them she wanted the woman trespassed.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Bunnell Police Department officers arrested Joseph Cavallaro, 28, on March 31 after a 30-minute standoff. Cavallaro has been charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Cavallaro’s arrest report. The two victims told law enforcement officers that they had arrived at Cavallaro’s RV trailer home in the 400 block of Railroad Street to pick up one of the victim’s possessions inside the trailer. Cavallaro was waiting for them outside, one victim said, and when she told him what the two were there for, he racked his shotgun and told them to “Go for it,” the report said. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, Cavallaro had barricaded himself inside the trailer. After 30 minutes and multiple attempts to get Cavallaro to leave the trailer, the man walked out of the RV with his hands over his head.

The woman later told police that she wished to be refunded about $2, and raised her voice at police when officers suggested she try to take the matter in a “civil direction,” the report states. Police then informed her she needed to leave the property. The woman refused and was detained. While police were able to handcuff her, she would not let go of her purse. Staff declined to press charges in the end and “all parties agreed that there was a miscommunication amongst themselves,” the report states. The woman was released and police explained to her why her actions that night were wrong.

MARCH 25 IN THE CAN 2:28 a.m. — 500 block of East Moody Boulevard, Flagler

After deputies arrived, they heard another gunshot but could not determine the direction it was fired or if it was shot at them. However, they observed a woman standing in the front yard of the residence holding a handgun. She was quickly disarmed and taken into custody without incident.

The residence was cleared and deputies used K9s to locate evidence used in the shooting. Deputies also checked with the surrounding neighbors to ensure there were no injuries or damage to their homes or property. The subject admitted to firing two rounds but stated she shot into the ground believing intruders had entered her home. She also claimed they had tortured her for several hours. However, after completing a thorough investigation, detectives determined that no such incident had occurred, and she was likely having a mental health episode. She was detained under the Baker Act and transported to the hospital. Criminal charges are pending.

County Petit theft. A woman walked into a gas station and stole two 12-packs of soda, but decided to pay for one singleserve mixed drink on her way out of the store.

Video footage shows the woman walk into the store and place the sodas — totaling $17.12 — in a large bag before grabbing the drink she paid for. A store employee followed the woman outside and told her if she didn’t return the stolen sodas, she would have to call the police.

Sheriff’s Office deputies found the woman at her home, but did not find the sodas. Nearby surveillance footage saw the suspect hand off her bag of sodas to a man waiting for her across the street from the store.

Thomas

Whitney,

BRIEFS

Palm Coast, FCSO partner for distracted driving awareness month

The city of Palm Coast and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office are collaborating to bring awareness to National Distracted Driving Awareness Month this April. According to the National Safety Council, on average, nine people are killed each day due to accidents caused by distracted driving — over 3000 per year.

In 2023, distracted driving caused two Flagler County fatalities and was responsible for 586 crashes, over double the 281 crashes recorded in 2018, the press release

said. Texting tops the list of distractions and is against the law in Florida, but distracted driving is as any potential distraction that can compromise an individual’s ability to operate a vehicle. That includes eating, drinking, operating a radio, talking or any other hinderance that takes a driver’s eyes or mind off the road.

The distracted driving awareness efforts are part of a greater initiative promoting roadway safety and awareness as Flagler County prepares for significant construction along State Road 100.

Student art show reception to be held on April 7

The Expressions Art Gallery on Colbert will have a

TRIBUTES

Col. Robert (Bob) Alex

January 13, 1937 - April 3, 2023

Bob Alex, and his wife, Edna, a certified social worker in New Jersey and Florida, were married for 53 years at the time of her passing in 2017.

They left New Jersey to settle in Palm Coast, circa 2007, and were the parents of three sons: Joshua, Eliott, and Kevin. The latter two are Palm Coast residents. His dedication to his family, his businesses, and commitment to the United States Air Force Civil Air Patrol were well known in the state of New Jersey, using his skills as a radio and TV communicator to advance the cause of the U.S. Air Force Civil Air Patrol, and its many statewide community activities.

He rose through the ranks to receive the highest state military grade of Full Colonel Wing Commander reporting directly to the governor of that state!

Bob’s education included acceptance and graduation from the very prestigious Stuyvesant High School, graduating in 1955, in New York, later attending the New York University School of Communications Arts.

After settling in Palm Coast, he was active in the performing arts, associating with the Flagler Auditorium, now the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center, and the Palm Coast Arts Foundation.

Colonel Alex, for many years, was a member of the Palm Coast/Flagler

TRIBUTES

Carol Jean Keserauskis

1948 - 2024

Carol Jean Keserauskis, 76. Passed away on March 21, 2024, in Palm Coast, Florida.

Carol was born Carol Jean Hays to the late Victor Carol Hays, Sr. and the late Jean A Dauber.

She is survived by her loving husband, Dennis Keserauskis; siblings Victor (Marvis) Hays, Charlie (Vonda) Hays and Bonnie (Troy) Hays; Cousin Sue (Al) Froman; and nieces and nephews: Doris Hays, Charlie (Chrissy) Hays, Nicholas (Heidi) Hays, and Autumn (Shane) Sluder.

Carol was a graduate of Mainland Senior High School in Daytona Beach, Fl. She put herself through college working and going to school. Carol earned advanced degrees from Stetson University in Deland, FL.

Carol was an artist and taught art for many years before becoming a media specialist. She touched many lives working with students. Carol retired after many years working at Woodward Elementary.

Carol married the love her life Dennis Keserauskis. She and her husband Dennis had a passion for nature and camping in God’s creation. They enjoyed sailing on the Oceans and kayaking throughout North America.

Carol was a Christian with hope of God’s great resurrection (1 Thes 4:16-18). We share that hope and look forward to the day when we will see Christ (1 Corinthians 13:12) and see

reception for its student art show from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 7. Expressions on Colbert is located inside Grand Living Realty, 2298 Colbert Lane, Palm Coast. The show features art by Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas high school students.

Meet the shows’ up-andcoming young artists and their teachers at the reception. The show will continue at Expressions through May 4. Other than the reception, the gallery is open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FDOT holds ‘walk and talk’ event on A1A in Ormond

The Florida Department of Transportation held a guided walk with local officials on

County Economic Development Council and was involved on numbers of plans that aid in the development and improvements in varied areas of commerce.

As an active member of “Angels Flight,” he used his vast experience as a former Civil Air Patrol wing commander, assisting in providing emergency flights to distant, specialized medical centers in Flagler and contiguous counties in Florida.

The unveiling of his plaque will take place at Craig Flagler Palms Funeral Home & Flagler Memorial Gardens, on April 5, 2024, at 10:00am, grave side.

Carol again.

A memorial service will be held for Carol on April 14th at 3:30pm at: Madison Campus Seventh-Day Adventist Church 607 Larkin Springs Rd Madison, TN 37115

https://www.madisoncampus.org/

Heritage Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family.

Carol will be missed by all who loved and knew her, but we know she is in the safe care of the one who gave His only son for her (John 3:16).

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Carol Jean Keserauskis please visit our Sympathy Store.

March 27 to highlight the recent safety enhancements completed on A1A in Ormond Beach. FDOT’s $4.1 million pedestrian safety project added eight new mid-block crosswalks on A1A from south of Milsap Road to East Granada Boulevard. Of the eight crosswalks, seven were equipped rapid flashing beacons. An overhead pedestrian hybrid beacon was added at the new crosswalk at Rockefeller Drive. The speed limit was also lowered from 35 mph to 30 mph. An FDOT project team member led participants on a 1.4 mile walk along the sidewalk to learn about the improvements. Participants were joined by Walker, the mascot of Alert Tonight Florida, a pedestrian safety initiative by FDOT.

Flagler opens registration for CERT class

Flagler County’s Emergency Management is hosting a free class that teaches basic disaster and emergency response skills. The class is Flagler County’s Community Emergency Response Team and begins on April 22. Visit www.FlaglerCounty.gov/ emergency and then selecting “Volunteering & Training” from the menu.

Flagler Beach to increase multiple impact fees

Water and wastewater fees are going up, and the city will be adding new impact fees.

SIERRA WILLIAMS STAFF WRITER

In the first of two votes, the Flagler Beach City Commission voted, at its March 28 meeting, to increase its water and wastewater impact fees and add impact fees for police, fire, library and parks and recreation services.

But the decision was not without pushback. Flagler Home Builders Association Executive Officer Annamaria

Long submitted a letter to the City Commission outlining several concerns she had with how the study was conducted, by consulting firm TischlerBise Inc.

“I really do wish that the study was performed better and resulted in realistic fees,” Long wrote in her response to the commissioners.

The vote passed 4-1, with commissioner Rick Belhumeur dissenting because the study did not include mobility fees, a one-time fee developers pay to mitigate traffic impact on a city’s transportation system.

If adopted, the changes would be implemented on Oct. 1, in line with the city’s new fiscal year.

The police, fire, library and parks and recreation fees are based on a building’s square footage and whether a home is residential or non residential.

