Ormond Beach Observer 10-03-24 by palmcoastobserver1

Everett Sargent, Evan Sargent and dad Travis Sargent, Zone 2 City Commissioner, enjoy the Ormond Beach Live music festival. Photo by Michele Meyers

CITY WATCH

Downtown Master Arts Plan in the works for Ormond

The city of Ormond Beach is creating a Downtown Master Arts Plan to create a roadmap for public art.

The Downtown Public Art Master Plan will give the city an action plan for types of public art, as well as a five-year work plan. In May, the city awarded an $80,000 contract for the master plan to Designing Local, a company based in Columbus, Ohio. A website has been created for the master plan, obpublicartplan.com.

“Public art can be used to activate public spaces and invigorate communities,” the website states. “Thoughtfully implemented public art can offer cultural meaning to Ormond Beach and convey its spirit and energy to ourselves and our visitors.”

Public art may include murals, interactive sculptures, temporary art experiences, light installations or performances.

Have an opinion on the master plan? Share it in a new survey. Visit https:// www.surveymonkey.com/ r/9D2MBPM.

To learn more about the Ormond Beach Downtown Master Arts Plan, visit obpublicartplan.com.

County to fund Hand Ave. extension bridges

The Volusia County Council approved, by 4-1 vote, two agreements that will help pave the way for a Hand Avenue extension at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

The agreements with Avalon Park Daytona, a development planned for 3,000 acres of land west of I-95 and south of State Road 40 near Breakaway Trails in Ormond Beach, are for cost allocation and right of way for needed road segments. Avalon Park Daytona plans to construct 7,878 homes, both single-family and multi-family units, and 1 million square feet of commercial.

The agreements with Avalon Park Group state that the county will obtain two missing segments of right of way, one for Tymber Creek Road between Old Tomoka Road and State Road 40, and the other for Hand Avenue between the river and I-95. The county will also provide, or coordinate, the funding of the Hand Avenue bridges over the Tomoka River and I-95, add the segments to its comprehensive plan, capital improvement plan and 5-year road plan, and pursue adding them to the River to Sea Transportation Planning Organization list.

County Councilman Troy Kent said his biggest issue with Avalon Park Daytona is the traffic it will generate — and trying to keep the traffic off State Road 40 in Ormond Beach. He’s an advocate for the Hand Avenue extension, he said, as it will be provide an alternate east-west corridor.

“It’s hugely important for the people that live in this area to have that alternate east-west opportunity, instead of just being on Granada Boulevard or LPGA,” Kent said. “...

The quicker we can get support from the state and even the feds to get help with those bridges that were going to

need on Hand Avenue, the better,” Kent said.

The first phase of the development will consist of 1,609 residential units and 90,000 square feet of commercial development on 783 acres.

Volusia County Engineer Tadd Kasbeer said that staff has been speaking with the developers for about two years regarding the overall development plan. The developers have invested about $90 million on the project.

“Our one obligation is the funding of the bridges,” Kasbeer said.

Avalon Park, said Ormond Beach resident Connie Colby, is a “definite problem” for Ormond Beach.

“Hand Avenue is already used as the alternate for Granada in Ormond Beach,” she said. “It’s heavily traf-

ficked and it’s getting widened now just for the residents, us.”

Ormond residents, she said, do not need a Hand Avenue extension.

County Council Chair Jeff Brower voted against accepting the agreements, saying he wasn’t in favor of taxpayers funding any roads in the development.

“This is one of the areas that I believe we just should have never developed west of I-95, right here,” Brower said. “It’s all very wet.”

The county will also transfer the right of way for the extension of Tournament Drive back to the developer so that Avalon Park can provide a road network to support its development. Email jarleene@observerlocal news.com.

“If we’re never willing to look at that particular property and reduce, put some safeguards in the zoning there, I think that’s a dereliction of duty.”

County Council Chair Jeff Brower on the county’s I-2 zoning district. See Page 4A

Have storm debris?

Following Hurricane Helene, Volusia County Public Works crews have determined the limited amount of debris does not warrant the activation of the county’s debris management contracts, a press release announced.

Residents in the unincorporated areas of Volusia County — such as Ormond-by-the-Sea — who have debris as a result of Hurricane Helene should place it curbside on their regular yard waste collection day in accordance with the following: The equivalent of eight 32-gallon containers, not to exceed four cubic yards per household, can be picked up each week.

Palm fronds and limbs need to be neatly stacked (no need for bundles). Limbs may not exceed 4 ft. in length or 1 ft. in diameter and must weigh less than 60 pounds each. Please do not place yard waste in a 96-gallon cart.

Do not mix yard waste with any other types of waste. Residents in Ormond Beach should also place their storm debris alongside regular yard waste on their respective collection day. Neighborhood proposed — with a church A neighborhood meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8, at Coquina Presbyterian

The site plan for Avalon Park Daytona. Courtesy of Avalon Park Group

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Creating a ‘crown jewel’

The endowment will also facilitate the construction of a new 60,000-square-foot, two-story building.

JARLEENE

ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

The Museum of Arts and Sciences is looking to enter a new era — one where instead of being a “hidden gem,” the community knows it as a “crown jewel.”

On Saturday, Sept. 14, at the museum’s annual Passport to Florida event, Ormond Beach philanthropists Cici and J. Hyatt Brown announced a surprise endowment totaling $150 million, the largest gift to be ever granted to the museum.

The endowment — which includes $75 million for a 3-to-1 match in the community — will facilitate the construction of a new 60,000-squarefoot, two-story building on the 60 acres owned by MOAS at 352 S. Nova Road in Daytona Beach.

MOAS Executive Director Tabitha Schmidt said this is a rare and special occurrence.

“If you think about the history of museums and you think about how the great ones really got started, or really made a lasting impact, are fixtures in the community — it’s because of people like the Browns,” Schmidt said.

The Browns are longtime supporters of MOAS and have witnessed the museum’s evolution over the past 50 years.

Cici Brown started volunteering at the museum in 1972 as a member of the Junior League of Daytona Beach, one year after MOAS opened its doors. She fell in love with museum work and stayed involved ever since.

“We have seen the museum change dramatically over the years, and supported it in a lot of ways,” Cici Brown said.

MOAS is in process of completing its new strategic master plan, with architecture, design, and planning firm Gensler, and a year ago, Cici Brown, who serves on the museum’s executive committee, started speaking with her husband about the museum’s needs and future.

Their endowment, coined the “Crown Jewel Campaign, isn’t the Browns’ first big initiative with MOAS. In 2015, they gifted MOAS with over 400 paintings for the creation of the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art. Over the years, they have donated hundreds of more paintings, all depicting Florida.

“We have been part of the community and we feel an obligation to reinvest in an area where we have enjoyed the life of us, and our children, and being involved in all sorts of good and wonderful things, the museum being one,” Hyatt Brown said.

As people move here from other states, they are looking to experience local art and culture, Hyatt Brown said. But one problem is that MOAS is not very visible from Nova Road.

Hence, the mission to change that.

Schmidt said the board wants MOAS to not just be a hub in the community, but be an anchor. In surveys conducted through the strategic plan process, and anecdotally told to MOAS employees, visitors constantly said that the museum was a hidden gem in the community.

“After a while, you’re just like, ‘Wow, this is a real problem,’” Schmidt said. “So, great that we’re a gem ... but hidden? Not so much.”

The new building will anchor the new vision of the museum, she added. It will have visibility on Nova Road and have synergy between the existing Cici and Hyatt Brown museum.

“We’ll start to see the entire 60 acres as the museum,” Schmidt said.

The plans for the building are still in the initial stages, and no final decisions have been made on what collections it will house. But, some ideas include moving the permanent art and history collection that is currently in the back of the main building and housing the temporary traveling exhibits.

“The current museum has, our chief curator estimates, about 30% of our collection on view,” Schmidt said. “... That is very, very unusual in the museum world. Typically, you see somewhere between maybe, at the most 5%-7%.”

In the new building, MOAS would like to rotate the permanent collection more often to tell more stories.

Improving the children’s museum

and Cici

is also a goal, Cici Hyatt said.

The new building will also include a new black box theater with seating for more than 200. The Hyatts’ endowment will also help MOAS renovate its main building. MOAS is aiming to break ground in 2026.

But first, as part of the Hyatts’ matching campaign, the museum is looking to raise $25 million. Anyone interested in helping can reach out to the fundraising department at development@moas.org. There will also be naming opportunities in the future.

Schmidt said the Hyatts’ endowment is a “transformational gift.” She has worked in museums before that have gone through a similar campaign.

“I’ve seen how museums with a project like this can rise to the next level, can do more, can have more impact in the community, and I think that’s probably the most exciting thing for me because I’ve seen it,” she said. Government used to fund cultural and educational initiatives for museums, but that’s not so common these days, Hyatt Brown said.

“Museums across all the United States are having great difficulties economically because the way that museums have been operated in the

and

WHAT’S ON DISPLAY AT THE CICI AND HYATT BROWN MUSEUM OF ART?

From now through March 2, the painted studies of John James Audubon will be exhibited at the museum. The works are part of Audubon’s “The Bird of America” collection, which reflects his ambition to paint every bird species in North America.

As part of this 12-year goal, he visited Florida from 1831 to 1832.

“Audubon’s Birds of Florida presents nearly eighty original prints, paintings, and related artifacts, primarily drawn from the Cici and Hyatt Brown Collection, which focus on a selection of birds the artist saw or wrote about from Florida in Ornithological Biography, as well as the majority of birds he painted while in Florida or shortly thereafter,” MOAS states on its website.

past, is not the way they have to be operated in the future,” Hyatt Brown said.

There are people who have lived for years in Daytona Beach and never visited the museum, Cici Brown said. They don’t know where it’s located.

“That sounds hard to believe, but it’s true,” she said. “... It’s the hidden gem becoming a crown jewel. We want it to be the crown jewel and that’s our goal.”

"We have been part of the community and we feel an obligation to reinvest in an area where we have enjoyed the life of us, and our children, and being involved in all sorts of good and wonderful things, the museum being one."

HYATT BROWN

A concept rendering of what the new proposed building at MOAS may look like. Courtesy of MOAS

Philanthropists

Hyatt

Brown,

MOAS Executive Director Tabitha Schmidt. Photo courtesy of MOAS

County will not touch regulations for industrial land near Ormond

The majority of the council has voiced approval only to change zoning regulations for newly-zoned I-2 properties.

JARLEENE

ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

The Volusia County Council remains largely torn on whether the county should amend its existing “Heavy Industrial” I-2 zoned properties, but council members do believe some change in the zoning district is needed.

The County Council voted 3-2 at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1, to acknowledge that staff had accurately summarized the council’s decision regarding the zoning at a workshop held earlier this year in late July.

At that workshop, the majority of the council were worried that changing the existing I-2 zoning district— which would impact five properties, all located north of Hull Road near the city of Ormond Beach — would lead to legal challenges. As such, four out of the seven councilmen were against changing the I-2 zoning regulations for existing properties. However, they did agree that some changes should be looked at for new property that may be zoned I-2 in the future. Staff stated in its action report that it will review the zoning classification and recommend changes.

The July workshop came after the county discovered last year that its I-2 zoning district was overly broad, described by staff as a “catch-all” for all industrial uses, following the reveal of a fuel farm proposal by Belvedere Terminals for 874 Hull Road.

At the council’s meeting on Oct. 1, Councilman Troy Kent and Chair Jeff Brower voted against the motion, made by Councilman David Santiago, as both wished to look at changes

for existing I-2 zoned properties, including that for the proposed fuel farm.

“If we’re never willing to look at that particular property and reduce, put some safeguards in the zoning there, I think that’s a dereliction of duty,” Brower said.

The county has not been in recent communication with Belvedere Terminals, despite having acquired a $10 million allocation to help relocate the fuel farm project to a new site in Volusia, Flagler or Brevard County.

On Aug. 30, the county manager sent the company’s CEO a letter inquiring about their intentions, as posted on the county’s dedicated fuel farm project information website. No further updates have been listed. Brower said he was OK with letting the issue play out regarding the relocation, but that he didn’t trust the company to propose “something worse.”

“They’ve already proven they don’t care about that neighborhood,” he said.

Deputy County Manager Suzanne Konchan said that some of the council did suggest that staff speak with the impacted property owners and work with them on amending the zoning district, but again, that the majority of the council didn’t want to make changes to properties that already were zoned I-2.

County Attorney Mike Dyer said staff put together the report based on council’s direction.

“You may have disagreed with it, you may have agreed with it, but this is a reflection of what council did, and it gives opportunity for the public to give input on this as well,”

Dyer said.

Email Managing Editor Jarleene Almenas at Jarleene@ observerlocalnews.com

BRIEFS

New Park Volusia program now live

Volusia County launched the Park Volusia program on Tuesday, Oct. 1.

Residents are now eligible to register for a no-cost beach driving pass online at www.parkvolusia. org; at the Park Volusia Office, 2422 S. Atlantic Ave., Daytona Beach Shores, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday; or during a community registration event at a Volusia County Library.

All existing Volusia County beach pass holders can continue to use their current passes for entry until they expire. Beginning Oct. 1, only daily access passes can be purchased at the booths on the beach ramps; annual passes must be purchased online or in person at designated locations.

To successfully register online or in-person for a no-cost resident beach driving pass, the following documentation will be required: A current driver’s license or state ID with a Volusia County address and a vehicle registration matching the name and address on the ID.

Property owners who do not reside in Volusia County must provide a current driver’s license or state ID, vehicle registration and real property tax bill for a property address in Volusia County. The names on all documents must match.

Disabled persons or disabled veterans must provide a current driver’s license and vehicle registra-

tion with a handicap permanent plate type or a valid handicap temporary placard.

College students enrolled at Bethune-Cookman University, EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University or Stetson University with a current college parking pass affixed to their car can also register for a no-cost resident permit. The affixed parking pass must be verified in person at the Park Volusia office for the permit to be approved.

The no-cost parking permit for residents does not cover access fees for Lighthouse Point Park and Smyrna Dunes Park, which are not funded by the county’s general fund. Residents and visitors must still purchase a separate daily or annual inlet park pass. During registration, people can add an inlet park annual pass to their online account.