For residential homes between 1,101 and 1,500 square feet, a developer will need to pay $717 in police impact fees, $849 for fire, $193 for library and $850 for

parks and recreation. For nonresidential buildings the price varies depending on what type of development it is — commercial, office, industrial or institutional. For police, the impact fee ranges from $381 to $1,911 per 1,000 square feet.

For fire, it’s $451 to $2,261, and for parks and recreation, between $539 and $1,628. The library impact fee only applies to residential units. The administrative fee will range from $3 to $9.

Water connections will also increase. A 1-inch connection will increase by $832 for potable water and $1,208 for wastewater, totaling $5,022 and $6,356, respectively.

Long, who reviewed the original study in November, said there are still incorrect calculations within the study, according to the letter she sent the city.

“At a taxpayer price tag a $50,000, I find mistakes unnecessary,” Long said in the meeting. “It shouldn’t be happening, it’s unacceptable.”

Long also said she was concerned about how the the calculations were determined, including calculating population growth based on land and a 2,700-unit development that are not yet annexed into the city.

She also had specific concerns about how TischlerBise determined the rate of the new impact fees. Her letter pointed out that the parks and recreation fees do not use acreage but park amenity costs in determining the fee schedule.

The Flagler Beach commissioners did not address Long’s concerns during the meeting, but Commissioner Eric Cooley thanked her for her dedication in reviewing the study.

Walker, mascot of Alert Tonight Florida, and City Manager Joyce Shanahan. Courtesy photo

Ormond Beach’s first in-person FastTrac entrepreneurial class graduates

The FastTrac program, offered in partnership with the city’s Economic Development department, launched in the city in 2021.

Twelve local entrepreneurs were celebrated on March 21 for graduating from a 10-week program on how to start up, or grow, their businesses.

The Kauffman FastTrac program, offered in partnership with the Ormond Beach Economic Development department, launched in the city in 2021 as a result of an entrepreneurial support initiative by the National League of Cities. Since its start, three classes have completed the program, but due to the pandemic, they were held in a virtual format.

The StartUp & Grow FastTrac Spring 2024 class was the first to go through the program in person. City Economic Development Director Brian Rademacher said this boosted both collaboration and networking throughout the 10-week program.

“I think just watching them support each other was also gratifying, to see that energy and to see this group click,” Rademacher said. “... It makes me happy to see these businesses not only succeed, but then now have each other in their network for support, to support each other and to help each other grow.”

Throughout the program, Rademacher said, the participants worked on their business plan — concept, pitch, model, target market, marketing and branding. They also learned about how to lead their company or organization, should they decide to expand, and heard from guest speakers. In addition, the city partnered with the SCORE Flagler/Volusia Chapter, to bring on business mentors to facilitate the course alongside Rademacher. The facilitators were Jeff Carlin, chair of the SCORE Flagler/Volusia Chapter, along with Andrew Krupp and Sheila Slick. The location of the graduation

celebration was also noteworthy, as it was held at Art Spotlight. Rademacher said the art gallery’s owners, Teri Althouse and Thays França, completed the program in the fall of 2021.

“It was as great example of what is possible and then also, it’s a great venue in our downtown to celebrate business success,” Rademacher said.

“I think the whole city of Ormond Beach, but in particular the Ormond historic area has good vibes for supporting entrepreneurship and small business growth.”

Most of the entrepreneurs and small business owners who go through the program are in servicerelated industries. One of the graduates was Stephanie Gonter, who runs Novel Tea Book Shop out of The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden at 150 Tomoka Ave. Another of the graduates, Rademacher said, was Jennie Haywood, who owns Memorable Expressions 360 Photo Booth.

“Their journey is not over, but they have a strong foundation now to continue with their business plan, if they haven’t finished it up, and they are very much aware of partners that are in the area to help them,” Rademacher said.

To learn more about the program, visit www.ormondbeach.org/985/ Kauffman-FastTrac.

Planning ahead is simple. The benefits are immense.

the page.

5. Select your language from the drop-down menu and click “Apply."

6. Click "Preview" to review your ad before downloading or saving.

Finishing Your Ad: Click "Finish" to generate a PDF with or without crop marks. Then, click “Download" and select “Original" or “Moderate" for a print-ready file.

OR, click “Save" to continue working later. Your ad will appear in My Documents > Drafts.

Eva Connors McMullin, Nancy Cortez and Debbie Cotton.

Twelve entrepreneurs graduated from the FastTrack Spring 2024 class on March 21. Photos courtesy of Skip Crowell

Teri Althouse, Ormond Beach Economic Development Director Brian Rademacher and Thays França.

BUSINESS OBSERVER

Old Dixie Motel new site plan details 64-unit hotel with pool and restaurant

The current owners have appealed a demolition order filed by the county.

The owners of Flagler County’s Old Dixie Motel on Old Dixie Highway have appealed a demolition order and filed a new site plan with the county outlining plans for the dilapidated hotel.

It is “a more significant effort than they’ve made,” County Attorney Al Hadeed said at the end of a Flagler

County Commission meeting on March 18. The appeal and application puts a halt to the demolition notice Flagler County sent the owners, 2251 S. Old Dixie Highway, LLC, on Feb. 13. The demolition order was first reported on by FlaglerLive.

The application for the hotel — located at 2251 S. Old Dixie Highway — details a two-story, 64-unit hotel with a restaurant and pool on the 6.38-acre site. According to the application documents, the owners plan to name it the Henry Hotel.

The review committee’s job is to review applications and give staff feedback of what needs to be addressed before an application can move forward. The applicant then

will resubmit the application with the requested revisions. This is the owner’s second application submission, Hadeed said, and while the owners have addressed some issues, staff still had areas of concerns.

The engineering department alone provided a list of 16 individual items in its staff comments of needed updates to the application, including providing a survey, grading plan, tree survey and a demolition plan for some of the buildings. Flagler County has been attempting to have hotel brought up to code or torn down for over five years, and it filed a lawsuit against the hotel’s previous owners for their negligence of the property in 2021, according to

Palm Coast Colour Collective business marketplace returns after four years

The Colour Collective is a subset of Naturals of Palm Coast, an organization that highlights the success of black women in business.

Coast’s Colour Collective, a marketplace event showcasing local black-owned businesses, held its first event in four years on March 30. The marketplace is a subset of

Naturals of Palm Coast, an organization focused on highlighting and celebrating the success of black women in business. Naturals’ founder LaToya Taite-Headspeth said the marketplace event featured a variety of female entrepreneurs — from beauty and artists to virtual assistants and small business owners.

“Our motto is ‘support, swap, shop,’” Taite-Headspeth said. “We come together to be in a supportive environment, encouraging one another. We come to swap information, but we also swap products. … So the Colour Collective is actually that shop piece.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the Colour Collective had just finished its third annual marketplace event. Four years later, TaiteHeadspeth said she was nervous at first planning the come-back event, but it felt good returning to the grind. In the end, Taite-Headspeth gathered 30 local business-women — and even some men — at the African American Cultural Center to show off their products and services.

“It’s just such a beautiful time of connection and networking and just, you know, pooling resources together and collaboration,” TaiteHeadspeth said. “I would say it was

truly a success.”

The Colour Collective and Naturals of Palm Coast are spaces where women of color can really shine, she said. Outside of Black History Month, Flagler County and the cities don’t have enough visible representation, even outside of the business networking world, she said.

“Even, say, picking up picking up the paper. I don’t see myself,” she said.

“If we’re highlighting Flagler County, let’s highlight all of Flagler County,” she said. “It should just be a no brainer. If should just be a given. We’re here.”

Later in the fall, Taite-Headspeth said she plans to host the next marketplace event. As she organizes more events, she said she hopes even more people will attend.

“We can all shine at the same time,” she said. “And so just creating that space creating that platform is just vital.”

Most of the entrepreneurs who attended the Colour Collective marketplace were from the Flagler County and Palm Coast communities. And it’s important, Tiate-Headspeth said, that every part of the county’s community is highlighted.

New York restaurateur teams up with Bill Jones to resurrect Alexander’s in Ormond

Restaurateur Joe Oliva is opening a new steakhouse in the downtown.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Longtime Ormond Beach residents may recall the days of Alexander’s Cafe. Some may even remember it as Alexander’s Blue Note Supper Club. Now, after 27 years, Alexander’s is making a comeback in town.

Restaurateur Joe Oliva is officially opening Alexander’s Prime — a steakhouse, located at the restaurant’s original location at 123 W. Granada Blvd.— the week of Monday, April 8. It’s a space last occupied by Frappes Italian Grille, which closed in 2022 when its owner retired. Oliva has been in the restaurant business for 35 years, mostly in New York City.

The restaurant has been in the works since October, when Oliva’s son met Mayor Bill Partington at a party. He mentioned Oliva was looking to open a restaurant in the area, and after a few conversations, Oliva connected with local developer Bill Jones and his representative Dorian Burt. A couple days later, Oliva got on a plane to meet Jones and the deal

was hammered in a day.

“The restaurant business is always risky, but when I saw the facility — I met Mr. Jones and Dorian and the kind of people that they were — you don’t get deals like this in New York,” Oliva said. “So we said, ‘OK, we’ll take it. Take a chance. We’ll do one more.’”

Alexander’s will offer prime dryaged steaks, but Oliva said he’s hoping to have something on the menu for everybody: hamburgers, pastas, seafood, with a wide range of pricing. He wants the restaurant to be a place patrons can enjoy for the every day and for special occasions.

“I don’t want people to say, ‘Oh, that’s only a place you can go for your anniversary,’ because that’s not true,” Oliva said. “You can come in the dining room and sit at the table and have a hamburger. ... We’re going to have the menu run the gamut in pricing so it’s not out of anybody’s realm to come out.”

THE ORIGINAL RESTAURANT

Jones purchased the original Alexander’s Cafe in 1987. He had moved his manufacturing company, Metra Electronics, to the area in 1986, and at the time, Jones said there weren’t many businesses open in the downtown. But, he and his wife used to eat

at Alexander’s.

When Jones heard the cafe was going to close because the original owner was going to lose his lease, Jones decided to buy it. Together with John Cunningham, whom he brought in as a managing partner, they turned Alexander’s into a nightspot in Ormond Beach.

“I think there was a void and it was a necessary place,” Jones said. “We had some of the best clientele coming in there. We hired a French chef and we started putting out some really good products ... And people responded to it.”

Alexander’s continued its presence in the downtown until 1997. Jones was operating the restaurant on his own by then, and his manufacturing company was starting to expand. The building at 123 W. Granada Blvd. was the only place he owned in the downtown at the time, and Bobby and Meryl Frappier were looking to relocate their restaurant, Frappes Italian Grille. When they approached Jones about renting the business, Jones agreed.

Meryl Frappier continued to run the restaurant after her husband’s death in 2018, and in 2022, when she decided to retire, Jones was left wondering what to do with the building once again.

“I got this crazy, wild idea to just resurrect Alexander’s again and bring it back,” Jones said. Meeting Oliva, he said, was “kismet.” Jones said they were meant to find each other.

“It was like deja vu and I just liked him right away,” Jones said. “... This guy’s got amazing, amazing experience in the business. I think I made the right decision and he made the right decision, so I think it’s going to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

RESTAURANT WITH CHARACTER

Oliva has always loved old buildings. In the past, he worked in restaurants that have a connection to GeorgeWashington.

So when he saw what Jones had done in the building — the restoration of the building to look more like the original Alexander’s with its art deco fixtures and decorations, details that trickle down to the exit signs — he was impressed.

Jones is also showcasing some of his favorite “offbeat” art pieces he’s collected, particularly George Rodrigue’s Blue Dog series.

“This has definitely got some character,” Oliva said. Initially, he was worried about being able to find staff. But a

Facebook ad generated about 150 responses in two days.

“I got an excellent staff,” Oliva said. “ ... I was very impressed with the people that came in.”

Oliva said he remembers what Granada Boulevard looked like 25 years ago. His kids used to summer with his mom in Lake Mary, and when he had some time off and visited, they’d often drive through the area to go to the beach.

“It was a disaster,” Oliva said. “You didn’t notice anything. You just wanted to get off the street and get over the bridge. [Jones] brought all this back to life, and I’m just happy to be a part of it.”

Jones is not a restauranteur. He said he calls himself a “restaurantee.”

“Meaning that I’ll go in and I’ll build the stage,” Jones said. “I’ll build the the theater, but then I want to find somebody that can run it, appreciate it and make it work.”

There’s better ways to make money than restoring buildings in the downtown, Jones said, but they’re not as much fun or rewarding.

“Nothing makes me happier than when I see customers walk in a place like that and they smile at the artwork, they enjoy what they’re eating, the atmosphere,” Jones said. “That’s my reward.”

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Waterfront house is Flagler County’s top seller

Ahouse in Palm Harbor was the top real estate transaction for Feb. 8-14 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. Daniel Zimbelman and Lisa MacDougal, of Palm Coast, sold 32 Cheyenne Court to Anita Bell, as trustee, for $920,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/2 and has a boat dock, a pool and 2,124 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $350,000.

PALM COAST

Beach Haven

David and Juniata Corson, of Palm Coast, sold 10 Laughing Gull Lane to Norma Caple, a trustee, for $717,000. Built in 2015, the house is a 4/2 and has 2,190 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $381,100.

Grand Haven

Ormond-by-the-Sea home sells for over $600,000

Ahouse in Ormond-by-the-Sea was the top real estate transaction for Feb. 18-24 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea.

William Bell II and Barbara Bell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, for $450,000. Built in 1974, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,828 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $315,900.

Tomoka Oaks

Justin Robert Parsons and Brook Parsons,

Ronald Jackson Flora and Kathy DeShazer, of Bloomington, Indiana, sold 80 Riverview Bend South, Unit 822, to Kimberly Ann Brock, of Palm Coast, for $310,000. Built in 206, the condo is a 3/2 and has 1,461 square feet. It sold in 2014 for $144,000.

Jennifer Payne Price, of Palm Coast, sold 110 Club House Drive, Unit 301, to Daniel Zimbelman and Lisa MacDougal, of Palm Coast, for $539,900. Built in 2004, the condo is a 3/3 and has 2,414 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $400,000.

Celia Rosa, of Palm Coast, sold 101 Palm Harbor Parkway, Unit A212, to J & J Holdings Group LLC, of Palm Coast, for $166,600. Built in 2005, the condo is a 1/1.5 and has 670 square feet. It sold in 2023 for $190,000.

Hembury Lane to Gregory Licata, Jr., of Palm Coast, for $217,500. Built in 1985, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,098 square feet. It sold in 2016 for $105,000.

Cecil James Parris and Elizabeth Schuck Parris, of Brevard, North Carolina, sold 41 Lagare Street to Theodore Harris Horton and Brenda Sumner Horton, of Palm Coast, for $656,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, a fireplace and 2,671 square feet. It sold in 2014 for $352,500.

Hidden Lakes James and Phyllis Bowling, of Palm Coast, sold 143 Arena Lake Drive to Judy Jensen, as trustee, for $524,000. Built in 2015, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,946 square feet. It sold in 2015 for $44,000.

Matanzas Wood

sAnthony and Colleen Carnevale, of Palm Coast, sold 42 Laramie Drive to Kevin James Macedo, of Palm Coast, for $273,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,209 square feet. It sold in 2018 for $137,000.

Pine Lakes Camar and Marica Fraser, as trustees, sold 47 Westglen Lane to Vanessa Buendo and Antonio Allen Buendo, of Palm Coast, for $300,000. Built in 2001, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,070 square feet. It sold in 2001 for $110,400.

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

Mark and Louann Cornell, of Ormond Beach, sold 110 Beau Rivage Drive to John McCartney Jr. and Teresa Cordeiro, of Ormond Beach, for $625,000. Built in 1963, the house is a 3/3 and has 2,238 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $395,000.

ALEXIS

Condos Joel and Sarah Richwagen, of Belle Isle, sold 89 South Atlantic Ave., Unit 701, to William Pape, of Ormond Beach, for $422,500. Built in 1979, the condo is a 2/2 and has 1,200 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $445,000.

ORMOND BEACH

Chelsea Place

Navin and Sunita Deshpande, of Sebring, sold 109 Chelsea Place Ave. to Thomas and Gillian Batay-Csorba, of Daytona Beach, for $585,000.

Built in 2017, the house is a 4/2.5 and has a fireplace and 2,498 square feet. It sold in 2021 for $460,000.

Mary Parker, of Ormond beach, sold 377 Nottinghill St. to Jon and Kelli Poissant, of Plattsburgh, New York, for $465,000. Built in 2017, the house is a 3/2 and has 1,829 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $315,000.

Gardens at Addison Oaks

Hayden Boyd, of Tampa, sold 51 Bella Vita Way to Lynda and George Parker, of Ormond Beach, for $259,000. Built in 2019, the house is a 2/2.5 and has 1,636 square feet. It sold in 2020 for $195,000.

Saddlers Run

Jared McConnell and Elizabeth Anne McConnell, of Ormond Beach, sold 67 Saddlers Run to Jewell and Nicholas Racel, of Ormond Beach, for $410,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 2,293 square feet. It sold in 2019 for $299,900.

Southern Pines

Charles and Catherine Carpenter, as trustees, sold 33 Chrysanthemum Drive to Chrisann and Ronald Joson, of Ormond Beach, for $460,000. Built in 2008, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,215 square feet.

Standish Shores

Gregory Prol, of Miami, sold 214 Standish Drive to

Mary Ellen Unson, of Ormond Beach, sold 11 Eagle Drive to Jean Francois Rault and Lavern Rault, as trustees, for $415,000. Built in 1979, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,999 square feet. It sold in 2002 for $162,500.

Twin River Estates

Jeffrey and Karla Lantz, of Sanford, sold 30 Twin River Drive to Timothy Gerald Peteri and Christine Anne Peteri, of Ormond Beach, for $475,000. Built in 1974, the house is a 4/2 and has a pool, a dock, and in-law suite and 1,902 square feet. It sold in 2022 for $445,000.