For more information about eligibility, documentation, and to find an in-person registration event, visit www.parkvolusia.org.

TSA PreCheck enrollment event to be held at DAB

Travelers have an opportunity to sign up for TSA PreCheck at an enrollment event at Daytona Beach International Airport.

Appointments are available from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-5 p.m. Oct. 21-25, in the baggage claim area.

TSA PreCheck allows participating flyers to experience a more efficient airport screening process by leaving on shoes, light jackets

and belts and leaving laptops and compliant liquids in carry-on bags. To make an appointment, visit www. identogo.com/precheck. During the enrollment process, enter “Daytona Beach, FL” as the location and choose Daytona Beach International Airport.

“While security lines at DAB are traditionally very fast, TSA PreCheck makes the process that much easier, especially for the return flight back to DAB,” said Joanne Magley, with the airport’s air service, marketing and customer experience division.

“If you’re traveling with children, they can also use the TSA PreCheck lane. Children aged 12 and younger may use the lane when traveling with a parent or guardian who has the indicator on their boarding pass. Enrolling in TSA PreCheck only takes a few minutes and significantly enhances travelers’ experience when using TSA PreCheck lanes around the country.”

During the onsite enrollment at DAB, applicants will be fingerprinted for a background check.

Applicants pay $78 for a five-year membership in TSA PreCheck. Most applicants receive their Known Traveler Number in about three to five days. Passengers add their KTN to their flight reservations when booking travel to receive TSA PreCheck on their boarding pass. TSA PreCheck members may renew their five-year membership online for $70 up to six months prior to membership expiration.

To complete the on-site process, applicants must bring proof of identity, permanent legal residence and U.S. citizen documentation, such as a U.S. passport or a birth certificate and a driver’s license. For specifics of required documentation, visit https://tsaenrollmentbyidemia.tsa. dhs.gov/workflows?servicecode=111 15V&service;=required-docs.

More than 200 airports, including DAB, participate in the TSA PreCheck program nationwide. Nearly 100 airlines participate in the program, including Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin America.

YOUR TOWN

Halifax Health celebrates staff with Olympic-themed event

Halifax Health honored team members with an Olympic-themed multimedia presentation celebration and luncheon at the Hilton Daytona Beach, celebrating their commitment, service and significant milestones.

The event recognized team members for their five, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45 years of service, with special recognition given to Sharon James, a registered nurse, for her 50 years of dedication to Halifax Health, and Bobby Halleck, whose peers voted him Team Member of the Year.

“It is truly inspiring to see the longevity and commitment of our team members,” said Jeff Feasel, president and CEO of Halifax Health. “Their dedication to Halifax Health’s success and providing the highest level of care is what sets us apart. Sharon James’ 50 years of service and Bobby Halleck’s work every day represents our commitment to excellence.”

The celebration also featured the presentation of service pins to tenured team members, along with a special acknowledgment of the 2024 Team Members of the Month, whose names were displayed on screens throughout the venue: Chrys MacMichael, Flo Collins, Paula Strickland, Bobby Halleck, Patrick Trainham, Kirk Donathan, Shannon

Hoffman, Katrina Cortright, Michelle Mitchell, Makenzie Houle, Paula Skrodenis and Ruth Murphy. During the event, Halifax Health also celebrated its nursing professionals with the DAISY Award, an accolade established by the DAISY Foundation in memory of Patrick Barnes, who passed away at 33 years old from an autoimmune disease. This national award honors nurses who demonstrate exceptional clinical skills, empathy, and a commitment to the nursing profession.

In addition, the Shared Governance Council presented the 2024 Nurse of Excellence and Rookie of the Year awards, recognizing the extraordinary contributions of Halifax Health’s nursing staff. This year’s Rookie of the Year was Lashawndra Davis, a registered nurse from the Surgical Care Unit. The Nurse of Excellence award went to Alexandra Dunne, also a registered nurse from the Surgical Care Unit.

Further accolades included the recognition of Quality Caregivers

of the Year in both inpatient and outpatient settings. LaDale Batson, a patient care technician from the Surgical Care Unit, received the Inpatient Quality Caregiver of the Year award. Cheryl Bohr, a certified nursing assistant in the Radiology Outpatient Unit, was honored as the Outpatient Quality Caregiver of the Year.

Team Member of the Year Bobby Halleck received a $500 award from the Halifax Health Auxiliary, $500 from the Halifax Health medical staff, a designated parking spot for the year, flowers, and a 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew.

Daytona Beach Choral Society to perform at the Ormond Beach Library

The Daytona Beach Choral Society will perform in the Ormond Beach Library auditorium on Oct. 9, at 2 p.m.

The program, entitled “Have You Met My Medley?” will include favorite tunes from theatre, pop, and

cinema.

Founded in 1974 as a community choir, the aim of the DBCS has always been to spread the joy of singing across Volusia County. Currently under the direction of conductor and choral arranger Tawn Thomas, the chorus continues to foster community connections through music.

Come enjoy an afternoon of harmony and perhaps you’ll hear snippets from the Beatles, Phantom of the Opera or John Denver. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Ormond Beach Library.

Bethune-Cookman alumna establishes new endowment fund

An alumna of Bethune-Cookman University recently returned and established a new endowment fund to help provide financial assistance to the next generation of Wildcat scholars.

After graduating from B-CU in 1989, Avis Lewis went to work at Disney. She is now the vice president of Human Resources for Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney International and is the executive champion of Disney on the Yard, an initiative created in 2020 to deepen engagement with HBCUs – like her alma mater – through mentorship, networking and exclusive programming.

On Saturday, Sept. 7, Lewis presented university administrators with a personal donation, creating the Avis Lewis Endowment Fund.

Ormond Beach

nonprofit

hosts ‘Seminar

Saturday’

at SONC

HealthierWealthierWiser Inc. held a “Seminar Saturday” event at the South Ormond Neighborhood Center on Saturday, Sept. 28.

The seminar, which highlighted kidney health and wellness goals, featured registered nurse Beth Williams, of Kidney Smart, and AJ Castor, outreach specialist with Family Health Source. The event provided attendees with a free lunch and health screening resources.

Healthier, Wealthier, Wiser, Inc. was founded in 2022 by Ormond Beach resident Belinda Davis with the mission to provide health resources to those in need, including those who are disabled, homeless, unemployed, uninsured or veterans. Visit https://healthyiswealthy777. org.

HILLS

Welcome home to this adorable 3-bedroom gem with a large, fenced backyard! Nestled in a friendly neighborhood, this charming residence boasts a spacious separate dining area, ideal for entertaining guests or enjoying family meals. The metal roof provides durability and peace of

This stunning 2-year-old residence, featuring the beloved Baymont model, epitomizes modern luxury and comfort with over $50,000 in quality upgrades. Nestled in a vibrant new community, this spacious abode boasts 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, plus a versatile flex room, offering ample space for relaxation and entertainment. MLS#1121443 $449,900. Call Buck Adams 386-566-3722. Step into luxury living with this turn-key beautiful 2/2 condo perched high above the Halifax River, offering mesmerizing views of both the river and the Atlantic Ocean. With over $50,000 in upgrades and an open-concept floor plan, this unit is as stunning as it is functional. MLS#1203770 $335,000. Call Kayla Williams 386-338-1330.

Sweeping Halifax River views & daily breezes abound in this completely renovated Craftsman home with all the modern conveniences & historic charm. Adorable cottage apartment at end of driveway can be a short/long term rental to generate income, host family & friends or use as a premium office space. MLS#1203711 $695,000. Call Maureen France 386-479-2151.

Belinda Davis, executive director and founder of Healthier, Wealthier, Wiser Inc. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Avis Lewis presents the B-CU Administration with a donation. Courtesy photo

COPS CORNER

SEPT. 14

CARD SCHEME

should have bee in possession of the remains, but had been likely kicked out of his home. The next of kin, the man’s sister, said she would pick them up.

As for the other urn, the man’s sister did not know who they may belong to.

1:32 p.m. — 200 block of Northshore Drive, Ormond Beach Fraud. A 77-year-old Ormond Beach woman had her bank card stolen after she received a scam call asking her to leave her bank card underneath her front door floor mat.

Police report the woman was told her card had been compromised by a skimmer and that an FBI agent would retrieve her card for inspection. The scammer convinced her and she did as he asked. Later that day, a man came and took her card. She confronted him and he alleged he was the FBI agent, convincing her, a police report states. Later that week, she received a call from a local Publix store informing her of a $900 store purchase, which the woman had not made. She called her bank, discovered it had all been a scam, and was informed someone tried to steal $30,000 from her, but the cash advance request had been denied.

SEPT. 17

URNS FOUND

8:39 a.m. — 700 block of Airport Road, Ormond Beach Found property. While on Airport Road, police found a box containing two urns, both still holding ashes.

The reporting officer stated in his report that he contacted the crematorium and discovered one contained the remains of a man involved in a murder-suicide in 2019. The officer contacted the next of kin, who said the man’s son

BRIEFS

OBPD conducts traffic operation for road safety

The Ormond Beach Police Department, with assistance from several local law enforcement agencies, conducted a citywide traffic enforcement operation aimed at improving road safety and reducing dangerous driving behaviors.

Key results: 158 traffic stops 211 uniform traffic citations

57 warnings

6 criminal traffic citations

2 DUI arrests made

The operation was supported by the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, Daytona Beach Police Department, New Smyrna Beach Police Department, Edgewater Police Department, Holly Hill Police Department, and South Daytona Police Department. Officers focused on high-risk areas throughout Ormond Beach.

“This operation is a prime example of the collaborative efforts that enhance public safety across our communities,” Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey said. “It is everyone’s responsibility to keep each other safe and look out for one another.”

First responders deployed to help Hurricane Helene

Volusia County Fire Rescue, the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, and the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Fire Rescue and Emergency Management all left for Taylor and Dixie Counties to help the communities devasted by Hurricane Helene.

Police contacted the crematorium, but were unable to get an answer, as the records employee was off-duty, the report states.

SEPT. 24

MONEY ON HOLD

11:45 a.m. — 600 block of South Nova Road, Ormond Beach Theft. A 50-year-old Ormond Beach woman gave her debit card to her boyfriend so that she would avoid spending money. But, she told police, he then spent $1,800 without her permission last month.

Police asked the woman to see her bank statements, but she said that she didn’t have any because “they cost money,” according to a police incident report. The woman’s mom also reported the boyfriend had stolen money from her — a total of $177, which she said was taken from her nightstand drawer, as well as $300 from her bank card.

The woman’s mom also was unable to show police proof, other than saying the boyfriend had “admitted” to the theft.

No charges were filed.

THREE’S A CROWD

10:22 p.m. — 100 block of Frontier Drive, Palm Coast Battery. A Palm Coast woman was arrested and charged with battery after she spat on her husband when he confronted her about having an affair with their roommate. The husband told deputies that he had been arguing with

Rescue and Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

The team will perform search and rescue operations, including vital water rescue services following the hurricane’s aftermath, a county press release said.

The team arrived equipped with their own vehicles and the resources needed to be self-sufficient until a centralized base camp can be established. They are expected to remain actively deployed for approximately 14 days, the press release said.

“During these challenging times, it is vital that resources are available to quickly respond and assist in the areas most impacted by the storm”, said Joe King, Fire Chief of Volusia County Fire Rescue. “By working together on this Joint Emergency Response Team, we’re not just responding to emergencies, we are looking out for each other and ensuring other communities get the help they need.”

In Flagler County, members of Flagler County Fire Rescue and Flagler County Emergency Management were sent to Dixie County while the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Mobile Command Center and two deputies were sent to Taylor County on Sept. 27, according to press releases and social media posts from the departments.

Flagler County Fire Rescue Tender/Engine 51 is helping to provide structural fire support to Dixie County Fire Rescue and assist in completing damage assessments, a FCFR Facebook post said.

As of Sept. 29, 67% of the Dixie County is still without power, according to a Flagler County Emergency Management Facebook post.

his wife about the affair for a while. He said he sleeps in the guest bedroom while his wife and the roommate share another bedroom, according to an arrest report. When he got home, he and his wife began arguing and the husband played a recording of a message she left the roommate as evidence of the affair. The wife and roommate both got angry at the recording, and she began spitting in the husband’s face while the roommate pushed him.

The husband managed to record this altercation as well and showed it to Sheriff’s Office deputies when they arrived. The wife and roommate were both arrested.

SEPT. 29

RETURNING TO THE SCENE 9:17 p.m. — 5600 block of State Road 100, Palm Coast Flee/elude law enforcement. A Saint Cloud man who fled Sheriff’s Office deputies just days before on his motorcycle, returned to the scene and was arrested.

In days prior, deputies patrolling the area caught sight of a motorcyclist with a female passenger speeding. When deputies tried to pull the two over, the driver instead sped up and got away, according to an arrest report. But when the same deputy stopped at a gas station in that area days later, he saw the same motorcycle and female passenger, identified by a tattoo on her wrist. The driver initially denied being the one driving that night, but later admitted to running from law enforcement. He told the deputy he fled and lied because he had a pending court date in Orlando regarding his suspended license.

Palm Coast man jailed for child neglect, home covered in feces

A Palm Coast man was arrested and charged with child neglect after he and his five children were found living in a home with urine, feces and mold in almost every room.

Flagler County Sheriff’s Office deputies were called to the home in Palm Coast’s B Section when a grocery delivery driver said a young child, around 2 years old, crawled into the backseat of her car as she was delivering an order on Sept. 27. The child eventually walked got out of her car and walked into an open garage on the street, and the driver gave that address to the dispatcher. When an FCSO deputy arrived and looked inside the window, he saw wet spots and garbage on the floor. Nicholas Robert Carter, 39, answered the door and allowed the deputy to tour the home. Inside, the deputy instantly was met with “warm stagnant air with a very strong and foul odor of feces, urine, mold and mildew,” the arrest report said.

In almost every room, the deputy found “large clumps of fecal matter” and urine, even in the master bedroom, where the youngest children slept. Flies gathered on piles of waste, garbage and dirty clothing that was spread out throughout the house.

Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend area on Sept. 26 and has since swept through the Southeast, hitting Georgia, North and South Carolina and Tennessee. In response, Volusia County deployed a joint Emergency Response Team to Taylor County on Sept. 27 with personnel from both the Volusia County Fire

“Our hearts go out to them,” said Fire Rescue Chief Mike Tucker. “The state called for resources and assistance, and we immediately took a look at our roster. We are glad to be able to send Lt. Guerin and Firefighter Loertscher, along with a (water) tender truck to help Dixie County in its time of need.”

Carter’s five children — between the ages of 2 and 16 — were all walking around barefoot and a German Shepherd was also inside the home. Carter was arrested and the Department of Children and Families was notified. Carter and the children’s mother, Tiffany Berry, had both previously faced child neglect charges in February 2020. According to the arrest report, deputies have been called out to the home on 16 separate occasions since January 2023. In December 2023, the Palm Coast Fire Department was called to the home when one of the children ingested marijuana and began to have a seizure, the report said.

FCSO helps seniors guard against fraud

Warranty scams are just one of many that target senior citizens.

Last year, when Palm Coast resident Joanne Johnson started helping her 79-yearold friend organize her bills, Johnson noticed her friend was getting multiple mailings stating her home or vehicle warranty may be expiring.

One mailing was headlined, “Final Notice.” It stated, “Our records indicate that you HAVE NOT CONTACTED us yet to get your coverage up to date.” Another said, “Please call customer service tollfree at … as soon as you get this notice.”

Johnson’s friend did not have a warranty with any of the companies, but the wording on the mailings made her think she did, so she called and she sent money.

When Johnson went through the paperwork, she found her friend was paying home warranties with two different companies plus a car warranty. She paid one company about $300 a month.

“The letters looked so official,” Johnson said. “They’d say, Urgent, urgent, you’re past due. Pay now.”

According to a 2022 Federal Trade Commission report, the median individual money loss to fraud for seniors ages 70-79 was $800. For people 80 and over the median loss jumped to $1,500.

Commander Mike Lutz of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Community Engagement and Public Affairs Section, said the officer who takes walk-in reports at the FCSO’s District 2 Palm Coast office calculates that over 60% of the walk-ins are about fraud.

Billions of dollars a year are lost to fraud, Lutz said.

John Cannizzaro, an Assistant U.S. Attorney with the Middle District of Florida, described some of the most common types at the FCSO’s

second annual Summit to Protect and Serve Seniors on Sept. 19 at the Sheriff’s Office Operations Center.

There is government imposter fraud where scammers pose as government agents and employees from the Social Security Administration, Medicare, the IRS or the FBI. In romance fraud a relationship or friendship is developed online and then they trick you into giving them money. There is lottery fraud where you may be told you won a jackpot but need to pay fees and taxes first.

If someone tells you to send money or gift cards, it’s a scam, Cannizzaro said. Frequently check your bank accounts and change your passwords, he said.

Lutz added that if you lose your credit card, ask for a card with a new number.

The other speaker at the Summit was Jennifer Smidt, the wellness programs manager at the Northeast Florida Area Health Education Center. Smidt provided information for caregivers on the different types of dementia and their symptoms.

SENIORS VS. CRIME

Seniors vs. Crime is a statewide program providing direct services to seniors who may have been victimized.

The Flagler Seniors Vs. Crime Office is at the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Operations Center and is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays. Call the local office at 386-586-2634, or leave a message with the state Seniors Vs. Crime headquarters at 800203-3099.

mail and computer, Sheriff Rick Staly started the senior summit last year.

Lutz asked the crowd of seniors attending the summit how many have received notifications that their warranty has expired. Hands shot up.

Johnson said her friend had been making payments for several months before Johnson called the companies to cancel.

“She did not have warranties with any of the companies. But the wording on the mailings made her think that she did,” Johnson said.

Canceling was not easy, Johnson said. When she called one company to say her friend never signed up, she was told they could put a hold on the warranty until her finances improve. Eventually Johnson canceled the warranties but her friend received no refunds.

There are over 200 different types of dementia with different symptoms and subcategories, she said. The Area Health Education Centers provide free senior programs, funded through grants. For more information, call 877784-8486 or 904- 482-0189.

Lutz said the FCSO has been making presentations to community groups and senior residences on senior issues and fraud protection for years, but with the prevalence of cybercrime and scams via phone,

Johnson asked them to remove her friend from their mailing lists, but the letters keep coming, she said. But now when her friend sees a mailing, she asks Johnson, “Is this something I need to pay?” Before, she was just paying them, Johnson said.

“She, like many seniors, is on a fixed income and gets confused easily, so in order to not be delinquent, she paid what appeared to be due,” Johnson said. “It’s predatory.”

Flagler County Sheriff’s

Jennifer Smidt, of the Northeast Florida Area Health Education Center.

BUSINESS OBSERVER

The Good Life Charters celebrate 10 years in business

Scott and Ashley Cornelius, owners of the Tomoka Outpost at Tomoka State Park, opened The Good Life Charters in 2014.

JARLEENE ALMENAS

EDITOR

MANAGING

Scott Cornelius always knew he wanted to be a boat captain.

And for the last 10 years with The Good Life Charters, he’s been living that dream.

Scott and Ashley Cornelius, owners of the Tomoka Outpost at Tomoka State Park, opened The Good Life Charters in 2014, celebrating their ribbon-cutting with the Ormond Beach Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 2 of that year, which also happened to be the couple’s wedding anniversary. At the time, Scott owned a landscaping business, and it had been his goal to obtain a captain’s license before he and his wife started a family.

He also specifically wanted to run his charter business from Tomoka State Park — and this was before he and Ashley purchased Tomoka Outpost from former owners Billy and Dani Talo.

“I remember telling my dad, I was like, ‘I’m going to go down in history as a boat tour guide at Tomoka State Park,’” Scott recalled. “He got a little chuckle out of it, and so I went into detail. ... What’s the difference between me and those guys in the old wooden boats back in the early 1900s showing people the Tomoka River?”

As someone who was born

and raised in Ormond, Scott said that was cool to think about.

He got his wish: To date, The Good Life Charters is the only legally permitted fishing and tour boat to operate from the state park. About a year after launching their charter business, after a frustrating week with Scott’s landscaping business, Scott suggested to Ashley that they go out on the river to relax. They drove to the Tomoka Outpost, backed their boat into the river and before Scott got out of his truck, Billy Talo came out and informed him

that he and his wife were ready to retire. He wanted the Corneliuses to buy the business.

Scott and Ashley had built a friendship and partnership with the Talos.

“To think back to where it all started to where we are now with The Good Life Charters and the doors that it has opened up for us, it’s pretty wild,” Ashley said. Scott still uses the same 1991 pontoon boat he first purchased for his business 10 years ago. He has worked on it over the years — including a total rebuild in 2020 during the pandemic shutdowns. Ini-

•

BIZ BUZZ

tially, the Corneliuses offered mostly fishing charters, but today, the tours are mainly pleasure cruises.

Through the years, Scott has been on TV shows like Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, Flip My Florida Yard with Chad Crawford and wrote the local paddling portion about Tomoka River in the “Paddler’s Guide to the Sunshine State.” He’s also taken a presidential chef and Navy generals on boat tours.

But most of the people who take the tours are locals — particularly ones who have done a tour in the past, and return when family members are in town.

“There’s two things about my tours I like more than anything,” Scott said. “For one, you can’t look up the information I share online because I’m born and raised within a mile of the park, so a lot of it is firsthand knowledge. ... The second one is you can’t fact-check me because you can’t look up any of it online. It just makes people laugh. It’s a unique sample of the area in a way that you’re not going to be able to find any other way.”

The boat charter business and the Outpost have also allowed the Corneliuses, who now have two children, to raise the family in “The Good Life.”

“That’s the life we wanted to live, a life on the water,” Scott said. “What we didn’t realize was how defined that name would actually become once we ended up with the Outpost and the whole world of park life, water life and everything. This has been my ultimate dream in the world.”

CRAB SHACK 386 CLOSES IN BUNNELL

Bunnell’s Crab Shack 386 has closed shop and will be moving to Putnam County in 2025.

After four years in Bunnell, the Crab Shack’s closed its doors on Sept. 28. Owners Kiona and Jimmie Gordon said on their restaurant’s Facebook page that “this is not farewell, but we’ll see you all soon,” as the family-owned and operated restaurant will be moving out of Flagler County.

The Crab Shack, located at 109. S. State St. and serving a range of seafood from crab to crawfish, will instead be moving to Putnam County, though the exact location has yet to be announced.

The Gordons announced the closing of the Bunnell location on Sept. 12 on their Facebook page and said on the post they will be taking a few months off “to care for our smaller children, in which they so well deserve.”

Until the new location in Putnam County is open, the Crab Shack’s mobile food truck, called Big Redd, will still be operational for occasions and

events and the Crab Shack will also still offer its catering services, the Facebook post said.

“We bow out gracefully to all of our friends, family, customers and community,” the Shack’s Sept. 28 closing post said. “It was an amazing four years.”

CAREERSOURCE APPOINTS NEW BOARD MEMBERS

CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia, the newly consolidated workforce board serving Brevard, Volusia and Flagler counties, has announced the appointment of its executive committee members.

These five board members will each help support the workforce board’s mission to connect employers with qualified, skilled talent and jobseekers with employment and career development opportunities, a CareerSource press release said. The new board members are: Lloyd Gregg, board chair and vice president of workforce development at PTX Engineering Services, LLC; John Wanamaker, vice chair and broker/ owner of Coldwell Banker Commercial AI Group; Colleen Browne, treasurer and Keiser University campus president; Savannah Jane Griffin, committee chair and CEO of Neighborhood Center of West Volusia; Michael Menyhart, committee chair and president of Migrandy Corporation.

The CareerSource Brevard Flagler Volusia board has 26 members, including private sector leadership and representatives from area agencies, academia and economic development, the press release said. Appointees will serve a staggered two-year term through 2026.

Scott and Ashley Cornelius hold a plaque containing an article celebrating the launch of their boat charter business, The Good Life Charters. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Crab Shack 386 closed its doors on Sept. 28. Photo by Sierra Williams

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Ocean Hammock house

sells for almost $4M

Ahouse at 26 N. Ocean Ridge Blvd. in Ocean Hammock was the top real estate transaction for Sept. 12-20 in Palm Coast and Flagler County. The house sold on Sept. 17, for $3,965,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 4/5 and has ocean views, a private beach walkover, a pool and and has 5,055 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $3.6 million.

Sanctuary The house at 2 Caitlin Court sold on Sept. 17, for $1,275,000. Built in 2007, the house is a 5/4 and has a dock and 4,612 square feet.

is a 4/2 and has a dock and 2,392 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $610,000.

Hammock Dunes

The house at 4 Cordoba Court sold on Sept. 12, for $1,014,400. Built in 1994, the house is a 4/3 and has a pool and 3,442 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $839,000.

Ocean Hammock

The house at 40 Kingfisher Lane sold on Sept. 16, for $1,290,000. Built in 2018, the house is a 3/4 and has a pool, outdoor kitchen and 3,072 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $690,000.

The house at 3 Sandpiper Lane sold on Sept. 17, for $830,000. Built in 2013, the house is a 3/3 and has a pool and 2,121 square feet. It last sold in 2021 for $600,000.

Palm Harbor The house at 46 Cottonwood Court sold on Sept. 16, for $993,000. Built in 2020, the house is a 4/3 and has a boathouse, a boat lift and 2,554 square feet.

The house at 6 Colony Court sold on Sept. 13, for $890,000. Built in 1987, the house is a 3/2 and has a boat dock, a boat lift and 2,202 square feet. It last sold in 2022 for $675,000.

The house at 25 Cleveland Court sold on Sept. 12, for $900,000. Built in 2006, the house is a 3/2, on a canal and has a dock with a boat lift, a pool and 2,538 square feet.

Palm Coast Plantation

The house at 165 S. Riverwalk Drive sold on Sept. 17, for $1,043,750. Built in 2017, the house is a 3/4 and has a heated pool and spa, a sauna

and 2,989 square feet.

Rollins Dunes

The house at 25 Rollins Dunes Drive sold on Sept. 18, for $1.9 million. Built in 2023, the house is a 4/4 and has a pool and 3,968 square feet.

Armand Beach Estates

The house at 17 Ocean Dune Circle sold on Sept. 12, for $1,663,000. Built in 1999, the house is a 3/3 and has a private path to the beach and 2,650 square feet. It last sold in 2020 for $833,000.

Grand Haven

The house at 59 Osprey Circle sold on Sept. 16 for $700,000. Built in 2002, the house is a 4/3 and has a screened-in lanai, pool and 2,777 square feet.

Flagler Beach

The house at 164 Avalon Ave. sold on Sept. 18, for $523,000. Built in 1983, the house is a 2/2 and has a dock, a boat lift and 1,320 square feet.

FLAGLER COUNTY

Plantation Bay

The house at 164 Woodbridge Drive sold on Sept. 20 for $1,462,500. Built in 2010, the house is a 3/4 with two half-baths and has a saltwater pool, hot tub and 4,642 square feet.

The house at 508 Stirling Bridge Drive sold on Sept. 16 for $855,914. Built in 2024, the house is a 4/3 and has a covered lanai and 2,813 square feet.

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

Tidewater home tops Ormond’s

sales list

Ahouse at 16 Tidewater Drive in the Tidewater subdivision was the top real estate transaction for Sept. 20-26 in Ormond Beach and Ormond-by-the-Sea. Built in 1989, the house is a 5/4.5 and has two fireplaces, a pool, spa, dock, boat house and 5,133 square feet. It last sold in 2019 for $860,000.

JARLEENE ALMENAS MANAGING EDITOR

Condos

The condo at 5500 Ocean Shore Blvd., Unit 93, sold on Sept. 20, for $105,000. Built in 1973, the condo is a 2/2.5 and has 1,252 square feet. It last sold in 1989 for $53,000.