Ormond By the Sea

Not in a subdivision

Brenda Mitchell, of Derwood Maryland, sold 2689 John Anderson Drive to Cody Bramlett and Priscilla Denault, of Ormond Beach, for $505,000. Built in 1963, the house is a 5/3 and has a pool, a fireplace and 2,088 square feet. It sold in 1997 for $138,000.

Roberta Heights

Larry Campbell and Mary Lou Campbell, of South Daytona, sold 140 Laurie Drive to Bryan Matthew Pro, of Vacaville, California, for $300,000. Built in 1956, the house is a 2/1 and has 794 square feet. It sold in 2014 for $77,700.

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

Donna Brosemer challenges Riverview transfer decision

When people tell us who they are, believe them. On March 18, the Volusia County School Board and district staff told us who they are. They also told us what they think of us.

The board had unanimously approved moving Riverview Learning Center students to the quiet beachside neighborhood surrounding the old Osceola Elementary school. Staff had met with the Riverview neighborhood but didn’t bother to tell Osceola’s. They read about it in the paper.

District staff was clearly annoyed that they had to explain themselves to anyone. Chief Operating Officer

Patti Corr made it clear that they don’t. Riverview is an alternative school. Students are sent there whose behaviors, Levels 3 and 4, do not allow them to be left in the general school population. No one – not district staff, or Riverview principal Thomas Soli, or School Board member Carl Persis, would describe what those behavior levels include. The district’s Code of Conduct says, paraphrased:

MY VIEW

As a teacher and a principal, I was positive, supportive, and always put children first. As a school board member, I continue to think positively, to be helpful, and to make thoughtful decisions based on what is best for students, such as alter-

MY VIEW

Level IV: Major Offenses shall be considered to be acts that pose a serious threat to school safety. Section1006.13, F.S.

The statute elaborates: Crime and substance abuse… delinquent acts and crimes; victimization of students.

Further, these require expulsion for one year unless the superintendent intervenes: Bringing a firearm or weapon to school, to any school function, or onto any school-sponsored transportation or possessing a firearm at school; making a threat or false report.

Mr. Soli only referenced vaping. We don’t know what treatments kids receive, or the criteria that decides when they may go back to their assigned school. Student numbers vary from 25 to 200.

Ms. Corr outlined the meeting’s process. They would talk, and we would listen. When a couple of questions were politely asked aloud, she threatened to shut down the entire meeting.

Our questions were to be submitted in writing, and they would decide which ones they would answer. They chose only the easiest and least informative.

Carl Persis began his folksy opener by apologizing for the way the decision was handled. He trivialized and dismissed neighbors’ concerns in a tone that sounded like he was talking to children. He said he “begged” Superintendent Carmen Balgobin to please hold a community meeting because residents

were restless.

Carl still thinks he works for the superintendent. He doesn’t. He’s her boss, but now we know why he is totally ineffective on the board. He doesn’t know his job, and he refuses to do it when he can. Carl was on the winning side of the board vote, so he could bring the board’s motion and vote up for reconsideration. He was asked to do that. He refused.

Mr. Soli, who is coincidentally Dr. Balgobin’s husband, then did his dog-and-pony show: the school is perfectly run, Daytona residents love having them there, there will be less traffic, and the staff has absolute control of the kids, who have committed no crimes and just made a mistake. That was false. He knew it was false when he said it. We knew he knew. He said it anyway.

The site currently houses Tomoka Elementary students, while their school is being renovated. Osceola is meanwhile in disrepair, with accumulated trash and fences falling down. Huge AC units run day and night and are so loud that neighbors can’t sleep in their own bedrooms.

Residents have complained to the school district, with no reply, but they are supposed to accept the district’s word about how perfectly this transition will fit their neighborhood.

District staff blamed Ormond staff for the lack of notice. Mr. Persis made sure everyone knew the commission was blameless. His

wife is a commissioner. In other words, don’t blame anyone named Persis.

An annoyed resident finally objected to the district’s condescending and patronizing tone. He said it was inappropriate and unappreciated, that the group is well-informed and well-educated. He listed other board actions that showed their chronic lack of transparency.

Conspicuous in both tone and content were a few guests the locals didn’t recognize. Their purpose appeared to be character assassination. They accused the residents of “privilege,” and of saying “those kids,” which no one had said. They lectured that everyone deserves an education, although no one had implied otherwise.

At School Board meetings, they would have had to give their address. These folks didn’t. We can guess why.

Many questions remain unanswered. How many elementary students will be added when they are transferred from their alternative school in Port Orange to Riverview? How will the little kids be kept separate from the big kids? What will be the capacity once two buildings are demolished and the portables are removed?

“If you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” The school board and district have shown how they use their power. At the polls on Aug. 20, we need to use ours.

Editor’s note: The Observer reached

native educational programs. Did you know? For more than 30 years, without any complaints from anyone in the surrounding neighborhood, the alternative educational program, for sixth through twelfth grade students, has been successfully operating at Riverview Learning Center, located about one half mile north of Seabreeze Boulevard. The neighborhood surrounding Riverview has many highly appraised houses. Their property values have consistently increased. So why the recent controversy?

In October 2023, the Observer published an article when the School Board first considered combining the elementary and sec-

out to School Board member Carl Persis and Volusia County Schools for a response. Their responses are below.

Persis responds to Brosemer School District defends community meeting

Volusia County Schools recently held a community meeting at the former Osceola Elementary site, where the Riverview Learning Center, an alternative school, will transfer next year.

The meeting was well attended and lasted an hour longer than scheduled as VCS staff worked to ensure every community member had an opportunity to have their voices heard and questions answered.

This meeting followed the same format as rezoning meetings that took place this year. Guests were asked to write questions on cards,

ensuring even those who did not want to speak aloud would be heard. All questions were answered, unless they were a duplicate. Remaining questions were taken out loud, and additional feedback could be left on comment cards.

At this meeting, staff answered many questions and provided information, such as:

„ A cumulative total of 196 students attended Riverview last year, and the highest one-day daily enrollment was around 120 students.

„ The most common types of referrals that qualify a student to attend Riverview include vaping, social media threats, and fighting.

„ Riverview is not a Department of Juvenile Justice facility. Children

ondary educational programs and moving them to the Osceola site.

In November, the School District’s planning and zoning department invited parents of students, who were in the programs, to learn about this proposal at a meeting on Dec. 5, 2023. The meeting was also noticed on district social media sites.

In hindsight, it would have been better had the Osceola neighborhood personally been invited to a December meeting, too. As a result of not having accurate information, misinformation and negative comments about this effective program spread rapidly. Many residents were led to believe the district was not being transparent and was sidestepping community input. This was not the case; however, I understand their perspective.

On Feb. 27, the School Board

who attend DJJ facilities commit serious offenses, stay longer and are usually placed on off-campus instruction when released or until charges are resolved.

Community members were given an equal chance to voice their opinion, whether they were sharing questions, concerns, or positive experiences, such as how visiting the current Riverview site eased their feelings. Each question or comment gave VCS an opportunity to hear and value the voices of all, no matter their opinion.

As a VCS policy, guests were not required to give their addresses at this meeting, nor are they required to do so at School Board meetings. Those who spoke in support of Riv-

only leaves six days for residents to change their schedules or plans in order to attend this meeting. The letter also states that the decision on this assignment was made by the School Board on Feb. 27. That means almost two weeks passed before the district thought it was important enough to inform local residents of the decision and hold a meeting. Equally as troubling is the question of where my School Board representative, Carl Persis, was during this entire procedure. As a board member, he would have voted

unanimously approved the Superintendent’s recommendation to combine the programs and move both to Osceola, the only location available on the east side of the county, which could accommodate 200 students. This was reported in the Observer on Feb. 28.

After the board voted, I knew residents were still misinformed about the program. I asked Superintendent Balgobin to have another community meeting, which she quickly scheduled for March 18. This time, mailed notices were sent to 800 plus people, who lived within one half mile of the school. Forty-four people from the neighborhood attended.

Most of the nearby residents left the March meeting relieved; saying they wished they had known earlier what they knew now. I do,

erview shared they lived in Ormond Beach or near the current Riverview site.

Residents with operations or maintenance concerns are being contacted directly to address any issues. One concern addressed was a loud AC unit that will be replaced this summer. We will continue to welcome and answer questions from the community: „ How many elementary students will be added?: We anticipate 5-20 will come to the new campus.

„ How will the younger and older kids be separated?: They will be in separate buildings and classes. „ What will be the capacity once two buildings are demolished and portables removed?: The capacity would be around 236 students; however, the most we had at one time was around 120.

in this matter, then conveniently disappeared, failing to contact his constituents to inform us of this pending transfer and find out what we thought or heard our concerns. Of course, I’m sure if there was a hard hat to wear or a shovel to turn, Mr. Persis would have been right there for the camera. But informing his constituents of a major development within his district, well, that appears to be just a little too much to ask.