ORMOND BEACH

Archer’s Mill

The house to be constructed at 342 E. Merimont Lane sold on Sept. 24, for $343,110. Once built, the house will be a 2/2 and have 1,816 square feet.

Fountain View

The house to be constructed at 1450 Fountain View St., sold on Sept. 24, for $374,990. Once built, the house will be a 4/2 and have 1,828 square feet.

Halifax Plantation

The house to be constructed at 2796 Portadown St. sold on Sept. 20, for $359,990. Once built, the house will be a 3/2 and have 1.614 square feet.

The house at 338 Newbliss Circle sold on Sept. 25, for

$385,000. Built in 1995, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,917 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $385,000.

Not in subdivision

The house at 481 Fred Gamble Way sold on Sept. 25, for $370,000. Built in 1985, the house is a 4/3.5 and has 2,483 square feet.

Oak Forest

The house at 1523 N. Beach St. sold on Sept. 20, for $285,000. Built in 1978, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,870 square feet. It last sold in 1996 for $105,000.

Ormond Beach Park

The house at 476 Riverside Drive sold on Sept. 24, for $700,000. Built in 1964, the house is a 3/2 and has 2,160 square feet.

Ormond Shores

The house at 84 Ormond Shores Drive sold on Sept. 20, for $310,000. Built in 1960, the house is a 3/2 and has a fireplace and 1,954 square feet.

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Plantation Bay

The house at 1096 Hampstead Lane sold on Sept. 25, for $990,000. Built in 2003, the house is a 3/3 and has a fireplace, pool, spa and 3,505 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $972,000.

Tymber Creek

The house at 425 Sand Creek Lane sold on Sept. 23, for $520,000. Built in 1997, the house is a 4/2.5 and has a fireplace, pool, spa and 2,183 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $539,000.

Village of Pine Run

The house at 71 Village Drive sold on Sept. 23, for $580,000. Built in 1981, the house is a 4/3, sits on 1.49 acres and has a fireplace and 1,726 square feet.

ORMOND-BY-THE-SEA

Brendale Heights

The house at 125 Longwood Drive sold on Sept. 20, for $200,200. Built in 1958, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,130 square feet. It last sold in 2001 for $89,000.

Ocean Shores The house at 58 River Shore Drive sold on Sept. 23, for $310,000. Built in 1955, the house is a 2/2 and has 1,026 square feet. It last sold in 2023 for $225,000.

Seabridge South The house at 9 Sea Gull Drive sold on Sept. 25, for $515,000. Built in 1990, the house is a 3/2 and has a pool, spa and 1,468 square feet. It last sold in 2010 for $218,000.

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

PALM COAST

ORMOND BEACH

LETTERS

Proposed Airport Landing Fee can reduce debt

Dear Editor:

Asking the Ormond Beach Aviation Advisory Board to review the proposed landing fee strikes me as unadvisable as asking a group of MAGA Republicans to evaluate Trump.

The proposed landing fee offers a possible reduction of the growing airpot debt. Ormond Beach citizens deserve better than responsibility for an enterprise that serves a limited economic elite population. Unfortunately, that population routinely violates the flight paths and aggravates citizens living near the airport. If the City Commission really want to serve the taxpaying public, they

MY VIEW

should survey citizens and learn their views about a million dollar debt serving the economic elite rather than the majority of citizens. Conceivably, tax payers would favor their tax dollars going toward benefits for the majority rather than an economic elite.

CHARLES G. RUSSELL Ormond Beach

Airport Landing Fees are not the solution

Dear Editor: This is an example of the local community not understanding the true value of their airport. Yes, the airport operation may cost the city about $150k per year more to operate than it brings in with direct revenue. As this has been compounded for 9 years, that debt for the airport is now $999,852.

Personally, I will boycott an airport that assesses fees to general aviation. Many people believe pilots are rich, and they want to punish us for that (although I saw many cars / trucks in Ormond Beach that cost more than my airplane). What isn’t considered is that when pilots come to your town, we are typically bringing others with us, we are going to be spending money, often staying overnight, and thereby improving the local economy. More visitors equal more retail shops, more restaurants, more hotels and home rentals - all generating local revenue. I promise, the economic impact to Ormond Beach is significantly greater than $150k per year in expenses to run the airport. I was always taught to never complain about a problem without suggesting a solution. My suggestion is that the city should con-

sider modifying their “Local Roads” Impact Fee to include funding the airport. Change the fee from “Local Roads” to “Surface Infrastructure”. Increase the fee by $2 in each category and send that money to the airport. Deficit problem solved.

Imposing landing fees is akin to charging every vehicle entering the town a road use fee. Imagine requiring all locals to have a tag on their vehicle, and then charging every non-tagged vehicle entering the city a road-use fee. Heck, charge it at $0.25 per 1,000 pounds empty weight too, that way heavier transient vehicles pay more than lighter ones, just like a toll road.

Of course, this would run into opposition as it would generate complaints that people already pay a road-tax in every gallon of fuel they purchase, and that opposition would be legitimate. The

same is true for aviation, as Florida charges $0.0427 per gallon of aviation fuel sold in the state, which is deposited to the State Transportation Trust Fund.

If Ormond Beach wants to punish me because I am “rich” in some people’s eyes, then I will easily pick another Florida Beach town for my next vacation. The beauty of owning an airplane is that I have more options for my vacation destination.

I hope that the residents of Ormond Beach recognize the value that the airport brings to the area and can respect that pilots are just ordinary citizens just like the majority of local residents. The only difference is that rather than having hobbies like boating, hot rods, classic cars, motorcycles, etc., we utilize airplanes.

SPENCER HAMONS

Lake Tenkiller, Oklahoma

Setting the record straight on key Ormond issues

Commissioner Susan Persis writes about the closure of Riverbend Golf Course, proposed fuel terminal, traffic.

SUSAN

PERSIS GUEST WRITER

As this election season unfolds, we are again seeing misinformation, partial truths, and misrepresentations being spread through campaign materials and on social media. It is crucial for our residents and voters to know the facts about the record of our local government — not only as it pertains to my mayoral candidacy, but also in recognition of a city commission that has consistently handled tough issues with transparency and unanimity. Our dedicated professional staff, along with all the citizens who stepped forward with valued input,

deserve recognition for their efforts.

In response to the false information circulating, I want to set the record straight on key issues:

Proposed Fuel Terminal: With the support of hundreds of Ormond Beach residents, our city government has taken action by (1) writing appeals to County government, Florida state officials, and the company proposing the terminal; (2) refusing to provide water and sewer services to a property located in the county; and (3) making a unanimous decision to fund legal challenges

against the proposed fuel farm, which threatens our community’s doorstep.

Closing of Riverbend Golf Course: Contrary to claims, the City Commission never voted to close the municipal golf course. The leaseholder vacated the course, which is located on airport property, because the rents are set by FAA rules. Despite efforts, no golf course management company stepped forward or could be found to continue operations.

Increasing Airport Revenue: The City Commission is considering several options, but establishing a landing fee

may actually result in lower revenue and fewer operations. This could potentially leave the city responsible for covering the costs of three air traffic controller salaries, which are currently paid by the FAA.

Traffic Control: While traffic on Granada Boulevard remains a concern, it is important to note that the City Commission has no control over it, as it is a state road. The Florida Department of Transportation recently funded lane narrowing on Granada as part of efforts to slow down traffic. I urge residents to seek the

“If

Friedrich Hayek “Road to Serfdom,” 1944 ORMOND

Publisher Brian McMillan, brian@observerlocalnews.com

Managing Editor Jarleene Almenas, jarleene@observerlocalnews.com

Associate Editor Brent Woronoff, brent@observerlocalnews.com

Staff Writer Sierra Williams, sierra@observerlocalnews.com

Design Manager Hailey McMillan, hailey@observerlocalnews.com

Marketing Consultants Travis Hurlbut, travis@observerlocalnews. com; Paula Losinger, paula@ observerlocalnews.com; April Koehler, april@observerlocalnews. com; Jacob Boyd, jacob@ observerlocalnews.com

Office Coordinator Kay Raymond, kay@observerlocalnews.com

truth and base their decisions on the facts. Our city’s progress depends on informed voters, and I am committed to ensuring transparency in both governance and during this election process.

Susan Persis is the current Ormond Beach Zone 3 City Commissioner. She is also running for mayor in the November election.

Severe classroom behaviors at Volusia schools need to be addressed

Donna Brosemer, a School Board District 4 candidate, says securing classrooms is part of school safety.

DONNA BROSEMER GUEST WRITER

Irma. Alexis. Laura. Melissa. Lourdes.

Say their names. These teachers took the time to speak publicly last week to the School Board about the violence and abuse they continually suffer from their students. They said they were speaking on behalf of countless others in Volusia

TRIBUTES

Martha R. Diggle

May 11, 1944 - October 4, 2023

On the one-year anniversary of her death, we remember Martha R. Diggle, whose spirit departed from us on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at the age of 79. Martha was born on May 11, 1944, in Virginia to Martha Cosby Rucker and Benjamin Ambrose Rucker Sr. She grew up in Arlington, VA and graduated from Yorktown High School in 1962. She continued her education earning degrees at Radford College and Ohio State University. Ironically, she met and married University of Michigan graduate, Raymond H. Diggle Jr. in 1966. In her professional life, Martha taught math at several schools throughout the US for 36 years before retiring from Mainland High School in 2009. After retiring, Martha dedicated her time to traveling, dancing, playing tennis, and playing bridge.

She was predeceased by her daughter, Jennifer L. Diggle, husband, Raymond H. Diggle Jr., brother, Benjamin Ambrose Rucker, and her parents, Martha Cosby Rucker and Benjamin Ambrose Rucker Sr. Martha leaves behind her beloved boyfriend, Stanley Lackza; brother,

County schools who are dealing with similar conditions.

When it was the board members’ turn to speak, all five commented about threats to shoot up a school. Only two referred to the teachers’ concerns, with no solution offered, beyond the need for documentation

James Cowles Rucker of Richmond, VA; daughter, Laura Diggle (Nichole) of Daytona Beach; son, Douglas Diggle (Yeneir) of Port St. Lucie; granddaughters Allyson Nichole Diggle and Olivia Diggle; her two cats, along with countless friends who felt her warmth and generosity.

To honor Martha’s legacy, make some time this week to visit your local shelter or Humane Society and rescue a pet who is in need of a home. If you are not in a position to do so, make a donation in Martha’s name and help a cat or dog live to see one more day.

“It is never too late to be kind, polite, and a loving human being.” - Eddie Jaku, “The Happiest Man on Earth”

before action can be taken. In other words, the bureaucracy decides, the situation remains, and nothing changes.

Irma has been a VCS teacher for 25 years. Paraphrasing and in part, she said that “while you’re sitting here worried about test scores, [we’re] worried about more. This is not what I signed up for. This kid hits me, kicks me, and verbally abuses me...most times, administrators bring them right back. The trauma affects the other students, my home, and my life. Are you going to sit there and do nothing, like the other parents do? If we let this continue, it could mean a life. [Emphasis added.] Judge me or don’t support me. I won’t be a victim anymore.”

Alexis is a 25-year-old 4th grade teacher. She said the new requirements, documentation, and responsibilities make her feel like she can never catch up, despite working many hours outside of her contract time.

Further, “add in the severe behaviors we face every day, and suddenly this job becomes overwhelming and unmanageable. On a daily basis, we’re dealing with students destroying our classrooms, hurting their fellow classmates, and even assaulting their teachers. We are told these are classroommanaged behaviors. It feels like there are no consequences or repercussions, and no end to these behaviors...We did not sign up to have our classrooms destroyed, and to be beaten and abused. Neither did the other students... this is unsustainable for my entire career...We are driving away qualified teachers.”

Laura is an ESE teacher without support. She said the

new documentation system for ESE teachers, recently reported in the News-Journal, isn’t working, and that teachers still have to take 20 minutes out of their teaching time, just to meet documentation requirements.

Melissa teaches kindergarten. She feels like her words to the board fall on deaf ears and that even though she was told she could call the superintendent any time, doing so is “like trying to see the wizard behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz.”

She described the emotional toll on students and teachers when they are constantly moved around, and suggested that there are plenty of district staffers who could get back into the classroom to help.

Lourdes is a first grade teacher with VCS for 22 years. She said that being a teacher is ‘like being in an abusive relationship’, that ‘teachers are abused by students, and abused by parents.’

She then asked, “When did it become okay for students to hit us?” She added that administrators tell teachers what they’re not doing, and that the micromanaging is “disheartening.” She said teachers and support staff continue to take the abuse because they love the kids, “but that still doesn’t make it right.”

Then the agenda went to member comments. Ms. Burnette and Ms. Haynes expressed concern about the teachers’ comments, but ultimately defaulted to the “matrix,” the document that decides what punishment is appropriate for what offense.

Here’s the rub:

Teachers have repeatedly reported that the documentation is so detailed and

time-consuming that they try to avoid that step, and tolerate the abusive conditions. When they go to the trouble to do the required documentation, the administration too often tosses it anyway. In a documentationdriven system, it’s impossible to prove a violation has occurred when the documentation is destroyed. No documentation = no proof = nothing happened = nothing changes Board members made it clear that their focus is on threats of school shootings that resulted last week in the arrest of several students. Those concerns of course must be addressed and prioritized, but those are not the only threats to school safety.

Failure to address small behavioral offenses leads to acceleration, and that leads to a greater risk of a school shooting. The lack of district and administrator support for teachers makes it impossible for them to secure their classrooms for the majority of students who are respectful and appropriate. It isn’t enough to refer to a “matrix” that was created by the very board that can rewrite it. Bureaucracy cares more about process than outcomes. That was on full display at the school board meeting. It’s no wonder we lose teachers, and have trouble recruiting. The board goes through the motions of showing concern, and goes home. That needs to change on November 5. Donna Brosemer is running for School Board District 4. A former lobbyist, Brosemer has 30 years of experience working in public policy and has served on higher education state boards.

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Lora

386-319-1917

Lora@LoraFickett.com www.LoraFickett.com

386-319-1917

Lora@LoraFickett.com www.LoraFickett.com

ORMOND BEACH MAYOR

DO YOU AGREE?