This entire escapade has been one failure after another and certainly doesn’t give the taxpaying residents

too. There were some who came to the meeting angry and expecting the board to reconsider this decision. They left unhappy. A few had great suggestions on how the school district could improve the site’s facilities. One offered to volunteer at the school. They were pleased to learn there would be no more than 200 students and almost all would be arriving and departing by buses. All portable classrooms would be removed, parent traffic would be eliminated, and there would be no night or weekend activities. As an educator, I believe all children deserve every chance to become successful. This is the purpose of alternative education; to help students make good decisions and become the best they can be. Let’s move forward and embrace this program.

Some guests voiced that their concern was not with the children. If all who agreed with these comments still feel this way, VCS asks the community to work together with us to ensure adult problems and underlying political motives do not interfere with the education of these children. We are committed to keeping an open dialogue with the Osceola community moving forward.

To all who expressed interest in getting involved — and to those who didn’t have the opportunity — we welcome you to engage and participate in shaping the future of students at Riverview Learning Center, whether you can volunteer, mentor a student, or otherwise offer your time and talent to help change a life.

(yeah, the people footing the bill!) much confidence in our school district or the officials we elect to represent us. Residents need to keep that in mind when elections come around later this year or we’re asked to contribute more to a financially and civically irresponsible leviathan. DOUG

& 4/6, 8am-5pm, HUGE 2 family sale, furniture, too much to list!

YOUR STUFF HERE!

30+ Sales and a Food Truck Saturday April 06, 8:00 AM-3:00 PM - , Sunday April 07, 8:00 AM-3:00 PM - Rain or Shine Tymber Creek SBDV Gym equip, jewelry, wheelchair, electric scooter, cash register, music memorabilia, duck mounts, strollers, crib/toddler bed, toys, collectibles, electric replace, furn, TVs, CD's, DVD's, Regal boat & trailer, Mexican style sink, power tools, comics, speakers, polaroid instant photo booth, peacock wicker chair, Christmas tree. Tymber Creek SBDV off Granada in Ormond Beach, pass I-95, right at Walgreens (Tymber Creek Rd) 1st SBDV on right.

YOUR NEIGHBORS

Marvelous MILLER

President Marvin Miller was recognized with a mayor’s proclamation and a key to the city on his 89th birthday.

Longtime Ormond Beach resident

Marvin Miller is 89 years young.

The president of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties said that, while his birthday is March 20, he explains to anyone who asks that March is his birth month and he celebrates it in its entirety.

Rabbi Robert Lennick, the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Volusia and Flagler Counties, spearheaded a “A Night to Remember” to honor Miller and his contributions to humanity. Oceanside Country Club did not have Miller’s birthdate available, but were able to schedule the event on Saturday, March 30.

Just within his birth month.

In true Miller fashion, the night was organized to commemorate his tireless efforts and also promoted as a fundraiser. Proceeds went toward renovating the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Cultural Center. Miller chose $89 as the entry fee to pay homage to his age and invited 170 people.

It sold out in a few days. Oceanside then opened up another area, to accommodate another 42 people, and that also sold out within days.

“It was a wonderful evening,” Miller said. “I was very apprehensive about the event because my name is on it. We’ve had events and if we get 50% (attendance), we’re happy. I was hoping everyone would come. They have so much going on. Only two did not show.”

Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington and City Commissioners Harold Briley, Lori Tolland and Susan Persis surprised Miller by honoring him with a proclamation and a key to the city of Ormond Beach.

Partington thanked Miller for always being there for him.

“We get to see things that maybe the rest of the community doesn’t get to see,” Partington said. “One of those is the amazing impact that someone like Marvin Miller and the Jewish Federation have in a positive way for our community. That’s why it’s such an honor to recognize Marvin and to call him a friend.”

Partington presented the proclamation in Miller’s honor, on behalf of the City Commission. He proclaimed March 30, 2024, as a day to recognize and celebrate Miller for his lifelong commitment to humanitarian service, generosity and leadership.

“His dedication to service is an inspiration to others, encouraging them to find ways to give back and make a difference in the world around them,” Partington read. “Through his actions and commitment, Marvin exemplifies the values of selflessness, patriotism and community spirit that are essential for a thriving society.”

Miller continues his drive to help those in need. Being a U.S. Army veteran, and, having four brothers who also enlisted in the military, fuels Miller’s desire to support veterans. He takes daily 2.5-mile vigil walks over the Granada Bridge with local veterans group, Ormond Strong. He also runs the Jerry Doliner Food Bank and has partnered with Ormond Strong to take food to Barracks of Hope, which is transitional housing for homeless veterans.

Miller ran the Jewish Federation for over a year following the death

“We get to see things that maybe the rest of the community doesn’t get to see. One of those is the amazing impact that someone like Marvin Miller and the Jewish Federation have in a positive way for our community.”

BILL PARTINGTON, mayor

of former Executive Director Gloria Max in 2021. Lennick arrived 18 months ago to take over the executive position. Miller said he ran it as a business professional and Lennick brought much-needed experience and perspective as an executive director.

“He lent a whole different aspect that we needed and didn’t have,” Miller said. “He became a perfect fit. He has an attribute that not too many people have — he’s a good listener and has a nice, easy-going personality.”

He said Lennick was instrumental in fulfilling one of his goals: Miller had always wanted to bring local synagogues together to discuss what is happening in their communities, talk about national and international news, learn about programs they are running and to help where there is a need. Currently, rabbis from several local temples meet at the Jewish federation every four to six weeks.

“That’s one of the things that I was trying to achieve and Rob pulled that together,” Miller said. “He’s amazing. I feel like we’re the hubcap in a wheel with the spokes coming out. We deal more with what is going on with the community. We can help keep the temples in tune. That’s one of the things I really marvel at. I started it and he made it happen professionally.”

Lennick said that when he and his wife Loretta arrived in the area, they realized they had moved to the most welcoming and warm community they had ever encountered. He said many people have touched them along their journey here. “But I could not imagine that I would meet and grow to love and respect such an extraordinary person,” Lennick said. “A person of character who also is a character. A person of incredible warmth and caring. A person who is a role model in so many ways. A person who will tell you like it is with a smile. A man for all seasons — namely, Marvin Miller.”

Mark and Michelle Feldman and Lori and Steve Polito dine together.

Marvin Miller (right) hangs out with Janine and Joe Bielinksi at the dinner celebration of his lifetime of service and leadership.

Marvin Miller and his son Matt Miller pose with Rabbi Rob Lennick. Photos by Michele Meyers

Magician Denny Frey performs at “A Night to Remember”, a dinner honoring his longtime friend Marvin Miller.

Ormond Beach City Commissioner Harold Briley presents Marvin Miller with a key to the city.

Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington and his wife Lori dance.

Jill and Bill Stephens dance.

Jewish Federation

MICHELE MEYERS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

LOCAL EVENTS

FRIDAY, APRIL 5

‘DIE FLEDERMAUS’

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5 and 3 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Where: News-Journal Center, 221 N. Beach St., Daytona Beach

Details: Stetson Opera Theatre is presenting Johann Strauss II’s “Die Fledermaus” on the 150th anniversary of its premiere. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased online or at the box office. A champagne toast and live music to celebrate the opera’s anniversary at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 5 costs an extra $25. Visit https://www.tickettailor. com/events/stetsonuniversityschoolofmusic.

MOVIES ON THE HALIFAX

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Rockefeller Gardens, 26 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy a showing of “The Princess and the Frog,” rated G. Movies are weathersensitive. Call 386-676-3216 for rainout information.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

11TH ANNUAL SPRING

FESTIVAL AND PLANT SALE

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Flagler Palm Coast High School, 5500 State Route 100, Palm Coast

Details: The festival, hosted by the Garden Club at Palm Coast, will feature vendors selling plants, flower arrangements and hosting demonstrations. There will be crafts, music, kids activities, food trucks and raffles.

SADDLE UP FOR ST. JUDE

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Iron Horse Saloon, 1068 U.S. 1, Ormond Beach

Details: Bikers are invited to participate in this Poker Run & Music Fest to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Poker Run starts at 10 a.m. There will be live music, a live auction, silent auction, a bike show, and a cornhole tournament from 12-4 p.m. Entry costs $10 a hand.

28TH ANNUAL SPRING

HERB FAIRE

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: Bailey Riverbridge meeting house, 1 N. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details:

The Seaside Herb Society will celebrate everything herbs at the 28th annual Herb Faire. There will be plants and baked goods for sale, as well as live music and local vendors. Cash only. For more information, call Denny Lee Snyder at 443-497-0044. Visit seasideherbsociety.com.

CARE CUPBOARD FOOD PANTRY DRIVE

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Flagler Palm Coast High School, 5500 State Route 100, Palm Coast

Details: Held during the 11th annual Spring Festival and Plant Sale, Care Cupboard Food Pantry is inviting the community to bring nonperishable items to help stock the food pantry.

16TH ANNUAL TURTLE FEST

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

Where: Veteran’s Park, 101 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., Flagler Beach

Details: The Volusia/Flagler Turtle Patrol will hold its annual Turtle Fest, which is its primary fundraiser. Activi-

TRIBUTES

John J. Schwartz

August 27, 1928 - March 8, 2024

John J. Schwartz, 95, of Palm Coast, FL, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2024. He was born August 7, 1928, in Yonkers, NY.