As a voter, what do you think about the state of Ormond Beach? What do you want to see in the future?

We asked the candidates to consider several statements and tell us how much they agree or disagree with the statements, on a scale of 1-10. A “1” means you completely disagree; a “10” means you completely agree. (Note: There is no truly neutral number. A “5” means you slightly disagree; a “6” means you slightly agree.)

The statements are listed below. Take a minute to fill out your own reactions. How do your numbers compare to the candidates’ answers?

Jason Leslie  Years in Volusia County: 4  Qualifications: Business owner 20 years, SB coach/ mentor, currently serve on a county board, former first responder, real estate license, balanced budgets.

 Priorities: I’d like to enhance senior recreation, maybe try reopening Riverbend golf course. The proposed fuel terminal is a concern, I would like to continue working on relocating it. Also address the growth concerns.

Susan Persis

 Years in Volusia County: Ormond Beach/Daytona Beach for 50 years

 Qualifications: Ormond Beach City Commissioner six years, Deputy Mayor two years, School Principal 21 years

 Priorities: Safety/security of our citizens, protecting the environment/managing growth and development, expanding and improving our recreational services for children, adults and seniors, preserving our history, supporting our first responders and keeping taxes low.

DISAGREE AGREE

The city has planned well for the impact of large-scale future developments, such as Ormond Crossings and Avalon Park.

The city needs to do more to fight the proposed fuel terminal at 874 Hull Road.

The City Commission is doing everything it can to maintain a high quality of life for its residents.

Building a community center west of I-95 is a good use of taxpayer dollars.

The feedback from residents is they are concerned about mostly traffic, health services and classrooms in schools being overcrowded. I have to agree with residents.

I have been following this since day one. It’s going to take the city, county and state all working together to get this project relocated.

We have made significant progress as a city to prepare for these projects. Now, the state and county must also do the same.

VOLUSIA COUNCIL CHAIR

DO YOU AGREE?

As a voter, what do you think about the state of Volusia County? What do you want to see in the future?

The statements are listed below. Take a minute to fill out your own reactions. How do your numbers compare to the candidates’ answers?

Jeff Brower

 Years in Volusia County: DeLeon Springs, 1980-present, Daytona Beach 19581980

 Qualifications: Current Volusia County chair, Indiana River Lagoon Council chair, Central Florida Commuter

Rail Commission chair, Volusia County, associate member State of Florida Volusia County Soil and Water Board 2018-2020; Regenerative Farmer, BS Agriculture University Florida, Permiculture

Designer, Business Owner

 Priorities: Stop our current development pattern, Reduce taxes, Improve water quality

DISAGREE AGREE

The county has been transparent and active in trying to help relocate the proposed fuel terminal project at 874 Hull Road.

The city has fought the developer from day one, and I am proud of my numerous votes to fight the project every step of the way.

There is still some work to be done to get this score higher. The residents expect more transparency in the feedback I get door knocking.

I think a community center is better on the west side in my opinion. It makes sense being close to 95 and U.S. 1.

Adding 12 new staff positions, which contributed to a tax rate increase this year, is a good use of taxpayer dollars.

City commissioners should listen to residents’ concerns more than they listen to staff’s concerns.

I sat in the budget workshop, and they needed the positions to keep the city operating.

Ormond Beach is a sparkling city by the sea. I will do everything possible to keep it that way and continually seek public input to make it even better.

We clearly lack facilities and leisure services on the city’s west side. A community center could be helpful, especially if we receive grants and partner with other local governments.

While I always seek to keep taxes low and Ormond Beach affordable, adding critical positions so our city remains safe and clean is equally important.

The residents concerns should always be addressed first.

Our city has professional, first rate staff and I trust them. However, resident’s voices must and shall be heard. My door is always open!

Volusia County is doing a great job improving residents’ quality of life.

Fixing the county’s flooding issues will require a tax increase.

Staff has recommended other locations. Belvedere has ignored our efforts. A council majority has failed to protect the residents by changing current zoning.

Volusia has made great advances in land conservation and water quality improvements. A council block of four votes have completely failed to encourage responsible growth.

It’s not a tax problem, it requires a council majority willing to change the destructive development pattern that four members consistently approve.

Volusia County Council members should listen to residents’ concerns more than they listen to staff’s concerns.

Volusia County should invest more to attract tourists, even if it means raising taxes.

Implementing a rural boundary in Volusia County would benefit the county in the future and should be placed on the 2026 ballot.

Staff responds to the direction of the council. We need four council votes that reflect the public’s demand to change our development pattern.

Volusia residents are taxed enough already. Tourism will improve when we restore beach access in the core urban areas and improve water quality by changing our development pattern.

We must protect our rural and agricultural lands from development and annexations that destroy the character of neighborhoods, result in flooding, and destroy water quality..

I appreciate

Volusia County has done an admirable job prioritizing public safety and providing first-class recreation and nature-based experiences. We need to keep it up!

We must have a plan to effectively address flooding problems without placing an additional burden on taxpayers.

It shouldn’t be one or the other. We need to hear from all sides in order to make good, well-informed decisions for our residents.

Attracting visitors is very important to the Volusia County economy. But promoting tourism shouldn’t add burden to taxpayers. There are other ways to do it.

This idea came to us from Orange County. I’m not sure Orange County solutions are good for Volusia County. But I support letting voters decide.

VOLUSIA SCHOOL BOARD VOLUSIA SHERIFF

DO YOU AGREE?

As a voter, what do you think about the state of Volusia County Schools?

What do you want to see in the future?

The statements are listed below. Take a minute to fill out your own reactions. How do your numbers compare to the candidates’ answers?

Donna Brosemer

 Years in Volusia county: Daytona Beach, 5 years

 Qualifications: Masters criminal justice admin; Higher ed facilities finance authority; State bd of independent colleges and universities; Daytona State College Board of Trustees; 30 years state and local public policy professional

 Priorities: Classroom conduct; Parental rights and responsibilities; Mental health/social services

Carl G. Persis

 Years in Volusia County: Ormond Beach, 32 years

 Qualifications: Volusia County elementary AND secondary school principal, 29 years; Ormond Beach Mayor, city commissioner and Volusia County Council member, 15 years

 Priorities: Ensuring safety and security at all locations; Helping all students reach their potential; Recruiting and retaining effective teachers; Improving the math and literacy skills of K-2nd students; Increasing pathways to careers not requiring a BA degree.

DO YOU AGREE?

As a voter, what do you think about the state of the Volusia Sheriff’s Office? What do you want to see in the future?

The statements are listed below. Take a minute to fill out your own reactions. How do your numbers compare to the candidates’ answers?

Mike Chitwood

 Years in Volusia county: Daytona Beach/Port Orange, 18 years

 Qualifications: 36 years in law enforcement, 10 years as Daytona Beach Police Chief, two 4-year terms as Volusia County’s Sheriff.

 Priorities: Solve and prevent crime, lock up criminals, support deputies and staff, maintain trust and transparency, pursue innovation, and keep VSO at the forefront of law enforcement in training, tools and technology.

James Powers

 Years in Volusia County: Ormond Beach, proud resident for over 30 years.

 Qualifications: Have ran multiple businesses and will actually fight for citizens’ rights.

 Priorities: Focus on crimes WITH victims, lower the budget, start enforcing illegal immigration in our county, stop enforcing unnecessary red-flag laws without due process — all while protecting our county with law and order and upholding people’s Constitutional rights.

Volusia County Schools is doing everything it can to rezone schools effectively.

Volusia County Schools should expand arts programs, even if it means cutting costs elsewhere.

The School Board is doing everything it can to ensure schools are safe.

Volusia County Schools is the best choice for parents seeking a good education for their children.

Students should be punished more severely for vaping at school.

The district treats teachers, students, and parents like inanimate chess pieces, with complete disregard for the disruption to their lives.

The school district should increase ESE funding, even if it means cutting costs elsewhere.

Both arts and sports promote learning in ways that cannot be duplicated in a classroom, but are critical to mental and emotional development.

The district has made some efforts at hardening schools, but fails to respond appropriately to disciplinary issues that often precede a violent incident.

The competition of school choice should incentivize public schools to perform. VCS has not risen to that challenge, so parents make other choices when they can.

Vaping is a problem, but it is not the most serious discipline problem. More attention needs to be paid to acts of disruption and violence.

ESE teachers are primarily caregivers who are overburdened with bureaucratic documentation requirements. To have time to teach, they need much more help.

Some Ormond areas have not been rezoned since 1982. Other than the South Ormond area, the preliminary new proposals make sense.

I am a strong supporter of all art programs. To add more involves attracting and hiring qualified staff and having enough students in each of the classes to pay for the teachers.

We hardened each campus, installed security technology, and have law enforcement or guardians at every school. We respond quickly and professionally to every threat.

With our amazing teachers, updated technology, exciting electives, sports and clubs, career related and academic academies, our students graduate ready for the workforce or college.

Increase punishment for suppliers. For users, I favor our new ten-step educational intervention program. This will help young students understand the addictive, harmful effects of nicotine.

While ESE is funded by state and federal sources, it is not adequate to meet the needs of many exceptional children. This puts a strain on teachers who do not have the help they need.

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office is doing everything it can to stop drug dealers.

VSO is effective in communicating with other law enforcement agencies, the public, and the media.

VSO’s officers and staff are sufficiently trained to treat all races equally.

A new headquarters for the Sheriff’s Office is a good use of taxpayer dollars.

Students who make school violence threats should be identified publicly to discourage others from making threats.

To keep up with demand, VSO’s budget will need to increase next year.

Our narcotics task forces, crime suppression teams, and Overdose Task Force are seizing drugs and thoroughly investigating each fatal overdose just like a homicide.

We constantly push out information to the public, to our partner agencies, and to the news media. We have built trust through transparency and accountability.

The active sheriff is only transparent for fame and publicity. I will show full transparency of my position in all aspects of the VSO.

Our guiding principle is the sanctity of all life comes first. We are about policing as a part of the community, not apart from it.

Accountability and training against bias in any force, including race and mental health, will be one of my first priorities when elected.

This is part of a county project to create permanent headquarters for constitutional offices, not just the Sheriff’s Office. The county’s growing; so must we.

We have to try a new approach to send a message and stop the constant flow of threats. The current state of affairs isn’t sustainable.

In this economy, I believe building of new facilities is a poor decision (unless absolutely necessary). Taxpayers need their own money more than the county.

Minors should not have their faces shared or “perpwalked” until proven guilty by state statute. We all deserve due process of the law.

It’s premature to speculate about a future budget when we just finalized the current one. The next budget process hasn’t even started yet.

Our residents work hard for their money, and I believe that additional spending in this economy is not only unnecessary, but reckless.

STATE HOUSE, DISTRICT 28

DO YOU AGREE?

As a voter, what do you think about the state of Florida? What do you want to see in the future?

The statements are listed below. Take a minute to fill out your own reactions. How do your numbers compare to the candidates’ answers?

Bill Partington, Republican

 Years in the district: Ormond Beach, 56

 Qualifications: Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Commissioner in Ormond Beach for the last 21 years, Attorney Florida Bar 28 years serving as prosecutor and defender in the 7th Judicial Circuit, Church service-Christ Presbyterian Church, Elder, Deacon, Clerk of Session over two decades.

 Priorities: transportation infrastructure, coastal resilience, environment/clean water, low taxes, limited government, family and freedom.

Joe Hannoush, Libertarian



Years in the district: I live in Ormond Beach. Florida since I was a baby.

 Qualifications: I am qualified because I will adhere to the Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution.

 Priorities: Priorities in state office are repealing unconstitutional laws. Specifically repeal of unconstitutional laws the State government has infringed on in the Bill of Rights.

John Navarra, Democrat

 Years in the district: Daytona Beach, 44 years

 Qualifications: Teacher at Pine Ridge High for 25 years. Political science degree from the University of Alabama.

 Priorities:

Housing insurance

Affordable housing Flooding

STATE SENATE, DISTRICT 7

Tom Leek, Republican

 Years in the district: Ormond Beach, 32 years

 Qualifications: Since 2015, I served on the leadership teams of three House speakers. My work with Governor DeSantis in funding our state’s priorities, balanced with sales tax holidays, allows me to serve on day one.

 Priorities: The economy for families and business to thrive; defending our borders; supporting law enforcement; protecting our environment – initiatives to ensure Florida remains the freest in the nation.

The state Legislature is doing a great job addressing affordable housing, with measures such as the Live Local Act.

The state Legislature is doing a great job protecting the environment.

The state Legislature sometimes needs to pass laws to prevent local governments from making bad choices.

The state should invest more tax dollars to attract businesses to Florida.

I support ensuring that women have the right to have an abortion in some circumstances.

State lawmakers should vote based on their own understanding of the facts, not based on public opinion.

Live Local is transformative legislation which needs time to work. There will be fixes in the years ahead to address the original bill’s unforeseen consequences.

The governor and Legislature have partnered successfully to improve water quality and conserve land. This must continue because it’s vital for our children and grandchildren.

Home Rule is important but not one-size-fits all. Rogue cities can give good ones a bad name, and, in those circumstances, legislative action may be necessary.

Generally I’m reluctant to spend tax dollars on private interests. For game-changing opportunities with measurable benchmarks, I’m open to supporting limited funding.

I believe in protecting the unborn, but I also believe in protecting the life of the mother when a physician deems it necessary.

Housing affordability has only become more difficult due to higher costs and taxation. Ormond Beach just increased property tax by over 12%! More government is not a solution.

Spending tax dollars to pave a state park is anti-environment and anti-fiscally conservative. I will submit a bill to have all state landscaping be Florida-friendly.

“Bad choices” by governments at all levels happen too often. Bad laws are worse when they are made by people furthest away from We The People.

Government should not be picking winners and losers in a market. Mom and pop small businesses are being extorted by the government to fund large corporate competition.

This will be decided via Amendment 4 Statewide ballot question. I am consistently for limited government. I don’t believe in using the government to force my views onto others.