John attended Manhattan Prep, where he was a three-sport athlete, and spent summers as a camp counselor at Camp Riverdale, Adirondack, NY, where his lifelong love of hiking and the outdoors began. He graduated with a BA in Political Science from Manhattan College. As a 1st Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps, he served as a platoon leader during the Korean War, and as a reservist until 1959.

In 1954, John joined the FBI as a Special Agent in Indianapolis and Gary, IN. While stationed in San Francisco, CA, John met his future wife, Therese Scullion. They were married in 1958 in Chicago, IL, thus beginning a long, happy marriage and raising four children. John was then transferred to the New York office, primarily working in foreign intelligence. In 1969, he was assigned to FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and held supervisory positions in the Intelligence and General Investigative divisions. He was then designated the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Houston, TX and Newark, NJ offices. His final position was in New York as Special Agent in Charge of the Foreign Counterintelligence – Soviet Division. Upon retirement from the FBI in 1980, John served as VP of Intertel, a private security firm in New York.

In 1984, John and Therese retired and moved to Palm Coast. Always an active man, John enjoyed gardening, swimming, jogging, and playing tennis, well into his 80s. He was an avid reader of history and politics as well as The New York Times, which he read daily into his 90s. John and Therese were Eucharistic Ministers at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton RC Church. He was affiliated with the Former SA-FBI Greater Daytona Beach Chapter, and served as Commander of the Flagler/Palm Coast Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars. The foundation of John’s life was

ties will include face painting, turtle races, live music, entertainment, vendors, and food and beverages for sale. If possible, a rehabilitated turtle will be released on the beach mid-afternoon. Free.

FIFTH EDITION OF ONE DAYTONA ART FESTIVAL

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 6-7

Where: One Daytona, 1 Daytona Blvd., Daytona Beach

Details: Attend this free juried art festival featuring marine wildlife artist Guy Harvey. There will be artists, crafters, live art demonstrations at Gallery500, and a meet-andgreet with Harvey from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 6. Bob Ross painting workshops will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6, and 11 a.m. Sunday, April 7, for $75, including all materials. Visit danwillcoxart.com/classes.

AUTISM AWARENESS FESTIVAL AND RESOURCE FAIR

When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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

Coast

Details: Join Vincent’s Clubhouse for its second annual Autism Awareness Festival and Resource Fair. There will be a bounce house village sponsored by Premier Chiropractic, a kid zone, food trucks, local community resources, games and entertainment. Free admission.

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

threefold: his Catholic faith, love of family, and duty to country. He loved visits from his children and grandchildren, and other family and friends, and traveled extensively in the US and Europe, and to Japan and Korea.

John is predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Therese, his parents John and Nellie (Higgins) Schwartz, and siblings Vivian Gluck, Veronica Lyons and Edmund Schwartz. He is survived by his children, Christine (William Corbett), Paula (Fabio Girelli-Carasi), Alaine Lee (Nam), and John (Noreen Carver); and grandchildren, Francesca and Chiara Carasi-Schwartz, Allison Loomis (Patrick), Megan Lee, Hogan and Jonah Carver, and great-granddaughter Naomi Loomis, and nieces and nephews.

John lived at Brookdale Palm Coast Assisted Living for over four years and our family is grateful for the care and community life that he and our mother received there. During the past six months, he was also cared for by the wonderful team from Halifax Health-Hospice.

His memorial service will be held at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church on May 14, 2024 at 11:00 am.

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

Angel Lowden, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and more on the first Saturday of each month for art openings and art events.

ORMOND BEACH ART

GUILD SPRING EXHIBIT AND RECEPTION

When: 5-7 p.m.

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: See the Ormond Beach Art Guild Spring 2024 exhibit. The opening reception will have light fare, wine and bottled water. Guild member Marian Devore will play the piano. Free event. The exhibit will be on display through April 27. For more information, call 386-846-5517.

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PANCAKE BREAKFAST

When: 8 a.m. to noon

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. The breakfast includes all the pancakes you can eat, scrambled eggs, sausage, orange juice and coffee. The breakfast costs $6 for adults, and children under 12 eat free. All are welcome.

FAMILY FARM FESTIVAL

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

Where: The Stage at Town Center, 7900 Old Kings Road N., Palm Coast

Details: The Florida Agricultural Museum will host its annual Family Farm Festival. Tickets cost $10 in advance for adults and $8 for children; $12 for adults and $10 for children on the day of the festival. Visit https://floridaagriculturalmuseum.ticketspice. com/family-farm-festival.

JEWISH HERITAGE

FESTIVAL

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

Where: The Casements, 25 Riverside Drive, Ormond Beach

Details: The eighth-biennial edition of the Jewish Heritage Festival will feature musical performers, vendors, kids activities including camel rides, a petting zoo, matzah baking and more. There will also be a Holocaust Memorial and a Jewish Hall of Fame. Free and open to the public. Visit JewishHeritageFestival.com.

ORMOND BEACH HISTORICAL SOCIETY

ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE

When: 1-3 p.m.

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

Details: The Ormond Beach Historical Society will welcome visitors and aim to inspire new members to volunteer. There will be complimentary refreshments and door prizes.

Reception for Flagler Palm Coast and Matanzas High Schools

STUDENT ART SHOW

When: 1-3:30pm

Where: Expressions Art Gallery on Colbert inside Grand Living Realty, 2298 Colbert Lane, Palm Coast

Details: Attend this reception and meet some up-andcoming young artists and their teachers from Matanzas and Flagler Palm Coast high schools. The show continues through May 4.

MONDAY, APRIL 8

THE GARDEN CLUB OF PALM COAST MONTHLY MEETING

When: 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Club 51 Social Club of Palm Coast, 51 Old Kings Road N., Palm Coast

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10

AARP MEETING

CHAPTER 1057

When: 10 a.m. to noon

Where: Ormond Unitarian Universalist Church, 56 N. Halifax Drive, Ormond Beach

TRIBUTES

Dawn E. Sargent

1949 - 2024

Dawn E. Sargent, 74, of Palm Coast, FL passed on peacefully at her home March 19th, 2024. She was the wife of David Sargent, with whom they shared 54 wonderful years of marriage. Dawn was born in Beloit, WI to George and Lorraine Whaley. She graduated from Beloit Memorial High School in 1967. She spent many years as a Stay-at-Home Mom, and then worked at Beloit Corporation and Valmet/Metso over the years. Dawn enjoyed reading and volunteering throughout her life. She is survived by her loving husband David Sargent, their 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, Dawn asked for donations to

TRIBUTES

Joëlle Karen Rice

February 25, 1947 - March 11, 2024

Joëlle Karen Rice, 77 of Palm Coast, FL, passed away on March 11, 2024. She was born on February 25, 1947, in Paris, France to the late Robert Hall and Paulette Vimond Hall.

Joëlle graduated from Albert Einstein High School in 1965. She married William Wesley Rice on July 4, 1999, in Columbia, Maryland. She was a manager in the Republican Cloakroom, United States House of Representatives for 34 years. She loved family, her puppies, croquet, golf and bocce. Joëlle and Wes moved to Palm Coast in 2001 from Columbia, Maryland.

Joëlle is survived by her husband of 24 years, William Wesley Rice; son, Shane Hall; stepsons, Craig Rice, Donnie Rice; step-daughter, Hollie Einolf; brothers, Michael Hall, Frankie Hall, Kerry Hall; grandchildren, Zachary Einolf, Sean Rice, Oliver Rice. Joëlle is preceded in death by her father, Robert Hall; mother, Paulette Hall; brother, Patrick Hall. Joëlle will be inurned at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery on April

Details: The meeting’s guest speaker will be Victoria Fahlberg, executive director of First Step Shelter. An optional $5 light lunch will follow. For more information, call Chapter President Jeff Boyle at 386-341-9013.

CITIZENS FOR ORMOND BEACH

When: 5:30 p.m.

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

Details: The Citizens for Ormond Beach’s program will provide an update of ongoing actions regarding the fuel terminal proposed to be built on Hull Road. The public is invited to this informative session. For more information, email billdenny105@ gmail.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 5 PATHWAYS 5K AND COLOR FUN RUN

When: 4 p.m.

Where: Pathways Elementary School, 2100 Airport Road, Ormond Beach

Details: Join this 5K Color Run or 1-mile Color Fun Run. The deadline to register is April 15. Visit https://www. pathwayspta.org/color-run.

Details: The club will hold its general membership meeting. Arrive at 11:30 a.m. for a plant sale and to enjoy lunch with fellow club members. The gathering will begin at noon, and the meeting at 1 p.m. The guest speaker will be Kelli McGee, of the Riverside Conservancy. Email Margaret Corder at magpiecorder@ yahoo.com.

St. Jude’s Research Hospital for Children or Florida United Methodist Children’s Home. A memorial at Bridges United Methodist Fellowship in Bunnell, FL will be announced at a later date.

11, 2024.

A celebration of life will take place at Grand Haven Village Center on Friday, April 12, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

The family of Mrs. Rice entrusted her arrangements to Clymer Funeral Home & Cremations.

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The Fusco Brothers

Sanding ovation

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

High school beach volleyball had been a one-school sport in Flagler County over the past two years. This season, Flagler Palm Coast has joined Matanzas in offering the girls sport played on sand courts.

On Thursday, March 28, FPC played host to Matanzas at Wadsworth Park, and walked away with a 4-1 victory over its more established rival.

The last time the teams played, the Pirates defeated the Bulldogs 4-0 on March 1 at DME Academy in Daytona Beach. Since that loss, and a 5-0 loss to district leader Spruce Creek on the same day, FPC’s No. 1 pair — Lily Puritis and Kenna Kirshy — have won six matches in a row even as the Bulldogs’ other pairs have been experiencing growing pains.

Upstart FPC topples Matanzas in beach volleyball

SCORES

FPC 4, MATANZAS 1

No. 1: FPC (Lily Puritis, Kenna Kirshy) def. Matanzas (Paige Duckworth, Bailey Londono, 2-1.

No. 2: FPC (Kaitlyn Ebding, Sophie Campbell) def. Matanzas ( Bristol Foley, Carly Owens), 2-1.

No. 3: Matanzas (Jaeda West, Olivia Chochev) def. FPC (Ava Sheifer, Morghan Mackey), 2-0.

No. 4: FPC (Maxie Puritis, Alyssa Cruz) def. Matanzas (Maddie Terry, Fiona Vandurra), 2-0.

No. 5: FPC (Taci Cook, Addison Cataldo) def. Matanzas (Myranda Valdez, Brianna O’Malley), 2-0.

“It’s not easy being the greenest team in the district,” FPC coach Nicole Puritis said.

The coach was not talking about the color of the Bulldogs’ uniforms. No one on the team had played beach volleyball before this season; that includes Lily Puritis, who will play indoor volleyball at Coker University in South Carolina next season. Lily’s mom, Nicole Puritis, who is also the Bulldogs’ indoor volleyball coach, has never coached beach volleyball before.

“I’m just as green to beach as the team is,” Nicole Puritis said.

Kirshy and Lily Puritis defeated Matanzas’ Bailey Londono and Paige Duckworth 19-21, 21-15, 19-17 to clinch the team victory. FPC improved to 2-7 with the win. (The Bulldogs had defeated Stanton Prep

4-1 on March 4 for their first victory in program history.)

After Londono and Duckworth won the first set, Puritis and Kirshy tied it up. They received a little extra motivation during a timeout when Nicole Puritis informed them that FPC had won the Nos. 2 and 4 pairings and a win at No. 1 would clinch the team victory. The third set, which is a 15-point game, went to extra points as neither side could win two points in a row until the FPC tandem finally closed it out. “We wanted it really bad,” Lily Puritis said. “A lot of people underestimate us because of our record as a school. It’s nice to prove them wrong.”

Kirshy said she and Puritis have

DISTRICT 7 STANDINGS

Spruce Creek 9-0, 5-0 (district)

New Smyrna Beach 5-1, 1-0

Atlantic 5-3, 4-2

DeLand 3-3, 3-2

Matanzas 3-8, 2-5

Seabreeze 2-4, 2-6 Flagler Palm Coast 2-7, 1-2

“It’s not easy being the greenest team in the district.”

steadily improved since the beginning of the season as the two seniors have learned the nuances of the beach game and began to mesh as partners.

“Beach is a lot harder than indoor volleyball and a lot more work,” Kirshy said. “But I think it’s a lot more rewarding.”

LACK OF COURTS

The Pirates were missing a couple of players, including talented freshman Keri Petro, who normally teams with either Duckworth or Londono at No. 1. They were also missing one of their three coaches, Dawn Moses, who is the Pirates’ indoor coach and started the beach program at Matanzas two years ago. Moses, the director of indoor club volleyball at DME, was in Atlanta for a club tournament.

Matanzas fell to 3-8 with the loss. Like their county rivals, the Pirates’ roster this year includes a lot of newcomers to the sport.

“It’s good to see them learning and applying and saying, ‘This is a lot more fun than indoor volleyball,’” said Buddy Krueger, who coached the Pirates with Andrea Puckrein against FPC.

At beach volleyball matches, coaches have a diminished role. Players call their own timeouts, which are the only times coaches are allowed to talk to the players.

“For a lot of them, this is new,” Puckrein said. “They’ve shown so much growth, using new techniques and new strategies. And it’s nice to see them advocate for themselves, calling their own timeouts and calling themselves out when there’s a mistake. It’s good to see them show their independence.”

Both Flagler County programs are new to the sport compared to most of their Volusia County counterparts, who have had established programs long before the FHSAA sanctioned

beach volleyball ahead of the 2022 season. One Volusia team, New Smyrna Beach, has won back-toback FHSAA state championships. The problem in Flagler County is a lack of sand volleyball courts. Matanzas and Seabreeze play their home matches at the multiple-court facility at DME. Some of the other schools in the district, like New Smyrna, have sand courts on their school campuses. Matanzas held its senior-day match at the two-court venue at Wadsworth Park the past two years. This year FPC is playing its home matches and is holding its practices at Wadsworth, while Matanzas practices at the single court at Holland Park.

“The county is not charging us (for use of the Wadsworth courts),” Nicole Puritis said. “They provide the nets and adjust the lines before every match. They’ve been great.

“Beach volleyball is a booming sport,” she added. “We just had to keep up with the times, offer what other schools are offering. We have four freshmen. By the time they’re seniors, hopefully they’ll be ready to play in college.”

FPC’s Nick Groth, Matanzas’ Cole Hash are top weightlifters heading into regionals

Matanzas won a team title, qualified 15 lifters; FPC qualified 12; Seabreeze eight; and Mainland three.

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Two weeks after he won two Five Star Conference titles at 183 pounds, Flagler Palm Coast senior Nick Groth won two district titles — at 169 pounds. Groth dropped 13 pounds for the postseason and added three more school records at 169 pounds after setting three records at 183. Groth won both the Olympic and traditional titles at 169 at the District 3-3A championships March 27 at the FPC gym. His 545-pound Olympic total and 590-pound traditional total are both tops in the state in Class 3A heading into this weekend’s regional championships.

Spruce Creek won both district titles. FPC placed third in Olympic competition and fifth in traditional. The Bulldogs qualified 12 lifters

REGIONAL QUALIFIERS

REGION 1-3A

Flagler Palm Coast (District 3-3A): 119: Cody Strawser (2nd Olympic, 325; 2nd traditional, 365). 129: Alex Huynh (7th Olympic, 255, 8th traditional, 315). 154: Dylan Harmer (6th Olympic, 385). 169: Nick Groth (1st Olympic, 545; 1st traditional, 590); Dylan Bennett (2nd Olympic 450; 4th traditonal, 465). 183: Landon Gates (6th Olympic, 370); Joey Ortiz (7th Olympic, 360). 199: Josh VerasPleasant (5th Olympic, 385). 238:

for the Region 1-3A meet April 6 at Navarre High School in the Panhandle. Matanzas won the District 5-2A Olympic championship and finished third in traditional at St. Augustine High. Five Matanzas lifters won individual district titles. Cole Hash,

(4th

5th traditional, 500).

435);

REGION 2-2A

Matanzas (District 5-2A): 119:

Maiison Leanard (1st Olympic, 270; 1st traditional, 330). 129: Jaden Sao (1st Olympic, 325; 1st traditional, 385). 139: Aiden Try (2nd Olympic, 285; 6th traditional, 340); Brady Putis (4th Olympic 260). 154: Ian Knuff (3rd Olympic, 340; 4th traditional, 410); Jeff Powell (4th Olympic, 320); Jayce Rajai

the defending Class 2A state champ in traditional at 199 pounds, won both district titles at the same weight class. His 645-pound traditional total is tops among all lifters in his weight class in Class 2A. His 505-pound Olympic total is tied for fifth best.

The Pirates’ other district champs

(5th traditional, 380). 169: Seth Clarke (2nd Olympic, 350; 4th traditional, 450); Johnathan DrewKulak (3rd Olympic, 360; 5th traditional, 430). 183: Thomas Laryworn (6th Olympic, 305). 199: Cole Hash (1st, Olympic, 505; 1st traditional, 645). 219: Jordan Theus-Vale (2nd Olympic, 385; 1st traditional, 445); Will Yeomans (3rd Olympic, 315). 238: Ahmad Louis-Charles (2nd Olympic, 380; 1st traditional, 570); Amir Tariq (3rd Olympic, 375; 5th traditional, 490). Unl.: Jackson Satterfield (4th Olympic, 410; 4th traditional, 515); Asim Tariq (3rd Olympic, 410; 5th traditional, 510).

were Maison Leanard (both titles at 119 pounds), Jaden Sao (both titles at 129), Jordan Theus-Vale (219-pound traditional) and Ahmad LouisCharles (238-pound traditional).