Leadership in government requires listening to all sides and then making the best decision possible for everyone you represent, even if it’s not always popular.

The fact is every elected official swears an Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution and should vote that way.

Some measures have helped. But much more needs to be done. Instead of environmental laws, we have suggestions.

This will not be solved without examining areas of implementation and improvement each year, as supply is not meeting demand, which is driving up housing prices.

Florida has achieved an incredible balance through beach renourishment and other projects, planning for the future and protecting the environment.

Recent legislation has not done enough to make housing affordable for Florida families; this must be rectified by politicians prioritizing the needs of Florida residents.

Organizations that profit from exploiting the environment have been given priority despite the disastrous effects of climate change and environmental degradation on the state.

I normally am for home rule. However, some issues have become a crisis and the Legislature needs to have the power to fix it.

Locals know best, but sometimes local governments impinge on your liberties. What works in one community doesn’t work in another.

I agree with the need for businesses that pay good salaries. However, we should only give money if they actually provide good salaries, or the contract is terminated.

Women have the right to control what happens to their bodies.

I will support local entrepreneurs over big business every time. Florida is already attracting vibrant businesses by reducing regulations and keeping taxes low.

I am pro-life and have always supported measures to protect the sanctity of life, with exceptions.

It should be the role of the state Legislature to support local government.

New legislation must focus on attracting new businesses to Florida, rather than on banning innovation to protect the special interests of political donors.

It’s time for unqualified politicians to stop telling women what to do with their bodies.

Most of the time a legislator should vote on facts. However, a city may have a choice of two good projects, for instance.

I vote based on my principles, guided by what is best for local constituents, to best represent the opportunities and challenges we face together.

should vote based on scientific fact and not political demagoguery.

George “T” Hill, Democrat

Lawmakers

FLORIDA AMENDMENTS

Editor’s Note: The following analysis was published by the James Madison Institute and is republished with permission.

AMENDMENT 1

Establishing School Board Elections as Partisan

BALLOT LANGUAGE

“Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to require members of a district school board to be elected in a partisan election rather than a nonpartisan election and to specify that the amendment only applies to elections held on or after the November 2026 general election. However, partisan primary elections may occur before the 2026 general election for purposes of nominating political party candidates to that office for placement on the 2026 general election ballot.”

HOW THE AMENDMENT

REACHED THE BALLOT Florida State Legislature

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS

A Yes vote on this amendment: The state constitution currently requires that school board elections remain nonpartisan. Candidates for school board seats cannot run under a party affiliation (Republican Democrat, Libertarian, etc.) and instead must run with no party affiliation (NPA). A yes vote would overturn this requirement and allow parties to nominate their own candidates for these elections and permit candidates to have their political affiliation listed on the ballot.

A No vote on this amendment: A no vote would keep in place the Florida constitutional requirement that school board election candidates must remain nonpartisan and cannot run under a political party.

PROS Supporters of this amendment argue that voters are entitled to as much information about their candidates as possible and that the measure would increase transparency for voters. Having more explicitly political candidates could allow voters to learn more about the priorities of each potential school board member, as well as what candidates are likely to do while in office.

CONS Opponents argue that school boards (local government bodies that oversee public school funding and management) should remain as apolitical as possible.

CONSTITUTIONAL MERIT

This measure is not a reform that can be addressed by the State Legislature and thus requires a constitutional ballot initiative in order to be implemented.

IN SUM

This amendment to the Florida Constitution would require that district school board candidates run under a specific party affiliation.

On election day, more than 10 million Floridians will cast their votes. On the ballot will be six proposed constitutional amendments. Constitutional initiatives

AMENDMENT 2

Establishing a State Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish

BALLOT LANGUAGE

“Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. Specifies that the amendment does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV of the State Constitution.”

HOW THE AMENDMENT REACHED THE BALLOT

Florida State Legislature

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS

A Yes vote on this amendment: A yes vote would enshrine the right to hunt and fish in the Florida State Constitution. If approved, Florida would join around two dozen states that already have that right in place. A state constitutional right to hunt or fish would make it harder for legislators to create laws that would ban or restrict various forms of hunting or fishing. Though such laws have not yet been considered in Florida, other states have bans or restrictions on such activities. Further, an affirmative vote would support hunting and fishing as the primary way to manage wildlife, where citizen’s hunting and fishing keeps animal populations at desirable levels.

A No vote on this amendment: A no vote means that the state legislature can more easily place restrictions on Floridians’ hunting and fishing activities. Such restrictions would likely be part of an effort to conserve various wildlife species or areas.

PROS

A right to hunt or fish would make it substantially more difficult for attempts by the state to ban or restrict the hunting or fishing of species of animals. It would protect individuals’ rights to gaming and sporting how they wish (in line with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s authority) and enshrine these activities, which play an important role in the traditions and economics of the state.

CONS While this amendment would not infringe on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s authority, conservationists worry this amendment will hurt the state’s wildlife. In rejecting this amendment, it would remain easier for the state government to make regulations restricting hunting and fishing of various species that may be threatened by excessive fishing and hunting, either commercial or recreational.

CONSTITUTIONAL MERIT

This measure is not a reform that can be addressed by the State Legislature and thus requires a constitutional ballot initiative in order to be implemented.

IN SUM A constitutionally-protected right to hunt or fish would make it substantially more difficult for attempts by the state to ban or restrict the hunting or fishing of species of animals.

play a pivotal role in the governance of the state, and thus warrant careful consideration. For this election, the six proposed constitutional amendments on the Novem-

AMENDMENT 3

Recreational Marijuana Legalization

BALLOT LANGUAGE

“Allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana products and marijuana accessories for non-medical personal consumption by smoking, ingestion, or otherwise; allows Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, and other state licensed entities, to acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute such products and accessories.”

HOW THE AMENDMENT REACHED THE BALLOT

Citizen-Initiated

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS

A Yes vote on this amendment: A yes vote would legalize marijuana consumption in the state of Florida for nonmedical purposes, including recreation. This legalization enables personal consumption and private cultivation of marijuana for sale, requiring a state license to do so. It allows those 21 and older to purchase and consume cannabis without a doctor’s recommendation. The proposal would also remove criminal or civil penalties for adults over 21 who possess and use up to three ounces of cannabis for personal use and allow marijuana dispensaries and other state licensed entities to “acquire, cultivate, process, manufacture, sell, and distribute” cannabis products and accessories.

A No vote on this amendment: A no vote retains the current marijuana law for the state, which allows for its consumption and sale for medical purposes only.

PROS

Legalizing marijuana recreationally gives citizens a new right enshrined in the state constitution. Further, marijuana businesses and increased sales from a new recreational market would significantly add to tax revenues. Such revenues could be used to fund a variety of other initiatives that benefit Floridians.

CONS

Opponents contend that recreational marijuana will reduce overall productivity in the classroom and workplace and that it will put Florida law at odds with federal law (where recreational marijuana is illegal). Legalizing marijuana could lead to greater drug abuse in Florida, exacerbating the public costs of drugrelated problems (such as automobile accidents, criminal activity, and fatalities).

CONSTITUTIONAL MERIT

This measure can be enacted in statute by the Florida Legislature. It does not require a constitutional amendment to address.

IN SUM

The Florida Constitution currently allows marijuana consumption and sale for medical purposes only, typically as a treatment for chronic illnesses. While recreational legalization could create substantial tax benefits, the cost should be weighed against the possible public health problems (and costs) such a measure may exacerbate. If the amendment passes, it will go into effect six months after the election.

ber ballot originate from two sources: the Florida Legislature and citizen initiatives. Regardless of how a measure makes it to the ballot, all amendments require a 60 percent voting majority to pass.

Additionally, each method for proposing constitutional

AMENDMENT 4

Right to Abortion

BALLOT LANGUAGE

“No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient’s health, as determined by the patient’s healthcare provider. This amendment does not change the Legislature’s constitutional authority to require notification to a parent or guardian before a minor has an abortion.”

HOW THE AMENDMENT REACHED THE BALLOT

Citizen-Initiated

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS

A Yes vote on this amendment: A yes vote would legalize abortion in the state of Florida before the period of fetal viability or when a healthcare provider deems it necessary for the safety of a mother. Fetal viability, or when a baby is estimated to be able to survive outside of the mother’s uterus, is generally assumed among health professionals to be around 24 weeks into pregnancy. However, because the ballot language does not clearly define when fetal viability is, it is open for interpretation and legal ambiguity.

A No vote on this amendment: A no vote would keep in place the state’s current abortion law, which sets abortion as legal only within the first six weeks of a pregnancy..

PROS

Supporters argue that such a ballot measure is crucial to guarantee Floridians’ right to an abortion, as state amendments are far more difficult to overturn than a legislature’s decision on the matter. Limited abortion access is currently offered to Floridians, but many supporters of this amendment see its passage as a way to expand and protect that right.

CONS

Opponents of the measure argue that it is not necessary to enshrine any right to abortion into the state constitution since the state legislature already has the ability to vote and regulate the procedure, without the necessity of a constitutional amendment. Additionally, the point of fetal viability varies by patient, likely setting the groundwork for future controversy. Further, this amendment would also allow abortions to protect a pregnant patient’s health, as determined by a health care provider, without any restriction on when that determination could occur.

CONSTITUTIONAL MERIT

This measure can be enacted in statute by the Florida Legislature. It does not require a constitutional amendment to change current law.

IN SUM

If the measure passes, it would overturn Florida’s six-week abortion ban and replace it with legalized abortions up until fetal viability or to protect a patient’s health, neither of which are defined in the ballot language.

amendments establishes different hurdles before an amendment can reach the ballot. For a legislatively-referred proposed amendment, 60 percent of both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate must agree to put the proposed amendment on the ballot.

AMENDMENT 5

Homestead Exemption Inflation Adjustment

BALLOT LANGUAGE

“Proposing an amendment to the State Constitution to require an annual adjustment for inflation to the value of current or future homestead exemptions that apply solely to levies other than school district levies and for which every person who has legal or equitable title to real estate and maintains thereon the permanent residence of the owner, or another person legally or naturally dependent upon the owner is eligible. This amendment takes effect January 1, 2025.”

HOW THE AMENDMENT REACHED THE BALLOT Florida State Legislature

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS

A Yes vote on this amendment: A yes vote supports adding an inflation adjustment to the current homestead tax exemption. There are two $25,000 exemptions available to property owners, who can reduce $50,000 off the taxable value of their home. This measure would create an inflation adjustment for the second of those two $25,000 homestead exemptions which does not affect taxes that pay for schools. Under the measure, assessments would be indexed to the percent change in the Consumer Price Index. For example, if the rate of inflation is 8 percent, it would increase the value of the exemption from $25,000 to $27,000.

A No vote on this amendment: A no vote supports keeping the current homestead tax exemption regardless of inflation. This means that taxes will automatically rise as property values rise with inflation, without local officials having to cast a vote to increase taxes.

PROS

While property values continue to increase and homeowners pay more in property taxes, supporters argue that this measure will give homeowners relief on their taxes by adjusting for inflation.

CONS

Opponents of this measure highlight its negative impact on tax revenues for local governments. By adding an inflation adjustment to the homestead exemption, automatic tax increases will no longer occur. As a result, local governments will face decreased tax revenues, unless local officials vote to raise taxes.

CONSTITUTIONAL MERIT

This measure is not a reform that can be addressed by the State Legislature and thus requires a constitutional ballot initiative in order to be implemented.

IN SUM

The current homestead tax exemption structure for primary residences is not adjusted for inflation. An inflation adjustment would eliminate automatic tax increases going towards local governments and would require local officials to vote to increase taxes going forward.

This is called a joint resolution. As voters and engaged citizens of Florida, it is our civic duty to responsibly educate ourselves on important changes to the Florida Constitution. Below, readers will find an analysis of each ballot initiative.

AMENDMENT 6

Repeal of Public Campaign Financing

BALLOT LANGUAGE

“Proposing the repeal of the provision in the State Constitution which requires public financing for campaigns of candidates for elective statewide office who agree to campaign spending limits.”

HOW THE AMENDMENT REACHED THE BALLOT Florida State Legislature

WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS A Yes vote on this amendment: A yes vote would repeal the provision of the Florida Constitution that provides public funds to candidates for statewide offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, Commissioner of Agriculture). Such funds are currently given to candidates that meet a few requirements, including limiting how much they will spend on their campaign and allowing an audit of campaign funds after the election.

A No vote on this amendment: A no vote would keep in place public financing for statewide candidates.

PROS

Supporters of this measure argue that those running for statewide office should not be entitled to taxpayer money for election purposes, and that getting rid of public campaign financing will lower taxes for Floridians and allocate general revenue funds to other important issues within the state.

CONS Opponents contend that by giving money to candidates that may not already have money or the capacity to raise sufficient funds, the measure can effectively level the playing field for aspiring officeholders that lack political and financial connections.

CONSTITUTIONAL MERIT This measure is not a reform that can be addressed by the State Legislature and thus requires a constitutional ballot initiative in order to be implemented.

IN SUM Voters will get to decide whether public campaign funds should be available for those running for statewide office or if candidates should no longer be able to spend taxpayer dollars in campaigning.

Best of the Fest

Ormond Beach Live Original Music and Art Festival returned to town for its sixth year on Saturday, Sept. 28.

The event — the largest music festival in the city — featured 12 stages with over 100 local and regional acts performing at The Casements, Rockefeller Gardens, and Fortunato Park. The festival also hosted over 70 artist display booths, a youth art contest, carnival games, a rock climbing wall, drum circles and more.

–OBSERVER STAFF

The Fox Maple Band drummer Dean Adler performs.

Veteran Julie Knowlen (center) said she started Cookie Addiction after her sister Alicia Engel (left) and niece Erin Engel (right) encoruaged her to start selling her cookies. Photos by Michele Meyers

Pace teacher Tami Huth demonstates how to make your own bubbles

Greg’s Seafood & BBQ (left to right): Maurice Jones, Lonnie Parker, Greg Lewis and John Williams. Lewis owns the seafood and barbecue business and works for the city of Ormond Beach.

Six-year-old Koa Baliker pops bubbles.