Seabreeze’s Ezra Williams won the 183-pound Olympic title at the District 5-2A meet. Mainland’s Elijah Walker won the

Seabreeze (District 5-2A): 119:

Trevor Madero (4th traditional, 235). 129: Vincent Pederson (3rd Olympic, 250; 4th traditional, 295). 139: Dean Hayes (3rd Olympic, 275; 5th traditional, 345); Brandon Figueroa (4th traditional, 355). 154: Tyler Watts (5th Olympic, 315). 183: Ezra Williams (1st Olympic, 425). Keith Arbogast (3rd traditional, 530). Unl.: Luke Cloer (5th Olympic, 370).

Mainland (District 8-2A): 119: Ray Tatro (2nd traditional, 275). 169: Nygel Allen (3rd traditional, 510). Unl.: Elijah Walker (1st, traditional, 740).

District 8-2A traditional title with a 740 total, tops among all Class 2A lifters.

FPC’s Lily Puritis dives to hit the ball which landed in the Pirates’ court for a Bulldogs’ point. Photos by Brent Woronoff

Bailey Londono (19) bumps to teammate Paige Duckworth.

Matanzas’ Fiona Vandurra gets ready to serve.

FPC beach volleyball players celebrate with Kenna Kirshy and Lily Puritis after the Bulldogs’ No. 1 pair won a three-set victory to clinch their team’s win over Matanzas.

NICOLE PURITIS, FPC beach volleyball coach

Joseph Casanova

Olympic, 440;

Unl: Matt McFall (5th Olympic,

Brayden DePotter (7th Olympic, 425; 4th traditional, 590); Tra’vel Adams (5th traditional, 580).

Bulldogs blank Matanzas 20-0 in flag football on FPC’s senior night

Sophomore Nereyda Campos had her hand in all three FPC touchdowns on offense and defense.

EDITOR

ASSOCIATE

Flagler Palm Coast flag football player Nereyda Campos said she “was hungry for the ball.” Giavanna Piazza was hungry to score a touchdown against her former teammates.

Piazza scored on a second-quarter touchdown pass from Campos, and Campos added two consecutive pick-sixes in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs a 20-0 victory over Matanzas on Friday, March 29, on FPC’s senior night.

Piazza, a junior, played for Matanzas the past two seasons and said she had this game marked on her calendar all season. She wound up scoring her first touchdown of the season, as Campos spotted her streaking down the left sideline.

“It’s my old team and I really wanted to score, so it felt great,” Piazza said.

It would be the only offensive touchdown of the game. But Campos, a sophomore, scored twice on defense on consecutive possessions late in the third quarter. The plays were almost identical.

With Matanzas deep in its territory, Campos rushed into the backfield, intercepted a pitch to the run-

ning back and ran in for the score. Then, when the Pirates got the ball back, Campos did it again.

“She’s fast. Their whole defense is fast,” Matanzas coach Phillip Haire said. “We were putting people there and we still couldn’t block her.”

MATANZAS’ STEVENS IS EXTRA PERFECT

Matanzas junior softball pitcher Leah Stevens pitched an extrainning perfect game against Pedro Menendez High School on March 28 in St. Augustine. Stevens faced 24 batters in eight innings and struck out 21 of them, while not allowing a hit or a walk. The Pirates won 1-0 on a walk-off sacrifice by Ruby Fogel. Stevens, who did not play softball last year after suffering from a rare type of stroke caused by a blood clot in her brain, has a 0.41 earned run average in 51 innings. She has 119 strikeouts while allowing 10 hits and 17 walks. She has not allowed a hit in five of her eight games in the circle.

She has pitched three comple-game no-hitters, including the perfect game. The Pirates (10-1) defeatedFlagler Palm Coast (8-5) 5-2 on April 2, at Matanzas.

FPC RELAY RUNNERS NOW OWN TWO RECORDS

Flagler Palm Coast’s 4x100 girls relay team of Aun’Yale Howard, Olivia Gaines, Jada Dotson and Summer Barnes broke the school earlier this season. At the Florida Relays in Gainesville on March 30, the quartet gained another school record, this time in the 4x200. With Dotson leading off and Gaines running anchor, the Bulldogs’

runners ran an FPC record time of 1:45.21 to finish 14th at the elite meet.

Thrower Colby Cronk had the best performance for the Bulldogs at the University of Florida’s Percy Beard Track, placing second in boys shot put at 53 feet, 10.5 inches and fourth in discus with a personal record 161 feet, 5 inches.

Kamron Davis placed eighth in the boys 800 with a PR time of 1:55.74 and then helped the 4x800 relay team with Jack Gilvary, Ayden Peterson and Evan Williams run 8:03.92, slicing over 11 seconds off their time at the Bob Hayes Invitational on March 16.

The Bulldogs will host the Five Star Conference track meet on Thursday, April 4.

LOCALS STAND OUT AT EMBRY-RIDDLE TRACK MEET

Several locals placed among the top three at the Embry-Riddle Running Elements Classic on March 30. Among girls, Matanzas’ Jordan Youngman won the 400 hurdles in 1:05.77 while also placing second in high jump (4 feet, 9.75 inches), fifth in 100 hurdles and eighth in the 4x800 relay. Matanzas’ Sierra Howard (800, 2:21.01) and Nina Rodriguez (steeplechase, 8:15.79) and Seabreeze’s Emma Uneda (triple jump, 34 feet, 1.25 inches) took home second-place medals. Seabreeze’s Tabitha Hick, Cydney Rivard, Aliana Martin and Kalease Heggins placed third in the 4x100. On the boys side, Mainland’s Seth

Jasmine Santana and Natalie Patel-Holmes caught extra-point passes from Campos after the first and third touchdowns.

Campos said she was inspired to play flag football by her brother, Tyler Irigoyen, a former FPC football player who went on to play noseguard at Ohio Northern University from 2019 to 2023.

“I started playing flag football for the Mad Dogs when I was 11,” she said. “And I’ve just loved it ever since.”

FLAG FOOTBALL DISTRICTS

DISTRICT 5-2A

Matanzas, Flagler Palm Coast, DeLand, New Smyrna Beach, Spruce Creek, University. Quarterfinals, semifinals at higher seeds, April 8, 10. Championship at New Smyrna Beach Sports Complex, 6 p.m. April 11.

DISTRICT 11-1A

Seabreeze, Mainland, Atlantic, Crescent City, Deltona, Pine Ridge, Taylor, Deltona Trinity Christian. At Ormond Beach Sports Complex, April 9-11. Championship, 7 p.m., April 11.

Rose won the 800 (2:00.83) and also won the 4x800 with Kajuan Curry, Jack Mathis and Khalil Wilmore. Mainland throwers won both the shot put and discus events. Antonio Wilson had the longest shot at 44 feet, 4.25 inches. Demond Noelien threw a 144-10 to win discus. Noelie was also third in javelin. Seabreeze freshman Taevon Orr won the long jump with a leap of 20-7.25.

Mainland’s Marquis McCants placed second in long jump (20-1). Jontrell Edwards was the runner-up in the 100 meters (10.97), Wilmore placed second in the 400 (51.24) and Ezaiah Shine placed second in the 200 (22.71). Matanzas’ Jordan Mills placed third in the both hurdles events, and Seabreeze’s Hunter Shuler was third in the 3,200.

PALM COAST OFFERS FREE PICKLEBALL LESSONS

The city of Palm Coast is celebrating

National Pickleball Month by offering residents free “Welcome to Pickleball” sessions as the new Southern Recreation Center, 1290 Belle Terre Parkway. The facility features 12 outdoor pickleball courts. At the Welcome to Pickleball sessions, certified instructors will teach beginners the rules of the game. The sessions will be held Tuesday and Firday mornings (8-9:30 a.m.) and Wednesday afternoons (1-2:30 p.m.). Additionally, residents eager to play pickleball at Holland Park can do so by checking out pickleball nets

The Bulldogs honored seniors Jasail Jackson, Esther Vitalien and Shannell Madden at halftime. They improved to 5-4 with the victory and end the regular season on Thursday, April 4, at University. Matanzas (3-7) will have its senior night on Monday, April 1, when the Pirates play host to Pine Ridge at 5:30 p.m. Their final two regular season games will be on the road against Crescent City (April 2) and Trinity Christian Academy of Deltona (April 4).

free of charge from the Palm Coast Community Center.

HONOR FOR MICHAEL MCDONOUGH

Ormond Beach Middle School eighth grader Michael McDonough will be

Olivia Gaines, Jada Dotson, Summer Barnes and Aun’Yale Howard already had FPC’s 4x100 school record. At the Florida Relays, they broke the school’s 4x200 record too. Courtesy photos

FPC quarterback Nereyda Campos tries to avoid Matanzas defender Leilah Goodwin (1).

FPC’s Jasmine Santana leaps to make a catch.

Matanzas junior Aaliyah Jones-Boney throws a pass.

Coach Tony Coates with seniors Shannelle Madden (9), Jasail Jackson (6) and Esther Vitalien (0) on Flagler Palm Coast’s flag football senior night. Photos by Brent Woronoff

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