The Fox Maple Band’s drummer’s daughters Jessica Adler (left) and Devyn Adler (center) with their friend Erin Yoffee

Tommy “Swamp Fox” Sellers performs during a break between bands on the Halifax River main stage. He sponsored the stage for the Ormond Beach Live music festival.

Fun for the ages

Ohosted its annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at Rockefeller Gardens. The event — an initiative held nationwide to promote community and police partnerships — featured opportunities to get up close with police and fire vehicles, bounce houses, vendors, a petting zoo and food trucks. Music was also provided by DJ Tremble and there was a raffle with prizes.

–JARLEENE ALMENAS

rmond Beach Police

Ormond Beach Firefighter Justin Browder

Ormond Beach Police Officers John Lyster, Gabrielle Winstead and Tierra Taska

Ormond Beach Police Sgt. Jay Brennan and Public Information Officer Pauline Dulang

Destiny Wolf and Bluey, of Fossil & Fag Exotics.

Ormond Beach Police Cpl. Rhett Summerlot helps raise funds for the Police Unity Tour during National Night Out.

Ormond Beach Police Cadets Diane Lancaster, Elijah Daly, Abigail Queen, Kipton Brown, Mya Stanley, Jordyn Queen and Lilyan Shields.

Nicole and Fisher Otte pet a chicken and pig from Noah’s Landing Petting Zoo

Elias Donaldson uses a fire hose with Ormond Beach Firefighter Zander Harper. Photos by Jarleene Almenas

FWC Officer Tony Velez holds an alligator during National Night Out

LOCAL EVENTS

THURSDAY, OCT. 3

RECIPES AND READS

CULINARY LAB: THE CULTURE AND HISTORY OF FOOD — AFTERNOON TEA

When: 3:30 p.m.

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

Details: Learn about tea made from hydrangea plants, presented by library staff. Free program. Registration is not required.

FRIDAY, OCT. 4

PILGRIM’S REST CEMETERY TOUR

When: 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 4 and 5

Where: Pilgrims Rest Cemetery, Intersection of West Granada Boulevard and Nova Road, Ormond Beach

Details: Join Pilgrims Rest Cemetery for a guided tour to hear the tales of both saints and sinners buried in the historic resting place. Tickets cost $20 per person; children under 12 are free. Visit ormon dhistory.org/cemetery-tour.

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 “Haunted Mansion,” rated PG-13. Movies are weathersensitive. Call 386-676-3216 for rainout information.

SATURDAY, OCT. 5

TRUNK SALE

When: 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: St. Brendan’s Catho lic Church, 1000 Ocean Shore Blvd., Ormond Beach

Details: St. Brendan’s Cath olic Church is holding its an nual Trunk Sale. Cost to be a vendor is $25. Hosted by the Council of Catholic Women. Free admission for the public. Call 386-405-6589.

19TH ANNUAL CREEKSIDE

MUSIC ARTS AND FOOD FESTIVAL

When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 5-6

Where: Princess Place Pre serve, 2500 Princess Place Road, Palm Coast

Details: Attend this year’s festival, to feature over 100 vendors, 30 food trucks and 40 craft vendor. Puppy Pals Live, a comedy act featuring rescue dogs, will perform at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. each day. The festival will host the First Responders fourth annual Chili Challenge. Gates open at 9 a.m. Tickets for adults cost $10; kids 12 and under are free. Free parking. Visit flaglerbroadcasting.com.

GOD’S FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH PANTRY FOOD DISTRIBUTION

When: 10-11 a.m.

Where: Parking lot across Gods Family Bible Church, 256 Old Brick Road, Bunnell

Details: God’s Family Bible Church distributes food every first and third Saturday in this drive-thru event.

ORMOND ART WALK

When: 3-7 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach MainStreet Arts District, 128 W. Granada Blvd., Ormond Beach Details: Join Ocean Art Gallery, Frame of Mind, Art Spotlight, The Studio by Artist Angel Lowden, the Ormond Memorial Art Museum and more on the first Saturday of each month for art openings and art events.

SUNDAY, OCT. 6

13TH ANNUAL PINK ON PARADE 5K RUN/WALK

When: 7:45 a.m to 11 a.m.

Where: AdventHealth Palm Coast, 60 Memorial Medical Parkway, Palm Coast, Details: Help raise money for breast cancer at this annual 5K event hosted by the AdventHealth Palm Coast

St., Ormond Beach

Details: Discover places that can remind one of history of Daytona during this virtual cemetery tour, presented by library staff. Free program. Registration is not required.

TUESDAY, OCT. 8

WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP

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

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

Beach

Details: Paint along with award-winning watercolor artist Stewart Jones. Class costs $75. All supplies are included. No drawing required. Call 386-317-9400.

NIGHT WITH A SCIENTIST

When: 5:30 p.m.

Where: Ormond Beach

Regional Library, 30 S. Beach St., Ormond Beach

Details: Ashley Jackson is the North Central Area Bear Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and will share

Presenting Sponsor

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12th 2024

Mandatory Captain's Meeting Friday, October 11 @ 5pm Herschel King Park

Check Out

Saturday, October 12 @ 7-8am Bing's Landing, Herschel King, SR 100, or High Bridge

Weigh-In Opens @ 3pm 4pm Weigh-In Party Herschel King Park

-Angler Swag

Non Sequitur

Nancy

Mother Goose and Grimm

The Duplex

In the Bleachers

Cornered Ziggy

The Fusco Brothers

Pearls

SPORTS

Bucs’ bounty

Mainland puts itself in the district driver’s seat with its first win of the season, 43-0 over Matanzas

BRENT WORONOFF ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Mainland heard the grumblings as the losses began to pile up to start the season.

Playing the third toughest schedule in the state, according to Florida High School Athletic Association’s ratings, the defending state champion Buccaneers were 0-5 entering their game at Matanzas.

But the only streak that really matters to the Bucs is 30 years in a row of making it into the playoffs. With their 43-0 thumping of the Pirates on Friday, Sept. 27, that streak will likely turn 31 this season.

“These kids put in so much work and they hear so much negative stuff from some people in the community, and to see finally their hard work pay off, I think it’s just a springboard for what’s going to happen the rest of the season,” said first-year Mainland coach Jerrime Bell, who collected his first victory with the Bucs.

In the team huddle after the game, Mainland athletic director Terry Anthony handed Bell the game ball.

The Bucs are now in the driver’s seat in the three-team District 4-5A. They can clinch the district championship and earn an automatic trip to the playoffs with a win over Belleview on Oct. 25. Belleview has struggled of late, falling to 0-4 on Sept. 27, with

THIS WEEK

MATANZAS AT MOUNT DORA

When: Friday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m.

Records: Matanzas 3-3, Mount Dora 4-1

Common opponent: Matanzas beat Atlantic 28-0 on Aug. 30. Mount Dora beat Atlantic 57-6 on Sept. 27.

Radio/stream: Listen — WZNF 94.9 FM; Flaglerbroadcasting.com; Flagler Radio app. Watch — Flagler Radio YouTube Channel; WNZF Facebook Page.

Saturday: Rich and Mike Show, 7:30 a.m. WNZF. Podcast on website and app.

FPC AT FLETCHER

When: Friday, Oct. 4, 7 p.m.

Records: FPC 4-1, Fletcher 4-1

DELAND AT MAINLAND

When: Friday, Cot. 4, 7 p.m.

Where: Daytona Stadium

Records: DeLand 4-2, Mainland 1-5

SEABREEZE AT ATLANTIC

When: Thursday, Oct. 3, 7 p.m.

Records: Seabreeze 0-4, Atlantic 0-5

its 13th consecutive loss over the past two seasons.

“That (playoff) streak means everything,” Bell said. “not just to these kids but to the alumni and everyone that put in the work. This group is a prideful group, and they don’t want to be the group that breaks that streak.”

Bell said the Bucs knew the first half of the schedule would be tough, especially when they were breaking in 18 new starters.

“We graduated 29 players from last year’s team. We have 26 playing college ball right now on Saturdays,” he said. “It’s tough getting rid of that many people and having to rebuild your roster, but we’re Mainland High School. We don’t run from competition.”

The game was close though most of the first half with the Bucs (1-5) leading 10-0 with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter. But two Matanzas mistakes put the Pirates (3-3) in a hole they could not climb out of.

First, Christian Hudson returned a Matanzas fumble 55 yards for a score with 1:12 left before the break. And then the Bucs recovered a bad snap on a Matanzas punt attempt to set up Edward Williams’ 10-yard touchdown run with 6.4 seconds left to give the visiting team a 24-0 half-

time lead.

“I went into the game knowing we had to take care of the football,” Matanzas coach Matt Forrest said. “We couldn’t make mistakes. I knew we could not make mistakes against Mainland in order to have a chance to win.”

The Bucs didn’t ease up in the second half. Instead, they put their foot down on the accelerator.

“They weren’t satisfied,” Bell said of his players. “The defense said, ‘We’re going to go score for you coach and special teams said, ‘We’re going to get the ball back for the offense to score.’ When those guys have that type of belief we’re going to be a tough team.”

Junior quarterback Sebastian Johnson, who earned his first victory as Mainland’s starter, tossed a 52-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Lake Jr. to make it 30-0 in the third quarter. Christian Cooper scored from the 2-yard line following a Shawn Holmes interception to make it 37-0, and backup quarterback Cole Walker threw a 73-yard touchdown pass to Kajuan Curry in the final minutes under a running clock.

“It feels great,” Johnson said of the Bucs’ first win. “Obviously it’s the first with many more to come. We’ve been saying all week it’s a new season. It’s the new season and we start out 1-0, because you can’t dwell on what’s in the past. You just got to keep moving.”

Noah Lehman kicked a 39-yard field goal on Mainland’s first possession of the game and Kwasie Kwaku took a pitch and ran 31 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter to give the Bucs a 10-0 lead.

Flagler Palm Coast High School transfers Zyquan Neal, who had a first-quarter interception, and Walker with the final touchdown pass, each contributed to the Bucs’ victory against their former crosstown rival.

The Pirates entered the game ranked eighth in the region by the FHSAA and are still in the hunt for one of the eight Region 1-5A playoff spots. Mainland was ranked ninth before the victory.

“Mainland’s record is not an indication of how good they are. They are a good football team,” Forrest said. “We just got to get back to work Monday. We came into this game in eighth place in the region, so our focus is to come to work Monday and try to find a way to beat Mount Dora

(next week) and hopefully get back in the top eight.”

Bell said in the past couple of weeks he could see signs of the Bucs turning the corner. They were coming off a 10-7 loss to Coffee High School of Douglas, Georgia, a reining state champ, on Sept. 20.

“We made a few mistakes (against Coffee), but we probably should have pulled that one out, so it felt good to finally get (the first win),” Bell said.

“These kids are starting to play for each other and not for themselves.

They’re playing for Mainland across their chest and not for the name that would be on the back of their jersey. When you do that, things happen.”

The game was stopped for several minutes at the end of the first half after Bucs wide receiver Jameil Patrick took an accidental hit to the back of his neck when a teammate ran into hime from behind. He was taken off the field on a stretcher.

“Everything that happened was out of precaution,” Bell said. “He had all movement. His mom said he does have a headache, so he’s probably going to be in concussion protocols.”

“These kids are starting to play for each other and not for themselves. They’re playing for Mainland across their chest and not for the name that would be on the back of their jersey. When you do that, things happen.”

JERRIME BELL, Mainland football coach

Matanzas senior Jackson Lundahl completed 4 of 8 passes for 30 yards in the second half.

Kwasie Kwaku turns the corner on a his 31-yard touchdown run that put Mainland ahead 10-0 with 9:43 left in the second quarter. Photos by Brent Woronoff Matanzas defensive back Cooper May (5) pressures Mainland quarterback Sebastian Johnson.

Matanzas student Letty Bartolome dresses patriotically.

FPC falls to University

Flagler Palm Coast’s football team lost its first game of the season, 34-19 at University, on Sept. 27. The Bulldogs (4-1) tallied 380 yards of offense but gave up 447 yards to the Titans (5-1). Anthony May rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns for University. Marcus Mitchell rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown for FPC. Hayden Hayes threw touchdown passes to Robbie Dailey and Mikhail Zysek.

NSB shuts down

Seabreeze offense

Seabreeze was held to 47 total yards in a 35-6 loss to New Smyrna Beach on Sept. 28. Dylan Tocci ran for 32 yards and scored the Sandcrabs’ only touchdown but went 0 for 7 passing.

Seabreeze volleyball blanks Atlantic

Seabreeze’s volleyball team defeated Atlantic 3-0 on Oct. 1, for its fourth win in its last five matches. Andie Litz showcased her versatility with 10 kills, five blocks, 19 assists and eight digs. Lilli Litz had 16 digs.

Flagler umpire group a hit with youth leagues

Rich Yoegel had been umpiring youth baseball games for a short time in Flagler County when he posed a question to some of his fellow umpires.

“Why don’t we have an umpire association here?” he asked. The response he got was, nobody wants to organize one.

So, Yoegel got some umpires together and launched the Flagler County Umpire Association. The FCUA took over scheduling for Flagler Babe Ruth Baseball last spring.

Now, beginning with the Palm Coast Little League’s fall season opening day on Oct. 5, the new association will also cover that league.

“I cannot say enough good things about Rich and that organization,” said Forrest Hahn, the president of Flagler Babe Ruth Baseball. “We had an association that dissolved about four years ago. Then it was just on us to schedule the umpires. After I met Rich, he mentioned wanting to start an association. He took the idea and ran with it.”

The FCUA takes the scheduling load off the youth baseball organizations and has provided consistent umpiring, Hahn said.

Meanwhile, the leagues are paying the same rates to umpires that they paid before when they had to hire umps individually.

“It will be extremely helpful making sure we have umpires at every game,” Palm Coast Little League President Tiffany Schmidt said. “It will also will help with consistency. The umpires will be trained the same and know all the rules.”

Yoegel, the FCUA’s umpire in chief, said the organization has 25 member umpires. Yoegel, who has owned a house in Palm Coast for 12 years, moved here full time about three years ago. He now works remotely as vice president of merchandizing for Qurate Retail Inc., the parent company of QVC and HSN. He umpired in Pennsylvania and St. Petersburg before moving here.

He said his 10 years of umpiring experience is about average for the association. But they are also training and mentoring high-school aged umpires.

“We have umpires on our roster that have done college games and high school games and those that have only done youth games,” Yoegel said. “We also have five high school kids, and their engagement level is really high.”

Hahn said, “It’s really wonderful having youthful umpires on the field, 17-18 years old.”

The FCUA does training twice a year for its umpires and also has monthly meetings, Yoegel said.

“It’s non-stop learning from each other. We’re making sure we’re getting better as a group and making the game better for everybody involved,” he said.

Schmidt said it’s always been hard for the PCLL to find umpires.

“First we had 100% volunteers,” she said. “But there are parents and coaches that can be disgruntled, so people didn’t want to volunteer. About a year ago, we started paying them. Now (the FCUA) will schedule themselves. Their job is so very, very

important for the games.”

Hahn said the FCUA is doing more than umpiring games, it is integrating into the league itself, bonding with coaches, players and parents. In the spring, they told Hahn they wanted to give out a sportsmanship award to a deserving player. They nominated three or four candidates, Hahn said, and the Flagler Babe Ruth Baseball board chose 9-year-old Kellan Ball as the first Flagler County Umpire Association Sportsmanship Award winner.

“So they really do care and strive to be not just an umpire association but part of the league,” Hahn said.

Yoegel emphasized that the association does not want to compete with the A-1 Officials Association, which provides high school officials in Flagler, Volusia and other counties.

“We’re not trying to conflict with what they do,” he said. “We started our group to support the youth baseball in Flagler County.”

Palm Coast’s Mala Magic wins silver at nationals

Mala Magic, representing Flagler County and the state of Florida in the National Team Pickleball League Championships on Sept. 14-15 in Hilton Head, South Carolina, won the silver medal in the men’s doubles age 50plus 4.0 level. The team, consisting of 11 Palm Coast residents, took on teams from Arizona and Oregon, playing 180 games over the two days. Mala Magic lost 25-23 in the championship match after advancing with a come-frombehind win in the semifinals. Fit 2 Dink, Flagler County’s women’s doubles age 55-plus 3.0 team, is in Las Vegas for the WD National Championships, Oct. 3-6. The Florida Team Pickleball Leauge Inc. begins play for the fall season on Oct. 7 at pickleball courts across Voluisa, Flagler and St. Johns counties. Team registration

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SEA, THE SIGHTS by Michele Govier, edited by Jeff Chen

By Luis Campos

Flagler County Umpire Association umps Joe Hahn, Eric Jedziniak and Rich Yoegel. Courtesy photo

BEFORE THE CLERK REPORTS THE SURPLUS AS UNCLAIMED. THE COURT, IN ITS DESCRETION, MAY ENLARGE THE TIME OF THE SALE.

NOTICE OF THE CHANGED TIME OF SALE SHALL BE PUBLISHED AS PROVIDED HEREIN. Pursuant to Florida Statute 45.031(2), this notice shall be published twice, once a week for two consecutive weeks, with the last publication being at least 5 days prior to the sale. REQUESTS FOR ACCOMMODATIONS BY PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096, at least 7 days before your scheduled court appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if the time before the appearance is less than 7 days; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. THESE ARE NOT COURT INFORMATION NUMBERS SOLICITUD DE ADAPTACIONES PARA PERSONAS CON DISCAPACIDADES Si usted es una persona con discapacidad que necesita una adaptacin para poder participar en este procedimiento, usted tiene el derecho a que se le proporcione cierta asistencia, sin incurrir en gastos. Comunquese con la Oficina de Administracin Judicial (Court Administration), 125 E. Orange Ave., Ste. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, (386) 257-6096, con no menos de 7 das de antelacin de su cita de comparecencia ante el juez, o de inmediato al recibir esta notificacin si la cita de comparecencia est dentro de un plazo menos de 7 das; si usted tiene una discapacidad del habla o del odo, llame al 711. ESTOS NUMEROS TELEFONICOS NO SON PARA OBTENER INFORMACION JUDICIAL

DATED September 26, 2024. By: /s/ Ian Dolan Ian C. Dolan Florida Bar No.: 757071 Roy Diaz, Attorney of Record Florida Bar No. 767700 Diaz Anselmo & Associates, P.A. Attorneys for Plaintiff 499 NW 70th Ave., Suite 309 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33317 Telephone: (954) 564-0071 Facsimile: (954) 564-9252 Service E-mail: answers@dallegal.com 1496-192148 / SR4 October 3, 10, 2024 24-00497I

FIRST INSERTION

NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024 12739 PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF CAROLEE STERLING KEECH, aka CAROLEE A. KEECH Deceased.

The administration of the estate of Carolee Sterling Keech, also known as Carolee A. Keech, deceased, whose date of death was August 26, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is Post Office Box 6043, DeLand, FL 32721. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. The personal representative has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of the decedent’s death by the decedent or the decedent’s surviving spouse is property to which the Florida Uniform Disposition of Community Property Rights at Death Act as described in ss. 732.216732.228, Florida Statutes, applies, or may apply, unless a written demand is made by a creditor as specified under s. 732.2211, Florida Statutes.

All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE.

ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF DEATH IS BARRED. The date of first publication of this notice is October 3, 2024. Personal Representative: Nancy Lindauer c/o Legacy Law Associates, P.L. 313 S. Palmetto Ave. Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Attorney for Personal Representative: Robert M. Holland

Attorney Florida Bar Number: 938998 Legacy Law Associates, P.L. 313 S. Palmetto Ave. Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Telephone: (386) 252-2531 Fax: (386) 868-5371

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF ACTION (formal notice by publication) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2023 10292 PRDL Division 10 IN RE: ESTATE OF BRENDA CHAPIN Deceased.

TO: Kelly Joiner, c/o Jeriel Helbraun Joiner, Ja’Kai Alexander Joiner, and Ja’Ceon Kingston Joiner YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a Notice of Administration has been filed in this court. You are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, on petitioner’s attorney, whose name and address are: Wendy A. Mara, Esq., 555 W. Granada Blvd., Ste. D-10, Ormond Beach, Florida 32174 on or before November 9, 2024, and to file the original of the written defenses with the clerk of this court either before service or immediately thereafter. Failure to serve and file written defenses as required may result in a judgment or order for the relief demanded, without further notice. Signed on 09/25/2024

LAURA E. ROTH Clerk of the Court (SEAL) By: /s/ P Comly As Deputy Clerk Wendy A. Mara, Esq. 555 W. Granada Blvd., Ste. D-10 Ormond Beach, Florida 32174 Oct. 3, 10, 17, 24, 2024 24-00500I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF RESCHEDULED SALE

PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 45 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA CIVIL ACTION CASE NO.: 2023 31905 CICI CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES LLC, Plaintiff, vs. JOYCE A. BUSCH AKA JOYCE BUSCH, et al, Defendant(s). NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN Pursuant to an Order Rescheduling Foreclosure Sale dated September 11, 2024, and entered in Case No. 2023 31905 CICI of the Circuit Court of the Seventh Judicial Circuit in and for Volusia County, Florida in which Carrington Mortgage Services LLC, is the Plaintiff and Joyce A. Busch aka Joyce Busch, United States of America Acting through Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Volusia County Clerk of the Circuit Court, The Orchard, Phase I, Homeowner’s Association, Inc., are defendants, the Volusia County Clerk of the Circuit Court will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash in/on online at electronically/online at http://www.volusia. realforeclose.com, Volusia County, Florida at 11:00AM EST on the October 23, 2024 the following described property as set forth in said Final Judgment of Foreclosure: LOT 46, THE ORCHARD - PHASE I, ACCORDING TO THE MAP AS RE-

CORDED IN MAP BOOK 44, PAGE 14, OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA.

A/K/A 166 DESKIN DR SOUTH DAYTONA FL 32119 Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the Lis Pendens must file a claim before the Clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed.

ATTENTION PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES:

If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order to participate in this proceeding, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. Please contact Court Administration, 125 E. Orange Ave., St. 300, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, 386-257-6096, within 2 days of your receipt of this notice. If you are hearing impaired, call 1-800-955-8771; if you are voice impaired, call 1-800-955-8770. THIS IS NOT A COURT INFORMATION LINE. To file response please contact Volusia County Clerk of Court, 101 N. Alabama Ave., DeLand, Fl 32724, Tel: (386) 736-5907

Dated this 25 day of September, 2024. ALBERTELLI LAW P. O. Box 23028 Tampa, FL 33623

Tel: (813) 221-4743 Fax: (813) 221-9171 eService: servealaw@albertellilaw.com By: /s/ Nathan Gryglewicz Florida Bar #762121 Nathan Gryglewicz, Esq. CT - 23-004293 October 3, 10, 2024 24-00496I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE OF ACTIONCONSTRUCTIVE SERVICE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2024 12608 CIDL CARRINGTON MORTGAGE SERVICES LLC, Plaintiff, vs. DAVID B. CULLATON AND CLAYTON D. CULLATION, et. al. Defendant(s), TO: CLAYTON D. CULLATION, UNKNOWN SPOUSE OF CLAYTON D. CULLATION, whose residence is unknown and all parties having or claiming to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the mortgage being foreclosed herein. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an action to foreclose a mortgage on the following property: LOT 28, BLOCK 662, DELTONA LAKES UNIT #27, ACCORDING TO THE MAP IN MAP BOOK 27, PAGES 78-81, INCLUSIVE, PUBLIC RECORDS OF VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA. has been filed against you and you are required to serve a copy of your written defenses, if any, to it on counsel for Plaintiff, whose address is 6409 Congress Avenue, Suite 100, Boca Raton, Florida 33487 on or before NOV 12 2024 /(30 days from Date of First Publication of this Notice) and file the original with the clerk of this court either before service on Plaintiff’s attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint or petition filed herein. THIS NOTICE SHALL BE PUBLISHED ONCE A WEEK FOR TWO (2) CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. WITNESS my hand and the seal of this Court at County, Florida, this 27 day of September, 2024.

LAURA E ROTH

CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT (SEAL) BY: /s/ Jennifer M. Hamilton

DEPUTY CLERK Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid,Crane & Partners, PLLC 6409 Congress Ave., Suite 100 Boca Raton, FL 33487 PRIMARY EMAIL: flmail@raslg.com 24-221783 October 3, 10, 2024 24-00501I

FIRST INSERTION NOTICE TO CREDITORS IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY, FLORIDA PROBATE DIVISION File No. 2024-13210-PRDL Division Judge Gaustad IN RE: ESTATE OF JUDITH FERN CROOK a/k/a JUDITH CROOK Deceased. The administration of the estate of Judith Fem Crook a/k/a Judith Crook, deceased, whose date of death was April 12, 2023, is pending in the Circuit Court for Volusia County, Florida, Probate Division, the address of which is 101 N. Alabama Avenue, Deland, Florida 32724. The names and addresses of the personal representative and the personal representative’s attorney are set forth below. All creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate on whom a copy of this notice is required to be served must file their claims with this court ON OR BEFORE THE LATER OF 3 MONTHS AFTER THE TIME OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE OR 30 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF SERVICE OF A COPY OF THIS NOTICE ON THEM. All other creditors of the decedent and other persons having claims or demands against decedent’s estate must file their claims with this court WITHIN 3 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF THE FIRST PUBLICATION OF THIS NOTICE. ALL CLAIMS NOT FILED WITHIN THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH IN FLORIDA STATUTES SECTION 733.702 WILL BE FOREVER BARRED. NOTWITHSTANDING THE TIME PERIODS SET FORTH ABOVE, ANY CLAIM FILED TWO (2) YEARS OR MORE AFTER THE DECEDENT’S DATE OF _DEATH IS BARRED. A personal representative or curator has no duty to discover whether any property held at the time of

SECOND INSERTION NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA IN AND FOR VOLUSIA COUNTY GENERAL JURISDICTION DIVISION CASE NO. 2023 32252 CICI LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING LLC, Plaintiff, vs. JEFFREY BLOUGH A/K/A JEFFREY QUENTIN BLOUGH A/K/A JEFF QUENTIN BLOUGH, et al., Defendant. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Summary Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered August 28, 2024 in Civil Case No. 2023 32252 CICI of the Circuit Court of the SEVENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT in and for Volusia County, Deland, Florida, wherein LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING LLC is Plaintiff and Jeffrey Blough a/k/a Jeffrey Quentin Blough a/k/a Jeff Quentin Blough, et al., are Defendants, the Clerk of Court, LAURA E. ROTH, ESQ., will sell to the highest and best bidder for cash electronically at www.volusia.realforeclose. com in accordance with Chapter 45, Florida Statutes on the 16th day of October, 2024 at 11:00 AM on the following described property as set forth in said Summary Final Judgment, to-wit: Lot 15, ROWLADER’S FIFTH ADDITION, according to the plat thereof as recorded in Map Book 5, Page 14, of the Public Records of Volusia County, Florida. Any person claiming an interest in the surplus from the sale, if any, other than the property owner as of the date of the lis pendens, must file a claim before the clerk reports the surplus as unclaimed. If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation in order

Youre Invited

World-class amenities, including pickleball/tennis courts, dog park, resort-style pool, planned marina with water access for ALL lots. Come see how Veranda Bay is transforming into a beautiful Intracoastal community in Flagler Beach!

94 CORONADO ROAD • FLAGLER BEACH, FLORIDA 32136

We’re thrilled to invite you to the grand opening of The Veranda, our stunning new model home in Veranda Bay. This exceptional 3,570-square-foot residence features an inspiring Modern Coastal design that could be the perfect muse for your own custom home Come explore the Veranda Bay community and experience firsthand what makes it special. Knowledgeable land consultants will be on hand to answer your questions about available lots, exciting planned amenities, and the vibrant Veranda Bay lifestyle.

Attractive developer incentives available for this event only. Please see our community representatives under the tent near the model for details & registration for giveaways! Refreshments will be served.